TCTI: Too Crazy Too Ignore
 Dave Ross
AP: 5b60cfab-6c26-4fcb-92c4-360281e28f66
FILE - In this Aug. 30, 2012 file photo, Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla. The Republican convention sent Mitt Romney into the fall campaign on a high note, thanks to Romney's strong acceptance speech, a diverse tableau of speakers and a fractious party unified in its goal of defeating President Barack Obama. But the convention likely won't provide a lasting boost for the Republican ticket, thanks to Hurricane Isaac, some high-profile speech flops and continued questions over how the party would tackle issues like Medicare and spending cuts. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

Was something missing?

August 31, 2012 @ 12:20 pm (Updated: 8:56 am - 9/4/12 )

cedargrove
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla. The convention likely won't provide a lasting boost for the Republican ticket, thanks to Hurricane Isaac, some high-profile speech flops and continued questions over how the party would tackle issues like Medicare and spending cuts. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

There is some conservative anxiety over what Mitt Romney said - or didn't say - at the convention, specifically this line:

"And let me make this very clear: unlike President Obama, I will not raise taxes on the middle class of America."

That seems innocuous enough, until you examine the words, which do not include the word "cut".

Romney's announced economic plan includes a 20 percent rate cut. And after the speech, on CNBC, Larry Kudlow, who is a former Reaganite and a Romney supporter, was clearly concerned.

"Now, he did say he would not raise taxes on the middle class. But he did not say that he would cut taxes on the middle class," said Kudlow, "and his 20 percent tax cut does that, and I think that he got all fouled up in that."

That's a pretty serious glitch, if it was indeed just a glitch. But I don't think it was a glitch or a teleprompter hiccup.

I think he knows the numbers. I think they all do. And the numbers say revenues, somehow, must go up. And this supply side stuff, which says just to bring back jobs and revenues will fix themselves? Romney promised 12 million new jobs. But right now 23 million people want jobs. I listened to all the major speeches; nobody talked tax cuts. That can't be a screw up. I think it's a warning.

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Comments (116)


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  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    how can he cut taxes
    September 1, 2012 6:29 am
    when he has to pay back all the money Obama spent?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fartforce1 wrote...
    Who spent? Obama?
    September 1, 2012 8:36 am
    The economy was in free fall and most of that money you are talking about was earmarked and spent before Obama took office. Republicans have no accountability.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    The economy was in free fall and most of that money you are talking about was earmarked and spent before Obama took office
    September 1, 2012 8:38 am
    And Dimocrats are liars. You better go back and do your research before you post a flat out lie like this one.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fartforce1 wrote...
    HPD- I expect that from a Republcian.
    September 1, 2012 8:56 am
    whatever you dont understand you attack but he real shame is that your brain washing goes back even before that, so how can I expect you to know any different. Tell me this HPD - where was the stock market the day O too office? where is it now? How many jobs were lost per month when Obama took office? How many are added now? Anyone can say that Obama has not yet re-added the jobs lost under W and tell the truth. Republcinas lost alot of jobs.
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  • maplefish wrote...
    @fartforce
    September 1, 2012 11:07 pm
    You really don't have a clue do you? OBAMA is a FAILURE! He spent $6 TRILLION TAX DOLLARS & created ZERO JOBS! And you incompetent, brain dead Democrats still blame Bush after 3 years of economic failure. It's pathetic.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Oly80 wrote...
    your numbers...
    September 3, 2012 4:27 am
    are out and out LIES.

    taking a page out of paul ryan"s book?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • tuleman003 wrote...
    Here's a fact for you.
    September 2, 2012 8:35 am
    I lost a pretty good job while Republicans held the Presidency. Couldn't get another one because home construction doesn't require skilled craftmen anymore. I started over and got another job in another field while Democrats are in office. Was able to keep my home and my truck. BTW, name-calling is SO immature. How old are you?
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  • Oly80 wrote...
    if you were ALIVE when Obama took office...
    September 3, 2012 4:25 am
    you'd know that the economy was in free fall after bush. you were you calling "dim" again? pot, meet kettle.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    Dave, you're playing with semantics.
    September 1, 2012 6:36 am
    But, I guess, if Obama can call keeping tax rates for the middle class at their current level a 'cut' ... well, that could confuse the Progressive mind. ........ Is not raising taxes a cut? Or is a cut not raising taxes? And, then, what should we call a REAL cut?

    .

    But, Dave, YOU accidentally spoke the truth in your last paragraph. Even if Romney brings back 12 million jobs, that's STILL less than the 23 million now needing work after 4 years of hoping things would change. ... And we should create jobs by - how? - raising taxes on business? ??????

