Mitt Romney Lies About His Record in Massachusetts

Map of Massachusetts from State Website

Ham on Wry wearies of Mitt Romney and pledges not to write further Romney posts unless something earth-shattering occurs.  This blogger realizes that voters in Massachusetts elected him as governor, but how do they regard him now?  Massachusetts has a diverse population with more independent voters than the two major parties combined.  Readers will find the state  motto revealing,  It reads "ENSE PETIT PLACIDAM SUB LIBERTATE QUIETEM," meaning "By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty."  Digest that for a moment and reflect on its implications before continuing.

Against that backdrop, Ham on Wry includes the John Kerry ad below for review.  It details some of Romney's broken promises.  It's just another example of how Romney misrepresents facts in a blatant manner.  The biggest of all centers on Romney's claim that he left a budget surplus, when he actually left a huge deficit for the next governor, Deval Patrick.

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Romney Meant What He Said

rollingstone.com

Ham on Wry chose this picture of Mitt Romney in his plain folks shirt to illustrate the sharp contrast between the image and the man.  He is definitely not a man of the people, by the people, and for the people and has clearly defined where his loyalties lie in his now famous or infamous, as one's point of view dictates, comments about the 47% of Americans who will vote for Obama.  As a reminder, the quote appears in the next paragraph.



  "There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it -- that that's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what. ... These are people who pay no income tax. ... [M]y job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."

For those that have heard the audio of his comments, no doubt can exist that he meant exactly what he said.  He believes that 47% of Americans don't take personal responsibility for their lives and consider health care, food and housing entitlements.  Silly me.  I consider them basic necessities of life rather than entitlements.  I guess he would like to see 47% of us sick, starving to death, and living on the streets, if one takes him at his word.  I don't care how he tries to spin it, he can't explain away his total disregard for those he lumps into the 47%.

This blogger has an advanced degree, held three jobs when she graduated with her bachelor's degree so that she could continue her education, and has paid social security, federal taxes, state taxes, Medicare taxes, sales taxes, etc. since she was 18 (Medicare taxes came later).  Most middle class people can cite similar stories, and most have hit bumps in the road along the way.  Sunday's Tampa Bay Times had an article written by a woman who used food stamps when she was a single mom attending college.  Romney would label her a "victim."

For those of you in the middle class who choose to vote for Romney, do so at your own peril.  He's not an evil man, but he is out-of-tune with contemporary society and does not represent the interests of the common man.  To say that 47% of American citizens are dependent on government is actually an understatement because all citzens get some help from the government in forms of services.  Don't let his plain folks shirt and jeans fool you.  That doesn't reflect the way he usually dresses.  Remember the "mom jeans" he wore at the beginning of his campaig.  That shows how out-of-touch he is with mainstream America.  Remember all of this when voting.

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More on Romney's 47% Comment

 

ABC News Photo

 

 

Mitt Romney has attempted to explain away the comments he made at a private fundraiser in May, after a video of his response to a supporter was made public yesterday (see 9/18 blog post).  No matter how he changes his words, the denigration of those who pay no taxes as having a victim’s mentality still rings as sanctimonious and dismissive.

 

Fact checkers busied themselves on determining exactly what kind of people paid no taxes last year.  Readers can find several articles that detail the composition of that group using internet search engines.  This blogger will include a few that might surprise readers who thought only the poor paid nothing.

 

Some wealthy people paid $0 in taxes last year. About 1 percent of the top 1 percent of income earners, those making about $533,000 or more, did not pay income taxes, according to ABC News. That's roughly 13,000 tax filers.  Retirees living entirely on Social Security income figure into the category as well.  People who made no money in 2011 but have paid federal taxes other years belong to that group also.  Yes, some people living at poverty level paid no taxes, but that doesn’t mean all of them behave as victims.  Many work for a living but can't make ends meet on hourly wages.

 

Face it, Mitt, you blew it.  The fact that you were recorded at a private function doesn’t change the fact that you uttered the words.  You just don’t get it, and you probably never will.  You led a privileged life that included private school, college costs paid by your parents and help buying your first home.  

