AMEN!!!!!

How about if the President leads by example. Ooops- he doesn't want to give up that plane!

@ blonde guy...how about YOUR boy Willard Mitt Robme giving up his tax returns...Ooooops he don't want ALL us MIDDLE and LOWER class people to see what he paid or should say didn't pay huh? Pretty soon he will expect us to pay more so he can make more...Ooooops

Why do liberals always feel the need to make false arguments and tell other people what to do with their money?

I'm sure Obama and his wife will also sign up for your deal, in addition to giving up Air Force 1, the White House and the benefits. Right? Wrong, reasonable people don't make such stupid arguments. Instead, we're going to make Obama give up his freebies the American way, by voting.

You "look", but you do not see.

Why don't you ask that of ALL the congress - that is just stupid!

Ryan has at least shown some initiative and some responsible fiscal knowhow. Do you liberals really believe that you can spend other peoples’ money forever and it will not run out? Obama and the gang have already presented the public with a credit bill that reeks of irresponsibility. The only thing Obama had done well is pull off the biggest fraud in the history of the world. Has he told the truth about anything so far? His schooling is questionable - his citizenship is questionable - his religion is questionable - his motives are questionable. Not so for Romney and Ryan.

are Democrat elected officials exempted from your suggestion?

Believe me, I was and still not a fan of Sarah Palin at all but Ryan will make a very good showing in a VP debate against Joe Biden.

Ricky, that's not setting the bar too high. just about anybody with a pulse could compete with Joe Biden. Eyes -

>Because the media told you so< No, I have seen enough of her interviews and speeches on camera to make I my own mind.

Unless there is a swimsuit portion of the VP debate, don't bet on it.

nice name calling, way to be mature. if you don't have the issues or the facts on your side, resort to name calling....#keepingitclassyontheleft-not

Don't count on it!!! They way demo's see it. and some repubs.. An enormous win for President Obama.
Obama 2012!!!!

Romney will lose in NJ and in america

I am in NJ as well, and I could not agree more. I was a Democrat for nearly 30 years until just a few months ago. The Democrat party has gone absolutely mad, so I became an Independent. I do not agree with everything on the Republican ticket, but I will certainly be voting for Romney / Ryan this November. I do believe that the future of our nation as we know it depends on it.

Kenny Boy Lay and Bernie Maddoff where both "Bold".

88% of Bernie Madoff's political donations were made to Democrats with his stolen money. How many gave it back? I love how you lefties don't let the truth or the facts get in the way. PS you are a pathetic loser and if you ever try to run again in this town, you can be sure I'll put all I have into keeping you at your normal 24/7 job of posting on Montville Patch. And to the conservatives out there, when the Dums say they "Love this pick", they are scared to death of the guy. I'd be happy to have him as my son in law.

Dan - the only way to 'kill' Medicare is to keep running it as is. He has already said that anybody over 55 will not have any changes, yet the Democrats keep making up things. The Medicare Plan is underfunded by only about $38 trillion. Do you have the slightest idea of what a huge ponzi scheme it is. This isn't a Democrat or Republican problem, it is all of our problems.

Marty, You don't understand the Ryan Plan. He wants seniors to get a voucher to enter the private market with no controls over the price. They will be at the mercy of the insurance companies. When it gets to costly they will be without.

Dan - I do understand it. Obama cut $700 Billion from Medicare already - a fact he doesn't want you to know. Did you know that? Medicare will be insolvent in 9-12 years per the CBO - a Washington/government group which people claim is independent. that probably means it will be 7-9 years. The Ryan plan tries to a. let people who want to stay on the current train wreck stay on it and b. let people who realize it is a train wreck, get off the train. what's so hard about that to understand? I would rather be at the mercy of an insurance company of my choice than the Federal Government.

Just like Jay-Z got so many people to come to HIS side, so, too, will Rmoney bring everyone but the lefties to His side. The bipolarization of America will continue, and Rmoney/Ryan will achieve victory in November. God Bless the USA!

Moderates and Independents will back the ticket that displays financial responsibility. It doesn't take any special skills to spend money and run up the Deficit..

Because reaching out to moderates has been the goal of the current administration?

Stewart - do you realize how ridiculous that statement is? Romney was governor in one of the most liberal states in that nation - and he got things done. As a business, he had to compromise in his private sector life and he did just that as Governor. Ryan was elected with over 60% in a liberal district in a liberal state - he must have done something bi-partisan, unless you are saying that people from MA and WI are self loathing and don't know what is in their best interest. Stewart #stopbabblingliberaltalkingpoints

Its called the ryan budget:
Romney: I’m Not Running On Paul Ryan’s Budget
Democrats Can’t Wait To Run Against Paul Ryan’s Budget
Paul Ryan may end up being the one thing everyone in this election agrees on. Republicans finally got their dream pick , and Democrats get their dream opponent.
— Sara Libby
Rough Poll for Romney
New CNN poll has Obama up over Romney by 7 points – 52-45. Yesterday’s Ipsos poll had the same spread.

Gadfly, this choice activates more opposition from the left and indies than can ever mathematically be countered by the right 1%

By picking Ryan, Romney was losing the election before the pick and he will lose the election after picking Ryan. Nothing cnanges.

How many years of tax returns did Ryan show the Romney campaign?

stew, he did say he was running on ryan's budget. the only problem is he doesn't have anything to compare it to since obama hasn't had a budget passed in an unprecedented 1000 days or since he became President. Did you know that in the CNN poll they have an overwhelming majority of Democrats vis a vis Republicans and Independents. Read the fine print.

