Election 2012

[Super Dude]

Yeah, with the news of the last few days I kinda retract my statements. I still think Santorum will get a hick state or two, but Romney will probably come out bruised but victorious.
Gingrich and Paul are still out of the race though. Was discussing that today with a coworker; for his sake Paul should call it a day after Super Tuesday's inevitable beating. If he keeps on going he will come across as someone who can't get a message.

rumborak

Michigan, please vote for Romney. God forbid we're viewed as a hick-state to someone out on the east coast.

Say what?

[antigoon]

I assure you, Michigan is not viewed as a hick state on the East Coast.

[Implode]

Depends which Michigan.

[snapple]

Depends which Michigan.

Lower Michigan 

[bosk1]

I cant believe you guys have tax breaks for people earning over 200k!

  We don't.  Where did you get that from?

[rumborak]

Yeah, with the news of the last few days I kinda retract my statements. I still think Santorum will get a hick state or two, but Romney will probably come out bruised but victorious.
Gingrich and Paul are still out of the race though. Was discussing that today with a coworker; for his sake Paul should call it a day after Super Tuesday's inevitable beating. If he keeps on going he will come across as someone who can't get a message.

rumborak

You do know Paul is in it because he has a large forum to spread his message. If it were just for the presidency, his campaign would be a whole lot different. This is an educational campaign.

Errrrr, when did that change happen? Last I remember he was in to become the POTUS.

rumborak

[Adami]

Yeah, with the news of the last few days I kinda retract my statements. I still think Santorum will get a hick state or two, but Romney will probably come out bruised but victorious.
Gingrich and Paul are still out of the race though. Was discussing that today with a coworker; for his sake Paul should call it a day after Super Tuesday's inevitable beating. If he keeps on going he will come across as someone who can't get a message.

rumborak

You do know Paul is in it because he has a large forum to spread his message. If it were just for the presidency, his campaign would be a whole lot different. This is an educational campaign.

Errrrr, when did that change happen? Last I remember he was in to become the POTUS.

rumborak

Probably around the time it became so painfully obvious that he wasn't going to win that his extreme die hard fan base had to find some way to rationalize it without accepting defeat.

[Super Dude]

I assure you, Michigan is not viewed as a hick state on the East Coast.

More to the point, snapple, was that sarcasm about Romney? I mean I hate to sound like a soundbyte, but that guy is not good for Michigan. Not to say any of them are, but especially that guy.

[snapple]

I think Romney would be good for Michigan.

Here's how I see it

Santorum - downgrade from Obama
Obama - stays the same
Romney - addition by subtraction of Obama
Newt - GOAT

[pogoowner]

Yeah, with the news of the last few days I kinda retract my statements. I still think Santorum will get a hick state or two, but Romney will probably come out bruised but victorious.
Gingrich and Paul are still out of the race though. Was discussing that today with a coworker; for his sake Paul should call it a day after Super Tuesday's inevitable beating. If he keeps on going he will come across as someone who can't get a message.

rumborak

You do know Paul is in it because he has a large forum to spread his message. If it were just for the presidency, his campaign would be a whole lot different. This is an educational campaign.

Errrrr, when did that change happen? Last I remember he was in to become the POTUS.

rumborak

Probably around the time it became so painfully obvious that he wasn't going to win that his extreme die hard fan base had to find some way to rationalize it without accepting defeat.

I don't think Ron Paul has ever actually thought he could win.

[rumborak]

Wouldn't it be rather calloused to collect millions of dollars in donations by telling your base you're running for POTUS, but actually only use it marketing your cause?

rumborak

[TL]

I think Romney would be good for Michigan.

Here's how I see it

Santorum - downgrade from Obama
Obama - stays the same
Romney - addition by subtraction of Obama
Newt - GOAT

Serious question; how is Obama bad for Michigan? The bailouts that he and Bush both had a hand in basically saved the auto industry in Detroit. Romney is the guy who literally wrote an op-ed at the time titled "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt".
https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/opinion/19romney.html

The auto companies themselves have basically said that Romney's plan at the time would probably have killed them.

