Election 2012

[Sheldonrs]

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

Now Griff, Mitt understands that people don't like him, but his wife, Ann, is very likable.
He sends her out to "explain" to us the some of the more difficult aspects the campaign.

On Thursday morning's ABC Good Morning America,
Ann Romney explained her and her husband's refusal to make their
tax returns public for any other years than 2010 and 2011, by saying:

And nothing endears someone to me quite like when they refer to us as "You people". lol

[classicman]

Wasn't referring to you - "You people" = the press.

[BigV]

Originally Posted by Sheldonrs

And nothing endears someone to me quite like when they refer to us as "You people". lol

Originally Posted by classicman

Wasn't referring to you - "You people" = the press.

I don't agree.

I heard her say it on GMA and it absolutely snagged my ear just the way Sheldon described it. She *may* have been intending the grammar of her sentence to refer to the reporter she was having a conversation with. But.... She then goes on to talk about that information being all that's needed to know and understand and how that will affect the election. Who the hell decides the election?? Not the reporters--the electorate. We/"you people", the voters.

We've given all [that] you people need to know and understand about our financial situation and about how we live our life, and so the election will not be decided on that. It will be decided on who will turn the economy around, and how will jobs come back to America.

She made a gaffe only insofar as she candidly revealed her point of view about the voters. It's on par with Mitt's revelation about his position on corporate personhood. There's no overlap between his universe and my universe. And he keeps reinforcing that. And that ignorance alienates him from my political affections. Too bad for him.

Cause if you insist on reading it the other way, she's suggesting that the reporters decide the election. Just as insulting and twice as stupid. Do you really think that's it?

[classicman]

Griff, yep pretty much. If the R's had as charismatic an option as Obama, I'm not sure this would even be close.
I still believe that O wins in a landslide unless something drastic happens between now and November.

[DanaC]

It's a while since I witnessed a politician so unable to muster anything approaching the 'common touch'. And that's from someone whose leading politicians attended Eton and Oxford and are directly descended from aristocratic royal servants and courtiers.

[DanaC]

This seems appropriate:

From five years ago, when the tories were in opposition and David Cameron was courting the ordinary voter:

[Clodfobble]

You people = Liberals, in this case. Because we've long stopped pretending to believe that reporters are objective in any way. It's my side vs. your side, and the reporter's questions will always make it clear which side he's on. She's only dismissing half the electorate, not all of it.

[Lamplighter]

Doesn't that eliminate everyone in entire State of Texas ?

We left in 1963, and I think we were the last liberals in the state

[Clodfobble]

Nah, there's still Austin.

[BigV]

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

Doesn't that eliminate everyone in entire State of Texas ?

We left in 1963, and I think we were the last liberals in the state

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

Nah, there's still Austin.

...huh... that's weird.

[Lamplighter]

All politicians in Texas run on the slogan: "I'm more conservative than he is."

UT - The only bastion of liberals (?) in Texas, and
the only song the band plays is "The Eyes of Texas"

[classicman]

Sorry I got here late. I'll take option C - What Clod said.
I'm rather certain she did NOT mean the voters.

[Lamplighter]

I'm uncertain what it takes to makes Classic "certain"

But here is the ABC interview... her remark comes at 2:08 min... judge for yourself.

But listen to what else she says in the interview
... making more tax returns public would just lead to more questions and/or attacks...
Then she's back to broad generalities.

But what is the specific plan that Mitt Romney has that will
create all those jobs this country needs so much faster than Obama?

[classicman]

She *may* have been intending the grammar of her sentence to refer to the reporter
she was having a conversation with.

It is very clear to me that is exactly the case. In fact, just before that:

Mrs. Romney: "When he was Governor of Massachusetts - didn't take a salary for four years."

Reporter: "Why not show that then?"

Mrs. Romney: “And you just want to give more material for more attack. And that’s really -
that’s just the answer.”

Who was the word "you referring to in this instance? To the interviewer(representing the media.)
Same as a few seconds later when the "you people" comment was made.

I stand by my impression. Would I prefer he made his tax returns public? Meh, why not.
I cannot say that has ever been an issue with which candidate I voted for though.
I think they will show he is a Billionaire at worst. They will however offer more fuel to the fire of the
"Out of touch rich guy mantra" which is a cornerstone of the Obama campaign.
The election should be about jobs & the economy, not how wealthy a candidate is or isn't and
certainly NOT about their tax returns. YMMV.

[BigV]

Originally Posted by classicman

snip--

"Out of touch rich guy mantra" which is a cornerstone of the Obama campaign.

The election should be about jobs & the economy, not how wealthy a candidate is or isn't and certainly NOT about their tax returns. YMMV.

Ok, let's talk about this point. Wealthy? Whatever. But he touts his wealth (I have friends who own NASCAR/Pro Football teams, only the two Cadillacs, let's wager $10,000, etc etc etc) as abundant and irrefutable evidence of his skill as a businessman. Ok, mad fucking skills, skyhighstacks of skillz, yo.

The thing is, our government isn't a business. It's very very different from business. The skills he has in business, I think some will apply, but lots will not and most especially his talent for making profit, the very reason for existence for a business.

What is profit in government? It's practically a non sequitur. The measures of success in business don't apply in government. The tools that work in business don't apply in government. I don't want my government run like a business.

Now before you pop a vessel straining to disagree with me, I know that there are actions and ideals contribute to success in both realms. But he doesn't talk about his ability to lead by inspiring those around him, he talks about how he loves to fire people. He's king of making profit. He's got lots of friends who are business owners. How will those qualities make him a good president?

He's been governor of Massachusetts. That is a real qualification. But he's *running from* that, sadly, especially because of the "albatross" of "RomneyCare". Really sad. Being President is hard. Practically no one has any experience at it, only presidents, eh? Other chief executives. I don't get any whiff of megalomania coming from Romney, thankfully. I think he's sincere. I just strongly disagree with is positions about the primacy of businesses.

I don't want my government run like a business. Done well, that would be a catastrophe.