[Utmost Certainty]

A lot of what Bain Capital was doing was Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs).

I don't think there's anything wrong with this practice in a free-market, obviously. It has its place and purpose.

But there's good point in raising the issue—not as an attack on Capitalism by any means, which I don't think is the intention here—but rather as an attack on Romney's record as a real job creator. Which he doesn't seem to have a sustained record of, despite all his aggrandizing about private sector experience.

[sick1]

Agreed - LBO’s are a tool - neither good or bad. So what metrics should we choose to judge Bain’s use of it?

I think net jobs is fair / reasonable. Also ROI seems reasonable. I’m not wowed by an anecdotal evidence to tug on the heartstrings without any context.

Yours is a fair perspective but that’s not what I think is going on in the majority of anti-Bain/Romeny-Bain comments here.

[worst-case scenario]

He’s selling himself as the man who can create jobs. With this record, Obama is going to be able to beat him like a drum - no matter HOW much money Romney has his SuperPac spend. Negative advertising isn’t enough. Running as the Not_Obama will not be enough. If we nominate this guy, we are doomed to another McCain fiasco.

At least with Santorum or Paul, we have an actual bona fide candidate, with solid opinions. Even Newt has more of a presence, as well as a positive Conservative history.