Monday May 28, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Romney's mountain of wealth gives ammo to opponents

World Jan. 25, 2012 - 06:30AM JST ( 42 )

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

Order by Time Order by Popularity

42 Comments

1

PizzafaceJan. 25, 2012 - 07:15AM JST

Which will be the bigger lead weight in the water? Mitt's mountain of money, or Newt's mountain of Newt first behavior? I sure hope Newt sinks. The welfare of the country only comes after Newt's sex life, as proven by him wasting the country's and president's time over banging an intern, while he said nothing about him banging his own intern.
-1

Ben_JackinoffJan. 25, 2012 - 08:58AM JST

I don't understand why being successful seems to suddenly be a bad thing in US politics. I thought the goal was to get successful people into office.
1

LagunaJan. 25, 2012 - 09:31AM JST

LA Times on Mitt in Florida yesterday speaking of the housing crisis:

Romney did not offer any specific prescriptions of his own. Instead, he fingered Obama for blame, along with new regulations designed to prevent a repeat of the 2008 financial collapse.

The former is not surprising - the current candidates HAVE no ideas - but the latter? Oh well - at least Freddie Mac is there to help refinance mortgages; banks certainly aren't doing their part.
0

ElvensilvanJan. 25, 2012 - 10:06AM JST

@Ben

Haven't you been watching any of the "occupy" protests that have been done across many states and have affected many establishments and businesses?

Romney may be successful, and may have good plans ... but the problem is if the public would accept that Romney really understands how the masses feel about his wealth.
-1

Elbuda MexicanoJan. 25, 2012 - 10:11AM JST

Romney is toast! Not because of his belonging to the Mormon Church, which is only about 2% of the entire US population but now with a horrible economy in the USA, and this dude is not even the so called 1% of America's richest people but he is up in the 0.006% of Americans???
0

SerranoJan. 25, 2012 - 11:07AM JST

"Romney is toast"

For being successful, I guess, lol.

You would think Obama, after a disastrous first term, would be toast, but watch him coast to a second disastrous term, lol.
0

SuperLibJan. 25, 2012 - 11:23AM JST

I never really had a problem with rich guys in government, but times have changed. It does make me wonder how he views things in the business world. There is a definite top class of businesspeople who mostly see the company as a means to enrich themselves personally, even if it's at the expense of the workers or the community. Guys at that level have lost all concept of what a single dollar is and they often throw around millions between friends in business practices like they are peanuts.
0

SushiSake3Jan. 25, 2012 - 11:24AM JST

What is it with the Great Republican Disconnect?

Force women to have babies, then slash programs that provide food and child care for those very babies.

Squeal about losing their freedoms, but don't blink an eye at government control of a woman's womb.

Trot out their Christian values, but demonize and deride their homeless and/or hopeless, often sick (physically or mentally) brother, blaming him for his plight

And this list hits only a few of the many disconnects. Have reason, logic, empathy, and compassion any meaningful role in Republican politics??
-1

SushiSake3Jan. 25, 2012 - 11:29AM JST

Hilarious to see how Mitt's richness is forcing conservatives to plumb new lows.

Mitt's got rich thanks to the capitalist system, that's the one that has free markets, strict regulations and where people can make vast amounts of money - the system the GOP adores (let's not say why, because, hey, we're not supposed to discuss how the same system enriches GOP 1% paymasters....).

The same system got Miit his money, and now conservatives are resorting to slamming the very system they promote.

Which is it conservative people - do you support unbridled capitalism or not??? :-)
1

LagunaJan. 25, 2012 - 11:49AM JST

When my dog eats the ham that I've left out, I don't blame the dog; I blame myself for leaving the meat out. Americans in general don't blame Romney for taking advantage of completely legal tax maneuvers.

On the other hand, you do NOT put your dog in charge of the ham.

Romney is the last guy we need in charge of the US tax system.
-4

Elbuda MexicanoJan. 25, 2012 - 11:57AM JST

Republicans want to say Mr.Obama is to blame for the economic mess but who is blocking any type of job growth initiatives?? Them KKK supporters in 3 piece suits that we see on CSPAN, known to you and me as Republicans, who got us into the 9/11 mess in the first place and that idiot Bush Jr had 8 years to find Osama bin laden but what did we all get?? His 1% filthy rich from profitting from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan!!! While the poorest Americans give their lives for the corrupt fat cats like Dick Cheyney, Wolfowitz?? And Even 1 prominent African American, Colin Powell too.
0

RushO'HannityJan. 25, 2012 - 12:36PM JST

romney made his money before seeking office. clinton made his fortune after leaving it.
0

