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Renovating Mitt Romney
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Sid9
Aug 30, 2012, 3:45:25 PM8/30/12
to
August 29, 2012
Renovating Mitt Romney
By GAIL COLLINS
TAMPA, Fla.
So, about Mitt Romney.
The Republicans have been holding a convention to nominate him for
president! I am telling you this on the off chance that you haven't been
paying attention. Perhaps you feel as if you've already met Mitt Romney and
don't require another introduction. Perhaps you feel as if you've met him a
lot. But this is entirely different because the party's mission this week is
to construct an entirely new, improved, warmer, more lovable version.
They built this Romney!
"We built it" is one of the themes here, at the government-underwritten
convention in a government-subsidized convention center in a city that rose
on the sturdy foundation of government-subsidized flood insurance. But no
taxpayer dollars were expended in the attempt to put together a New Mitt.
None. Really, it was just private corporations and rich people.
Even before the speeches began, before Tim Pawlenty compared the president
to a tattoo or the governor of Ohio, John Kasich, accused Joe Biden of being
a bad golfer, the magnitude of the Romney renovation challenge was clear.
This wasn't going to be one of those quickie home makeovers you see on TV,
where a couple goes away for the weekend and comes back to discover that
they have a large, new picture window and a totally open kitchen floor plan.
The folks who spoke during the first two days of the three-day convention
were supposed to do foundation work, preparing the public to regard the
presidential candidate who emerged on Thursday night as a kindly dad or a
favored sibling who's always such great company when you're feeling down.
They failed completely. It was as if, instead of fixing up the targeted
house, the renovators decided to do some engine work on a recreational
vehicle parked three blocks down the road.
Some of the speakers tried to divert the crowd with fancy rhetoric. Who will
ever forget the way Paul Ryan said America was getting the runaround and
needs a turnaround?
Some tried being counterintuitive. Mike Huckabee, in an interview before his
speech, compared Mitt to a nasty doctor. "If you've just been diagnosed with
a brain tumor, you honestly don't care if your neurosurgeon is a jerk," he
told Howard Kurtz of The Daily Beast.
The challenge of giving their presidential candidate a heartwarming back
story was apparently too much for many of the speakers, who decided to
describe their own humble roots instead. Gov. Chris Christie talked about
his mother. Ryan brought up his father, mother and grandmother. Rick
Santorum told the story about his coal miner grandfather's hands again.
Huckabee dropped the names of his grandchildren.
We may never figure out the inner life of the Republican presidential
candidate. But we are going into the fall campaign knowing a whole lot more
about the relatives of major Republican office holders.
Ann Romney, poor woman, was left stuck with the entire burden of the
convention's yearning for a candidate remake. It turns out that her
grandfather was a coal miner, too! It is possible that the only person in
the entire city of Tampa this week who does not have a coal miner in the
family tree is Mitt.
"Tonight I want to talk to you about love," she said. The critical point was
that Ann loves Mitt and Mitt loves America. What could be better than that?
Then, half an hour later, Governor Christie decreed that respect trumps
love. If these people can't even decide where love ranks on their to-do
list, you can appreciate why they found it impossible to get together to
build a new presidential candidate.
Although she was assigned to paint a picture of the Mitt Romney we have
never seen and suspect does not exist, his wife's remarks were remarkably
short on specifics. She did have a story about their humble early married
life, which involved a brief period in college when they were forced to
consume "a lot of pasta and tuna fish."
Ann assured the crowd that her husband had spent "countless hours helping
others," and although that was pretty vague, we do have other accounts of
his good deeds, mainly for fellow parishioners at church. She also seemed
intent on telling us that he's a fun guy, full of Mittwit, but she failed to
provide any examples of fun that were actually funny. The take-away image of
Mitt Romney, Neighbor, was less George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life"
than Ned Flanders in "The Simpsons."
The best humanizing story about a robotic presidential candidate I can
remember was the one John Kerry's daughters told about how Kerry had saved
their hamster Licorice from a "watery doom" by diving off a dock, retrieving
the animal and administering CPR. And, actually, that didn't work out so
well.
