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Santorum, Seriously?

By Larry Johnson on February 8, 2012 at 8:53 PM in Current Affairs

Santorum is a joke. Conservatives backing this guy prove once and for all that they are not serious people. What qualifies Santorum over Obama? Both were Senators with minimal accomplishments while in office. Both are lawyers with minimal legal experience (although Santorum had more success as a lawyer than Obama). Both are good family men whose children adore them.

But there are some differences. Santorum insists he is the authentic conservative though he had no qualms about backing that other great Republican conservative, Arlen Specter. Santorum loved to do earmarks. That’s another authentic conservative principle. Right?

Part of me hopes that Santorum gets the nomination. Why? Only after he gets thoroughly crushed in the general election and helps the Dems take back the House of Representatives will the so-called conservatives like Santorum finally sit down and shut up.

One of the key beefs I have always had with Obama is his complete, utter lack of experience as an Executive and in managing large scale projects/activities. So the prescription of the conservative base of the Republican party is to advance a total lightweight like Santorum? That is completely insane. But hey, who said the Republican faithful are sane?

I am a person without a party if Santorum is the Republican ideal of Presidential timber.

The Democrats are equally nuts. Look at the hordes who excuse Barack Obama keeping Guantanamo open and executing American citizens overseas without any judicial due process. If George Bush was doing that shit the Dems would be hollering for impeachment. Obama does it?
No problem. It is okay.

The country is in trouble but we are being presented a choice of Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber.

Faulkner

I think people are so disillusioned with Obama that they will accept any alternative. Even bad ones. Our country is in crisis at home and abroad and we have no one who can lead us. We have truly lost our way.

Dorinda

Nope. Having two bad choices means no choice. I won’t give my vote to either so would have to hope a decent third party option. You say, that means Obama wins? Oh well. Quit nominating shitty candidates that have a very narrow appeal.

Anonymous

A choice between Obama and Santorum is not a “choice” I’m willing to make. I find it so sad that in a nation of over 300 million people these are the choices we are given. I won’t vote for Obama, or any other Democrat until the current leadership is gone but Santorum? Seriously?

Dorinda

Nope. Having two bad choices means no choice. I won’t give my vote to either so would have to hope a decent third party option. You say, that means Obama wins? Oh well. Quit nominating shitty candidates that have a very narrow appeal.
Dorinda

Nope. Having two bad choices means no choice. I won’t give my vote to either so would have to hope a decent third party option. You say, that means Obama wins? Oh well. Quit nominating shitty candidates that have a very narrow appeal.
http://twitter.com/MarvinMarks Marvin Marks

You live in a bubble. Obama isn’t nearly as unpopular among the general voting populace as is on Fox News, right wing blogs, and among your right wing friends.

Obama’s approval rating is currently a decent 47% on Gallup – he beats all Republicans in head to head polling – and all of the trends are in his favor.

(and he’s over 60% on Intrade now.)

btraven

Exactly. The smart conservative money decided early on that Obama could not be beaten so they are counting on keeping the Senate and maybe winning the House. Of course, that leaves smart liberals in a real quandary – do they really want Obama managing the crisis with Iran?
PA

Obama has remained the most popular national politician in American since he was elected. Nobody else comes close.

http://twitter.com/vivianberryhill Vivian Berryhill

Harsh.But accurate! http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/64958/santorum-seriously/#more-64958
Anonymous

I have to agree–sad state of affairs.
Anonymous

I have to agree–sad state of affairs.
Anonymous

I have to agree–sad state of affairs.
Anonymous

At least the heat works up here in the peanut gallery, LJ. Welcome to the party. (thanks for that)

“executing American citizens overseas without any judicial due process”
…you wrote you were not that concerned about it. I am not arguing that Anwar wasn’t clearly an enemy of state, due to his public statements, but now you have an issue with that lack of due process that the punk got? He wasn’t even tried in “ab-stench-ia” unless one considers a hellfire missle the jury and he was an American citizen.

I seriously think it is a great thing that Santorum one a few states. What I find surprising is you didn’t know, out of the gate, that the voters of this country would not actually get a person qualified to the job of POTUS. /snark off

Good luck with that Jihad thing… “if you immediately know the candlelight is fire, the meal was cooked a long time ago.”

http://noquarterusa.net Larry Johnson

Teak,
I’m making the point that the Left beat up Bush on that front. In the case of Awlaki I do believe there was enough of a vetting process with the various agencies. It was not a cavalier, off hand decision. But, if that had been Bush the Left would cut him no slack but since it is Obama it is okay.

Anonymous

To be perfectly honest I sometimes wonder if we wouldn’t be well served by a Department of Asshole Elimination.

Anonymous

You mean we aren’t?

Anonymous

I hear ya LJ. The whole thing is a mystery that has no rational reality. Dems are just delusional and Republicans are unaware that alienating indies is a race to the dark side. I am glad santorum one because it’s affect will give some focus to the desired outcome. Romney can’t attack Santorum on “conservative” meme inspite of the pork loin Santorum brings in.
I am sick of the “anyone but” Obama or Bush false choice. There is so much red meat to chew on when it comes to BO that it is amazing all one hears is the Rebublicans whacking each other…

I am glad that Awlaki got smoked. Just yankin yer chain about it.
I was wondering what you thought about the Russian’s naval bases if Syria folds. You think they will still be able maintain their presense? Or will they be “pushed” closer to Iran than they are now?

