Did you read the same blog you are linking to? It paints a picture of Cleveland as recovering well from hard economic times, with good promise for the future!?!? Really, how about focusing on the positives of your (obvious) party, rather than the negative catchphrases you love to use in reference to all others. It really is juvenile, as well as uninformed and disrespectful.

He apparently got no further than the picture of a black man holding a sign reading, "I want to work." As the blogger points out, the Cleveland metro area is doing better than the state overall, which is doing better than the overall US rate. it's unfortunate that the black unemployment rate was as high as 18% in 2010, but it was already 15% before it hit the fan. So if Obama's record is so bad, how come it's not greatly worse than what prevailed while Bush was in the White House and both houses and Congress had Republican majorities? And yet, those failed policies are what the Romney/Ryan ticket advocates. As I've long said, you must remember that it took over a decade to recover from the Great Depression. Surely it would take more than 2 years to get out of the Great Recession, but that's all the flip-flopping independent voters gave Obama.

Lets give credit where credit is due,
" As the blogger points out, the Cleveland metro area is doing better than the state overall, which is doing better than the overall US rate."
Thank you Private Sector Cleveland.
Thank you Mayor Jackson.
Thank you Governor Kasich.

Paul ryan cares nothing for any of you and only wants to please corporate america (Kock brothers). Bush and the republicans put us into this deficit and bankrupted our country and you want to put them back in office? Wow! And on top of it you think anyone but your tea party friends buy nto your nonsense? We can learn from the great depression and what worked to get us out of it, especially since it was the same reasons the 2008 crash happened, deregulution. Stop with the false patriotism! Tea party, citizens united, yada yada yada. Your not patriots your just mouthpieces for the 1%. Finally, it takes more than four years to recover from the republican mess especially when the republican congress has been blocking for half the time.

In order to win, liberals have only one option - demonize the opposition. Despite the fact that I give to the United Way, give at church and yes, occasionally give to the homeless person on the side of the highway, i am a terrible, horrible person. Why? Because I worked hard to get where I am today and don't want to see my standard of living erode through paying high taxes for projects that, quite honestly, I do not support.

I am called a fascist, a hate-monger and many other things simply because I look for fiscal responsibility from the federal government. You know what else I am? I am a taxpayer, both at the local and federal level.

That money I pay for property tax? Much of it goes to education. I always vote yes for levies - yet my wife has home-schooled our kids since 2005. So I get no benefit, but I recognize that we need an educated constituency and not every one can afford to have a spouse stay home. Think about this the next time you call me a hater.

Since the majority of people over 65 yrs old in the US are responsible for electing the idiots/thieves who have racked up over $15.9 TRILLION dollars of debt, their portion of the debt is approx. $384,000 each. Their is approx. 41.4 million people over 65 in this country and the debt is $15.9 trillion. Thanks alot grandma and grampa. Now my great grandchildren who are not even born yet will be slaves to your debt.

Hi Sean - gotta love the love of the right wingers! And they are all Christians too!
So what are your solutions for a country with 300 million citizens? Not everyone is going to be born with silver spoons or have great brain power. What do you do with the masses Sean that if lucky can work at McDonald's their life, with no health care or pensions, when they turn 65? Leave me to die like it was before Social Security and Medicare? The only ones who seem to demonize the opposition are those who fear difference and change. Your lack of knowledge about the working poor astounds me - please google working poor and read that most families defined as poor work - yes, some even hold down 2 jobs! And in a democracy we all pay taxes one way or another, and yes, to projects we don't support. I would never fund the CIA, but you bet a lot of my hard earned money goes to support the CIA. You are only called a hate monger if you act like one, and quite frankly, a lot of good Christian folks today are not followers of Jesus - they are followers of manmade religions and man made leaders like the Pope. If you deny those who are different their basic right and choices as a human being in 2012, not 1400, then you are a hate monger - sorry, but actions speak louder than words Sean. So, try to lead a more Jesus life - remember, he lived with the outcasts of his day, not the lobbyists/hate mongers so dominate in politics today.

Lame Scare Tactics Richard Hollis. We must have this debate or it will be decided for us by the "Grecian Formula" method.

It's not lame at all, that's exactly what this character wants to chop out of the budget. And it's what is going to defeat the Republican candidate on election day.

"Grecian Formula" LOL...must the GOP have a catchphrase for everything? Talk about "scare tactics"! hehehe

Does nobody listen or read. Paul Ryan's proposal to reform social security would not affect anyone over 55 yrs of age, Barack Obama does not even have a plan.

John McMillan,
it is not possible to make the cuts that are needed to put this country's fiscal house back in balance if we don't go where the money is being spent, and yes I include Defense. We must have this debate and we must get to a sane solution. So, yes, Richard Hollis' comment and your defense of it are lame.

