4 more years....

Well, President Obama won.   This doesn't come as a surprise to me, I was going to be shocked if Romney won. (More on that in a few paragraphs)

Mr. President, while I'm not thrilled with your first term, you have been given a second chance.  A chance to finish what you started, to start the things you talked about, and generally work as best you can to help right the course for America.

You have a big job in front of you and I don't know if you can actually do it.  You're too beholden to the monied interests.  I'll be interested who you replace on your cabinet.  You don't seem to be dynamic enough in your leadership.

BUT, you don't have to worry about reelection now.  You have a slightly more accommodating Congress, one who might actually be willing to work with you now.  But you still must put forward some actual ideas, and ways to implement them.

I wish you luck in your second term, hopefully it will be the start of a new era for America.

Now, to those of you surprised by Romney's loss...why?  What made you believe he was going to win?

Was it his staunch beliefs?  Wait, I have no idea what he believes in because it changes, every single election.

Was it his proven governing power?  Oh, wait, he's had to disavow his biggest accomplishment as governor because it smacked of socialism to the far right.

Was it his likeable personality?  Not really, he's random rich old white dude.  You could insert about 50 other guys in his stead and they'd all be the same.

Maybe his proven record as a leader of a company?  Well, sort of.  His company made lots of money, but lots of that was made by buying and gutting companies and outsourcing jobs.  I understand that happens, and sometimes it should, but its not gonna win you votes.

Was it his appeal to others besides whites?  I can't even come up with something snarky to respond here.  Its just hilarious.

America, while still run by whites (look at congress), is slowly starting to show in their vote that "Hey, there are people of other cultures here, other backgrounds besides WASP or white catholic."  The Republican leadership, the Republican "base," and Republican news outlets like Fox News are scared to admit that and delude themselves into thinking that the changing face of America isn't happening or that it can be reversed.  No, it can't!

I've already read 3 or 4 blogs and articles just today from tea party people saying the reason Romney lost was that he wasn't far right enough!!!  Wait a second, you honestly believe that a Rick Santorum, or Mike Huckabee, would have fared better?  If so, good luck to you in 4 years because you're going to be sorely disappointed yet again.

Hopefully, the Republicans will embrace the changing face of America and revise their platform to be more inclusive and in doing so actually put candidates up for consideration that bring something to the table besides isolationism, xenophobia, and broken jokes of economic plans.

"[C]areer ambition was not to go to Washington"

Really Mitt?  Really?  You're saying a guy, who has worked essentially his WHOLE CAREER (except for a brief marketing consultant job at the family business to pad his resume for office)  in Washington never had a career ambition there?

When exactly did he not have this ambition?  When he was 8 and wanting to be a fireman or astronaut?  Because by the time he was in college he was happily, even enthusiastically taking staffing jobs.  His first job out of college was as a speechwriter for Jack Kemp.   Yes, certainly seems like he didn't intend to work in Washington.

There are so many lies being thrown around by both sides its not even funny, but this one is pretty good.  Mitt, admit it, you put Ryan on the ticket because you've never consistently stood for anything in your political career.  Ryan was put there to give the conservatives peace of mind that you are a true believer, even when you're not in anything except Mitt.

Its interesting how Obama is called a socialist and communist (ignoring the fact the two are highly dissimilar) and its a bad thing.  But Ryan, an avowed Objectivist, is somehow praised as a champion.  Does the average person know anything about Objectivism?  I'm thinking not.

Especially Christians because Objectivism is essentially anathema to the gospel of Christ though it is very much an American philosophy.  (I have no idea of Mr. Paul's religious beliefs, but when the person who's philosophy you hold dear is summed up in this quote "My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute [2]." that doesn't leave a lot of leeway for Christ's message.)

This not saying that Marx's writings were kind to religion.  "Religion is the opiate of the masses" doesn't leave much room for it either, but some of the basic ideals of socialism are not that far from some of Christ's teachings either.  (I am not saying Christ was a socialist, merely pointing out that his life and the life of the early church has far more in common with socialist and even, gasp, communal, ideals than anything Rand ever imagined.)

It boggles the mind that while bi-partisan and non-partisan groups publish report after report that Ryan's budget and Romney's tax plan would shift even MORE of the tax burden to the middle class (since its simply impossible to cut the amount needed) middle class and even lower class whites flock to the idea.  

I guess the obvious solution to any problem is to burn down and start over right?  Oh, and make sure the rich don't have too pay too much in taxes because keeping their taxes low does an excellent job of creating jobs for people in this country.  

Good job guys!

(President Obama, I can't even begin to describe how angry I am at your administration for putting forth essentially no good ideas over the last few years to combat the lunacy of the far-right economic folks.  Its pathetic really.)    

"Corporations are people"

Ah, Mitt. So, apparently you really want the Republican choices to come down to an extremist from Minnesota and yet another ex-Texas governor.

Mitt, you're correct, Corporations ARE technically people thanks to the 14th Amendment. However, they have none of the responsibilities of a person.

So, you might be right, but many of us Americans are upset that what you say is true, especially in light of how so many corporations act completely selfishly and irresponsibly on a scale that few individuals could dream of doing.

Mitt, I hope you realize you completely suck at public speaking. However, sadly, you're the only sane option among current Republican candidates. Yes, that is pathetic.

Please, wake up and realize that no matter what your personal views might be, much of America is pretty upset with corporate fat cats who have done everything to get gov't bailouts, raise gas prices, lay off thousands, and continue to move jobs overseas all while reaping record profits.

If you really want those who might vote Republican to have to choose between Bachmann and Perry, well, keep up with gems like this. But please, for the sake of us Americans who might actually be open to voting for the GOP get your head out of your rear and start listening to what the majority of Americans want. A leader who can bring about prosperity again.

Protecting corporations and other rich entities while the average American is suffering is a good way to lose out to the real crazies in your party who not only want to protect them, but reward them.

This is an average joe begging you, be an option for me. Please.

Intriguing...I may have options...

Mitt Romney has declined to sign a second hard right, social conservative "pledge."

First he declined to sign the Susan B Anthony list hard-line anti-abortion pledge. (Anti-abortion in all circumstances, no possible option for rape, incest or life of mother threats.)

Now he has declined to sign the "conservative marriage vow" put out by the Family Leader which in its first iteration stated that more black families had 2 parent homes during slavery than they do today. Talk about complete context fail. Wow.

They changed the language after black pastors complained about the wording, but Romney still declined while stating he supported "traditional marriage."

I'll admit that Romney's Mormon faith makes him a hard candidate for me to accept. I need to see more of his economic policy suggestions to truly overcome my concerns, but it looks like the Romney might emerge as a possible alternative to wasting my vote to keep some far right candidate being elected.

I'm pretty sure 15 months from now when the election is happening, I'll look and laugh or cry at this post, but oh well. Its here. Laugh.