Ido not see any of these folks with creds to get a handle on the Arabs who like big butts…(I can not lie)

FormerLiberal

“Jihad thing” ?

Must have missed something. But it did give me an idea maybe the Pope should declare Jihad on America. If they do they might get some respect from Obama. Liberals treat their enemies better than they do their friends.

Anonymous

At least the heat works up here in the peanut gallery, LJ. Welcome to the party. (thanks for that)

“executing American citizens overseas without any judicial due process”
…you wrote you were not that concerned about it. I am not arguing that Anwar wasn’t clearly an enemy of state, due to his public statements, but now you have an issue with that lack of due process that the punk got? He wasn’t even tried in “ab-stench-ia” unless one considers a hellfire missle the jury and he was an American citizen.

I seriously think it is a great thing that Santorum one a few states. What I find surprising is you didn’t know, out of the gate, that the voters of this country would not actually get a person qualified to the job of POTUS. /snark off

Good luck with that Jihad thing… “if you immediately know the candlelight is fire, the meal was cooked a long time ago.”
Anonymous

Just to prove Larry`s point.

Oh my: Majorities of liberal Democrats now support drone strikes, keeping Gitmo open

The poll shows that 53 percent of self-identified liberal
Democrats — and 67 percent of moderate or conservative Democrats —
support keeping Guantanamo Bay open, even though it emerged as a symbol
of the post-Sept. 11 national security policies of George W. Bush, which
many liberals bitterly opposed.
Obama has also relied on armed drones far more than Bush did, and he
has expanded their use beyond America’s defined war zones. The Post-ABC
News poll found that 83 percent of Americans approve of Obama’s drone
policy, which administration officials refuse to discuss, citing
security concerns…
But fully 77 percent of liberal Democrats endorse the use of drones, meaning that Obama is unlikely to suffer any political consequences as a result of his policy in this election year.
Support for drone strikes against suspected terrorists stays high, dropping only somewhat when respondents are asked specifically about targeting American citizens living overseas, as was the case with Anwar al-Awlaki, the Yemeni American killed in September in a drone strike in northern Yemen.http://hotair.com/archives/2012/02/08/oh-my-majorities-of-liberal-democrats-now-support-drone-strikes-keeping-gitmo-open/

Scottymac54

Ugh, what hypocrites. How about opposing needless slaughter when YOUR BOY does it?

Because it has the Barky stamp of approval to it, the same conditions that existed under Bush is now just peachy keen, and used to build up Barky as a strong commander-in-chief?

Take my advice, folks…..give up on BOTH parties.

Neither one stands for anything anymore, and it’s more important to stand up for what you believe in, than to remain part of some club.

Anonymous

“We” like Drones, eh?

So I guess “We’re” gonna be thrilled to hear that Obama has given the FAA three years to figure out how to integrate drones into the stateside air traffic control system.

I feel safer already.
Anonymous

“Neither one stands for anything anymore, and it’s more important to
stand up for what you believe in, than to remain part of some club.”
Yep. Never belonged in a club. Just want to use one sometimes.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dolly-Cain/100002303813490 Dolly Cain

Yes Scottymac54. Where are the massive anti-war marches? Why isn’t Mike Moore chasing down Dem Congress people and asking them why their kids aren’t serving?

Where are the documentaries with Hollywood stars decrying the deaths of innocent civilians?

Crickets….

Scottymac54

“Where are the massive anti-war marches?”

ANY march, Dolly? Where are the ranks of the strong, in Union Square Park?

There is NO ONE, LOL!

How easily do they sell themselves? (Or, more accurately, rent their asses out, to the VERY lowest bidder?)

Political protesters, or personality cultists?

http://twitter.com/MarvinMarks Marvin Marks

I find that poll hard to believe. I know a lot of people who call themselves liberals and I don’t think any of them supports Guantanamo Bay being open.

As far as drones – I think that’s a more complicated thing… I don’t remember drones being an issue before Obama … I have yet to be convinced that they are somehow morally worse than anything else involving war. If you have the technology to wage war without putting your own men at risk, it seems like something you have to do.

Fygsmom

Santorum won on a very narrow plank–I believe the rest of the nation will balance this out. Lord I hope so.

Larry is right. Santorum is morginally more qualified to be president than Mickey Mouse.

Romney, love him or hate him knows how to organiz and run large organizations effectively. He understands hard choices and is engaged in the thought process.

We need to come up with a better way of selecting our nominees.
FormerLiberal

Settle down guys there is a lot of campaigning left. The fat lady hasn’t even put on her makeup yet.

I see last nights results as bad for the “angry little attack muffin” more so than for Romney. As far as Minnesota goes they will vote for anyone up there. I swear those Lutherans must take acid for their communion. Jesse Ventura and that comedian give me a break. Santorum spent much more time in Missouri and was rewarded for the effort. Not sure what happened in Colorado but I’m pretty sure Tebow didn’t endorse anyone.