HI Joe - FYI - every citizen's share of Bush/Cheney illegal wars:

FY2003 Supplemental: Operation Iraqi Freedom: Passed April 2003; Total $78.5 billion, $54.4 billion Iraq War
FY2004 Supplemental: Iraq and Afghanistan Ongoing Operations/Reconstruction: Passed November 2003; Total $87.5 billion, $70.6 billion Iraq War
FY2004 DoD Budget Amendment: $25 billion Emergency Reserve Fund (Iraq Freedom Fund): Passed July 2004, Total $25 billion, $21.5 billion (estimated) Iraq War
FY2005 Emergency Supplemental: Operations in the War on Terror; Activities in Afghanistan; Tsunami Relief: Passed April 2005, Total $82 billion, $58 billion (estimated) Iraq War
FY2006 Department of Defense appropriations: Total $50 billion, $40 billion (estimated) Iraq War.
FY2006 Emergency Supplemental: Operations Global War on Terror; Activities in Iraq & Afghanistan: Passed February 2006, Total $72.4 billion, $60 billion (estimated) Iraq War
FY2007 Department of Defense appropriations: $70 billion(estimated) for Iraq War-related costs[5][6]
FY2007 Emergency Supplemental (proposed) $100 billion
FY2008 Bush administration has proposed around $190 billion for the Iraq War and Afghanistan[7]
FY2009 Obama administration has proposed around $130 billion in additional funding for the Iraq War and Afghanistan.[8]
FY2011 Obama administration proposes around $159.3 billion for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.[9

a bit more than $ 50,000 and some change don't you think?

Joe Giles, perhaps you would care to explain the significance of these random, meaningless posts? Standing alone, they are pretty worthless to most everyone, except the little voice in your head.

John, if you read any of these Patch articles with any regularity, you'll see the same kind of simplistic posts from Joe Giles. Days after anyone stops responding to him, he'll still be posting the same old same old, whenever he's so moved. Best to ignore him. If...horror of horrors...Mitt, the hologram, and Ryan, the fountain of bad ideas, were to find themselves in power, Joe should be the first to get the bill for his share of the National Debt, which if you can believe his figures, would be $50,814. Of course, he wouldn't have to pay a red cent if he earns a $Million a year. But his tax cut would be three times that much. Fix the debt? Not with these two. You can kiss democracy goodbye. Now I'm sure old Joe will reply to this, but, frankly, I don't care what he has to say at this point. He ran on at length last week, and there's nothing new in what he's posting here. Unfortunately, there's way too much of this stuff in these Patch comments. And you can't reason with a closed mind.

Yes He Would,
and that's why he's posting.

...or are you just too clever for the rest of us to comprehend?

No John McMillan.
we just haven't learned the McCarthyite/Alinsky mindset that you have.

$100,928 everyones share of the national debt after Romney and the republicans crash the economy again! How about moderating Joe Giles! Absolutely ridiculous with the barrage of nonsense posts!

Why is Joe's post nonsense? Are you disputing the numbers? What makes you think Romney would "crash the economy again"?

MZ,
they don't THINK IT. Their McCarthyism won't let them think.

Joe, Joe, Joe, - too much Rush on the brain I am afraid.

Despite what the right wing pundits say, nondefense spending on areas like education, foreign aid, food safety, was not the driving force in creating these huge deficits. In fact, such spending, which actually helps people, accounts for only about 15 percent of the federal budget. IT IS A FACT = 15%!!! shocking when the truth is revealed isn't it?! Cutting more here like the 2 Rs want to do is simply a PR front as cuts here will not fill any deficit hole. The reality is that every year starting in 2002 with Bush in office, the budget fell into deficit. In 2009 after 7 years of Bush mismanagement, Obama inherited a $ 1.2 trillion deficit. Under Bush, his tax cuts while spending on 2 war fronts were the drivers that destroyed our economy. Add to that the unforeseen collapse of the housing market and subsequent recession -which further reduced planned tax revenue - in 2008 and there you have it. Obama's stimulus package has added to the deficit in 2009 and in 2010, but this is a temporary package, not like the tax cuts or war spending of the Bush/Cheney era. The damage is too deep to fill with spending cuts alone. Taxes have to go up and the wealthy need to pay their fair share. And with an aging population and always rising health care costs, effective health care reform and increased taxes will have to be accepted by this country to controll massive deficits from the Bush era.

hi Joe - took much liquid Rush Limbaugh taken today? Try listening to NPR sometime.

Yeah, and then there is Obama - never held a "real" job in his life. Wants to turn the election into a class war. You are, like most Democrats, looking for the payoff from the money I earned.

So why not just admit it? Say, "When the Democrats win, we will institute confiscatory taxes and take the money from those stupid Republicans that have not yet found somewhere to hide it".

Don't be a hypocrite - tell us what you stand for - you want my money!

Hey Joes, do you know why Romney won't release his taxes for the last 7 or even 5 years? Every politician feels the public should know if there are any connections to their taxes that could influence how they govern. That seems fair and common sense. So why won't Romney release his taxes? Obama has and he has nothing to hide.
What is Romney hiding?

Hey Ian. Are you hiding Baracks plan in your cellar?

