The empty chair was the most honest speaker we saw all week.

Quotes from Clint. Still think he's a Republican? He's more of a Libertarian. The difference between him and Romney? I could maybe vote for Clint

1. I don't see myself as conservative, but I'm not ultra-leftist. You build a philosophy of your own. I like the libertarian view, which is to leave everyone alone. Even as a kid, I was annoyed by people who wanted to tell everyone how to live.

2. Maybe I'm getting to the age when I'm starting to be senile or nostalgic or both, but people are so angry now. You used to be able to disagree with people and still be friends. Now you hear these talk shows, and everyone who believes differently from you is a moron and an idiot -- both on the Right and the Left.

3. I'm interested in the fact that the less secure a man is, the more likely he is to have extreme prejudice.

4. Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that's real power.

5. The Korean War was only a few years after World War II. We all went. But you couldn't help but think, Shit. What the hell? What have we gained? One minute you're unleashing the tremendous power of nuclear fission, and then a few years later you're jockeying back and forth on the 38th parallel. It seemed so futile.

6. It takes tremendous discipline to control the influence, the power you have over other people's lives.

7. A good man always knows his limitations.

8. It's making sure that the words "public servant" are not forgotten. That's why I did it. 'Cause I thought, I don't need this. The fact that I didn't need it made me think I could do more. It's the people who need it that I'm suspect of.

9. Sometimes if you want to see a change for the better, you have to take things into your own hands.

10. Hollywood, as everyone knows, glamorizes physical courage ... if I had to define courage myself, I wouldn't say it's about shooting people. I'd say it's the quality that stimulates people, that enables them to move ahead and look beyond themselves.

Hmm. Maybe Clint Eastwood should run for president.

Good one Bob

Happy labor day weekend everyone

Bob - it is not a surprise that Clint is a libertarian. He has stated that on many occasions. His speech was to the point. I also believe in many so-called "liberal" rights such as gay rights and a woman's right to choose. I don't however believe that the federal government should ask the taxpayers to pay for abortions or birth control. Those things are rights that people CHOOSE or don't choose. It's not up to me to pay for it. Like Clint I believe that government needs to stop spending what they don't have, stop with the regulations that are making it harder and harder for businesses to open and/or stay open, need to reign the entitlements and clean up the programs that the government already runs. I, like Clint, don't believe this administration has done that. I believe that someone like Romney is the person we need as he is a proven leader who knows how to balance a budget. Perhaps if a budget was passed in the past 4 years we'd have a better look at what we are up against. Romney has turned many businesses around, those that could be saved were saved, those that couldn't were closed. Has it made you wonder how many of those governors who gave speeches were able to turn their states around, pull them out of deficits and balance budgets WITHOUT raising taxes? Maybe Illinois (where Obama is from) can take a lesson.

I loved Clint. He lossened things up a bit and spoke in a language we all understand. As Newt Gingrich said, "I would rather have Saturday Night Live and their ilk, pick on Clint rather then Romney". 

CC, We are going to need more than Republican talking points to balance a budget or fix this nations problems.

Those of you who think that Romney turned business around haven't read much about how Romney's company outsourced jobs or how MA was 47th in job creation when he was Gov there.

The debt of the last 30 years came from huge defense and health care spending (some on entitlements) and tax cuts that mostly benefited the wealthy. The GOP solution is more tax cuts when they haven't created jobs and are the thing most responsible for our debt.

I would be all for tax cuts if we had a surplus or if those tax cuts created jobs. Maybe they would create jobs if we TIED them to job creation as in create jobs or lose your tax cuts.

All the "job creators" have done the last 30 years is to move jobs to the 3rd world where people will work for $100-$500 A MONTH and no benefits. NO AMOUNT of further tax cuts is going to fix that problem.

If you think that the GOP plan of more tax cuts and the bs about regulation being the problem is the solution, you are walking blind without a cane. If you have ever looked at the US budget and applied grade school math skills, you'd know that there is no way in hell we can come close to balancing a budget with spending cuts alone.

Most of the GOP have signed no tax increase pledges that they won't consider more taxes under ANY circumstances. That is a love letter to the 1%. Do you want a govt with no medicare?

I'd like to comment on your statement about Republican Governors and their balanced budgets.

At the convention, Gov. Chris Christie said he balanced a budget that had an $11 billion deficit. It's fantasy, as was most of Paul Ryan's speech.

The major flaw with the governor’s claim is that the deficit he cites never went away. And Christie now dismisses that deficit calculation as the "old way of budgeting."

The $11 billion refers to a $10.7 billion structural deficit the state’s nonpartisan Office of Legislative Service projected for the fiscal 2011 budget year, when Christie proposed his first spending plan.

A structural deficit measures how much money the state would need if current services and revenues remained the same and all spending obligations required by statute were fully funded.

The state doesn't have to meet all of its obligations since the budget supersedes statute. So although a state statute may require certain levels of spending on different programs, the governor can sign a budget that does otherwise

And that’s largely what Christie did in his first budget. The governor skipped a $3.1 billion pension payment. He didn’t fully fund the school aid formula. He didn’t fully fund the state’s property tax rebate program.

