 Now that Mitt Romney appears to be back in the US election race, he is attempting to set the record straight. Those oh so offensive comments regarding 47% of American citizens needed addressing. In an arrogant manner he virtually declared that 47&% of Americans are happy to sit back and live a life of luxury on welfare.
What a shameful accusation, made all the worse as Romney is such a wealthy man. He and his wife are no newcomers to wealth and privilege, meaning that they have no idea how most Americans live.
His accusations were aimed at a swathe of Americans who do not pay taxes. That is they have no suitable income to be taxed. His remarks were disparaging especially considering that he manages to pay a low rate of tax in spite of his vast wealth.
Romney's remarks regarding 47% of Americans was muttered behind closed doors. It was secretly taped at a Romney fund raiser. This will leave many wondering how honest his words are in TV debates. Are they just empty words aimed at winning? Perhaps behind the closed doors of fund raisers Romney speaks what he believes to be the truth?
Mitt Romney yesterday said that his words regarding 47% of Americans were "completely wrong" Well we knew that all along. Shame it took Mitt so long to realise his words were wrong. His apology may be from the heart or just because he was caught out.
Speaking with Fox Romney said, "Well, clearly in a campaign, with hundreds if not thousands of speeches and question-and-answer sessions, now and then you're going to say something that doesn't come out right. " In this case, I said something that's just completely wrong." "And I absolutely believe, however, that my life has shown that I care about 100% and that's been demonstrated throughout my life. And this whole campaign is about the 100%."
Do we believe him? Do we Hell. Today President Obama has bounced back on the strength of better than expected unemployment figures. Mitt Romney is trying to tie up lose ends. His 47% gaffe is just one of many such gaffes.
Voters will have to decide if they trust him enough to make him the next President of the USA.
The cynic in us would not be surprised if all of this was engineered. You know, upset some of the electorate and then back pedal. In doing so he can appease the masses but his true followers will know it was all a sham. Romney may not be clever enough for all of this but his campaign managers could be.
In truth Romney did not say his sentiment was wrong simply his wording. US voters are fickle but are they easily swayed. If they believe Romney's words they must be very naive.
 Politics is a weird affair. Come to that so are many politicians. You have to wonder what motivates them. There will remain a few who hold high ideals and go into politics for what they believe is the good of all. There will be others who follow a family tradition in politics. There will be plenty who enter politics to feather their own nests. There will even be some who find having failed elsewhere, but being lucky enough to know the right people, politics is their last chance to succeed. Whatever the reason once a person enters politics they tend to do their damnedest to succeed. It is rare for elected officials to resign although it is not unheard off. Some jump before they are pushed. As weird as politics is elections or rather election campaigns. One of the wackiest playing out on the World stage right now is the 2012 US election.Looking across the Pond the campaigns never cease to amaze. They appear to be full of hate, lies in order to be elected, promises that will not be fulfilled, larger than life characters and more money than should be allowed. An obscene amount of money is being spent to win the 2012 US election and you have to wonder why?Is it to benefit the people? Could be in some cases. Is it to buy a voice in government and legislation that suits? Yes more likely in many cases.Both sides call each other for many things. Both catcall the amount of fundraising done by the opposition. Currently President Obama's fundraising is slipping behind Romney's That is because the 1% of America want Romney to win.There may be many middle of the road voters who are also hoping for a Romney win but you can bet your bottom dollar that the elusive 1%, Wall Street, Bankers, Oil Tycoons and the like and right behind him also.Much of the money raised is being spent on ad campaigns by the GOP and the Democrats. Each side latches onto the others ill chosen words when they are spoken and tries to gain political leverage. That is usual. It also happen in the UK. The sad thing is though that those with the most money can afford to buy the most slick and persuasive advertising campaigns.In reality they do not detail what the person intends to do if elected.The 2012 US election Circus, as that is what is starting to look like from the UK, is pulling out all of the stops and that includes utilising bad taste.The vjdeo link in the report was kindly sent to us from an American reader. It was sent as a prime example of what is wrong with the election campaign. One that makes weird and nonsensical ads, which are in real terms meaningless. Many hint at President Obama's birthright and colour which strikes this Brit as odd. 21st Century Americans often are proud to claim that they live in a Free Country where there is opportunity for all to live the "American Dream" Do these ads mean only if you have the right coloured skin?Whilst there will always be some successful people from all walks of life it is harder for some to "make it". The 2012 election campaign has sadly showed that bigotry is alive and well in parts of the USA.
