Lay Out Your Best Paths to Republican Nomination and/or General Election Win Options

[adamsmo]

Btw, how the hell do Republicans get away with stuff? I was just reading about Al Qaeda's history, and it reminded that we were the ones who essentially helped create Al Qaeda, by arming them against the Soviets.

Yeah, I told me mom about that years ago, and she believes it, but just fails to consider it (though she's a diehard Republican, a couple of weeks ago, I remember her complaining about Romney being insanely rich, and she's for progressive taxation, sooo we'll see).

I've said it a billion times before, but the GOP are the masterminds of politics. They can frame almost anything in a positive way, or let the negative just be forgotten.

[Famousgrl]

Yeah, I told me mom about that years ago, and she believes it, but just fails to consider it (though she's a diehard Republican, a couple of weeks ago, I remember her complaining about Romney being insanely rich, and she's for progressive taxation, sooo we'll see).

I've said it a billion times before, but the GOP are the masterminds of politics. They can frame almost anything in a positive way, or let the negative just be forgotten.

Keep working on her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YES!!!!! And they are great at messaging. lmao, Dems just inherently suck at it, even when they actually make the effort. Like who ever really refers to the Health Care Bill as the "Affordable Care Act?!"

Now think of how many people refer to the Estate Tax as the "Death Tax" now, thanks to Republicans.

This post has been edited by Famousgrl: Mar 22nd 2012, 12:08 AM

[Famousgrl]

Karen Finney, who worked for the DNC, just mentioned on MSNBC that when the campaign rhetoric was getting so heated in '08 (the "pallin' around with terrorists" and the "who IS Obama?" and the Bill Ayers sh*t), the threats behind the scenes against Obama got so bad that the Secret Service actually reached out to McCain and asked him to tone it down.

She just mentioned this as an aside, when talking about something else.

That's pretty interesting though, and adds some layers as to why McCain looked VISIBLY so uncomfortable when he saw his campaign spiraling out of control with the angry crowds and sh*t.

I'm glad he decided to be respectable about it.

Could you imagine how our favorite Alaskan would have reacted to that request?

All the more reason why it's important to pick ADULT candidates.

[Famousgrl]

How cute is this?!:

[adamsmo]

Awww

I used to have a pet mallard.

[Drew]

Looks like the next presidential debate will be the one between President Obama and Governor Romney on October 3rd. What a wait!

[Famousgrl]

lol@the paint joke.

[Famousgrl]

Since the contests began, Restore Our Future has spent $35 million on commercials attacking Santorum and Newt Gingrich, the former U.S. House speaker, the two candidates who have come closest to knocking Romney out of front-runner status, according to the Washington-based Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks political money. The super-PAC has spent just $1.1 million promoting Romney, the data shows.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-27/p...attack-ads.html



What greatness to look forward to this election season...

Wake me up when it's December.

Btw, Repubs must be so annoyed. They can't even go after Obama on the mandate thing now, 'cause Romney is the worst messenger for that EVER.

Still really surprising that none of the other major Republicans decided to jump into this thing.

[bumnummies]

I didn't know where else to put this....
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/mi...-154337289.html

Honestly... out of touch with the working poor. The 99% just cannot connect to that at all.

[Famousgrl]

This guy....

Mitt Romney Tells 'Humorous' Story About Father Closing A Michigan Factory

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/28/m..._n_1386383.html

[Famousgrl]

I didn't know where else to put this....
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/mi...-154337289.html

Honestly... out of touch with the working poor. The 99% just cannot connect to that at all.

lol@the elevator for his cars.

[Famousgrl]

He sounds like such an imbecile here, and I never feel that way about Romney, usually.

Forget all the stuff about his houses. He sounds so out of touch here (scroll down for the video):

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/03/28/romn...enied-coverage/

LOL@Jay freakin' Leno doing what the actual, real, media should be doing.

lol@Romney literally having no clue about the real world. Or, he's just conveniently misrepresenting it, and thus sounding like idiotic in the process.

Most people don't just not have insurance all their lives because they don't want it. Usually they're in jobs that don't provide it, or there are other issues, like having a pre-existing issue for a long time.

He just exposed the way Republicans think, though. They truly don't give two sh*ts about the uninsured, and lol@his made up "plan" for those who had coverage. "As long as they've been insured..."

That really made me mad. And I just really find it infuriating when it comes from someone who was born into never knowing what it's like to struggle or be without health insurance. They are so f*cking laissez faire about a life or death issue. It really makes me sick.