Dave L.

You have to remember that Minnesota is home of the DFL, (Democtatic Farmer Labor Party). I am surprised they got anyone to venture out doors and even show up at the polls. Those people would elect a fishing shanty !

Anonymous

Why Were Pastors ‘Laying Hands’ on Rick Santorum in TX?

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum stopped in McKinney,
Texas, earlier today, where he met with evangelical faith leaders.
During their time together, the pastors and congregants “laid hands on”
the candidate and prayed for him.

Jrterrier

If I’m not mistaken, as a Catholic, Santorum shouldn’t be engaging in such rituals (ie, non-Catholic rituals).

Anonymous

He shouldn’t. But then “good” Cathlics like Pelosi shouldn’t be touting abortion and contraception either.

Anonymous

I’d like to get my hands on him sometimes.

Anonymous

lol

http://www.facebook.com/people/Dolly-Cain/100002303813490 Dolly Cain

Harp2 I could put my hands on him. I doubt prayer would be on his mind.
What? What did I say?

Anonymous

Larry, I guess that you haven’t been reading PA’s “analysis.” It was the evil Republicans, Satan’s spawn all, from their power position of holding less than one third of the Senate and a minority in the House, that completely and utterly thwarted Obama and the Democrats from closing Guantanamo. You just need to read history again. And while you’re at it, a quick brush up on economics and how unemployment works might be in order, as well.

HELENK

gee I thought that backtrack blamed the Founding Fathers and the weather, and the rising of the moon, the lazy stupid American people for him not getting his ideas promoted and passed into laws

Dave L.

He blamed the founding fathers for creating a document that prohibits socialists like him from totally destroying the country. He is upset that he can’t do as he wants, by bypassing the other 2 branches of government.

Anonymous

And yet so often he does bypass the other 2 branches of government. Even Dems should be outraged by this. It makes them superfluous.

Dave L.

Good one LOL !
Anonymous

I think the Republicans in minority were better Poker players

Anonymous

Wake me up when the nightmare’s over.

Anonymous

Rick Santorum Campaigns With Mitt Romney for Mitt Romney in 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu50Hb61jVQ&feature=player_embedded
Anonymous

I keep saying obummer is getting re-elected and have been saying it since he was first elected. I don’t care what kind of a massive f*ck up he is, this country is so freakin dumbed down now, it’s easy to crap on the American people and lead them around by the nose.

Rick Snoretorum??? Really? Newtie Gingrich?? Really? I still hope I’m wrong but I just don’t see a victory against obama. The only hope I see is Romney and getting a Hispanic (qualifed) running mate. They can split the Latino vote. Many of us are not duped by the asshole democrats anymore.

Anonymous

I agree with you Tex Mex but the Hispanic vote isn’t monolithic. If you’re really talking about Mexicans only, maybe there are plenty, but here in LA Central Americans aren’t that fond of being lumped in with Mexicans. I work for a Puerto Rican and live next to a Cuban – ditto.
It’s a little like talking about White Americans.

SpiritedAway

Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber….good one.
http://www.theindependentview.com Matthew J. Weaver

Why is it that conservatives (fiscal, social, whatever) are so running around like a cat chasing a laser pointer? Flavor of the month or moment is right and as it is playing out it is rather pathetic.

The new favorote, Santorum:

1. Lost his last election by more than 18%.

2. Lobbied for the health care industry.

3. Voted for the expensive Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit

4. Voted against National Right to Work Legislation

5. Supported Spector over Toomey.

6. Sought medical malpractice limits except when it involved his wife, then asked for exception

7. In Congress, as Bachmann noted in the past, Santorum ‘stood for earmarks, stood for spending’

8. Santorum voted for the ‘bridge to nowhere’

9. About the only two things I can discern from reading at Free Republic, Conservatives4Palin, Red State, and elsewhere is that (1) Santorum is not from Mass. and (2) Santorum is not Mormon (with or without overt bigotry associated with this point). Seriously, is it acceptable to sell out everything for these two points?! And is religious bigotry, even veiled, acceptable?

And Gingrich?

1. Resigned in disgrace or, if you prefer, in failure and turned out by his own party.

2. Fined $300,000 for ethics violations or, as he prefers, he reimbursed the cost of the investigation. I’m sorry, unless you are incredibly rich, and even then if you are principled, you don’t pay $300,000 if you are innocent.

3. Bought into Gore’s AGW and sat on a Soro’s funded couch with Pelosi to support AGW fears.

4. Has spent more time in serial adulterous relationships than most people have spentin marriage.

5. Supports amnesty for illegal aliens

6. Earned $25,000 month and over $1.6 million lobbying for Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac. Or, as he prefers, serving as a historian.

7. As a lifelong politician, Gingrich revels people with his political history dating to the70s.

8. Claims Reagan’s mantle yet the Reagan diaries mention him only once and, at that,dismissively

9. Demonstrated arrogant hypocrisy for family values efforts by trying to impeach Clinton whilecarrying on an adulterous relationship themselves

Look, neither of these jokers are credible, nor Cain, Perry, and Bachmann before them. Blind hate seems to be driving conservatives in their quest for someone other than Romney. Seriously, in my opinion, he actually looks incredibly good compared to Santorum and Gingrich.

