Mitt Romney's (Lack of) Integrity

Ann Romney says that the Romney campaign will not be releasing any more tax returns because, the more they release, the more they get criticized. Really? If there is nothing wrong with them, nothing to hide, what is there to criticize?

The American people have a right to know what impact the Romney/Ryan tax plans will have on their own personal wealth. Even if they put all their funds in blind trusts, as usually happens, they both are very wealthy men, and a blind trust will not change that.

Are they going to look out for themselves, or the American people, as they claim?

The Obama campaign has challenged the Romney campaign, to release five years’ of income tax returns, which basically cover the period in which Mitt has been running for President, and that they will request no more after that. The Romney campaign has refused.

The Mittster says he has never paid less than 13 percent in “taxes”. Have you noticed that? He never says “income taxes”, it is always just “taxes”. Does that include sales tax? State tax? Taxes/fees on his money in the Cayman Islands? Hmmm…
Unfortunately, we have been here before with Mr. Romney.

When he decided to run for governor of Massachusetts, where there is a seven-year residency requirement to do so, he had just returned from a long stay in Utah, where he was running the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

People immediately questioned his residency, and there was an outcry to release his tax returns to prove that he had filed as a Massachusetts resident for seven straight years. He refused, and steadily maintained that he had filed in Massachusetts all those years. The Boston Globe even asked him to release his tax returns with all the monetary figures redacted, just showing his personal information, to confirm his residency claims.

He refused, again steadily claiming that he had filed in Massachusetts all those years.

Well, guess what? He was lying through his teeth, and had, in fact, filed as a Utah resident when he was living there, and his filing to run for Governor was done so in fraud. It finally all came out, and he was forced to go back and amend those returns to be in conformity with Massachusetts laws.

I am glad that the people of Massachusetts elected him, though, because they now have the best medical coverage in the nation under the very, very effective and solvent Romney Care, which, in turn, inspired the national Affordable Healthcare Act, also known as Obama Care.

But the fact is he was lying.

Just like he is lying now about Obama trying to limit the rights of military personnel to vote, when, in fact, he is trying to expand their opportunity.

Just like he is lying about Obama weakening Medicare, when, in fact, he has added almost a decade to Medicare’s solvency.

Just like he is lying about Obama reducing Medicare’s benefits, when, in fact, he has strengthened them, and even added to them.

Just like he is lying about Obama removing the work requirement from the Welfare laws.

Just like, in effect, he is lying about “Obama’s failed policies”, when he neglects to mention the record-setting number of filibusters that have occurred in the Senate over the last two years.

He was a liar then, and he is a liar now.

I guess the rules that God gave, by sending an angel to help “find” them, to Joseph Smith on those gold plates in Upstate NY in 1823 are different than those he gave to Moses on the stone tablets on Mount Sinai.

The 2^nd Amendment

The National Rifle Association is arguably the most powerful lobby in the nation.  They believe that the 2^nd Amendment is inviolable and absolute.

I often wonder where they get their self-righteous arrogance.

Any time they call me, I just start laughing.  The person on the other end pauses I explain to them that “Boy, did you call the WRONG house!”  They are actually pretty pleased with my reaction because, apparently, many of us on the Left yell at them.  

C’mon folks, that’s no way to win the argument.

I must say, though, that the next time my daughter’s boyfriend, Dylan, leaves his NRA hat on my kitchen table I am going to give it to Max as a chew toy, whether it was his grandfather’s hat or not.

This is exactly what the 2^nd Amendment says:

A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

It says “…well regulated…”  Doesn’t that mean there can be rules and restrictions?  It doesn’t say “the right to bear cannons”.

It also says “militia” and “State”, which is capitalized.  Can’t the argument be made that all the people who want to have the 2^nd Amendment applied to them be in each State’s respective National Guard?  Of course, we all know that’s not the case, and that any training they get takes place about as often as George Bush II’s Texas Air National Guard participation took place.

Then we have those idiots who claim that the 2^nd Amendment is designed to allow people to protect themselves from the Government.  Those are the same people who will look dumbfounded when you ask them who is buried in Grant’s tomb.

I used the term “self-righteous arrogance” for a reason.  They act like no other amendments have any restrictions on them.

The 1^st Amendment is first because it is the most important one.  What would that look like 

if we applied the NRA absolutism to the 1^st?

Here’s what is says: 

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

It would be ok to yell “Fire!” in a crowded theater, there would be no slander or libel laws, and God only knows what the anti-gay, anti-abortion, and anti-contraception people would do if they had no restrictions placed upon them.  Even some of the “mainstream” religions could not be trusted with unfettered religious freedom. 

I still think it’s an outrage that they cut the tip of a boy’s dick off before he’s old enough to make the decision for himself.  I am reminded that mine is missing every time I hear a golfer yell “Fore!”, although if my wife has any complaints, she hasn’t mentioned them to me.

Of course, other Amendments have had restrictions placed upon them as well.

Guns are dangerous, and I don’t care how many flags you wrap yourself in, some regulations and restrictions are needed.  Just ask the people in Colorado or the Sikh Temple.

Nobody needs an AK-47, especially something that is so easily converted to fully-automatic.

Trivia Question:  In the modern era, which state has had more people killed by handguns than vehicle accidents: a) Texas, b) Texas, c) Texas, d) Texas.  Unfortunately, other states have joined the cowpokes since then.

Recently, the NRA had their 15 minutes of fame in front of the Supreme Court and, of course, the five Stepford Justices agreed with them.  It’s very sad, because innocent people are going to die because of that decision.

I am not against guns, and I have a few guns myself- all registered, and all middle-of-the-road.  I had peace officer powers for 25 years, and both times we upgraded weapons, I bought the old one.  I also have a couple of shotguns and a rifle.  The good news is that, when the revolution comes, nobody is going to be able to say “Stupid Liberal, he brought a knife to a gunfight!”