 President Obama's 2012 election campaign team continue to maintain that Mitt Romney's financial support has greatly outstripped that for the Democrats. Big Business is throwing big money behind Mitt Romney.
This of course means that should he be elected Mr Romney will owe favours to the elusive 1%, He will owe nothing to the poor and middle class in real terms.
The latest communication from Mr Obama's campaign aims at getting its message out online:
"We've been talking to you about President Obama's plan to cut through the red tape keeping millions of responsible homeowners from refinancing their mortgages, but we want to make sure your friends get the message, too.
We've put together a graphic that boils the President's proposal down to the five things that everyone should know, and the information is all right here -- you don't even need to visit Whitehouse.gov.
Will you share it online or forward this email to your friends?"
Job Done,
 Barack and Michelle Obama kicked of the 2012 Election campaign with a rally in Ohio yesterday, May 5, 2012. They have been in election mode for the last 13 months with a series of fund raisers being held in the US and no doubt beyond. Political ambition in the US is expensive. This may be true of many other countries but it does limit the candidates. Perhaps it is ever increasingly true that most candidates are much the same. Maybe those voters who fail to participate in elections one iota are correct when they use the reason "they are all the same". For those who still have faith in Democracy voting remains important. It is one of the few ways to make your voice heard, albeit slightly. President Obama has admitted that the November election is by no means signed, sealed and delivered. Two years ago he could maybe have been more confident but during such difficult times people react in different ways. Many will view the incumbent Obama as responsible for US woes. This can mean that any positives are swept aside. Obama's first official rally featured attacks on GOP nominee, in all bit name, Mitt Romney. He may have not been every Republicans election dream but he is what they now have. Most of the GOP voters will rally behind Romney in an attempt to oust Obama. For them it is almost anyone but Obama. The President's attacks on Romney mainly centred on the belief that Mitt will legislate to help the rich, reduce spending on education, set back Medicare and give the Banking Sector a huge lift. According to the President, Romney will enhance the big banks powers in a way that will hit ordinary citizens. With the amount on Super PAC, and its source, funding Romney that is probably a fair assumption. Mr Obama reminded the cheering crowd that Mr Romney and "friends in Congress think the same bad ideas will lead to a different result, or they’re just hoping you won’t remember what happened the last time you tried it their way.’’ For many politicians the problem is that people are fickle. There will always be some hard line Democrats and Republicans but many people vote with the times. If times are good they compliment the President and when times get tough they blame the President. Particularly during the last year Obama has been attacked on many fronts. His place of birth, contraception and more. The real issues have often been sidelined. Americans IMHO need to look at their lives and see how things are panning out and how they may or may not change under Romney. They should also remember that too many times the President has become ineffective because of Republican input. No doubt if Romney wins the Democrats will do the same to him, unless of course he sweeps the board. Whilst they ALL play their political games though life for many people gets tougher. The Boston Globe reported, "Romney has staked his candidacy on his ability to create jobs, but Obama said his rival was merely doing the bidding of the conservative powerbrokers in Congress and has little understanding of the struggles of average Americans. ‘‘Why else would he want to cut his own taxes while raising them for 18 million Americans,’’ Obama said of his multimillionaire opponent."Opinion: This is why to all of those who say "I won't vote because" this blogger says get out there and vote. Remember that those who have a vested interest in a particular party winning will vote in their droves. The disillusioned and disaffected may consider voting a waste of time. However it is all you have to stop those who manipulate elections doing so once more. Tags: US election, Ohio rally, Obama rally, Mitt Romney attacks, 2012 US election