Romney's plan is just a rehash of the old Reagon theory of trickle down economics. Pure rubbish that has been proven to not impact jobs at all - just makes the rich richer!
If it worked as Reagon and Bush said it would, why is unemployment so high today?
Wasn't trickle down economics suppose to create jobs for all us non-1%?
Explain this failed plan Joe if you can! There should be no unemployment at all - and guess what, this same proven silliness is at the base of the plan of Romney/Ryan = the two Rs than stand for Rich and Richer!!!

Ian, Morman is not a Christian church. If Obama and Biden believe they are Christian than you are saying they advocated discrimination and hatred and fear of difference. Jesus wouldn't vote for them either.

Ian King,
shame on you! I am Catholic and when I look at the world wide body of my brothers and sisters in faith I see every type of person in the world, indeed I could be considered the "Poor Pale Little Brother". I have met Catholics from all over the world and their understanding of faith in their lives awes me.

I believe in the separation of Church and Hate!
If a so-called Christian Church advocates bigotry and hatred of those different than themselves, I have no doubt that Jesus would have sided and lived with and advocated for those who are different - as he did in his own time on earth.
Catholics advocate open discrimination against many in their faith: women cannot be priests or bishops or even the pope and gays and lesbians are not welcomed in this medieval mindset of a church - Jesus would cry for those who are today not welcome in either the Morman or Catholic Corporate Church.

Ian King,
it seems like you believe in the separation of church and everything.

I assume you voted for McCain in 2008.

And for Sarah Palin and her active duty son.
Ian, you need to recognise your own breed of hypocricy.

I don't know if any of these comments are worthy of comment, but, come on ALONZO, you never heard of Mitt Romney before 4 months ago? If that is true I would be hesitant to take any political reccomondation from you. You sure aren't a legitimate advocate for Obama not knowing who Mitt Romney is. You don't know that Mitt Romney ran for President 4 years ago? An uneducated voter is more dangerous than a loaded gun. They get their political knowledge from commercials.

Mitt ran in 2008 but lost to McCain in the GOP primaries. So no, I guess I haven't ever wondered about that.

You've got it backwards... Ryan is NOT richer than Romney... then again, most on your side have an IQ similar to that of our current Vice President... that is, about that of a kumquat.

Hi Selective Memory Republicans! Please educate me since my IQ is soooo small:
1. How much did Cheney's HallBurton rape the government for during the Iraq War in a no bid contract? Answer: Far more than Obama has done
2. When Bush took office, we had a surplus. When he left office, the country was on the brink of collapse. Where did the surplus go during Bush's 8 years? Answer to the 1%! In less than 4 years, Obama has save this country from total collapse while every Republican vetoed all his proposals in the hope of destroying his Presidency and not caring one bit about the 99%.
3. How much money did Romney inherit from his wealthy family? Answer is millions.
When Romney talks about starting a business, he doesn't say where the start up money came from - DAD! Obama is the classic American success story - using his brains and not his family's wallet to achieve great success. Why do Republicans fear this sooo much - well, because Obama is part of the 99%, and Romney is part of the 1%.

1.) You can't seriously believe that Halliburton providing services to the US military costs more than Obama Care, and the Bailouts that Mr. Food stamp president has saddled generations with.

Halliburton $7 Billion contract. 2009 Obama Bailout $135+ Billion.

2.) There is a difference between an actual surplus and a "projected" surplus. How was Bush able to give all the fictitious surplus moneys to the 1%?

While not defending the increase of the federal debt under President Bush, it's curious to see Clinton's record promoted as having generated a surplus. It never happened. There was never a surplus and the facts support that position. In fact, far from a $360 billion reduction in the national debt in FY1998-FY2000, there was an increase of $281 billion.

3.) I love how the so-called 99% hate the success of others. Is it Romney's fault that his family is successful? Does having a rich family make you not have brains? In case you haven't noticed, Obama is firmly in the 1%. It is estimated that his net worth is around $12 million. More 1%ers voted for Obama than McCain in the '08 election, and in case you haven't been reading the news, all Obama does is hang out with the 1% doing fundraisers at $45K a plate. Your hero is not part of the 99%, he is the 15 you so dislike. The interesting question is how he made all his money having never run a business, never working in the private sector, etc...

The disdain for successful Americans is sickening!

MZ, what an odd definition of success...start out rich...end up richer, at the expense of those who are suddenly poor.

Robert, I agree, Obama did end up richer at the expense of others.

Valerie, History lesson 101 = Obama INHERITED this mess from 8 years of Bush and Cheney. The country was already in depression when he took his oath of office. Do you really believe in less than 4 years Obama could solve the nightmares left for Bush/Cheney's tax cuts for the rich while putting this country into TWO WARS? And lets not forget who finally killed Bin Laden = OBAMA! That must be a hard one for all you right wing Bible folks to shallow. Wasn't Bush on a battleship/PR/fake Hollywood scene telling us we won the Iraq war (btw, where are all those weapons of mass destruction???) that finally got the evil Bin Laden. It was a Harvard educated, Black man - kinda ironic isn't it?