 

Jon Huntsman, who ran as a candidate for the Republican nomination, identified the biggest problem Republicans face in this election. "We're not expanding our demographics. We're not thinking in terms of big, bold, optimistic solutions for this nation, we're doing a little too much pandering. We're doing a little bit too much in the way of pledge signing," says Huntsman. "We've got to get back to the big, bold visionary stuff, where we're not going to pander, we're going to talk about trust deficit, just like we talk about our fiscal deficit."

Great idea, Jon.  Too bad you didn't win the nomination. You're a voice of reason in a sea of insanity.

 

 

 

 

 



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Mitt Romney Calls 47% of Americans Victims

Mitt Romney believes 47% of Americans consider themselves victims and feel entitled to government hand-outs. Ham on Wry will provide his exact words when he responded to a wealthy donor at a fundraiser in Boca Raton, Florida.

Before listing the quotes, this blogger takes Romney to task for making such a claim in the first place and then trying to excuse it by saying it wasn't "elegantly stated." Really, Mr. Romney?  How elegant can you make words like that?

"There are 47% of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47% who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it. That-- that's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what. ..."

Romney continued by saying, "My job is not to worry about these people. I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives ."

That about sums it up, readers.  Let's forget about anyone who has suffered mightily from the economic downturn and lost a home, a job, health care, etc. and needs some temporary help. Let them starve, live out of a suitcase, or die in the streets. This blogger has personal knowledge of several people who lost their jobs and health care at the same time.  One had to file bankruptcy because she developed brain cancer and used up all the money she had saved to pay medical expenses and still had a large balance. This should not happen to people who have worked all of their lives and lose everything due to circustances over which they have no control.

Clearly, this Republican candidate for President regards many Americans contemptuously, and he doesn't feel he must worry about them, if he's elected.  That message should scare more than 47% of Americans.  We should all shudder at the thought of someone who dismisses people who consider food, health care, and housing are basic necessities and not extras. 

Ham on Wry considers his comments a blessing to the voters because he reveals his true feelings about almost half the population.  He has never struggled for money or lost his home or wondered where his next meal would come from. He is not a man who understands those who lac the shield of great wealth and would deny the most basic necessities to those in need in favor of making the rich richer.

Voters have a choice between two sharply divided candidates.  Ham and Wry urges every one of them to study the issues and make informed choices.

 

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Mitt Romney's Politicization of Violence in Egypt and Libya US Embassies Shameful

Mitt Romney has done it again! His ignorance has come full circle in his handling of foreign affairs.  He criticized the London Olympics, earning the moniker Mitt the Twit, and then angered the Palestinians while visiting Israel.

Yesterday, he outdid himself by disparaging the US Embassy and the Obama administration for their handling of a video criticizing the Muslim faith.  Never mind that both had already issued statements condemning the video.


The irony that this travesty occurred on September 11 is not lost on this blogger.  Ham on Wry goes on record stating that politicizing such a tragic event is shameful at best, despicable at least.  This blog expresses the same outrage that even the most conservative media have leveled at Romney.  His outrage should aim at the Israeli-American real estate developer who made the video and released it yesterday with no regard for the effect it would have on Americans living in some of today's most violence-prone areas.  That decision reminds Ham and Wry of Terry Jones, who threatened to burn the Koran in 2010.  That level of ignorance causes innocent people to lose their lives.

Four people, including the American Ambassador Chris Stevens, died in Libya in a separate attack that some believe was planned to kill American diplomats that would have occurred without the video to inflame them.  No matter what the cause of these heinous acts, no one should use it to make a political statement.

Perhaps Mitt Romney would fare better if he changed his advisers because this kind of egregious error sends a divisive message to the rest of the world.  It's one thing to criticize his opponent, it's quite another to try to convert violence into political capital.  He might have been CEO of Bain Capital, but the federal government  is an entirely different kind of organization.  Think before you speak, Mitt.  You'll do us all a big favor, and by the way, this blunder will haunt you.

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Mitt Romney Lacks a Compelling Case for Presidential Bid

addictiveinfo.com 

Somehow, Ham and Wry has missed the evidence that would suggest Mitt Romney will lead the country out of the doldrums and return it to its former state of prosperity. 

In fact, I don't think most voters know who Mitt Romney really is.  I certainly don't, and I have read extensively in various types of publications. Perhaps a just-released biography can offer some insight about him.