Besides, he’s also got a 50-state organization, lots of funding, lots of support, and as he’s shown recently, he can dish it out in ads and in debates. Definitely put Gingrich in his place rather spectacularly more than once. He’ll hold his own against Obama, far better than baggage-laden Gingrich or Santorum.

A pick on principle and/or electability both go to Romney.

If you seriously think either, and especially principle, goes to one of these others, please tell me how any of the above facts fits into your view of social and fiscal conservativism?

No PA

Cats and laser pointers. Sounds about right. The conservative movement is without a leader and is being led in circles. Are they really so stupid?
Anonymous

But he has created some jobs

Anonymous

Marge, as an art student I studied under one of the best political cartoonists ever, so I really appreciate you passing on their work to all of us.
And thank you on behalf of unappreciated cartoonists everywhere .

Anonymous

I adore political cartoons! Lucky you to study with one of the best.

I appreciate cartoons because they say so much. The mind of the cartoonist must be as talented, or more so, than their drawing.

For instance, the one thing that Santorum has done that I approve of is take Gingrich down a peg or two. As expressed in the cartoon below…

PTAb01

Why is it that every person I know how supports Romney seldom
Likes to review his warts ? And I do mean warts b/c it is apparent
We have no concern about their achievements at all – only Romney has achieved anything ? And exactly what are we so enamored by in his achievements? He ran a successful Co.? BRILIANT … There is a vast pool of accomplished CEO’s. He saved the Olympics? Yup he did save the Olympics and fine point for a temporary office holder on the scale of Bosnia for a few short years as opposed to the scale directing THIS nation and it’s massive economy. He created is not an advantage – it’s a lead weight.

Patience

Santorum. Sheesh. Wake me up when the nightmare’s over.

In addition to the hypocrisy that you’ve pointed out Larry, if a Republican were POTUS now we’d be hearing a snarky media chant that “this is Day 700-something of the so-called recovery”, that he bailed out Big Business/Chrysler to the tune of $1B+ of taxpayers’ money, that his signature healthcare legislation did nothing to lower prescription drugs prices which account for much of the increased medical costs people are saddled with, that he’s a war monger who’s waging an historically futile battle in Afghanistan, that his foreign policy has resulted in the transfer of power from murderous autocrats to murderous Islamists bent on yet another Holocaust, that he’s so alarmed the private sector that it’s paralyzed with fear of investing and expanding their businesses, that he’s promoting class warfare, that the black community and young people have suffered terribly because of his policies, that known Thieves of Wall Street haven’t paid a price for robbing taxpayers and damaging the financial sector, etc., etc.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Hank-DeCat/100001190387982 Hank DeCat

As I said about Obama back in 2008 I say about Santorum in 2012: he’s not qualified to be the secretary to the POTUS, much less POTUS. I was right about Obama & I’m right about Santorum.
Kathy in CA

I think in the end Romney will be the nominee. Look at the total numbers to date and then look at the larger states still to vote. My guess is Romney will win CA – a huge # right there.

Lupe

I agree. I think Romney has had the nomination in the bag since 2008 at least. Looking back 4 yrs, it’s clear that Edwards, Dodd, Biden, were not serious Democratic candidates; they were just running interference for Obama. It looks like the same situation for the Republicans now. Gingrich is the only serious competition. It would be refreshing if the Republicans actually took the contest to the convention, but I would be surprised to see that happen.

As for the general convention, even George Soros says there probably wouldn’t be much difference between a Romney & Obama presidency. That’s probably true, but I tend to think that the NWO backers of both candidates consider Romney as a second stringer. Probably too independent and he just doesn’t look right, kind of like John McCain….who, interestingly, seems to be one of the Obama administration’s strongestbforeign policy supporters.

Maybe Ralph Nader & friends can come up with a third-party candidate….that won’t work either. Maybe we do need to rewrite the Constitution so it will be easier to govern with coalitions and call for votes of no confidence. A vote of no confidence is what I would give this entire slate of candidates, not to mention the US Congress.
Anonymous

Also in CA. Don’t think Romney will win California. In courting the Republican conservatives he has endorsed their social positions which will come back to haunt him in California.

Scottymac54

IMHO, there’s no question that Romney will win the nomination in NJ, because the Christie political machine is well-respected here, and fits well into the state’s interests and cultural balance.

Evangelical influence is virtually non-existent here, and the “Tea Party” faction is unpopular, because, even going back to before the coopting by the conservatives, Tea Party support was always motivated by one issue….illegal immigration.

That’s on the back burner for the time being, and the Christie machine filled that void with its own anti-Obama rhetoric that is pro-business, which works well here.

I don’t think Romney can win here, but Obama will not do nearly as well here as he did in 2008.
Andysf

Open primary here. He will win this state.
Anonymous

You’re right Kathy. I misread and thought you meant the general.

