text:
Read the full story here Web Link posted Wednesday, May 23, 2012, 6:33 PM
Town Square
President Obama dines with supporters in Atherton
Original post made on May 22, 2012
Read the full story here Web Link posted Wednesday, May 23, 2012, 6:33 PM
Comments (76)
a resident of Atherton: West Atherton
on May 22, 2012 at 10:53 am
Does anyone know what streets will be closed in Atherton and when on Thursday? Also, will they close 280 again or 101 and when as he drives to San Jose?
a resident of Atherton: Lloyden Park
on May 22, 2012 at 11:37 am
Dinner at 515p in Atherton, then on to RWC at 6pm? Poor guy won't even be able to eat....for $35K you should get more than 45 minutes, right? Must be a typo......
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on May 22, 2012 at 12:14 pm
KCBS Radio spun this visit by Obama to the Bay Area as a visit just to Redwood City that would allow the "common man" to see the President in person. There was a gushing interview with RWC Mayor Aguirre on this point. Now we learn that the real events are $35K per person fundraisers in Atherton and Palo Alto. Yup, Obama is truly the President for the Common Man. Show me the difference between the despised fundraising by the Republicans and this crass trawling for cash by Democrats.
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on May 22, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Mrs. B
Sounds like you're upset with the reporting by KCBS.
Otherwise, are you comparing "I like to fire people" with the President when you say "Yup, Obama is truly the President for the Common Man."?
a resident of Atherton: other
on May 22, 2012 at 12:28 pm
Upon leaving Atherton, the motorcade will pass many of the Massage Parlors along El Camino. Will the SS, (secret service) waive at their friends as they go by? Could be left overs from Clinton's administration.
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on May 22, 2012 at 1:42 pm
Cheap Shot Max -
a resident of Atherton: other
on May 22, 2012 at 2:16 pm
Someone better give the Hanky Panky a heads up -- they're gonna be busy!
a resident of Atherton: other
on May 22, 2012 at 3:40 pm
What is the difference? What favors does the $35,800 crowd receive that one can't get at the Hanky Panky? Once the show is over the pockets are empty, feel a little embarassed but what a fantasy.
a resident of Woodside School
on May 22, 2012 at 4:42 pm
Since when can the regular person afford the $1000 ticket price for the Redwood City event? Why can't it be free for such a large venue? Is it possible to see Obama for free anywhere on the campaign trail?
2nd Story -
You didn't get the full story - Romney said he likes to fire people who aren't doing their job. I haven't seen any companines in my job experiences who keeps on unproductive people except in the 2 government jobs I held, where it was rife.
It would be better to have Obama speak for free in Redwood City.
a resident of Atherton: West of Alameda
on May 22, 2012 at 5:16 pm
... he's just so good at it.
True about Romney's quote, he did say he personally likes to fire people who aren't doing their job, like his insurer. As a venture capitalist, he, along with any other business person or manager, would like to get rid of deadwood. Bain's vulture investments, opposed to their venture deals, offer different stories.
On the venture side, Bain invested in startups and growth stories, like the retailers Staples and Sports Authority.
On the vulture side of Bain, though, Romney and the boys took a number of profitable, productive companies and ran them into the ground, milking every last dollar.
Let's ask some conservatives how they feel about Vulture Capitalism:
1) "The idea that you've got private equity companies that come in and take companies apart so they can make profits and have people lose their jobs, that's not what the Republican Party's about." — Rick Perry [New York Times, 1/12/12]
2) "The Bain model is to go in at a very low price, (have the target company) borrow an immense amount of money, pay Bain an immense amount of money and leave. I'll let you decide if that's really good capitalism. I think that's exploitation." — Newt Gingrich [New York Times, 1/17/12]
3) "Instead of trying to work with them to try to find a way to keep the jobs and to get them back on their feet, it's all about how much money can we make, how quick can we make it, and then get out of town and find the next carcass to feed upon" — Rick Perry [National Journal, 1/10/12]
4) "We find it pretty hard to justify rich people figuring out clever legal ways to loot a company, leaving behind 1,700 families without a job." — Newt Gingrich [Globe and Mail, 1/9/12]
5) "Now, I have no doubt Mitt Romney was worried about pink slips — whether he was going to have enough of them to hand out because his company, Bain Capital, of all the jobs that they killed" — Rick Perry [New York Times, 1/9/12]
6) "He claims he created 100,000 jobs. The Washington Post, two days ago, reported in their fact check column that he gets three Pinocchios. Now, a Pinocchio is what you get from The Post if you're not telling the truth." — Newt Gingrich [1/13/12, NBC News]
7) "There is something inherently wrong when getting rich off failure and sticking it to someone else is how you do your business, and I happen to think that's indefensible" — Rick Perry [National Journal, 1/10/12]
8) "If Governor Romney would like to give back all the money he's earned from bankrupting companies and laying off employees over his years, then I would be glad to then listen to him" — Newt Gingrich [Mediaite, 12/14/11]
9) "If you're a victim of Bain Capital's downsizing, it's the ultimate insult for Mitt Romney to come to South Carolina and tell you he feels your pain, because he caused it." — Rick Perry [New York Times, 1/8/12]
10) "They're vultures that sitting out there on the tree limb waiting for the company to get sick and then they swoop in, they eat the carcass. They leave with that and they leave the skeleton" — Rick Perry [National Journal, 1/10/12]
Bonus from Sarah Palin: "Governor Romney has claimed to have created over 100,000 jobs at Bain, and people are wanting to know: is there proof of that claim? And was it U.S. jobs created for United States citizens? [...] And that's fair, that's not negative campaigning."
Even Romney admitted when questioned at a debate: "There are a lot of reasons not to elect me," Romney said.
This forum limits the number of links, so I can't link each quote - feel free to google them for the specifics.
Extra bonus: "[Bain] loots companies, leave behind broken families, broken towns." —Newt Gingrich
So, does Mitt like firing people?
"Governor Romney enjoys firing people." — Jon Huntsman
Wait a minute, his campaign just told us he doesn't REALLY like to.......
a resident of Woodside School
on May 22, 2012 at 5:26 pm
Let's not forget that Obama likes to fire people too..... the GM take-over by Obama saw many people lose their jobs.
They both like to fire people.
a resident of Atherton: West of Alameda
on May 22, 2012 at 5:33 pm
True. Both have fiored folks (though that's a pretty loose definition.) So many similarities between the two.
One saves an industry while killing Osama bin Laden, the other can't get re-elected to a second term in his only publicly held office position.
What's that? You don't hear Mitt talking on the trail about his only elected leadership position?
Then you're not going to believe this! He actually won an election, he was Governor of Massachusetts! He lasted one term and left, after reading the polls and figuring to was sure to lose. Are you sure he never talks about it? Seems the only relevant thing he has on his resume. How odd.
He did have a couple accomplishments as Governor before quitting - something called RomneyCare, if I recall...
What?!? He isn't talking about that either???
Wonder why?
a resident of Woodside School
on May 22, 2012 at 9:06 pm
So if we support Obama care than we support Romney care also right? (Regardless if either of them is talking about it.)
So these 2 have those similarities as well. When Romeny governed he allowed health care to financially support abortions through planned parenthood also, same as Obama.
Here's a comparison:
Obama went to Europe to lobby for Chicago to host the Olympics - failed.
Romney saved the Olympics in the US (forget the year) and ran it.
I think Obama needs to campaign on "Why we should vote him in again". Maybe he'll address this at his Redwood City performance.
a resident of Atherton: West of Alameda
on May 22, 2012 at 9:48 pm
Good point.
Romney bragged in his book that he 'saved' (so humble!) the 2002 Olympics by spending $3.5 million just on federal lobbyists to fleece taxpayers out of $350 million dollars, using earmarks for more taxpayer money, and any other way he could reach into the public trough to help Utah out of their $1.5 billion mess.
"The Wall Street Journal's Jonathan Weisman explained that Romney "began ramping up the Salt Lake lobbying effort shortly after taking over the Salt Lake Organizing Committee in 1999."
Now THAT is leadership!
Who noticed? A lot of people, like Conservative Rick Santorum, who accused Romney of hypocrisy on earmarks.
Bleeding taxpayers at every level; here's a taste of the Senate action: "Senate lobbying records show that the Salt Lake City Olympics Committee under Romney spent $3.5 million employing five lobbying firms in addition to its own in-house lobbying shop. Among their goals: winning federal earmarks that included $60 million for "perimeter" security; $15.8 million for "international sporting competitions"; $3 million for an extension of a Salt Lake City light rail project; as well as millions more for communications equipment, sewer projects and other programs"
A third of a billion here, a third of a billion there, and you too can look like a hero!
Bailouts for the Utah games.
Bailouts at the companies he ran into the ground with Bain; one company alone got a bailout from taxpayers of $44 million. "The pension plan, which cut benefits drastically, would have gone under altogether without an infusion of $44 million from the federal government, despite many earlier warnings to the Bain managers that they were not providing sufficient funding for it." Golly, that's a twofer - pain for the people who worked all their lives for a pension AND ream taxpayers for $44 million!
That leaves his failures as a governor, doesn't it?
What else?
Oh yeah, Obama supporting the American effort to get another Olympics. Romney's thoughts?. From Fox news: "Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney says President Obama is doing exactly what needs to be done by flying to Denmark to lobby for the Olympics to come to Chicago in 2016. Romney tells ABC News that having a sitting president make a personal pitch can make an enormous difference to the 106 members of the International Olympic Committee."
Web Link
Saves an auto industry, gets Bin Laden, and makes all the right moves for another American Olympics.
Two outta three ain't bad.
a resident of Menlo Park: Sharon Heights
on May 23, 2012 at 7:24 am
The disingenuous Bain Capital attacks are really off target and of course Team Obama knew that. "They said, "Governor Romney at Bain Capital closed down a steel factory." But the problem, of course, is that the steel factory closed down TWO YEARS AFTER GOVERNOR ROMNEY LEFT BAIN CAPITAL! He was no longer there. So that's hardly something that was done on his watch.