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fartforce1 wrote...
    ( . ) - FYI, Republicans cant honestly talk jobs until they earn the right to talk jobs.
    September 1, 2012 8:40 am
    When W left office and O entered - the US was loosing 750,000 jobs a month. Now O is adding 150,000 per month. So using Republican logic I guess you could say that Obama adds 900,000 jobs a month. After all Romney says he will add 250000 a month. when all he really is saying is that he will add another 100000 jobs a month.
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Well, too bad we've STILL needed over 200,000 a month to keep pace with population growth.
    September 1, 2012 8:56 am
    1. That 'loosing 750,000 a month' was ONLY for 12/2008. Bad, sure. Your team touts that like it had been going on for a year or so.

    2. 163,000 in July did rather up the monthly average, but since when? I recall a few monthly reports earlier this year around only 60,000 or so. .. And since when is loosing ground slower a gain?

    Yup, 12 million new jobs over 4 years does add up to only 250,000 per month. Beats inflation by perhaps 50,000 a month, but we still need to do much better. THAT Romney had best rethink.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • babj615 wrote...
    More BS From Dave Ross
    September 1, 2012 6:46 am
    The only real and tangible "conservative anxiety" is about to be put out to pasture in November! The leadership (google it, Dave) Mitt and Paul bring will be very good for this country... Dave Ross? Not so much...
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  • fartforce1 wrote...
    you are the BS, not Dave.
    September 1, 2012 8:42 am
    Republican Gutting regulations led to the collapse of the US banking industry when Obama took office. You want to vote for the guy who will return to those policies. Romney will be the last US president if he wins because there will be no more America if he wins the election.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Realitycheck wrote...
    fatforce1
    September 1, 2012 3:55 pm
    Is that the same like if Bush wins there will be no America BS??? lol, your liberals are just horrible uneducated people.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Supply side tax cuts...
    September 1, 2012 6:48 am
    Romney won't raise taxes on the middle class, but he won't cut them, either. That's pretty clear. His tax cuts are going to be reserved for folks making seven figures per year or more. It's also likely that programs like the EIC would be eliminated, effectively increasing taxes on people living in abject poverty.

    If people are so absolutely convinced that the uber-rich will automatically respond to a tax cut by running around establishing American businesses and hiring American people (rather than increasing personal consumption and speculation or investing in emerging, third world, mostly socialist nations), then the following tax idea ought to be just perfect.

    Establish a optional "job creator" tax category for people earning some minimum amount that realistically places them there- say at least $1-million per year. The category would be optional for those taxpayers.

    Within the optional category, the basic tax rate for individual income is 200%. Yikes. Then- let the "job creator" take a credit against that 200% tax bill equal to 25% of the net income taxes paid by anybody he or she hires to take a newly created job.

    With enough new jobs created, the "job creator" could get his or her tax rate down to ZERO. Heck, why stop at ZERO? Create enough new jobs and you could earn a tax credit equal to 25% of the net income taxes paid by folks holding any legitimate "new jobs".

    That's a better plan than simply settling for, "We promise, yup, cross our hearts and hope to die, that we will create more jobs if you just lower our taxes as close to zero as possible."

    Even so, creating new jobs may prove to be a lot like pushing a rock both uphill and upstream. Our aging population doesn't need as many consumer goods, personal incomes have been mostly stagnant for over a decade, and more and more services are delivered electronically. The new economic model seems to be very small workforces serving thousands of customers at very low unit and transaction pricing. After a while, we even discover we only need so many burger flippers and toilet scrubbers.

    It would be easier to insist that everybody has to work if there were enough jobs to go around. That won't happen until we need more workers in the economy, and as each year goes by we seem to need fewer.

    Regardless of the election outcome, the middle class is going to continue to shrink. A select few will move into the upper economic echelon; but (regardless of the election outcome) most of the middle class will continue to suffer from a slow erosion of options and living standards.

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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Out a little late last night to be blogging so early, Chuck?
    September 1, 2012 7:19 am
    I'm sorry, but I'm having a hard time following whatever it is you're trying to propose.

    But, not to totally change yous subject, just how much IS the 'middle class' shrinking? - even under Obama? .. Sure, there are a lot more people with lower incomes who need work. But wouldn't that change with a few (or a lot) more jobs, no matter WHO is out next president? ... And I've yet to see in America just how one person - or 1 million - achieving success somehow knows others down. .. Or do you think the economy has to be zero sum?