MIke- RIGHT on- only in sad Montclair (abandoned store fronts, insane taxes, MORE section-8 housing) do Democrats see all of this......and think "its just great!!! We're doing the right thing- TAX 'em even MORE!"

news - it's pretty clear that Obama and his literary agent suggested/stated that Obama was born in Kenya. They kept up that statement for 15 years. Can you comprehend having your own published resume saying you were born in Kenya (or any incorrect country) for 15 years. Obama was the first birther. He hasn't released anything from Occidental, Columbia or Harvard because it is very likely he applied there as a foreign exchange student. He became a citizen of Indonesia when he was 6. there is no data that shows he ever switched back to american citizenship. maybe he was eliglble to apply as a foreign exchange student, but why hide it. also, nobody has ever seen his original birth certificate - i believe he was born in Hawaii - but I also think he should show it. once he does all that, then I would gladly support Romney releasing his tax returns. Deal?

There is something wrong with people who want to see 30 year old records on the President and not caring about the last 10 years tax returns for a guy that wants to be President. What they want to really prove is that somehow affirmative action played a role in his achievment. That is racist to the core. What you can't understand is how the black guy is the President of what you see as a white man's country.

The man is 50% White, 50% Black, we know this from his Birth Certificate.

Why use the Race Card when it's not valid?

Dan - I would like to see both - would you?

Yeah, it would be terrible if someone who understands the economy is elected President. What we really want is a Speechmaker-in -chief, spending the US into oblivion

You'll be eating your words come election!!!

Wealth redistributor? that would be Romney who wants to take from the poor and give to the rich. Obama over Romrynochio.

Wayne - the top 1% of income earners pay about 36% of all federal income taxes. Is that too little? Around 45-50% of Americans pay no Federal income tax whatsoever - is that fair? I've noticed a trend - people in favor of Obama are name callers and rarely rely on facts?
http://taxfoundation.org/article/summary-latest-federal-individual-income-tax-data-0

Obama has just won Florida and the election

Alex, senior citizens prefer RomneyRyan budget at greater percent than the rest of the population. If you had grandkids and you loved them, you would worry about the trainwreck known as our fiscal condition. Medicare is going bankrupt in 10 years without any help from Ryan, Obama has already cut $700 billion (yes - that # is correct, but unreported by the MSM) from Medicare to fund that other debacle - Obamacare.

I remember a lot of experts saying a black man would never be President, let alone one with a name like Barack Hussein Obama.

Half black and look how that turned out

A Muslim made it - or whatever? - Why not a Mormon?

Chatham98, you are a disgrace to your town. People are asking me if you can change your anonymous title.

Dan - he was a Muslim at birth and a Muslim through his youth. He prayed for most of his adult life at a Church which was pastored by a former Muslim, the Reverend Wright, who hated America ("it's not God Bless America, it's God Damn America"). At least acknowledge he has some Muslim influences in his life, not that there's anything wrong with it. btw - would anybody you know stay at a Church for 1 minute, let alone 15 years if the Church/Temple/Mosque leader spoke that way about the US? Barack did - why?

I don't know when the last dogcatcher was elected in America or if any ever were but should that happen I would be happy to appoint you as the cage cleaner in Chief.

Thanks, Dan, but I already have a job. In the private sector. It doesn't pay as much as your job, nor have as good healthcare or retirement/pension package, but it contributes taxes so public sector hacks can sleep on the job all day.

Toombs, what makes you think I have a public sector job and don't pay my own health benefits? Just more BS from people who know they are wrong in the first place.

So this means you favor:

- Gutting Social Security
- Turning Medicare into a voucher system so you can get a $1000 voucher to buy a private insurance plan (if you can find one that will take you when you are over 65 after ACA is repealed
- Making the Pill and IUD illegal
- Tax hikes on the middle class so that the wealthiest can pay less taxes
- adding $3.1 trillion to the deficit
- allowing states to imprison women who seek, and doctors who perform, abortions
- blank check for military spending.

If you like Paul Ryan, that's what you're liking. Also -- a guy who went to college on his father's Social Security survivors benefit and now wants no one else to have what he had.

A real prince of a fellow, that one.

About the only thing I disagree with from the Republican/Conservative platform is this: we want fewer people on public assistance, we want crime to go down, and we want fewer Democrats. Reducing or eliminating abortion and birth control is COUNTER to these goals! We should be giving away pills, condoms, and abortion gift certificates like there's no tomorrow.

Everyone knows good, Christian people don't make babies out of wedlock, aren't on public assistance, and do not vote for Democrats.

Bab
Social Security is gutted - wake up. It is a ponzi scheme - look up the term 'unfunded liability'. Medicare is loved by the recipients/senior citizens - why, because wouldn't you love getting a $1 of medical service and only paying 40-50 cents. It is also a trainwreck. I don't think anybody has talked about making the Pill and/or IUD illegal - maybe some people have said that it shouldn't be a Federal government supplied hand-out? I don't think there will be tax hikes on the middle class so there can be tax hikes on the wealthy. I think Romney is talking about tax cuts (and spending cuts) for everybody. Adding $3.1 trillion to the deficit would be a great outcome for Obama compared to how much he is projected to add. I think most Americans agree that 3rd trimester abortion should be illegal. Governments exist to protect one individual from another. Some people feel abortion is murder. Many people believe that a government's sovereignty ends at our epidermis. This is not a solvable problem and it never will be. nobody is talking about a blank check for military spending, where do you get this stuff?

Marty:

Addressing your points one by one:

1) "Social Security is gutted - wake up. It is a ponzi scheme - look up the term 'unfunded liability'. " WRONG. Social Security is fully funded until 2033, and then can pay out 75% of benefits. Lift the cap, and solve the problem. Period. To the extent it's gutted, it's because the government has borrowed the money and now wants to deadbeat us in a way they can't deadbeat China.

