First Mitt Romney, and now Paul Ryan? Are the Republicans intentionally trying to lose the election in November??

Obama / Biden 2012. "Continuing to clean up the mess of the Republican Great Recession."

You left out one option.
Yes. I was going to vote for Romney, now I will vote for Obama.

The last four years have been a mess with increasing fedreal debt and people still want the clown in the White House and the motor mouth Biden. Obviously the same supporters of Quinn, Madigan, Daley, Emmanuel, Durbin, Stroger, and other spenders in and out of jail. Americas future in the hands of those who can do nothing but spend money and increase debt.
Romney/Ryan 2012. "Going to clean up the financial and employment mess of the Democratic Greater Depression."

It should be a law that no president, congressperson or senator can have their term re-newed if the budget is not balanced. That's what I propose.

I mean, we have to pay our bills and taxes on time, why should they get away with not having to?

That's the liberal way....no facts about anything, so let's start assuming things or lying about them without a shred of proof.

It's slanderous, and more than half the country is engaging in it by bluntly lying about Romney without knowing a thing for sure. It's sickening.

You are comparing tax payments to college records? Okey doke. It's interesting Joe, that you are so unwilling to see Romney's business dealings and activities that have allowed him to amass millions of dollars as being A-ok. Who cares if he hurts others? I guess that's HIS personal responsibility.

@sully...so being successful and amassing millions as a result is somehow wrong to you? A more appropriate blog name for you would be: SCARY. B/c you are and so is your commie viewpoint

No Winnetka, amassing millions by stepping on American workers, then finding each and every loophole to keep from paying taxes, plus hiding money in offshore accounts, plus creatively doctoring forms to the federal government, is.

I'M A INDEPENDENT GUY, BUT I THINK ROMNEY WOULD OF BENEFIT MORE BY PICKING A WOMEN.. WOMEN VOTES IS BIG, I THINK ROMNEY MADE A MISTAKE BY NOT PICKING A WOMEN...I COULD BE WRONG. THE PEOPLE ON THE RIGHT ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR ROMNEY REGARDLESS I BELIEVE.

CORRECTION, A WOMAN.

Not without its limits, but an interesting simulator that gives some insite into how hard it is to balance the budget: http://crfb.org/stabilizethedebt/.

I gave obama a chance to change things and really hoped he would. I have not seen anything from him other than more national debt. I'm so SICK of the excuses of what he inherited but he hasn't done anything to improve it. I'm middle class and see nothing nor have anyone close to me see anything from him. My sister makes near poverty level and can't get assistance.. time of a different type of change I would like to see more $$ in my pocket and my families.. not taxed to death to help the those coasting on the system.

You could also say gridlocause congress has a little to do with it. When you have Mitch McConnel saying from day one that his main goal is to prevent Obama from being re-elected, that is not cause for much optimism. This congress has filibustered more legislation than any other congress in history and has moved the slowest in confirming Obama nominations in critical positions. While Obama must accept some of the blame, congress is just as much, or more to blame than the president.

Man! Should be 'gridlock in congress'.

Both parties are working for their special interests. NEITHER one supports US. Time to dump them both and vote for someone else.

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

I hope I am not taking this out of context but I copied the entire section from the "About Us" section on the Patch.com website. Notice the recurring theme of local, local, local. There is no reference to bogus "polls" about national politics. Local politics yes, state perhaps, but this is way out of bounds.

"What is Patch?
Simply put, Patch is an innovative way to find out about, and participate in, what's going on near you.

We're a community-specific news, information and engagement platform driven by passionate and experienced new media professionals. Patch is revolutionizing the way neighbors connect with each other, their communities, and the national conversation.

We want to be the most trusted, comprehensive, and relevant news and information resource in your community. What can you do on Patch?

Keep up with news and events
Check out photos and videos from around town
Learn more about local businesses and the people behind them
Participate in discussions
Share your perspectives via our Local Voices blogging platform
Submit your own announcements, photos, and reviews"

Congress has quadrupuled our national debt during the Obama administration with nothing to show for it. Why would gridlock be a bad thing? Undoing the mess that they shackled on business would be the only thing lacking.

