Finally, we're headed for a real campaign with real candidates and real choices.

We'll see Mitt Romney and his family out on the campaign trail. Beautiful family, wildly successful business background, and the whole family is proud to be Americans. What's not to like?

Mitt speaks, FTA:

"Four years ago Barack Obama dazzled us in front of Greek columns with sweeping promises of hope and change, he said. But after we came down to earth, after the celebration and parades, what do we have to show for three and a half years of President Obama?

Is it easier to make ends meet? Is it easier to sell your home or buy a new one? Have you saved what you needed for retirement? Are you making more in your job? Do you have a better chance to get a better job? Do you pay less at the pump?"

Those are the things Democrats should have been worrying about when they were busy shoving Obamacare down our throats. Democrats let America down, yet they have yet to take responsibility for anything. The electorate is not primarily a needy population. It's far more competent and intelligent than Democrats imagine. Telling folks "It's Bush's fault!" when the balance of power still favors Democrats 3.5 years out is simply not persuasive to the wider population.

I look for the Romneys to make Americans proud to be Americans again. Between all the scoldings, the scowling, the bowing and the apologies of the past 3.5 years, we've lost our way. Time for new leadership and a fresh start.

Republicans fall in line like sheep to the slaughter.

All democrats have to do is site what other republicans have said about Mitt lol

What happened to the Romney that said Arizona's immagration law should be a model for the country....ooops slideee now says he:

Anyhooo, how will Mitt fix the economy? What's the plan, Stan? Please share.

Mitt will certainly fix that!

We'll see Mitt Romney and his family out on the campaign trail. Beautiful family, wildly successful business background, and the whole family is proud to be Americans. What's not to like?

Taken in by pretty people, pretty words and empty promises? Isn't that exactly what you bashed Obama-supporters for?

I keep a bowl of popcorn around while reading the Romney themed supportive and defensive posts here! ;)

Esh, some did, yes. And of course you're falling for it a second time. Shame on you!

Any comment on Mitt? He is breaking promises he made last week and he changed those from the week before...

Who gives a darn if the Romney family or the Obama family is "lovely" ! What does that have to do with foreign policy, immigration policy, economic policy, social policy????

What is wild to me is how successful they are at turning the American people against each other. It's beyond bizarre.

I predict a disgustingly negative campaign that will divide the American people even more than they already are. Hows that good leadership?

Bingo! Romney is an empty suit with no real personality.Thus he can't even connect with most of his fellow Republicans. The entire array of Repub. candidates s--ked.

We know Obama is far from perfect. However, for the most part he has sincerely tried to keep his promises and has fought for the little guy on Main Street consistently. And he can connect!

Obama has not fought hard enough for the little guy on Main Street. He has not! The man became friends with the 1% right from the start.

A short list of his dereliction of duty:

Obama is no longer the candidate of hope. His record proves that. Ignore the censored media and investigate the truth.

His agenda in office became saving Wall Street and investment firms.

Millions of Americans lost their homes while he was playing buds with the rich who are his real favorites.

He continues the Bush wars abroad and political repression
at home.

He abandoned his promises to labor. Oh YES he did! Ask them.

He is 100% for austerity.

He has an appalling record on civil liberties.

He has assassinated U.S. Citizens without a trial.

So, if that is what you all wish to continue, then vote for the Obama image and forget about character and integrity. The man has no principles.

I think that is true but the discussions always seem to centre around the candidates not the policies of the party. It's always about their personality, their families, their dogs, their hair, their teleprompters!!!! And usually in the form of negative comments. It just all seems so shallow.

At least that's how it seems to me.

"They are not going to nominate a moderate Massachusetts governor whos been outspending his opponent 10-1 and cant win the election outright. What chance do we have in a general election if he cant, with an overwhelming money advantage, be able to deliver any kind of knockout blow to other candidates?" NBCs "Today," March 12, 2012.

"Do you really believe this country wants to elect a Wall Street financier as the president of the United States? Do you think thats the kind of experience that we need?" Rockford, Ill., March 19, 2012.