The Real Romney by Michael Kranish and Scott Helman, two Boston Globe reporters, concluded that the Republican presidential front-runner "is one of the least colorful Romneys." The authors examine the backgrounds of Romney's more interesting Mormon ancestors and analyze his relationship with his father, George Romney, who served three terms as the governor of Michigan. I can certainly buy the idea that Mitt is not one of the most colorful of the clan. Frankly, he lacks charisma and warmth in his public persona and doesn't relate well to people one-on-one. He behaves like a caricature of himself.

Romney tries to make the case that he knows how to create jobs while glossing over the fact that he sent many jobs overseas when he led Bain Capital, and some of the companies he "helped" went bankrupt.  Oddly enough, Bain always made beaucoup bucks, regardless of the outcome for the troubled organizations. Frankly, that doesn't earn him the moniker of "jobs creator." In fact, it provides no measure for how he would lead a government when Congress doesn't have to do what he tells them to do most of the time.  His power to hire and fire exists only in his administration and that has some restrictions as well.

Of one thing, I am sure. Mitt Romney has never had to make some of the hard choices that most of us have had to do in this time of economic uncertainty. He most likely hasn't seen the inside of a grocery store and has no need to worry about whether his bank account is overdrawn or choose between paying the mortgage or making needed home repairs. He does not understand the middle class and the poor viscerally because he hasn't experienced the gut-wrenching angst that accompanies financial strains. That makes him different from the vast majority of Americans.

With all of the global unrest and trouble spots, why should we switch leaders and vote for Mitt Romney?  He's not well-informed about all of the places our troops are deployed, and he would have a huge learning curve to catch up to President Obama's knowledge. Even if voters aren't crazy about President Obama, Osama bin Laden was eliminated, as were many of his top lieutenants, under Obama's leadership.

He also supported the health care law, although Congress voted to make it law. Ham on Wry finds it curious that people object to it because it's socialized medicine. One third of our country is covered by socialized medicine, over 100 million people, because they use either Medicare or the military health system. It has worked for years and could have simply been extended to cover the rest of the population with a similar sysem.  People complain that they shouldn't be forced to buy health care insurance, but taxpayers pay when people aren't covered. Preventive care is far less expensive than fixing something that has gone horribly wrong with the body, and people without insurance don't receive preventive check-ups.

So, why should I vote for Mitt Romney? I can think of no good reason. In my view, he will do more to protect the wealthy than he will for the rest of us.

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Donald Trump, the "Big, Bad, Wolf"

"The Donald", pictured at left in his quintessential "I'm the boss" pose, has little substance to offer when it comes to politics. Ham on Wry fails to understand why any candidate would embrace his support. One can't dispute his wealth, but he blows a lot of hot air, much like the Big, Bad, Wolf of The Three Little Pigs fame.

Trump has great talent for affecting a scowling, grumpy demeanor and garnering media attention, but it's the kind of attention any serious politician should eschew. He delights in offending people and will say anything that pops into his brain. Mitt Romney should have carefully examined the effects of Trump's support before accepting it.

He plays to the lowest, common denominator, which makes him appealing to Birthers, those who still doubt that President Obama was born in Hawaii. He mentioned his doubts about Obama's citizenship at the North Carolina Republican convention a week ago and received rousing applause. Greta Van Sustern questioned Trump about it on her show May 29th, asking him why he would still have doubts when ample evidence has been presented that Barack Obama was born in Hawaii. Trump never presented any hard facts to dispute Obama's citizenship. Unfortunately, Trump is like many who prefer to ignore renowned fact checking organizations because of their dislike for the President. I leave it to readers to draw conclusions about that particular brand of ignorance.

Continuing his pompousness, he proclaimed that he could refute claims of racism leveled against him because he hired Arsenio Hall in the latest version of Celebrity Apprentice. Really? Does that prove he isn't a racist?    I don't know whether he has a bias against minorities or not, but I do know that his example proves nothing and illustrates my point. He huffs and he puffs, but he doesn't blown down any houses of substance.

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Mitt Romney, the Mystery Man

Ham on Wry has many questions for Mitt Romney that  have no specific answer as yet. Since the photo at left invites any and all queries, game on!

Mr. Romney, have you personally shopped in a grocery store or big box store in the past ten years? If so, has the rise in prices forced you to forgo the purchase of items that were formerly a staple in your diet? I have made adjustments, and so have a majority of my friends; however, I doubt that you've felt the pinch.