They'll make do with what they've got. One thing's for sure: nobody in Tampa
is all that interested in talking about Mitt Romney interacting with pets.
--
"We've given all you people need to know."
What is Romney hiding?
Anne Romney's arrogance?
Renovating Mitt Romney
By GAIL COLLINS
TAMPA, Fla.
So, about Mitt Romney.
The Republicans have been holding a convention to nominate him for
president! I am telling you this on the off chance that you haven't been
paying attention. Perhaps you feel as if you've already met Mitt Romney and
don't require another introduction. Perhaps you feel as if you've met him a
lot. But this is entirely different because the party's mission this week is
to construct an entirely new, improved, warmer, more lovable version.
They built this Romney!
"We built it" is one of the themes here, at the government-underwritten
convention in a government-subsidized convention center in a city that rose
on the sturdy foundation of government-subsidized flood insurance. But no
taxpayer dollars were expended in the attempt to put together a New Mitt.
None. Really, it was just private corporations and rich people.
Even before the speeches began, before Tim Pawlenty compared the president
to a tattoo or the governor of Ohio, John Kasich, accused Joe Biden of being
a bad golfer, the magnitude of the Romney renovation challenge was clear.
This wasn't going to be one of those quickie home makeovers you see on TV,
where a couple goes away for the weekend and comes back to discover that
they have a large, new picture window and a totally open kitchen floor plan.
The folks who spoke during the first two days of the three-day convention
were supposed to do foundation work, preparing the public to regard the
presidential candidate who emerged on Thursday night as a kindly dad or a
favored sibling who's always such great company when you're feeling down.
They failed completely. It was as if, instead of fixing up the targeted
house, the renovators decided to do some engine work on a recreational
vehicle parked three blocks down the road.
Some of the speakers tried to divert the crowd with fancy rhetoric. Who will
ever forget the way Paul Ryan said America was getting the runaround and
needs a turnaround?
Some tried being counterintuitive. Mike Huckabee, in an interview before his
speech, compared Mitt to a nasty doctor. "If you've just been diagnosed with
a brain tumor, you honestly don't care if your neurosurgeon is a jerk," he
told Howard Kurtz of The Daily Beast.
The challenge of giving their presidential candidate a heartwarming back
story was apparently too much for many of the speakers, who decided to
describe their own humble roots instead. Gov. Chris Christie talked about
his mother. Ryan brought up his father, mother and grandmother. Rick
Santorum told the story about his coal miner grandfather's hands again.
Huckabee dropped the names of his grandchildren.
We may never figure out the inner life of the Republican presidential
candidate. But we are going into the fall campaign knowing a whole lot more
about the relatives of major Republican office holders.
Ann Romney, poor woman, was left stuck with the entire burden of the
convention's yearning for a candidate remake. It turns out that her
grandfather was a coal miner, too! It is possible that the only person in
the entire city of Tampa this week who does not have a coal miner in the
family tree is Mitt.
"Tonight I want to talk to you about love," she said. The critical point was
that Ann loves Mitt and Mitt loves America. What could be better than that?
Then, half an hour later, Governor Christie decreed that respect trumps
love. If these people can't even decide where love ranks on their to-do
list, you can appreciate why they found it impossible to get together to
build a new presidential candidate.
Although she was assigned to paint a picture of the Mitt Romney we have
never seen and suspect does not exist, his wife's remarks were remarkably
short on specifics. She did have a story about their humble early married
life, which involved a brief period in college when they were forced to
consume "a lot of pasta and tuna fish."
Ann assured the crowd that her husband had spent "countless hours helping
others," and although that was pretty vague, we do have other accounts of
his good deeds, mainly for fellow parishioners at church. She also seemed
intent on telling us that he's a fun guy, full of Mittwit, but she failed to
provide any examples of fun that were actually funny. The take-away image of
Mitt Romney, Neighbor, was less George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life"
than Ned Flanders in "The Simpsons."
The best humanizing story about a robotic presidential candidate I can
remember was the one John Kerry's daughters told about how Kerry had saved
their hamster Licorice from a "watery doom" by diving off a dock, retrieving
the animal and administering CPR. And, actually, that didn't work out so
well.