The Obama campaign was out first with its Web video and ad focusing on workers laid off at GS Steel, a firm that went bankrupt after Bain Capital bought it. An ad from a pro-Obama super PAC followed.
Now the real facts are that in 1993 Armco was looking to either sell GS Steel or close it down. IF BAIN CAPITAL HAD NOT PURCHASED GS STEEL IT WOULD HAVE CLOSED IN 1993. BAIN CAPITAL BREATHED 8 MORE YEARS OF LIFE INTO GS STEEL!
Bain Capital and its partners purchased GST for $75 Million and invested $100 Million more of its own money and many thousands of hours into this turnaround, upgrading its facilities in an attempt to make the company competitive. This is vastly different from taking tax payer money to fund an Obama Solyndra pipe dream folly.
So what do the grateful union workers do? They went on strike for 10 weeks in 1997. And under President Clinton's watch prices for electricity and natural gas skyrocketed. Then in 1998 while President Clinton was preoccupied with intern problems the U.S. market was flooded with cheap imported steel. In 2001 the company went bankrupt.
Mark Essig, GS Industries' former CEO, never met Romney. Essig came aboard in January 1998, the year before Romney left to run the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.
"His name never came up in conversation. In my tenure at GSI, he wasn't involved at all." However GS Steel was not alone in this economic downturn during the Clinton years. "Nearly half of U.S. steel companies filed for bankruptcy around the same time that GS Industries did. Major customers of the Kansas City plant did, too." Essig said.
Essig, who voted for Obama in 2008 but this year plans to vote for Romney, doesn't blame him.
"No matter how you look at it or what side of the fence you're on, a plant closing is a tragedy for people. I think when you try to tie it to a person and say, Mitt was responsible for this — a lot of steel companies went out of business at that time, and Mitt had nothing to do with it," he said. "That was a macro-industry tidal wave that hit that plant. I bet if the Bain folks had to do it over again, they wouldn't have gotten involved with it. It can't be treated lightly, but to lay it at the doorstep of Mitt, I think, is not accurate."
Overall, Romney has been able to create more than 100,000 jobs and an equal number were lost in the auto industry on Obama's watch.
Obama is trying to have it both ways, by attacking him on his Bain record while raising money with the help of the Blackstone Group, a private equity firm. Blackstone President Tony James recently hosted a Democratic Party money event featuring Obama at his apartment in New York City.
So there you have it. More Obama Guile, Duplicity, and Deceit. So liberals you can take satisfaction in winning California. We will be more than satisified with winning a majority of the electoral vote.
In celebration of this new "Hope and Change" we are starting our own "Occupy the White House" Movement. The occupation starts January 20, 2013. We will bring violins and Kleenex for the soon to be lugubrious liberal crowd.
a resident of Atherton: West of Alameda
on May 23, 2012 at 9:28 am
Hank, a member of the local republican party, is conflating various stories attempting to defend Rmoney's record at vulture capitalism.
In one moment, he claims the vulture activities happened after Romney left; then he claims Romney should get credit for 100,000 retailer jobs at Staples and Sports Authority, which also came after Romney left. Staples and Sports were more traditional venture investments; Romney specialized in the vulture investments.
The claims of 100,000 jobs have yet to be verified. As Republican Sarah Palin says: "Governor Romney has claimed to have created over 100,000 jobs at Bain, and people are wanting to know: is there proof of that claim? And was it U.S. jobs created for United States citizens?"
What about asking about Bain, Sarah? "And that's fair, that's not negative campaigning."
Thanks, Governor Palin.
Speaker Newt Gingrich, your turn: "[Bain] loots companies, leave behind broken families, broken towns."
Santorum campaign: "While Mitt Romney was at Bain Capital, almost one out of every four companies they were involved with went bankrupt or went out of business."
Republican Governor Rick Perry: "There is something inherently wrong when getting rich off failure and sticking it to someone else is how you do your business. I happen to think that is indefensible."
Maybe Mitt can get Bain out of the news cycle by releasing his tax returns. How much Bain plunder ended up in the Cayman Islands and the Swiss bank accounts?
Hank - any comments on the earmarks and lobbyists Mitt used to get taxpayer money for Utah Olympics?
a resident of Menlo Park: Sharon Heights
on May 23, 2012 at 10:30 am
The United States has been funding Olympic Games in the United States since the 1960 Olympics in Squaw Valley. This is hardly a revelation.
And Governor Romney's competitors criticizing him? That is hardly news either. Remember the Willie Horton Ad that President George H W Bush used against Dukakis? As it turns out the ad was first put out by Al Gore. Yet no one called him racist. I wonder why? Democrats do a pretty good job of criticizing their own. Hardly a revelation.
You can argue over the numbers all you want. But the bottom line is that GovernorRomeny created jobs while he was Governor and head of Bain Capital and Obama lost jobs. You can't spin that fact although I have no doubt that you will try.
Now Governor Romney is up 6 pts in Florida
Web Link
He is also up in North Carolina and Wisconsin. I can't wait for the Scott Walker recall to fail. That will put egg on the Democrats faces. Would anyone care to be on the Walker recall or the general election for that matter? The way things are going the swing states # of 13 is dwindling. Come October there could only be 8 swing states. This is good. California's 55 delegates are not going to help Obama much. Turn out the lights the party's over.
a resident of Atherton: West of Alameda
on May 23, 2012 at 11:02 am
"But the bottom line is that Governor Romeny created jobs while he was Governor and head of Bain Capital and Obama lost jobs. "
As Gov of Massachusetts, Romney was 47th in job creation. He FAILED SO BADLY, he couldn't get reelected. An incumbent, moderate governor can't get reelected. That is FAILURE.
Rmoney can't substantiate the claims at Bain about job creation. Sarah (not his competitor) said so: "Governor Romney has claimed to have created over 100,000 jobs at Bain, and people are wanting to know: is there proof of that claim? And was it U.S. jobs created for United States citizens?"
Today, Romney came out of hiding and when asked about Bain, he pivoted away from the thing he's been bragging about for years:
"Mark Halperin: So when the President says he wants to focus a lot of the election and debate on your career at Bain Capital, do you welcome that?
Mitt Romney: ...And the American people are interested in, not so much in the history of where I was at Bain Capital, or that I have understanding of the private sector, but instead, has the President made things better for the American people?"
Obama has 26 months of private sector job creation, starting after we recovered from the Bush job losses that peaked at 3/4 of a million jobs lost PER MONTH.
Look at the chart: Web Link
We may well be seeing Romney's high water mark. We'll see. If he runs away from Bain, he has nothing. If he stay with Bain, defending his brand of vulture capitalism, he's toast.
Ask Newt: "[Bain] loots companies, leave behind broken families, broken towns."
a resident of Atherton: West of Alameda
on May 23, 2012 at 11:08 am
"The United States has been funding Olympic Games in the United States since the 1960 Olympics in Squaw Valley. This is hardly a revelation. "
Good point.
Romney bragged in his book that he 'saved' (so humble!) the 2002 Olympics by spending $3.5 million just on federal lobbyists to fleece taxpayers out of $350 million dollars, using earmarks for more taxpayer money, and any other way he could reach into the public trough to help Utah out of their $1.5 billion mess.
"The Wall Street Journal's Jonathan Weisman explained that Romney "began ramping up the Salt Lake lobbying effort shortly after taking over the Salt Lake Organizing Committee in 1999."
Now THAT is leadership! Who saved the Olympics? Sounds like our taxpayer bailouts saved the Utah Olympics, not the guy who paid a bunch of lobbyists with taxpayer money.
Taxpayer bailouts for the Utah games. Taxpayer bailouts for Bain failures, so bain can walk away with more money to put in Mitt's Cayman and Swiss bank accounts.
Failure as a single term gov.
Hiring the Bush team en masse and promising more of Bush's failed policies.
America can't afford Mitt.
a resident of Woodside School
on May 23, 2012 at 11:22 am
I didn't know we had a local Republican party - maybe that's the problem. This area needs more thoughtful and open-minded discussion, emphasizing what their candidate can offer to us, not slamming the opponent. Let's face it, no matter how much we "like" te guy, Obama can be slammed more than anyone right now. How has he performed?
Can anyone give a good argument on why Obama is worthy of re-election? Based on his own merits and not slamming others.(Sorry, the military taking out bin laden would have happened regardless of Obama.)
a resident of Menlo Park: other
on May 23, 2012 at 11:28 am
"When Romeny governed he allowed health care to financially support abortions through planned parenthood also, same as Obama."
This is patently false. Fedeeral funds are not used to provide abortion services.
a resident of Atherton: West of Alameda
on May 23, 2012 at 11:49 am
"Can anyone give a good argument on why Obama is worthy of re-election? Based on his own merits and not slamming others.(Sorry, the military taking out bin laden would have happened regardless of Obama.)"
No. Facts show bin Ladin would not be dead if left to Bush or Romney.
Ignoring the fact that Bush, who PROMISED to get bin Ladin, then only 6 months later said he didn't care, then disbanded the CIA unit going after bin Ladin. And ignoring the fact that Romney said Obama was wrong to go into Pakistan to get bin Ladin. Okay, yeah, not much difference, other than those huge differences.
Want the links to Bush and Romney quotes on their failed bin Ladin policies?
You ignored the post directly before yours: Obama has 26 months of private sector job creation, starting after we recovered from the Bush job losses that peaked at 750,000 jobs lost PER MONTH.
Look at the chart: Web Link">Web Link 26 months of private sector job growth while being denied at every turn from the republican House. Denied at every turn by Mitch McConnell as minority leader in the senate.
Mitch, who would rather fight Obama than help Americans, than build the economy, than create jobs: "The **single most important thing** we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president." That's political terrorism. Holding Americans hostage so he gets political and personal gain.
Terrorism may not be the correct word. Political Treason sounds right.
The very definition of a Do Nothing Congress (excluding all the abortion bills and other legislation in the war on women.)
Despite the Do Nothing Congress, Obama has a positive job creation record: Web Link">Web Link
"This area needs more thoughtful and open-minded discussion" This area has it. That's why it votes Democratic for every national office.