I love the Obama warrior former peaceniks. You all love Obama and his kill list. I can just imagine the shrill cries if this was Bush.

If Obama hasn't had enough time to fix all of Bush's mistakes yet, how long will it take. Another year, two, three? I am just wondering. I know he already closed Gitmo, stopped the rising seas, solved global warming, healed the middle East, and made it rain puppies and unicorns.

MZ, you know perfectly well that Obama was a child of parents with limited means...not so for Romney, who started with a silver spoon in his mouth. Just like Dubya, he started on 3rd Base, but he thinks he hit a triple, and you apparently agree. While Obama isn't hurting now, he earned a law degree, taught law, married another lawyer, and wrote a couple of successful books before he became President. All of those activities boosted his wealth, to be sure. But those activities didn't cost anyone their job, and neither have his policies in the White House. The same can't be said about the blowback from the Bush era deregulation and the continued obstruction by Republicans in Congress.

Romney is many times richer. He started out with lots of family money and made lots more by playing Monopoly with real people's lives as head of Bain Capital. Lots of people lost jobs and money as a result of his unprincipled quest for more money. But the US is not a company, and the President is not the CEO. His methods only work for his rich investors but would be a disaster for our government. I'm not ready to see government of the people, by the super rich, for the super rich. And you aren't either if you have a lick of sense and want to live in a democracy. Romney may as well have picked Rove, Pete Petersen, or one of the Koch brothers, because theirs is the agenda he serves.

Ok. Got it now. If you are fortunate enough to be born with successful parents, you are certainly evil. I won't argue about Bain as you clearly understand everything about finance and salvaging failing companies. Better to let them fail so everyone loses their job then to go through painful restructuring.

The US is also not a bastion of liberal group think and the president is not a community organizer. Oh wait, he is. Unlike some I don't hate the rich. I Try not to hate at all.

In your free time you should look at how many pockets Obama has lined, who he associates with and has associated with. He hasn't helped the poor or middle class. He has only made them more dependent. The rich have gotten richer under Obama. The poor have gotten poorer and more numerous. There a fewer people with more and more money, not the other way around and you seem to be insisting.

As for democracy, I don't want to live in one and thankfully we don't. Democracy is mob rule. God bless our constitutional republic and may it hopefully shine as becon for the rest of the world again.

No, MZ...People are not evil just because they have successful parents. Neither are people who disagree with you, nor are they wrong. Mitt, under the guise of rescuing failing companies, did what little was needed to pump up the stock price, cut what HE decided was fat, pulled out as much money as he could, and then left them to fend for themselves. OF COURSE, many of them failed. Without his intervention, who knows how many of them could have turned around. I'm glad he didn't decide to "save" Ford, or I would be driving an orphan car by now. And his great business "expertise" led him to advise us that GM and Chrysler should go through bankruptcy, heedless of the fact that at that time, there were NO banks or private equity firms (presumably including Bain) who were lending or investing in anything, after THEY trashed the economy.

I don't hate the rich. But I don't care for those who are attempting to buy this election...people like Karl Rove, Pete Petersen, the Koch brothers, and countless other faceless anonymous funders of ALEC and all the Superpacs and so-called issue organizations with NewSpeak names. We live in a republic, but it's a DEMOCRATIC republic. We're supposed to be able to vote for those who govern us. Fat chance if those folks get their way. My question to you is, why are you enabling them? They couldn't care less about you. I say no to "Mean" and "Meaner".

BTW, do you actually have a name? Why are you hiding it?

Yeah, no SuperPACS involved for Obama. No millionaires/billionaires trying to buy him the election. George Soros hasn't funded countless groups. None of that has happened.

I don't need others to "care" for me. I need the government to get out of my way. There are no gaurntees in life as to outcomes. Equal opportunity is all that is needed. The outcomes are based on merit, hardwork, good ideas, and perserverence. Do you really think Obama "cares" for you?

You can call me what ever name you like. I learned a while back that some of those on the left are hateful and spiteful to those that have a differing opinion. I would rather not be SWATed, thank you very much.

Mr. Bhed,
All Patch leans left. They are a creature of the Huffington Post. What does surprise and delight me is that Patch doesn't censor opinions. Most left leaning publishers do. I guess that Right leaning people have other things to do than publish webzines, like make enough money to raise their families. Then they can give their liesure time to responding to webzine blogs.

It is so amazing how people who believe in abortion are already born.

The Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay act is a complete straw man. You currently have the right to challenge unequal pay. The law would have been insanely burdensome on employers to comply with and would have created another trial lawyer boondoggle. That is "the real world impact of such a law."

It always interests me how Abortions related to rape and incest always come up when arguing for "pro-choice." Rape and incest pregnancies are a fraction of a percent of overall abortions.

"Rape and incest pregnancies are a fraction of a percent of overall abortions." I counseled victims of rape and domestic violence for many years, and trust me, pregnancies resulting from rape are more common than many believe. Especially since that isn't something that gets plaster throughout the media on a daily basis. Not to mention many women feel shame and disgust with themselves, not to mention fear, and won't even report the rape, yet alone a resulting pregnancy. Outlawing a woman's right to choose is abhorrent. Thanks.