HELENK

what is this about??
Russian planes fly near Japan airspace. Fighters scrambled

http://en.rian.ru/world/20120209/171225017.html
Dave L.

An
impressive list of accomplishments!
· First President to apply for college aid as a foreign
student, then deny he was a foreigner.
·
First President to have a social security number from a state he has never lived
in. · First President to preside over a cut
to the credit-rating of the United States
·
First President to violate the War Powers Act. .
· First President to be held in contempt of court for
illegally obstructing oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico
. · First President to defy a Federal
Judge’s court order to cease implementing the Health Care Reform
Law. · First President to require all
Americans to purchase a product from a third party.
· First President to spend a trillion dollars on
‘shovel-ready’ jobs when there was no such thing as ‘shovel-ready’ jobs.
· First President to abrogate
bankruptcy law to turn over control of companies to his union supporters.
· First President to by-pass Congress
and implement the Dream Act through executive fiat. .
·
First President to order a secret amnesty program that stopped the deportation
of illegal immigrants across the U.S.. , including those with criminal
convictions. · First President to demand a company
hand-over $20 billion to one of his political appointees.
· First President to terminate America
’s ability to put a man in space.
·
First President to have a law signed by an auto-pen without being present.
· First President to arbitrarily
declare an existing law unconstitutional and refuse to enforce it.
· First President to threaten insurance
companies if they publicly spoke-out on the reasons for their rate increases.
· First President to tell a major
manufacturing company in which state it is allowed to locate a factory.
· First President to file lawsuits
against the states he swore an oath to protect (AZ, WI, OH, IN).
· First President to withdraw an
existing coal permit that had been properly issued years ago.
· First President to fire an inspector
general of Ameri-corps for catching one of his friends in a corruption case.
· First President to appoint 45 czars
to replace elected officials in his office. .
·
First President to golf 73 separate times in his first two and a half years in
office, 90 to date.
·
First President to hide his medical, educational and travel records.
· First President to win a Nobel Peace
Prize for doing NOTHING to earn it.
·
First President to go on multiple global ‘apology tours’.
· First President to go on 17 lavish
vacations, including date nights and Wednesday evening White House parties for
his friends; paid for by the taxpayer.
·
First President to have 22 personal servants (taxpayer funded) for his wife.
· First President to keep a dog trainer
on retainer for $102,000 a year at taxpayer expense.
·
First President to repeat the Holy Qur’an tells us the early morning call of the
Azan (Islamic call to worship) is the most beautiful sound on earth.
· First President to take a 17 day
vacation. So how is this
hope and change working out for you?

An
impressive list of accomplishments!
· First President to apply for college aid as a foreign
student, then deny he was a foreigner.
·
First President to have a social security number from a state he has never lived
in. · First President to preside over a cut
to the credit-rating of the United States
·
First President to violate the War Powers Act. .
· First President to be held in contempt of court for
illegally obstructing oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico
. · First President to defy a Federal
Judge’s court order to cease implementing the Health Care Reform
Law. · First President to require all
Americans to purchase a product from a third party.
· First President to spend a trillion dollars on
‘shovel-ready’ jobs when there was no such thing as ‘shovel-ready’ jobs.
· First President to abrogate
bankruptcy law to turn over control of companies to his union supporters.
· First President to by-pass Congress
and implement the Dream Act through executive fiat. .
·
First President to order a secret amnesty program that stopped the deportation
of illegal immigrants across the U.S.. , including those with criminal
convictions. · First President to demand a company
hand-over $20 billion to one of his political appointees.
· First President to terminate America
’s ability to put a man in space.
·
First President to have a law signed by an auto-pen without being present.
· First President to arbitrarily
declare an existing law unconstitutional and refuse to enforce it.
· First President to threaten insurance
companies if they publicly spoke-out on the reasons for their rate increases.
· First President to tell a major
manufacturing company in which state it is allowed to locate a factory.
· First President to file lawsuits
against the states he swore an oath to protect (AZ, WI, OH, IN).
· First President to withdraw an
existing coal permit that had been properly issued years ago.
· First President to fire an inspector
general of Ameri-corps for catching one of his friends in a corruption case.
· First President to appoint 45 czars
to replace elected officials in his office. .
·
First President to golf 73 separate times in his first two and a half years in
office, 90 to date.
·
First President to hide his medical, educational and travel records.
· First President to win a Nobel Peace
Prize for doing NOTHING to earn it.
·
First President to go on multiple global ‘apology tours’.
· First President to go on 17 lavish
vacations, including date nights and Wednesday evening White House parties for
his friends; paid for by the taxpayer.
·
First President to have 22 personal servants (taxpayer funded) for his wife.
· First President to keep a dog trainer
on retainer for $102,000 a year at taxpayer expense.
·
First President to repeat the Holy Qur’an tells us the early morning call of the
Azan (Islamic call to worship) is the most beautiful sound on earth.
· First President to take a 17 day
vacation. So how is this
hope and change working out for you?

DO YOU REALLY THINK THIS IDIOT DESERVES FOUR MORE YEARS ?

Anonymous

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

beachnan

Does the zzzzzzzzzzz stand for Zombie- a mindless, non-thinking entity i.e., OBOT?