They'll make do with what they've got. One thing's for sure: nobody in Tampa
is all that interested in talking about Mitt Romney interacting with pets.
--
"We've given all you people need to know."
What is Romney hiding?
Anne Romney's arrogance?
Joe Cooper
Aug 30, 2012, 4:22:26 PM8/30/12
to
"Sid9" <sid9@ bellsouth.net> wrote in news:k1ofso$m76$1...@dont-email.me:
> "We built it" is one of the themes here, at the
> government-underwritten convention in a government-subsidized
> convention center in a city that rose on the sturdy foundation of
> government-subsidized flood insurance. But no taxpayer dollars were
> expended in the attempt to put together a New Mitt.
>
> None. Really, it was just private corporations and rich people.
Like Barack Obama, multi-millionaire?
Or perhaps George Soros?
John Kerry?
Al Gore?
Sara Jessica Parker?
George Clooney?
Cher?
Barbara Streisand?
I love watching progressives bad-mouthing rich people...
--
I do not want a President who is really rich. The rich are
out of touch...Unless their last name is Kennedy, Obama or
Kerry, or they run as a Democrat.
> "We built it" is one of the themes here, at the
> government-underwritten convention in a government-subsidized
> convention center in a city that rose on the sturdy foundation of
> government-subsidized flood insurance. But no taxpayer dollars were
> expended in the attempt to put together a New Mitt.
>
> None. Really, it was just private corporations and rich people.
Or perhaps George Soros?
John Kerry?
Al Gore?
Sara Jessica Parker?
George Clooney?
Cher?
Barbara Streisand?
I love watching progressives bad-mouthing rich people...
--
I do not want a President who is really rich. The rich are
out of touch...Unless their last name is Kennedy, Obama or
Kerry, or they run as a Democrat.
Sid9
Aug 30, 2012, 4:41:45 PM8/30/12
to
"Joe Cooper" <joecoo...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:XnsA0BF880776A...@88.198.244.100...
> "Sid9" <sid9@ bellsouth.net> wrote in news:k1ofso$m76$1...@dont-email.me:
>
>> "We built it" is one of the themes here, at the
>> government-underwritten convention in a government-subsidized
>> convention center in a city that rose on the sturdy foundation of
>> government-subsidized flood insurance. But no taxpayer dollars were
>> expended in the attempt to put together a New Mitt.
>>
>> None. Really, it was just private corporations and rich people.
>
> Like Barack Obama, multi-millionaire?
> Or perhaps George Soros?
> John Kerry?
> Al Gore?
> Sara Jessica Parker?
> George Clooney?
> Cher?
> Barbara Streisand?
>
> I love watching progressives bad-mouthing rich people...
>
>
.
>
>> "We built it" is one of the themes here, at the
>> government-underwritten convention in a government-subsidized
>> convention center in a city that rose on the sturdy foundation of
>> government-subsidized flood insurance. But no taxpayer dollars were
>> expended in the attempt to put together a New Mitt.
>>
>> None. Really, it was just private corporations and rich people.
>
> Like Barack Obama, multi-millionaire?
> Or perhaps George Soros?
> John Kerry?
> Al Gore?
> Sara Jessica Parker?
> George Clooney?
> Cher?
> Barbara Streisand?
>
> I love watching progressives bad-mouthing rich people...
>
>
.
.
Majority of Americans Say the Rich Are Greedy and Dishonest: Pew Research
Poll
Morgan Korn | Daily Ticker � 3 hours ago
Income inequality has become a familiar theme in this presidential election
and the majority of Americans believe the growing wealth divide is "a bad
thing" for the country, according to a new report by the Pew Research
Center.
Kim Parker, an associate director at the Center and lead author of the
report, polled more than 2,500 Americans last month about tax rates, social
class and partisan biases. She found that wealthy Americans may be vilified
by their societal peers but they're also viewed as more intelligent and
hardworking. Parker joined The Daily Ticker to discuss the findings and what
they imply about the state of America today.