And it always amazes me how often those pushing to outlaw a woman's right to choose are men.

Ok Mary, so in the case of Rape and Incest, Abort away. How about the millions per year that have nothing to do with rape or incest? Margret Sanger would be proud of you!

Yes, everyone here has been born. I'm glad you noticed.

They do not affect you MZ.

I wasn't aware I wasn't allowed to comment on anything pertaining to women's rights since I am lacking ovaries. Thanks for the heads up. I assume that since I have never raped anyone or been raped myself I can't have an opinion on that. I also don't drunk drive or use drugs, so I will refrain from commenting on those as well. I never played for the Browns so I'll keep my comments to myself on them as well. I have seen the moon, but never been there so NASA is certainly off limits.

I have paid taxes but never received food stamps or a government funded abortion...quite the conundrum. Since my taxes that I pay fund those things, but I haven't received those "services" I'll error on the side of caution.

Did I miss anything?

Your daughters should be proud.

Thanks. I sure hope that my daughters will be proud of me, and of themselves. There is nothing more important to me than raising bright, strong, educated, and brave children. My children motivate me each and everyday to strive to be the best that I can be.

If she would have, it wouldn't really have affect me that much, as I wouldn't have known. Thanks!

I can't say it any better.

http://www.unitedliberty.org/articles/5863-the-separation-of-church-and-state-myth

Ian King,
Joe Biden is a Democrat catholic. As in a Kennedy catholic or a Kerry catholic or not very catholic at all. Thats why Catholics don't vote for them any more.

Or a Pelosi Catholic. Her favorite word is the word. That is one of my all time favorite clips.

Hi MZ --- I can't say it any better either:

1. Which God do you kill for?
2. Stop using Jesus to justify your hatred!
3. The Christian Right is - NEITHER!
4. Religious Groups should stay out of our government - or be taxed
5. Our American Flag is not a religious symbol
6. God Bless Everyone --- No exceptions please!
7. When religion ruled the world, didn't we call it The Dark Ages?
8. God as far as we know, doesn't hate or discriminate - too bad religions do!
9. Why do organized religions want money - when they propagate it is the root of all evil?
10. What would the Goddess think!!!

1.) I haven't killed anyone.
2.) When have I been hateful?
3.) I am not Christian? What am I wrong about...everything? Rather broad brush.
4.) Even the ones that support Dems? Do you feel the same way about Union dues?
5.) I agree.
6.) I agree. See we have some things in common.
7.) I never said, nor did the article that religion should rule the world or the US. I would also note there is a difference between religion and beliefs. I would also agree that bad things have been done throughout the ages in the name of religions. Millions of people have also been killed in the name of no religion at all (see communist Russia, Cambodia, China, etc...).
8.) Yes, sadly some religions do hate.
9.) It would be largely speculative, and I certainly can't speak for all religions, but some seek donations to help the poor, impoverished, and to spread their teachings.
10.) I have no idea. What would the Goddess think about what?

This has been fun. I know that all of your bullet points weren't questions but I looked at it as a sort of test. Did I pass?

Hi MZ - well..... you need to do some more homework, but, overall, I would pass you on your 10 point response!

Hi James, so now the Catholic Church is rating how "Catholic" its members are? Doesn't that seem a bit strange or not very Christian like to you? Did Jesus have a rating system for those who followed him? Like Paul gets a 4 out of 5, while Peter gets a 5 out of 5? BIZARRE religion if it rates its members on how worthy they are!! Again, what would Jesus say to that!!!

Forgot to ask you James, did Jesus vote Democrat or Republican in the last election? LOL

ian king,
"Religion and morality have no place in politics" sums up todays Democratic Party. You may be able to live by bread alone, you may even think that everyone should live by bread alone, but I can not. I am an American citizen and if it is my choice to not live as you do, and follow the wisdom of my Spiritual Center, you can not make me do anything else. And I can not force you to do so.
MZ you passed.

ian king,
"Again, what would Jesus say to that!!!" He would say "I am the way and the truth and the light. No one comes to the Father except through me." ian, the church has always had standards of how "Catholic" its members are. It doesn't make much sense to call Presbyterians or Unitarians Catholic does it? And frankly, that's their job isn't it? I think even you respect people who say they believe something and then live by it. By your standards Mark Clayton (disavowed Democratic Primary winner from Tennesse) could call himself a Democrat and be correct.

To James Thomas -
All I can say is that inflexibility of your own kind of religious faith like yours is usually, as history has proven over many centuries, the cause of most wars, and vast human suffering. To label people within your own religious system as not equal to others in that same system is just unbelievable to me, ala your condescending comment about "Biden Democrats". Even within your own religious belief system, you actively endorse intolerance? How strange the true God must find all these rule and regulations and hatreds of earth's manmade religions - and how false they will all prove to be on judgment day! May my God, the true one who loves all equally and whose son was a Jewish carpenter, Bless You Today!

