Mitt Romney

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Sunday Link-Off: The Blame Game

Well, this will be interesting. Getting featured on Freshly Pressed brought in many new readers who are probably expecting something a bit more political and well thought out. They’ve probably figured out that we only do the long read thing as more of an occasional thing than daily thing. Anyway, if you’re new to the blog, when I do linkdumps, I try to feature Canadians. For example, today’s linkdump starts with Canadian model Michea Crawford.

Mitt Romney called his donors in a post-campaign debrief. Why does he think he lost the election? Obama handed out “gifts” to the youth and minorities. In other words, he blames 47% of Americans again. (Los Angeles Times)

While executives at the now closed Hostess Brands blamed the union for driving them out of business, they might need to look at the mirror. This year, the increased executive pay by 80% while tripling the CEOs pay. (Think Progress)

Fox News president Roger Ailes says that the media isn’t doing a good enough job of ensuring that President Obama is held accountable for his decisions. He says the press is supposed to watch the powerful. However, his track record doesn’t show that he held the Bush administration accountable. (Gawker)

After the jump, where the GOP have been losing votes, sports on South Park and the Princess Bride on ESPN. Continue reading →

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Thursday Link-Off: Four More Years!

We’ve come in a day late with the mid-week links so we could bring you election coverage. Wednesday was a great morning for America. Republican supporters can complain about the outcome but they only have the Tea Party to blame. They force Romney off his moderate base to the neoconservative fringe. If he stuck to what was his core as the governor of Massachusetts  he’s have been in with a shot. Anyway, since America did the right thing on Tuesday, here’s Obama supporter Katy Perry. This campaign pretty much made her any sane man’s dream woman.

The results of the election aren’t indicative of a divide by race or gender or even political beliefs. It’s really illustrative of a divide along age. (Globe & Mail)

Over the course of the day, one of the more intriguing subplots was the embarrassing state of the actual voting process. If there’s one reason the world laughed at America, it’s because the country that invaded Iraq to impose democracy doesn’t have it right itself. (CNN)

Now that President Obama has been reelected, people are going to talk about his place in history. Perhaps, though, his place has already been cemented even without a cornerstone piece of legislation to be his legacy piece. (Esquire)

After the jump, more election coverage including Nate Silver winning election night, where the GOP went wrong, a media round-up from the big day and more. Continue reading →

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Sunday Link-Off: It All Comes Down To Tuesday

Before we get to the links, I have a quick programming note. The Wednesday Link-Off will be pushed back to Thursday so we can link to election analysis that isn’t written at 2 AM on November 7. Today, though, the show goes on as usual. So lets kick this off with Canadian model Danielle Knudson.

Rather than look at the usual polls or Nate Silver’s 538 summary, let’s look at a useful poll. Here’s a poll about polls and what voters think about other people’s votes. (Upworthy)

Can you make Mitt Romney’s tax plan add up? All you have to do is solve the $480 billion gap to make is all balance. (Washington Post)

Are you up to date on all the Obama conspiracy theories? Read through them, have a laugh and remember that voting Republican is a vote for people who think that these theories are true. (Mother Jones)

After the jump, election endorsements, a food critic’s take on Guy Fieri’s new restaurant and what Republican leaders really think about Mitt Romney. Continue reading →

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Wednesday Link-Off: Happy Halloween

It’s the middle of the week and we’re less than a week from the Presidential Election. But today’s Halloween so we’ll get through that first. Let’s kick off with Candice Swanepoel dressed as a stewardess. If only all airline stewardesses looked like that… I mean, apart from the ones on Virgin Airlines.

The New York Times editorial board has endorsed Barack Obama as the best choice for President of the United States. If the biggest newspaper in America endorses him, that should tell you something. (New York Times)

Mitt Romney says he cancelled his campaign rallies to hold Hurricane Sandy fundraisers. It sure seems as though they’re treating them as campaign rallies. (Daily Kos)

The Romney campaign team is dispatching a team of poll watchers to Wisconsin. However, the voting info they gave them for Wisconsin is largely false and written to suppress voting. (Think Progress)

After the jump, Romney and Sandy, some special Halloween polling and the greatest horror movie quotes. Continue reading →

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The Politics of Failure: Of Memes, Misinformation and Mudslinging

This year’s US Presidential election has seldom been about what has been best for America and its people. This election isn’t about whether President Barack Obama or challenger Mitt Romney’s vision for America will be better for the country going forward. It’s largely been a referendum on whether people like President Obama or if they want any alternative that is provided.

As a result, very little of this election has been about the issues. The majority of campaigning is about why the opposing candidate is worse for the Presidency and America. Discourse in this election has come to a virtual standstill as neither side attempts to engage the other over issues. It’s all parroting talking points and slinging mud at anyone who does not agree with you. Continue reading →

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Sunday Link-Off: Millions of Dollars, Millions of Lies

Just to show how up-to-date we are, we have links about the last debate the day before the next Presidential election debate. But before we get to the links, making an all too rare appearance on the blog, here’s Alessandra Ambrosio who was selected to model this year’s multi-million dollar Victoria’s Secret bra. I wonder if Ann Romney owns any of those?