Blue. Solid blue.
Drives Hank crazy. But not you, because you are "Non biased".
a resident of Woodside School
on May 23, 2012 at 11:49 am
Sorry Menlo Voter, I meant to say the Romeny Care program rather than Planned Parenthood. Both health care plans didn't exclude abortion.
You're right, federal funding that goes to Planned Parenthood is not supposed to go to the abortion clinic side.
a resident of Woodside School
on May 23, 2012 at 12:01 pm
Yes, I am non-biased. I have voted Democrat and Republican over the years, weighing the qualifications and character of the individuals running. I'm not emotionally invested in either party and enjoy employing critical thinking.
Why hasn't anyone brought up that Obama now finally supports gay marriage? That's a good thing.
a resident of Atherton: other
on May 23, 2012 at 12:20 pm
President Obama, " I believe I better join what is popular if I want to keep my job" Soon, plural marriage will be constitutional and everyone will be on welfare...oh wait.
a resident of Atherton: West of Alameda
on May 23, 2012 at 12:43 pm
Max: "Soon, plural marriage will be constitutional and everyone will be on welfare...oh wait."
"Non-biased" aren't you glad you have two sides to choose from?
Especially the side that thinks plural marriages are possible for straight, or gay, folks here in the good ol' US of A?
Life is good. Someone around here thinks there's a Constitutional right to plural marriages. Wonder if he knows about the grandparents of a certain politician that fled to Mexico in the twenties to be with a .... hmmm, (read it for yourself, at the link, and do a google search for the reason). They were American citizens, so their son was given citizenship even though he was born in Mexico. The son, George, went on to run a car company and be a governor. A pretty good guy, with politics these days that would be considered liberal.
from ABC News: Web Link
Guess who Max is voting for in November, if he is registered? The son of that fairly liberal governor, who also ran for president in '68.
Life is good.
Really good, at times... ;-)
a resident of Menlo Park: Sharon Heights
on May 23, 2012 at 12:48 pm
Every single President since Harry S Truman has had a net gain in jobs during thier presidency except for one. That is Barack Obama. Obama has had a net loss of 1,633,000 jobs and while the president you liberals most love to vilify George W. Bush had a net gain of 1,094,000 jobs.
Under Governor Romney Massachusetts went from 3,224,600 jobs to 3,270,400 jobs for a net gain of 45,800 jobs. It is only a 1.42% job growth; but when compared to Obama's 0.5% job loss Romney looks pretty good.
I love it when liberals point to a statistic about Governor Romney and swoon over how anemic it is; that is until you compare his performance to Obama in the very same area and all of a sudden he looks stellar.
Obama is history. The liberals in California know it. Again, liberals, please take pride in your 55 CA electoral votes in the Obama Column while I will take pride in Governor Romney winning the Electoral college vote. Thank Heavens for fly-over-country. It is the rockbed of America. Only 167 days until Governor Romney is President Elect Romney. God bless America and the fact that there are more people with common sense than without. Fortunately those without are concentrated in the Bay Area and the Los Angeles Area. Take those two areas away and you have a Republican state.
Turn out the lights the party's over. Boo hoo lugubrious libs.
a resident of Atherton: West of Alameda
on May 23, 2012 at 1:33 pm
Poor Hank. Deathly afraid to comment on the month to month job creation chart:
Web Link">Web Link
Take away the Bush job losses for Obama's first three months, and Obama has better job creation than Bush. 26 months of private sector job growth.
Web Link">Web Link
During Mitt Romney's tenure, Massachusetts' job growth was at 0.9 percent, far behind the national average of over 5 percent. A Northeastern University economist found that Massachusetts lagged on virtually every economic indicator while Mitt Romney was in office.
Romney was 47th in job creation, yet Hank spins so rapidly he almost falls over. "I love it when **liberals** point to a statistic about Governor Romney..."
Let's listen to these LIBRULS...
- "...as governor of Utah, we were the No. 1 job creator in this country during my years of service.... And to my good friend, Mitt, #47 just ain't going to cut it, my friend..." — Huntsman to Romney.
- "There's one in particular who's created jobs all around the world (Mitt, by outsourcing American jobs.) While he was the governor of Massachusetts he didn't create many jobs." Rick Perry
- "He claims he created 100,000 jobs. The Washington Post, two days ago, reported in their fact check column that he gets three Pinocchios. Now, a Pinocchio is what you get from The Post if you're not telling the truth." — Newt Gingrich
Well known libruls, all.
A FAILED governor:
Newt Gingrich to Mitt Romney, (who pretended that he didn't run for reelection in Mass. because he wasn't interested in being a career politician) during the Republican primary debate leading up to the New Hampshire primary election:
"Can we drop a little bit of the pious baloney? The fact is, you ran in '94 (for the Senate) and lost... The fact is, you had a very bad re-election rating (as governor in 2006), you dropped out of office, you had been out of state for something like 200 days preparing to run for president. You have been running consistently for years and years and years. So this idea that suddenly citizenship showed up in your mind, just level with the American people. You've been running for -- at least since the 1990s."
Sort of goes with that common statement about Mitt: the only reason Mitt WASN'T a career politician is because he kept LOSING.
From the conservative Washington Times: "Mr. Romney's Massachusetts electoral record hardly inspires confidence. ...elected in 2002 but couldn't crack 50 percent of the popular vote. By the end of his first and only term, he had an anemic 34 percent approval rating and a 65 percent disapproval rating.
Survey USA ranked Mr. Romney's popularity 48th out of the 50 governors. With that, the supposedly electable Mitt Romney walked away rather than face the voters."
Wow, that's a loser. Why'd you guys pick him?
a resident of Menlo Park: Sharon Heights
on May 23, 2012 at 2:19 pm
The only loser is President Obama and liberals will find that out on November 6 when President Obama loses that popularity contest to Mitt Romney.
Even Democrats running for national office are avoiding Obama like the plague. In an interview, Democrat candidate for U.S. Senate Heidi Heitkamp, made it clear she intends to distance herself from Obama.
"I think he's failed in the one test America had for him, which was to unite the country," she told The Associated Press. "I think he needed to be more hands-on. … I don't think he's done enough to think broadly and come up with solutions that would engage both sides in a reasonable dialogue."
Meanwhile North Carolina, Florida, and Wisconsin are migrating from purple to Crimson Red. Roll Tide! But not to worry you will have 8 more years to caterwaul about President Romney. Every cloud has a silver lining.
a resident of Atherton: West of Alameda
on May 23, 2012 at 2:38 pm
Hank - great job!! You found a Dem who's unhappy! Not an elected official, but a candidate! From the DEEP BLUE state of North Dakota! Let me guess, with her ties to Big Oil, she *might* even disagree with the President on some things! Wow! Great work, Hank.
How about REPUBLICANS who work for the Romney campaign:
- TOM DAVIS (R), FORMER CONGRESSMAN: He may not be Mr. Personality.
You know, this is the guy who gives the fire side chat and the fire goes out.
- Marco Rubio, during his endorsement: "There are a lot of other people out there that some of us wish had run for president -- but they didn't"
- Jon Huntsman's endorsement: "Gone are the days when the Republican Party used to put forward big, bold visionary stuff. We`re going to have problems politically until we get some sort of third party movement or some alternative voice out there that can put forward new
- Nevada Congressman Joe Heck endorsing Mitt Romney: "Mitt Romney and I don`t agree on every issue and certainly housing is one of them."
- Michigan Congressman Fred Upton said his candidate, Mitt Romney was wrong on the auto bailout.
- Chris Christie joins Democrats in demanding that his candidate, Mitt Romney, release more years of his tax returns.
- Chris Christie, on Oprah, after endorsing Romney: "In terms of me, I`ll be much more ready four years from now than I am now."
Want more?
Mitch Daniels, on getting a VP call from Mitt: 'If I thought that call was coming, I would disconnect the phone'
Want to match some more quotes?
Of course, the BEST ENDORSEMENT came as the elevator doors were closing, from the leader of the Republican Party:
"I'm for Mitt Romney," former President George W. Bush told ABC News this morning as the doors of an elevator closed on him..."
The GOP is the big-tent party, with all the conservatives who hate Romney, and a couple that actually like the guy.
There are a couple, aren't there?
a resident of Menlo Park: Sharon Heights
on May 23, 2012 at 2:55 pm
I don't really care about how the liberals of California feel about Romney. There ae 13 states I care about and 3 are already tilted in Governo Romney's favor.
so, Mitt does not LIKE to fire people would you like to place a freindly wager on the Electoral College Vote in December 2012.
a resident of Atherton: West of Alameda
on May 23, 2012 at 3:09 pm
I list nothing but REPUBLICANS dissing Mitt and you flip it to "I don't really care about how the liberals of California feel about Romney"
You really ARE a political operative, aren't you?
Well done (seriously, this time.)
Right now, I read the aggregate swing state polls, including Rasmussen, and see Obama up 60.
Probably tighten, so I'll probably say Obama by 30, losing FL (which is going to cost Mitt/Rove a TON of money to keep.)
If Romney doesn't figure out the Bain problem, Europe doesn't blow up, and nothing crazy happens, I seriously think there's a shot at a blowout. But that's a lot of if's, so:
Obama by at least ~30 EV's. The GOP is playing too much defense. Will list specific states in August. Less enthralled with the Senate (too much Dem defense, 23 of 33 I think,) and the House, of course.
Open an EV thread, no rhetoric, and we can go over the 13.
C'mon, you know you want to.... ;-)
a resident of Atherton: West of Alameda
on May 23, 2012 at 3:11 pm
Missed it the first time.... December? Don't think counts in November will be settled? Omigawd, not a Roberts court decision!!!
a resident of Menlo Park: Stanford Hills
on May 23, 2012 at 3:26 pm
Mitt does not LIKE to fire people,
Of course you missed it. The electoral college meets in December usually mid month.
If you really think Obama is going to win the electoral college you should be willing to wager some easy money.
How about $1000 bet with the winnings going to the San Mateo County Central Commitee of the winner.
a resident of Atherton: West of Alameda
on May 23, 2012 at 3:43 pm
Hank: I know when the college meets. Clearly my (little) attempt to humor was wasted on you. Looking at your response, I can see why.