 If there is one growth industry making big bucks in the US it is the election industry. Be it the campaign managers, the ad producers, the poster designers or whoever it appears that the funds required are limitless. Of course they are not. Each candidate from both sides of the political spectrum is busily fund raising. Those in a privileged position, like mega wealthy Mitt Romney, are still taking financial support from the Super Pacs. Political Party and election campaign funding is under scrutiny on both sides of the Pond. We the Public would be loathe to have to fork out more in taxes to ensure a fairer election system but the current one is in serious need of an overhaul. The UK has recently had cash for policy making brought to the public's attention by undercover reporters. If we were in any doubt before that funding needed to be reformed we are not now. In The US it continues to appear as if occupation of the White House will in part go to the highest bidder. After all the candidate wit the most funds will probably achieve the best election campaign, advertising and support. An election is a bit like actors on a stage all trying to prove that they can play a realistic role. Only some will persuade you but remember in most cases it is still all an act. An act to win your vote. USA Today's Onpolitics blog has some interesting facts and figures. However spin doctors come in all shapes and sizes so determining what is the truth is never easy. One thing is certain in the GOP race and that is that Rick Santorum appears loathe to endorse front runner Mitt Romney. His silence is, as they say, deafening. The latest predictions have Mitt Romney on a dream ticket with Jeb Bush. For many Americans that would be a nightmare ticket. It is not hard to guess what sort of policies these two would concoct. Romney is financially supported by so many Corporations that it is safe to assume where his priorities would lie. Would Jeb Bush follow former Bush politicians and concentrate on oil? None it seems would concentrate on the people and their current woes. Even President Obama has been carefully edited to look as if he too is an etch a sketch man who will betray his principles if he gets re-elected. Currently it seems that none are principled in the least. That is except for looking after themselves. The US has its own financial problems in spite of being a wealthy country. It has been overstretched for years in so many ways. It beggars belief that US citizens are happy with the obscene cost of their national and GOP election. However maybe they are not. Surely it is time to draw in the purse strings and act in a more prudent way. Leading by example should be the way that all politicians act. Good luck America, looks like you will need it. Tags: US election, GOP nomination, President Obama, election funding, Jeb Bush
 Now that it looks likely that Mitt Romney will lead the Republican Party into election battle against President Obama and the Democrat Party the in fighting is settling down. The GOP no longer need to attack each other but instead need to get behind their probable representative. This should mean that finally the opposing political parties can get down to business. They will begin attacking each others core beliefs, promises, track record and more. Recently the media has been covering what has been called "The Buffett Rule" So what is the Buffett Rule? Well it works on quite a simple premise. That is that millionaire Americans should not pay a lower rate of tax than the middle class and lower paid workers. So simple it seems to this blogger that it should be obvious. You can check your rate of tax easily on line at a link offered by the Obama / Biden 2012 Election campaign. The link however is designed to show you just what rate of tax you paid in comparison to multi millionaire Mitt Romney. The site carries a brief introduction to the Buffett Rule which says: " Millionaire Warren Buffett and many wealthy Americans pay a lower tax rate than middle-class families do. That’s just not fair. Warren Buffett knows it and President Obama wants to fix it. The Buffett Rule would require everyone to pay their fair share—a key step to reduce the deficit and invest in what we need to grow and strengthen the economy. Mitt Romney opposes the Buffett Rule because he wants to protect tax loopholes and give millionaires like himself trillions of dollars in tax breaks paid for by either increasing the deficit or by cutting programs critical to the middle class and economic growth." Well whilst the link and info may be part of the Democrat campaign it sounds sensible practice. The days when the 99% would roll over and play dead so that the 1% can prosper are well and truly over. We keep getting told we are in it together and need to accept austerity measures but yet the minority continue to utilise loopholes. Western governments are trying in some degree or another to ensure that taxes are fair. That should go without saying. Expecting the lower paid to stump up a higher rate of tax is obscene in this day and age. The argument that wealthy men like Mitt Romney need the tax breaks to give them the incentive to create jobs and businesses is nuts and untrue.If that were the case unemployment would be nil not staggeringly high and increasing all the time.Tags: Warren Buffett, GOP, Democrats, President Obama, Buffett Rule, tax rate, tax loopholes, Mitt Romney, create jobs, US election
 Surveys help predict the way the vote may go It's that time again. Another GOP vote is on the cards in the USA and it is generally felt that this one will go Rick Santorum's way. To date Mr Santorum has looked the only one of the GOP final four who could give Mitt Romney a run for his money, and that's a lot of money! The latest pre-vote polls in Louisiana indicate that Rick Santorum will win big style here.