"Conservatives will not trust (Romney), will not rally around him." Conference call with reporters, March 5, 2012.

"Are you going to vote for someone that says one thing one day, anything else the next day thats necessary to win? Or are you going to vote for someone you trust?" Feb. 25, 2012, Troy, Mich.

"Hes got a lot of money, but he doesnt have the convictions, the authenticity nor the record that is necessary to win this election." Jan. 17, 2012, South Carolina.

"Pick any other Republican in the country. (Romney) is the worst Republican in the country to put up against Barack Obama." March 25, 2012, Franksville, Wis.

Elections often come down to voting for the lesser of 2 evils. I don't think Obama is evil, but I've not been happy with several things he's done, or not done. But, IMO, he's still the best option we have because Romney would be so much worse at everyone of those things plus a whole lot more.

I disagree. Bad leaders are nothing to be proud of. Just ask Michelle Obama, who didn't think much of the US until her husband began his political rise.

"For the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm really proud of my country not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change..."

Michelle Obama

"Taken in by pretty people, pretty words and empty promises? Isn't that exactly what you bashed Obama-supporters for?"

News to me. Who said Democrats were "taken in" by "pretty people?"
Republicans were skeptical of Obama's promises. And they were right to be. Link below.

When Michelle Obama said that perhaps she was talking about the first tine she was very CONSCIOUSLY aware of being proud to be an American.

Don't you have a moment in time when you realized just how incredibly proud you were to be American? Which is not to say that the feeling wasn't always there but a single event made you realize "for the first time" just how incredibly proud you were?

I know that it happened for me when we allowed all those American planes to land in Canada on 9/11, not knowing what was happening , only that the planes would not be allowed to land in America, but we said OK land here.

Thousands of Americans were housed in Canadian homes for several days, actually in some cases weeks, as things settled down and they could find their way home. I realized then just how proud I was to be a Canadian.

My heart swelled with Canadian pride and FOR THE FIRST TIME I was AWARE of how proud I was to be Canadian.

I think that is all the First Lady was trying to say but....there are some who will refuse to try and understand her words. It simply doesn't serve their purpose.

Hatred is an awful thing, it obscures our view and prevents us from coming to respect each other.

Actually, I was thinking, "maybe he's right..." and of course there's no way of knowing, but benefit of the doubt is fair. Then you went and spoiled it!

I realize internet slang calls for a different slant on the word "hate" (so I've been told), but it still sounds pretty negative.

Then you went and spoiled it!

It's so funny how often elvis uses this tactic. "I was gonna like you ... until you spoiled it." Classic passive aggressive behavior.

elvis, you are becoming predictable.

I would be for anyone other than Obama.
Obama is coming from a different direction
than any President we have ever had .

His vision is not a vision I am comfortable with and it scares me for my grandchildren and for America.

I just know I am counting on Mitt Romney....
going to back him with every dollar I can..
and I'm going to work tirelessly
to try and get him to the WH.

It might not happen. I have always believed in everything
having a purpose and if Obama is re-elected I will have to trust that it is for a purpose and just be patient .

I have prayed for peace in my thoughts of the
direction I'm afraid he is going to take us.

I hate the unrest I feel brewing for our America.

I'm afraid this election will creat a chasm that will take
generations to mend.

In what way? I am tired of all of these broad generalizations.

Indeed. I agree. For two reasons:

1. Conservatives continue to paint Obama as some socialist-leaning, terrorist-pal that's going to make friends with America's enemies, abort all the babies, pay people not to work and sell our souls out to Satan.

2. Conservatives ideas on how to "fix things" once they get control are to cut taxes so low yet keep military spending as high as possible that we have to cut essential programs (education, infrastructure) to the bone. In addition they want to gut regulations that affect our health and environment thus enriching corporations at our expense, essentially selling our health and environment to them for pennies on the dollar. Add to that their further desire to remove any reproductive rights to women as well as equal working rights that women have fought so hard for. Conservatives want to fundamentally change the rights and privileges of the woman and middle class to the benefit of corporations and those executives that run them. And they will take us to war again - in a new place. I believe it.

