Romney's Lament: He Blinded Me With Science. Larry Inc. Stein

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      Children’s smiles can light up the world. At its best, politics is about them. Taken in Egypt last fall. 2011© Larry Stein

      Tuesday, July 3, 2012

       I Still Have a Chance of Salvation

      Before blogging on the swiftboating of Romney, I have a personal note.

      I started to make a right hand turn because the only oncoming car was entering the left turn lane. I stopped in time as the car proceeded straight through the intersection. Fortunately, I saw the driver and passenger before I expressed my appreciation for the driving style. Even a member of the tribe famed for a streamlined protrusion, knows it is not circumspect to flip off a pair of nuns.

      Tuesday, July 3, 2012

       Swiftboating Romney

      The subject of the negative advertising against Senator Kerry was more important than failure to fact check. Attacking an opponent's weakness wounds, undercutting his strength kills.

      Romney could not win the Republican nomination running on his record as governor. Instead he proclaimed, that as a businessman he understands the economy and knows how to create jobs. As an aside, a Romney victory might not only be depressing for me, but also for the country as a whole. The last businessman/president was Herbert Hoover.

      The Bain Capital ads may have generated some angst in D.C. and New York, but they have lubricated the rust belt. Polls now show. that a majority in the battleground states, regard Romney's business tenure as a negative. The ads peel away voters from Romney's core constituency, non-college educated white males. The ads have the added benefit of attacking Romney's weakness. He is not likeable. Even if he drank, you would rather have a beer with Barack, than a margarita with Mitt.

      The most devastating ad is: "Stage" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLo0Jwj03JU&feature=youtube. A fired worker recalls building the stage used as a platform by Bain executives to announce the closing of the plant. He says, "It was like building my own coffin". Priorities USA seeks to nail the coffin shut on the Romney candidacy.

      Friday, July 6, 2012

       The Uncertainty Myth

      Republicans have long shouted from the rooftops that businesses have failed to increase their workforces because the President has created uncertainty with through his legislation, proposals and regulations. Fortunately most of us Democrats do not live on rooftops. We are more grounded in the truth.

      Today I will only focus on the respective tax proposals. Obama was clear that he wanted to increase the top bracket for income in excess of $250,000 from 35% to 39.6%. This is hardly a job killer. Large corporations will not stop hiring because the tax rate for some executives will increase. Small businesses taxed on the individual rate, that are making net profit in excess of 250,000, are unlikely to pass up a good business opportunity because of 4.6% increase in taxes over that amount. At most it might be a slight consideration on the margins.

      In contrast if business leaders believe the Ryan/Romney budget has a chance of passage there would be total paralysis. The plan cuts taxes, primarily on upper bracket taxpayers, by 5 trillion over the next 10 years. Defense spending is to increase by 2 trillion. Not only is the budget supposed to cover this loss of revenue, but the deficit is to be reduced. This is to be achieved by cutting spending, a threadbare safety net, and removing unspecified deductions. Spending creates demand. Businesses will be reluctant to expand until the impact can be quantified.

      Much business planning is designed to maximize deductions. Moreover, some deductions are industry specific. Without knowing whose ox will be gored, businesses will be on an economic diet, leading to an anorexic economy.

      Monday, July 9, 2012

       Boycott!

      Prior to the Citizens United decision, Republicans sang the virtue of disclosure requirements as an adequate safeguard for liberalized rules on political contributions. After the judicial victory, the tune changed. Liberal vendettas would be launched against contributors. As an addendum to the Constitution, large corporations and the wealthy are entitled to free, and anonymous, speech.

      Advocacy groups formed under IRS Code 501(c)(4) such as Karl Rowe's American Crossroads GPS, are not required to, and generally do not, disclose donors. Giving one hundred dollars to a campaign is a contribution, ten million is an investment.

      The return on the investment may come from our tax dollars. As voters we have the right to know the investors. Quoting Justice Lewis Brandeis, "Sunshine is the best disinfectant." I am proposing that we all form the Sunshine Movement. We boycott all television stations (and their advertisers) that accept adds from advocacy groups that do not disclose donors. Also, we vote against any candidate for federal office who opposes full disclosure.

      Former California Treasurer, Jesse Unruh, famously said, "Money is the mother's milk of politics." If we are to be subjected to cheesy political ads, we should have a right to know the source of the milk.

      Wednesday, July 11, 2012

       33 Nails in the Republican Coffin?

      A weak economy has obscured the growing strength of the Democratic Party. Preaching solely to the choir, Republicans have emptied the pews. Hispanics are the fastest growing segment of the population. Formerly deep red Arizona has purple fringes because of Republican immigration policies. The spectrum shift will soon be visible in other states.

      Women make up the majority of voters. Republicans seem hell bent on widening the gender gap. Young voters, and even younger future voters, favor gay marriage. Hereto, Republicans are facing a demographic head wind.

      But the final blow may be the 33 votes by the Republican controlled house to eliminate all, or part, of the Affordable Health Care Act. Historically, as benefits begin to flow, social programs surge in popularity. FDR was called a traitor to his class for advocating Social Security. In the 1960s Ronald Reagan opposed Medicare. Now these programs are the political holy grail. If Obamacare follows a similar pattern, Republicans will be unable to hide from their redundant opposition.

      Friday, July 13, 2012

       Rice Bowl

      What do you do when your business background becomes a bane not a boon? You drudge up the name of a provocative potential VP and leak it to a friendly media source. Romney desperately wants to change the subject.