America's View of The Rich
The Pew report found that many Americans view the rich differently than
other people. An overwhelming majority of Americans (those who describe
themselves as either middle-or-lower income) say that they admire people who
get rich by working hard but they also view the rich as greedier and less
honest, according to the survey.
Most Americans defined "wealthy" as an annual income of at least $100,000
for a family of four. The median amount was $150,000 for all respondents and
the higher number could be attributed to one's demographic region, current
lifestyle and income, according to the report. Forty-nine percent of
respondents described themselves as middle class; 32 percent labeled
themselves as lower-middle to lower-income class and 17 percent
characterized themselves as upper or upper-middle class.
America's View on Taxes
Fifty-eight percent of poll respondents say the rich pay too little in
taxes. That number reflects the same attitude as 52 percent of upper or
upper-middle class Americans polled. Thirty-seven percent of respondents say
lower-income Americans pay too much in taxes and 34 percent believe
lower-income Americans pay their fair share. Twenty percent of adults in the
survey say lower-income individuals pay too little in taxes.
America's View on Democrats vs. Republicans
The U.S. tax system has been one of the most controversial and polarizing
themes in the election cycle and both presidential candidates have offered
their own solutions for reforming the byzantine tax code.
Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's plan would cut taxes across
all income classes and President Barack Obama's proposal aims to increase
taxes on rich Americans. The Pew survey found that 63 percent of respondents
say that the GOP favors the wealthy over the middle class and the poor and
71 percent believe Romney, if elected president, would "be good" for wealthy
people. Sixty percent of respondents said Obama's policies would help the
poor and 37 percent believe the wealthy would gain an advantage under Obama.
When the responses were tallied based on political affiliation, 55 percent
of Republicans say the GOP favors the middle class compared to 26 percent
who say their party caters to the rich. Fifty-nine percent of Democrats
believe their party tilts toward the middle class and just six percent say
it favors the rich.
===============================================
August 29, 2012
Renovating Mitt Romney
By GAIL COLLINS
TAMPA, Fla.
So, about Mitt Romney.
The Republicans have been holding a convention to nominate him for
president! I am telling you this on the off chance that you haven't been
paying attention. Perhaps you feel as if you've already met Mitt Romney and
don't require another introduction. Perhaps you feel as if you've met him a
lot. But this is entirely different because the party's mission this week is
to construct an entirely new, improved, warmer, more lovable version.
They built this Romney!
"We built it" is one of the themes here, at the government-underwritten
convention in a government-subsidized convention center in a city that rose
on the sturdy foundation of government-subsidized flood insurance. But no
taxpayer dollars were expended in the attempt to put together a New Mitt.
None. Really, it was just private corporations and rich people.
convention in a government-subsidized convention center in a city that rose
on the sturdy foundation of government-subsidized flood insurance. But no
taxpayer dollars were expended in the attempt to put together a New Mitt.
None. Really, it was just private corporations and rich people.
David Hartung
Aug 30, 2012, 4:52:59 PM8/30/12
to
On 08/30/2012 03:41 PM, Sid9 wrote:
>
> "Joe Cooper" <joecoo...@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:XnsA0BF880776A...@88.198.244.100...
>> "Sid9" <sid9@ bellsouth.net> wrote in news:k1ofso$m76$1...@dont-email.me:
>>
>>> "We built it" is one of the themes here, at the
>>> government-underwritten convention in a government-subsidized
>>> convention center in a city that rose on the sturdy foundation of
>>> government-subsidized flood insurance. But no taxpayer dollars were
>>> expended in the attempt to put together a New Mitt.
>>>
>>> None. Really, it was just private corporations and rich people.
>>
>> Like Barack Obama, multi-millionaire?
>> Or perhaps George Soros?
>> John Kerry?
>> Al Gore?
>> Sara Jessica Parker?
>> George Clooney?
>> Cher?
>> Barbara Streisand?
>>
>> I love watching progressives bad-mouthing rich people...
>>
>>
> .
> .
> .
> Majority of Americans Say the Rich Are Greedy and Dishonest: Pew
> Research Poll
All this does is to demonstrate that people very often have no idea what
>
> "Joe Cooper" <joecoo...@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:XnsA0BF880776A...@88.198.244.100...