Wanna bet 10,000 bucks, Rick?
Oops, sorry, wrong guy.
(bet ya didn't think that was funny, either...)
Not going to happen. Like Pogo and many others, I will be anonymous on this board for at least a couple years. You'll have to wait until December to gloat, and only through these boards.
Feel free to donate anyway.
Until then, sense of humor or no, I'll be happy to keep listing conservatives who can't say a nice thing about Mitt.
Still love this one: "(Mitt) may not be Mr. Personality. You know, this is the guy who gives the fire side chat and the fire goes out."
a resident of Atherton: West of Alameda
on May 23, 2012 at 3:44 pm
oh yeah - no EV predictions?
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on May 23, 2012 at 8:17 pm
I like conservative Mike Huckabee's quote about Mitt -
I want a president who reminds you of the guy you work with, not the guy who laid you off.
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on May 23, 2012 at 8:37 pm
Hank Lawrence,
Are you really a republican official?
Need clarification on your GST Steel claims. You said Bain bought for $75 million ans invested another hundred million??
Not what's out in the public record. Please document your claims. Are you really a republican official?
From VF "In 1993, Bain bought GST Steel, a maker of steel-wire rods, and later more than doubled its $24 million investment. The company borrowed heavily to modernize plants in Kansas City and North Carolina—and to pay out dividends to Bain. But foreign competition increased and steel prices fell. GST Steel filed for bankruptcy and shut down its money-losing Kansas City plant, throwing some 750 employees out of work. Union workers there blamed Bain, then and now, for ruining the company, upending their lives, and devastating the community."
Doesn't talk about the $37 million in government subsidies and bailouts GST/Bain sought and got from taxpayers.
Other numbers quoted put it lower: 1993Mitt Romney and his partners invest $8 million to acquire majority control of an Armco steel mill in Kansas City, Missouri, and rename it GS Technologies. Bain got its money back quickly. The new company issued $125 million in bonds and paid Bain a $36.1 million dividend in 1994.
that's a pretty good profit for a year, including arranging the bailouts. from Rueterrs Web Link
Bain took a once profitable company, leveraged it to the hilt to pay massive profits to Bain. "With more than $500 million in debt, GS Industries files for bankruptcy and informs workers that the company will not honor the guarantees it had promised them—including severance pay, health insurance, life insurance and pension supplements."
"The U.S. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation determined that GST had underfunded its pension plan by $44 million. The federal agency stepped in to cover the basic pension payments, but workers never recovered the full pensions they had been promised."
On top of the other subsidies, taxpayers got a $44 million pension debt.
That seems pretty nasty.
Hank - what kind of job do you have with the Republican Party? Do they let you use Google?
Here's a the politifact on Obama's GST ad - mostly True
Web Link
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on May 23, 2012 at 8:47 pm
this is interesting
corporate welfare for Bain
think Bain paid back the $37 million in subsidies?
The government there had to institute an income tax just to pay bain the subsidies - thin Grover Norquist approved that tax?
"In June 1994, Bain put $18.2 million into Steel Dynamics, making it the largest domestic equity holder. It sold its stake five years later for $104 million, a return of more than $85 million.
As Bain made its investment, the state and county pledged $37 million in subsidies and grants for the $385-million plant project. The county also levied a new income tax to finance infrastructure improvements to benefit the steel mill over the heated objections of some county residents."
Web Link
Bain invested 18, sold for 104.
Bain made $85 million while ripping off the taxpayers for $37 million.
Why does that make someone a good president?
Is this welfare good? but giving foodstamps to starving families bad?
Bain made $85 million while ripping off the taxpayers for $37 million.
I guess this is why Romney doesn't talk about bain since the ad started.
Bain made $85 million while ripping off the taxpayers for $37 million.
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on May 23, 2012 at 8:52 pm
That was interesting. Two things:
- Hank, where did you get those strange numbers you quoted above? Are they part of an official Republican Party dossier or something?
- second, why didn't anyone challenge hank's story about GST?
Huh. That was fun. Had no idea it was so easy to find that info.
Thanks, Hank.
Oh, one last thing. Is the term "corporate welfare" the correct term for the ripping off of taxpayers for $37 million while getting a profit of $85 million?
What about saddling taxpayers with the $44 million bill in underfunded pensions while gaming the system for $85 million, is that welfare too?
or theft?
a resident of Woodside School
on May 23, 2012 at 8:55 pm
Concerning the offensive Bain actions - Obama is taking money and other forms of support from top Bain guys. Obama is currently in tight with Bain - and while he blasts them in his campaign, behind the scenes he's taking their money and will give them many favors again after re-election.
We should be just as offended by Obama's relationship with Bain as Romney's and other politicians.
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on May 23, 2012 at 8:59 pm
Non-biased, Obama "will give them (Bain) many favors again"
again? what ones will he repeat?
Like this? ripping off of taxpayers for $37 million while getting a profit of $85 million, on only an $18 million investment?
Did Obama do that?
a resident of Woodside School
on May 23, 2012 at 9:10 pm
2nd Story,
First, take a deep breath and try to control you emotions. We're not talking about one of your loved ones, just a couple of politicians you've never met and will never stand in the same room as.
Read Confidence Men for a primer of how charitable Obama has been to all in the financial community at the heft expense to middle class taxpayers. It will take longer than doing a quick google search, so be patient.
The $37 million taxpayer burden is really troubling you, Obama's trillions in debt that haven't produced jobs and businesses as planned must have you unable to sleep at night.
Do you suggest a Write-In Candidate at this point?
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on May 23, 2012 at 9:27 pm
Non-biased (I'm thinking the name might not be entirely accurate)
"Obama's trillions in debt that haven't produced jobs"
How does that statement mesh with the jobs Obama has created?
From above, maybe you missed it Web Link
a resident of Menlo Park: Downtown
on May 23, 2012 at 10:15 pm
It's worth reading the information from Bureau of Labor Statistics as outlined in an article by Jeffrey Anderson from the "Weekly Standard" about the 30 worst months of unemployment in the past 25 years. All 30 months occurred during the current president.
Web Link
a resident of another community
on May 23, 2012 at 10:22 pm
Redwood City/Berkshire-El Camino Real, went to the local store about 8:30pm and did not get home till near 10p, forgot President Obamma was here. I did vote for him due to his background and he would be for the working man. We must not lose sight that he is Comander and Chief and he performed his job well with ridding us of Bin Laden. This is his job to protect the US and keep these for a better word thugs out of our shores. It would be real nice if he did more work on immigration and not umm Japan and China allowing more to come on Work Visa -- I am all for the US making money but bringing their business here, well not to sure I would like to see more immigration and travel to and from Africa there is a lot develpoing there. I am for more jobs (here) I served the City of Atherton and South San Francisco and now I work in Law and would love to be working. So lets work on bringing jobs back here to California ???? Thank you Mr. President
a resident of Atherton: West of Alameda
on May 23, 2012 at 11:03 pm
Bob 1,
The Standard carefully plucks a non-standard measure of employment (employed to population ratio) and examines it over just the right period to avoid far worse periods. If you follow the source of the data, you'll find the entirety of 1948-1978 is far "worse" than Obama's run. Do you know why ? You'll actually have to use your mind, instead of reading the Standard for that.
a resident of Atherton: West of Alameda
on May 23, 2012 at 11:05 pm
Bob 1,
Hint: start by looking at the 1948-2012 chart under:
Web Link
a resident of Atherton: West of Alameda
on May 23, 2012 at 11:08 pm
One more time with working link
Take your source data, then expand out to 1948:
Web Link
a resident of Atherton: West Atherton
on May 24, 2012 at 12:24 am
And, I thought Atherton was a politically free zone. He's back in my neighborhood, again. How is he different from a rich Republican?
a resident of Menlo Park: Fair Oaks
on May 24, 2012 at 7:30 am
Obama bombs in Redwood City.
Crowds are smaller and less enthusiastic for the Amateur.
Web Link
a resident of Woodside School
on May 24, 2012 at 7:53 am
2nd story,
If you've read all my posts, you would know I've pointed out both strenghths and weaknesses. I'm looking for strong arguments on giving him a second term. The more you write, the better Romney looks to give a chance.
Obama's coming back to my neighborhood, I'll cough up the money to see him in person and get a read. (I met him on the East Coast in '08 to get a read also.) I'll then go to a Romney affair here in Woodside and do the same.
a resident of Woodside School
on May 24, 2012 at 7:59 am
Perhaps the reason the Fox Theater wasn't filled to capacity, is because most people (even in Silicon Valley) can't afford the $1000 ticket. 4 years ago more people would have/could have paid the fee, the economy's not so great right now.
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on May 24, 2012 at 8:00 am
Obama could go down as the worst President ever. This is Hope and Change right before your very eyes. The U. S. Constitution so called "expert" is doing all he can to shread it up!
That's it elitist 1%'ers, give money to the guy who:
1) Renewed the Patriot Act three times,
2) Who signed NDAA, which takes away Due Process from American citizens,
3) Who signed the Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act which take away your Right to Free Speech anywhere the President or Secret Service says, "Naw, No Free SPeech there, we don't feel like it," even in public spaces.
4) Who signed the National Defense Resource Preparedness Act in which the government can seize and control all food, water, gas, transportation, buildings, and anything else they want including your house, your car, your person to be put to work without compensation.
5) Signed ACTA in secret and says he's going to veto CISPA because it doesn't go far enough, though he said he wouldn't sign NDAA either, but did,
6) Is willing to "respect" states rights when it comes to gay marriage and let them ban it if they want like North Carolina, but then will impose U.S. Marshals, the DEA and IRS to shut down medical marijuana dispensaries and growers and not respect California's state law regarding this matter.
Shall I go on?
