A video that is self-explanatory

Keeping Track of Willard's Lies

It's time for Willard's Lies of the week.

Once again, I will point out the site on the blog roll: Romney The Liar: because there are Liars, Damn Liars, and then there's Mitt Romney.

Steve Benen, now at The Maddow Blog:. Here's this week's entry of Chronicling Mitt's mendacity:

The Opening:

Chronicling Mitt's Mendacity, Vol. XXXVI

By Steve Benen

Fri Sep 28, 2012 3:04 PM EDT.

When Mitt Romney talked to "60 Minutes" last week, he said President Obama has "repeatedly shown a reckless disregard for the truth." If there's ever been a more blatant example of political "projection," I can't think of it.

And yet, Romney is increasingly invested in this. This week, several reports noted that Romney intends to use next week's debate to "fact check" the president. The Obama campaign, unimpressed, released a video this morning on the subject.

Of course, if the 2012 presidential race comes down to which candidate is more dishonest, Romney's in trouble. Consider, for example, the 36th installment of my weekly series, chronicling Mitt's mendacity.

1. Romney argued just yesterday that the crisis of military suicides would be made worse by looming cuts to the defense budget.

That's plainly untrue.

2. In same speech, Romney said, "You realize we have fewer ships in the Navy than any time since 1917."

This one again? Romney dropped this lie a while ago, but it's apparently back.

3. Romney went on to say, in reference to the president, "[H]is plan also calls for trillion dollar deficits."

Obama's plan calls for trillions in deficit reduction.

4. Romney added, "It is the same series of policies he's put in place over the last four years and they have not worked. And if you don't, why, look at the price of gasoline."

To blame gas prices on the president's policies is ridiculously untrue.

5. Romney also said in reference to Obama, "He's put us on a road to Europe."

The irony is, Europe is trying to grow through austerity, just as Romney intends to do here. He's lying in a self-refuting sort of way.

Obama vs. Romney in VA, OH, FL… and Swing-State Economies

The old adage that politics is local remains true in 2012. While most polls spout out national projections, as I wrote earlier, it is best to pay attention to state-level polling. In several states, Virginia, Ohio, Wisconsin, Colorado, Florida and Nevada, the economies have much in common, but also important differences with national trends. These differences are important to follow.

The national unemployment rate is 8.1%, while the August unemployment rates in these six swing states is as follows:

Virginia, 5.9%

Read the rest here. 

The Black Vote Not Taken For Granted By Either Party

In an earlier piece here at The Village, I reviewed African American voting history. Given the overwhelming nature of black Democratic partisanship, we should expect the vast majority of black voters to support Barack Obama on November 6.

Interestingly, every election year, there appears a raft of articles all asking the same question, “Is the Democratic nominee for president taking the black vote for granted?” This year is no different. These articles bring no new evidence to the table and only represent the lazy journalism of reporters and pundits looking for an easy story. These stories do not take into account the deep roots blacks have with the Democratic Party nor do they examine the antipathy the GOP treats blacks with (Mia Love being an obvious exception).

Just because a policy is not explicitly racial in nature does not mean that African Americans benefit greatly.

Read the rest at The Village Celebration. 

The 50th Anniversary of the Integration of the University of Mississippi

The University of Mississippi commemorates the 50^thanniversary of its integration this fall. Attorney General Eric Holder will provide the keynote address at the University’s Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College Fall Convocation.

James H. Meredith, on October 1^st, 1962, finally registered and attended his first classes after a 20-month struggle to enter the University of Mississippi. Just the night before, an on-campus riot claimed the lives of two and with scores injured, including many U.S. Marshall’s sent by President Kennedy to protect Meredith.

Read the rest here. 

Why the GOP Always Peddles Tax Cuts and Why It Doesn’t Work

On a surface level, tax cuts appeal to everyone. After all, who wouldn’t appreciate having a little extra money from their paycheck? In a world without fiscal consequences, it should be easy to win election after election with the simple act of promising voters more money.

The GOP has run on this line ever since Reagan took the White House in 1980. Republicans, holding the Gipper as their political lodestar, see tax cuts as both the cure to all of society’s problems and as the tonic to their electoral fortunes.

Read the rest here.

Keeping Track of Willard's Lies

It's time for Willard's Lies of the week.

Once again, I will point out the site on the blog roll: Romney The Liar: because there are Liars, Damn Liars, and then there's Mitt Romney.

Steve Benen, now at The Maddow Blog:. Here's this week's entry of Chronicling Mitt's mendacity:

The Opening:

Chronicling Mitt's Mendacity, Vol. XXXV

By Steve Benen

Fri Sep 21, 2012 2:32 PM EDT.

