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I finally broke down and watched my first Republican Presidential Primary Debate tonight. It was still a struggle to pay attention, despite my “political animal” tendencies. There were just too many flotsams and jetsams out there that needed to be weeded out to get the ball rolling a little quicker. I assure you, I would take a paring knife to that list if I were the grand GOP Puzzlemaker, instead of just some mouthy guy spouting my opinions on a lightly regarded stock blog.
The two biggest losers tonight had to be former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania Rick Santorum. Here’s the thing — could you even tell the two apart? Yeah, I know Rick is the Catholic firebrand and Pawlenty is the cool laconic Lutheran (or whatever they are in Minnesota), but physically they are very comparable, and charisma-wise, well…. I find myself wondering how Pawlenty ever got elected in Minnesota in the first place.
Did his dad own a department store chain, too??
With those two nobodies yanked, the next to go has to be Newt Gingrich. Smart, no question, but way too unlikeable. His negatives have to be up there with Hillary Clinton, and its all reflective of the smug know-it-all defensiveness that characterized his every delivery tonight. No, he’s gone, and please Lord, soon.
That leaves us with the ever entertaining pair of Ron Paul and Herman Cain, who, in a perfect world, would be named Benevolant Dictators of America, because you’re pretty damn sure neither of them would abuse the power. That said, neither are really ready for prime time, even as both of them gave some of the best answers of the night. I will never agree with Paul on a foreign policy basis, but I like his libertarian views on civil rights, etc. Herman Cain is just a whip smart bidnessman and you know he’s honest to a tee — perhaps too honest to be in politics, unfortunately.
That Huntsman creep I don’t even countenance. The guy worked for Obama for a couple of years and we’re supposed to hire him as Big O’s replacement? I’m figuring that dude must have shitte tonnes o’ green to burn, because I haven’t seen that much of a no-chance candidacy since the terminally morose Ralph Nadar ran for the Greens. Huntsman, you’re fired too.
That leaves us with the lovely Michele Bachman and der Mittster. Michele is lovely to look at, and I really respect her convictions, but there’s something about her that seems a little too frozen. Maybe it’s here eyelids? I dunno, but it’s odd how she speaks at the tv’s like she’s reading from an invisible teleprompter or something. I have to sadly conclude that if she weirds out a rock-ribbed conservative like me who supports much of her platform, she’s got less chance than even Sarah Palin in the general.
That leaves Mitt, whom, as you know, I’ve been cool on since he announced. I want to like Mitt, because I have some friends who would lay down their life for the guy, and these are not idealistic schoolgirls, but experienced deal guys I’m talking about. However, as you know, I just have a hard time getting around the whole Romneycare thing. Well, after tonight’s performance, I began to thaw a little bit on old Willard Mitt.
I thought he gave some really nice answers on many of the business and fiscal questions, and I really got the sense that his calm confidence (contrasted against Santorum’s near-mania at times, for example) really are a nice fit for the current state of malaise in which we find ourselves enmired.
So, for now, I’m feeling like I could pull the trigger for Mitt. But let’s see what Saturday brings, as I also have a soft spot in my heart for Texans and their way of doing things. Perry could be the one, as well.
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As The PPT members already know, I dumped a bunch of silver and gold today, but not by any means a portion more than 25% of my horde. The ones I saw as either ripe or annoying (IAG), I cut down first. I ended up selling anywhere from 1/3 to 2/3rds of my stashes in AG, ANV, IAG, EXK and NGD. I also got rid of all of the rest of my DGP and NUGT positions, just to take the leverage off. I sold no SLW or RGLD, but I may get rid of some of that tomorrow.
In the meantime, gold has taken a little air out, and silver along with her, but nothing extraordinary has occurred yet. I will be monitoring the situation through tomorrow afternoon and let you know what I’m thinking, if anything.
Best to you all.
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Thank you Senator!
Wow. For the first time ever, I agree with your political views 100%. I could not have described my opinions of what you just wrote.
What about Perry? I hear people in TX hate him.
Yeah, they hate him to the point where he got some 70% of the vote last time. Anyone who’s been in power that long is going to have his detractors.
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Just what we need, another wackjob Texan with a religious bent! Hell no!
That’s exactly what we need. IOW, a strong conservative who is the opposite of the Emperor.
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Two years ago he wanted to secede from the union. Now he wants to run the show? Psshaw.
A lot of us want to secede from a union run by the “George III” Dems.
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The problem is MItt is not a leader, he’s a panderer. Does anyone really know where his convictions lie?
I suppose you could always hope that his poorly-executed pandering only applies to getting elected, and he’ll lead once there. Not a risk I would like to take, though. Electing an actual leader would be preferable.
