Tag Archive for romney

Presidential Election 2012: Protecting Our Long-Term National Interests

In 2008, Republicans suffered a major political defeat while Democrats crowed and claimed a mandate from the voters. Two years later, the parties traded places again. The GOP declared that liberalism has been rejected and promised a conservative agenda that would put the nation back on track. Unfortunately, the political narrative this election cycle has been one in which both parties have been guilty of misreading the general-election voters.

In establishing our Constitutional Republic, the Framers realized that the whole was greater than the sum of its parts, and their crowning achievement was to make a vigorous democratic process, not partisan ideology, our constitutional mandate. As you go to the polls today, remember to take a step back and vote for who you think will best protect our long-term national interests: the Constitution and our democratic principles. Read the following article on the most influential factors going into Election Day, share your thoughts, and—most importantly—VOTE!

When the race is done, the balloons have wilted, and the confetti has been swept up, Campaign 2012 may be marked more by its failures than its triumphs. | Tom Foreman, CNN

From CNN Politics

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Where does George Romney factor into Mitt’s political upbringing?

Walter De Vries, a longtime aide to Gov. George Romney, issued a scathing critique of Mitt Romney, calling him a businessman who “would say and do anything to close a deal – or an election.” Despite Mitt’s frequent claim that his father was highly influential in his political life, De Vries says George’s greatest strength “was his ability and determination to develop and hold consistent policy positions over his life.”

In a long-form exposé posted on BuzzFeed, John Bohrer posits that Mitt’s “chameleonic approach to politics” was actually a trait Romney picked up from his father. Read the following two articles on George Romney’s legacy and share your thoughts below.

The Republican nominee's father didn't walk out of the '64 convention. And George Romney didn't teach Mitt that you lose by being honest — he taught him that you change your positions to win. | John R. Bohrer, BuzzFeed Contributor

From The New York Times

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Romney’s Business Ties to An E-Voting Manufacturer Operating in 13 States

In 2011, Romney’s former business partners at Bain Capital acquired Hart Intercivic, a voting machine company known for their vulnerable, insecure, and often 100% unverifiable voting and tabulation systems now being used in all or parts of CA, CO, HI, IL, IN, KY, OH, OK, OR, PA, TX, VA, and WA.

Unsurprisingly, the frenzied GOP legislators who claim voter fraud is real threat to our democracy haven’t yet disputed the conflicts of interest for public officials and voting machine manufacturers who could electronically flip the 2012 presidential election in their candidate’s favor. Truthout takes a look at how this scenario played out in Ohio during the 2004 presidential election.

Hart Intercivic machines have famously failed in Tarrant County (Ft. Worth), adding 10,000 non-existent votes. The EVEREST study, commissioned by the Ohio secretary of state in 2007, found serious security flaws with Hart Intercivic products. In this photo, a PEB emulator running on a Palm Pilot simulates an initialization PEB during an open election, resetting all terminal passwords to "EVEREST".

Hart Intercivic machines have famously failed in Tarrant County (Ft. Worth), adding 10,000 non-existent votes. The EVEREST study, commissioned by the Ohio secretary of state in 2007, found serious security flaws with Hart Intercivic products.

 

From Truthout

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Ayn Rand’s Radical Defense of Economic Darwinism

Ayn Rand, the self-proclaimed radical and author of Atlas Shrugged was the ultimate purist, advocating uncontrolled, unregulated capitalism. She perverted Adam Smith’s “invisible hand” into her “virtue of selfishness” and defended an ugly dog-eat-dog economic Darwinism: The masses were servile and insignificant, government was invasive and usually malevolent.

Absolute objectivism, along with the rest of Rand’s arguments, may sway teens—a time when renegade individualism stirs the blood—but time and experience validates the social/political principles envisioned by Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Adam Smith.

It was back in April when audio of Paul Ryan praising Ayn Rand first gained traction during a debate over the libertarian icon's influence on the conservative congressman. Paul Ryan dismissed the suggestion that he was fixated on the author an "urban legend." National Review ran an article called "Paul Ryan Isn't a Randian" aimed at "refuting the Left’s favorite charge against Paul Ryan." | Andrew Kaczynski, Buzzfeed

From Buzzfeed Politics

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ICYMI: The Ed Show

In the last 48 hours, the Romney campaign has several times refused to give GOP voters a direct response on a coordinated Romney/Ryan tax policy. This, along with Ryan’s Medicare plan, are just two of the many issues shaping the GOP ticket that will cause a divide among Republican constituents.

On Tuesday, August 14, I joined Ed Schultz, Joy Reid, and Susan Del Percio on MSNBC’s Ed Show to weigh in on the Paul Ryan VP pick. Watch the clip below and share your thoughts on my Facebook page.

Republicans in Washington are comparing the Paul Ryan VP pick to "the day the music died." Is the Romney-Ryan ticket a real loser? The Big Panel (Joy Reid of the thegrio.com, Republican strategist Susan Del Percio, and attorney and author Catherine Crier) weighs in that.

From The Ed Show

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‘Shadow Years’ is a must read as voters sort out Romney’s conflicting narratives.

If we examine the achievements that Romney says qualify him to lead our economy, two things are certain: He generated great returns for investors but job creation was never a goal; and his success was dependent on a financial system designed and manipulated by powerful special interests.

David Bernstein’s article on the ‘Shadow Years’ is a must read as voters struggle to sort out the conflicting narratives about Romney’s corporate and political career.

From The Boston Phoenix

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Why is Romney continuing to stonewall despite pleas for complete disclosure?

On PoliticsNation with Reverend Al Sharpton, I joined Bloomberg’s Joshua Green and Huffington Post’s Ryan Grim to discuss Mitt Romney’s continued stonewalling on the tax return issue and asked these questions: Is it possible that Romney participated in the 2009 IRS Amnesty program for Americans with undeclared off-shore bank accounts? If so, might this doom his campaign? Some viewers objected to my “boneheaded partisan attack.” As you read this, change the name ‘Romney’ to ‘Obama’, then ask if GOP supporters would look the other way.

From PoliticsNation with Reverend Al Sharpton

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ICYMI: The Ed Show on MSNBC

Last night, I joined MSNBC’s Ed Schultz to discuss the Sandusky trial as we waited for the jury to deliver their verdict. Sandusky was convicted of 45 of 48 felony and misdemeanor counts of sexually abusing 10 young boys over the course of 15 years.

From The Ed Show

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ICYMI: MSNBC’s Morning Joe

On today’s Morning Joe, I joined the panel to discuss Obama tackling immigration reform, the Romney narrative, and Kansas Governor Sam Brownback’s controversial tax cut bill.

Check out the following clips from this morning’s show:

From MSNBC’s Morning Joe:

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ICYMI: Martin Bashir Live

I joined Martin Bashir, John Harwood, and Joe Williams this afternoon to discuss Romney’s tax plan (or lack thereof) along with Ann Romney’s comments on White House vacations.

Watch the video, leave a comment, and join the discussion.

From Martin Bashir Live:

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