I thought many months ago that it was at least possible that Mitt Romney would be more cautious about telling falsehoods as the election drew closer. After all, candidates can get away with more in, say, April than in September -- there's far more scrutiny now.

Alas, Romney seems unfazed, both by the calendar and by life under a microscope -- he keeps repeating falsehoods without any real concern for consequences. In case there were any doubts about his worst habit, consider the 35th installment of my weekly series, chronicling Mitt's mendacity.

1. At an event in Sarasota yesterday, Romney said, in reference to President Obama's comments about engaged citizens changing politics, "The president today threw in the white flag of surrender again."

That's not only a lie; it's also one of the dumbest things Romney has ever said in public.

2. At a Univision town-hall event in Miami, Romney said he opposes an economic model in which we "take from some to give to others."

Actually, Romney's preferred budget plan redistributes wealth at a level unseen in modern American history.

3. Romney also said, several times, "[T]his is a campaign about the 100 percent.... My campaign is about the 100 percent of America."

I seem to recall watching a video in which Romney said it's not his "job" to "worry about" 47 percent of the population.

4. At the same event, Romney boasted, "When I was governor of my state, the state of Massachusetts ... we brought unemployment down to 4.7 percent."

Well, in reality, the unemployment rate in Massachusetts dropped because so many people dropped out of the state's workforce. The fact of the matter is Massachusetts' job creation record during Romney's term was "one of the worst in the country," ranking 47th out of 50 states.

I'm Dreaming................. of a White President

BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAA



I’M DREAMING

George Washington was a white man
Adams and Jefferson too
Abe Lincoln was a white man, probably
And William McKinley the whitest of them all
Was shot down by an immigrant in Buffalo
And a star fell out of heaven


I’m dreaming of a white President
Just like the ones we’ve always had
A real live white man
Who knows the score
How to handle money or start a war
Wouldn’t even have to tell me what we were fighting for
He’d be the right man
If he were a white man


I’m dreaming of a white President
Someone whom we can understand
Someone who knows where we’re coming from
And that the law of the jungle is not the law of this land


In deepest darkest Africa nineteen three
A little boy says, “Daddy, I just discovered relativity.
A big eclipse is coming
And I’ll prove it. Wait and see!”


“You better eclipse yourself outta here, son
And find yourself a tree
There’s a lion in the front yard
And he knows he won’t catch me.”


How many little Albert Einsteins
Cut down in their prime?
How many little Ronald Reagans
Gobbled up before their time?


I don’t believe in evolution
But it does occur to me,
What if little William Howard Taft had to face a lion
Or God forbid, climb a tree?
Where would this country be?


I’m dreaming of a white President
Buh buh buh buh
‘Cause things have never been this bad
So he won’t run the hundred in ten seconds flat
So he won’t have a pretty jump shot
Or be an Olympic acrobat
So he won’t know much about global warming
Is that really where you’re at?
He won’t be the brightest, perhaps
But he’ll be the whitest
And I’ll vote for that


Whiter than this?
Yes
Whiter than this?
Yes
Whiter than this?
Yes
Whiter than this?
Oh yeah

THIS is who Willard Romney Is

These videos were sent to David Corn at Mother Jones.

No shock to me in the least about these videos.

No shock at all.











Response from the Obama Campaign:

CHICAGO – “It’s shocking that a candidate for President of the United States would go behind closed doors and declare to a group of wealthy donors that half the American people view themselves as ‘victims,’ entitled to handouts, and are unwilling to take ‘personal responsibility’ for their lives. It’s hard to serve as president for all Americans when you’ve disdainfully written off half the nation.” – Jim Messina, Obama for America Campaign Manager

Keeping Track of Willard's Lies

It's time for Willard's Lies of the week.

Once again, I will point out the site on the blog roll: Romney The Liar: because there are Liars, Damn Liars, and then there's Mitt Romney.

Steve Benen, now at The Maddow Blog:. Here's this week's entry of Chronicling Mitt's mendacity:

THE OPENING:

Chronicling Mitt's Mendacity, Vol. XXXIV

By Steve Benen

Fri Sep 14, 2012 2:26 PM EDT

In an interview aired this morning with George Stephanopoulos, the host told Mitt Romney that, despite his claims to the contrary, the Obama administration never showed sympathy for attackers in Egypt and Libya. How did the candidate explain the discrepancy? He didn't -- Romney dodged the question and let the lie stand.

Towards the end of the interview, however, Romney looked ahead to the upcoming debates and said he'll have a challenge to deal with: "[T]he president tends to, how shall I say it, to say things that aren't true."

There's no sense of shame and no sense of irony.

A Washington Post/ABC News poll out today shows a plurality of Americans believes the Obama campaign is saying things "it believes to be true" rather than "intentionally misleading people." On the other hand, a plurality of Americans believes the opposite about the Romney campaign.