The Mittens biggest problem is that his business experience is as an IB … doesn’t Joe Sixpack blame the IB’s for the depression? Timing is everything.
Mitt and Obama are cut from the same cloth, funded and fully backed by the same central banking interests.
That’s the main reason I like Ron Paul. He’s not a mouthpiece for international bankers. In fact, he is the opposite.
Mitt is certainly a Wall Street guy, but again, I know his record from intimates, and he’s always scored highly on integrity and managment success with these guys. He’s also supposed to be one of the nicest guys in the deal world.
That’s all relative of course… but that said, the guys I know who know him well are pretty hard-assed and cynical, and they way they talk about the guy — it’s something akin to love for the man.
Definitely gives me something to think about.
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but doesn’t his, for lack of a better expression, “fakeness” and pandering make your stomach churn?
I don’t think he’s that “fake.” He’s a little stiff, but a lot of finance guys are. The dude’s an operator, man… he knows how to run a bidness.
Google his efforts in saving the Utah Olympics back in the day.
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i do get that unfortunately one has to say a lot of stupid and insincere shit to get elected (for the idiots out there, and there are a lot of them)….
Go Ron! (Paul, that is) . eff the rest of’em 8)
I gotta say, many of the gold & silver miners looks like they’re ready to break out on the charts, no matter if gold or silver has topped for a bit.
Ron’s the obvious choice. He’ll never land the position because the paid-for programming will tell the American public not to vote for him — a wasted vote. And as usual, the masses will believe it.
Ron’s 76 and very cranky.
He’s just totally unelectable. Sorry. We have Rand down here… keep an eye on him.
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Indued. Even little CGR daily chart looks good for a swing to the 50ma around 1.86.
Senator, I’m looking for around 1680 pog to start legging into dgp/ugl again, what’s your target?
That certainly looks like decent support, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw $1575 – $1625 either. Lots of support there.
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still waiting on the “Perry”….must be past Jakes bedtime
Say what?
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Katie Perry?
K.P.?….I’D never be heard from again…rest in piece
Jake, Nice synopsis. Political junkie that i am I was too tired to watch last night.
It was something of a bear, but the commercial breaks were actually helpful for discussion w. Mrs. Gint.
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some 90 odd years ago my grandparents arrived here from Ireland. Things must have been really bad to up and move like that. I don’t know if I’d pull that trigger, but I’m thinking about it in a very preliminary way.
We had a good run, but I’m facing facts; it’s the system stupid. They broke it.
Do I really need to wait around for the London-style flash mobs to come to a town near me?
I’m very optomistic, for me; not for US.
I Am The Highway: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy2ZUGc2mSs&feature=related
I’m also optimistic.
Jake,
Do you know of any trust vehicles, you can trust, for oil or natty? (comparable to PHYS)
PGH is a good one as far as Canuckistanian trusts. NRP is excellent long term, I believe, for coal.
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Coward. Stay and fight.
I will not be voting in this election, it seems.
Exactly. US presidential elections are absolutely fixed and rigged, without a doubt. Pretending otherwise is an exercise in pure fantasy.
I don’t know how you don’t do all you can to make sure Obama doesn’t get a second term. Seriously, the guy is a one man economic wrecking ball.
As predicted, I need not add. 😉
No way you can sit this one out, Cain, even if the candidate is Michigan J. Frog, and all he does is the topcoat and tails dance number — “Hello My Baby, Hello My Honey, Hello My Ragtime Gal.”
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I’d rather not have the Republican Party get credit for the frog’s policies, if he wins.
No Jake, I want Obama to win so he and his party get full credit for what happens when his healthcare law takes effect in 2014. There will be no room for them to bullshit that it was the GOP that somehow messed up and caused what’s coming. They get all that’s do from the looming higher prices.
As long as we maintain the House to keep any other Liberal wish list items off the table, I will gladly suffer to see them ruined and cast into the wilderness for another 15-20 years.
I think you’ll get that by 2012 anyway. And no, I’m not willing to risk the complete trashing of the country and economy just so I can spit Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.
I think the country is becoming more and more economically educated, thanks to the internet, etc. The bullshit “tax someone else and spend” policies of the Dems will just not hold water for the sentient, no matter how they are dressed up.
Socialism will be dragged out into the light and exposed for the worse in the next few years. We don’t need to suffer any more w. it.
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The country was very conservative going into this recession. Usually, when calamity strikes, the opposition argument gains traction, it doesn’t lose it.
I don’t believe the economy will be destroyed by having a liberal President and Senate who are incapable of moving any legislation. I want them in the drivers seat when their decisions, which were all delayed miraculously to just after critical elections, come home to roost.