In other matters, this Super Tuesday could be very interesting, in that we may not lose any candidates immediately afterward. Romney is obviously still in unless something crazy happens, Santorum will most likely still be in, unless he current slight decline turns into a freefall, Paul will probably stay in until the end like in 2008, and if he can afford it, Gingrich will stay in out of spite.

[snapple]

Oh, the same bailouts that helped the unions? Okay. If you knew what Michigan's problems were, it's not just the auto industry.

[Super Dude]

I think Romney would be good for Michigan.

Here's how I see it

Santorum - downgrade from Obama
Obama - stays the same
Romney - addition by subtraction of Obama
Newt - GOAT

Serious question; how is Obama bad for Michigan? The bailouts that he and Bush both had a hand in basically saved the auto industry in Detroit. Romney is the guy who literally wrote an op-ed at the time titled "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt".
https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/opinion/19romney.html

The auto companies themselves have basically said that Romney's plan at the time would probably have killed them.

In other matters, this Super Tuesday could be very interesting, in that we may not lose any candidates immediately afterward. Romney is obviously still in unless something crazy happens, Santorum will most likely still be in, unless he current slight decline turns into a freefall, Paul will probably stay in until the end like in 2008, and if he can afford it, Gingrich will stay in out of spite.

Ninja'd.

Oh, the same bailouts that helped the unions? Okay. If you knew what Michigan's problems were, it's not just the auto industry.

It might not just be the auto industry, but saving that did a great deal more good than you could imagine. If Detroit had been allowed to go bankrupt, as per Romney's wishes, we'd be complaining about a lot more than an economic recovery that only took two years.

[bosk1]

Oh, the same bailouts that helped the unions? Okay. If you knew what Michigan's problems were, it's not just the auto industry.

It might not just be the auto industry, but saving that did a great deal more good than you could imagine. If Detroit had been allowed to go bankrupt, as per Romney's wishes, we'd be complaining about a lot more than an economic recovery that only took two years.

Not that we can every really "know" for certain what would have happened, but something I feel necessary to point out:  Are you aware that many corporate bankruptcy filings do not result in companies closing their doors, but instead are forced company reorganizations under an appointed trustee whose job it is to make sure the necessary changes are made to get the corporation back on sound financial footing?  FYI, that is the type of bankruptcy some of the car companies were considering.

[rumborak]

Those bankruptcies usually benefit from a functioning market around them who buys up pieces of the bankrupt company. At the time no automaker, domestic or foreign, would have bought anything, resulting in the necessity of massive layoffs.

I find it ludicrous to somehow assert that, just because Obama is a Democrat, he somehow gets a hard on by throwing government money at companies. Remember that GWB came to the same solution as Obama before.

rumborak

[Riceball]

I cant believe you guys have tax breaks for people earning over 200k!

  We don't.  Where did you get that from?

The article I read regarding Romney's tax priorities seemed to imply that there were tax breaks. Note I'm being a nerd here and including government subsidies as well - all things that the government provides that reduce a) the amount of tax you pay and b) the amount of money you pay for other things (directly, ofcourse).

[El Barto]

Those bankruptcies usually benefit from a functioning market around them who buys up pieces of the bankrupt company. At the time no automaker, domestic or foreign, would have bought anything, resulting in the necessity of massive layoffs.

Which is why I said all along the best solution would have been a controlled bankruptcy with the government loans to keep them afloat. 


I really can't believe what a buffoon Frothy is.  Now we have the college snobbery debacle.  The guy's crafted this brilliant strategy of misstating facts and positions at will, secure in the knowledge that Republicans won't fact-check him anyway;  pretty shrewd.  But my God if you can't knock your own pitches out of the park you're going to look like a genuine village idiot.  He's striking himself out with with issues that he's creating for his own benefit.  How does a person so politically inept get as far as he has?

At this point I'd really love to see him get the nomination just because of the entertainment value.  Give him six more months against a real opponent and it could be a real blast.

[rumborak]

Is he retarded or something?

rumborak

[kirksnosehair]

Is he retarded or something?

rumborak

Pretty much, yeah.

[AcidLameLTE]

Pretty much, yeah.

[Rape victims should] make the best of a bad situation.

Wow

[rumborak]

It is quite amazing how actively he alienates so many societal groups.

rumborak

[Super Dude]

I feel like there should be a conspiracy Keanu about Santorum purposely sabotaging the Republican primary for Obama.