And the next budget year, the state still had a projected structural deficit.

For the fiscal 2012 budget year, OLS projected a structural deficit of about $10.5 billion, nearly the same size as the previous fiscal year.

And that is why the empty chair was the most truthful speaker in Tampa last week.

Here is a list of five lies that Paul Ryan told when he gave his speech at the Republican National Convention. Every single news outlet should report on these lies.

1. Lie: President Obama is the "greatest threat" to Medicare.

Truth: Obama didn't make any cuts to Medicare benefits; he made cuts to provider reimbursements, to improve cost efficiency and extend the fiscal security of Medicare by eight years. According to the Medicare actuary, "[Obama's] Affordable Care Act makes important changes to the Medicare program and substantially improves its financial outlook."1

But Ryan actually does want to cut benefits. He proposed dismantling Medicare and replacing it with a voucher system, leaving millions of seniors to come up with more money to pay for care out of pocket.2,3

2. Lie: President Obama didn't save a General Motors plant in Wisconsin.

Truth: First, Obama wasn't even in office when the GM plant closed. Second, Obama never made a promise to save it.4

3. Lie: President Obama ignored recommendations of a bipartisan debt commission.

Truth: Paul Ryan actually sat on that commission. And he led Republicans in voting down the commission's own recommendation. So the commission never gave a report to Obama, because Ryan himself voted to kill the report before it could.5

4. Lie: President Obama is responsible for the downgrading of the U.S. Credit Rating

Truth: House Republicans, including Paul Ryan, held the full faith and credit of the United States hostage to try to ransom it for trillions of dollars in cuts to social programs without increasing taxes on the wealthy one dime. Standard & Poors said specifically, "We have changed our assumption on [revenue] because the majority of Republicans in Congress continue to resist any measure that would raise revenues." That's why our nation's credit rating was downgraded.6,7

5. Lie: Ryan wants to protect the "weak."

Truth: Ryan's biggest feat in his political career was proposing a budget with dramatic cuts to programs benefiting the poor. He'd cut Medicaid by one third, take away health care insurancefrom 30 million Americans, and cut Pell Grants for 1 million students. All so that he could give more tax breaks to the rich.

As the age of insanity rolls along, lying has reached a new level in political activism. Apparently, you can lie freely now. Lying is allowed. On any subject. And there is no shame to the lie. This Q&A will explain the lying epidemic that has been sweeping this country.

Q: In the past, if you were caught in a lie, you were discredited.

Dr: Yes, that was the old-fashioned way of thinking. Today a creative lie is worthy of celebration.

Q: But a lie is a lie, isn't it?

Dr: What is so wonderful about the truth? Truth has been around for thousands of years and what has it gotten us? Look at the RNC the other night. Glorious! One lie after another. Did you hear the cheers? Truth is hardly as exciting! And you can't persuade people as easily with the truth. Truth is a harsh medicine. A good lie is soothing to the soul.

Q: What are some of the basic teachings of lying?

Conviction is very important. You can't lie in a halfhearted tone. A lie needs strength in voice commitment and body language. Take Paul Ryan's speech. Brilliant. He lied on almost every subject, but he was committed, elegant. His lies soared. He is a New Age liar. If he keeps his lying edge, he should be a powerful political figure for years to come.

Q: You don't find that alarming?

Alarming? A good liar is worth his weight in gold. The role of a politician is to convince others to follow. If lying works better than truth, why handicap yourself? No one celebrates someone who is truthful anymore. Winning is the ultimate prize. Is there any glory to telling the truth and losing?

Q: What did you think were some of the lying highlights of the convention?

I thought there was something truly exhilarating to watch a packed arena of 30 or 40 thousand people cheering the idea of having their healthcare taken away. They were so convinced by all the lies about healthcare that everyone in the arena was willing to give up all healthcare protection. It was a wonderful sight to see. And here's the best part: the lies were so well constructed, that you didn't even have to offer an alternative health care plan. Just the idea of not having healthcare was enough to bring the people to their feet. That was a A+ on the lying chart. Almost brought tears of joy to my eyes.

I really like you for posting the facts Bob
Here's some more to substantiate. I could go on for days.
http://m.rollingstone.com/?redirurl=/politics/news/the-federal-bailout-that-saved-mitt-romney-20120829

I'm a third generation union electrician and want to wish all a happy labor day weekend.
I'm appalled by this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jeo5A1xOnM&sns=em
Right to work state means,
"Right to work for less money and Benifits"

Yes, Happy Labor Day. My grandfather and father were both union. My father was also a union electrician for 34 years. Here is a short list of what unions gave to us all.

http://republicandirtytricks.com/Images/Post_Images_2/Thanks%20to%20the%20Labor%20Movement.jpg

Right to work (anti-union) states have the lowest incomes and are the poorest states. Do you think that is a coincidence?