When you tout your ability to create jobs, are you including jobs that Bain Capital outsourced to other countries? Do you factor in the jobs that companies eliminated while you led Bain Capital, so that you can provide a specific net gain figure?

You have been speaking in generalities throughout your campaign about actions you would take if elected President of the United States. Now that you have won the required delegates, can you state exactly what you would do to create jobs while protecting the most vulnerable citizens of our country: children, the physically disabled and mentally handicapped, and the elderly? According to the Preamble to the United States Constitution, government has a prime duty to provide for the welfare of its citizens. No, I don't mean the welfare program. I mean the health, well-being, and safety of all.

What are your plans to ensure that every citizen has access to health care other than using emergency departments? Our country has a dismal health care record in comparison to other industrialized nations. Life expectancy in this country trails France, Italy, Japan, Germany, Canada, and the UK, all of which use socialized medicine. According to a report published by the World Health Organization in August 2011, the United States trailed 40 other countries in infant mortality rates during the first month of life. Ham on Wry could list several additional abysmal statistics, but the message is clear. Our current system fails too many people.

What are your views on proposed regulation of financial services behemoths? You have affirmed your belief in capitalism both verbally and in your career. Unfettered capitalism does not work  If it did, the economic meltdown in 2008 would not have occurred, nor would Bernie Madoff have succeeded in pilfering obscene amounts of money from investors who trusted him. What will you do to ensure that a debacle such as this will not happen again?

You are currently faulting President Obama for failed economic policies, yet he took office when the economy had hit its lowest point since the depression. Ham on Wry asks you to speak more in terms of the strategy you will use and the actions you will take to implement that strategy in order to produce a robust economy from which all citizens will benefit, not just those who can shield assets and move money to overseas accounts. It's time to lay out your plan, Mr. Romney. Only then can informed citizens understand your vision for this country.

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Mitt Romney's View on Working Women

A writing friend sent this a few days ago, and, fair or not, it made me smile. Mitt Romney had experience in firms with women working in high-level positions, so he probably treated them professionally. It doesn't change this blogger's opinion of the irony in the image at left. Romney doesn't interact much with that socioeconomic group. They can't donate large sums of money to his campaign.






No matter what economic status a woman holds, the voting booth is the ultimate equalizer.  Women must remember that 31 Republican senators, all of whom were men, voted against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act.  Do you think Romney or Obama shows more support for women? That's a central issue in the campaign for president this year.

According to the framer's of the constitution, the real job of government concerns the welfare and protections of its citizens and not its businesses and corporations. Citizens can't expect government to create jobs, but they can expect government to create a climate of cooperation with businesses. Women's health and general welfare depends on accessibility to jobs that pay living wages today.

Band together, women of America, and let's send a strong message of support for legislation that recognizes the importance of women in the 21st Century. If a woman can afford not to work and chooses to stay home, she has the freedom to do so. If a woman can afford not to work, but chooses to have a job, she has the same freedom. Many women have no choice and must work to support a family. Bear that in mind when you review voting records and political platforms for the next election.

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The Undeniable Differences Between President Obama and Mitt Romney

Ham on Wry is tackling some issues in today's blog that will factor into the election in November this year. Understanding other cultures and global challenges occupies a position as an important consideration one can use to choose a candidate to for President. The United States can not insulate itself from the rest of the world because a global economy and instant communication exist today. It is impossible to disengage from the variety of relationships we have with manufacturing, financial, communication, and technology partners, for example. President Obama has lived in multi-cultural environments and attended school in Jakarta, Indonesia when his step-father, a student at a college in Hawaii, was called home after President Suharto took office. Some see that as a drawback. This blogger views it as an asset that allows him to understand some of the biggest current trouble spots .

President Obama has overseen the elimination of Osama bin Laden and some of his top leaders in Al Quaeda and has gained respect from G8 members and other allies. His call for working in tandem with other nations to solve the crisis in Libya proved successful as well. He avoids knee-jerk decisions to send our military into nations that are facing internal conflicts and haven't attacked the United States. A major part of the reason we face a budget deficit lies in the fact that he inherited the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars from his predecessor. Previous blogs have listed the financial outlay and the cost in injured soldiers and damaged or lost equipment.