If anyone's wondering why the public has this impression, consider the 34th installment of my weekly series, chronicling Mitt's mendacity.

1. At a campaign event in Virginia yesterday, Romney said he "couldn't believe" the president said "if you have a business you didn't build it, someone else did that."

Of course he couldn't believe it -- that's not even close to being true.

2. On Wednesday morning, Romney accused Obama administration officials of issuing an "apology for American values."

That never happened.

3. Romney also said, in response to violence in Libya and Egypt, that "the Obama administration's first response" to the violence was to "sympathize with those who waged the attacks."

Not in this reality.

4. As part of the same statement, Romney also said that the Cairo Embassy "put out a statement after their grounds had been breached. Protesters were inside the grounds. They reiterated that statement after the breach."

Nope, that's not true, either.

5. Pressed by reporters, Romney added, "I'm not going to take hypotheticals about what would have been known what and so forth. I, we responded last night to the events that happened in Egypt."

That's an understandable attempt to cover up the truth, but Romney's statement referred to "attacks on our diplomatic missions," not just Egypt.

Keeping Track of Willard's Lies

It's time for Willard's Lies of the week.

Once again, I will point out the site on the blog roll: Romney The Liar: because there are Liars, Damn Liars, and then there's Mitt Romney.

Steve Benen, now at The Maddow Blog:. Here's last week's entry of Chronicling Mitt's mendacity:

The Opening:

Chronicling Mitt's Mendacity, Vol. XXXIII

By Steve Benen

Fri Sep 7, 2012 2:31 PM EDT.

The total of Romney falsehoods keeps going up.

First Lady Michelle Obama delivered a beautiful speech at the Democratic National Convention this week, which was very well received. There were a few phrases in particular, though, that seemed to strike a chord.

Referencing her and President Obama's families, she said, almost in passing, "We learned about honesty and integrity -- that the truth matters, that you don't take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules, and success doesn't count unless you earn it fair and square."

Those three words -- "the truth matters" -- drew a hearty response. In context, the First Lady wasn't going after anyone in particular, and she didn't accuse anyone, even indirectly, of dishonesty. But I suspect people applauded not just because it's worthwhile maxim, but because this year, it seems clear there are some who believe the truth doesn't matter.

Consider, for example, the 33rd installment of my weekly series, chronicling Mitt's mendacity. This week's list is considerably shorter than usual because Mitt Romney spent several days out of the public eye, preparing for next month's debates. It does not include the media availability he did this morning (I haven't seen the transcript yet).

1. Mitt Romney told Fox News this week, "You know, no one in the [Democratic] convention so far has had the temerity to say that people are better off in America, because they realize it's not the case."

Actually, it is the case, and nearly every speaker at the Democratic convention has said so.

2. In the same interview, Romney said he rejects "the decision of the president to slash our military by a trillion dollars over this decade."

That's demonstrably false.

3. Romney went on to say "there's no question" President Obama took "work out of welfare" and "waived the work requirement in welfare."

I continue to believe this is as blatant a lie as any modern presidential candidate has told. It simply has no connection to our plane of reality, but Romney keeps repeating it.

4. Asked about the president's rescue of the American auto industry, Romney told Fox, "Well, my view from the beginning was that the auto companies needed to go through a managed bankruptcy. And ultimately, that's what the president did."

Romney can take credit for Obama's policy, or he can condemn Obama's policy, but to do both is obviously dishonest (and more than a little ridiculous).

Just some Convention Headlines and Pics

hat tips-The Obama Diary, DailyKos:

DNC Convention Day 3: Vice-President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama

Pres. Obama: "I'm no longer just a candidate; I'm the President." #DNC2012

Democratic National Convention, Day 2: Elizabeth Warren and Former President Bill Clinton

Former President Bill Clinton:

"A man who stopped a depression, and put us on the long road to recovery. ... I want to nominate a man who is cool on the outside, but who burns for America on the inside."

"Let me ask you something. Are we better off because President Obama fought for health care reform? You bet we are."

Clinton tears apart the $716 billion Romney-Ryan Medicare lie. Says when he heard Paul Ryan slam it: "I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, because that $716 billion, is the same amount, to the dollar, that he had in his own budget. You got to admit one thing. It takes some brass to attack a guy for what you did." Brings down house again.

"I like the argument for President Obama's reelection a heck of a lot better. Here it is: He inherited a deeply damaged economy, put a floor under the crash, began the long hard road to recovery, and laid the foundation for a modern, more well-balanced economy that will produce millions of good new jobs, vibrant new businesses, and lots of new wealth for the innovators."

"Are we where we want to be? No. Is the President satisfied? No. Are we better off than we were when he took office, with an economy in free fall, losing 750,000 jobs a month. The answer is YES."