>> "Sid9" <sid9@ bellsouth.net> wrote in news:k1ofso$m76$1...@dont-email.me:
>>
>>> "We built it" is one of the themes here, at the
>>> government-underwritten convention in a government-subsidized
>>> convention center in a city that rose on the sturdy foundation of
>>> government-subsidized flood insurance. But no taxpayer dollars were
>>> expended in the attempt to put together a New Mitt.
>>>
>>> None. Really, it was just private corporations and rich people.
>>
>> Like Barack Obama, multi-millionaire?
>> Or perhaps George Soros?
>> John Kerry?
>> Al Gore?
>> Sara Jessica Parker?
>> George Clooney?
>> Cher?
>> Barbara Streisand?
>>
>> I love watching progressives bad-mouthing rich people...
>>
>>
> .
> .
> .
> Majority of Americans Say the Rich Are Greedy and Dishonest: Pew
> Research Poll
the facts are.
Sid, if you want to convince rational people that the wealthy are evil,
greedy bastards, then provide credible evidence to support that claim. A
poll of people's opinions proves nothing.
Sid9
Aug 30, 2012, 4:54:52 PM8/30/12
to
"David Hartung" <david@hotma*l.com> wrote in message
news:YYudnfW_CNg2T6LN...@giganews.com...
.
A revelation!
The world is wrong and Hartung is right!
Who would have believed!
David Hartung
Aug 30, 2012, 4:56:37 PM8/30/12
to
Tell me again how you are so much smarter than the average conservative.
Oglethorpe
Aug 30, 2012, 7:14:04 PM8/30/12
to
"Sid9" <sid9@ bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:k1ofso$m76$1...@dont-email.me...
> August 29, 2012
>
> Renovating Mitt Romney
>
How about we remove the moron, Obama?
>
> Renovating Mitt Romney
>
Gary DW
Aug 30, 2012, 5:31:42 PM8/30/12
to
In article
<YYudnfS_CNgYTqLN...@giganews.com>, David
Hartung says...
How exactly does one prove something as subjective as
greed, and dishonesty?
Jeesh David, have you been eating out of the stupidity
garden all summer?
--
"[The] debt explosion has resulted not from big spending
by the Democrats, but instead the Republican Party's
embrace, about three decades ago, of the insidious
doctrine that deficits don't matter if they result from
tax cuts."
-Reagan budget chief David Stockman
<YYudnfS_CNgYTqLN...@giganews.com>, David
Hartung says...
greed, and dishonesty?
Jeesh David, have you been eating out of the stupidity
garden all summer?
--
"[The] debt explosion has resulted not from big spending
by the Democrats, but instead the Republican Party's
embrace, about three decades ago, of the insidious
doctrine that deficits don't matter if they result from
tax cuts."
-Reagan budget chief David Stockman
Sid9
Aug 30, 2012, 5:55:47 PM8/30/12
to
news:YYudnfS_CNgYTqLN...@giganews.com...
.
.
.
Dummy, I'm smarter the the average anybody.
Thank the Federal government for your survival today.
Mississippi could not have dome it alone
.
.
Dummy, I'm smarter the the average anybody.
Thank the Federal government for your survival today.
Mississippi could not have dome it alone
Joe Cooper
Aug 30, 2012, 6:37:00 PM8/30/12
to
"Sid9" <sid9@ bellsouth.net> wrote in news:k1oj6c$d9e$1...@dont-email.me:
> Majority of Americans Say the Rich Are Greedy and Dishonest: Pew
> Research Poll
So the majority of Americans say President Obama is greedy and dishonest -
thank God for that.
> Majority of Americans Say the Rich Are Greedy and Dishonest: Pew
> Research Poll
thank God for that.
Joe Cooper
Aug 30, 2012, 6:38:12 PM8/30/12
to
"Sid9" <sid9@ bellsouth.net> wrote in news:k1onh7$93t$1...@dont-email.me:
> Dummy, I'm smarter the the average anybody.
Broke my damned Irony Meter.