RushO'HannityJan. 25, 2012 - 12:38PM JST

" Them KKK supporters in 3 piece suits that we see on CSPAN, known to you and me as Republicans, "

kkk were democrats. just ask robert byrd voters .
1

sailwindJan. 25, 2012 - 12:56PM JST

Interesting,

The Democrats are going to slam Romney for being rich and this is from the same party that nominated John Kerry and had no problem with his fortune at the time at all.
0

RushO'HannityJan. 25, 2012 - 12:59PM JST

john kerry married money. democrats admire a man who doesn't stoop to dirtying his hands with the work of starting a business, hiring, planning, creating value, being rewarded with profit.
1

skipbeatJan. 25, 2012 - 01:06PM JST

SushiSake3JAN. 25, 2012 - 11:24AM JST: What is it with the Great Republican Disconnect? Force women to have babies, then slash programs that provide food and child care for those very babies. Squeal about losing their freedoms, but don't blink an eye at government control of a woman's womb. Trot out their Christian values, but demonize and deride their homeless and/or hopeless, often sick (physically or mentally) brother, blaming him for his plight.

Not sure who is being the disconnected one here. Ever heard of the Salvation Army etc. and other organizations such as food pantries that are run by churches or non-churches or shelters for the homeless. You are confused as who helps the needed and the poor. It's both the Democrats and the Republicans along with other groups of people that have a heart and have beliefs. Also. there is nothing wrong with saving unborn babies, the innocent ones.

BTW, it was Clinton, a Democrat, who ended welfare as we know it. Poverty is still visible and more so than ever with the current economy.

You can't blame Romney base on his taxes because Congress and the President are the ones who implemented the tax laws. It doesn't matter if Romney is a Republican because all millionaires and billionaires benefit from it regardless of being a Republican or Democras. Even Obama benefits from it too. The only ones who don't benefit from it are the working class.
0

skipbeatJan. 25, 2012 - 01:10PM JST

Typo: Democrat instead of Democras.
0

RushO'HannityJan. 25, 2012 - 01:27PM JST

" Force women to have babies, then slash programs that provide food and child care for those very babies. "

politicians force women to have children. what a world some people live in.
0

Ben_JackinoffJan. 25, 2012 - 02:02PM JST

Haven't you been watching any of the "occupy" protests that have been done across many states and have affected many establishments and businesses?

Yes, they don't make much sense to me as it seems like most of the participants don't have a clue what they are protesting against. If there are no people with money and success, who do the complainers think are going to give them a job?
0

LagunaJan. 25, 2012 - 02:10PM JST

The Democrats are going to slam Romney for being rich....

Not at all. They will not slam him for benefiting from the existing tax system, either. They will slam him for supporting that system and suggesting changes that would further benefit the wealthy at the expense of the middle class.

kkk were democrats.

Correct. Currently, they are Republicans. The Party of Lincoln is now the Democratic Party; denying so is absurd.

john kerry married money.

So did John McCain.

democrats admire a man who doesn't stoop to dirtying his hands with the work of starting a business, hiring, planning, creating value, being rewarded with profit.

There is no evidence that "businessman" Romney every stooped to dirty his hands with these, either, aside from the "being rewarded" part.
0

TriumvereJan. 25, 2012 - 02:12PM JST

I don't understand why being successful seems to suddenly be a bad thing in US politics. I thought the goal was to get successful people into office.

It's not his wealth so much as the fact he only pays 13.9% on his income. If you work, the Gov't comes in and takes a big chunk of that, but if you have so much money that you don't have to, well...

On the other hand, you do NOT put your dog in charge of the ham.

Funniest line I've heard all day. Bravo.
-1

RushO'HannityJan. 25, 2012 - 02:27PM JST

" The Party of Lincoln is now the Democratic Party; denying so is absurd "

pull the other one
0

Ben_JackinoffJan. 25, 2012 - 02:33PM JST

It's not his wealth so much as the fact he only pays 13.9% on his income

A large part of his income seems to come from 'capital gains' which are taxed at a different rate. If people who make money are punished for it, do you think this will be good for the economy? It seems that it will discourage people from making money, which will mean less jobs and less investment. I don't think anything will improve that way.
-1

RushO'HannityJan. 25, 2012 - 02:42PM JST

" Romney is the last guy we need in charge of the US tax system. "

why ? are you afraid he will draft clinton to extend the bush tax cuts heh hehe hehe
0

MaboDofuIsSpicyJan. 25, 2012 - 02:47PM JST

People making good money invest more. They want a good return on the chances they are taking. They start new businesses and create jobs.