Medicare is another issue, but seniors will not be able to buy private insurance because it's too expensive and insurers won't take them. What do you suggest as a solution? Firing squads for everyone over 50? Go ahead, tell us.

Continued....

3)"I don't think anybody has talked about making the Pill and/or IUD illegal" Paul Ryan has by co-sponsoring a "personhood" amendment. When you talk about life beginning at FERTILIZATION, you make the pill and IUD illegal. In fact, you make many menstrual periods illegal, since up to 50% of fertilized eggs never implant -- for natural reasons. It would also make in-vitro fertilization illegal.

Marty:

Continued:

"I don't think there will be tax hikes on the middle class so there can be tax hikes on the wealthy. I think Romney is talking about tax cuts (and spending cuts) for everybody." I think you mean tax CUTS for the wealthy. But tax hikes for the middle class are exactly what is in the Ryan plan. Ryan would extend the Bush tax cuts forever, but the additional middle-class and low-income tax cuts implemented by President Obama would be allowed to expire. Ryan doesn't say what expenditures he would cut, but he does favor massive hikes in military spending.

"Adding $3.1 trillion to the deficit would be a great outcome for Obama compared to how much he is projected to add." And what is that? Or do you have to go see what Glenn Beck says first?

" I think most Americans agree that 3rd trimester abortion should be illegal." What does that have to do with the IUD, the pill, first-trimester abortions, terminating ectopic pregnancies that cannot possibly go to term? Don't go trotting out that old canard about how women get up and decide to get a mani/pedi, then a nice lunch, then an abortion.

"Governments exist to protect one individual from another. Some people feel abortion is murder." I believe war is murder. Why should your views have more importance than mine?

Where do I get this stuff? I read a variety of fact-based sources, not junk from people who believe that a lie told often enough becomes truth.

b@b,
1. funding through 2033 is not fully funded, that is a ponzi scheme...take the under on 2033 btw. all that is in there are treasuries - so it's not like it is even 'funded' per your definition with viable assets. we still owe ourselves the money. also, the one thing you don't want to do is invest in long term treasuries when the person you owe the money to also controls the printing press. defined benefit plans in the hands of the government are bad, period.
2. prices in universities, medical care, housing all go into bubble mode when the government gets involved. medical care - via medicaid and medicare - is bubbled up because the government subsidizes it and distorts the market - plain and simple. when you have no idea of the cost of the goods you are buying (the case for medical care), you won't tend to be cost conscious.
3. I don't think the government should be involved in social issues, how's that. I think there are just as many social issues (i.e which schools, doctors, medicines, foods we attend, take and eat/drink) which liberals want to control. I have a libertarian bent, so I think we would probably agree on most things related to abortion - I would say abortion is the taking (murder?) of an innocent life but since it happens inside a women, the government can't tell that person what they can/can't do. You should try to outlaw war, go for it.

overall - sounds like we cd have an intelligent conv. on many of these issues, even if we disagreed.

@Chris: People are hurting and want change. With a Rmoney/Ryan win, uncertainty's days are numbered. Taxes will be cut, regulations loosened or eliminated, and business will start hiring.

I know of many business owners who are chomping at the bit to go on a hiring spree, if only taxes would drop for good. When I ask, "where is the demand for your goods/services coming from if 20% of your potential customers are out of work or underemployed?", they chuckle and say it doesn't matter, as long as tax rates are cut.

Since Obama came into office, the dow has risen 100%. This would be a good time to invest in the stock market. During the 8 years Dubya was in office, the market sank 25%. Don't let those facts get in your way.

Mike, you said "I can safely invest my Social Security savings in the stock market."
Thank President Obama for that, AND most average people LIVE on their SS not invest in stock market, no wonder you are for Mittwit. He will not win, never had a change and now for sure. Its like McCain/Palin all over again.

@Ciao: If W had his way and we could invest our social security savings, I would have bought AAPL and GOOG and been sittin' pretty. But noooo, we have to invest the pot in stupid, non-performing instruments like funding the US debt (via treasuries).

@Wayne: Despite the stock market doing well, business is not hiring. Some argue it's due to more efficiency and productivity (offshoring, people scared sh!tless they'll lose their jobs so they work 50, 60 hours a week while smiling, etc.). Just imagine how well things will go with a Rmoney/Ryan victory and all the uncertainty over taxes and regulations lifted - Dow 20,000 here we come!

Wayne ---

If Obama wasn't President the dow would probably be up 250% or more! Those are the facts!

Now there is some sheer terror - Biden as President!

Mitt didn.t pick Ryan, The Wall Street Journal editorial page did. Mitt is just a puppit

Mitt was losing if he didn't pick Ryan and he will lose now that he picked Ryan

You are heavily discounting the chances of an "October surprise." Lots of things can happen that would torpedo Obama/Biden, including worsening unemployment numbers, a terrorist attack (Sheldon could buy a few of those with the money he loses in his sofa cushions), etc.

Mitt does not have to release his returns - he is not a business, as he has put it - his statement that "corporations are people" notwithstanding.

The IRs has senn romney's tax returns and they have audited him at least once according to Romney.

Its funny how not too long ago Republicans were complaining that half of Americans pay no taxes. Now just a year later they are all scrambling to defend why a mega-millionaire pays none.

BellairBerdan: Other than your post, where have you read that Romney has paid no taxes? I believe that Romney, like all honest Americans, paid in taxes what the law required.

And just because Mitt Rmoney's father, George, took a different approach to releasing his own returns (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303933704577533250815441464.html), does not mean Mitt has to. Mitt's privacy is protected by law, as is all of ours.

Amen, everyone is concerned about Romney's tax returns,while Obama is lying and deceiving his kool-aid drinking supporters and running the country into the ground. How much worse do things have to get before Liberals wake up?

