Posted on 10/09/2012 9:48:02 AM PDT by upchuck
It can't be by accident that Obama campaign adviser Robert Gibbs made the Sunday talk-show rounds using the word "masterful" to describe Mitt Romney's performance at the presidential debate. True, President Obama looked tired, while Romney was brimming with old ideas. But Romney's master-of-the-universe act was not universally admired. It will be turned on him.
Romney's trampling on moderator Jim Lehrer's gentle requests to observe the debate rules reminded many of the Bain Capital raptor who made a fortune off a strip-and-flip strategy that sent companies into oblivion after cheating workers of their pensions and even stiffing the guys delivering the coffee. Off his game last Thursday, Obama didn't make such connections. No doubt he will next time.
Obama also seemed unprepared for the new Romney tactic of flinging crumbs of compassion to the peasantry. After the cameras went off, the Romney staff took some of the crumbs back, particularly the ones seeming to support more health-coverage security for workers -- but how many noticed?
In a related divide-and-conquer strategy, Romney made a point of reassuring Americans 55 and older that their generous Medicare-as-we-know-it benefits were safe. In the real world, it won't be. The idea that Americans born after 1957 (who will become more numerous as time goes on) will meekly pay taxes to support a benefit level far above what they will get is most unrealistic.
The centerpiece of the debate was Romney's plan for $5 trillion in tax cuts. The Republican held that they would not add to deficits because any lost revenues would be covered by closing various tax loopholes and deductions. When Obama noted that Romney had refused to name a single example, Romney brushed aside the impertinence. With all the self-assurance of George W. Bush, he insisted that the revenues would appear and that was that.
In a new ad, Romney says in his take-charge way, "There's no economist that can say Mitt Romney's tax plan adds $5 trillion if I say I will not add to the deficit with my tax plan.'' As Igor would say, "Yes, mahster."
But forgive a non-economist for taking the liberty to ask: If you are specific about cutting marginal rates by 20 percent, ending the estate tax and lowering corporate income taxes, and you insist those lost revenues will be made up by closing loopholes and deductions, aren't you a teensy bit obligated -- though master you may be -- to reveal what loopholes and deductions would go?
"Meet the Press" addressed Romney's silence on these details. Republican strategist Mike Murphy volunteered that Romney has talked about the mortgage-interest deduction. This is a tax deduction that, actually, doesn't make much economic sense, but is beloved by many middle-class homeowners.
If Romney wanted to shrink or end it in service of cutting deficits, he would deserve credit for a politically courageous proposal. But his plan is to shrink the loopholes and deductions not to lower deficits, but to cover additional tax cuts for the rich.
And no, his numbers don't work. To make the tax cut revenue-neutral, he'd have to break his vow to maintain the wealthy's overall tax burden. The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center says you can't cut rich people's tax rates by 20 percent and make up for the lost revenues without collecting more taxes from the middle class.
Team Romney was understandably bucked up by Obama's failure to punch back. But Obama and his people eventually will. When they do, the master-of-the-universe bit will get taken apart -- and in a masterful way.
Froma, you're a laugh a minute.
Que, the "That's Racist!" kid....
this piece of tripe is on rasmussen’s site.....interesting eh ?
I prefer them to them 'things he shoulda said' articles. More positive.
Does this person get paid to produce this drivel? Where do I sign up?
LOL. Uh, Froma, the only one thinking that was you -- not even Chis Matthews was this disconnected from reality.
Froma must have been hittin the bottle while she wrote this, with bitter tears falling on the keyboard as she does. Even in the worst days of Obama-mania, I wasn't this deluded.
It’s just more of the old Liberal, ‘I hate American exeptionalism’ shtick!
It never ends.
Not beloved by all? What a silly observation! Of *course* it’s not.The 47% clearly don’t love it.
Yea I got blasted a few days ago by some fellow Freeprrs for calling Scotty R a Smug Ass Clown. I had reason to call him that, but only the uniformed dolt believes this guy is non biased. What he goes on Hannity and that gives him objective street cred? Fatty is part of the problem not on the outside of the problem.
We conduct public opinion polls on a variety of topics to inform our audience on events in the news and other topics of interest.
Sounds more like a fancy-dancy push poll to me.
To ensure editorial control and independence, we pay for the polls ourselves and generate revenue through the sale of subscriptions, sponsorships,
Sponsorships from whom?
and advertising. Nightly polling on politics, business and lifestyle topics provides the content to update the Rasmussen Reports web site many times each day. If it's in the news, it's in our polls.
So, who pays for the polls?
It’s amazing she can stand without a cane after the hilarious ass-kicking she received from the Daily Show.
They refuse to acknowledge that by reducing tax rates you can increase tax revenues.
By increasing employment you can increase tax revenues.
By reducing the number of social engineering programs disguised as tax deductions you can increase revenues (i.e green energy deductions).
Yes but many Freepers think Rassmussen is the oracle of polling and the bastion of objectivity. To my favorite Freeper....Ass Clown, Ass Clown, Ass Clown....you know who you are.
“Romney’s trampling on moderator Jim Lehrer’s gentle requests to observe the debate rules,,,”
I have a Conservative friend who was quite put off by Romney doing that.
But the rest of that sentence is pure tripe!
good for you. more people are catching on to rasmoosen.
Well, I’ll tell you...I swear to you that my son who lives in another city is one of those “independent voters” still sitting on the fence and couldn’t’t make his mind up who to vote for...YES I KID YOU NOT! Many a calls were heated..anyway, I couldn’t watch the debate because of a commitment that evening, BUT before the debated ended my son text me with these words..”OMG ROMNEY IS PICKIN OBAMA APART”..I immediately knew that Obumbler screwed it up ROYALLY! I rushed home and turned on the puter to see what everyone was saying and I WAS STUNNED!! Happily stuned!!:0) THANK YOU JESUS...he is voting for R&R!
Froma Harrop is a sexually transmitted disease. We can call it OJockItchula!
There is NOTHING non partisan about the TPC, it is nothing more than a leftwing shill organization.
As one who personally got over the mistake of reading a speech, in my college days--as opposed to speaking off the cuff, where one can both gauge reactions, and better project both ideas & feelings;--I can attest how silly this suggestion is. Obama's dependence upon teleprompters reveals his real lack of competence. No one is going to sweat the demagogue's ability to punch back--not in the real world.
William Flax
great story...be sure to tell your son to talk to his friends.
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