So here's the jobs scorecard, Clinton says: President Obama—4.5 million. Congressional Republicans? Zero.

"And I'll tell you something else, the automobile auto restructuring worked."

"There are now 250,000 more people working in the auto industry than when Obama restructured the industry." Romney opposed that restructuring. "So here's another jobs score. Obama 250,000. Romney zero. Ohio and Michigan, are you listening"

Senate Candidate Elizabeth Warren.

Miss Ann says that women need to ' WAKE UP'...yes, she actually did.

Miss Ann says that women need to WAKE UP.

NO, seriously.

From The Maddow Blog:

Ann Romney demands women 'wake up'

By Steve Benen

Wed Sep 5, 2012 4:30 PM EDT.

Ann Romney was in Ohio this morning, sounding a little desperate about the gender gap undermining her husband's campaign.

Her husband, Mitt Romney, is attuned to women's struggles, especially their economic struggles, and, Ann Romney said, "I know that Mitt will be there for you."

"Women, you need to wake up," she told the largely female audience at a "Women For Mitt" rally in Findlay, Ohio. "Women have to ask themselves who is going to ... be there for you. I can promise you, I know that Mitt will be there for you, he will stand up for you, he will hear your voices, he knows how to fix an economy, he's a can do kind of guy, he's a turnaround guy."

Here's the thing, Miss Ann.

1. Your husband won't stand up for the Lily Ledbetter Act, which just means that I, as a woman, if I find out that I've been discriminated against on the job - I can have a day in court.

2. Your husband supports a Personhood Amendment, which means no abortions, and the outlawing of most birth control.

3. Your husband says he will defund Planned Parenthood, which means that millions of my fellow American women, will be without access to quality, safe female-centered healthcare.

4. Your husband's running mate is a General in the GOP WAR ON WOMEN.

5. Your husband supports a Budget plan that would throw millions off of Medicaid, meaning that MILLIONS of:

a) poor children

b) elderly in nursing homes

c) disabled adults

Will be thrown into the street without access to the healthcare and services that Medicaid provides. I know you don't live in the real world, but I'm thinking of the millions of MOTHERS to those children without healthcare. I'm thinking of the millions of WOMEN upon whom the responsibility will be forced onto them, after Grandma and Grandpa are throwns out into the street from the nursing home. I think about the millions of female care givers of disabled adults- their family. Yes, I'm being stereotypical, but the truth is the truth - WOMEN are the caregivers in this country.

6. Your husband supports a budget that will turn Medicare into a voucher program, and there are millions of women who will now have to help their elderly parents navigate the world of private insurance, as well as helping them to pay for their medication.

7. Your husband wants to repeal Obamacare - ask that MOTHER - Stacy Lihn- who spoke the first night, whether that repeal will let her sleep well at night - if at all.

8. How about the millions of mothers who now don't have to worry about their adult children and healthcare - what about that if Obamacare is repealed.

9. How about the millions of women with pre-existing conditions who will now not be discriminated against because of Obamacare.

10. How about the millions of women who will no longer PAY MORE for a health insurance policy- just because they are women - because Obamacare tells the insurance companies they can't.

11. How about the women who held their hands of their husbands, as your husband, and his vulture capitalism, ushered in business practices that destroyed middle-class jobs, let alone the women workers themselves who got thrown into the dustbin while your husband vultured himself a fortune.

And you think you can tell women to WAKE UP?

Women have YOU and your husband's number.

And that's why they support President Obama by double digits.

The First Lady of the United States-Michelle Obama, closes out Night One of the 2012 DNC Convention

President Barack Obama and his daughters, Malia, left, and Sasha, watch on television as First Lady Michelle Obama takes the stage to deliver her speech at the Democratic National Convention, in the Treaty Room of the White House, Tuesday night, Sept. 4, 2012.

--Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

"Being president doesn't change who you are. It reveals who you are."

"It isn't about how much money you make, it's about the difference you make in people's lives."

"He turned down high-paying jobs ... success is not about how much money you make. It's about the difference you make in people's lives."

“And he believes that when you walk through the door of opportunity, you don’t slam it shut behind you—you reach back.”

"Doing the impossible is the history of this nation...it is how this country was built."

TELL IT, FLOTUS!!

The First Lady's introduction video:



Shallow point: FLOTUS' dress is by Tracy Reese.

The DNC Keynote by Mayor Julian Castro of San Antonio

Democratic National Convention: Day One, Post 2

hat tip -The Obama Diary:

Some pictures from Charlotte along with some videos.

Democratic National Convention - Day One, Post 1

hat tip -The Obama Diary:

The President visited Norfolk, Virginia....and some DNC speeches from tonight.