"Well, I frankly wish that the last Congress (had) dealt with the stimulus issue and that the president could have signed that before leaving office. I think there is need for economic stimulus. Americans have lost about $11 trillion in net worth. That translates into about $400 billion a year less spending that they'll be doing…And government can help make that up in a very difficult time. And that's one of the reasons why I think a stimulus program is needed." -- Mitt Romney, when asked about then President-elect Obama’s $750 billion economic stimulus package during a January 4, 2009 interview with Wolf Blitzer.
“No time, nowhere, no how” -- Mitt Romney, when asked about the exact same stimulus package at a town hall meeting in Goffstown, New Hampshire on September 28, 2011
what eye thynk: So, apparently if the stimulus package had been passed by W. it would have been a good thing, but because it was passed by Obama, it is a bad thing?
Republican stimulus = good. Democratic stimulus = bad.
And THAT attitude--which the Republicans have carried over into every issue, no matter how small or how large--is exactly what has all but crippled this country for the past four years.
Note to the Republican Party: "Compromise" is not a dirty word; and "No" is not a plan.
Showing posts with label flip flop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label flip flop. Show all posts
Friday, September 7, 2012
Friday, August 24, 2012
Flip-flop Friday -- Romney on Coal (Clean Air is Good Only for Massachusetts?)
“That place kills people. I will not create jobs that kill people…If the choice is between dirty power plants or protecting the health of the people of Massachusetts, there is no choice in my mind. I will always come down on the side of public health.” -- 2003, Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts as he fought to close a coal powered electric plant in that state.
“We have 250 years left of coal. Why in the world wouldn’t we use it? We’re going to take advantage of our energy resources to save your jobs and...use our inexpensive carbon-based resources..." -- 2012, Mitt Romney as he campaigned in Beallsville, Ohio this past week.
what eye thynk: To address the jobs issue, according to industry statistics, jobs in the coal industry reached a 15 year high in 2011; but Mitt has never been one to let the facts get in the way of a good stump speech.
As for the environmental and health side of the coal argument, President Obama has introduced initiatives to develop cost-effective clean coal technology while the Recovery Act is invested in carbon capture research. I'm not sure that there will ever be a completely "clean" way to use coal; but at least this administration is addressing the problem while at the same time attempting to develop alternate technologies like wind, wave and solar power--new technologies that will create even more new jobs.
Mitt Romney, on the other hand, wants to leave things just the way they are. Why waste all that coal? Sure, we're continuing to damage our fragile environment, (an issue agreed upon by most of the industrialized world); but, hey, using coal is inexpensive! And the thousands of lives lost each year that are attributed to air tainted by coal based pollutants? Well, those lives are just the price he's willing to pay.
When clean air was the popular choice in Massachusetts in 2003, he was staunchly on the opposite side of this issue. I guess we're supposed to believe that clean air is good only for Massachusetts, not the rest of America, (sort of like universal health care).
Of course, the real issue here is not coal vs. solar or natural gas or wind or whatever. The real issue isn't the truth about jobs gained or lost as the coal industry changes. It is simply the case of a man pandering for votes; a man who will jump the track on any issue as long as you let him know when and where.
“We have 250 years left of coal. Why in the world wouldn’t we use it? We’re going to take advantage of our energy resources to save your jobs and...use our inexpensive carbon-based resources..." -- 2012, Mitt Romney as he campaigned in Beallsville, Ohio this past week.
what eye thynk: To address the jobs issue, according to industry statistics, jobs in the coal industry reached a 15 year high in 2011; but Mitt has never been one to let the facts get in the way of a good stump speech.
As for the environmental and health side of the coal argument, President Obama has introduced initiatives to develop cost-effective clean coal technology while the Recovery Act is invested in carbon capture research. I'm not sure that there will ever be a completely "clean" way to use coal; but at least this administration is addressing the problem while at the same time attempting to develop alternate technologies like wind, wave and solar power--new technologies that will create even more new jobs.