President Obama understands the financial strains many families face because he experienced them himself. He lived with his grandparents for many years, who had money constraints that forced them to live humly. He faced adversity as the son of a white mother and African father, which allows him to understand those kinds of problems in our society. His wife sometimes sneaks into target or a grocery store, just to mingle with people other those who frequent the White House. Obama "feels our pain."

To those who continue to doubt his citizenship or his religious affiliation, I say, "Get over it!" These criticisms mask the true intent of such doubts. President Obama is mixed race, and some people have problems accepting him as their leader. Shame on all of them! Every human has well over 99% of the same gene make-up and Caucasians are a minority in the world. It's time to bury racial issues and live fully in the 21st century.

Mitt Romney has led a mostly privileged life. He was the last-born of George and Lenore Romney and went to public school until he reached 7th grade, at which time he attended Cranbrook, an all boys prep school in Bloomfield Hills near Detroit where the Romneys lived. George Romney served three terms as the Governor of Michigan and served as Richard Nixon's Secretary of HUD, so Mitt was exposed to politics at a very young age.

Mitt served as a Mormon missionary in France, so he lived in another culture, which, at the time, was predominately white. However, France is one of our allies, and it didn't teach him anything about third world nations. He met his wife Ann Davies before leaving on his mission and returned home when he felt he was losing her affection. They married soon after and had five children, all boys.

Romney spent his career in consulting, starting at Boston Consulting Group, then joining Bain, and eventually headed Bain Capital as its CEO. Not long after making the switch, he changed the model from buying start-ups to buying existing firms with borrowed money, known as leveraged buyouts. He garnered an excellent reputation for a fair management style and success in running Bain Capital. The company's main aim was to maximize the value of acquired companies and the return to Bain's investors, rather than creating jobs at the acquired companies. As such, some of the LBO's wound up in bankruptcy and many were forced to lay off large numbers of employees. That alone stands in stark contrast to what Obama is trying to do his first term. It creates a disconnection with the current emphasis on lowering the unemployment rate in the US. Mitt Romney knows how to make money,  but he does not know anything about creating jobs in the businesses of which he was a part.

The majority of Americans don't have money in offshore accounts, nor do they have a personal net worth of    at least $190 million in blind trusts and an additional $75 million or more in blind trusts for their heirs. I don't know whether Ann has ever shopped at Target or a local grocery, but I suspect she has had a great deal of help in handling household affairs with that kind of money. Mitt strikes me as a decent human being who has no idea how to interact authentically with ordinary people because he isn't one and really never has been.

No matter what a reader thinks of President Obama personally, I don't think we can afford to change the nation's leadership in the middle of the many conflicts in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Mitt might be a nice guy, but running this country isn't about profit, it's about people.

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Romney Says Obama "Out of Touch"

Ham on Wry finds it interesting that Mitt Romney accused President Obama of being "out of touch" Wednesday. His pathetic attempts to relate to Americans who don't hobnob with the wealthy elite included "mom jeans", stilted humor, and failed attempts to portray himself as "one of the gang." His laughs appear forced and his body language screams, RIGID. He failed in his bid to win the nomination in 2008 for good reason. Romney doesn't understand the middle class.


President Obama has two school-age children and his wife sometimes sneaks out and shops at grocery stores and Target, so he knows what an average American faces every day with rising prices and shrinking incomes. Romney has led a privileged life from birth and moves in circles to which most Americans have no access. His world differs from ours in that rising prices matter little to someone who can afford to buy anything he chooses. In Ham and Wry's view, Mitt Romney is sorely out of touch with middle America and positively has no understanding of poverty.  His father George understood poverty, but Mitt never experienced wanting things he couldn't afford.

The American Energy Alliance, which has ties to the Koch Brothers, billionaires who own oil pipelines, has already released a ridiculous negative ad blaming President Obama for the spike in gas prices and it includes the funding for Solyndra as a red herring. C'mon people! How stupid can viewers be if they believe something funded by billionaires who support conservative causes because it puts more money in their pockets.  Gas prices are basically out of the hands of a single individual. Did Americans blame Gerald Ford for the skyrocketing gas prices and long lines at gas stations in 1974?  No! It's not a Republican or Democratic issue. Much of the increase stems from the oil producing nations in the Middle East. They set the price of a barrel of oil produced by OPEC.