So right Bob. When do we as Americans wake up! As long as we keep voting Dem or Rep only and we dont compromise with each other....it will be more of the same. It funny that it's such a bad thing that Romney is rich...When was the last time a poor person was elected to ANY office? When was the last time a middle class person was elected to a Federal office?
The people of this country have to put their differences aside and agree to do what's right for the country, not themselves. Starting with local, county and state, then federal elections. The spending at all levels is out of control, can you imagine the cuts that could be made at all levels? It's mind boggling, do any of you know a local politician or employee that is charge of their own budget? I do, I have some in my family...ask them about their budget. Imagine the waste of tax dollars at the federal level...then tell me you have to cut the military or education.
We need total reform, the government should not be one of country's top employers. They should not receive top pay, free health care for life and outrageous retirement. They should not be allowed to serve more than 8 years...any of them.
When did it change from serving your country to being a career?

It's time we start looking at the people, their beliefs, their history and what they believe in....NOT just their party affiliation and know that although we may not agree with everything they do, it's ok to vote for them because it's good for the country.

Socialism is not good for a country built on freedom, capitalism, pride, freedom of speech and religion. Be an American...not a Dem or Rep. Think about someone other than your self and your own personal agenda....think about future genereations and what we right now are teaching our kids about our leaders and beliefs.
Step back and think about it....it's pretty damn scary.

People have become so sensitive to being called a racist or worse if they don't buy into Obamas big dream that it's skewing the polls. For every ten polling samples, three or more who claim they support Obama will actually vote the other way or not at all.
Couple that with an almost even number between the candidates (not good for an incumbent) and that we're not out of summer yet, it doesn't bode well for the president.
Also, between now and election day there are almost 20 different economic indicators due out plus revised numbers for indicators in July and August (none of which are expected to be good.) And if you notice, the Romney campaign is holding everything close to the vest and releasing things for maximum impact. By the end of September, as people start to pay attention, the presidents numbers are going to get worse. About the only thing he has going for him is peoples guilt or fear if having our first black president be a one term president.
I supported and voted for Obama, but I am voting for Romney this time. We cannot afford to spend another four years blaming Bush and ringing up insurmountable debts in the name of social justice and self promotion.

Well put. Ryan's best line yesterday, we are a country founded on equal opportunity for all, not equal outcomes.

Take a look at how classy some liberals were yesterday after Romney's announcement. This is disgusting, seriously: http://twitchy.com/2012/08/11/sarah-palin-praises-romneyryan-slams-obama-left-responds-with-usual-vitriol/

If you are part of the upper crust then you'll vote for Romney/Ryan. All others will lean toward Obama. I think Obama needs another 4 yrs. to clean up the mess that he inherited. I say give the guy a chance because he didn't create the mess and boy was it a mess. If the Republicans and Democrats can come together and agree to work together, Obama would be more successful in helping this country's fiscal woes.

I'm not part of the "upper crust" I cant afford 4 more years of this..."inherited" or not.
What true leader blames his predecessor after 3 1/2 years? Jilly, pull your head out of the sand...take a look the the growth of the deficit, the spending, the debt, unemployment, government growth...really 4 more years...what are you going to tell your kids, when they get the bill?

If this is only 10% true it should scare the heck out of all of us. Take 10 minutes and watch the whole thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-HqHSkYG-Y&feature=youtube_gdata_player

The thing i realize from talking to people at work, etc.. is that many people just don't realize how bad our situation is with debt. Our children and grandchildren are in for a really bad time if we don't right the ship.

Why don't people appreciate how bad the deficit is? because, unlike our own personal finances, they don't have to write the checks, so we don't feel the weight of the deficit.

Paul Ryan has been reading federal budgets since he was 22 years old! he was embarrassed to admit this when he was a youngster, but he is EXACTLY the guy we need to help Romney (who helped turn around over 80% of the failing businesses that Bain Capital took on).

Slupski mentions the New Yorker column here, but fails to mention the meme from that column that's getting talked about the most.

The writer of that column says that "Ryan lacks private sector experience".

Which is totally laughable and reminds me that liberals say the damndest things.