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on May 24, 2012 at 9:48 am
Non-biased, you did not comment on the job growth per month chart
Web Link">Web Link
You said: "Obama's trillions in debt that haven't produced jobs"
Seems like you are avoiding this graph Web Link">Web Link
it is the single best chart to explain this recession
you will note the Bush job losses extending through May 2009, when Obama policies start to have an effect
Why would you consider Romney, who wants to return to Bush policies? He has brought on much of the Bush team, so many that it has many Americans scratching their head. Like calling Russia our #1 enemy.
General Colin Powell, yesterday was asked why Mitt has so many Bush/Cheney neocons on his team:
"I've noticed that. I don't know who all of his advisers are, but I've seen some of the names, and some of them are quite far to the right, and sometimes they, I think, might be in a position to make judgments or recommendations to the candidate that should get a second thought. For example, when governor Romney not too long ago said, you know, the Russian Federation is our number-one geostrategic threat. Well, c'mon Mitt, think. It isn't the case. And I don't know whether Mitt really feels that, or, whether it was …"
General Colin Powell, "Well, c'mon Mitt, THINK. It isn't the case."
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on May 24, 2012 at 9:53 am
Hank, asked you some questions up there, hope you come back so I can find out your job with the republican party.
Where did you get the lies about GST Steel?
Is the term "corporate welfare" the correct term for the ripping off of taxpayers for $37 million while getting a profit of $85 million on an investment of $18 million?
also, Florida gets conflicting polls, you noted PPP had Romeny up
Obama up 4 in both VA and FLA according to Marist, up 6 in Ohio, and these are before Mitt abandoned his Bain experience.
What's he going to run on? Not Bain anymore.
a resident of Menlo Park: Sharon Heights
on May 24, 2012 at 2:14 pm
I stand corrected. It was $80 Million. The Obama campaign has repeatly lied about Romney's involvement in the GST Steel acquisition with the knowing approval of President Obama. He approved a lie!
Now if you are really interested in the truth about Bain Capital read this story in the WSJ.
Web Link
Obama is a whining loser who refuses to accept responsibility for his incompetence. I can't wait until November 6 when I can call Governor Romney President Elect Romney.
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on May 24, 2012 at 2:37 pm
Hank - Bain didn't invest $80 million. Your article states "Bain... in 1993 joined other investors to acquire it for $80 million." That's a sell price, probably included loans, and other investors. Hank - do you know the difference between "acquired for" and "investment"?
What is your job with the republican party, anyway? Hope it not treasurer.
The Times story breaks it out: Web Link
"In June 1994, Bain put $18.2 million into Steel Dynamics, making it the largest domestic equity holder. It sold its stake five years later for $104 million, a return of more than $85 million. As Bain made its investment, the state and county pledged $37 million in subsidies and grants for the $385-million plant project. The county also levied a new income tax to finance infrastructure improvements to benefit the steel mill over the heated objections of some county residents."
Bain invested 18, sold for 104. Bain made $85 million while sticking the taxpayers for $37 million.
Why does that make someone a good president?
Good news though, Rmoney said yesterday he would open up the books.
"I happen to believe that having been in the private sector for 25 years gives me a perspective on how jobs are created that someone who's never spent a day in the private sector, like President Obama, simply doesn't understand."
So can we look at the books? "Well, of course."
" Asked if he "welcomes" scrutiny of his time at Bain, Romney replied, "Well, of course." But, he quickly added, that he "also like to focus" on Obama's record."
Open them up Mitt. Show us that what you've been telling us is your qualifications. Let's look at your tax returns, too, with their Cayman Island and Swiss bank accounts.
"Asked specifically how his time at Bain qualifies him to be president, Romney insisted his "whole life has been learning to lead."
What happened, Mitt?. Asked about Bain, he ran away and pivoted to his 'whole life'.
Is this the game changer?
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on May 24, 2012 at 2:38 pm
Romney opens up books interview Web Link
" Asked if he "welcomes" scrutiny of his time at Bain, Romney replied, "Well, of course."
a resident of Menlo Park: Sharon Heights
on May 24, 2012 at 3:13 pm
"Bain invested 18, sold for 104. Bain made $85 million while sticking the taxpayers for $37 million.
Why does that make someone a good president?"
Why does losing $538 Million on Solyndra make Obama a good President? Liberals make the most specious arguments leaving them wide open for rebuttal.
If you want to read about the Billions of our hard earned tax payer dollars that Obama has frittered away on these green pipe dreams just read this article from the Newspaper that is the darling of the left the Washington Post
Web Link
When it comes to losing money no one can top Obama. And we our counting on Obama to continue his losing streak to the electoral college. My best guess is 284-254. The Romney Occupy the White House Movement is gaining steam. The Romney Express will arrive at Union Station on January 20, 2013
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on May 24, 2012 at 5:54 pm
"Bain invested 18, sold for 104. Bain made $85 million while sticking the taxpayers for $37 million.... Why does losing $538 Million on Solyndra make Obama a good President? Liberals make the most specious arguments leaving them wide open for rebuttal."
au contere
You failed to answer the Bain question. (don't worry, the Romney campaign hasn't been able to answer it either, they ran away again today.) You brought up Solyndra.
One could respond that there is a long list of Republican politicians that lobbied for money from Bush's green money plan (that the Solyndra money came from) for companies in their districts, but I won't bore you.
Instead, I'll agree. Solyndra and Bain are terrible reasons. So let's stop talking about Bain and Solyndra.
Once you take away Bain, Rmoney has nothing else to run on except:
- the lobbyists Mitt hired to fleece the Feds for the Utah games
- Mitt's dismal failed record as governor.
What's left?
- Job creation? (mitt loses big, just ask Newt, Huntsman, Perry, etc.. about 47th place)
- foreign policy and national security? (ask bin Ladin about who won that one)
- unemployment rates? (Mitt declared yesterday that after 4 years he would get it sown to 6%, but the CBO already says Obama's policies and the recovering economy will get it down to 6% in 4 years! epic fail, Mitt!)
- spending (WSJ says Obama has the slower rate of growth in spending than Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush the 1st and Bush the Lessor.)
- Taxes? Under what President have tax rates been lower than under Obama? Not Bush, Reagan, Ford, Nixon, Eisenhower or any of the rest.
Bain is all Mitt has, and he ran away from it again today - talked education and took no Bain questions.
So let's talk about JOB CREATION.
** Mitt was 47th in Mass.
** Here is President Obama's job creation record: Web Link 26 months of job growth
What do you think of that chart, showing the Bush record job losses per month, with President Obama's policies turning it around to 26 consecutive months of private sector job growth?
Romney's only tactic left is to attack, just like he did with 90% of his ads in the primaries. He has no message other than to lie and attack. Once the middle of the electorate see that and turn away in disgust, it's over.
As worried as I am, at times, that Obama may not prevail, geez, you guys have to be downright frightened that Mitt is your candidate. The guy is darn near unelectable - he has to run a perfect campaign or root for an October surprise, just to beat a guy in the middle of recession - the death knell of politics.
Mitt, my friend, is a terrible candidate. It shocks me that the GOP couldn't talk a real candidate to step forward. Politically speaking, you have a much stronger 'bench' (Christie, Jeb, Daniels, Thune, etc...) Heck, Jon Huntsman's resume alone (a record-off-the-charts-popularity-level gov, ambassador, connects with people the way Mitt dreams about, he's wicked smart, etc..) could beat Obama by 100 EV's with all the Rove money behind him, in this economy.
Instead, you got stuck with Mitt all over your shoes.
Polite suggestion: drive the fringe out of the GOP, at least as far as picking national candidates. With a bench of solid stars (Christie, Jeb, Daniels, Thune, etc...) none of them would come out and face the garbage that the fringe requires in a primary. So you got Rick, Rick, Newt, Michelle, Herman and Tpaw for a minute. The GOP is better than that. America deserves the GOP's best, not those wingnuts.
This WILL be interesting. Whichever side loses will be in for the usual recalibration and recriminations. If it's the GOP, man oh man, boy-howdy, it's going to be ugly. May wise (and sane) heads prevail.
a resident of Menlo Park: Sharon Heights
on May 25, 2012 at 11:15 am
Marc Thiessen said it best
"As Hoover Institution scholar Peter Schweizer reported in his book, "Throw Them All Out," fully 71 percent of the Obama Energy Department's grants and loans went to "individuals who were bundlers, members of Obama's National Finance Committee, or large donors to the Democratic Party." Collectively, these Obama cronies raised $457,834 for his campaign, and they were in turn approved for grants or loans of nearly $11.35 billion.
Obama said this week it's not the president's job "to make a lot of money for investors." Well, he sure seems to have made a lot of (taxpayer) money for investors in his political machine.
All that cronyism and corruption is catching up with the administration. According to Politico, "The Energy Department's inspector general has launched more than 100 criminal investigations" related to the department's green-energy programs.
Now the man who made Solyndra a household name says Mitt Romney's record at Bain Capital "is what this campaign is going to be about." Good luck with that, Mr. President. If Obama wants to attack Romney's alleged private equity failures as chief executive of Bain, he'd better be ready to defend his own massive public equity failures as chief executive of the United States".
a resident of Atherton: West of Alameda
on May 25, 2012 at 12:56 pm
2nd story - come back, that was a great post. I figure it had to resonate with Hank, watching Mitt fumble around about Bain, that there are so many better GOP candidates.
That's gotta hurt.
Good assessment on Hintsman. He'd have a 10% lead on Obama right now, after the conventions it would have risen to 15% (assuming he survived the primary circus, which obviously he did not.) It's too early for Hank Lawrence and the angry side to look back at that. Pending a loss, it's a post election set of regrets.
Agree with 2nd: Once you take away Bain, Romney has nothing else to run on. Abandoning Bain, Mitt seeks out Donald Trump this week.
Donald Trump?
Birtherism at it's finest. Really Mitt, you can do better than that.
btw, Hank, thanks for answering the request.
a resident of Menlo Park: Sharon Heights
on May 26, 2012 at 7:16 am
In a Washington Post/ABC News poll this week, nearly twice as many people said they were worse off financially under Obama than said they were better off. And more than half the respondents disapproved of Obama's handling of the economy, for the 20th poll in a row.