This blogger will continue to harp on researching information and ignoring ad campaigns from either side. Our founders wanted well-educated citizens to vote their beliefs because they understood the issues and the candidates. Please don't go to the polls in November, if you believe that you don't have the responsibility to inform yourself about all of the issues and the platform which the candidates stand on.

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Mitt Romney Wrong on Gas Pricing

Getty Image

Mitt Romney, seen at left in his infamous "mom jeans" called for President Obama to fire Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson Saturday, because he stated that they had been chosen to raise gas prices and will no longer serve their collective purpose, since President Obama now wants lower gas prices. Poppycock, Mr. Romney!



When was the last time Mr. Romney purchased his own gas to give him a frame of reference? Romney might have done well at Bain Capital, but,  he has apparently forgotten how gas prices are determined, or perhaps he never understood the process because he made so much money that gas prices didn't appear on his economic radar screen. 


The largest percentage of gas cost is set by crude-oil suppliers, the oil-producing nations, of which OPEC is the largest. They determine the cost of a barrel of oil which eventually determines gas prices at the pump in part. Add to that the cost of refining oil, transporting it, taxes (local, state, and federal), and increases added by gas stations, and it provides a means to calculate how much a gallon of gas will cost. Have you heard of the Straits of Hormuz, Mr. I'm just an average guy and I'm wearing jeans to prove it? The only difference between Romney and most others who buy gas lies in the fact that most Americans don't have offshore accounts and don't have someone buying gas for them. Mitt Romney bears little resemblance to an average guy. One would think that someone raised in Michigan would understand all about the price of  gas, but, if he did, he wouldn't blame Obama and his cabinet members for the increase. 


The only gas he understands is that which emanates from his mouth while he boasts of his magnificent accomplishments. What Have You Done for Me Lately? comes to mind. He hasn't discussed his term as Governor of Massachusetts much on the campaign trail. I'll leave it to readers to determine why.

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Super Tuesday Results

Ethan Miller/Getty Images, Brian Snyder/Reuters, Joe Raedle/Getty Images,Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Tuesday's race for delegates produced the following results. Mitt Romney won Alaska, Idaho, Massachusetts, Ohio, Virginia and Vermont; Rick Santorum took Tennessee, Oklahoma and North Dakota; and.Newt Gingrich has Georgia, the state with the most delegates, in his column. Ron Paul trailed behind in all 10 states.

With a total of 1,144 delegates. Romney leads with 361 delegates. Santorum in second place trails Romney with a total of 112 delegates; Gingrich has garnered 80 and Ron Paul 24. Just under half the delegates still remain in the race for the Republican nomination, and Ron Paul has little chance of a victory.

Ham on Wry wrote an earlier post about Ron Paul and believes he is the only one of the four that has stated his position clearly without wavering.  He might gain traction by running as an independent because it's clear that none of the Republican hopefuls have overwhelming support. This blog predicts that Paul will drop out of the race by tomorrow.

None of the nominees seem to grasp the importance that global issues should take on the political stage, instead opting for attacks on one another and spending time on social issues that have no place on their platforms. What a disappointing lot!  If this is the best the Republicans have to offer, it clearly illustrates a party divided and in disarray. All the better for President Obama.

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Who Will Win In Michigan?

On the left, we have Mitt Romney, who was born in Michigan and claims it as his native state. Yet he left there over 40 years ago. Ham on Wry bets that Michiganders don't consider him a homie. In fact, he faces an uphill battle in convincing auto workers that he didn't mean it when he said that GM and Chrysler shouldn't receive bailout money. Romney also has a credibility problem with the average American who doesn't have $300 million in offshore accounts. Somehow that just flies in the face of claiming that he will fix our economy. He could always pay extra taxes voluntarily.

On the right, we have Rick Santorum, a man who lost steam in his home state of Pennsylvania and elevates birth control to a campaign issue. Perhaps he hasn't seen the polls that a majority of Americans favor Obama's plan to include in in health plan, and I don't mean a bottle of aspirin. Does anyone really believe that Santorum can hold his own in a G8 meeting? If so, just picture him interacting with Angela Merkel, and you'll get my point. The fact that his numbers have soared defies logic and points toward insanity.

If this is the best that the Republican Party can offer, it's a sad day for our country. Both are trying to out-conservative the other and pander to a minority of citizens whose single issue focus ignores the real problems the country faces. Maybe some dark horse candidate is lurking in the shadows, waiting to make a last minute bid for the party nomination. One can only hope.