    How about we try for a win-win economy where EVERYBODY can improve their standard of living? It's been done before. And not by raxing us all to death.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fartforce1 wrote...
    Chuck, I hope everyone reads your first two paragraphs
    September 1, 2012 8:46 am
    and understand what you are talking about.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    ObamaCare will be the Death
    September 1, 2012 11:14 pm
    Of the MIDDLE CLASS! Obama's biggest lie has already gone from his projected (not a tax) $900 BILLION plan has already jumped to $2.5 TRILLION in projected costs ( CBO report Aug. 2012) which will fall squarely on the backs of the MIDDLE CLASS! Liars never figure & Figures never LIE! Obama is a failure and a LIAR!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Pair o'dimes wrote...
    Who spent the money?
    September 1, 2012 6:59 am
    Sorry, accidently left clicked, took me off the page. Republican admin created most of the deficit with two wars and a tax cut. Republican deregulation allowed the banks to gamble and lose, creating the worst depression/recession since the great depression. Few of the factors that have made the recovery so difficult can be legitimately blamed on Obama. Since the Bush tax cuts did not create any jobs, why do we still believe they are the great cure for all that ails the economy?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zagnut wrote...
    When tax rates are high, tax cuts tend to stimulate the economy and raise revenues for the government.
    September 1, 2012 7:16 am
    When tax rates are already high, tax increases tend to slow down the economy and reduce revenue. There is a sweet spot where revenues are greatest for the government, and most "experts" on the right argue we have tax rates that are over that sweet spot. Those on the left don't even acknowledge that a sweet spot exists. They simplistically believe that an increase in tax rates automatically results in a revenue increase and a reduction in tax rates automatically results in a reduction of revenue. The left's belief has been shown to be in error time and again, but the left tends to ignore empirical evidence and go with what their gut tells them.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick1 wrote...
    and...
    September 1, 2012 9:03 am
    Obama has provided some of the largest tax cuts in history. 2% right off the top. Plus about 1/3 of the stimulus was in tax breaks. Funny how pundits rewrite history and how propaganda becomes truth to those who want to believe different.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    @Pair o'dimes
    September 2, 2012 4:48 pm
    Are You NEW? That is the oldest, dumbest argument of the last 3 years. Read up and catch up. MAybe you should call yourself Pair o pennies....Obama is a FAILURE! Quit Blaming Bush. It's STUPID and Pathetic.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Paul Kersey wrote...
    Hussein Obama is leaving an enormous mess
    September 1, 2012 7:08 am
    for President Romney to clean up. But he'll still be smiling all the way to the golf course. Should be a couple more autobiographies coming out by the great narcissist....one of the greatest swindlers in American history.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    And Paul, it's particularly dreadful if we stop to consider
    September 1, 2012 7:23 am
    the thriving prosperity that Bush II handed off to the "golfing narcissist" and the continuing, non-stop emphasis on bipartisan solutions by the GOP. With the bed of roses left by Bush, and all the help he's had from the R's in Congress, Obama has really put us into the tank. Yup. 'Least that's what it says on most of this page labeled "talking points"...guess is must be true if somebody said it was true. :-)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Realitycheck wrote...
    Chuck
    September 1, 2012 3:59 pm
    What matters is what Obama promised. If he was a competent man running for president he knew what was going on. And even if he didn't he missed his chance to say I didn't know it was this bad, that should've happened within the first 6 months, if he was actually paying attention to more then his gold game. Any liar needs to be removed from office. Romney will be next if he is lying as well.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick1 wrote...
    and....
    September 1, 2012 9:05 am
    the irony is everyone thinks obama is the president who cut taxes from the poor and stole from the rich. Check history again, the earned income tax credit which basically means people who live below poverty will get a tax return (even if they pay no taxes and even if they dont live in the US) was a BUSH tax program. Again... look at all the facts.
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  • Realitycheck wrote...
    Rick1
    September 1, 2012 4:01 pm
    And that is news how? It is very clear Obama is NOT for the middle class, just ask the millions suffering.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cdbtx wrote...
    I can see why you're confused
    September 1, 2012 7:19 am
    He did lay out specific tax cut - obviously you're only reading the memo sent out from Obama's administration.. you need to get out into the real world ocassionally..

    Dave - btw, how come you didn't mention the promise of 12Million new jobs during Obama's campaign and the results? Pick a number between 1.5M and 4.5M and now take 58% of that as part time work or salaries at the poverty level

    How come you don't mention past promises and current performance... At least those are facts and can be measured.

    Now an honest person, someone with ethics and integrity would look at those numbers and begin by saying - "That's something I can work with", "That's obviously a policy that failed", "How can I improve on that"?

    I'm tired of the propaganda and rhetoric - and it occurs on both sides - but Dave, your make your living by pushing rehetoric and propaganda to the public. For the life of me - I can't understand how someone can do that and then look in the mirror each morning..

    Dave, I'd be right there with you if you were citing example after example of all Obama's successes and how society has improved so much during the last 4 years... tell us how the average wage has increased, (Ok.. don't mention the 650 new Gov't regulations on businesses), how healthcare premiums have dropped, how we are now energy independant, cite the number of new businesses, cite the number of international trade agreements we have negotiated.. say verses China (0 verses 15). This list goes on Dave.