That is the direction that you should be praying about. For it will surely bring an American spring one day that could be just as bloody as any Arab spring. Conservatives are the ones that want to sell our soul and our benefits out to the profit machine. Capitalism gone wrong when those few with so much can buy their way through to getting more by affecting our laws.

That and bailing out his pets.....the fat cats that
he now has such disdain for .

Obama's vision for America is his vision.
Not the vision of most of America.

Thats why 92% of the people are concerned with the direction of our country.

I also realize that anything said about Obama that is negative causes a he~~ storm .

And the sides shall never agree . So we will just agree to disagree.

Obama is coming from a different direction
than any President we have ever had .

Most Presidents do have their own vision and try to implement it. How is Obama's "different"?

That he wants to increase the amount of health insurance available to the average American? Is that different? If so, bravo - most Americans believe that health insurance improvements were/are needed. Even conservatives on this forum like some of the changes in the Affordable Care Act and would like to keep them.

That he bailed out his friends, those fat cats? Presidents and politicians have been doing that for years? Not different.

So what exactly is different? I haven't not seen you mention anything that is different.

Is it the increase in favorable foreign views of the US thanks to Obama and Hilary Clinton?

Is it the withdrawal of troops in Iraq?

Is it the capture/death of Osama Bin Laden?

Is it the return to profitability of the US auto industry?

Is it the rebound of the US stock market to pre-recession levels?

Is it the fact that the economy is actually recovering and not getting worse?

Those differences? And believe me, this is in all seriousness. Respectfully I ask you to clarify just want these awful differences are? Because I do believe there are a lot of people out there parroting phrases like "I don't like the direction this country is going under Obama" and then they can't really explain what they mean. Or they are afraid to - afraid to admit what they really think ... that he is some closet terrorist just waiting to deliver us onto evil.

It's not all about what Obama is doing that concerns us, by the way. It's the whole stinking political system that concerns us - how one half of the equation can keep the other half from doing anything, screwing the rest of us in the process. How one tiny portion of elected officials can be so stubborn that the credit agency reduces the US's credit rating.

You can't quote figures like that and say it's all about Obama. Cause it's certainly not.

Besides the conrast between Obama and Romeny, I would like to know...how much different is Romeny from Georg Bush??? Considering all the republicans on here have distanced themsevles from W...

Still waiting for someone to explain Romney's plan...

He has worked for an anti immigration law firm founded by white nationalist John Tanton and wrote in the last century (I put it that way because your values would have to be from there to write

" Kobach defended the Apartheid policy in South Africa in a 1990 book. He stated, "Clearly, reform has become the clarion call of so many businesses because it is seen as a means of achieving stability. Yet, strict Verwoerdian apartheid enforced with an iron fist can also be seen as a route to a more stable South Africa. "

he claims not to know anything about the views of John Tanton

Fair is Fair unless it the immigration group.

The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) is a non-profit tax exempt organization in the United States that advocates changes in U.S. immigration policy that would result in significant reductions in immigration, both legal and illegal. It was founded on January 2, 1979 by John Tanton who is known as the founder of many anti-immigration and environmentalist groups.

Tanton wrote.
"To govern is to populate. Will the present majority peaceably hand over its political power to a group that is simply more fertile? As whites see their power and control over their lives declining, will they simply go quietly into the night or will there be an explosion?"

I read something like that on this forum by one of the posters some time back who claimed it wasn't really a racist idea & just gave up the argument err discussion.

Fair received a good amount of funding from The Pioneer Fund describes itself as based "in the Darwinian-Galtonian evolutionary tradition and eugenics movement." For the last 70 years, the Pioneer Fund has funded controversial research about race and intelligence, essentially aimed at proving the racial superiority of white people. The group's original mandate was to promote the genes of those "deemed to be descended predominantly from white persons who settled in the original 13 states prior to the adoption of the Constitution."

Yes we are playing connect the dots here or connect the links if you perceive them as slams rather than information then I might suggest you are also a racist or white..ish nativists.