That way, the Republicans actually have a shot to revoke the healthcare plan, plus strip half of the major agencies of all their staff and funding, before the end of the next decade. Right now, that isn’t even a possibility; they lack necessary outrage.
Sometimes, you have to cede part of the battlefield so you can maintain the high ground, and slaughter the whole opposing army, rather than take heavy losses in minor victories and skirmishes.
The country was not fiscally conservative. How do you mean “the country was very conservative”?
The field is rather underwhelming. I too have Mittney reservations but he seems a class above everyone else in the field. I will take him at his word that he will dismantle Obamacare and frankly that is good enough for me. Since he’s a business man I would also appreciate him pulling the pin under Sarbanes-Oxley as well as Dobb-Frank. Couple that with some good old tax reform and this country might get itself straightened out. His presidency would be a good step to the right but the man is not a conservative. I have no doubt he will keep the conservatives chattering with his RINO shit during his term.
I very much want to like Bachman but there is something just not registering with her. She’s smart but it’s like one of the fuses has burned out. She needs to stay put and raise hell in the House or get herself promoted into the Senate.
Huntsman is your basic Democrat. He took a wrong turn.
Gingrich is the smartest guy in any room, and I like his bluntness, but diplomacy is a good trait to have as executive and he is too bitter for the job. He would be better served as a king maker.
I love Cain but I’m not sure he is up for politics. He stumbles on foreign policy. I don’t think that is such a big deal as he knows enough to surround himself with good people who do, but he sounds like he struggles to answer the questions on foreign policy.. He knows his domestic shit. though. Frankly I’d probably vote for him but he’s just not going to win.
Pawlenty. Man I want to like him, but as a candidate he sucks.
Santorum. I wish people would give him a chance. Problem is he stands for moral values and there is no place for morality in government. I admire his stand on abortion, and frankly his answer about rape and abortion gave me a new way to look at the issue, but that debate is lost. And if the GOP keeps bringing the abortion issue up they will lose no matter how much Obama sucks.
Marlboro Man from Texas? Will have to wait and see how he does at the debate in Sept. He has the potential to be a grand candidate. It’s just his flip-flop from Democrat to Republican and supporting Gore has me concerned. And I’m not so sure Texas’ economy is everything Perry claims it is. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt that he has seen the light and become a conservative believer.
My market inclination is to build a firm core of stocks that I like and will be comfortable holding into the potential abyss. I look for profits, cash, no debt, cheap, operator ownerships and willingness to perform share buy backs. It’s all I can do. I’m no good at the minute/hour/day trade. I’m a paid member in the 12631 and am refusing to check in until things calm down. Chess can just email me the charts. It’s manic in there. Frankly, I have turned to Cramer in this time of uncertainty. What? Yea crazy I know, but he seems to have an understanding of the macro view and has a calming effect for me. Too much cheerleading when the market goes up and too much doom and gloom when it goes down. It’s driving me insane. As a retail investor what else can I do?
Thanks for letting me vent.
As always, a high quality vent.
I may make you a guest host one of these days… 😉
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Mitt is on the central banker payroll. Member of central banker pro-communist thinktanks.
BEEEPPP!!!
Try again.
Sorry, but I can’t go that far. He’s certainly all for status quo, but I’m not sure that’s not the worst thing at this particular juncture.
Even Cranky Ron said he wouldn’t dismantle the Fed “right away” last night.
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Truthiness, ready for it?
Let’s go Sun Tzu and understand the other side “the enemy”, this is their hot button issues list to rally their base and this list was updated throughout the Republican debate:
http://www.barackobama.com/gopdebatewatch?source=20110811_jm_oth&utm_medium=email&utm_source=obama&utm_campaign=20110811_jm_oth
Please EVERYONE click on this link so you can understand their side (the enemy of my enemy is my friend), and major categories include Corporations (Romney – “Corporations are people”) and global warming (a wealth transfer program to bankers). Many people on that stage aren’t even Republicans, they have Democratic ideologies.
How well did Meg Whitman or Carly Fiorina do in the last election as business people that could be painted as firing many workers and outsourcing? That’s right, they lost because such a large part of the population has been downsized by corporate executives and now relies on government. We have to consider this when considering who should run. Mitt Romney is Ward Cleaver from Leave it to Beaver, and while he has classic looks and a great delivery, I question the character of a guy that flip flops on pro-life/abortion and obamny-care. Last night he basically promoted forced buying of services that today has proven to be unconstitutional. He is also a Mormon and there is no way protestants (the base) will vote for people from the mormon cult. Let’s not set ourselves up for failure just like Bob Dole and McCain that had no chance to win.