I bet if you really look at his portfolio from way back, you would find that he had a bunch of losing investments as well...just like me.
-1

TatankaJan. 25, 2012 - 02:52PM JST

And don't forget, the average worker with a 401k pays the same capital gains rate as Romney.
0

Elbuda MexicanoJan. 25, 2012 - 02:53PM JST

I do hope that old Romney, hiding MILLIONS of $$$ in off shore bank accounts from $$$ that he MADE in the USA, without paying TAXES in the USA is not too much of a scandal for him.
-1

RushO'HannityJan. 25, 2012 - 03:02PM JST

" I do hope that old Romney, hiding MILLIONS of $$$ in off shore bank accounts from $$$ that he MADE in the USA, without paying TAXES in the USA is not too much of a scandal for him. "

bill and hill have made 109 million since bill left office . it too is socked away in offshore accounts. in the cayman islands. is it a scandal ?
-1

sailwindJan. 25, 2012 - 03:13PM JST

Just in case anyone cares........

In 2003, a year before running for president, Kerry's tax rate was 13.1 percent, versus Romney's at 13.9 percent in 2010. As Brad Plumer, who culled together tax returns to make his chart, explains, "John Kerry’s overall rate is so low — lower than Romney’s, in fact — because his return is getting lumped together with that of his (wealthy) wife, Teresa Heinz, who had a lot of investment income."

The Nerve of him even lower than Romney's.
2

LagunaJan. 25, 2012 - 03:33PM JST

Right, Sailwind - and you can throw Buffet into the mix as well. The difference is that Buffet, Kerry et al. believe the system should require income earned by investment to be taxed at the same rate as that earned by labor.

In other words, Kerry would have voted himself a tax raise, while Romney would vote to lower his contributions further.
-1

sailwindJan. 25, 2012 - 03:42PM JST

The difference is that Buffet, Kerry et al. believe the system should require income earned by investment to be taxed at the same rate as that earned by labor.

Buffet, kerry et al (Micheal Moore? perhaps) can give as much money as they want to the U.S treasury voluntarily at any amount they choose over their current tax rates if they so desired. So far they do not seem inclined to do so unless forced to.

Hermain Cain was on the right track with his 999 plan. Get rid of the entire bloated mess of the current tax code in first place so that all the tax dodges loop holes and shenigans are gone and replace it with a flat tax on all regardless of income. That would be some real change I could believe in.
-1

LagunaJan. 25, 2012 - 04:28PM JST

...replace it with a flat tax on all regardless of income.

Ideas like this are precisely why certain conservatives have been relegated to the political wilderness. Pack a bag and be prepared to be lonely:Ron Paul's popularity is due to his isolationism, which barely helps counterbalance antagonism towards his economic policies. You'll be alone and friendless for a long, long time.
0

MolenirJan. 25, 2012 - 05:40PM JST

I really don't understand this. Every single one of the candidates running for President are multi millionaires. From Romney and Gingrich, to Obama and Biden, none of them, not one of them is poor. And most of them never really had to struggle to achieve either.
0

sailwindJan. 25, 2012 - 05:40PM JST

replace it with a flat tax on all regardless of income.

Ideas like this are precisely why certain conservatives have been relegated to the political wilderness. Pack a bag and be prepared to be lonely

Actually I'll have a lot of company.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Most voters like the concept behind a flat tax more than the complicated tax system the United States has today with numerous deductions and breaks for certain businesses.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of Likely U.S. Voters think it’s more important for the government to treat all taxpayers equally than for the tax code to be used to encourage things like home ownership, charitable contributions and industries favored by government policy. Twenty-nine percent (29%) disagree and believe the government should use the tax code to advance its agenda in certain areas. Eighteen percent (18%) are not sure.
0

supermonk7Jan. 25, 2012 - 05:48PM JST

Obama will use Romney as the poster boy for the middle class argument and revamping the tax code.
-1

PizzafaceJan. 25, 2012 - 06:58PM JST

RushO'Hannity: kkk were democrats. just ask robert byrd voters .

Judicious use of the word "were". Past tense is right. Ancient history. Needless to say, no KKK member voted for the Democrat president Barak Obama. No doubt plenty did vote for David Duke. The main KKK political position lately is anti-same sex marriage and illegal immigration is a rallying point. We all know who that points to. TP. Conservatives. Republicans. Hard to tell if your bringing that up was a cheap tactic of a Democrat in disquise or the act of a Republican fool.
0

The Truth MattersJan. 25, 2012 - 10:54PM JST

I don't think people have a problem with Romney being rich, it's HOW he got rich that gives people pause. When you get rich at the expense of others, people will think you're a douche bag. THAT is Romney's problem. When you say "I like firing people," people will think you're a douche bag.