Biden, who looked like he was going to be an asset with Rust Belt swing voters who have become increasingly skeptical of Obama, instead could wind up as a drag on the ticket. A USA Today/Gallup poll this week found more people viewed him unfavorably than viewed him favorably. That was the first time Biden's numbers were underwater as vice president, with even worse numbers in swing states than the nation as a whole.
It's surprising for a challenger's side to be at parity with an incumbent, let alone ahead. But Obama has found fundraising to be harder than expected, in part because he has alienated so many financial-services executives with his rhetoric and policies. In addition, the Obama-blessed super PACs have been slow to get off the ground — in part because some donors apparently have Obama's admonitions about big money perverting the system still ringing in their ears from 2008.
Obama will capture his typical base: The West Coast, Illinois, and the Northeast, with the exception of New Hampshire and Maine.
Ohio and PA are split. The probability is that Governor Romeny will pick up one and so will Obama.
Florida, North Carolina, and Wisconsin will be in Governo Romney's column.
All in all it will be a close race with Governor Romney capturing the White House. Even though Obama is the most incompetent president in modern history, incumbency does have some value. So what should be a cake walk for Governor Romney will instead be a grueling contest. But in the end, people will vote with their pocket books and put Obama out to pasture.
a resident of Atherton: West of Alameda
on May 26, 2012 at 10:56 am
Claims, skewed opinion from a republican operative, but no links.
Are you talking about this poll? Web Link
Funny statement about a country that was handed the Bush Recession in Jan 2009, with job losses of 800,000 per month and a negative -8% gdp: nearly twice as many people said they were worse off financially since 2009 than said they were better off.
Ya think?
Don't go out on a limb there, Hank.
Go past Hank's bloviating: Only 20% think they'd have been better off with Romney.
Only 20% !!!
"Just two in 10 in this survey, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates, think they'd be better off had Romney been steering the economy instead of Obama; about as many think Romney would have left them worse off. While that's a bit (8 points) fewer than the number who say they've gotten worse off under Obama, nonetheless Obama and Romney remain essentially even in trust to handle the economy (46-47 percent) or job creation (47-44 percent)."
some actual questions from the poll:
* Who do you think would do more to advance the economic interests of middle class Americans, Obama or Romney?
Obama: 51
Romney: 42
* Who do you think would do more to advance the economic interests of wealthy Americans, Obama or Romney?
Obama: 24
Romney: 65
* Who do you think would do more to advance the economic interests of financial institutions, Obama or Romney?
Obama: 32
Romney: 56
* Who do you think would do more to advance the economic interests of you and your family, Obama or Romney?
Obama: 46
Romney:: 43
a resident of Atherton: West of Alameda
on May 26, 2012 at 10:58 am
Joe Biden has more humanity in his little finger than the Romneybot has in his entire body.
Want evidence?
a resident of Menlo Park: Sharon Heights
on May 26, 2012 at 4:06 pm
Hopefully that evidence doesn't come from Biden's plagiarism.
This is from Slate:
"But the even greater sin was to borrow biographical facts from Kinnock that, although true about Kinnock, didn't apply to Biden. Unlike Kinnock, Biden wasn't the first person in his family history to attend college, as he asserted; nor were his ancestors coal miners, as he claimed when he used Kinnock's words. Once exposed, Biden's campaign team managed to come up with a great-grandfather who had been a mining engineer, but he hardly fit the candidate's description of one who "would come up [from the mines] after 12 hours and play football." At any rate, Biden had delivered his offending remarks with an introduction that clearly implied he had come up with them himself and that they pertained to his own life."
Now on to the Biden gaffes. He is truly one of the great enterainers of all time.
Web Link
Now to Obama.
Money News tells a compeeling story of Why Obama will lose the election:
Web Link
Obama is going to lose and California's 55 votes won't help him! The American Public has realized that Socialism is not the answer and Barack Obama epitomizes socialism. He makes that former mayor of Menlo Park with the law degree from Boalt look like a Goldwater Republican by comparison.
a resident of Atherton: West of Alameda
on May 26, 2012 at 4:43 pm
Afraid to watch the Memorial Day honors for TAPS?
I posted it just for you, away from this thread, even avoided the name I'm posting under to not alienate you or politicize it.
I said "Joe Biden has more humanity in his little finger than the Romneybot has in his entire body" and all you can do is talk about gaffes.
Web Link
re: gaffes? I love watching Republicans highlight Joe's gaffes, after we all endured 8 years of gaffes from the guy who just endorsed Romney through closing elevator doors.
Want to trade gaffes? A Biden for a George Bush? Bush wins by a country mile, and by 'win', I mean he loses. I looked at the top ten for Biden, and I gotta tell ya, you're really stretching it compared to any list of Bush's flubs!
- - - -
Nice link - they're pitching investment newsletters!!! Are you getting a commission every time someone click on it?
Hank, you're losing it. Pitching shysters' newletters, comparing Biden's gaffes with the Master Bush who just endorsed Romney from behind elevator doors....
Take the weekend off. You need the rest.
(just as a sad reminder, these isn't a Bush 'gaffe', but a sad reminder this Memorial Day weekend of the type of man he was)
"The most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden. It is our number one priority and we will not rest until we find him." -Washington, D.C., Sept. 13, 2001
a mere six months later...
"I don't know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority." -Washington, D.C., March 13, 2002
a resident of Menlo Park: Sharon Heights
on May 26, 2012 at 6:31 pm
Hey Mitt does not LIKE to fire people,
I have a news flash. George W. Bush is not running for President. I hate to disappoint you. But he is not running.
Obama has a terrrible record. All you have to do is ask the average American "Are you better off now than you were 5 Trillion dollars ago?
The game is over. You cute little deflections away from Obama's horrible record as president won't work (except in California where they have drunk the Obama Kool Aid).
Fly-over Country will save the day!
a resident of Atherton: West of Alameda
on May 26, 2012 at 6:48 pm
Hank says "George W. Bush is not running "
Bush IS running. And not just because this is the Bush Great Recession.
Bush/Cheney ARE RUNNING, because Romney has decided to emmulate Bush/Cheney. Romney picked up much of the Bush/Cheney team. Romney's polices reflect Bush/Cheney and the terrible decisions Bush/Cheney made to get us into this mess.
Hiding behind elevator doors will not change the above facts.
Cheney is holding a fundraiser next week for Romney, to support Bush/Cheney policies back in the White House.
YES, LET'S LOOK at Obama's record - starting in Jan 2009 and the consecutive months of Bush job destruction exceeding 800,000 jobs lost per month.
YES, LET'S LOOK at this Web Link">Web Link
YES, LET'S LOOK at how many times we have asked Hank to comment on that chart, and Hank runs away as fast as he can, because Bush history is a disaster.
Repeating Bush/Cheney polices will again be a disaster for America. Even General Powell noticed how many of the Bush/Cheney foreign policy team have been hired by Romney.
Romney hires Bush/Cheney's team, recycles Bush/Cheney policies and is endorsed by Bush/Cheney. What more do we need to know?
YES, LET'S LOOK at this Web Link">Web Link What do you have to say about it, Hank?
As General Colin Powell said "Well, c'mon Mitt, THINK." Thanks, General, couldn't have said it better.
"Well, c'mon Mitt, THINK."
a resident of Menlo Park: Sharon Heights
on May 27, 2012 at 6:46 am
It is so sad that liberals are so delusional that they proffer the specious argument that Bush is running for president. That is the voice of desperation. They feel their socialist dream slowly slipping away and they are panic stricken.
News Flash! Governor Romney is running and he is going to whup Obama!
Tyler Durden wrote an excellent article in zerohedge.com. Now Zero Hedge is not Republican or Democrat. It is strictly about financial analyis and how to make money.
The brilliant article is:
People Not In Labor Force Soar By 522,000, Labor Force Participation Rate Lowest Since 1981.
"The reason why the unemployment dropped to 8.1% is that the labor force participation rate just dipped to a new 30 year low of 64.3%."
Check out this graph to show the real story on Obama's failed socialist economics
Web Link
And before you go attacking Zero Hedge, the Democratic National Committee advertises on this web site.
a resident of Menlo Park: Park Forest
on May 27, 2012 at 11:34 am
So if Chaney is hosting a fundraiser for Governor Romney he is running for president? Sorry, I don't follow that twisted logic.
So when George Clooney hosted a fund raiser for Obama he was running for president? And when the well known drug addict David Crosby sang for Obama he was running for President? No he was running to be the chief of the DEA in the slim chance that Obama gets re-elected.
I think we have had enough of Obama. He has had 3 1/2 years and all hes has done is fumble the ball. He can not accept responsibility for his failures. People want a leader not a cry baby who will, for the next 4 years, chant the mantra "It's all Bush's fault". We are tired of hearing that! We do not want a Complainer in Chief! We want someone who will do something about our economic quagmire. Obviously Obama is completely incapable of solving our country's economic problems. It is time to give someone else a chance. I am voting for Governor Romney. At least he does not whine.
a resident of Atherton: West of Alameda
on May 27, 2012 at 2:35 pm
CS: Please post the links to any 'whining' by the President. As far as Crosby and his past (or current?) drug usage, let's compare that to Limbaugh, who is the featured guest at CPAC, etc.. At least David had a heyday of creativity, resulting in (arguably) the greatest music of the generation. When Rush sent his maids out to score drugs, what did we get?
Back to whining. If someone points out that George Bush ran our first trillion dollar deficit while the country bled jobs at nearly a million jobs lost a month, is that 'whining' or fact? Does it apply? Yes, when the opponent is seeking to repeat the Bush/Cheney disaster.
BUSH IS RUNNING AGAIN, at least his policies and team are, under Romney.
Romney will repeat Bush/Cheney policies. Romney has hired the Bush/Cheney team.
Romney will be the return of Bush. Why do you think Dubya endorsed him from the elevator, without benefit of any recordings?
If it walks like a Bush/Cheney, talks like a Bush/Cheney, smells like a Bush/Cheney, is supported by a Bush/Cheney and destroys the economy like a Bush/Cheney, then it's Bush/Cheney all over again.
Romney is Bush/Cheney II.