My neighbor is a union member and has a great salary, benefits, and pension. He sent me an email supporting right to work efforts that linked to a corporate union busting organization. This was because he gets his "facts" from Fox News, Glenn Beck, and Rush Limbaugh and thinks that they are his friends who have his best interests at heart and that they are swell guys. When I pointed out that a union man has been conned into supporting professional union busters, he wanted to change the subject. Why is this the typical conservative reaction to facts?

I also would like to wish all of our country's workers a Happy Labor Day. However, I am not a fan of the stranglehold unions have on our state. I'm not a politician, nor am I an economist. I am merely a suburban retired woman who is anxious to be a part of any solution there may be for our state.
We are a disgrace. Our budget, our politicians, our school system, our gas prices , can anyone disagree?
But yet we continue to allow the unions to dictate our future. For most of my life I was a democrat. I lived in the city and was married to a policeman. I didn't dare vote for anyone but a democrat. One year I registered as a republican and my alderman called wondering what my problem was. Very scary intimidation, I felt.

Unions have a place in our society. They can work for the good, but to force someone to join or to force government policy is "hoodlumism" I believe. And the entire country is watching us and thinking they are glad to live elsewhere. I don't want to move.. I want to see our state cleaned up.

You are not alone on your thinking. One of the things I have learned after nearly 55 years in business is "the low cost producer always wins. Always". And that does not include unions.

Well ladies I see you have unions checked off on your list. Do you see any thing else that the party of NO might be doing wrong.
I heard the fact checkers are asking for more money because they are sooverworked checking all of mitt and paul's lies.

Louis not Lois. And your'e right, I have checked unions off my list and those that buy the union vote. As far as I'm concerned the unions bankrupted the auto industry and God only knows how they are going to impact the Chicago Public School System.

What bankrupted the auto industry were shitty cars that American industries thought can be sold by slapping a "Made in the USA" sticker on them. Yes, I agree, Unions have issues. However, to lable them as the villian to our problems and lean towards guys like ryan and gov walker is funny at the least.

History is one of our greatest weapons... Open your eyes and look to see you is lining up with Romney/Ryan. Look to see the types of people that have raised alomost a billion $$ in Carl Roves "Crossroads" super pac. The same billionnaire elite that back Iraq and afgan wars. Not under one Bush, but both...
Romney will Lower taxes on the elite who have gotten richer during what the he as many claim as the worse ecomomy since the great depression. Most likley will goto war with Iran and Syira. God help us if we goto WW3...
Keep catching the bones they throw out at us. The whole Rep convention was about make us look like everyone else...

I'm not happy with the condition of our state and I don't call lies angry accusations.

The UAW union made many concessions in order to get the help to stay alive . Which worked out didn't it. Iraq war over 30,000 groups coming home from Afghanistan this month ,bin laden gone, Stock market doubled,woman's rights protected( equal pay).you can't put the teachers union as the face of unions sorry. But if you think they should work with out a raise and conditions while the federal reserve secretly gives banks and foreign banks $16,000,000,000.000 is that 16 trillion from 2007 to 2010 . I'm not interested in a debate but if you have som true facts how the republicans can help save this country without hurting the middle class. Please enlighten us.
For the record I type with one finger (I have 8 plus two thumbs)
I'm a retired third generation local 134 union lifelong democrat.
I've been retired 8 years my union Benifits paid both my wife and my insurance(bc/bs) until I was 65 and till wife 65 last year I have an international,local, and NEBF pension also negotiated was a 401 plan .
I would think people would be interested in something like this instead of letting all the corporate profits going to CEOS
Gottavote.co

30,000 Troops coming home (dam spell check)

Detroit still produces a lot of junk. I just purchased a new car and it wasn't made in the U.S.  I guess a
divergence of opinions is what makes the world go around. The bailout did little buy union votes and shaft secured creditors. When employees are paid 90% of their salary to read books while adding the highest labor cost to the production of automobiles, in the world, I draw the line. When the CPTU is the highest paid in the country and then says they don't believe in merit pay and want teachers recalled by seniority and not performance, I draw the line. You say I can't use the Chicago Public Schools union to make my point, so let's try the State of IL.  You sound like an intelligent individual, need I say more. It's Labor Day and probably not a good day for such a discussion, besides I'm off to the meat market before they close. Enjoy your holiday, I've got to figure out how to meet the payroll.

Sent from my iPhone

CPTU & Chicago Public Schools union should be the Chicago Public Schools Teachers Union or whatever it's called. The union represented by Karen Lewis.

OK have a great time today.

((((((((((He's back))))))))))
http://readersupportednews.org/off-site-opinion-section/72-72/13282-a-list-of-president-obamas-accomplishments

Why do you need an ID to get into the DNC? Oh oh, wait until Eric Holder hears this !
(ok ok I'm not sure it's true, but I think it's funny).

Not sure what your referring to but security is a factor.
Isn't it a badge that you get by pre registering.
Like when their is a trade show at Mc Cormick place. You get a badge to identify yourself.