I agree that Newt is one of the smartest and should take on a Rove like role for the party but not the front man due to likeability. I actually think we need to create a team to beat Obama pulling in many of the candidates to important roles where they have solid accomplishments so you can compete with him by advertising in various states using the most popular person on the team where the hot button issue is their strength. This way you could bring in supporters of Ron Paul that have overwhelming support (Treasury Secretary or monetary role). Ron Paul is the most popular of all the candidates and you will see it in honest polls. He also has support from disillusioned Democrats. Basically he’s limited government, anti-wars of aggression, and anti-fed.
Ron Paul is basically Ronald Reagan and the Republican party has moved so far to the left that he looks extreme right now. Ron Paul is a statesman and the only intellectual on the stage with a historical perspective and knowledge of the monetary system. His common sense is refreshing and if he was not so old, he would have a chance (Barry Goldwater type). Perhaps as a V.P., but we tried Bob Dole and McCain and most Americans are swayed by looks and voice sound rather than the substance of the words. If Americans are sick enough of the status quo (all owned candidates) they might vote for Grandpa.
The folks that brought debt slavery also want to bring carbon slavery. Carbon is great for life on earth as its essential, and the communists are trying to own and control carbon. MARK MY WORDS if they get this in place, they then control all humans and animals on earth (polluters because breath gives off CO2). This will just be another tax and the bankers want it bad – Al Gore, Goldman Sachs, and ENRON created the idea of cap & trade. I hope you know climate change is a devious plan for world government taxes by taxing carbon which is essential to all life on earth. The science says global warming is a scam and that the sun cycles and volcanic activity dictate periods of warming and cooling. ANY candidate that promotes cap & trade or global warming is in the bankers pockets and is colluding to pick yours. Pawlenty and Romney are out based on this.
I need a strict constitutionalist and someone that can stand up to the bankers that own half the world and want the other half. Someone that would re-implement glass steagall for market stability would get my vote because it restricts leverage that is a volatility multiplier. Someone that would actually prosecute financial crimes like the latest S&P credit downgrade insider trading scandal would get my vote. I am pro Apple and anti Goldman Sachs, and this country needs to know which businesses are producers and which are vampire parasites. Once corruption totally takes over, every honest person flees and the system collapses. We have a moral collapse and crisis of confidence/trust that is promoting the economic collapse.
I also do not like the new Republican symbol with three upside down stars, didn’t notice it? PAY MORE ATTENTION! The star is a symbol of an angel, the upside down star is the symbol of a fallen angel and also represents the pentagram which signifies the pattern Venus (the morning star) makes over many years. Symbolism is everywhere, most are completely oblivious.
Yikes!
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Jake,
You lose credibility here when people with better research skills than you tell you what is going on, and then you act like it’s fiction without doing any of your own research to validate it.
Council on Foreign Relations… oh look, Romney is a member…
http://www.cfr.org/experts/world/mitt-romney/b13226
He even has his own page.
You don’t know anything about the CFR, Jake? I find that hard to believe… if you truly are ignorant about what the hell is going on, then please do us all a favor and do not vote and also keep your political selections to yourself.
In other words, be a fucking man, learn something about reality for a change. Or I will devote a hell of a lot of time here remindng you what a fuck up you are.
Get with the program.
Yikes? Fuck you Jake.
Really.
FUCK YOU.
You sound very rational.
And I know what the CFR is. I just don’t think it’s a black-hooded cabal running the world.
This is a complex world we live in, with information sharing like no other time in history. There’s no way such far-reaching conspiracies could ever be covered up in such an environment.
You are going to “eff me up?” Research guy, pleeze.
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I don’t like Research guy’s attack on you, as I hold you in high esteem. But if there is no cabal of black-hooded world-runners, why can’t I buy shares in the Federal Reserve or start my own money creating entity? There is a global monopoly on the creation of currency. To me that indicates skulduggery.
They all suck. What a pathetic statement that this is the best this country can come up with when Obama is really playing such bad baseball right now. Reminds me of Bush’s second term when the Dems put up John Kerry against him.
Look, let’s be honest. President Obama is far, far, worse than Jimmy Carter. The only thing missing is the sweater. I’ll bet before the his presidency is over he will do a fireside chat wearing a Cardigan.
If Romney focuses the campaign on JOBS, JOBS, JOBS, and ignores EVERYTHING ELSE. He will win in a landslide. Every progressive I know is disgusted with the president, and I’m sure there are plenty of Dems in the center that would vote for Romney. I don’t think the far right wing of the Republican party can damage Romney in the general election, because the centrist voters, and of course those on the left, that would vote for Romney don’t care what they think, or would see their attacks as proof of Mitt’s suitability to run the country. Even if the Tea Party stayed home in protest over candidate Romney, I still think he would have enough support in the certer to win, and win big.