Hank: interesting site, especially with claims like this, without any facts "There Are 100 Million Working Age Americans That Do Not Have Jobs". Uh-huh, right. Gimmee a break, does that even pass the smell test for a nation of 310 million?
fwiw, when I visited the site, there were ads for Obama, Townhall, Walker, a car, msft, and even shoes (not sure why, I've not looked for shoes online lately, after all, I'm clearly just a barefoot dfh....) Google adsense serves up ads based on the viewer, not any endorsement or often even choice from the website. You and I may see different ads while viewing the same site simultaneously.
Though they may in fact be very similar given our reading tastes... ;-)
a resident of Menlo Park: Sharon Heights
on May 27, 2012 at 6:46 pm
Dear Mitt does not LIKE to fire people,
No one believes your hysterical nonsense. You sound like a tired and hackneyed Goebbels propaganda film. Can't you come up with something more original? This Bush Derangement Syndrome has affected your lucidity.
So what if George Bush endorsed Governor Romney. That brainless twit George Clooney endorsed Barack Obama. And for Obama to tell the President of Russia that he will have more flexibility when he is relected is tantamont to saying "I have to defer selling out the United States to Russia until after the election". That is some great president we have here.
Romney has his own team of accomplished professionsla in both the business community and in public service. When he becomes president in January he will dismantle this politburo type thinking Obama has brought to us and replace it with innovative, creative, disciplined Governance that will bring our great country back from the brink of disaster and restore it to the greatness we once had.
a resident of Atherton: West of Alameda
on May 27, 2012 at 7:48 pm
"So what if George Bush endorsed Governor Romney."
Agreed. It was a given.
But in an elevator as the doors close? Really?
Okay, forget the embarrassment of the endorsement.
Romney took on a lot of the Bush/Cheney team. Romney's policies ARE the Bush/Cheney policies.
Romney is Bush/Cheney II.
a resident of Atherton: other
on May 27, 2012 at 8:01 pm
And I always took Romney's comment as not that he enjoys firing people, but he likes a system (i.e., a free-market system) in which employers CAN fire employees. Certainly it's difficult to do in government, which Obama wants to make bigger.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
The Philosopher's Apprentice
A brilliant philosopher with a talent for self-destruction, Mason Ambrose gratefully accepts an offer no starving ethicist could refuse. He must travel to a private tropical island and tutor Londa Sabacthani, a beautiful, brilliant adolescent who has lost both her memory and her moral sense in a freak accident. Londa's soul is an empty vessel--and Mason's job will be to fill it.
But all is not as it seems on Isla de Sangre. Londa's reclusive mother is secretly sheltering a second child whose conscience is a blank slate. Even as the mystery deepens, Mason confronts a frightening question: What will happen when Londa, her head crammed with lofty ideals and her bank account filled to bursting, ventures out to remake our fallen world in her own image?
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About the Author
James Morrow was born in Philadelphia in 1947. Besides writing, he plays with Lionel electric trains and collects videocassettes of vulgar biblical spectacles.
"Morrow is a good as anybody at dramatizing the notion that ideas can both kill us and save us, and THE PHILOSOPHER'S APPRENTICE may well offer about as many provocative ideas per chapter as we'll see in any novel this year."--Gary K. Wolfe, Locus
"One of America's premier comic novelists and satirists. . . . Morrow is long overdue for a mainstream audience."--Denver Post
"[James Morrow] is an original--stylistically ingenious, savagely funny, always unpredictable."--Philadelphia Inquirer
"Morrow addresses controversial topics without being heavy-handed, and infuses the narrative with a wit that pragmatists and idealists alike will appreciate. A-"--Entertainment Weekly
"Morrow's world is one where ideas matter so much they come lurching to life as intellectual Frankenstein creatures. In The Philosopher's Apprentice, they are wickedly hilarious - and then they can break our hearts and scare us silly."--Denver Post
"[Morrow's] valorization of reason together with his acute sense of comic absurdity have long made him a favorite of intellectuals . . . who see him in the tradition of Twain and Vonnegut."--Locus
"In some ways, [Morrow] reminds me of Mark Twain after the mid-1880s, and even more of Kurt Vonnegut. Like them, Morrow writes with a penetrating moral vision."--Fort Worth Star-Telegram
"James Morrow is a wildly imaginative and generous novelist who plays hilarious games with grand ideas."--New York Times Book Review
"[I]nventive, entertaining . . . fantastic images and ideas . . . Morrow's inventiveness is beguiling, as are his delight in Western philosophy and his concern for the sorry state of the world."--New York Times Book Review
"[A] hyperkinetic mishmash of horror story, sci-fi yarn, Renaissance allegory, Greek myth and modern morality tale...rollicking...ingenious...it's the fiction equivalent of a roller coaster ride, where readers are meant to hold on tight and enjoy the giddy thrills of an over-the-top and overeducated plot."--Maureen Corrigan, NPR's Fresh Air on THE PHILOSOPHER'S APPRENTICE
"[A] tumultuous take on humanity, philosophy and ethics that is as hilarious as it is outlandish . .. [a] wildly ambitious morality play, a shrewd amalgamation of the sacred and the profane. Tips its hat with style to Mary Shelley and George Bernard Shaw."--Kirkus Reviews
"Morrow has produced an exemplary novel, one that explores a question central to the human understanding of self...THE PHILOSOPHER'S APPRENTICE is thought experiment as heartbreaking drama-this is what science fiction at its best does."--St. Louis Post-Dispatch on THE PHILOSOPHER'S APPRENTICE
"Morrow may not mention Diderot, but in many ways Morrow is a successor to that finest of Enlightenment thinkers, a man who believed that literature and philosophy marched hand in hand and who was not afraid to discuss serious matters in a comic tone. Enthusiastically recommended for all libraries."--Library Journal (starred review)
"Morrow is an inventive writer possessing a fine comic sensibility; the story is infused with wit and brio."--Library Journal (starred review)


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MOUNT VERNON — The four-lane I-5 bridge over the Skagit River collapsed about 7 p.m. Thursday, dumping vehicles and people into the water, the Washington State Patrol said.
Rescue crews raced to the scene and after a frantic hour reported that there was no loss of life.
Marcus Deyerin, a spokesman for the Northwest Washington Incident Management Team, said there were only two vehicles involved: a pickup truck towing a trailer and a small passenger vehicle.
Two people were in the truck; one in the car. All were rescued and receiving medical attention, he said. Two people injured in the collapse were en route to Skagit Valley Hospital. A third was being transported to a different area hospital.
There was no immediate reason to believe anyone else was involved in the collapse, but crews were scouring the river to make sure, he said.
"Now we begin the recovery stage dealing with a major interstate highway that is nonfunctional at the moment," Deyerin said.
A truck hauling an oversize load was responsible, the State Patrol said Friday.
To get across the Skagit River, southbound traffic is being rerouted at Highway 20 to Burlington Boulevard in Burlington. Northbound traffic is being rerouted at College Way to Riverside Drive in Mount Vernon.
"We were extremely lucky that it wasn't worse," Deyerin said.
That was especially true given the traffic volume Thursday night, and even more traffic that could have been expected on Friday, the start of the Memorial Day weekend.
He said for people to be prepared for major impacts on travel, particularly in the communities of Mount Vernon and Burlington.
Floyd Richardson, a Mount Vernon logger, was outside his home when he heard the bridge collapse.
"It was like 100 little kids crying. It was like 'EEEEKKK,'" he said.
There was no immediate word on the cause of the collapse, said Jaime Smith, director of media relations for Gov. Jay Inslee. The National Transportation Safety Board plans to send a "full go-team" to investigate, according to the agency's Twitter account.
The collapse comes just before the busy Memorial Day weekend.
A lot of Skagit Valley residents are wondering how the fallen span will affect their commutes to work.
"I'll take the back roads," Richardson said. "I know all the tricks."
Homer Diaz, of Mount Vernon, was among the hundreds of bystanders lining the river bank. He crosses the bridge to and from work each day.
Thursday night, the inevitable inconvenience of the pending commute seemed a secondary concern. His fiancé crossed the bridge shortly before it collapsed.
"Thank God she wasn't on it then," he said. "I feel sorry for the people who fell in."
Russell Hester, of Mount Vernon, is eager to learn how long it will take to replace the bridge.
"For the locals, there are not a lot of ways to get across," he said.
Tasha Zahlis suspected something was wrong when there were two brief power surges at her home nearby and her dogs began barking.
She crossed the bridge 10 minutes before it collapsed on her way home from work.
"I absolutely had an angel over me," she said. "I am so thankful."
Michael Szagajek arrived in time to see debris from the collapsed bridged still raining onto the river.
"It was still crumbling," he said. "It was unbelievable."
When he spotted one of the drivers in the river standing atop a car, it took him a moment to convince himself what he saw was real.
Tandy Wilbur of La Conner was visiting a car dealership on the river's north side when the lights suddenly went out.
He ran outside to see what was wrong and realized the bridge had collapsed.
When Wilbur reached the top of the dike he saw a man seated atop an orange Subaru Crosstrek in the river.
He began searching the banks to see if there was anyone he could help.
"It is a horrible thing," Wilbur said about an hour after the collapse.
A crowd of about 1,000 people stood along the dikes as the sun set. Christie Wolfe, of Oak Harbor, was among those who raced to the river's edge. She knew her truck-driving boyfriend was supposed to be on the bridge about the time it collapsed.
He finally got through on the phone to let her know that he had stopped in time.
Rescue boats and hydrofoils crisscrossed on the river while helicopters hovered above.
The Subaru was still in the river, its windshield wipers sweeping side to side.
A hovercraft crew surveying the scene reported there was a full-size pickup truck with a trailer and a smaller passenger car in the river.
Inslee was expected at the scene. He was to be joined by Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste and WSDOT Secretary Lynn Peterson.
The 1,111-foot, steel-truss bridge was built in 1955, according to the nongovernmental website nationalbridges.com, which offers a searchable database of the National Bridge Inventory compiled by the Federal Highway Administration. It was built before the freeway for U.S. 99.