Oh definitely, Romney didn't do wrong by the IRS tax rules. The reason he doesn't want to reveal more than necessary is that it would look bad to the ordinary citizen when they see an enormous income taxed at such a low rate. He's afraid to lose votes over it but nothing illegal is being hidden.

Hate the game, not the player. Just because 6 of the top 400 filers (in terms of AGI) paid zero income tax is irrelevant.

Check your facts Dan , you don't want to come off as not knowing what you are talking about

Top 10 percent of income earners paid 71% of federal income tax. god bless that top ten percent. Dan is factually deficient in his analysis, he is what is called a web blather er.

Scondo, the top 10% control 93% of the wealth. why are they only paying 71% of the taxes?

Actually the fact is that the top 1 percent earn 18 percent of the national income and the bottom 60 percent (up to $85,000) earn 45 percent but they also are the fuel for the ecconomy. They are the people that allow the top 20 percent to earn the money they do. Hurting those people and reducing their spending to protect the top is not going to help anyone. The Romneyhood/Ryan plans do exactly that. who will pick up the tap for Mom when she needs medical care and her voucher runs out.

@Dan Grant: Charles Darwin will pick up mom's voucher - and throw it into the sea where it belongs.

You see, when those who don't work hard enough to save for/afford medical care start to die off earlier. Eventually we'll reach a point where they die young enough so they don't keep making little parasites. Then only good, Christian, industrious Americans will remain. With fewer people vying for resources, the quality of life will improve for those who survive.

Think of this as what it truly is: A Really Big, Really Brutal Reality Show. The sooner we all accept this fact, the better.

@Dan Grant: Almost forgot. As to your "fuel for the economy," here's a, idiotic, lefty (how's THAT for redundant?) attempt to address it. With any luck, he'll be drawn and quartered by his fellow billionaires sooner than later.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-01/raise-taxes-on-the-rich-to-reward-job-creators-commentary-by-nick-hanauer.html

Every tax paying American is entitled to tax deductions, credits and exemptions especially those who itemize, so stop complaining about Romney and his taxes, you think Corzine or Lautenberg (and most rich Democrats )didn't take advantage of the system? Hypocrisy

So why didn't Obama fix it when he had the super majority? Or why didn't he fix immigration? Or why didn't he pass a budget?

Well played, Sir!

@Mike: Mike, you make many positive references to "Christians", implying you are a "christian" (and seem proud of it). What I don't understand is what did you not get or understand about your faith? "survival of the fittist" or Darwinism, as you so proudly made reference to is anathema to Christian values.
How do you reconcile your views with your religion?
Don't you understand that there are people that will always be "less fortunate", that not everyone is born with the same DNA and abilities? Maybe one person's strength is kindness and feeling, while another's is having a keen mind for business. Does it make one better than the other? No simply different. We are not all from the same mold.
Where is your compassion. Shameful attitude displayed here in your postings!
Here is your reference to Darwinism: "Charles Darwin will pick up mom's voucher - and throw it into the sea where it belongs.
You see, when those who don't work hard enough to save for/afford medical care start to die off earlier. Eventually we'll reach a point where they die young enough so they don't keep making little parasites. Then only good, Christian, industrious Americans will remain. With fewer people vying for resources, the quality of life will improve for those who survive.
Think of this as what it truly is: A Really Big, Really Brutal Reality Show. The sooner we all accept this fact, the better".

This is not "Christian" values or mindset at all! Go back to religion 101 please.

Why was it immoral when the poor legally pay no taxes and now it's the American Way when the rich pay none?

It's because they don't earn enough to pay federal income tax. I don't know about you, but I'd rather make enough to be able to pay my taxes than live in poverty and not have to pay them.

B@B, poverty in this country has been redefined. They have flat screen tv's, cell phones, and laptops paid by the tax payers and designer clothes I can't afford. Before you throw stones, I have been there and didn't ask for or expect anything.
The class warfare is a distraction, even if the top earners paid 100% it wouldn't put a dent in the trouble this county is in. If it weren't for Mitt Romeny the Olympics would not exist today. Top that.

Sarah Palin is a good, Christian woman, a Patriot, and a former governor - show some respect. Just because you do not agree with her truly American stance on important issues does not warrant ridicule.

So you're saying that quitting your government position, and letting down your constituents so you can start a cable channel, is what you would consider an 'American stance'???

John

At least Palin is generally truthful. I don't know if Obama has told a truthful thing yet. Enlighten me if he has!

I do recall the President saying OBL is dead. How's that for the truth?

When you lighten up, it doesn't mean being childish about it. I think Palin was way over her head to be a VP candidate. So was Dan Quayle so it has nothing to do with gender.

Irrelevant to the topic.

I'm with 'Sir' on this one, too.

Everything Obama has done in the past 3 1/2 years brings us closer to a truly socialist country. I am tired of paying for Social Security and Medicare benefits for others when I am quite confident they won't be there when I need them. I am tired of paying to educate others' children. Everything that man has forced through Congress has raised my taxes, directly or indirectly, and most of that goes to those who refuse to work instead of strengthening our military and helping out struggling job creators.

Mike, I can't tell if you are being ironic or stupid. If you are serious I understand the unibomber's cabin is open and you are welcome to it.

Rmoney provided a LOT of tax returns to McCain in '08. That was McCain's option to request them and Rmoney's option to provide them. I'd bet that Ryan had to provide quite a bit, though since he's been a Congressman for the past umpteen years, I'm sure there were few, if any surprises.

Nothing to see here...move along.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/79611.html

@Jerry: "Libtards"? Really? I'm with you, brother, but you have to be more original than "libtards" to make your point. We're in the 2nd half of 2012. Something stronger, with a hint of exceptionalism, please.