It would appear that he is leading by double digits over Mitt Romney, at least in Lousiana. This must mean that Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul are falling yet even further behind. Surely the time is near when one of those two will decide to call it a day as far as their campaign goes? In most people's minds that time is long overdue. If either or both do who they endorse could prove interesting.
What in some parts of the US will damage Rick Santorum's GOP nomination campaign may actually prove to be positives in Louisiana. His anti gay, strong religious beliefs, pro-life often sexist views could be appealing to the GOP voters in Louisiana.
The latest poll predictions have come by way of information gathered by surveys and presumably robocalls. Just how accurate such surveys are is debatable. Whilst some who take part will alwayss treat the poll as a serious matter others may not.
Sadly for Santorum even a good win in Louisiana will not inflate his number of delegates dramatically. According to The Huffington Post, "Louisiana will send 46 delegates to the Republican convention in Tampa, Fla., but will choose only 20 on the basis of Saturday's vote. Louisiana's rules allocate those 20 delegates proportionally to any candidate that receives more than 25 percent of the vote (the remaining 26 delegates will be selected by a subsequent state convention and will remain technically unpledged)."
There could yet be hope though for Mitt Romney is Louisiana. This State may be in the South, which tends to favour Rick Santorum, but it is not a traditionally hard line evangelical rural State. Either way though it is doubtful that Dr Paul or Newt Gingrich will do well.
 For those of you unsure of just when the next GOP televised debate is read on for the latest timetable. The US must almost be ready to quit the race themselves after only a few months of intense media attention. The GOP race looks likely to stumble on until way into 2012 and then there will be the election proper. That is the Election for the next President of the United States. That role is singular though. The US electorate will also be voting for their next political representatives too. Lawd help 'em. Still at least as far as GOP televised debates go surely the people of the US are on the last lap. Having endured almost two dozen the end is in sight. The latest schedule: February 22, 20128pm ET on CNN (Originally Dec 1, then Nov 30) Location: Mesa Arts Center in Mesa, Arizona Sponsor: CNN and the Republican Party of Arizona Participants: TBD March 1, 20128pm ET on CNNLocation: Georgia Sponsor: CNN and the Georgia Republican Party Participants: TBD March 5, 2012Air time TBD on NBC Location: Reagan Library in Simi Valley, CA Sponsor: Reagan Library, NBC News and Politico Participants: TBD March 19, 20129pm ET on PBS Location: Portland, OR Sponsor: Oregon Public Broadcasting, NPR, PBS, The Washington Times and the Oregon Republican Party Participants: TBD The schedule for debates between the successful GOP candidate and President Obama will follow in due course.
 The latest debate in Florida, before voters decide which of the four remaining GOP candidates is for them, was aired last night. On January 31, 2012 the people of Florida will decide. In an effort to please as many people as possible the leading lights of the race appear to be saying what ever it takes. Whether their words have any substance is debatable.
Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich sparred over illegal immigrants. Gingrich claimed that Romney is the most anti immigration candidate out of the four of them Romney appeared appalled at such a suggestion. And on it goes. Perhaps the GOP race is getting to the stage when avoiding the televised debates is a voter's best bet. After all it now seems a case of say anything to please the crowd. For those readers who want to watch some of the footage a few videos are attached.
Pundits are predicting that Florida could be the last lap for Rick Santorum, that is if he fails to shine. As he and Ron Paul trail in polls, for Santorum at least it could be Florida or bust. The race still has a fair way to go but as the candidates whittle down currently Gingrich and Romney appear to remain in the lead.
Will Florida go against the grain?