Mitt Romney, on the other hand, wants to leave things just the way they are. Why waste all that coal? Sure, we're continuing to damage our fragile environment, (an issue agreed upon by most of the industrialized world); but, hey, using coal is inexpensive! And the thousands of lives lost each year that are attributed to air tainted by coal based pollutants? Well, those lives are just the price he's willing to pay.
When clean air was the popular choice in Massachusetts in 2003, he was staunchly on the opposite side of this issue. I guess we're supposed to believe that clean air is good only for Massachusetts, not the rest of America, (sort of like universal health care).
Of course, the real issue here is not coal vs. solar or natural gas or wind or whatever. The real issue isn't the truth about jobs gained or lost as the coal industry changes. It is simply the case of a man pandering for votes; a man who will jump the track on any issue as long as you let him know when and where.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Flip-flop Friday - Romney on Abortion
“I will preserve and protect a woman’s right to choose and am devoted and dedicated to honoring my word in that regard.” -- 2002, Mitt Romney at a debate during his campaign for governor of Massachusetts. That same year, Mr. Romney signed a pledge for Planned Parenthood of Massachusetts declaring his support for "the substance of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade".
“I am fighting for an overturning of Roe v. Wade.” -- 2008, during an interview with Tim Russert.
“Today marks the 39th anniversary of one of the darkest moments in Supreme Court history, when the court in Roe v. Wade claimed authority over the fundamental question regarding the rights of the unborn. Since that day, the pro-life movement has been working tirelessly in an effort to change hearts and minds and protect the weakest and most vulnerable among us. Today, we recommit ourselves to reversing that decision…” -- 2012, statement issued by Mr. Romney during his current campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.
what eye thynk: Yesterday he was “devoted and dedicated to honoring”. Today he says "we recommit ourselves to reversing”. Tomorrow?
Merriam-Webster’s dictionary says it better than I can...
Meet Mr. Romney, the most expediently facile chameleon ever to take the American political stage.
I believe every woman has a right to decide what happens to her body. Personally, I don't know what I would choose to do if faced with an unwanted pregnancy; but that doesn't mean I would condemn you if you chose differently. Roe v. Wade doesn’t force any woman to have an abortion; it simply gives every woman the right to make her own life choices. And they should be YOUR life choices--not mine, not your neighbor's, not Mr. Romney’s.
No matter where you stand on Roe v. Wade, you will want to elect someone who stands with you and who will still be standing with you next year. If you choose to stand with Romney, make sure you are wearing comfortable walking shoes and watch him closely--he could change color at any time.
“I am fighting for an overturning of Roe v. Wade.” -- 2008, during an interview with Tim Russert.
“Today marks the 39th anniversary of one of the darkest moments in Supreme Court history, when the court in Roe v. Wade claimed authority over the fundamental question regarding the rights of the unborn. Since that day, the pro-life movement has been working tirelessly in an effort to change hearts and minds and protect the weakest and most vulnerable among us. Today, we recommit ourselves to reversing that decision…” -- 2012, statement issued by Mr. Romney during his current campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.
what eye thynk: Yesterday he was “devoted and dedicated to honoring”. Today he says "we recommit ourselves to reversing”. Tomorrow?
Merriam-Webster’s dictionary says it better than I can...
- chameleon - a person given to often expedient or facile change in ideas or character
- expedient - suitable for achieving a particular end, especially governed by self-interest
- facile - easily accomplished, shallow, often lacking in sincerity or depth
Meet Mr. Romney, the most expediently facile chameleon ever to take the American political stage.
I believe every woman has a right to decide what happens to her body. Personally, I don't know what I would choose to do if faced with an unwanted pregnancy; but that doesn't mean I would condemn you if you chose differently. Roe v. Wade doesn’t force any woman to have an abortion; it simply gives every woman the right to make her own life choices. And they should be YOUR life choices--not mine, not your neighbor's, not Mr. Romney’s.