If Huntsman would change parties, and challenge the President, he probably would win the Democratic nomination.
Totally agree w. your analysis about “JOBS, JOBS, JOBS” but would also add “GROWTH, GROWTH, GROWTH.”
But do know this for certain — the Tea Party will not “stay at home” if Romney is the candidate. He is at the very least recognized as a vast improvement over the current in experienced arrogance (his is quiet, experienced arrogance, lol!) we have now.
And the TP has one huge agenda item — get Obama out of office before he completely flushed the country down the toilet.
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No argument on GROWTH, GROWTH, GROWTH. I’m starting to think that at some weird subconscious level the President really doesn’t want a second term. It’s turning into some twisted academic exercise.
I think the thing that’s got the base so pissed at him is his refusal to fight over positions and principles. He should be fighting FOR something and then come to some compromise with his opponents, rather than giving laundry lists of blame.
Obamacare … If the Mitten fits you can’t acquit!
LOL.
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If Bachman were a man they would say she is an empty suit. If she had her way, we would have defaulted. She is clueless and if she did not strike a pretty face she would not be taken seriously. She is a whackjob. The only candidate the Republicans have is Romney. Rick Perry is a not so nice Bush and he is hated by many in Texas. He has been the beneficiary of big oil profits in Houston. This is the same Governor who had serious dialogue that maybe Texas should succeed blah blah. Another joke but more dangerous than the rest of the losers in the Republican primaries. Cain, Paul, Santorum, Gingrich. Losers all.
That is secede not succeed. No coffee this morning. Ha!
Have you seen the video of Mitt declaring “Corporations are people too”? Considering current economic conditions, I’m not really sure that message is going to go over well with the majority of American people.
By the time the election rolls around that will be forgotten. Either that or it will be replayed so, so many times, that it will have no power left.
I would go with the latter, as I would imagine that if Mitt wins and represents the GOP, the Dems will show that clip around 8 trillion times.
It’s a ridulous cut job, of course, as he was explaining that corporations are simply entities made up of people, and owned by individuals and families.
This argument reminds me of a conversation I was having w. an erstwhile conservative who was very economically correct on everything but the inheritance tax, because he felt like there was no need for capital transfer as “all money was held at the institutional level now.”
I said to him — “Who the hell do you think owns all that institutional capital?” He was perplexed by my question, as he had in mind that there was tonnes of capital out there that wasn’t actually owned at the end by private individuals. I couldn’t believe it. This was a high ranking attorney, too.
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I just think it’s a bad statement to make in the current climate. I admittedly have only seen that clip, not the entire speech, and by no means am I close to deciding who I will vote for. The bottom line (At least for me) is that when a corporation’s Officers make an investment and make money, the corporation does well and it usually translates to good bonuses for the Officers and top level employees, not so much for your typical “Middle class wage earner”. If those decisions instead don’t pan out, and the corp suffers massive losses, the result is generally layoffs/wage freezing, etc., which obviously has a greater impact on the lower levels. With the economy still dragging ass and memories of financial destruction still fresh in the minds of millions of families, it wasn’t the smartest thing to say.
Corporations are built and run for their shareholders and not for their employees. Yes, it’s a good investment to make your employees happy (including its officers) but let’s not have the tail wag the dog.
Here’s the thing — anyone who has a half decent job can become a shareholder — one only has to embrace some risk, which is from where much of life’s success comes.
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I agree that corporations are here to build wealth for their shareholders, not for their employees. The problem is that generally speaking, the ones responsible for the decision making are the ones reaping the rewards of success (Not the problem), but usually don’t suffer much when those decisions lead to failure (Definitely a problem). The use of taxpayer funds to bailout the financials is a prime example. Millions lost their jobs and many haven’t recovered, while last time I checked, Pandit, Dimon, Blankfein, etc. are still at their respective posts. For the most part, the only way you lost your job was if you actually messed up so bad, your company went under! Ken Lewis’ purchase of Countrywide obliterated shareholder value, and has been a terrible mess in every way possible as the hits are still coming. Yet Mr. Lewis is probably doing ok for himself. It would be better if their pay went the way of the NFL…no guaranteed contracts!!
I’m certainly not anti-corporation, as much as it probably seems. It just pisses me off to no end (As an employee, a shareholder, and a taxpayer) that these guys helped blow up the economy with their excessive risks, and their certainly not suffering any consequences.
Rant over, it’s Friday. Time to chill by the pool with the fam and kick off the weekend with a brew, as it’s hotter than shit here in Texas. Have a great weekend Mr. Gint, good luck to all of us when the market opens Monday.