Anyway, the Mass plan was universal, so I don't know how he even says this stuff with a straight face. I honestly hope they spend an entire debate on health insurance. I really feel like Obama can make him look like a total joke on that. Just literally be like "I'm not gonna take this from you, of all people. Is this guy kidding me?!"

I really hope Dems get out in vote like they did last time.

This post has been edited by Famousgrl: Mar 29th 2012, 2:09 AM

[bumnummies]

I really hope Dems get out in vote like they did last time.

Me too. really gonna have to find a way to get people excited... or, at least scared about Romney being president

That's terrible what Romney said on Leno I can't imagine. I hear some of the stories on Extreme Makeover and what not about these medical bills for these families and it makes me wanna puke. I'm SO THANKFUL to live in a country where my medical coverage is structured into our taxes and where we never pay a dime up front (except for, dental, optical and specialized services like a dermatologist, if your private insurance from your employer doesn't cover them - which most full time people at least are covered/partially covered for). Yeah... some things still slip through the cracks up here, but... in the end it seems to work itself out - even if it means going to the local paper or television station to get the word out about an outrageous prescription cost or something.

[sneaky]

He sounds like such an imbecile here, and I never feel that way about Romney, usually.

Forget all the stuff about his houses. He sounds so out of touch here (scroll down for the video):

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/03/28/romn...enied-coverage/

LOL@Jay freakin' Leno doing what the actual, real, media should be doing.

lol@Romney literally having no clue about the real world. Or, he's just conveniently misrepresenting it, and thus sounding like idiotic in the process.

Most people don't just not have insurance all their lives because they don't want it. Usually they're in jobs that don't provide it, or there are other issues, like having a pre-existing issue for a long time.

He just exposed the way Republicans think, though. They truly don't give two sh*ts about the uninsured, and lol@his made up "plan" for those who had coverage. "As long as they've been insured..."

That really made me mad. And I just really find it infuriating when it comes from someone who was born into never knowing what it's like to struggle or be without health insurance. They are so f*cking laissez faire about a life or death issue. It really makes me sick.

Anyway, the Mass plan was universal, so I don't know how he even says this stuff with a straight face. I honestly hope they spend an entire debate on health insurance. I really feel like Obama can make him look like a total joke on that. Just literally be like "I'm not gonna take this from you, of all people. Is this guy kidding me?!"

I really hope Dems get out in vote like they did last time.

I dunno. I think its pretty rare for a company to not have health insurance. Unless its a small business or construction. I'm in my early twenties and most people my age have jobs that offer insurance.

Now the thing Mitt doesn't realize and probably never will realize is that most people in their twenties cant support themselves paying hundreds a month for insurance.

[Famousgrl]

Me too. really gonna have to find a way to get people excited... or, at least scared about Romney being president

That's terrible what Romney said on Leno I can't imagine. I hear some of the stories on Extreme Makeover and what not about these medical bills for these families and it makes me wanna puke. I'm SO THANKFUL to live in a country where my medical coverage is structured into our taxes and where we never pay a dime up front (except for, dental, optical and specialized services like a dermatologist, if your private insurance from your employer doesn't cover them - which most full time people at least are covered/partially covered for). Yeah... some things still slip through the cracks up here, but... in the end it seems to work itself out - even if it means going to the local paper or television station to get the word out about an outrageous prescription cost or something.

I love Canada. :Too lazy to find the Canadian flag smiley, haha:

I dunno. I think its pretty rare for a company to not have health insurance. Unless its a small business or construction. I'm in my early twenties and most people my age have jobs that offer insurance.

Now the thing Mitt doesn't realize and probably never will realize is that most people in their twenties cant support themselves paying hundreds a month for insurance.

This is incorrect. More than 1/3 of jobs don't offer health insurance to their employees:



And as you can see, more than half of smaller businesses don't.

Speaking for myself, before RomneyCare (funnily enough), as a home health aide, I did not have health insurance. The company that contracts us does not provide it, for full-time employees, or part-time employees. How ironic to be providing health services for others, when you don't even have health insurance yourself.

I looked into purchasing it on the private market, and the rate was literally five to six times that of the rate that people who get it through their job pay. And I didn't have any pre-existing conditions!

I severely sprained my ankle, and ended up hobbling around on it untreated, because I didn't have insurance, and knew I didn't have thousands of dollars to spare for an ER visit. Which I'm sure ended up doing much damage, because to this day I still have pain in my ankle. Which certainly isn't good having a job that requires you to be on your feet so much.

