Saturday Morning Reads
Posted: October 20, 2012 Filed under: 2012 presidential campaign, Barack Obama, misogyny, Mitt Romney, morning reads, U.S. Economy, U.S. Military, U.S. Politics, War on Women | Tags: Ann Romney, Indiana Senate race, Joe Donnelly, military service, Mormon missions, Richard Lugar, Richard Mourdock, Salt Lake Tribune, Tampa Bay Times 52 Comments
Good Morning!!
Let’s see what’s going on out there in the world today. It looks like the Salt Lake Tribune endorsement of President Obama for a second term has shocked right-wing world a bit, because it’s the top story this morning at right leaning Memeorandum.
The endorsement is especially noteworthy for its assessment of Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign. The editors begin by saying that Romney’s run for president had been “warmly welcomed” in Utah, especially because of “Romney’s singular role in rescuing Utah’s organization of the 2002 Olympics from a cesspool of scandal, and his oversight of the most successful Winter Games on record.” But now, the editors say, they barely recognize what their “favorite adopted son” has become:
Sadly, it is not the only Romney, as his campaign for the White House has made abundantly clear, first in his servile courtship of the tea party in order to win the nomination, and now as the party’s shape-shifting nominee. From his embrace of the party’s radical right wing, to subsequent portrayals of himself as a moderate champion of the middle class, Romney has raised the most frequently asked question of the campaign: “Who is this guy, really, and what in the world does he truly believe?”
The evidence suggests no clear answer, or at least one that would survive Romney’s next speech or sound bite. Politicians routinely tailor their words to suit an audience. Romney, though, is shameless, lavishing vastly diverse audiences with words, any words, they would trade their votes to hear.
More troubling, Romney has repeatedly refused to share specifics of his radical plan to simultaneously reduce the debt, get rid of Obamacare (or, as he now says, only part of it), make a voucher program of Medicare, slash taxes and spending, and thereby create millions of new jobs. To claim, as Romney does, that he would offset his tax and spending cuts (except for billions more for the military) by doing away with tax deductions and exemptions is utterly meaningless without identifying which and how many would get the ax. Absent those specifics, his promise of a balanced budget simply does not pencil out.
If this portrait of a Romney willing to say anything to get elected seems harsh, we need only revisit his branding of 47 percent of Americans as freeloaders who pay no taxes, yet feel victimized and entitled to government assistance. His job, he told a group of wealthy donors, “is not to worry about those people. I’ll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.”
More than half of the editorial is devoted to explaining why Romney doesn’t deserve to win the election, and although the editors praise Obama’s first term achievements–the auto industry bailout, health care reform, and foreign policy successes–it is clear that the editorial board would have preferred to endorse the Mitt Romney they once admired.
The Tampa Bay Times endorsement of Obama is also near the top of Memeorandum this morning. Theirs contains much more full-throated praise of the president’s first term achievements, but they also condemn Mitt Romney’s vague and negative agenda.
The economic stimulus package, which Mitt Romney and his Republican allies deride as a failure, had its flaws but stopped the collapse. It preserved or created up to 3 million jobs, and it invested in smart projects such as expanding U.S. 19 in Pinellas County and connecting the Port of Tampa with Interstate 4 in Hillsborough County. The auto company bailout, which Romney opposed, preserved jobs and rejuvenated the industry. The Dodd-Frank financial regulations, which Romney would repeal, protect consumers and force banks to act more responsibly. Undoing those reforms would be a mistake and invite the abuses that contributed to the economic crisis.
The Affordable Care Act, Obama’s signature legislative achievement, offers sweeping health care reform that presidents from both political parties unsuccessfully pursued for decades. More than 30 million uninsured Americans will get health coverage. Millions of young adults can stay on their parents’ insurance policies, and insurers no longer can refuse to cover children with pre-existing conditions. In 2014, insurers also will have to accept adults with pre-existing conditions, and most people will be required to have health insurance or pay a penalty. This is a historic step toward universal health care and a fairer sharing of costs, and it should be improved upon rather than repealed as Romney promises. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the guts of the law, and it is time to work as hard on containing health care costs as on providing access to care.