No matter where you stand on Roe v. Wade, you will want to elect someone who stands with you and who will still be standing with you next year. If you choose to stand with Romney, make sure you are wearing comfortable walking shoes and watch him closely--he could change color at any time.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Flip-flop Friday - Romney on Gay Rights and Marriage Equality
“As we seek to establish full equality for America’s gay and lesbian citizens, I will provide more effective leadership than my opponent.” -- 1994, in a letter from Mitt Romney to the gay rights group Log Cabin Club, written during his run for the U.S. Senate.
“Marriage is an institution between a man and a woman. I will support an amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution to make that expressly clear.”-- 2003 as governor of Massachusetts after that state’s Supreme Judicial Court issued a ruling that denial of marriage to same sex couples was not legal. Gov. Romney continued to fight their decision until 2007 when his one term as governor ended.
“I would, unlike this president, defend the Defense of Marriage Act. I would also propose and promote once again an amendment to the (U.S.) constitution to define marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman.” -- 2012, Mitt Romney speaking to the Faith and Freedom Coalition.
what eye thynk: So, when Romney wanted to be a U.S. Senator from historically liberal Massachusetts, he was for equal rights for the LGTB community. By the time he became governor of Massachusetts, and no longer needed their support, he was against it.
Now, he would like to change our U.S. Constitution to reflect his current prejudices, turning every gay, lesbian, transgender and bi-sexual American into a second class citizen. But, stick around, this is only July. Mitt has plenty of time to find another view to embrace on this issue.
If God has a sense of humor, we’ll find out that Sheldon Adelson is secretly gay and wants to marry one of the Koch brothers. Then we can all watch Mitt spin in circles as he tries to retain access to all that Adelson-Koch money while attempting to convince the far right that he is still one of them.
FLIP --“Look at my record. I’ve been best-buds with members of the Log Cabin Club since 1994!”
FLOP -- “But I privately pitied them and only became friendly so I could help them pray away the gay!”
FLIP -- “Look at my record again. I even asked Richard Grenell, an openly gay man, to be my campaign advisor on foreign affairs. No, wait, my conservative patrons didn’t like him and he was forced to quit before he really started. Sorry. Forget that one. My bad.”
FLOP --“You see, I cleansed my campaign of all that nasty gay influence when you asked me to! (And I want you to know that Sheldon is, in reality, a woman. He has just been pretending to be a man because of a secret Russian plot to kidnap him and turn him into a prostitute at one of his own Macau casinos. So, you see, that Adelson-Koch marriage is really okay. And, besides, they‘re both really rich, and the rich are the BEST!)”
If God were fair, He would guarantee that every family included at least one gay member so all straight people could see that being gay is just a different way of being human. Unfortunately, God, and life, aren't fair. It is up to us to ensure that equality is equal. Stopping Mitt is one way to continue the fight.
“Marriage is an institution between a man and a woman. I will support an amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution to make that expressly clear.”-- 2003 as governor of Massachusetts after that state’s Supreme Judicial Court issued a ruling that denial of marriage to same sex couples was not legal. Gov. Romney continued to fight their decision until 2007 when his one term as governor ended.
“I would, unlike this president, defend the Defense of Marriage Act. I would also propose and promote once again an amendment to the (U.S.) constitution to define marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman.” -- 2012, Mitt Romney speaking to the Faith and Freedom Coalition.
what eye thynk: So, when Romney wanted to be a U.S. Senator from historically liberal Massachusetts, he was for equal rights for the LGTB community. By the time he became governor of Massachusetts, and no longer needed their support, he was against it.
Now, he would like to change our U.S. Constitution to reflect his current prejudices, turning every gay, lesbian, transgender and bi-sexual American into a second class citizen. But, stick around, this is only July. Mitt has plenty of time to find another view to embrace on this issue.
If God has a sense of humor, we’ll find out that Sheldon Adelson is secretly gay and wants to marry one of the Koch brothers. Then we can all watch Mitt spin in circles as he tries to retain access to all that Adelson-Koch money while attempting to convince the far right that he is still one of them.
FLIP --“Look at my record. I’ve been best-buds with members of the Log Cabin Club since 1994!”