I agree with some of that. My favorite Finance Professor, Ken French, used to rant on hilariously (he was kind of like the Fly) about “the agency problem” with regard to corporate governance.
Google it if you want to learn more, but it’s been ever with us, and is true in any bureaucratic environment as well, even non-profits.
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I will read what Mr. French has to offer, thanks! Quick question: I see you’re a Giants fan, Mets or Yankees?
Yankees, of course.
Jets fans root for the Mets, usually.
(See: “le Fly”)
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well done sir
Ha, I knew I’d convert you eventually, Jasketer. I linked to the piece at another blog.
Did not know you were a Romney guy. He’a an ex-banker, that’s why YOU like him, lol.
Listen, I would absolutely love the guy were it not for the RomneyCare albatross around his neck. Makes it tough to fight Obamacare with that carcass a swinging.
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The problem seems to be that totally awesome leaders get messed up by the grinding bipartisan politics. No one can ever do anything. Awesomness gets ground down to veritable mediocrity. Our countries need to be run like startups.
Im neutral on this topic as i dont live in the US.
Happy Berfday #6…All grows up!
All grows’ed up and soon to be reproducing. Now THAT is growing up!
I have both of your cards on my desk, btw. So sorry.
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Mormons believe that when you die, you can create your own worlds and be a God.
Mormons believed that black people were damned by God, and didn’t let them into the church until the late 70s.
Mormons bring 12 year old children to temples, dress them in robes, bring them into a gigantic community pool, and “baptize” each kid several times for the souls of people on earth who died non-Mormon and can’t get into heaven.
Joseph Smith spent his youth with mystics and “clairvoyants,” and charged people for “psychic services”
Joseph Smith said God gave him a literally golden book of scriptures, with golden pages and shit. That book was unfortunately “lost” but would have weighed over 200 lbs, and totally existed.
Joseph Smith was a child molester and forced his friends to let him fuck their daughters
Joseph Smith’s inner circle of advisors had noticed his descent into madness, and created a newspaper. In the first issue, they listed over 20 terrible crimes that Joseph Smith had committed. Enraged, Smith ordered the printing press destroyed. This was illegal, and he was arrested for it by the national guard. While awaiting trial in jail, an angry mob broke in and killed him.
Glenn Beck converted to Mormonism.
This is way different from the Kennedy Catholic thing. Mitt Romney belongs to a cult that is less than 200 years old, whose founder has been forensically proven to have been completely full of shit.
Oh give it a rest with the religious bigotry. Geeeez.
Listen, I don’t give a crap what esoteric beliefs the Mormons have… aside from one wacky chick (she was from Bev Hills) I met in college who was a head case (and a sexual deviant), I have never met a Mormon whom I didn’t like. They are almost universally nice, and extremely hard workers. I’ve known tonnes of Mormons, and I don’t know what they are teaching them, but they are producing quality folks.
It’s not Christian to hate, so stop it.
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No bigotry at all Jake, I deal in facts. Look them up if you don’t believe me. I simply won’t vote for a guy who buys into all of that horseshit. I am a recovering Mormon myself, so perhaps I’m a little biased. My great ^4 grandfather helped lead the Mormon Militia into negotiations with the US Government to avoid a Waco situation (the same Mormon Militia that dressed up like Native Americans and slaughtered 120 settlers from Arkansas). The US Army did march on Utah, and the result was a peaceful but temporary rescission of church influence in the state. Sure Mormons are nice, but behind that smile is a person who firmly believes you’re going to hell since you aren’t one of them. I guess I’ll see you in hell!
http://www.historynet.com/utah-war-us-government-versus-mormon-settlers.htm
By the way, do you know what the Mormon church used to do to anyone who left the church and talked the kind of shit I’m talking? They’d send a few guys out called the “avenging angels” to rid you of your mortal coil. I remember my Grandmother talking about these guys.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danite
Yeah, but the Church has mellowed quite a bit since then. Listen, I know about your history, and that a whole shitload of you were massacred in one of the cities you stopped in during the exodus to Utah.
I’d form a fucking militia too.
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My point is that the fundamental belief system of a presidential candidate was dreamed up by a charismatic conman less than 200 years ago. Can I have 10% of your income if I convince you to believe in something I pulled out of my ass? Maybe if we focused more on our candidates’ fundamental belief systems and associations, we would have avoided electing Jeremiah Wright’s community organizing disciple and his “God damn America” mentality.
But that’s a ridiculous supposition and you know it. Romneys dad was a middle of the road Repub governor of Michigan and he started Bain Capital, one of the biggest LBO firms in the country. He’s the farthest thing from a religious yahoo and to paint him otherwise is either ignorant or bigotted. You choose.