[rumborak]

Supposedly Michael Moore called on Democrats to go voting for Santorum in Michigan (where you don't need to register).

rumborak

[Super Dude]

If it wasn't too late for me to do so, I totally would.

[rumborak]

It would be a disaster for Romney to lose Michigan for sure, and could shift the momentum back to Santorum. The GOP higher-ups are probably on the edge of their seats today.

rumborak

[Chino]

I feel like there should be a conspiracy Keanu about Santorum purposely sabotaging the Republican primary for Obama.

That makes more sense than anything else.

[El Barto]

Supposedly Michael Moore called on Democrats to go voting for Santorum in Michigan (where you don't need to register).

rumborak

Looks like Frothy is making the same pitch.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/02/28/santorum-encourages-michigan-democrats-to-vote-against-romney-in-phone-calls/

The robocall going around Monday says Democrats should send "a loud message" to Romney by voting for Santorum. The message says it's supported by "hard-working Democratic men and women" and paid for by the Santorum campaign.

[antigoon]

What the hell?

[rumborak]

How brain-dead is his target audience?! The "only true conservative" is supported by Democrats?

rumborak

[kirksnosehair]

How brain-dead is his target audience?! The "only true conservative" is supported by Democrats?

rumborak

Actually, it's a smart move by Santorum, because he knows that most Democrats want him to be the nominee because of his perceived weakness against Obama.  Anything can happen between now and November. 

[El Barto]

How brain-dead is his target audience?! The "only true conservative" is supported by Democrats?

rumborak

Actually, it's a smart move by Santorum, because he knows that most Democrats want him to be the nominee because of his perceived weakness against Obama.  Anything can happen between now and November.

Yeah, that's exactly how I see it.  Honestly, the dude's working some pretty solid strategies.  His problem is that he's too big an imbecile to actually take advantage.

[Scheavo]

I cant believe you guys have tax breaks for people earning over 200k!

  We don't.  Where did you get that from?

The article I read regarding Romney's tax priorities seemed to imply that there were tax breaks. Note I'm being a nerd here and including government subsidies as well - all things that the government provides that reduce a) the amount of tax you pay and b) the amount of money you pay for other things (directly, ofcourse).

There's a bunch of loopholes for rich people to take advantage of (they're the ones who can afford the accountants, who also lobby for loopholes and gimmicks in the first place), so it's a little hard to know exactly what you're talking about. If I had to take a guess, though, you're most likely referencing the fact that capital gains is only taxed at 16% - and that's how he "earns" the vast majority of the money he makes.

[King Postwhore]

How brain-dead is his target audience?! The "only true conservative" is supported by Democrats?

rumborak

Actually, it's a smart move by Santorum, because he knows that most Democrats want him to be the nominee because of his perceived weakness against Obama.  Anything can happen between now and November.

Yeah, that's exactly how I see it.  Honestly, the dude's working some pretty solid strategies.  His problem is that he's too big an imbecile to actually take advantage.

That didn't stop W from becoming the President.

[TL]

Oh, the same bailouts that helped the unions? Okay. If you knew what Michigan's problems were, it's not just the auto industry.

It might not just be the auto industry, but saving that did a great deal more good than you could imagine. If Detroit had been allowed to go bankrupt, as per Romney's wishes, we'd be complaining about a lot more than an economic recovery that only took two years.

Not that we can every really "know" for certain what would have happened, but something I feel necessary to point out:  Are you aware that many corporate bankruptcy filings do not result in companies closing their doors, but instead are forced company reorganizations under an appointed trustee whose job it is to make sure the necessary changes are made to get the corporation back on sound financial footing?  FYI, that is the type of bankruptcy some of the car companies were considering.

Yes, controlled bankruptcy was what Romney was advocating. However, controlled bankruptcy hinges quite a bit on a large influx of private capital. At the time, they could not reasonably expect to get such private capital. Many of the auto company execs have since said this.

I wouldn't be as critical of Romney's stance if he would admit that he was wrong about this one. Heck, since he's in the middle of a campaign and as such definitely won't admit such a thing, I'd settle for having him stop actively insisting that the bailouts were a bad idea, since, as we have seen, they weren't.