Although he came to the job with limited foreign policy experience, Obama has been reasonably sure-footed. His appointment of Hillary Clinton as secretary of state reflected the Democrat’s self-confidence to invite a former rival and wife of a former president to join his administration. Obama followed through on his promise to withdraw troops from Iraq, which Romney called a mistake. The president’s temporary troop surge in Afghanistan stabilized the country and checked the Taliban’s momentum. Yet the president recognizes Americans have no appetite for a never-ending war for diminishing returns. He pledges to pull combat forces out of Afghanistan in 2014, while Romney remains fuzzy about his intentions.
There’s an interesting drama playing out in Indiana between far right Senate candidate Richard Mourdock and the man he defeated, long-time Republican Senator Richard Lugar.
The Boston Globe reported last week that Lugar was angered when Mourdock sent out a campaign mailer claiming that Lugar was supporting Mourdock.
Lugar spokesman Andy Fisher said Wednesday the piece was ‘‘clearly unauthorized’’ and comes from a group that spent $100,000 against Lugar in the primary. Conservative lawyer Jim Bopp’s super PAC sent the mailer to Hoosier voters this week.
Mourdock has continued to try and win Lugar’s mantle in the general election — claiming in Monday’s debate that he had been endorsed by the senator — but Lugar has kept him at arms-length throughout the campaign. Mourdock said Wednesday he’s not responsible for messages sent by outside group’s like Bopp’s.
Retiring U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar reiterated Wednesday that he will not campaign for Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock after a mailer from a longtime conservative opponent claimed Lugar’s “torch has been passed” to the tea-party hero who beat him in the primary.
The mailer comes as both Mourdock and Democrat Joe Donnelly fight desperately for the “Lugar Republicans,” or moderate voters, who appear likely to swing Indiana’s tight Senate battle.
Lugar spokesman Andy Fisher said Wednesday the piece was “clearly unauthorized” and said Lugar’s refusal to campaign for Mourdock has not changed.“During the primary, Mourdock and his supporters perpetuated misleading statements about Sen. Lugar. Unfortunately, that has continued with this mailer funded by a committee that spent over $100,000 to defeat Sen. Lugar. It was clearly unauthorized and done without consultation with us,” Fisher said in a statement.
WISH TV in Indianapolis notes that Lugar is campaigning for another Republican.
Senator Richard Lugar won’t campaign for Richard Mourdock, yet he is campaigning for another Republican, Attorney General Greg Zoeller.
Lugar is staying out of the Senate race but he’s clearly not quitting politics. It helps make the point that his refusal to campaign for Mourdock is personal and intentional.
Just last Thursday, Dick Lugar hosted a fundraiser at the Conrad Hotel for Greg Zoeller. Zoeller has distributed photos of it on his website and his Facebook page, showing Lugar delivering remarks, posing for pictures and working the crowd.
24-Hour News 8 caught up with Zoeller by phone in Washington, DC.
“I’ve supported him over the years,” said Zoeller, “so I was glad to have his help and would accept it again.”
For Lugar, it’s the return of a favor. Zoeller appeared in one of his ads before the May primary. But it comes at a time when others are trying to convince voters that Lugar and Mourdock hold similar views without the benefit of a Lugar campaign appearance.
“Richard Mourdock is so much closer to Richard Lugar than the other gentleman,” said South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham at a Mourdock event Wednesday.
The Washington Post headline calls this “sour grapes.” Really? Lugar is an old-style moderate Republican who worked with Democrats in the Senate. Donnelly might be a moderate Republican if he lived in a more liberal state. Anyway, I hope this helps Donnelly. Mourdock would be a disaster for Indiana and for the country.
Here are a few more suggested reads, link dump style.
The New York Times: Romney as a Manager: Unhurried and Socratic.
Jonathan Bernstein at Salon: Fox News cost Mitt the debate
Laura Gottesdiener, Alternet: Ann: Mormon missions are just like military service!
Amanda Marcotte on the ugly right wing response to Katherine Fentons’s equal pay question at the second presidential debate: You Don’t React Like This to a Simple Question Without Being an Outrageous Misogynist
David Ignatius at the Washington Post: CIA documents supported Susan Rice’s description of Benghazi attacks
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Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
I am surprised at the endorsement from the Salt Lake Tribune. I would have thought in this heavily Mormon state that they would at least begrudingly offer it to “one of their own” but apparently it was not to be.
Mitt Romney must be thinking this is one big “ouch!”.
You can almost detect Jon Huntsman laughing from the sidelines.