Great! Thanks for repeating the wise words of a legend.
Good to show that recognition of wisdom can cross party lines.

No matter what Obama-con robot you talk to, they all have the same talking points...

The real question you should be concerned about is.. Why is Obama so afraid to let us see his college transcripts?

Was Obama an affirmative action student and a drug abuser and a William Ayers radical??

@Nose: Jerry is right. College transcripts are much more compelling to review than tax returns. We all know Rmoney is rich - so what? Hate the game, not the player. So what if he dismantled companies Gordon Gecko style - it's the American way and it was legal. So what thousands lost jobs? Thousands more made a TON of money and pumped it into the economy, er, offshore accounts.

You think the unemployed care about his taxes? If they do, perhaps they should focus thier energy on finding a job instead... Who cares how rich this man may be...I find it funny that Buffet is always talking about the broken tax code yet he admits to taking every loophole available to minimize his taxes but when Romney does it, he should be ashamed? Seriously, let's focus on fixing our great country and not worry about the petty stuff....

Please explain to me how grades that Obama received 30 years ago are more relevant than how Romney earned his money 3 years ago.

Romney is running on the platform that his businesPlease explain to me how grades that Obama received 30 years ago are more relevant than how Romney earned his money 3 years ago.

Romney is running on the platform that his business experience is what will help the country's economy. He then, ironically, withholds information about his recent business dealings. Obama, on the other hand, is not running on the platform that his college grades are a significant reason to reelect him.

And, BTW... if college transcripts are so important, please link me to Romney's.
s experience is what will help the country's economy. He then, ironically, withholds

The requests to show his tax returns can be easily set aside if he's willing to answer in truthful detail to a two-word question:
"Tax shelters?"

Those in the private sector should rejoice at the imminent Rmoney/Ryan win; those in the public sector should start working on their résumés.

Another question, Will anyone have more than a minimum wage paying job with no health benefits , chance for retirement or security if Romney is elected? After all, all you have to do is cut worker's wages by half and you can hire twice as many workers!

@BellairBerdan: Some countries force the private sector to limit hours which increases the number of people working. But those countries' parasitic workers have gummint-provided healthcare so it's easier for employers to comply than it would be here. Then again, many employers no longer offer medical benefits in the USA, so that may become moot.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/reducing-working-hours-economy-environment

As far as retirement and security are concerned, if people would start saving for medical, retirement, long-term care, etc., from Day One of their first job, it would not be gummint's burden.

Well said. Thank you for saving me key-strokes.

Just because Rmoney and Ryan were born with bootstraps of higher quality than most of us doesn't mean they're not compassionate. Just because Rmoney cut the hair of a student whose looks he didn't like (did you know W branded someone with a hot coathanger?) doesn't give you the right to label him. Just because Ryan wants to slash entitlement spending while cutting taxes for the wealthy does not make him unfeeling.

The medicine we need to cure ourselves of Democrats and liberals is a bitter pill, indeed.

Do the math: $2000/yr in your 20s, invest wisely, let it compound, and you're a millionaire by retirement.

Yeah, Just had a family member in the Hospital for 13 days. Bill came to $240,000. What kind of savings plan would you suggest for that bill?

I really don't understand how people can be blind to this reality. The fact that they don't address this at all (i.e. sweep it under the rug) makes one question their entire line of reasoning.

@Jacki: Too bad! Work harder. Work smarter. Life isn't easy! Just because you weren't part of our "lucky sperm" club doesn't mean you gotta be a hater.

See Jacki, this is exactly what I mean...

Baloney - it is a matter of discipline and focus. Too many people live like grasshoppers when they should be living like ants. Everyone is a victim - of their own making usually.

Are you paid by the word? or by the demogoguery quotient?

@BellairBerdan: To encourage investment, our legislators have established that certain unearned (that is, non-salary) income be taxed at 15%. No one would buy stocks otherwise. Ignore the fact that with VERY few exceptions, stock purchases do not put any money into the coffers of the company.

@Richard: You took the words out of my mouth. Rmoney earned his JD *and* MBA from Harvard and was a Captain of Industry, unlike Mister Community Organizer.

Then why doesn't he pay taxes at an "earned" income level like the rest of us?

@Sir: Your last sentence is *priceless* - thank you! And considering the 50th percentile's AGI is around $33K, is it too much to ask they that pay a measly 20% of that for federal income tax? Parasites and sponges, they are!

But Mitt Romney made well over 1000 times the yearly salary of the average taxpayer. That 355 times in taxes was quite a bargain compared to the rest of us. Thank you, rich people for letting me pay more than three times the amount of my wages in taxes than you do!

This idea that "the Dems controlled Congress" is a fallacy. Because of Republican intransigence and unwillingness to discuss or compromise on anything, it now takes 60 votes to pass ANYTHING. The Democrats had 51 votes. The filibuster now doesn't even have to consist of standing up and talking for days on end. Even the threat of a filibuster can stop any legislation dead in its tracks. Some of this is to be blamed on hapless Democrats who quake in their boots when a Republican looks at them crosswise. But you have a Senate Majority Leader in Mitch McConnell who said from the very beginning that the Republicans' primary goal was making Obama a one-term president. So if you want to blame someone, blame them. And by the way, the 50% of wage earners who pay no income tax (it's actually 46%, but let's not quibble) -- most of them pay no income tax because they earn annual wages below the thresshold set by the IRS. They do, however, pay Social Security (payroll) tax, state income tax, sales tax, and other excise and local taxes.