    Carry on Dave... The promoter and defender of social slavery...

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • montgomerywhittlock wrote...
    Nobody does a better job of selling propaganda than Republicans
    September 1, 2012 9:21 am
    I felt like I was back in the 50s when I watched the RNC convention. Not the real 50s with segregation, racism and social injustice, but the 50s from tv where everybody lives in Mayberry and the biggest issue of the day is what to have for supper. What I got out of the convention? We could return to that beautiful America and take our country back from that sinister, socialistic, antichrist who may or may not have been born in this country. And the biggest Republican propaganda? Supply side economics. AKA Reaganomics, AKA Trickle Down Economics, AKA Horse and Sparrow Economics (that last one by the way, ia a theory of economics derived from the theory that if you overfeed a horse enough oats, some oats will inevitably pass through to the road in it’s droppings for the sparrows to eat. What a crock. 30 years after Reagan people are still waiting for some of the trickle down and now their children are waiting for the trickle. Too funny and tragic at the same time. "The great masses of people will more easily fall victims to a big lie than to a small one. Especially if it is repeated over and over." Adolph Hitler
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sambra27 wrote...
    @ ron prevost
    September 1, 2012 8:17 am
    Ron, Obama extended the Bush Tax Cuts, but he also added in new tax credits. A tax credit is effectively the same as a tax cut so long as you bring in enough money for the tax credit to mean anything...correct me if I'm wrong. Also in regards to Romney's speech: During the conventions, I don't expect either side to start talking about the specifics of what their campaign is about. I only expect to meet the candidate, have them say why the other side is a terrible choice (with a mix of lies and truths), and then have a curmudgeony old man talk to a chair :).
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    OK, can you let me know just when and what these tax credits were?
    September 1, 2012 9:04 am
    And I thought we were talking the immediate future, not past cuts. ... I hope you're not talking about the payroll tax cuts. Those hurt social security more than any extra added spending.

    Hey, wait. The democrats do plan an act as rambling as Clint Eastwood - Joe Biden.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fartforce1 wrote...
    Something ells was missing as well, same thing that all republican candidates are missing..Honesty.
    September 1, 2012 8:33 am
    Obama spent billions saving the US auto industry, made Republicans real mad - AND IT WORKED! Romney said "Let the FAIL!" When Obama took office, the republican leadership was dumping 750000 a month, now Obama is adding 150000 a month. Romney says he will add 250000 a month, but really he means 100000. When Obama took office, the stock-market was in free fall. Now it was doubled and it is still on the way up. The convention had the most clever lies I have ever heard. I sure dont want to give it back to the Republicnas who love America and hate Americans.
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  • Zagnut wrote...
    "I sure dont want to give it back to the Republicnas who love America and hate Americans."
    September 1, 2012 8:42 am
    Yep, no surprise to that summary statement by a leftist. Libs think most conservatives have evil intentions. Conservatives think most libs have good intentions but are just flat out wrong. That is why lib commentators tend to spew more hateful comments. If you think someone is evil then they deserve your vitriol.
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  • Rick1 wrote...
    no...
    September 1, 2012 9:07 am
    we think that most conservatives have let the talking heads push the GOP way too far to the right where they confuse peoples free rights with supporting a system where billionarres tax breaks are protected and banks and wall street can live without regulation because its best for the top 1%.
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  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    fart...look here.
    September 1, 2012 8:45 am
    It appears you need a dose of reality, something the left is loathe to do. http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • William Lawn wrote...
    Were you watching it when we started two off budget wars?
    September 1, 2012 8:51 am
    .
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    ^^^Security is exspensive.
    September 1, 2012 3:22 pm
    But lack of security is MORE expensive. Now I know that in liberal land EVERYONE gets along and they all hold hands and sing Khum Ba Ya and give each other hugs...but I live in the real world...you know the one where a-holes fly jets into buildings and women strapped w/ explosive wrapped in nails blow themselves up on buses full of innocents.
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  • William Lawn wrote...
    Why were they off budget?
    September 2, 2012 12:03 am
    Because the R's were Kum ba Ya Yaing each other.

    They were "free" weren't they?

    Did the oil revenues pay for at least one?

    But they didn't.

    Cut taxes during a war, actuality, two.

    First time in American history.

    How did that work out?

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  • fartforce1 wrote...
    Yup, there is the proof you provided, shows what had to be done to rescue the ecconomy.
    September 1, 2012 9:06 am
    and you want to give the keys back to those who caused the problem.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • William Lawn wrote...
    Can you imagine the caterwauling if a Demoncrat had said this?
    September 1, 2012 8:45 am
    "We should sink Todd Akin," Rove is quoted as saying in Bloomberg Businessweek. "If he's found mysteriously murdered, don't look for my whereabouts."
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