Compare Ryan's private sector experience to one Barack Hussein Obama. yeah.

The problem isn't the amount of taxes collected...the problem is Spending. Cut the taxes, cut the pork and waste, renew the american drive to dream, work and succeed. Let those with the capital and know how teach the future generations how to do it for themselves.....you CAN'T achive that by stifling the american spirit and letting our future leaders live on government handouts, subsidies and welfare, Redistribution of wealth, increased taxes to those that employ and overly powered government is not the path to a prosporous america.

Hypothetically - if Romney wins the election, what happens if (and I say "when") he gets mid-way through his term as President and hasn't solved the economy, hasn't made an honorable dent in unemployment, flounders in foreign policy, and generally fails as President? What are the voters going to say then? It seems to take far less time to jack up our national economy than we give a new administration to fix what's been broken. We, as Americans, have grown far too apathetic when it comes to electing our representatives, we don't stay involved in the political process, nor do we have any patience to get things turned around. I'm still voting for Obama. I wouldn't be surprised if, after a second term, we are not much closer to fixing the economy because Congress CAN'T DO IT'S JOB!! Term limits need to be set and the public has got to monitor these people instead of punching a name at the ballot box, then forgetting about things until circumstances are really dire. I know I have to do better, I can only hope others can agree.

It really gets down to one thing: Do you give a damn about your fellow Americans? I'm talking about the sick, the elderly, the poor, the disabled, etc.? Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Obama, though he has failings (who doesn't?), fights to help these folks against Republicans in Congress who have blocked everything he's tried to do on purely partisan grounds. Bush made his cronies rich with a war that was paid for with debt that drove the country to the brink of disaster. With the conservatives fighting his every move, it will take Obama a while to fix the mess. Romney is just another puppet for the 1%.

1%....lmao....you are truely scary people. Do you understand the corruption, fraud and waste in these programs...I don't honestly think anyone that doesnt want to help those that TRUELY NEED HELP would ever be elected nor would they be allow to continue in office. Get real. The problem is the economy, the spending and the WASTE. Everyone keeps talking about the War...last I checked 3 1/2 yrs later we are still in it.
It's the economy. Quit deflecting the true issues, the real timeline and the reality of a failed President. He said one term...pretty sure HE KNEW what he was getting in to. Thing aren't better they are worse and heading downhill not up.

Well, if you give a damn about your fellow Americans....the US Conference of Catholic Bishops called the Ryan budget proposal - "an immoral document" for casting aside the sick and the elderly, increasing the defense budget and giving disproportionate tax cuts to the wealthy 1% of America.

Paul Ryan is an ardent follower of the economic philisophies of athiest Ayan Rand.

Yet, you watch. Those same Catholic Bishops will say that Romney's flip-flop position and Ryan's professed anti-abortion stand trumps the healtcare needs of the old, the sick, the poor and the newborn.

Really glad to read so much vitriolic partisan talk on here. Apparently this and every other message board is where it's truly meaningful to be heard...tongue-lashing those opposed to your own view point and pointing the finger at one person and laying the blame at his feet. My real hope is that while people are vehemently bickering on these public forums, they are also interacting with their elected officials and or/contributing to the nomination/election of someone else who they think will get the job done. If Romney is voted in, 3 years from now (or less) he will be combating the same political climate Obama has been because the opposing party always wants "to make a statement" rather than actually solve problems Americans are facing. Again, Congress is doing an extremely poor job of guiding this country through the troubles we find ourselves in...as long as they continue that, no Republican or Democratic President will ever be considered successful.

I fear that irregardless of who gets elected that almost all politicians do not have the political will to do what is needed. Fair taxes? Yes! Social responsibility? Yes! Balanced budget? Yes! Partisan B.S. - God help us all!!!!

If voters held president Obama to his own words, he would not be re-elected. First responders don't blame the cause, they get in there and do the job. Obama had every opportunity to work miracles. The first two years of his presidency he had a super majority in both houses of congress. He had the exuberant enthusiasm of the American public. But rather than work on the problems with the economy, he wasted time and resources on nonsense. Guantanamo Bay? Still open. Unemployment? Over eight percent for 40 months (actual figure closer to sixteen percent.) Iraq and Afgan wars? Still raging on. The only real difference is we are now almost six trillion more dollars in debt and well on our way to becoming a Spanish speaking Chinese territory.