The database classifies the Skagit River bridge over I-5 as "functionally obsolete," which indicates the design is not ideal, but it is not rated as "structurally deficient."
"'Functionally obsolete' does not communicate anything of a structural nature," according to nationalbridges.com. "A functionally obsolete bridge may be perfectly safe and structurally sound but may be the source of traffic jams or may not have a high enough clearance to allow an oversized vehicle."
In 2010, according to the database, the bridge carried an average of 70,925 vehicles per day. The substructure was deemed in "good condition," and the superstructure and deck were described as in "satisfactory condition."
The federal database says a structural evaluation of the bridge found it "somewhat better than minimum adequacy to tolerate being left in place as is."
According to a 2012 Skagit County Public Works Department, 42 of the county's 108 bridges are 50 years or older. The document says eight of the bridges are more than 70 years old and two are over 80.
Washington state was given a C in the American Society of Civil Engineers' 2013 infrastructure report card and a C- when it came to the state's bridges. The group said more than a quarter of Washington's 7,840 bridges are considered structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.
Snohomish County emergency management crews were summoned to the scene,said John Pennington of the agency. Snohomish County sheriff's office sent a helicopter and its technical water rescue team, which included divers and three boats. Arlington Rural and Silvana fire departments also were sending boats to the scene. Everett police sent their marine unit.
The American Red Cross was sending volunteers to provide first responders with water, food and other supplies, said Chuck Morrison, executive director of the Snohomish County chapter.
More volunteers were sent from Skagit and Whatcom counties because it was unclear if Snohomish County crews could reach the scene as quickly, he said.
Regional Red Cross leaders had just gotten off a plane when they heard the news, Morrison said. They're working with state disaster officials as well.
"They've got it," he said. "They're in control. We're staying in touch."
Herald reporters Rikki King, Chuck Taylor, Diana Hefley and Jerry Cornfield contributed to this report.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the make and model of one of the vehicles involved in the bridge collapse. The orange car was a Subaru Crosstrek.
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|Suntory Old Blended Whisky (and Hiroko Sherwin)
|Fragment of tax strip
The tax strip, and use of proof rather than abv% puts it before the mid 80s according to SKU's article about dating bourbon dusties:
but the use of metric measuring is complicating to the dating.
Nonjatta, the premier blog about Japanese whisky published a post in February 2010 about dating Suntory Old bottles:
There are several generations of Old, reaching right up to the present day. Despite its name, it is not a particularly long matured whisky. It is a mid market blend (below Hibiki in Suntory's blended whisky pecking order but above Kakubin and the bargain basement Torys.) There are various ways to tell younger bottles from older version. Early bottles had the slogan: "A Blend of Ancient Whiskies". That was still on the bottle until at least 1868. Even after Kotobukiya changed its name to "Suntory" in 1963, the Suntory Old bottles appear to have continued to bear the "Kotobukiya" name. One way to tell really old Olds from 1960s versions is the addition of technical information at the far left bottom and far right bottom of the main label.
I am not sure when exactly things changed but, by 1994, " the label was different. The "Ancient Whiskies" were dropped in favour of "A Blend of the Choice Whiskies" and the main title on the whisky changed from "Suntory Whisky" to "Suntory Old Whisky". The line "Mild and Smooth" had also been added to the label by 1994 and the neck label had a completely different design.
This is a great bit of info - but unfortunately there is a huge gap between 1968 and 1994 in the information and this example was pretty clearly squarely in this gap. Furthermore, the bottle under consideration here lacks the word "Old" on the label.
Here is a site showing Suntory Old Minis that show how unusual the label without the word `Old` is - and the timing is at the cutoff between cork and screw top (see #4):
While this old minis site doesn't give a date for this label wording, it strongly suggests sometime in the late 60s or early 70s based on context. This allowed me to do a brute force search of the advertising for this period which yielded the following:
Advertisement dating the unusual label to 1973 `If You've Been There You Know`:
Back on Nonjatta I find a review of the 2007 version which identifies it as a blend and gives it (barely 3 of 5 stars): Smells of marmalade and varnish with very faint earth and undergrowth notes slightly complicating things. The taste is quite nice: a very thin caramel with grainy harshness and plastics peeking through, but very suppressed. Just creeps above the two star threshold, but barely. 40 per cent
Price (April 2007)
700 ml - 1,504 yen
Suntory Old 43.4% abv Probably 1973
Color: Very light amber with gold glints
Nose: caramel, apple brown Betty, tropical blooms, butter, vanilla pods, hemp, and sherry oak. It smells like Yamazaki with old school sherry highland influence. Just killer. Close to five star territory so far.
Palate: Honey, toffee, and floral vanilla on the entry which hits solidly mid-tongue. The mouth feel is thin and light. The mid-palate expansion is spicy and vibrant with persimmon fruit, cinnamon clove heat, allspice and sherry sweetness. There is plenty of oak tannins in the turn. The finish is long and spiced with nutmeg eggnog and sherry which comes off as dark chocolate cherry. Extensive air brings some honey to the sweet and a hint of body to the mouth feel but a bit of bitter note shows on the finish - not so unwelcomely. This is excellent stuff. Solid 4 star territory.
Adding a drop of water ups the honey and spice in the nose and adds a hint of smoke.
The water thins the palate - not a good thing here as the palate was a tad thin to begin with. The spice heat, however, is amplified a bit.
A mixed bag but very close to completely awesome.
The bottom line here is that this is very tasty whisky indeed. It is clear kin to Yamazaki, but has much more sherry in the palate. It has inferior mouth feel and richness compared to Yamazaki, either as a result of having grain whisky, being a younger NAS product, or as the effect of oxidation - or some combination of the above. While I wouldn't rank it higher than Yamazaki, the ways it is different than Yamazaki are instructive. Rich, spicy, complex and sherried it has more of a classic old time Scotch feel. It's very good whisky and awefully good for a mainstream blend: more evidence that fuller flavor used to be mainstream 40 years ago. This is particularly so in light of the lackluster tasting notes for the 2007 version on Nonjatta. This old 1973 stuff is clearly better than the 2007 stuff.
These come up periodically on auction sites and tend to go for 50-70 pounds. This isn't rare stuff and it's not totally amazing, but it's interesting and quite good - perfectly reasonable at that price.


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The Cheapest Painter Is Not Always The Best
That low, low bid is so tempting but beware! The cheapest painter is not always best – to put it mildly --and could end up costing you a lot of money.
Although it may seem like a pricier proposition to hire a topnotch painter, a shoddy paint job tends to waste both your precious time and expensive paint. Worst case scenario (or should I say "worst case scenarios"?): your stuff gets damaged, the paintwork is a mess or never completed, the painter's helper is hurt on the job...it can go on and on. Luckily, if you are thinking to yourself, "how can I find a professional house painter near me to avoid these situations?", Networx can help you locate the perfect painter for you.
Many fail to take the advice so read on to find out what else could go wrong when you hire the cheapest painter.
What Could Possibly Go Wrong With The Cheapest Painter's Work?
What could go wrong? I'll tell you what:
- Insufficient Prep. A telltale sign of a shady painting contractor is skimping on prep. Good, thorough preparation is essential, including cleaning walls, sanding, and repairing holes or dents. This ensures that the paint will go on smoothly and look as great as you hoped.
- Incorrectly matched paint. With today's tech, there's no excuse for not matching paint precisely but it can happen, when you hire the cheapest painter for the job. And it will show.
- Uneven application. Visible streaks and roller or brush marks will make any paintwork look second-rate.
- Inadequate equipment. I hired an unforgettable contractor once, years ago, who was a minimalist in terms of equipment. He improvised a tarp from my best tablecloth and a ladder from one of my dining chairs. (They did not survive the experience.) A good painter comes prepared with professional equipment.
- Cheap paint. The perfect way to compound a mistake: Hire the cheapest painter, and then let him go out and buy the paint. Cheap paint will look cheap. 'Nuff said.
- Lack of cleanup. Don't want to be left with paint splatters everywhere? Then find a pro whose estimate includes cleanup.
- Lack of skill. Your bargain painter is unlikely to be up to your special requests. Hire a real pro if you want specialty finishes or techniques like painting over passé surfaces (remember the chalkboard paint fad?)
- Poor ROI. The cheapest painter will probably produce a quick, sloppy job that'll have to be redone within a year or two (as opposed to expert painting, which can last up to 10 years). That's a lousy return on investment.
- Zero curb appeal. When you're selling a home, the difference is in the details. Little things like an amateurish paint job are frequently major buyer turnoffs.
- Warranty. What warranty?
Cost To Hire A Painter
Interior: The average cost to hire a painter is $20-$50 an hour (more for specialty painting techniques) plus materials.
Exterior: The average cost to paint the outside of your house is $25-$75 an hour plus materials.
Do the math – the $20-hour guy is likely to give you a result that will last half as long as the pro who charges twice as much ... AND you'll live through the hassle of moving furniture, living with paint smells and having your house turned upside down twice as often. What's more, if his paint job is really bad, you might need to pay to have your walls scraped before repainting.
Cost of paint: typically $15-$40 per gallon. Here's how to calculate how much to buy -- plan on 1 gallon per 350 sq ft (approximately), to provide single coat coverage.
Legal Requirements For A Painting Contractor
The absolute minimum requirements for a painting contractor are: a business license, liability insurance (and workers comp if they have employees), a ladder, and a paintbrush.
In some states, licensing as a contractor or professional painter is also required, especially for a project costing over a certain specified amount.
Before You Hire A Painter
Compare prices. Get several written estimates and compare. Make sure you're comparing apples to apples, though – check out the fine print specifying what is included in each price.
Read reviews. Customer reviews on Google or Yelp! tend to be much more objective than the ones posted on the contractor's own website.
Check credentials. Ask to see the painter's license and proof of insurance, which must be up to date. For a large project, you might also want to investigate his standing with the BBB or do a background check.
Sign a contract. Include EVERYTHING from expected starting and completion dates to the brand of paint to be used. Both you and your painter should sign.
Laura Firszt writes for networx.com.
Looking for a Pro? Call us(866) 441-6648


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