Oh, and by the way, the auto makers experienced a banner year in 2011, but the financial institutions aren't faring as well. Let me see, now who ordered the bailout for the financial institutions. I do believe readers will remember the correct answer: George W. Bush. And who bailed out the auto makers? Barack Obama did.

Ham on Wry desperately hopes that voters do their homework before choosing our president in November.    Just remember under whose watch Osama bin Laden and many of his top henchmen were killed.  And who ended the Iraq War that should never have started in the first place? That's right. President Obama. Voters, you have a responsibility to check facts and not believe every forwarded e-mail or TV ad paid for by some corporation who has little interest in what's best for the citizens of this country. That statement applies to all voters-Democrat, Republican or Independent. Exercise your brain and read.

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Gingrich and Romney Stoop to New Low

Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images

Here we go again! Gingrich and Romney continue hurling accusations at one another in the fight for Florida's pledged delegates. Florida is a winner-takes-all state, so the stakes are high in this race for the Republican nomination. Ham on Wry expresses its disgust at the over-the-top ads that permeate the airwaves and will whoop for joy after January 31st when the primary election is over. Floridians will have some reprieve until after the August Republican National Convention held in Tampa. Hurrah! I can't wait for the political deluge of drivel that will arrive then.

Okay, boys. Since you've chosen to point out the worst in your opponents, Ham on Wry joins the fray. One of the biggest roadblocks to an effective government occurs in the gridlock of negative actions against opponents, be it in a race for a party nomination or voting on legislation. Gingrich has labeled Romney a liberal, changing his earlier categorization of moderate. Only someone who is entrenched in extremism would think Romney is a liberal. Liberals tend to populate the independent category more than those of Democrat or Republican. Hey, Newt, have you forgotten your record as a member of the House of Representatives? If Romney is a liberal, you would fall into the uber-liberal category. You claim that you'll educate poor people and teach them how to get a job. What held you back over the last 13 years? Perhaps you were too busy capitalizing on your grasp of history, since you claim Freddie Mac hired you as a historian. Right! I'm certain your acceptance had nothing to do with the lucrative compensation.

Romney's campaign has aired an ad that captured archival footage from a 1997 NBC New broadcast in which Tom Brokaw discussed Gingrich's ethics violations and an overwhelming vote to impose a hefty fine. No one can dispute the truth of that claim because it's a matter of public record. However, it was chosen in poor taste and Tom Brokaw said that he feels uncomfortable having part of that broadcast used for political purposes. Romney claims a deep faith and yet resorts to the basest form of campaign tactics. Take the high road, Mitt. You have the Republican machine behind you and don't need to go for the jugular. Remove the ad and get on with it!

I'd like to think that people who want to lead our country during a difficult time nationally and internationally would display more statesmanship and behave like adults rather than junior high boys. My advice--grow up and tell voters what you can do, not what someone else can't!

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Republican Candidates Lack Fresh Ideas

Getty Image Chip Somodeville

The two sparring front runners in the Republican nomination process have provided absolutely nothing that could be labeled innovative to move this country forward in the second decade of the 21st century. Instead, they focus on portraying each other and President Obama in a negative light. The word Republican has become synonymous with the word "no".  The President's State of the Union address last night was delivered with optimism and ideas about moving this country in a positive direction. In fact, he included a few ideas that I had suggested in a note to him--ideas that many others had suggested as well, I'm sure. Obama mentioned taxing companies that outsource jobs overseas and rewarding companies that hire and maintain a workforce in this country.

Let's review some facts about where the United States stands today, as compared to what existed when Obama was elected in 2008. The financial meltdown occurred in September 2008, leaving a legacy of economic chaos when Obama took office in 2009. Much of the bailout plan was started under the Bush administration, although the Obama administration provided bailout money to the auto companies after he took office.The financial institutions that received money under Bush continued business as usual and paid large bonuses to executives, despite having borrowed astronomical amounts from taxpayers. I leave it to the reader to draw conclusions, but I place my vote on GM and Chrysler and remind readers that Ford did not take bailout money.