PA

Same unproven conservative talking point BS. Most of that is straight opinion or lies. And many of those are what you do when you are President. It is called pushing your own policy and make hard decisions. Nothing wrong with a lot of that stuff. Good for Obama.

Anonymous

“First President to require all
Americans to purchase a product from a third party. ”
The rest is nonsense but I am concerned about Obama taking the side of the banks and big Insurance corporations. It’s costing small business a fortune and we are the engineers of employment.
So anyone who thinks Obama is a Socialist isn’t paying attention.

Scottymac54

Basically, “Obamacare” was WRITTEN by the insurance companies.

It is unpopular with the people, because it takes the worst aspects of our current non-healthcare system, and cobbles them together with the most empty and fraudulent aspects of those plans of some other nations,
that also happen to be the most intrusive, inflexible, and restrictive aspects, cobbling them all together into one inhuman, inefficient, incoherent mass.

Barky’s OWN BASE basically told him from the onset what they wanted to see (one reductionist rant that actually made sense at the time was, “Put EVERYONE on Medicare!”, so I don’t fault advocates at the time for supporting Barky on healthcare alone.

They simply underestimated the level of Barky’s collusion with the insurance industry, at the time.

As time went on and the Congressional cage fight emerged, they saw Obama’s “willingness” to “work”, LOL, with the corporate giants as a marketable efficiency, assuming the companies were as interested in reform as they were (????), and a way to
finesse it all past the pitchforks.

Barky never expected large-scale defections from the profit-based medical establishment because he couldn’t comprehend their paradigms and their motivations. “Big Pharma” was supposed to have assuaged them, FOR him.

To this day, there’s never been any large-scale awakening on the part of Obama supporters, past and present.

They still see “Obamacare” as an improvement to the status quo, worth settling for.

Ellend818

Sadly you’re right. If they realized all the BIG EMPLOYERS here are SELF-INSURED so the big insurance companies can only bleed small business and consumers for their insane profits.
I kept my Canadian company even after I had no employees. I understand now that there is plenty of business for insurance companies in Canada to provide additional upgrade insurance to the single-payer safety net (private rooms instead of sharing) but you can always depend on the single payer to fall back on. Sounds good to me.
PA

I think you need to do a little more reading about the ACA bills. They are very good bills and something very much to build on. They are a major step in the right direction and will get many more people insured.

Yeah, those healthcare bills are so popular with the insurance industry that they felt that they had to lobby and advertise against them.

The GOP has absolutely nothing on healthcare reform. All they want to do is voucherize medicare and pass the cost inflation on to seniors. The GOP also wants to take down State rules so they can let the insurance industry further do what they want.

PA

I think you need to read the ACA bills more closely. Small businesses under 50 employees (which is +90% of all small businesses) are exempt from the healthcare reform bills. So there will be no extra costs for +90% of small businesses in America. And many of the small businesses that are covered by the healthcare bills already provide health insurance to their employees, so nothing changes.

However, those small busineses exempt can purchase insurance if they want at much lower rates because of the healthcare bill, so many small business owners will be able to give their employees health insurance for the first time.

Anonymous

PA you need a REALITY CHECK.
I actually deal with this every day for 3 small businesses who WANT to provide the best insurance they can for the people they work with.
You’re telling me we will do BETTER because we aren’t FORCED to insure?
Every one of these businesses refuses to desert their employees. All they want is to insure them at fair cost and right now rates are going UP for LESS COVERAGE.

PA

What is your point? What don’t you agree with?

Do the businesses that you “deal with” have 50 or less employees? If so they are except from the ACA bills.

Do the business you deal with currently provide healthcare coverage for their employees? If so then the mandate does not apply and they already provide health insurance, so nothing changes.

If the business do not currently provide health insurance, then they is a good chance that you will be able to use the exchanges to buy insurance, which should help you get the best competitive rates.

Rates going up for less coverage has nothing to do with the ACA bills, as most of the changes in the bills do not take effect until 2014 and rates going up for less coverage has been the issue for years (before Obama was even elected).

Again, what have I said that you disagree with. Your statement does not make any sense.

Anonymous

PA – your posts remind me of the line – “Who are you going to believe – me or your lying eyes?” I don’t CARE what it SAYS. I only care what is happening in the real world. And no, rates have not been going up as precipitously as now since “The Gift to Insurance Companies” act.

PA

Great we know healthcare costs are going up. It has been a problem for a couple of decades.

What is you point exactly?

What makes you think the rate increases today have anything to do with the ACA bills which do not even come into effect for two years. There is no proof that current healthcare insurance price/cost increases are being caused by the healthcare reform. In fact, there are many who know what they are talking about who say current health insurance have nothing to do with reform. See below:

“Premium rates for many in the individual market are going up. But state insurance commissioners and health care experts told us the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is responsible in most cases for only a small portion of these increases.

The main cause of double-digit rate hikes is rising medical costs.