FLOP -- “But I privately pitied them and only became friendly so I could help them pray away the gay!”
FLIP -- “Look at my record again. I even asked Richard Grenell, an openly gay man, to be my campaign advisor on foreign affairs. No, wait, my conservative patrons didn’t like him and he was forced to quit before he really started. Sorry. Forget that one. My bad.”
FLOP --“You see, I cleansed my campaign of all that nasty gay influence when you asked me to! (And I want you to know that Sheldon is, in reality, a woman. He has just been pretending to be a man because of a secret Russian plot to kidnap him and turn him into a prostitute at one of his own Macau casinos. So, you see, that Adelson-Koch marriage is really okay. And, besides, they‘re both really rich, and the rich are the BEST!)”
If God were fair, He would guarantee that every family included at least one gay member so all straight people could see that being gay is just a different way of being human. Unfortunately, God, and life, aren't fair. It is up to us to ensure that equality is equal. Stopping Mitt is one way to continue the fight.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Flip-flop Friday - Romney on the ACA Mandate
In an interview on MSNBC last Monday, Eric Fehrnstrom, Romney’s senior campaign advisor stated that Mr. Romney “disagrees with the court’s ruling that the mandate (is) a tax”.
On Wednesday, just two days later in a CBS interview, Mr. Romney said “The majority of the court said it’s a tax, therefore it’s a tax. They have spoken. There’s no way around that.”
During the same interview he was asked to compare the ACA mandate with his Massachusetts Health Care Law mandate. He replied, “At the state level, states have the power to put in place mandates. They don't need to require them to be called taxes in order for them to be constitutional, and as a result, Massachusetts' mandate was a mandate, was a penalty, was described that way by the Legislature and by me, and so it stays as it was."
what eye thynk: So the ACA mandate is not a tax…no, wait, yes it is…except in Massachusetts where it isn’t!?
My God, he’s starting to sound like Sarah Palin!
Mr. Romney stood up to his conservative handlers for two whole days before caving in to their opinion. Can he possibly make it any clearer that he is willing to say and do whatever his conservative puppet masters tell him to say and do?
We need a man in the White House who is capable of standing and thinking on his own, not a marionette who can be maneuvered at will by anyone with enough money to buy access to his strings.
Does anyone really think he will suddenly grow a back-bone and act like a leader if he does win the White House? W. was ruled by Cheney and Rumsfeld and look where that got us.
Stand up for yourself, Mitt! It's starting to be embarrassing!
(And, yes, I know today is not Friday, but I like the alliteration. I have a whole collection of Romney flip-flops so check back next week when I’ll share another one…on Friday…really.)
On Wednesday, just two days later in a CBS interview, Mr. Romney said “The majority of the court said it’s a tax, therefore it’s a tax. They have spoken. There’s no way around that.”
During the same interview he was asked to compare the ACA mandate with his Massachusetts Health Care Law mandate. He replied, “At the state level, states have the power to put in place mandates. They don't need to require them to be called taxes in order for them to be constitutional, and as a result, Massachusetts' mandate was a mandate, was a penalty, was described that way by the Legislature and by me, and so it stays as it was."
what eye thynk: So the ACA mandate is not a tax…no, wait, yes it is…except in Massachusetts where it isn’t!?
My God, he’s starting to sound like Sarah Palin!
Mr. Romney stood up to his conservative handlers for two whole days before caving in to their opinion. Can he possibly make it any clearer that he is willing to say and do whatever his conservative puppet masters tell him to say and do?
We need a man in the White House who is capable of standing and thinking on his own, not a marionette who can be maneuvered at will by anyone with enough money to buy access to his strings.
Does anyone really think he will suddenly grow a back-bone and act like a leader if he does win the White House? W. was ruled by Cheney and Rumsfeld and look where that got us.
Stand up for yourself, Mitt! It's starting to be embarrassing!
(And, yes, I know today is not Friday, but I like the alliteration. I have a whole collection of Romney flip-flops so check back next week when I’ll share another one…on Friday…really.)
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