I feel sorry for you that you are willing to lick the boots of your corporate masters while they continue to ship jobs overseas in a continual race to the bottom. Do you really think rich people "create jobs" out of the goodness of their hearts? If they can make money without you, they'll do it. you poor, poor deluded soul. My heart will go out to you when you are living in your car.

When was the last time Romney hired an American??? He outsourced companies and jobs to Mexico and God knows where else. You areright, poor people don't hire anyone but they don't outsource either.

How about Obama's jobs committee. The leader (from GE) send thousands of jobs overseas and pays no federal tax. Where are all you Democrats screaming about this? And all the green companies going bankrupt and not paying back all the taxpayers money that your president gave them? Where are all the outraged Democrats? You are worrying about Ryan's budget, but not worried about all the $$$ Obamacare cut from Medicare. You libs are all a bunch of phonies.

More? Just pay as much! Why do you only want to use percentages when they play into your story? The tax structure is based on a percentage of income. Are you saying there should be a prix fixe tax system? But you're right, he and his sons never took advantage of all those services they would have received if any of them joined the military. Fighting for your country and taxes are for poor people.

You don't get that part of the 50 percent that don't pay taxes are people like Romney. His one tax year shows that he paid 13.9 percent. What percent did you pay. BTW People who make $30,000 pay a higher rate.

Dan - Your ignorance of the tax code is astounding. Someone who makes $30,000 and is married will have an adjusted gross income of about $10,000. If they also have a child, because of the Earned Income Tax Credit, they will end up with a check from the US government, not paying any income tax at all.

Sir is right, again (and again). EVERYTHING should be pay-as-you-go. Roads, bridges, libraries, etc. Not only would this make things more fair, it would create millions of menial jobs to collect all the tolls. If you can't pay the toll, your car doesn't roll! Then, since you cannot get to work, the bank takes everything you own and you go to debtors' prison where you get a job making license plates and such. With only the affluent driving around, crime, traffic, pollution, etc., all decline, improving the quality of life. Without medical services, the less-affluent who don't have healthy DNA die off and breed less, meaning that over time, the USA will have the healthiest population on earth.

And we can extend it to the military. People who really do want to bomb the sh!t out of some country would have to contribute a lot of dough to make that happen. The less-affluent could give their time/services instead.

Finally, cutting the marginal tax rate above, say, $250K/yr would give those making $10 incentive to do something about it.

Stig, you use all these conditions to support a false argument. 60 percent of people make between $30 and $120 thousand and most all of them pay a much higher rate than Romneyhood. How much did you pay?

"Corporations are people, my friend… of course they are."
+ "I am not a business"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NO TAX RETURN FOR YOU!

http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/mittromney/a/Mitt-Romney-Quotes.htm

sux2bpoor

Sir, Hey peasent point the pitchfork in the right direction and stop protecting the Lord of the Castle.

I paid 33% Mittens paid less than 13% and it's been said he's paid NOTHING. Our president wasn't in the military, but he did get Bin Laden, and he didn't use military craft as a prop like Romney did today. Our president also hasn't hidden his money offshore. How can you be president when you won't even keep your money in your own country?

"It's been said he paid nothing," is just another great lie spread by losers like Harry Reid. If he has any proof, show it. Otherwise, just shut the frig up.

God Bless Willard.

You can call me all the names you want, but Obama will prevail and win in November. Then it will be President Hillary Clinton. Romney doesn't have a chance.

Caldwell, You are the fool. You think because he paid a big number that is enough. What did you pay to help Romneyhood and his buddies pay their share. Maybe you have a $100 million 401K in the Caymans.

Idiot, 2.5 mil means less to Romney as that 33% means to the guy who made 30k.

@Jackie: Just a general statement that I've heard repeatedly on FOX News (my TV is broken so the only channel that comes on). Nothing personal.

Here's a member of the LSC who was knighted!

Robert Allen Stanford, another Ponzi schemer, inherited a legitimate insurance company in Houston — but when he branched out into banking fraud, he moved to Antigua. Taking advantage of secrecy laws and outright bribery, he cheated investors out of $7 billion by selling phony certificates of deposit.

Not only did the nation of Antigua fail to stop him, but it decorated him with a knighthood.

Why on Earth would anyone other than a rich Wall Streeter vote for Obama? Under his "leadership", the unemployment rate has soared, he has created less jobs than any president in recent history and our deficit has exploded. Meanwhile, our standing in the world has plummeted, and he has even managed to alienate our friends. Are you kidding me? Please get your heads out of the sand and realize that Obama has been a complete disaster.

Stevie, nothing you said is true. Bush was losing 750,000 jobs a month before Obama took the Office. We have added 4.2 million since and Obama didn't have the same advantage of Reagan and Bush 1 in public sector hiring. 600,000 jobs have been taken away by fed, state, and local government under Republican rule. The highest number of people without health insurance are in States with Republican Governors. The biggest Welfare State in that they recieve the most federal dollars is Bobby Gendal's La.

Obama's biggest fiscal mistake was putting the Iraq/Afghanistan cluster***k "on budget" (Bush had it "off budget" for years).
Obama's biggest lapse of judgment was trying to work with people whose reason for existence was to ensure he'd never win a second term, by any means necessary.
Obama's biggest timing error was not leveraging the House and Senate before the '10 elections.
Obama's biggest verbal gaffe was the wording/sequence he chose to point out that self-made people utilize public infrastructure (roads, airports, Internet, etc.) to achieve success. I personally find Rmoney's gaffes much more amusing. He even channeled W at one point ("I believe in an America where millions of Americans believe in an America that's the America millions of Americans believe in. That's the America I love."). http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/mittromney/a/Mitt-Romney-Quotes.htm

But back to the point of the article...
I do not think most Americans have the interest or neurons to do any analysis of things like this:
http://www.tnr.com/blog/plank/106046/why-ryan-makes-romneys-tax-problem-even-worse
-and-
http://news.yahoo.com/5-things-mitt-doesnt-want-know-paul-ryan-162758609.html

Republicans cut funding, fire workers, then have the nerve to say " Where are the jobs?"