It was so bad that it was literally the worst pain I've ever felt in my life, and I could not stop crying. So I think it probably was a grade 3 sprain. I could not put any pressure whatsoever on it for over a week, which certainly helped with the whole job "that requires you to be on your feet, and oh yeah, there's no sick pay either" thing.

People like Romney and the Republicans in congress just literally have no clue.

If I had had insurance, I could have gotten it treated with a co-pay, and probably would not be dealing with reoccurring pain.

And look how much it would have cost me, just to get an ankle sprain treated without insurance:

Without health insurance, diagnosis and non-surgical treatment for a sprained or broken ankle typically costs less than $500 for a mild to moderate sprain and up to $2,500 or more for a fracture requiring a cast.

Additional costs:

Going to an emergency room for initial treatment could add $1,000 to $2,000 or more to the final bill; costs would include an emergency room visit fee, an emergency room doctor fee and the cost of a temporary cast such as an air cast; the patient would then need to seek treatment from a specialist.

Crutches cost about $15 to $40 for a basic pair or up to $100 or more for deluxe forearm crutches.

Physical therapy might be necessary for regaining strength and balance. Several sessions per week at $50 to $75 per hour for six to eight weeks could cost $1,000 or more.

http://health.costhelper.com/sprained-broken-ankle.html

So at the bare minimum it would have been $1,500 plus $15 to $40 for the crutches I so desperately needed at that time. It could have been, and more likely would have been, at least $4,500, though. It felt quite severe, and I could feel the tearing.

And that's just something relatively minor in the grand scheme of things. Imagine it was something severe, like a heart attack or something?

Yet these jerkoff politicians don't have to deal with stuff like this, because their health insurance is totally taken care of, and even if they weren't, that $4,500 would be nothing to them. They have no concept of how a few thousand dollars is a lot to people who are trying to survive on a little.

I'm actually starting to feel angry again.

Needless to say, they have no problem with spending for everything under the sun that they want, and for their rich buddies, and for their bullsh*t wars which are really just money scams, and big business contract handout scams...but they like to whip everyone up over providing something that should be a basic human, right, which allows people not to suffer in immense pain (or death) for no damn reason, or go broke and bankrupt just trying to deal with a f*ing health issue.

Not to mention, how counter-intutitive our current health care system is.

By the way, this is a classic example of why there's so much waste when it comes to health care. They have been running up charges for forever. There needs to be major reform:
http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/12...ined-ankle.html

I know doctors who will not even tell you a test result, unless you come in for a visit. Why do you think they do that? If it's negative and nothing's wrong, they literally can't just pick up the phone and say that?! They used to. But they won't, because it means more $$$$$, and that is exactly a prime example of why costs are out of control.

I love this post from another Home Health Aide:

Control operation cost by paying such low wages many of us have to be on welfare and food stamps? Have no health insurance and end up with bad backs after lifting patients in and out of wheelchairs, bending twisting to tie their shoes, help them with toileting, bathing. Also we do not qualify for unemployment benefits due to the low hours they keep us at.

It's the same type of sh*t Walmart does. They are one of the largest employers, and they go so far as to not let a person come back A MINUTE before their lunch period ends, because they don't want them to qualify as a full-time employee, and thus get benefits like health insurance (and I heard Walmart's health plan is a joke anyway).

There needs to be a revolution. There really does.

This post has been edited by Famousgrl: Mar 29th 2012, 2:54 PM

[Drew]

^ Wait, you're an aide? Me too!

[bumnummies]

I dunno. I think its pretty rare for a company to not have health insurance. Unless its a small business or construction. I'm in my early twenties and most people my age have jobs that offer insurance.

Now the thing Mitt doesn't realize and probably never will realize is that most people in their twenties cant support themselves paying hundreds a month for insurance.

IDK.... most part-timers don't have benefits. I only do because I'm unionized at the grocery store I work for so it's negotiated as part of our contract - even then though, I have to work a certain amount of hours every year to earn them. Last year I didn't have them because I was in school so my hours from the year before (so, from 2010) were really low because for half the year I was on a LOA. I JUST got my coverage back in January and finally got a new pair of eye glasses. But yeah... like, my sister currently has no extra benefits and she earns more/works more hours most of the time than I do! That's changing though since her company recently unionized, but still. My mom has to pay for her benefits, but it's only a small amount every month (and just to be clear, obviously I mean for optical, dental, etc, NOT standard health insurance...). I'm fairly certain it's the same way in the states - that part-time staff often do not have benefits provided for them.