No James, Ryan just made it seem that he jaywalked - kinda like his fairy tale economics!

Hi Bill - OMG! Ryan's record in Congress makes Sarah Pallin's record as Governor look accomplished! LOL

TALKING POINT >>>>>>Ryan has had exactly 2 pieces of legislation approved

Ryan also appointed zero czars! He even has the gall to not want to "fundamentally transform the United States of America." I heard that he thinks some stuffy old white guys may have had a good idea or two a few hundred years ago. He might even stand for the pledge and probably knows all the words to the National Anthem. Although I heard he isn’t much of a singer.

We should all hate and ridicule him. A pox upon his family.

Ask Erskine Bowles (Democrat) what he thinks of Paul Ryan and his economic plan. Actually you can probably go to you tube and enter "Erskine Bowles, Paul Ryan" and see for yourself. Wholehearted endorsement.

Biden steps in it again. LOL

I have a hard time justifying the government picking winners and losers. For some strange reason BMW, Hyundai, Honda, Toyota, and Volkswagon can all make cars successfully in this country. Perhaps the auto bailout is just delaying the inevitable due to cost structures that cannot be supported.

What really scares me is Obama saying that he wants to do for all of manufacturing what he did for GM and Chrysler. Does that mean screwing bond holders over for union votes across the country?

Who will choose which businesses to spend tax payer dollars on? Will it be the same people in his administration that thought Solundra was a sure bet? Will he only save union shops? Will businesses begin to operate differently, perhaps taking on more risk because they know the nanny state will take care of them?

It is not realistic to think that the company you work for will be around forever. If you put all your eggs in one basket, what happens when the basket breaks? There used to be plenty of blacksmiths, not so much anymore. Those poor milkmen really got screwed as well.

What is the end game?

The Federal Government spends over $10 Billion per day. This years military budget is around $683 Billion. If you eliminated the millitary completely you could pay for a little over 2 months worth of Federal Government spending.

Mandatory entitlements (Unemployment, Medicaid, Medicare, SS) : 2,009 million dollars about 56% of the 2010 Federal Budget
SS: 19%
Medicaid: 8%
Unemployment: 16%
Medicare: 12 %

Defense Spending (including overseas operations): 663 million dollars or 18%

Also, a nitpicking point. Anyone that says half our budget is used on defense is either lying or doesn't understand that they are simply looking at the discretionary budget. Of the federal budget of 3,551 million dollars, 1,378 of discretionary. Military spending is part of the discretionary budget. It is a trick politicians and overzealous activist often like to use to confuse and mislead the public. The truth of the matter is that both military and entitlement spending is way beyound what is sustainable.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_percentage_of_the_U.S._federal_budget_is_spent_on_entitlements

Let's make a deal, cut all spending by at least 10%. It would be hard to argue that there isn't at least that much fat.

Hey MZ - I agree with you on this proposal - lets cut ALL federal programs by 10% first, across the board. Wait a year and see how it all plays out, and then look at the budget again. If more cuts can be made - again, across the board - lets do it again.
I think that would be a fair way to start to decrease kickback bucks and fraud. Hey MZ = we agree again!

Nice, more common ground. See we really do have more in common than we don't. We both want what's best for the country, just have different opinions about how to get there.

ian king,
I read the reviews for this book. It calls for the complete overhaul of the economic system in favor of green energy. In other words, don't double down on Solyndra, throw in the whole system.
http://www.think2100.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=127

http://www.barackobama.com/om-dinner-with-barack-sept-signon?source=om2012_lb_aoldon2_disptest_0812dwb-signup-air3-OVF_728x90&utm_medium=om2012&utm_source=aoldon2&utm_campaign=lb_disptest&utm_content=0812dwb-signup-air3-OVF_728x90

So awesome. Ian, be honest, how many times did you enter? So presidential.

Hi James, so sad to learn you only read the reviews - whose reviews btw?
Kinda like highschool - I bet you only read the Cliff Notes too. Kinda miss out on the whole point of the author's taking the time and energy to write something doesn't it?
Oh well, MAYBE, if you READ the whole book, you will find that the author Brown offers multiple suggestions that include yes, some green energy ideas, but also other alternatives too. I mean James, you do understand that oil is a finite resource don't you? And coal too? Wonder if you have any grandchildren - what kinda of a world do you want them to inherit? Anyway, PLEASE READ THE WHOLE BOOK, not a Cliff Notes version if you want to have any kind of intelligent discussion. Enjoy turning the real pages of this book soon!

ian king,
I'm a professional Librarian with 27 years experience. I read reviews daily to evaluate materials for purchase for my library. Did you READ the review I so conveniently LINKED in my response? It was on whole a positive, lengthy review. As for my grandchildren, I'd like them to have a civilization to live in where they aren't crushed by debt and PC nonsense.