Not to mention Harry Reid! He must be thrilled by this.
It certainly does not bode well for Romney/Ryan. (Yay!)
I agree! That makes two obvious statements when it comes to Mitt’s qualities. (Mass (the state he was Gov) and Utah (the Mormon state, one of their own) )
Pat, I loved your post this morning…y’all go take a look if you have not yet.
Thanks, Mink.
I am so sick of listening to these idiots expound upon women’s rights in as casual as a manner as if they were discussing the Patriots chances of going to the Super Bowl.
For those men who support our rights, I say again, so what? It has nothing whatsoever to do with either side, more so when we are forced to listen to men discuss a topic they will never have to face,
It’s as if “asking permission” was on the table instead of embracing the equality we should enjoy without interference.
I just question the thinking of those women who support this agenda. They have all gone mad.
Great post, Pat. I left you a comment.
The plot thickens in the Virginia voter registration scandal. I know you’ll be shocked, shocked to find out that not only the state GOP but the national GOP have their dirty fingerprints all over it. In the article I’m linking, there is a link to a viral video of a voter registration table outside a supermarket where they also pretend they are taking a survey to find out how you are voting. It helps them know which registrations to throw out in states where there is no party affiliation indicated on the voter registration.
http://www.salon.com/2012/10/19/gop_voter_registration_scandal_widens/
This is why I am going insane! WTF? After reading this I had to close my eyes and take deep breaths to calm down.
This is sickening too: Can Your Boss Threaten to Fire You if You Don’t Vote for Romney? – David A. Graham – The Atlantic
Ooops, I missed your comment, and posted some of that article down below.
Ben Stein Stuns Fox & Friends: ‘All Due Respect To Fox’ But ‘Taxes Are Too Low’ | Mediaite
The thing that gets me is the reaction from the Fox and Friends idiots…and all the apologies Stein makes during his statement.
Look at the expressions on the faces…
Wow, courageous to take that message to Fox. Not a Stein fan (remember his anti-evolution movie marketed to churches across the country?), but he nailed this issue. He is obviously well respected on Fox & on the Right. Let the backlash begin!
Ben Stein is freakin nuts! He may be right this one time but he’s still an enormous nutjob.
I don’t disagree, but the Fux, uh Fox loonies love him.
I just loved the way he apologized left and right, it really hit on the Fox Propaganda/Agenda that we all know exists. Fair and Balanced my ass…
You’re right, their faces are hilarious. It’s a mixture of confusion and fear. Oh, if only we had audio of their thoughts! 😀
Good news about the endorsements. One caveat for me, is anyone reading newspapers any longer? I fear the impact isn’t as great as it would have been just 4 years ago. Sigh…….
Morning scream at the TV: Up with Chris Hayes. Lots of interesting discussions, but at the end of the coal discussion (which I liked), the priest panelist’s final comment nearly made me put a fist through the TV screen. Paraphrasing here: Coal is an important issue, however I’m often called upon to discuss another “C” issue – Contraception. It’s an INCONSEQUENTIAL ISSUE! bb, my outrage isn’t over the fact that it was a priest – he’s a man & that comment seems to be the prevailing attitude of a majority of men who have the microphones. Just call me Tag, ’cause I desperately wanted to punch the creep.
The final segment is worth watching. Chrystia Freeland, author of the Plutocrats, was one of the panelists, along with a Sensata worker. Discussion was about outsourcing of jobs and Chrystia compared the current jobs/worker situation to the Industrial Age. I think she made some great points & is worth checking out.
Finally, I came across this video this morning: http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/watch_pastors_speech_against_gay_rights_has_surprise_ending_20121019/ You must check it out if you haven’t seen it already. Great – actually fantastic – surprise ending to the minister’s presentation at a public hearing in Missouri.
Good stuff bb. Honestly I feel so well informed after reading all the great stuff here at SD.
Old people like my mom still read their local newspapers. And they vote in large numbers. I’m reading Freeland’s book right now. She’s a very good writer.
I was also outraged by the discussion of contraception on Chris Hayes’ show. I even thought Hayes was off base when he seemed to defend Romney’s binders response. Apparently Hayes forgot that the original question was about equal pay for women. I have no idea why he thought it was a good idea to have a priest discuss this issue. I was very disappointed in the show, and I finally turned it off.