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If Mitt was a scientologist and hist dad brokered world peace, I’d still have a problem with my next president’s belief in Xenu the intergalactic warlord who poisoned human beings with impure souls from across the universe. Get it? I question the logic of anyone who follows the Mormon religion, or Scientology, or any other bullshit religion some guy just made up, moderate or or not.
I think you have a man crush on Mitt. You are way past warming up.
Oh, great, so you are moving your tremendously logical argument from religious bigotry to accusations of homosexuality?
Keep in mind, the only way we know you here is by what you write. Right now you are edging towards the “auto ignore” crank zone.
You know nothing about Mitt’s personal beliefs, save that he was raised — nominally — a Mormon, like you were.
I don’t hold people’s family traditions against them, just as I wouldn’t hold a Buddhist or Islamic’s belief systems against them, provided they did not attempt to push it on me using the authority of the state.
You need to look inward and examine some of your uglier personal bias’s, I think. Your argument, thus far, has no credibility.
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Well no, my accusation would have been that you are a homo, not Mitt, if you really want to grab at that straw (no homo). I will vote for the cranky old man, and if I have to I will vote for the cult member. Interesting to know that you don’t hold people’s family traditions against them. I do, and I think most people do, and it is disingenuous or ignorant to suggest most people aren’t biased by their life experiences. I imagine you think NPR was right to fire Juan Williams for being honest about how he feels.
Interesting to know that you don’t hold people’s family traditions against them. I do, and I think most people do,
Really? You’d hold an unchosen situation against someone? I think that’s pretty ignorant.
… and it is disingenuous or ignorant to suggest most people aren’t biased by their life experiences.
Maybe, but that’s your personal problem, and one you should work out on your own, perhaps with the aid of some professional counseling.
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Leave Juiceyfruit out of this!
You are not helping.
Nice alert from Mo today, btw… jeez o pete.
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If you dig deep enough into ANY religion’s past you’re going to find some beliefs/actions that are pretty damn out there. Just because someone decides to attend one church doesn’t mean they believe everything that has happened/was said in that church’s history was true. Even people that are appointed to the position of a “Prophet” are still believed to be just men, and men make mistakes. People choose to nit pick little details of the mormon church, which I will admit are out there, but if you’re problem is the fundamental belief system that you believe Mitt has you should probably look a little deeper into the basic principles the church stands for. They put a strong emphasis on the importance of family, serving others, being non judgmental, and being charitable( with your time and money). YES some people in the religion represent the church poorly, but that can be said for any organization. I don’t believe any one specific church is more true than another, or even that religion is totally necessary. Just that people shouldn’t be judged based on their religion alone. Good people come can come from basically any kind of upbringing.
I appreciate your response and I agree with much of what you’re saying (especially since you said it so nicely). My issues with the church stem from my specific experiences, as well as opinions I’ve formed from years of research and reflection. While I agree that the church does good works around the world, I have also seen the Mormon culture ruin families; pitting parents against their gay kids, shunning members of a divorced family, and harshly judging anyone who strays outside the code of ethics. My cousin was recently kicked out of “missionary training” for admitting to premarital sex with his fiancee. He is devastated. I also think that requiring members to give the church 10% of their income is a racket.
I acknowledge that my perspective is only part of the story, however if you search around on the net you will find message boards full of people with similar experiences and grievances (look at the third result when you google “mormonism”). I suppose this is no different from any belief system, and sure, there are flaws in every religion. may not necessarily agree with or embody any or all of the negatives I’ve presented, but here is my core problem; there is ample evidence that the Mormon religion was created by a 19th century L Ron Hubbard. For the sake of this discussion, let’s throw aside all of the “uncomfortable issues” from the church’s past and focus on this alone. The fantasy world Joseph Smith dreamed up is almost a mockery of Christianity, and he used his position of power to commit unspeakable offenses against very underage “child brides.” When I discovered these truths, I chose out of the religion. To that end, I just can’t bring myself to vote for someone who believes the Mormon narrative, given the ample evidence that it’s founder was a nutcase. Mitt has had his entire life to do the same, and has not. He is not in an “unchosen situation” whatsoever. In fact, God gave Mitt free will!
You forgot the best one. Mormons and their “magic underwear”. I didn’t believe it either, but apparently ’tis true.
The magic underwear is the most sinister of all. Wedgie proof and unstainable, they grant the wearer the incredible ability to convert even the most Godless goatfucking heathens into paid subscribers.
I know Steve Young was wearing the magic underwear in all of his Superbowl wins.