Hi James Thomas,
Well, maybe to avoid "PC" nonsense, or what most people today would call moving beyond the "Black Plague" mentality, your grandkids could move to Central America. I hear a lot of money from the Trickle Down Crowd is living it up really nice there - you know, the ones who didn't pay their fair show of taxes during the Bush/Cheney lying years. Now that is PC in their world, and I guess in yours too!
BTW, I have several librarians in my family too - but I guess they are more the up to date PC types of the American Library Association that fight censorship of any kind, and advocate for PC/multi-culturalism access in all public libraries. From you comments here, I don't see you as an ALA type, do you work for something like the Heritage Foundation?

they should do 2 debates one using limbaugh as a moderator and the other using bill maher that would be a nice mixture of softballs and hand grenades for each debate

O-I

H-O

That isn't right?

Hi TaterSalad - To answer your question, I guess if one has the ability to analyze real facts, who would support the Republican Party today? Is this not the same party that lied to the American People about so called weapons of mass destruction = where are they today? Who lied about "Mission Accomplished" = well, the war is still going on so say what was accomplished? Who lied that cutting taxes on the most wealthy would create mass jobs for the rest of us via that fantasy economic theory called "Trickle down" = highest unemployment in the country when Obama took office, inherited from the lying Bush/Cheney gang? I could go on and on about how 8 years of lying and spending our country's surplus from the Clinton years got us into this mess. But then again, most Republicans have long ago lost the ability to research the facts and analyze the truth = Rush and Ann Coulter do it all for them!!!!

Hi Ms TaterSalad: PLEEAASE the spelling was with OSU students all in jest and a lot of fun. Obama was told to do the H in one pic and then asked to do the I in another pic. He just went along for the fun. I don't think a Harvard educated grad misspells. Does remind me though of when Romney early on in the campaign earned its share of mocking when its mobile application spelled "America" as "Amercia." As guess one could say its a spelling draw!

And you would think that a Harvard grad would have known there were not 57 states - as Obama said when he was campaigning for the last election.

Hi Tarter Sauce - such a silly train of thought you have! I suppose you must be a follower of the Tea Party philosophy/Grover Norquist. I wonder how this country has evolved in my lifetime from a place where CIVICS class was taught in grade school and it was a wonderful ambition to run for public office - prideful actually - to where we are today, when no CIVICS class is taught hardly anywhere, and where being a politician is associated with being the mouthpiece for lobbyists and not being able to vote one's conscience. The whole pledge oaths of the Tea Party and Grover are so UnAmerican and anti-democracry: rule by the brain dead. Certainly no Profiles in Courage will ever emerge from today's Republican Party. The country is in the mess it is because of idiots like the Tea Party membership and Grover Norquist's no tax ever pledge that is just like the good old fashioned Mafia blood brother pledge. When no Republican votes ever in favor of any of Obama's restart the economy programs, I find that very UnAmerican, Fascist oriented, and, in some strange way, a form of blackmail for American's democracry. Mr. TarterSauce, I hope you live to see the American that evolves if Romney/Big Dollars buys this election: you will deserve the breadline you and your children will surely spend most of their days standing in!

There are no civics classes taught anymore because liberals control the curriculum at public schools. You also can't say the pledge anymore.

Last time I checked, Obama had some big dollar backers in 2008 and raised/spent more than ever before. Much of the money came from Wall Street and from overseas. I am sure you were screaming about that back then.

I await your post on how George Soros money and influence is ruining this great country. You can follow up with a post on how it bothers you that Obama is constantly hanging out with 1%ers and begging for money at $50K per plate fundraisers.

Nevermind, I'm just an unAmerican idiot.

Hi MZ - isn't George Soros impact considered to be mild compared to the Koch Brothers influence/political manipulation in today's political world? Unfortunately for President Obama, the Koch Brothers, whose combined fortune is over $ 35 billion are actively funding multimillions to keep the Obama Administration from achieving any of its economic stimulus program. That hurts you and me, and truly sounds UnAmerican to me as it diminishes our democracy to a level of corporate/lobbyist power and in no way is populist or as they pretend to be, Libertarian. Yet Tea Party types and Republican Right Wingers love these guys who believe in almost no personal or corporate taxes, bare minimal social services for the needy or elderly, no universal health care, and almost no oversight/regulation of industry, including the oil industry where they make their money. Ironic isn't it, since several nonpartisan groups have identified the Koch Industries as one of the top ten air polluters in the USA today! No wonder they are against any kind of oversight!
Gotta luv the Koch brothers, as anyone who challenges their records on the environment is labeled a "radical" by their PR machine. What would our first "radical" President - Thomas Jefferson - be labeled by these right wing extremists I wonder? But then again, I suppose, the Kochs are just another grassroots citizens movement created in high rise wood paneled offices by a bunch of oil billionaires!

Check your beloved Huffington Post from June 12:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/12/lindsey-graham-grover-norquist-anti-tax-pledge_n_1590356.html

It talks about how there just might be a Republican trend to break with some of that Norquist pledge. Maybe there are some of those bad Republicans willing to consider other ways to fix the mess we are now in, since things keep getting worse and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. And, quit blaming the Republicans - we all know who was in control of both houses the first 2 years and what got accomplished?