BTW, please do read the link to Amanda Marcotte’s piece on the right wing reaction to Katherine Fenton’s question. It’s Sandra Fluke all over again–just disgusting. They even went through her Twitter feed.
Good piece & some good conclusions. For me, I think the bottom line for these Repugs is that women shouldn’t be doing “men’s jobs”. Women lawyers, judges, CEOs, heads of universities, doctors, etc – that’s affirmative action & taking jobs away from men. If women simply stuck to doing “women’s work” then pay equity wouldn’t even be an issue. Ladies, you should be cooking, cleaning or spreading your legs & STFU.
I know you’ve mentioned that you like his show, so I tried to watch the time Charles Pierce was on. I honestly couldn’t stand it. Chris Hayes just pontificates on and on and rarely lets anyone else complete a sentence. When others are speaking, it seems Hayes isn’t listening, he’s just waiting for them to finish so that he can start talking again. The one and only time I watched his show he hardly let Charles Pierce talk at all.
I’ve never noticed that about Chris. I was disappointed that Pierce was only on for what seemed like seconds. Your impression of Hayes mirrors mine of Chris Matthews. I can’t stand how Matthews asks questions. It comes across to me like, “this is what I think, don’t you agree?” I rarely watch him but watch the other MSNBC lineup. I have been known to be out in left field alone frequently.
I still read our local newspaper every morning. Lots of people still read newspapers. And I bet they are more likely to vote than people who don’t.
I agree with that.
Just love that Pastor. Churches need many more like him!
Amanda Marcotte’s article is about exactly what we should expect from the people on the extreme right. By now, no one should be surprised by them or their creepiness.
I’m going out on a far limb here, but why should we be taking directions from men like that priest who have never been laid?????
What the hell do they know about sexuality or human pleasure when it comes to these issues?
Their choice of living means they never have to face a mortgage payment, a job elimination, a healthcare crisis that could lead to bankruptcy, a decision over whether to flll up the gas tank to get to work or buy a gallon of milk, or an unwanted birth that would burden the family budget.
And to sit there and kibbitz over contraception is a joke. Talk about those who “live off” the government, these people have never had to worry about losing a paycheck – or a meal – when the congregation is the chief supplier of goods and services.
I think the main thing about his comment that got me was that it was the last comment of the segment & was completely unnecessary. That & rarely does the fact that “the pill” isn’t just about preventing pregnancy – many women need the pill for serious health issues. Even with a co-pay, it isn’t cheap. To me the implication is, whenever this is discussed – women’s economic & physical health is INCONSEQUENTIAL. But there was no discussion of contraception – it was unnecessary to even say this at the end of a discussion about coal & the coal industry.
Liberal as he is, Chris Hayes is still “a good Catholic boy” just as is Chris Matthews.
They may support liberal causes but they will still bow to the Church’s teachings because it is so instilled in them.
As one who was raised in the faith, you can never escape those beliefs unless you make a complete break and judge it from the outside looking in.
Until then, you are stilll “trapped” within the teachings and dogma because it defines your soul that is sure to be cast into hell for thinking otherwise.
It is that which rules.
I didn’t know that Hayes was Catholic. That explains a lot.
“I’m going out on a far limb here, but why should we be taking directions from men like that priest who have never been laid?????”
I agree Pat, and i’ll go even furtherr out on that limb. Why should women prostrate themsevles before men and adhere to directives of any organization, religious or otherwise, that relegates women to second class citizenship in leadership and in it’s governance? How does any man know what it’s like to spend 3/4 of your life with a body that is constantly preparing itself for the possiblity of pregnancy and recycling every month in preparation for the next possibility. No man can know the phychological issues, the health issues, the inconvenience, the physical pain and discomfort, not to mention the 40 years of health and hygeine expense of OTC products that is just another costly fringe associated with being a woman..
I watched Chris Hayes this mornng too and thought the Priest was way out of his depth concerning what’s important to women. He didn’t have a fucking clue. Other than the fact he’s a friend of Haye’s, I don’t know why he was invited. Who gives a damn what the patriarchs of the catholic church think about contraception and abortion? One of the female panelists told the priest (paraphrasing). That the issues associated with reproduction is something women, even sexually inactive women, think about everyday. How true!!! Too bad the catholic church and much of american christianity is still stuck in the chatitiy belt, femaie inferiority mentality of the middle ages, but as long as they are I don’t know why any woman would defer to their dogma/doctrine.