Just for the record, more private sector jobs were created under Obama than in 8 years of Bush, But according to Romney c. 2004 the president doesn't create jobs.

How dare you try to hold Romney to what he said in a previously! He's like an etch-a-sketch, and reserves the right to completely reverse his position with each election cycle.

@BellairBerdan: That's politics. it is *technically* right that a president does not create jobs. So what if a president's policies often get stymied in Congress - ignore so-called experts like Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein who have been studiying DC for four decades (http://wapo.st/KgP0mx). So what that Mitch McConnell publicly stated that his #1 priority was to deny Obama a 2nd term: “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.” Yes, that Mitch McConnell: “We worked very hard to keep our fingerprints off of these proposals,” McConnell says. “Because we thought — correctly, I think — that the only way the American people would know that a great debate was going on was if the measures were not bipartisan. When you hang the ‘bipartisan’ tag on something, the perception is that differences have been worked out, and there’s a broad agreement that that’s the way forward.”

Please search on "starve the beast" to learn what's going on.

Yes, by all means, ignore the much more relevant [local] factors. Especially here in NJ. Christie cut aid to schools and I lost my teaching job? Obama's fault. NJ economy is different than the economy as a whole and I lost my private sector job? Obama's fault. Bain bought my employer and sold off the pieces and I lost my job? Obama's fault. Big Bank screwed up paperwork and tried to foreclose on me? Obama's fault.

We now return you to your regular broadcast on NJ101.5FM.

With 10% undecided, and the polls just about even, 80% of independents usually vote anti-incumbent.

Team Rmoney and Ryan to the rescue!

Rules and traditions do not apply to Rmoney.

http://news.yahoo.com/romney-campaign-requested-several-years-tax-returns-vp-124514448--abc-news-politics.html

So the status quo is good enough for you? What about hiring new employees and increasing your own bottom line as the company grows? The cost of fuel alone is enough to keep the Obama economy sputtering at the current low growth rate of 1.5%and unemployment at 8.3%.

Tax cuts will stimulate hiring - not an increase in demand for a business's products and services. And consider that people are so scared-sh!tless about losing their jobs, they'll work oodles of hours of uncompensated overtime to keep them. Why buy the cow when the milk is free?

Mike you're not too bright, the person getting the tax cut has more net income in their paycheck to spend on goods and services. The demand for more goods and services causes businesses to expand and hire people, in turn growing GDP and increasing revenues to the gov. because more people are working and paying taxes...get it?

Why is Obama not the reason why the market went up, but he is the reason everything went down? If you care about the masses why do you support the rich paying less and the poor and middle class paying more?

If people hate the rich why do they all want to be rich?

Taxes have been the lowest they have ever been, especially for the rich...for the past 12 years. Why are we not in a better position?

@Bellair, the reason we are not better off is because we don't have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem.

jajack. Taxes were reduced in 2001 and 2003 and look how many jobs were created. That worked so well that by the end of the Bush Administration we were losing 750,000 jobs a month. Where do you even get the nerve to post. Oh I know it is because you are anonymous and people you know won't know how dumb you sound.

So you really can't answer the question you can just spout rhetoric. I hope you save up your money for your children's education, because like Romney says, borrow the money from your parents! ( And don't expect to be able to keep them on your health insurance plan..if you have one)

And what do you base that on jajack? As BB stated, you don't even reply to a point, you just repeat sound bytes. Were we a socialist nation under Eisenhower? How about Regean? Ok, then. Let's just go back to the upper tier tax rate we had under either of those presidents.

Lori, your numbers do not ring at all true. Please provide your source. What do you define as "welfare"? Welfare is 12% of the federal budget. The figure is more like 20%, and that includes ALL kinds of federal assistance, including housing, health care, and food stamps to college tuition and retirement assistance. Are you including subsidies for agribusiness? College loans? Tax breaks for businesses? Benefits for veterans? Pensions? Do you think all of those should be abolished? Do you think that veterans and the disabled should be thrown into the streets? Do tell us please. And try reading something other than that supplied by Glenn Beck.

@Lori. Wait. What?

So you want to choose a man that has done nothing since 2001, a man who touted himself as "unemployed" with chuckle, who lived in his son's basement, and a guy that drove the Weinermobile. The men whose only concern is to cut taxes even further for the rich.

You do realize a man that lies about his residency and shifts his money overseas so he can pay less taxes is using and abusing the system. Seems he's learned to abuse the system like an expert. Romney has done very well sacrificing the many to provide for the few. There doesn't seem to be any reason to believe he will do otherwise if elected. But I am beginning to see where you're coming from with your statement about "true Americans".

Orrrr... and more importantly, if the president dies in office. People have to believe that the VP is capable of taking the helm. That's why Sarah Palin killed any chance that McCain had.

Obama almost got me to switch parties, that's how convincing he was in 2008. Many were utterly convinced that he truly was going to be this transformational President, one that would radically change how business is done in DC, ridding it of sleaze and making it more transparent. We were given a classic bait and switch. We ended up with politics being sleazier than ever. We've come to learn that we have an imposter, an empty suit who is way over his head and is inept once the teleprompter ends. The liberals will always vote for him but that huge swing voter bloc that went with him in 2008 will not.

