Democratic National Convention 2012

[Conan71]

Only in bizarro-world where Obama is a Kenyan Muslim Socialist. Out here in the real world, they're pretty much the same. The only major difference is regarding bank regulation, which Clinton also "came to Jesus" about after they melted down and took our economy with them.

Clinton and Obama differed on allowing certain tax cuts to expire and their impact on the economy.  Clinton never framed tax increases as a penalty on the rich who were not paying their fair share.  He also backed away from a massive overhaul of the health insurance industry. 

Clinton understood how to build confidence with the job creators.  He also was fortunate enough to preside over an economy which exploded with all sorts of new developments in communications, computing, e-commerce, bio-tech, as well as an unprecedented orgy of commercial and consumer debt which accompanied all this growth.  Of course, like anything else, American's don't know to stop eating when they are full. 

[nathanm]

The only tax cut that has expired under Obama's watch (so far) is one of the temporary payroll tax cuts. That's right, you and I have been subject to the only tax increase on individuals to this point. He wanted to extend it, but the House refused. Clinton did not back away from health care reform voluntarily. Only after the Republicans won the House in 1994 was it dropped. The irony is that all the hateful rhetoric spewed toward RomneyCare would be far more applicable to HillaryCare, which actually did take away choice and force people into HMO-style care.

As far as Clinton's tax rhetoric, here's a headline from 02/14/1993: Clinton says corporations, rich will pay fair share

And just to make it really clear, here's a direct quote from 06/23/1992, during the campaign: "We have to ask the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share again"

[guido911]

Jake Tapper is tweeting that the dems put, gulp, "God" and Jerusalem back in the platform. RM's head is exploding somewhere right now.

[Teatownclown]

Jake Tapper is tweeting that the dems put, gulp, "God" and Jerusalem back in the platform. RM's head is exploding somewhere right now.

Looks like they're being pressured. http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/09/05/796891/gop-suggests-democrats-are-hostile-to-god-ignore-lengthy-passage-on-faith-in-platform/

Can't turn on the "backbone" when the clergy calls.

I thought he died....was it Falwell? Crazies....

[erfalf]

I agree the whole God thing is a bit of a ruse. In general I don't like it when it is invoked. I think if one were to really look at what the founders intended (because I think some were atheists, maybe?) when they mention rights endowed by God, I think the point they were trying to make was that some rights are given by something greater than man. Be it God, nature, whatever. There are some rights that no man can take from you. And look what happens when they try. Civil Wars.

Doubtful I will hear anything like this at the DNC (or the RNC for that matter) ever.

[RecycleMichael]

Jake Tapper is tweeting that the dems put, gulp, "God" and Jerusalem back in the platform. RM's head is exploding somewhere right now.

Not exactly exploding, but shaking.

I should have guessed that putting God back into the platform is the safe thing to do.

[TulsaRufnex]

Huh....

Given the new picture under his name, and the above post, I can only surmise that Gaspar has been kidnapped and a doppleganger has replaced him.  Or he is stoned out of his mind, and I want some of what he has been smokin'....  (either barbeque OR the other stuff.)

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH OUR GASPAR???!!!!   WE WANT HIM BACK NOW!!!


Have ransom demands been made yet??

I'm sure Gas still thinks Michelle secretly hates America.

It was typical partisan snarkasm.   

[TulsaRufnex]

I personally liked San Antonio mayor Julian Castro.  Obviously, he's being groomed for bigger and better things much like Clinton's debut at the '88 convention and Obama's at the '04 convention.  He said one thing when he was being interviewed that I'm surprised the Obama campaign didn't find as an obvious 2012 campaign slogan: "Change takes time".

This segment was painful to watch.  How much longer will they allow this babbling idiot to be the voice of the DNC:

I like her.  She does her job, which is to piss off partisan hacks.   

[nathanm]

(because I think some were atheists, maybe?)

Deists. Basically they (well, many of them, including Washington and Jefferson) believed in a creator, but one of the non-interventionist sort. They believed something created us all, but that praying to them isn't going to make a lick of difference.

[TulsaRufnex]

Clinton and Obama differed on allowing certain tax cuts to expire and their impact on the economy.  Clinton never framed tax increases as a penalty on the rich who were not paying their fair share.  He also backed away from a massive overhaul of the health insurance industry. 

Clinton understood how to build confidence with the job creators.  He also was fortunate enough to preside over an economy which exploded with all sorts of new developments in communications, computing, e-commerce, bio-tech, as well as an unprecedented orgy of commercial and consumer debt which accompanied all this growth.  Of course, like anything else, American's don't know to stop eating when they are full. 

Ummm.  Taxes were higher under Clinton.
Clinton never framed tax increases as a penalty on the rich?  Coulda fooled me.
I distinctly remember Bill Clinton campaigning on taxing the people who benefitted the most in the go-go insider trading 80s.... the rich.
Of course, that was back in the days before Republicans and conservatives shoved the "job creator" meme down our throats...

http://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/31/us/the-1992-campaign-taxes-clinton-promises-to-protect-middle-class-on-taxes.html

Mr. Clinton has proposed raising the top tax bracket to 36 percent from 31 percent on family incomes over $200,000 a year and single people's incomes over $150,000. He would give a small tax reduction to families he describes as middle income: those with incomes below $80,000. Families with incomes between $80,000 and $200,000 would not have their taxes changed, according to the Clinton staff.

Oh wait.  When Obama says it, it's class warfare.  When Bill Clinton said it, you remember it fondly, wearing rose-colored glasses... and when Tom Coburn admits it, you admire his honesty.  http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/01/opinion/coburn-welfare-to-wealthy/index.html

I'll support tax cuts for "job-creators" in exchange for a salary cap.   

[Conan71]

Ummm.  Taxes were higher under Clinton.
Clinton never framed tax increases as a penalty on the rich?  Coulda fooled me.
I distinctly remember Bill Clinton campaigning on taxing the people who benefitted the most in the go-go insider trading 80s.... the rich.
Of course, that was back in the days before Republicans and conservatives shoved the "job creator" meme down our throats...

http://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/31/us/the-1992-campaign-taxes-clinton-promises-to-protect-middle-class-on-taxes.html

Oh wait.  When Obama says it, it's class warfare.  When Bill Clinton said it, you remember it fondly, wearing rose-colored glasses... and when Tom Coburn admits it, you admire his honesty.  http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/01/opinion/coburn-welfare-to-wealthy/index.html

I'll support tax cuts for "job-creators" in exchange for a salary cap.   

Actually Magnus Ronaldo coined it first so we can say Clinton and Obama copied it.

I did mention taxes were higher under Clinton.  Those were different economic times with a huge boom looming.  You don't bludgeon the wealthy in uncertain economic times.  Clinton knows that and said as much

[nathanm]

I did mention taxes were higher under Clinton.  Those were different economic times with a huge boom looming.  You don't bludgeon the wealthy in uncertain economic times.  Clinton knows that and said as much

If folks were so certain of an impending recovery, why did HW lose to "It's the economy, stupid?"

[Hoss]

If folks were so certain of an impending recovery, why did HW lose to "It's the economy, stupid?"

I'm guessing a lot of it was due to the 'read my lips' speech...

[nathanm]

Clinton's speech:

http://www.c-span.org/DNC/Events/Former-President-Bill-Clinton-at-the-2012-Democratic-National-Convention/C3779974/

[Red Arrow]

Clinton's speech:

http://www.c-span.org/DNC/Events/Former-President-Bill-Clinton-at-the-2012-Democratic-National-Convention/C3779974/

Watched it live.  He's still an excellent speaker.