A health policy analyst with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners told us that “as a general trend across all carriers in a state … there’s about a 1 to 2 to 3 percent increase” in premiums in the individual market due to the health care law. If the legislation hadn’t been enacted, the bulk of the reported premium increases still would have occurred. “The real driver of the premiums is the costs, and you have to get the costs under control,” the NAIC analyst said.These premium increases are mainly in the individual market, where about 14 million people buy their own insurance. That’s only about 6 percent of those with health coverage (non-elderly) in the U.S.Stephanie Marquis of the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner told us that rate changes requested because of the health care law are expected to be less than 5 percent, while increases in premiums due to rising medical costs average 13.12 percent for individual plans and 15.54 percent for small-group plans.
In New York, Insurance State Board spokesman Andrew Mais reported similar results. Letters that health insurance providers have sent to customers say that premium increases are largely the result of annual trends in medical care.

Aetna Health Inc. in New York told its customers in the individual market that it had requested premium increases of 10 percent to 12 percent due to rising costs, plus separate rate changes due to the health care law that “may” result in an additional 4 percent increase in policies covering families.

Also in New York, Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan described increases of 10.1 percent to 11.5 percent for HMO small-group plans resulting from trends in the medical field, and a 2.5 percent increase attributable to the new federal law
and state mandates.

http://www.factcheck.org/2010/11/the-truth-about-health-insurance-premiums/

“…many cost-cutting provisions have yet to kick in, said Kaiser President and Chief Executive Drew Altman.
“There are a variety of factors that could have been responsible for (premium increases), but the major reason is not the healthcare reform,” he said. ”

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/27/us-usa-health-poll-kaiser-idUSTRE78Q31820110927

Anonymous

Santorum, as the latest anti-Romney flavor of the month, is going no where. He has as much of a chance of winning a general election as I do. But the social conservatives and anti-Romney people may well have driven the GOP primary so far in the ditch that they guarantee and Obama win. Nice work nitwits!

PA

And if Romney now carpet bombs Santorum with negative ads, don’t you think a good number of Republicans will get pissed at Romney, as that is all he has been doing to everyone with his big money. He basically bought Florida and Nevada and has not been able to win anywhere else, other than his residential state of New Hampshire and that is with a very split non-Romney vote.

Scottymac54

No. Because it’s become clear that, most of Santorum’s supporters would not have voted for Romney under any circumstances.

Again, the “anti-Romney” contingent, who are STILL rabid partisans, have indicated they’ll support whatever unqualified candidate is offered up, as long as they don’t have to vote for Romney to get Barky out.

PA

I think if Romney carpet bombs Santorum with negative ads a great number of people will get even more turned off and definately not vote for Romney and continue to support the non-Romney vote. The non-Romney vote is much much larger than the Romney vote and includes not only those voting for Santorum. Romney better be careful of his strategy going forward.

His problem is that to solidify himself he needs to even go to the right of Santorum. To do that will further alienate Romney with many voters in the general election.

Scottymac54

But, if you declare yourself “ABO” without wielding any power within the opposition party, you’re basically giving them license to trot out whatever social or foreign policy extremist they assume you won’t object to, so they can turn around and score themselves a “win” with their internal “one-issue” lobbying groups.

NOT trying to tell anyone how to vote. Just pointing out the inevitable results, and how the opposition reacts. They fully understand that voters will vote to rid themselves of one undesirable, and will use that opportunity to install their own.

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http://www.facebook.com/people/Dolly-Cain/100002303813490 Dolly Cain

This is almost like deciding whom you would rather have living with you:

A. Jeffrey Dahmer
B. Ted Bundy
C. The Green River Killer
D. Jack the Ripper
E. None of the above

/s
Wana

Well said.
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PA

LJ,

Why are you surprised?

The Republican Party is clearly more conservative than you are Mr. Johnson. You may even be considerd a RINO in your own party, given your surprise of your party’s support for Santorum, Gingrich, Cain, Bachmann and even Palin I bet.

Maybe your political philosophy is actually closer to Obama’s. Who is at best right of center.

“One of the key beefs I have always had with Obama is his complete, utter lack of experience as an Executive and in managing large scale projects/activities.”

Not sure why it is necessary to have “Executive” experience as you say. Not all Presidents have had Executive experience. You may disagree with Obama on policy, but he has done a good job at managing his WH and the government overall. This has been one of the smoothest run governments we have had in a long time.

“The Democrats are equally nuts. Look at the hordes who excuse Barack Obama keeping Guantanamo open and executing American citizens overseas without any judicial due process. If George Bush was doing that shit the Dems would be hollering for impeachment. Obama does it?”

That statement is ridiculous. I know of no Democrats who are happy with Guantanamo being open and very few are happy about executing American citizens overseas, although people in your party do not seem to mind.

“Impeachment” really. Dems did not scream impeachment at Bush for Guantanamo, so why would they now? That comment just does not make sense. Dems did not even scream at Bush regarding impeachment and torture.

You should get out more, as there are plenty of Democrats or liberals who are not happy about either assasinations or Guantanamo.