I totally agree!
We bleed, therefore we are unclean.
This is also the beliefs of some segments of the Jewish religion that requires a woman to immerse herself in water before she can resume physical relations with her exalted spouse.
Because of our “uncleanliness” we are viewed as suspect by a male population who shrink from the mechanics of our bodies and always be kept at a distance.
Most of this nonsense can be found in most religious texts and ceremonies which has yet to disappear from the modern world. Something that Rick Santorum truly believes.
Two personal experiences on this – one from my childhood & another told to me by a friend. I went to synagogue with a friend in Jr. High. The women & girls were seated behind a screen separate from the men. She didn’t know why, just that was the way things were done. Obviously not a reformed Jewish synagogue. The other was from a friend who attended a Universalist Church. At the end of the service everyone would hold hands. One attendee would hold a handkerchief if he was next to a woman & she would need to hold the other end of the handkerchief. My friend finally asked him why he did this. He said he didn’t know whether or not the woman had her period. If she did, she would be unclean & he couldn’t touch her. I think I could write an entire post on the attitude toward menstrual blood.
During the primary, right-wing nutjob Richard Mourdock and his Tea Party followers maliciously attacked Richard Lugar and misrepresented his many years of admirable service in the Senate. Lugar is not a vindictive man. He’s wisely withholding support for Mourdock because he knows Mourdock is bad for Indiana and bad for the country. Lugar is a statesman. Mourdock is pond scum.
I see no reason for Lugar to support Mourdock. Mourdock should be grateful that Luger isn’t actively campaigning against him.
GOP voter registration scandal widens.
bb, is there a psychological profile/condition for people who accuse others of what they themselves do? Republicans scream VOTER FRAUD & they are the ones who are committing it. Before the 1st Presidential Debate, Romney campaigned on “Obama can’t tell the truth” rhetoric. Romney has done little else than lie throughout his 6 year campaign. I had a former employee who was a Rush fan & he constantly accused me of motives that he was guilty of. It seems like a Republican syndrome to me.
That’s the definition of the defense mechanism “projection.”
Blog post on Dinesh D’Sousa’s girlfriend.
Is this the same woman ranting against “RINO fathers and daughters” standing in the aisle of a bookstore without the benefit of a bra? With her cleavage on display – not that there is much of it – trying to sell a book?
If she is only 29 yrs of age, and D’Sousa is ending a 20 yr marriage, then she was only 9 yrs of age when this took place which makes me assume that his “betrothed” might be seen as “the trophy wife”.
These people bring a whole new meaning to the word “despicable”. Don’t do as I do, do as I say.
What would her idol Rick Santorum make of her pray tell?
Hey, Rick Santorum’s wife lived with a much older man for years without benefit of marriage.
Now that is really funny. Somehow I can’t dredge up any sympathy for D’sousa, and somehow I Don’t think that the Conservative (read right wing crazies) will desert him. After all, how many brown people do they have?
The NYT piece on Romney’s leadership styled reveals how he “created jobs” as governor:
Great post and some good links I’m gonna go read now. One thing I found this morning is the Republican argument about Benghazi seems to be exploding in their faces. There is an article in the LA Times which mirrors David Ignatious in the WAPO and backs up the Obama administration. Then there is this article from The Economist:
The utterly useless Benghazi argument
Thanks for that link!
Ditto, I’ll print that one out.
Yeah that’s good. Though I used to read it, I got really angry with the Economist’s ubiquitous and subtly directed pop ups on every site during 2008. Maybe I’ll start again.
Maybe we are still struggling over what constitutes war, since we don’t declare it anymore, don’t draft, hide our killed, and pretend our economy has nothing to do with it.
I’m cranking up to vote by working on my selections for 22 national, state, and local slots. I’ll vote for 12 capable women, many incumbents with excellent records, and for democrats. The challenge for my swing state is to keep the momentum going to vote once again for Obama and defy the polls. ~fingers crossed~
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lALGTlsdQko&feature=player_embedded
Dissection of Issa’s document dump. It’s pretty pathetic.
emptywheel: Darrell Issa Exposes the CIA as a Foreign Policy Debate Stunt
I just posted about this topic. I’m going to transfer this link up there.