Kobach serves as a legal counsel for FAIR's
legal arm Immigration Reform Law Institute (IRLI). In 2004 Kobach accepted $10,000 from FAIR to support his
campaign for Congress. He lost because there was too much press connecting him to white supremacists.

THIS IS REALLY GOING TO BE A REAL CAAMPAIGN for sure!

The candidate the conservatives did so much to throw under a bus they will now cover in laurels!

When it comes to the economy, its the same thing - lower taxes, less regulation, a free market solves all problems.

"But Romney, unlike Clinton, is not offering a program through which government would take specific steps to solve the problems he catalogues. Instead, he is calling on voters to share his faith that our difficulties would go away if the state simply got out of the way, allowed the market do its thing and counted on the success of the successful to lift up everyone else.

Romney is right in saying he has "a very different vision" from Obama's, and this is where the magic comes in. He envisions "an America driven by freedom, where free people, pursuing happiness in their own unique ways, create free enterprises that employ more and more Americans. And because there are so many enterprises that are succeeding, the competition for hardworking, educated, skilled employees is intense, so wages and salaries rise."

Just like that, all would be well - as if we never needed the trust-busting of the Progressive Era, the social legislation of the New Deal, the health programs of the Great Society and the coordinated action of the world's governments in 2008 and 2009 to keep the Great Recession from becoming something far worse."

snip

Your boy W did that already. This country was never so divided until that man started 2 unnecessary wars, wasted billions of dollars and drove the economy into the s**t-hole. At least Obama is trying to fix it. We don't need to go back to that kind of mentality with Romney. All you have to do is look at Europe right now to know those policies do not work.

I'm not going to try to psychoanalyze Michelle Obama, but you go ahead. As a lawyer, she is well practiced in saying exactly what she means. I take her at her word.

"Most Presidents do have their own vision and try to implement it. How is Obama's "different"?"

Obamacare was the president's "vision." Not the electorate's. And it wasn't "implemented," it was imposed.

All of your "selling" points for Obama can just as
readily but taken point by point and dissected and has
been many times on this forum.

Each of you have read the counter points many times and
I just don't want to keep going over and over the same
pro's and con's of his decisions.

I still have issues with Obamas rise and over-night adoration...his relationship with his "mentor" of 20 yrs. Rev Wright....his radical "I hardly know them" friends.

I have not been able to find an acceptance of all the negatives surrounding his path and passage to who he is.

I wish I could . Its a terrible thing to be holding ones breath waiting for the next phase of Obama.

I am not alone in my concerns and doubts regarding Obama.
Sometimes I wish I was...then I could deal with my misgivings as misguided but too many others evidently still have issues with who Obama really is.

I'm not speaking of the silly things like Muslum faith
or his race or anything so narrow.

I don't have a clue who he REALLY is.

He has never been transparent.
When I see him and I watch him ..its like he is empty
and he says what he is "suppose"to say.
What does he really want for America?
What will he do to attain his goal?
How long has he had his vision?

His vision "for us" has to be for the majority.
His vision has not been for the majority and thats why our
country is in such an emotional turmoil.

Not our fault you choose to live in a bubble. Your posts says absolutely nothing specific...oh Rev. Wright. lol this would be funny if it wasn't so effed up.

I have a sense that there are some Americans who are afraid of something but I don't know what it specifically is, I really don't.

You are confused, that's the other guy.

Leave out the "paranoid" part and they will be right on the money, LOL! Fine by me. :-) But that's fodder for another thread. Which if you do bring it up, you will be told that they already did that, and you are very dumb because you didn't participate in that discussion, and on and on.

And yet you really don't provide any specifics.

I still have issues with Obamas rise and over-night adoration - that is so 2008. Obama supporters are over that, you can be too.

I have not been able to find an acceptance of all the negatives surrounding his path and passage to who he is. - most Obama supporters say over and over that they don't like every he has done, don't agree with everything about him. "his path and passage to who he is" - what does that even mean? We all have a path and passage to where we are now. We all have baggage, bad decisions, things done in youth and ignorance.