I love Canada. :Too lazy to find the Canadian flag smiley, haha:

I know doctors who will not even tell you a test result, unless you come in for a visit. Why do you think they do that? If it's negative and nothing's wrong, they literally can't just pick up the phone and say that?! They used to. But they won't, because it means more $$$$$, and that is exactly a prime example of why costs are out of control.

I love this post from another Home Health Aide:

It's the same type of sh*t Walmart does. They are one of the largest employers, and they go so far as to not let a person come back A MINUTE before their lunch period ends, because they don't want them to qualify as a full-time employee, and thus get benefits like health insurance (and I heard Walmart's health plan is a joke anyway).

There needs to be a revolution. There really does.

It's just : canadianwave :

Ughhh I had to pay TWENTY FREAKING DOLLARS for a doctors note up here. It's so stupid. Employers require you to have them if you call out sick for a certain period of time (typically 3 days in a row, but sometimes they ask for just one day even - especially if they think you're faking) and yet they usually don't cover it. I was sick with - what probably was pneumonia... and like, I tend to prefer just letting something go through my system naturally without too much drug interference or anything... so I tried dragging my butt into work a couple times but just gave up because I couldn't handle actually working... Finally I went to the clinic and got charged for the note... but my point is, like I missed so much work... I easily lost out on $200 in pay during that time period if not more, plus I had to spend $20 for the note. that's why most people just go into work sick, which is stupid... I hate that they charge you for them. My note wasn't even worth $20 - it literally said "the above patient was not at work from this date to this date because of illness". Like, the doctor didn't even actually give me a diagnosis, he was just like "yeah you have some sort of infection in your lungs, I can hear it, here's a prescription, bye!" ugh. Doctors need to start earning their wages, lmfao.

Do not get me started on Walmart... ugh. Honestly if I could avoid shopping there I would... but the trouble is... it's hard not to. There are certain products they sell that I can't get else where and they're the only store in my hometown worth buying any sort of electronics product from. And the prices... not even with my discount at my grocery store can I beat WM prices sometimes. I hate supporting them, I honestly do. It's not as bad in Canada as it is in the states (because we have stronger labour laws...), but I still loathe supporting the company in general.

There does. People need to learn that they can stand up to their employer and say "No, I'm not taking your crap any longer" - Wal-Mart and other large companies can try to fire you (which, legally, at least here in Canada, they can't fire you for refusing to work in unsafe conditions, they can't fire you without just cause, and they can't fire you for trying to organize a union) and they can even shut the store down in your city and claim that it's lack of sales/not enough profit (which of course, is just their poor effort at covering up the union busting) .... but they can't do it everywhere. People need to stop being afraid of their employers and call their bluff. I had this argument with a coworker of mine at contract time... "I can't afford to go on strike so therefore I won't vote to go on strike" - and I said to her, yeah, but do you want to work the same crappy job for less than you do now? etc, and then said that all the strike mandate means is that, we're calling our company's bluff. We're telling them that we're not going to put up with their scare tactics, and we know that they will lose millions of dollars if they let us go on strike - millions they can't afford if they're whining about competing with Wal-mart as it is. More people need to have the balls to unionize. I hate that there are people out there who say they're against a union, and then whine that they have no real job protection, or that they have lousy pay and/or lousy benefits... SIGH. I do personally recognize the disadvantages of unions because I'm actually kind of getting screwed over by people with higher seniority than me (unfortunately, unionized businesses typically do not reward talent - I cannot get more hours by being awesome at my job, sadly...) but, overall... I wouldn't trade my job for a similar part-time job at Wal-Mart.

[Drew]

In totally unrelated news, Keith Olbermann was fired from Current. I think it's safe to say he's done.

[Famousgrl]

^ Wait, you're an aide? Me too!

Yeah, I actually saw your post venting about it, and meant to come back and e-comfort you, but then I got sidetracked and forgot about it. Especially because it's not a forum I usually go into. Anyway, I'm sorry for all the bs you have to put up with. That's one of the plus sides about just working in a client's home, rather than in a nursing or hospital setting. You don't have to put up with that type of thing. At the same time, you usually get better benefits in a nursing or hospital setting.

All the more reason why health insurance shouldn't be tied to the job. It causes people to become enslaved to a sh*tty job where they're mistreated, simply because they don't want to lose their health insurance.