The President and his party had control of both houses and couldn't solve this mess. The held all the marbles and couldn't get it done. Pretty simple. Another two years have passed and yet the mess continues. Regardless of where the original fault may lie, when does President Obama have to take ownership for not fixing the situation? I say that should happen in November. We shouldn't be criticizing Romney's success we should be embracing it and asking him to do the same for our country. We need a leader with a proven record of accomplishment. Not some glib, idealist who's never held a real job in his life.

When more people work, more tax revenue gets collected, pretty simple stuff. This nonsense about paying for tax cuts reveals a very uneducated view about economics. Its too easy for some to accept the linear Democrat propagada, which explains why they still exist. Taking away more of a gain from a risk makes the risk taker not take any risks at all. Any questions?

Being that I am a woman, I cannot possibly support a candidate who seeks to take away rights from women and supports misogynistic policies. A vote for Romney is saying "Yes, I'd like to return to the 1950's".

I believe we'd all agree that Mitt Romney is a successful person, correct? Well, successful people get that way by surrounding themselves with the smartest, most capable people they can find. We can play identity politics and say his choice should have been a woman or a Hispanic or whatever, but Romney chose one of the brightest members of Congress who has shown that he's not afraid to act. There is no voting "present" with Paul Ryan. Excellent choice!

Contrast to who Obama surrounds himself with...ivory tower college professors with no real world experience, an economics team devoid of anyone who has ever met a payroll, radical activists, and Hollywood celebrities.

The same is true for Ryan, Lauren. He co-sponsored one of the most restrictive abortion rights bills in the country. No abortion for rape, incest, or the health of the mother, and his view of when one is legally a human being would make certain forms of birth control illegal. Also, if a woman does have an abortion, she can go to jail for it. Welcome to the 1600's, not the 1950's. Maybe we'll go back to stoning women when they don't satisfy their man.

How is it that just 4 years ago, pundits like James Carville were saying that the Democrats would be ruling Congress and the White House for 40 years, and now they are on the verge of losing the Senate and losing the White House after already, remarkably, losing control of the House?

Answer: Americans realize that Democrats aren't serious about budgets and the economy. They are much more invested in issues like gay marriage, contraception and giving more money away in welfare.

Time for the adults to take over. Romney and Ryan have the gravitas, the work ethic and the business sense to get things done.

Let Obama go back to working with Bill Ayers and see if they can get old man Annenberg to give them another $100,000,000 to 'fix' the Chicago Public Schools...they did so much with the initial investment, right?

Actually yes, more jobs were created resulting from all previous tax cuts in the last 55 years. In fact, under Reagan we went from recession to 9% GDP for maybe a decade. I know its trouble for you guys, has been for years trying to explain Reagan. The new trick is to attribute any bad thing happening now back to him, but good luck with that, makes for some crazy intellectually dishonest propaganda.

Romney and Ryan will help us avoid this real life version of Atlas Shrugged that we all have bit parts in right now.

Let's get back to being the greatest country in the world, not an environment that is better for 'takers' than 'makers'.

Sorry McCloud, the economy didn't start improving under Reagan until he raised taxes.

Paul Ryan is a good choice for vice president.

Blatant Lie. I lived during this time, on a cloudy morning in CA, Reagan signed into law lowering taxes from top tier something like 76% down to 32%, and it took a year and a half for the economy to respond. The government collected record revenues from the economic boom. Read more legetimate history pal. This business of Reagan raising taxes is a new way to confuse, smear and revise history. Can't do that to me, I was a witness.

It's time for the mainstream media to start talking about....abortion. Abortion? yes, abortion.

In the list of all the issues that are on American's minds right now, abortion comes in at .. number.. uh..next page. well, it's way down the list.