Sometimes I wish I was...then I could deal with my misgivings as misguided but too many others evidently still have issues with who Obama really is. - again, nothing specific here, just soft alarm statements like Its a terrible thing to be holding ones breath waiting for the next phase of Obama. and I don't have a clue who he REALLY is. Scary.

And can you answer this about Romney? Because you should logically have the same concerns about any candidate:

What does he really want for America?
What will he do to attain his goal?
How long has he had his vision?

And again here, nothing specific, just more alarm statements that say nothing whatsoever and don't even represent everyone:

His vision "for us" has to be for the majority.
His vision has not been for the majority and thats why our
country is in such an emotional turmoil. - how can you say that his vision has not been for the majority when you can't even articulate what his vision is? Your points are so emotional, not factual.

Those are not my Obama "selling" points. Those are facts. Discount them if you want. But until you can be more specific about what exact VISION scares you about Obama, then you are not continuing the conversation. Give me two specific vision examples that scare you. Just two.

Nope, not paranoid conspiracy theories. Just apparently an unwillingness to pay attention and actually learn something. The man's been in office for over 3 years and you still say you don't know him? You just aren't paying attention - he's gotten more attention than anyone these past 4 years - you just have to read.

Why don't you participate in this discussion, elvis? Quit hiding behind statements that don't say anything relevant.

This post for once has not had the usual negative name calling and message.
I thank you for that esh, chase and the rest.

The points in this post have all been covered numerous
times. We each interpret the same thing seen and said from our own perspective.

Funny how we can look at one person's deed as an accompolishment and another see it as a detriment.

The best they can do is say things like "The points in this post have all been covered numerous times" and "Each of you have read the counter points many times and I just don't want to keep going over and over the same pro's and con's of his decisions. "

Yet I am more than willing to say over and over my specific fears for the Republican direction for this country.

I'm beginning to suspect that the fear that drives you is one that you cannot articulate or are unwilling to reveal.

Go outside and take a deep breath.
Look up. Isn't that blue sky beautiful?

Smile....keep things simple.
It need not be so complicated.

elvis only "pays attention" when it's convienent and the facts agree with the agenda. Bush/Cheney lies about why we invaded Iraq? Nope, don't know enough about that. Still reading up. How Obama voted while a senator? Oh yeah, got all my figures lined up for that one. Very strange.

You can read his plan faster than I can type it in.

Several of you talk about Republicans living in a bubble.
I don't think so.
I think we all want a better America.
We are just looking at two completely different people
to help us attain that goal.

On Obamas vision. I think Obama's vision is to dismantle
America..starting with more govnt control in every aspect
of our life.

His vision is an America where everyone is the same.
Now that sounds nice but I don't want to be the "same".

I don't want my grandchildren to be the "same".
I want them to march on their merit.
If they want to volunteer in Peru...so be it but if they want to work and be multi-millionaires I want them to do that too without being stoned for it..

There was a time in this country when we didn't attack
people based on their success.
We clapped and waved the banner.

Both of them are campaign oriented websites and I would put a similar amount of faith in each.

Obama's website says nothing about dismantling America as his vision. Doesn't have a vision of putting "more" government control out there. I believe he is more about maintaining some of the good control that we have already - for the environment, worker's benefits, consumer rights and healthcare that is fair and available to all.

I disagree that his (or any liberal's) vision is an America where everyone is the "same". People are allowed to work 80 hours a week if they want - two or 3 jobs - to create a higher level of success for themselves. Bravo! Those people march on their merit. Succeed where they can, fail where they should.

Liberals do not envy success, they do not envy wealth that is fairly earned. What we protest against - and you should too - is when people use their wealth and influence to unfairly influence legislators in their favor. Why should oil companies be able to influence environmental regulations that allow them to take more risks with resources - when the people that live on this Earth, the ones that live with the consequences, cannot afford to do so? Why should wealthy men and women that make money from day-trading and driving up the prices of gas due to speculation be able to influence legislators to only tax them 15% on their income when people like you and me pay 28% on our earned income?