People don't like Romney because A) he's a douchebag and B) he's a terrible liar about it. Claiming to be unemployed "too." Claiming to be one of the middle class when he has a quarter of a billion dollar fortune.

His worst sin however, has to be claiming to be one of "us" while wearing jeans with creases in them. That definitely isn't going to fly.
0

zurcroniumJan. 25, 2012 - 11:30PM JST

Molenir, once again wrong on fact. Biden is not a millionaire. Easy to verify that.

Mittens made nothing while amassing a huge fortune. He produced nothing. He made money by moving money around. Of course he loves capitalism because he is a parasite on it. Venture capital is one thing but LBOs, where Bain made its big money, is quite another.

Regardless, Mittens and the other less than one percenters that produce nothing and make millions should pay a minimum tax as Obama pointed out tonight. Instead of screwing the middle class as the republicans have done starting with Reagan, the super rich can pay at least the same rate as the rest of working Americans. In the long run all will benefit from this approach. Now only the one percent types are doing well. Buffet of course is right about this. Other LBO types are selfish unpatriotic parasites attempting to destroy the USA.
0

yabitsJan. 25, 2012 - 11:38PM JST

I've been spending some time reading up on Willard Mitt Romney's bio-history and, I have to admit, he has a lot of qualities and accomplishments that I've got to admire.

He is incredibly disciplined and driven by the analysis of data, rather than by ideology. Those who have worked with and for him describe him as being a just and fair person. Basically, he is a good and decent man and -- being driven by data myself -- I no longer have any reservations if he should happen to become president after Barack Obama.

Romney has a will to win and will do just about anything it takes (within the bounds of his core beliefs) to attain success. That's why I think he has been acting more conservative than he really is. (We all know that's what it takes to win among idiots who think that people like Cain, Bachmann, and Palin are qualified for leadership of the American people.)
0

yabitsJan. 25, 2012 - 11:46PM JST

Claiming to be one of the middle class when he has a quarter of a billion dollar fortune.

I am originally from Michigan growing up there in the 50s and 60s. I recall when Willard's father, George, was our governor. When he was CEO of American Motors, he refused to take high bonuses and capped his own salary at a fairly low multiple of what his average employee was making.

In reading the son's bio, I was surprised to learn that he wasn't given a silver spoon but had to work at all kinds of jobs -- including security guard -- to put himself through college. Did he have advantages? (Hell, yeah: Cranbrook, in Bloomfield Hills is a very elite and expensive prep school.) But still, there is a lot in his past which indicates he personally knows how it feels to struggle for success.
-1

The Truth MattersJan. 26, 2012 - 01:51AM JST

Romney is just one reason why Obama endorses the thugs, vandals, rapists and murderers who fill the OccupyWS movement .

O.K. I have to call bullsh*t on this. To call the OccupyWallstreet movement people rapists and murders is pretty low, even for you. And of course you have ZERO verifiable facts to back up your claim! When do you ever?

That's your M.O. You spout whatever nonsense you make up and for some reason the moderators let it stand.

Rapists and murderers? C'mon mods. Clean that trash up.
0

MolenirJan. 26, 2012 - 10:43AM JST

Molenir, once again wrong on fact. Biden is not a millionaire. Easy to verify that.

Heh, yeah Zurc, it is easy. Do a bit of research first next time eh?

Mittens made nothing while amassing a huge fortune. He produced nothing. He made money by moving money around. Of course he loves capitalism because he is a parasite on it. Venture capital is one thing but LBOs, where Bain made its big money, is quite another.

So, in addition to exposing your unwillingness to do any research, you expose your bias against capitalism. Apparently, being a CEO means you're doing nothing. And he didn't start as CEO, he worked his way up. He has been very successful, but hell even yabits admits he has had to work hard to get where he is. Do a bit of research Zurc, you may prefer Obama, but at least have the decency to find out who the opponent is, before just denouncing him.

O.K. I have to call bullsh*t on this. To call the OccupyWallstreet movement people rapists and murders is pretty low, even for you. And of course you have ZERO verifiable facts to back up your claim! When do you ever?

Hmm, ok I actually agree with you on this. Calliing the OWS movement rapists and murderers is about like calling the Tea Party Racists. That there are murderers and rapists involved there, is a matter of record, but the vast majority of them, those primarily involved, are definitely not.