But one thing we know about our journOlista's is that they get together and come up with a concerted plan of attack vs. conservatives. And in a time when issues regarding the economy are the top ten issues that Americans care about, the Democrats have nothing. NOTHING to offer. No solutions... Obama's plans have failed. The stimulus, 'cars for clunkers', giving money to green energy companies that coincidentally are campaign contributors of his..nothing has worked. Big surprise, huh? as it is a difficult transition to go from community organizer to leader of the free world.

But this is where you see the pigressives do their best work. This is where they bet on 'the narrative' to carry the day. This is why, when they have nothing of substance to talk about, they bring out the old reliable messages.

And that's why you'll be hearing people talking about abortion soon. Hopefully they catch themselves in thought and say "why the hell is this news"?

Obama appeals mostly to people who feel isolated and disenfranchised. I have been reading these posts and the minute an Obama supporter is asked to explain his abysmal record, they go into a diatribe about Romneys ideals, most of which are made up by people like David Axelrod and others. Or if that doesn't work, they resort to name calling and equivocation. Is Romney another Reagan? It remains to be seen, but I personally doubt it. Is Obama as good as Clinton? Not by a long shot. The president was able to run on promises that weren't verifiable through records. But, he has a record now (and a poor one at that) so any reference to his performance will be met with vitriol and conjecture against Romney.
Personally, I would like to see a third party candidate and more independents take positions in government.
While marriage rights, abortion and other things are important, non of that matters if you're starving to death. So jobs and the economy first. No point wondering what's for breakfast when you wake up to the house on fire.

McCloud, in case you conveniently decide to not read the link, I'll boil the issue down for you-

"The original TEFRA bill as passed by the House lowered taxes.[7] The Republican-controlled Senate replaced the text of the original House bill with a number of tax increases, and the bill became law after President Ronald Reagan signed it."

-Wikipedia

No way to go through life, dumb, liberal and misinformed. Reagan had liberals running for their lives, as conservative ideas proved true. Liberals feared the end of their existence, so they revised, contorted and lied in articles I refuse to recognize.

A.M.Kelly....you are hilarious. I hope your children are grown and out of your house or perhaps you are still just a kid yourself. Wow, you call me naive! Perhaps Greece would be a better place for you to live? I'll pitch in for your one way ticket. You can sit back and be happy there and the government will take of you...oh wait a minute...their broke? Wonder why?

Chris speaks the truth. Well said

Sully quoting wikipedia! Too funny.

Then read the article, genius. This is fact... Sorry to disappoint you.

Fact? Now a guy's opinion is called a fact if it agrees with your contorted view. Tell me, is the private sector fine? How about our credit rating? Unemployment? Did that housing market rebound? Maybe GDP? Years from now there will be a guy writing "facts" on how Obama policies created an ecinomic boom.

The comment was about wikipedia, not the facts...genius.
A.K. Not surprised ...I am guessing you have never listened to anyone...spell checked or not. :-)

Uh McCloud? Are you saying then that Reagan never raised taxes? Are you saying that he turned the economy around immediately after taking office? Really?

For someone who voted for Reagan both times and Clinton both times, I think it's important to note that Reagan did raise taxes. But not income taxes. He drastically cut income taxes. He raised taxes on gasoline to pay for a highway funding bill in 1982. He also raised taxes and tariffs via COBRA in 85. But during the 86 tax reform he indexed taxes to inflation thereby cutting taxes yet again. Really the argument is semantics. When you raise the corporate and upper incone tax rates, those increases are passed down to consumers. So regardless of whether it is called a fee, penalty, tax, tariff or something else, it means higher prices for everyone. Corporations don't pay taxes. Their costs are passed along to consumers. Reagan was a successful president because he benefited from having a large portion of "the greatest generation" still in the workforce and investment community. These were people willing to personally sacrifice for the good of the country. When he asked for something, they did it. Bill Clinton benefited from the dot com boom. It was a manifest destiny in cyberspace offering a whole new world of money making opportunities.
Bush and Obama had none of these things.