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 In yet another televised GOP debate last night, January 23, 2012, the main contenders for the Republican crown appeared to be Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. However as these two began to throw accusations at each other perhaps Ron Paul and Rick Santorum felt that "given enough rope the other two would hang themselves". As it was Mitt Romney seemed to step up to the mark and become more impassioned and articulate than he has to date. Newt Gingrich who had soared in popularity last, week with obvious fire in his bell,y seemed to flounder more than once. In the end it will all depend on how the voters view the debate and what was said. It will not come down to what any of the men stand for but more likely who can come up trumps in the eyes of the electorate. Mitt and Newt both seemed to have decided that mud slinging was their best option. Perhaps someone should have warned them that attack is the worst form of defence. In an attempt to discredit each other both looked shaky as far as trust goes. Mitt Romney's extreme wealth and business affairs may have looked dodgy but what of Newt's dealings with troubled Freddie Mac? In the end Newt seemed to come off the worse for wear with some allegations left unanswered. Today CBS has reported on some of the inaccuracies used by both men such as: "GINGRICH: "When I was speaker, we had four consecutive balanced budgets." THE FACTS: Actually, two. The four straight years of budget surpluses were 1998 through 2001. Gingrich left Congress in 1999, so he only had a hand in surpluses for his last two years. The budget ran deficits for his first two years as speaker. The highest surplus of that four-year string came in budget year 2000, after Gingrich was out of office.Overall, the national debt went up during the four years Gingrich was speaker. In January 1995, when he assumed the leadership position, the gross national debt was $4.8 trillion. When he left four years later, it was $5.6 trillion, an increase of $800 billion.
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ROMNEY: "I don't think we can possibly retake the White House if the person who's leading our party is the person who was working for the chief lobbyist of Freddie Mac. Freddie Mac was paying Speaker Gingrich $1.6 million at the same time Freddie Mac was costing the people of Florida millions upon millions of dollars."
THE FACTS: While going after Gingrich forcefully on the issue, Romney did not mention his own earnings from the government-backed lender and its sister entity, Fannie Mae, which came to light in his most recent financial disclosure report. The report shows he has as much as $500,000 invested in the two lenders. GOP presidential hopefuls almost across the board have blamed the two institutions for contributing to the housing crisis that helped to drag the nation into recession. Among Romney's ties: a mutual fund worth up to $500,000 that includes assets from both lenders among other government income, and separate investments in each of the lenders in Romney's individual retirement account, each worth between $100,000 and $250,000. Romney campaign officials said Monday the investments were handled by a trustee with no direction by the candidate. GINGRICH: "I left the speakership after the 1998 election because I took responsibility for the fact that our results weren't as good as they should be. I think that's what a leader should do. I took responsibility. And I didn't want to stay around, as Nancy Pelosi has. I wanted to get out and do other things." ROMNEY: "He had to resign in disgrace."
RON PAUL: "I think the reason he didn't...run for speaker, you know, two years later -- he didn't have the votes. That was what the problem was. So this idea that he voluntarily reneged and he was going to punish himself because we didn't do well in the election, that's just not the way it was." THE FACTS: Gingrich didn't exactly resign in disgrace after he became the first speaker reprimanded and fined for ethics violations, slapped with a $300,000 penalty, in January 1997. He limped to re-election as speaker after that. But his number was soon up.Within months, he was fending off a revolt from fellow Republicans weary of his antics and mercurial ways. As Paul suggested in the debate, unexpected GOP losses in the 1998 elections were the last straw for Gingrich in the eyes of House Republicans. Three days later Gingrich announced he was stepping down as speaker and giving up his seat in Congress. Paul's recollection now is supported by some of Gingrich's words back then. He told Republicans, "I'm willing to lead but I'm not willing to preside over people who are cannibals," sounding less like a man interested in a career change than one intent on escaping a boiling pot. RICK SANTORUM: "One of (my proposals) would be to be able to deduct losses from the sale of your home. Right now you can't do that. You have to pay gains, depending on the amount, but you can't deduct the losses, as other capital losses can be."
THE FACTS: For a brief description, it was accurate. What Santorum did not explain, in appealing to Floridians who have one of the worst housing markets in the country, is that the tax code is already stacked in favor of home ownership. Homeowners get many tax breaks from the government, most notably mortgage interest and property tax deductions. Under federal law, when you sell your private residence, you can make up to $250,000 in profit -- $500,000 if you are married -- and not owe any capital gains taxes. That's a large tax break. There's no such break if you have such a profit in selling stocks or works of art. But there is a trade-off: You can't claim a loss when you sell your private residence. Conclusion: There is more at the CBS linked article, but you get the idea. You have to wonder just who these nominees think they are fooling when they blatantly lie or should I say are selective with the truth. Of course those tuning in may believe what they hear as fact. If they do not then check out what was said via another source the TV debate will have done the campaigner's job for them. Is it spin or is it lies? At times I guess it can be both. All the candidates right now are focused on winning. With this as their prime concern the difference between facts and fairy tales seems to have escaped them..
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