Be successful and be wealthy. And be responsible in the process. Don't use your wealth to gain advantages that people with wealth have no access to when it comes to laws.

There was a time in this country when we earned our wealth and we recognized that we earned it thanks to the work and expense of many people and infrastructure dollars. And those people shared their wealth through taxes and fair contributions as a way of paying back that groundwork.

How Americans feel has changed - but over time the rules have been changed. And it is not to your grandchildren's advantage.

"I think Obama's vision is to dismantle America...."

"His vision is an America where everyone is the same...."

I ask myself what kind of mindset would believe this sort of mythology? I really am speechless....

Sorry I meant that to say How Americans feel HASN'T changed.

Speechless? That'll be the day...LOL

As far as studying Obama's website--of course I have. I'm willing to bet most folks who are not pro-Obama have. A person really has to educate himself to know what they don't want same as they do to know what they do want (duh).

The gap between the 1% and the rest of us keeps widening for the reasons esh stated -- they are able to buy the legislation that benefits them.

Like I've said before, I understand why if you are in the 1% you want that to continue. But, if you're not, and I would guess that all of us here, including CW, are not, why you think it's ok is beyond me.

They are not getting wealthier while the rest get poorer because they work harder or are more responsible. They are getting wealthier by paying their employees less, taking benefits away, moving jobs off shore, getting rid of regulations that protect us and the environment but save them money in the short term, etc etc etc.

That's not ok with me.

Obama is not perfect, but he doesn't "stone people for becoming multi millionaires". Such a strange thing to say.

(Pssst....can you spell hypocrite?)

You believe what? What is "it"?

And Obama is himself a millionaire. Obama has nothing against millionaires in general. You seem to missing the point.

The only "democratic process" that took place was in 2010, when an enraged electorate weighed in on that "imposed democratic process." Democrats got their "Democrat imposed" butts kicked all over the country. The cool thing is that there's a whole lot MORE where that came from...LOL!

Gone is the optimism from Texas Rep. Pete Sessions, the Republican in charge of his party's campaign efforts in the House, from early 2011, when he predicted an expanded majority in November's elections.

We'll see, Nik. I don't think you'll get the butt kicking you're hoping for.

Not in California.

The GOP was shut out of every state-wide office, from Governor to Insurance Commissioner, and Barbara Boxer was re-elected by a substantial margin. I'm not surprised that you don't remember eMeg and iCarly having their "butts" soundly rejected, especially after the hallelujah chorus in HT cheering these conservative female candidates and declaring certain victory. And NV TPer Sharron Angle lost her senate bid after one too many insults aimed at the Latino community.

RINOS got their butts kicked with 80 some odd tea partiers blowinng into Washington and holding their party hostage. Ask Boehner.

But this says it all, Nik. You never respond to any questions or delve into an issue...it is about WINNING. Scorthced earth and party before country at all costs.

Since we're talking about the economy (see OP above), what do any of you who have used the phrase "1%" in the posts above, mean?

Republicans were entrusted with the US House, governorships and legislatures across the country in 2010. Power still favors Democrats, however, with a Democrat president and senate. We're still on the skids, and folks are still struggling, still looking for work and still losing their homes.

FWIW, when folks lose things, they get depressed. We have an awful lot of people who have suffered great losses in the past few years, material things as well as a loss of confidence in government. Glad elections are near, and people can once again feel empowered by their right to vote.

Say not to Bush 3.0.

What will he do to make things better? Please answer.

They lie, you buy.

Respect the electorate.

Oh good grief - what a non-specific excuse. You can't prove that he does/doesn't just like you can't prove that Obama does/doesn't. Although I'm sure you'll drag out that old "he shoved healthcare reform down our throats" line again as some pseudo-excuse that Obama doesn't respect the electorate. Lots of people will differ with you and it become another he said/she said discussion. Respecting the electorate is nothing but an opinion.

Give us something concrete we can work with on what Romney will do better.

President Obama was elected on a platform that included health care reform. I would say that he did respect the electorate on this issue.