Continued:
Bush had 9-11 and Katrina. Obama had the collapse of the western economy. And it's fair to say they were both made to pay a huge price from actions of their predecessors. The terrorist problems gained a foothold because of Carters well intentioned but disasterous foreign policies festering for decades and producing terrorist nations funded by oil revenues. Reagan deregulated some of the safeguards that allowed our economy to expand on empty paper.
It's not the time to blame, it's time to be Americans united in one cause, to make our country last for other generations. Obama tried to fix the country, it didn't work. Romney wants to try, and if he can't do it, he will be out too. Name calling and derision isn't going to help. Now is the time to work together. You would be surprised how open people are to new ideas like the Affordable Care Act or Gay marriage when they have a good paying job and a decent house and cars, etc. All people push back when pushed down.

Yes, Chris, it is time for Americans to be united. ALL Americans.

You may not believe on trickle down economics, but history shows it works. The game is rigged from government mandating benefits in health insurance policies making premium more expensive, government eliminating underwriting guidelines for mortgage applications and buying back bad loans then repackaging them, government investing in empty shell energy companies like Solyndra (there's probably 25 to 30 of em) only to have the them all go bankrupt, government forcing people with only one choice to send their kids to school, government spending taxpayer money then printing it for future generations to pay back. Face it, Obama wants force outcomes not opportunity, and the result is that everyone loses.

Sully is correct. We are all Americans. It's of no use to beat up your seat mate over some past transgressions if you're both on the Titanic.
There is no way to legislate morality. There will always be those who succumb to greed. Unlike the working class, the wealthy are not stuck here. If you penalize them for success, they will leave. This is happening now as evidenced by the expatriate taxes and increasing net worth requirements for citizenship being proposed for new residents in various offshore havens.
As a victim of pure greed and government complacency and complicity (I live in Sunset Village) no one would like to see forced ethics more than us, but it's just not possible. The solution is to generate jobs and financial stability so that people like me can have a decent income and avoid being financially trapped. There will always be scumbags that prey on the weak. The promulgation of cruel, soul deprived business leaders owes its existence to removing religion from everyday life. Gods actual existence isn't as important as learning to believe that you will be judged based on your deeds. Show me someone who's willing to do harm to a fellow human being just to make a better profit and I'll show you someone with no soul. Do not mistake the teaching of profits with the lessons of Prophets and you will live a much happier life.

it is very said that people do not see how this President has successfully divided the nation. Anyone whose motto is wealth distribution is not an ideological American but a communist. I have lived in Eastern Europe till 1977 and can smell a 'rat' from a distance. I love this country where I live now and hate to see what is happening to it. If this president is re-elected it might be the end of America as we know it ( as in Mayan 2012 end of the world).
.

I don't know if another four years of Obama will end the world, but I have learned to appreciate the warnings from people who emigrated here from Soviet block countries who say this is exactly how communism starts. Little by little peoples choices and freedoms are eroded in the name of social equality and in the noble process, the government eventually controls water, food, fuel and housing and then you are enslaved. And it takes a lot of pain, suffering and time to break those chains once shackled.
I'll take my chances with a government that regulates private ownership of those things while owning none of it themselves.

We need a thread on the insolvency of Illinois and how we went from the 3rd wealthiest state in 1911 to the countries, well, like I said we're broke. Can't pay our bills, can't pay our pensions, Cook county, Chicago, Illinois rate last or the poorest in every indicator of the quality of life.

Democrats are stupid and the politicians know it. They pander to the lowest common denominator because those morons vote democrat no matter what.

If I had ever considered voting for Romney (never in a million years!, his choice of Ryan ensured that I would never do such an asinine thing! Two peas in a pod wanting nothing more than the rich to get richer and the poor get poorer. Ugh! Neither has a clue except for their self-serving ideologies.

If the predecessor nincompoop was so smart with his administration and his policies, why was he NOT INVITED to speak at the convention or was he not happy with Romney's seat assignment ?

Last I looked, the US Federal Budget took on the costs of two wars, created a new cabinet level department - Homeland Security, and created the single largest new entitlement program - the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan...while cutting taxes - TWICE - all passed by a Republcion House, a Republicon Senate and signed into law by Geroge W. Bush.

And now that we have to pay for it, youse people want to blame the Democrats and President Obama? You serriously are missing who the real culprits for what you are complaining about.

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