When Obama moved to the White House, al Qaeda was thriving and Osama bin Laden was alive. Today, bin Laden no longer exists and many other al Qaeda leaders have been killed, thus weakening the terrorist organization. During Libya's internal strife in the wake of Arab Spring, Obama chose a measured approach that relied on NATO forces on the ground and did not commit American forces to lead the charge. In January 2009, we still had a huge number of troops in Iraq. Obama ended that in December 2011.

I could wax on with additional information, but I now turn to Romney and Gingrich. Romney worked for the financial establishment, and, as his 2010 taxes show, paid a 13.9% tax rate because much of his income came from investments, which are taxed at a much lower rate than earned income such as many of us pay on our salaries. For particulars, Romney's tax forms can be found online.

Gingrich paid a 31% rate for 2010 income, but that doesn't reflect wealth that he accrued in previous years, and his taxes are a bit involved because of his foundation. Suffice it to say, both candidates are among the 1%. I remind readers that Warren Buffett has repeatedly stated that millionaires should pay a higher tax rate than those earning less than a million, and Patriotic Millionaires group agrees. Most Americans in a similar age bracket to the candidates have not earned $1 million in 10 years, let alone one tax year.

Ham on Wry urges voters to avoid using just one issue to elect a president in 2012. We don't need same ole, same ole mentality when approaching the complexities of modern living and global issues. That admonition applies to Congress  as well. President Obama rightfully chastised them last night for their inaction this session, and voters must remember that at the polls later this year.

Neither  Gingrich and Romney offer inspired leadership.The Republican Party's only hope is an unannounced, dynamic candidate with a track record of accomplishment in the last few years. If the current candidates reflect the best and brightest Republicans have to offer, we're doomed. Gingrich has already failed his leadership test and Romney doesn't appeal to many of the voters looking for a candidate to whom they can relate.

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Republican Presidential Candidates Fail to Impress

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Ham on Wry gave up hope that a qualified, knowledgeable Republican candidate would emerge when Jon Huntsman withdrew from the race for the nomination. Monday night's debate did nothing to provide evidence that a trustworthy candidate still exists on the Republican side.

Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney currently vie for the lead in the race. Neither impresses this blogger. Gingrich has demonstrated a character flaw that runs through much of his life. He married both his second and third wives after having affairs with them while he was still married. That doesn't affect his work necessarily, but it does indicate someone who lacks ethics in personal relationships. Maybe many Republicans who enthusiastically cheered him on his tirade at the debate directly prior to the South Carolina primary forgot that he already served as Speaker of the House in the 90's and resigned in disgrace. Fellow Republicans accused him of a failure to lead. Do we really want to revisit that in a time when so much turmoil exists globally? He also seems a bit fuzzy on what he accomplished during his time in Congress and attempts to distance himself from some of the bills he supported as a representative.

Mitt Romney has shown faithfulness and dedication in his personal relationships, but his success as a businessman comes with mixed reviews. The results of his tenure at Bain Capital show that some companies were created and others destroyed in his efforts. He amassed a great deal of wealth during that time, and he's not the only person to run for President who came from wealth. However, his reluctance to release his taxes until recently defies logic. One is left to wonder whether he truly understand the majority of citizens he wants to govern. He often seems ill at ease at the debate podium and appears out of touch with mainstream America. He accomplished some noteworthy aims as governor of Massachusetts, but now disavows some of the legislation he supported during his term in office.

The Republican Party has lots its way during the past quarter century and bears little resemblance to the party that existed several decades ago. It is characterized by intransigence and obstinance with a heavy dose of a "holier than thou" attitude. Candidates chant the mantra of no new taxes without offering a means of producing much-needed revenue to the federal government. The United States Constitution was not written to protect businesses or corporations; it was established to protect its citizens.

Registered voters have a duty to study all available information about candidates and then vote in the election. That requites more than watching political ads on TV or believing forwarded e-mails that attack a candidate without checking the facts purported in the ad. South Carolina evangelical Christian voters chose Newt Gingrich, a man whose infidelity is public knowledge. That directly conflicts with the marriage vows people often recite at their church weddings and illustrates a variance from stated principles.

Rick Santorum and Ron Paul do not have the background serve as global leaders or hold their own on the G-8 or deal directly with the issues in Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, North Korea, and other world hot spots. Do the homework Republicans.

The race for the Republican nomination resembles a wild ride on a roller coaster, and, when it ends, I foresee a no-win outcome.

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