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True. After careful consideration I think I’ll return to the fold. The power of the magic underwear is too strong to resist.
Jake, any more selling for AAU?
I held off. It’s like my lotto stock. Anything under $5 I just leave alone to “Gestate” until it pisses me off too much like GSS.
Then I’ll still keep a thousand shares just to watch it.
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Romney will not win the primary. The base is sick and tired of pseudo-conservatives and he won’t be able to get past Romney care. Obama thanked Mitt Romney for paving the way for his socialized health care.
The nominee will be Rick Perry. He has been polling even with Romney and only just announced he is running this week. The only other one that is polling in the top third without having announced is Palin. Now that Perry has announced, you will see him edgeahead of the Mitt.
Perry isn’t wildly popular here in Texas but that is more because he isn’t as conservative as much of the electorate. He is definitely more conservative than Romney however and he is edging to the right for the primary right now.
Perry is going to make the campaign about jobs. Texas has created more jobs in the last three years than the rest of the states put together. Now the fact of the matter is that the reason the Texas economy has fared better than the rest of the country is that our stage government is structured so that the Texas congress only meets 140 days every two years. We have our idiots in government same as any other state but we just don’t let them meet long enough to screw things up too badly. The lower regulation approach to state government, more than anything Perry did, is the main reason Texas is doing relatively well. However, there is something to be said for an executive who knows enough to stay out of the way and let the private sector do its thing. I wish our current President understood this concept.
So the primary will come down to Romney who bankrupted his state through Romney Care and paved the way for Obama to do the same thing to the country, and Perry whose state led the nation in job creation. Who do you think will win in todays environment?
Neither is my first choice but it really doesn’t matter much. Any of these candidates would be an improvement over Obama and any of these condidates would beat Obama. Short of an economic miracle in the next year, Obama will not win re-election no matter who runs against him. He is Jimmy Carter.
I like Perry too, and would be glad to see him get the nom.
Looking forward to seeing him enter the race.
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^ unleash my post from moderation … stuck there over an hour and it’s just a Daily Show Video.
Can’t do it from here. You’ll have to wait til tonight, sorry.
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http://gawker.com/5829381/jon-stewart-shames-newsweek-for-its-michele-bachmann-cover
Moderates/Independents will just love this “conservative” rhetoric … GL with her!
PS: It’s mann not man
Obama must be praying to Allah that she’s the GOP candidate ….
Yeah, it’s not likely, however.
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http://gawker.com/5829381/jon-stewart-shames-newsweek-for-its-michele-bachmann-cover
Stewart nailed Bachmann and Newsweek …. “re-education camps” …. Obama must be praying to Allah that she’s the GOP candidate.
Moderates/Independents will just love this “conservative” rhetoric … GL with her!
PS: It’s mann not man
Holy crap, Teahouse… are you under some kind of penalty-fine from your Dem Underground masters? I found this thing 8 times in my spam cache!
Mission accomplished for goodness sakes.
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I was seeking out the censored phrase … looks line “re-education camps” was the root of the problem … So you’re more of a Bachmann supporter than I realized … Hmmmm
Hahaha …. censored again for using the same phrase ….
Re-education
Camps
Indeud!
Fuck politics, … let’s talk religion.
Looks like we’ve embarked on that tour already — see the ex-Mormon’s rant above.
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Have you not realized that you are dealing with nothing but a Two-Headed-One Party Monster, whereby the citizenry have absolutely zero representation, while the whores in DC placate their CONstituents on Broad & Wall, as well as thousands of lobbyists whom represent corporate board rooms?
Policy makers are merely puppets whose strings are pulled by the money masters that they serve.
No wonder the country has has been driven into total Fascism with the public as obtuse as it is today!
WTFU!
You’d think that a guy with his own blog here and a focus on gold and silver would know at least a little something about what is going on out there in politics?
WTF Jake?
Fucking Romney?
Perry first.
I’m sure he’s a latent Bilderbergian Prince in your universe too, though. Sigh.
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Well i came here to let you know how poorly romney did, but i see you all are way ahead of me.
I think the republican party has been captured by the extreme, and irrespective of the state of the economy i don’t see any of the wingnuts taking out obama. Romney would have had a better chance.
I suppose if the economy does get even worse, and it looks like it might, it might go “anybody but Obama”…i don’t think we’re there yet though.
The straw poll is nothing but assembling your own nuts to vote for you in a paid for marketing event.
It’s not anything like a real primary, so don’t get ahead of yourself. That’s why Ron Paul almost won. He had his yahoos invade the state and pay their fee to vote.
You really think Ron Paul is the “almost #1 choice” in the Republican Party? Teahouse, pleeze.
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