Anyway, just try to focus on the fact that at least the people you're helping appreciate you. You're doing something that really helps their lives, and that's a good feeling. Also, it's a blessing for you that they appreciate you, because some people don't even get that. I understand your other frustration, though. Just try to zone out and think happy thoughts. Whatever makes you laugh or is smile inducing. Corny, but sometimes it works.

IDK.... most part-timers don't have benefits. I only do because I'm unionized at the grocery store I work for so it's negotiated as part of our contract - even then though, I have to work a certain amount of hours every year to earn them. Last year I didn't have them because I was in school so my hours from the year before (so, from 2010) were really low because for half the year I was on a LOA. I JUST got my coverage back in January and finally got a new pair of eye glasses. But yeah... like, my sister currently has no extra benefits and she earns more/works more hours most of the time than I do! That's changing though since her company recently unionized, but still. My mom has to pay for her benefits, but it's only a small amount every month (and just to be clear, obviously I mean for optical, dental, etc, NOT standard health insurance...). I'm fairly certain it's the same way in the states - that part-time staff often do not have benefits provided for them.

I think it goes without saying that part-timers don't get health insurance. Which is unfortunate, because many part-time workers would love more hours, but companies are doing everything they can to make people "part-time" workers, so they don't get full benefits.

There are also many people working two part time jobs, because they can't get one full-time one. They're working just as hard, and just as many hours as those with full-time jobs, so it's a disgrace that they can't get things like health care. You especially see older people more and more having to work two part-time jobs, because they get laid off of their full-time job, and there are no other options. No one wants to hire an old person. And these are exactly the type of people who most can't afford to lose their health care!!!

Yet another example of how employer based health care is a joke and a failure.

In totally unrelated news, Keith Olbermann was fired from Current. I think it's safe to say he's done.

Damn, he burns bridges everywhere. Kind of saw this coming, though. There's been trouble brewing, and he's been "sick" for forever.

This post has been edited by Famousgrl: Mar 30th 2012, 4:43 PM

[Famousgrl]

Calling it now, I would not be surprised to see Romney put Susana Martinez (the Governor of New Mexico) on the ticket. I actually think she might have even a stronger shot of getting picked than Rubio.

I saw Howard Dean talking about this and I agree with him.

First of all, she's less blantantly Tea Party-ish than Rubio is (though she still is, and I think she was endorsed by them). She will give a bit of a more moderate presentation, despite what she believes. She's a woman, obviously, so that helps. She doesn't have as big of a national profile as Rubio does, and thus hasn't taken and probably won't take the same knocks as Rubio. Like, Democrats will probably once again be asleep at the wheel, because they'll be doing oppo research on the more obvious people (Rubio).

She's from the West, and therefore could tip those states toward Romney. Plus, she's Mexican-American, and I think more hispanics would relate to that, because most hispanics here are of Mexican descent. On the flip side, I think whites would be more drawn to the Cuban Rubio, but it doesn't really matter, since I think winning hispanics is most important. I really think she could do some real damage there.

Then again, this is all a very surface and superficial anaylsis. I'm sure if I were to really start looking into her background, I could see some real weaknesses, but this is just my thinking without really knowing much.

She does have that issue of coming from illegal immigrants (while she hypocritically is against the Dream Act and all of that...I posted about that before), but Repubs love to ignore things when it comes to their own.

lol, it'd be funny to see Repubs defend once again, a half-term Governor, affirmative action candidate. Of course they're now all for AA when it comes to what helps themselves/their party.

It would also be funny to see them accept the daughter (or grandaughter? can't remember) of illegal immigrants, when you know they'd be losing their damn minds if it were Obama.

Anyway, I really don't feel like the base would be genuinely happy about her AT ALL (they'd be happy about Rubio, though), but it really doesn't matter. It's about winning hispanics and Indies, and on the surface, I think Romney's campaign might see her as one of the strongest candidates to do that.

I know that the Romney team is looking at her. I hope team Obama does the same.

Btw, NOW I wish the Democratic convention were held first, lol. It's being held second this time, and normally I'd like that, but I feel like if on the off-chance Obama does add Hillary to the ticket (highly unlikely), some people will play it as desperate or whatever, whereas if he did it first, people really couldn't say it was in reaction to anything.

What do you all think of Susana Martinez getting the VP nomination?

This post has been edited by Famousgrl: Mar 30th 2012, 6:08 PM