> Dummy, I'm smarter the the average anybody.
Sid9
Aug 30, 2012, 6:39:27 PM8/30/12
to
news:XnsA0BF9ED82E3...@88.198.244.100...
.
.
.
.
So, you're a fucking deceptive idiot and therefore liar.
.
.
.
So, you're a fucking deceptive idiot and therefore liar.
emoneyjoe
Aug 30, 2012, 7:15:09 PM8/30/12
to
and I found them to be exceptionally kind and
considerate, and otherwise just fine human
beings.
Your problem is trying to lump everybody
you don't like in one group, and that is always
wrong, it is the way a deceitful politico does
things no matter their station in life.
Oglethorpe
Aug 30, 2012, 9:36:57 PM8/30/12
to
"Sid9" <sid9@ bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:k1onh7$93t$1...@dont-email.me...
Joe Cooper
Aug 30, 2012, 8:37:29 PM8/30/12
to
"Sid9" <sid9@ bellsouth.net> wrote in news:k1oq33$nap$1...@dont-email.me:
>
> "Joe Cooper" <joecoo...@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:XnsA0BF9ED82E3...@88.198.244.100...
>> "Sid9" <sid9@ bellsouth.net> wrote in
>> news:k1oj6c$d9e$1...@dont-email.me:
>>
>>> Majority of Americans Say the Rich Are Greedy and Dishonest: Pew
>>> Research Poll
>>
>> So the majority of Americans say President Obama is greedy and
>> dishonest - thank God for that.
Let's review the bidding, shall we, Comrade Jo?
1. You made this statement: "Majority of Americans Say the Rich Are Greedy
3. Therefore a majority of Americans Say President Obama is greedy and
dishonest.
Thank you for granting me the opportunity to restate your point.
--
If you offer a progressive a penny for his thoughts, don't
forget to ask for change.
>
> "Joe Cooper" <joecoo...@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:XnsA0BF9ED82E3...@88.198.244.100...
>> "Sid9" <sid9@ bellsouth.net> wrote in
>> news:k1oj6c$d9e$1...@dont-email.me:
>>
>>> Majority of Americans Say the Rich Are Greedy and Dishonest: Pew
>>> Research Poll
>>
>> So the majority of Americans say President Obama is greedy and
>> dishonest - thank God for that.
> So, you're a fucking deceptive idiot and therefore liar.
Ah! We are dealing with an intellectual progressive - who knew?
Let's review the bidding, shall we, Comrade Jo?
1. You made this statement: "Majority of Americans Say the Rich Are Greedy
and Dishonest: Pew Research Poll"
2. Barack Obama is a multi-millionaire.
3. Therefore a majority of Americans Say President Obama is greedy and
dishonest.
Thank you for granting me the opportunity to restate your point.
--
If you offer a progressive a penny for his thoughts, don't
forget to ask for change.
David Hartung
Aug 30, 2012, 9:32:03 PM8/30/12
to
Mitchell Holman
Aug 30, 2012, 10:35:12 PM8/30/12
to
David Hartung <david@hotma*l.com> wrote in
news:YYudnfS_CNgYTqLN...@giganews.com:
"Kuwait had a treaty with the USA which required
us to come to their defense."
David Hartung, 12/30/06. No such treaty ever existed.
>
> Tell me again how you are so much smarter than the average
> conservative.
>
"I think it safe to say that I am not the only ignorant
individual in this newsgroup."
David Hartung, 2/10/08.
Bret Cahill
Aug 30, 2012, 10:49:04 PM8/30/12
to
> I love watching progressives bad-mouthing rich people...
You must really love the DoI where Jefferson bad mouthed "job creator"
private sector landlord George III.
Bret Cahill
Bret Cahill
Aug 30, 2012, 10:52:28 PM8/30/12
to
> Tell me again how you are so much smarter than the average conservative.-
Well, for one, he's not betting against Obama on intrade:
http://www.intrade.com/v4/markets/contract/?contractId=743474
Bret Cahill
Well, for one, he's not betting against Obama on intrade:
http://www.intrade.com/v4/markets/contract/?contractId=743474
Bret Cahill
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