USA1, you said you didn't vote for him the first time so he isn't losing your vote. Healthcare is not separate from the ecconomy, it is part of the ecconomy. The Republicans never wanted him to succeed from day one. The Democrats never had a super majority. They had 58 D's and two independents, The Republicans have blocked every major program this President had and bragged about it. If you had a better understanding you would know the rules of the Senate and how the Republicans have abused them.

and Bush was AWOL, an alcoholic and cocaine user. What's YOUR point?

USA1 your white sheet is showing more and more with each post.

what a bertha

I apologize if I misunderstood. And yes I certainly agree that the tax return issue is small potatoes.

Your analogy is false since Obama HAS provided his birth certificate, while Romney HAS NOT provided his tax returns (beyone 2 years).

USA1, His tax returns say alot about who he is as an American whose mission for the last 6 years was to be President of the United States. You can't accuse Harry Reid of Being a Liar until we know what the truth is. The only one that can provide that truth is Romney himself. You would think that if Reid is lying Romney would be happy to show it and do a great deal of damage to Leader of the Senate. Why won't he?

Hook,

Don't forget the fact the President has produced far more than 1 year of tax returns.

Tax Returns, Birth Certificates, whoop de do. People get so wrapped up in who showed more meaningless info.

It doesn't matter.

What counts is who has a plan to get us out of this economic malaise. Obama's had four years to prove his economic 'theories," he's failed miserably and his time is up. Next.

Leaving office having lost 4 million jobs in the last year of your term would be failing miserably. Leaving office with negative 6% GDP growth would be failing miserably. Wasn't that how GWB left?

The President's policies have created 4.5 million private jobs over the past 26 months. More is needed, but the trend lines are far better than when he took office. Mitt said it himself this week. Big business is doing just fine.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/245119-romney-big-business-is-doing-fine-in-many-places-

Do you understand what you are stating by implying that this man was born in Kenya? You are implying that the greatest scheme on multiple levels of US government was hatched and carried out by a woman from Kansas. Even if President Obama was born in Kenya, he was still an American citizen by virture of his mother. So, regardless of the birth announcment in the local newspaper, and the birth certificate that confirms that he was born in Hawaii, what you are stating is that despite these things, President Obama's mother knew at the time of birth that her son was going to be the future president of the United States. Why? Because as an American citizen born in Kenyan, the only right that he didn't have was...............to be President. Hot dangit. Obama's mama was psychic!!!!!!!!!!

Did George W. Bush release his college transcript? How about Clinton? How about H.W. Bush? How about Jimmy Carter? Heck, how about Abe Lincoln?

What gov. official registered in grade sch as a muslim studied the Koran. Why would Jessee Jackson at his inagaration say something about now we can take care of Isreal. Who spends $4 million to hide his past. People had better start paying attention.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1403699/posts

Basically, the terrsts don’t strap anything on themselves anymore, (notice you don’t hear that anymore) they are infiltrating our schools, universities, military, gov. positions, courts....All in an effort to transform this country to Sharia law. Look it up if you don't know what that is.
Recall Fort hood, the beginning of the Afgan war when one of our soldiers turned on our soldiers, the judge that wanted to use sharia law, the teacher that sued the school for not being able to take off for the muslim holiday, recently disney employee who sued to wear her garb, even when they offered to give her another job....They are using our laws against us. I know I will get hate mail, but are you willing to take a chance and even people in gov are talking about this as a real threat. They say they don't care if it take 10 yrs. I hope I'm wrong.

Utoh, you're going to have to source your paranoid delusions a heck of a lot better than links to Freepers.

Harry Reid isn't running for President. Why does Obama have to release his college transcripts when Romney won't even release his tax returns. I'm pretty sure he got a scholarship to college too.

Bob Of course it sounds outragous, but so did 911 before it happened.

http://bossip.com/626755/illinois-congressman-wants-to-dead-political-correctness-claims-muslims-in-america-are-a-bigger-threat-now-than-after-911/

Stevie (boy, I say boy because and adult would use Steve or Stephen) How would you classify a person more interested in 30 year old college records then 10 years of current tax returns on a guy that says he is the Business Candidate. What you and the others want to prove is that the President was an affirmative action student and therefore has not earned his position. It is racist at it's core and what you can't figure out is how a black guy became President.

Rmoney/Ryan will ANNIHILATE the D ticket in November. We will soon have our country back!!

The left wing loonies have good company with the right wing loonies, Stevie!

@Mike: Romney and Ryan will annihilate nothing in November. Mark my word. The reason goes beyond politics, actually. Wait and see.

Mike: Define "our" and explain from whom you feel it needs to be taken back. Thank you.

I'm pretty sure he means he wants to give it back to white people, because he thinks that Obama is only interested in helping black people. Typical right-wing racist bullshit.

And Obama completely let the Doctor, who was the one who outed Bin Laden, to swing in the proverbial wind. Can we talk about the White House leaks and how the investigation hit a road block when it came back to O's house? This presidents only uses who and what he needs to get re-elected. His ONLY objective is votes. He lied 4 years ago when he said Marriage is between a man and a woman. He "evolved" my foot, it was for the vote! He wants to give amnesty to over one million illegals, think their legal cousins won't vote for O for this?? The only honest thing he has said is if unemployment is still over 8% in 4 years, then he should be a one term president and I for one whole heartily agree. Anyone but Obama in 2012!

Lurky Loo, And what do you say about Romney who signed an assault weapons ban, was pro-choice, developed Heath insurance in Mass, with a mandate, just got back from Israel where he complimented their healthcare which has a mandate and is Government Healthcare and now holds exactly the opposite position on all of that.

Lurky Loo,

Do you really want to focus on candidates who change their positions? You can't be that naive. Pick any issue and there is a high probability Mitt was for it before he was against it or vice versa!

Perhap you would want to change your user name from "Tired of the idiots" to "Love Everything Negative...and if it isn't Negative, let's Make it"