I am not sure how you equate Guantanamo and assasinations with voting for Santorum? That seems like some weird logic. You are basically saying: “I don’t like Santorum and my party for voting for him, but I also do not like Democrats for not screaming at Obama for not closing Guantanamo or for an assasination of an American citizen.” Those two thoughts seem disjointed. It is almost as if you cannot justify criticizing your own party without also criticizing Democrats. I guess it makes it easier in your own mind for you to criticize your own party if you also take a disjointed shot at the Democrats. So everyone knows that you aren’t no commie pinko for criticizing the GOP. Strange logic.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Dolly-Cain/100002303813490 Dolly Cain

As a black woman I can say Obama is not one of us.

Julian Bond has cited his contempt for black people. He did call us mongrels. A white President would never live that down.

Obama made promises he did not keep hence Gitmo.

Obama talks the talk but does not walk the walk.

Or is Maxine Waters wrong in begging him to address problems in the black community?

The Democrats that were rabid about GWB’s warmongering are either silent or supportive of Obama’s wars.

There is fault on both sides.

PA

“Obama made promises he did not keep hence Gitmo.”

Gitmo would be closed if Congress and several State governments did not threaten to block him from transfering prisoners to the U.S.

Actually, Obama’s record on keeping promises he made during the 2008 campaign is pretty good. Politifact actually tracks promises kept and not kept by the President and on most of the issues he has done precisely what he said he would do. His record is pretty good.

Why don’t you read this website (link below). It is very interesting and non-partisan.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/

Beyond Gitmo what major promises has Obama not kept?

Not sure what specific Obama should be doing for the black community? How about universal healthcare and fixing the economy? Does that count? I am sure if he did specific things that singled out blacks you would be hearing outrage by your fellow NQ patriots.

What wars were Obama’s wars? Both Iraq and Afghanistan were inherited. He has gotten us out of Iraq (promise kept) and is currently in the process of getting us out of Afghanistan. I would hardly call Libya a war. It was a miliary effort largely led by the EU and sanctioned by the U.N. and did not involve one single U.S. ground soldier (and it is over and was a success).

Your entire statement is a bit warp and quite far away from reality.

Anonymous

In other words, piss off, Dolly. Perhaps, like Condoleeza Rice, Colin Powell, J.C. Watts and Thomas Sowell, someone needs to teach you how to be authentically black in America.

PA

??? strange comment.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Dolly-Cain/100002303813490 Dolly Cain

Not strange but true. Or as we used to say in the ‘hood: Funk me.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Dolly-Cain/100002303813490 Dolly Cain

Yeah I don’t have that “black thing” down after all of these decades. Who knew?

Anonymous

“I am a person without a party”. I am already.
Keep the government out of our bedrooms, Republicans.

Anonymous

And keep them out of our churches, Democrats.

Ellend818

Amen
PA

Nobody is in your churches… your church can do what it wants.

However, if you wants to sell health insurance you have to follow the minimum standards that are set for all insurance companies.

More like keep your church out of my health insurance coverage. 58% of Catholics themselves agree with that statement.

See this:

http://publicreligion.org/research/2012/02/january-tracking-poll-2012/

Anonymous

Larry, you miss the Guantanamo strategy by both parties – keep it going until they all die there of old age.
Anonymous

The country is in trouble
Georgi

Hey, hey! My sentiments exactly!
Piattq

In the depths of my despair about the ability of Repubs to select a candidate who might actually have a chance of defeating O, it is reassuring to read on this site that most people here agree with mho—Romney. Sometimes I try to think the best of the “not-Romney” crowd and the endless flavor of the day conservatives. I think that they want to defeat O so desperately, they are afraid of a wrong choice so they are afraid to commit too early Romney and run to another possibility until that does not pan out. Newt and Santorum are to me the last and worst alternatives. I think the Santorum plug for Romney and the laying on of hands in TX will make great plays for the O campaign should it come to that.
Anonymous

Oaky, we get it. Republicans have some really stupid voters. But let’s take a closer look at what they are saying they want — what Sarah Palin also wanted.

It is everything that Mitt Romney has. Sane, prosperous, calm and honest life. That is all Repbulicans really want. Milt needs to get some mojo from Sarah and triangulate this. Mitt can offer everything that Santorum is symbolizing.

Mitt needs to embrace Santorum and draw a big circle around him with Mitt also in the center. Mitt’s strengths and Santorum’s deep gut level conservative appeal.

Avuncular regard for Santorum will be Mitt’s best approach. No fights because emotions not reason it fueling Santorum.

Embrace every part of Santorum with grace and respect and you will win over to your campaign momentum. Santorum just represents those who do not want to be left behind. Make sure you can take them with you.

Some where in their deeply felt rightwing zeal is some goodness you can embrace.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OIRSIZYCFPWB4I5GUE7VICVLLI Victoria

You are right on! It is mind boggling that Conservatives are this dumb to even consider Santorum just to look for a non-Romney who is the heavyweight in this fight. I am not a bigot nor a racist but I wonder if this is somehow connected to Romney’s religion? Are evangelicals that stupid to vote for a religious zealot like Santorum because of Religion? Newt and Santorum can never win a general election. I just hope that they see the light of day and at least vote for someone who can actually win. If Romney doesn’t get the nomination, then we have just handed this election to Obama. I cant believe this is happening when can have a chance to beat the current on the job training President!