Like I said in my last linkdump, we’d have to wait for proper debate breakdowns. So let’s start with this analysis of Obama’s bounce-back performance in the second debate. (The Daily Beast)

Fact check time! In 41 minutes of talking, Mitt Romney lied 31 times which outpaced his lies per minute rate from the first debate. (Think Progress)

One of the big memes to come from the debate was Mitt Romney’s binders full of women. However, rather than becoming a meme, that statement should be used as a jumping off point for Romney’s apparent lack of interest in women’s issues like pay equity and women’s rights. (The Guardian)

After the jump, Romney’s profit from the auto bailout, photos from the Red Bull space jump and US presidential debates are a broken system. Continue reading →

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Wednesday Link-Off: Debate This

I know there was a presidential debate last night but the thorough analysis wasn’t out in time to make this post. I’m not staying up until the early hours of Eastern time to add the one or two links that isn’t just biased spin. If I wanted that, I’d watch Fox News. They’re so “fair and balanced” that they almost weren’t allowed the broadcast in Canada as a news channel. Anyway, we still have some news and politics links. But first, here’s Canadian actress Emmanuelle Chriqui.

Good news if you plan to rely on Medicare at some point during the next 20 years: Both candidates for President will spend about the same on it. Bad news if you plan to rely on Medicaid at some point over the next 20 years: The Romney/Ryan plan will pretty much bankrupt it. (Mother Jones)

Mitt Romney tries to come off as the business man who knows how to turn around the economy. There’s one problem. He’s never actually built a proper business from scratch, just bought, sold and stripped for parts. (Washington Post)

If you’re cynical about the whole political process, you might not be entirely in the wrong. Things might not change after this election and Congress would still accomplish nothing. (BuzzFeed)

After the jump, who is better at creating jobs, the NHL’s failed PR attempt and a Ghostbusters mashup. Continue reading →

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Greed isn’t Good: Why Supply-Side Economics Doesn’t Work

Despite his numerous gaffes, including but not limited to offending foreign allies, calling 47% of Americans freeloaders, suggesting that airplanes need windows that roll down and blaming Obama for the unrest in the Middle East that resulted in the death of Ambassador Christopher Stevens, Mitt Romney is still reasonably close to President Obama in the polls.

The main reason why Romney is still in the race (apart from bias of the electorate) is that he is being portrayed as the candidate with a plan for economic recovery. The problem I have with Romney’s economic plan is that there’s no detailed plan in place. However, we know the basic of the Romney plan. It will involve tax cuts for the rich and corporations and government spending cuts to balance the budget. This is called supply-side economics. Recent history shows that supply-side economics don’t work. Continue reading →

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Wednesday Link-Off: Roll Up Your Windows

If you hate my political coverage, you’ll hate my Friday column in which I explain why supply-side economics doesn’t actually work and give you the evidence to back that claim up. Anyway, on with the show. Let’s start with the newly single Amy Poehler who’s making Will Arnett look like a fool for divorcing her.

Mitt Romney has the perfect replacement for Obamacare. Since emergency rooms have to provide care people who come in, they can just go to an emergency room if they need it. The irony is that was the same logic that led him to create Romneycare. (Gawker)

Romney is all about cutting back government subsidies but did you know that government subsidies were the only thing that gave him enough money to get the Salt Lake City Olympics to actually happen. (Deadspin)

One of the arguments for the high pay of corporate executives is that they have special skills and experience that entitles them to that pay. However, a new study shows that these skills are specialized to one company and circumstance so there really isn’t any demand for their services. (New York Times)

After the jump, Romney’s epic airplane window fail, a tutorial with Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Al Bundy and the original worst referee call ever. Continue reading →

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Sunday Link-Off: Very Taxing

You know, I’ve never quite figured out why I run the Sunday links at 8:00 AM. The only reason I’m up this early is to watch an F1 race, such as today’s Singapore Grand Prix which I’ll recap on Monday. Maybe next week, we’ll back the links up to 9:00 AM. Anyway, let’s start today off with Dutch model Bregje Heinen.

Fox News says bringing up something Romney said four months ago is unfair. However, it’s more than fair to bash Obama over something his said 14 years ago. That’s just one of the many reasons that Jon Stewart calls Fox News BULLSHIT MOUNTAIN! (Mediaite)

A 12-year-old boy penned a letter to Mitt Romney explaining to Mittens why his plans are horrible for America. A 12-year-old boy understands the basics of human decency but the Republican Party doesn’t. Says it all, doesn’t it? (Huffington Post)

Mitt Romney released his 2011 tax returns. There are still a bunch of things he’s not telling us about his finances, though. (Think Progress)

After the jump, the latest breakthrough in FTL travel, why you shouldn’t hate read and a special message from the West Wing. Continue reading →