Are you also forgetting that Obama extended the 2001/2003 tax changes that expired in 2010? If you hate what Bush did, why then aren't you now directing your anger at Obama since he extended them besides giving us additional tax deductions over his last 3 years _ schedule M ($800) and 2% reduction in SS withholding ($1000 for a $50,000 wage earner).
Almost half the taxpayers pay no federal income tax, yet they live in this country.

I.M. - I was referring to the ian king CIVICS classes line where he said "when no CIVICS class is taught hardly anywhere, ..."

So if I am an idiot based on that, then so is ian king. I am fairly certain based on ian's posts that he isn't a "perfect right winger".

Your name calling is very persuasive and you have convinced me that I have been on the dark side all these years. Until you told me that I was "real dumb" I thought I was well educated and successful. I know pledge my unending love for Obama and am coming out as a proud Liberal Democrat!

I have to run now, off to an OWS protest! Go 99%!

Hi Dan, Great comment! I think if we would have polled the US Reps and US Senators 20 years ago, you would have found many of them were recipients of some form or government aid - be it a farm bill payment, a tax deduction for business expense, a student loan, a flood or disaster loan, etc. Today, with most of the US Reps and US Senators in the millionaire status, they are completely clueless to how the federal government has helped many rise from poverty or lower middle class to solid economic status today - which would not have been possible without some kind of federal loan. I myself went through undergrad with a Pell grant, student loans, worked 2 jobs during the summer, and was a dorm assistant during the school year - and I graduated cum laude. Without the fed support, I am not sure I could have done it. What we unfortunately have now is a country that is governed by corporate interests via lobbyist power and of course, the recent Supreme Court ruling that seems aimed to destroy free elections in this country without spending millions to get elected. Those in power today probably never had to worry about getting a loan for anything. Like Romney, they just put all their money in overseas banks and don't see anything wrong with that lack of transparency. When the rich govern the rich, democracy is dead - and that is what this election is all about. The choice is very clear and I hope America wakes up soon!

I think what it boils down to is that we all want to feel that we alone accomplished what we have, which is part of the human ego thing. However, those who are honest with themselves, realize that they got where they were because of some help of government, whether it was federally backed student loans, Pell grants, government contracts, or even infrastructure spending on a new road or bridge which created an opportunity to open a small business. Both private and public sectors always have helped each other hand in hand, and that is what many Republicans today refuse to accept.

You didn't write that post, somebody else wrote it for you.

I'm off to do some carbon trading. I hear there is big money stopping global warming, I'm greedy and I want a piece.

There is one word you keep using - LOAN. Loans get repaid.

But then again, some people don't feel debts need to be repaid, such as the federal debt. Just keep spending and increase the debt.

Lyn - OK, and? Yes, they are loans. But they are loans that would not happen if the federal government did not back them, as private banks would not take the risk. My point is that it is still the government assisting the private sector.

MZ, I am going to award you 2 points, as I don't know what you are talking about.

Dan, thanks for the points. Ask Al Gore about carbon trading.

Would you agree to a decrease in across the board spending of 5% if there was a 10% increase in taxes on the 1%?

ian king, FYI:
National Debt:
1/20/1993 - $4,188,092,107,183.60
1/20/1994 - $4,500,676,535,249.79
1/20/1995 - $4,796,537,934,595.60
1/19/1996 - $4,988,397,941,589.45
1/17/1997 - $5,309,774,506,681.99
1/20/1998 - $5,495,525,658,807.45
1/20/1999 - $5,623,807,213,463.02
1/20/2000 - $5,706,174,969,873.86
1/19/2001 - $5,727,776,738,304.64
1/18/2002 - $5,922,321,839,074.39
1/17/2003 - $6,388,587,973,011.41
1/20/2004 - $7,006,834,072,435.49
1/20/2005 - $7,613,215,612,328.37
1/20/2006 - $8,175,743,292,992.87
1/19/2007 - $8,675,085,083,537.48
1/18/2008 - $9,188,640,287,930.39
1/20/2009 - $10,626,877,048,913.08
1/20/2010 - $12,327,380,804,696.82
1/20/2011 - $14,056,313,474,932.58
1/20/2012 - $15,236,271,879,792.78
8/23/2012 - $15,976,519,029,144.14

Clinton - 1/20/1993 to 1/20/2001
Bush - 1/20/2001 to 1/20/2009
Obama - 1/20/2009 to now

As per above, in no year did the national debt go down or did Clinton leave Bush with a surplus that Bush turned into a deficit. Clinton did not have any surplus years, as you can see - the debt went up each year. He came close. I'm not defending what Bush did. But look at what Obama has done in less than half the time.

National Debt-
+ $1.54 trillion Clinton- 8 years
+ $4.9 trillion Bush- 8 years
+ $5.35 trillion Obama -3 years, 7 months

Explain?

Oh, I see above.
Actually, I posted this chart the beginning of August. Guess you missed that one.
And the debt is still going up!