“I will go all the way to the convention, I expect to win the nomination.”

If you haven’t done the math, this means that we still have roughly 211 days of Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, and most likely Ron Paul fighting it out.

However, there are only four official debates scheduled between now and the convention: February 22 (Arizona), March 1 (Georgia), March 5 (California), and March 19 (Portland).

I think there will either be more nationally televised debates scheduled, or the campaigns are going to rely on their Super PAC’s for handling the messaging (and attacks) before Super Tuesday, where 10 states hold their primaries on March 6, 2012.

Either way, it’ll be a fun (and expensive!) primary. Of  course, a longer primary season means that President Obama gets additional time to raise money without having to spend much, while Republican donors will be forced to decide whether or not they should max out on their candidate now, or wait until things settle down once a more definitive front-runner is determined.

So how many delegates do each of the candidates? Well…

• Mitt Romney has 33 delegates after winning New Hampshire, and placing second in South Carolina and Iowa.
• Newt Gingrich has 28 delegates after winning the South Carolina Primary.
• Ron Paul has 10 delegates after coming in second place in New Hampshire, and 3rd in Iowa.
• Rick Santorum has 8 delegates after placing first in the Iowa primary, and third in South Carolina.

In order to lock up the nomination, a candidate needs 1,144 of 2,286 delegates.

And so it continues.

Meet the Press with David Gregory (9am ET*, NBC): Guests this week include Presidential candidate Rick Santorum, former Presidential candidates John McCain and Fred Thompson, and Obama Campaign Strategist, David Axelrod.

Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer (10:30am ET*, CBS): This week’s guests include Newt Gingrich, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, Congressman Allen West, Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, Donald Trump, RNC Chairman, Reince Priebus, and DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

This Week with George Stephanopoulos (10:00am ET*, ABC): This week’s guests will be Newt Gingrich, and House Speaker John Boehner.

State of the Union with Candy Crowly (9:00am ET*, CNN): Candy will be joined this week by Presidential candidate Ron Paul, Florida Governor, Rick Scott, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

(*please check your local listings for show times)

]]> http://dcrepublican.com/2012/01/28/sunday-talk-show-preview-january-29-2012/feed/ 0 http://dcrepublican.com/2012/01/26/observations-on-mitt-romneys-tax-returns/ http://dcrepublican.com/2012/01/26/observations-on-mitt-romneys-tax-returns/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:51:07 +0000 DC Republican http://dcrepublican.com/?p=1221 Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney released his 2010 income tax return today, after weeks of pressure from the media and his GOP rivals. In reading various reactions to the release of this data, there are a few reoccurring discussion items that I want to draw attention to, and hopefully diminish.

Misconception: Since Mitt Romney held investments in offshore funds, he must have been trying to hide money from the IRS.

Reality: There is nothing illegal about investing or holding money in banks that are located in other countries. If he was trying to hide money, why would he disclose it to the IRS?

Misconception: Mitt Romney’s effective tax rate was only 14%. This goes to show that the richest American’s who run the biggest companies continue to pay the lowest tax rate.

Reality: While Romney’s effective tax rate of 14% is low, people need to remember that he didn’t earn this off of wages. His income in 2010 was mainly from capital gains through his various investments. However, in the interest of discussion, even if his effective tax rate was 14%, and wage based, there is still an angry, greedy, vile, and capitalistic group of Americans paying a lower tax rate.

Is it big oil? No. Big Tobacco? No.

Those greedy jerks that pay less in taxes than Mitt Romney… small business owners, specifically sole proprietors. That’s right, according to the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), the average effective tax rate for a sole proprietor is 13.3%:

The effective federal income tax rate faced by small businesses varies by the legal form of organization, according to a report issued today by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Average rates range from 13.3 percent for sole proprietorships to 26.9 percent for S corporations. The effective federal income tax rate is the actual amount of taxes paid by a firm as a percent of its net income.

If you’re thinking to yourself, “well, business owners are still a small segment of the population… the majority have to pay a much higher tax rate,” you’re wrong. Even at 14%, Romney still pays a higher rate than 97% of Americans.

From the Tax Foundation:

“Based on the most recent IRS data for 2009, the average tax rate (after deductions) paid by all Americans is 11 percent. It is also clear that millionaires pay an average of 25 percent, while virtually every taxpayer earning under $100,000 pays an average rate of no more than 8 percent of their income in taxes.”

If anything, it’s the “1%” that should be angry at Romney, not the average voter.

Jobs:

As Republicans our first concern is for those waiting tonight to begin or resume the climb up life’s ladder. We do not accept that ours will ever be a nation of haves and have nots; we must always be a nation of haves and soon to haves.

Energy and Jobs:

The extremism that stifles the development of homegrown energy, or cancels a perfectly safe pipeline that would employ tens of thousands, or jacks up consumer utility bills for no improvement in either human health or world temperature, is a pro-poverty policy. It must be replaced by a passionate pro-growth approach that breaks all ties and calls all close ones in favor of private sector jobs that restore opportunity for all and generate the public revenues to pay our bills.

Tax Reform:

That means a dramatically simpler tax system of fewer loopholes and lower rates. A pause in the mindless piling on of expensive new regulations that devour dollars that otherwise could be used to hire somebody. It means maximizing on the new domestic energy technologies that are the best break our economy has gotten in years.

Congressional Gridlock:

It’s not fair and it’s not true for the President to attack Republicans in Congress as obstacles on these questions. They and they alone have passed bills to reduce borrowing, reform entitlements, and encourage new job creation, only to be shot down nearly time and again by the President and his Democrat Senate allies.

General Change in Direction:

No feature of the Obama Presidency has been sadder than its constant efforts to divide us, to curry favor with some Americans by castigating others. As in previous moments of national danger, we Americans are all in the same boat. If we drift, quarreling and paralyzed, over a Niagara of debt, we will all suffer, regardless of income, race, gender, or other category. If we fail to shift to a pro-jobs, pro-growth economic policy, there will never be enough public revenue to pay for our safety net, national security, or whatever size government we decide to have.

Rally Call:

2012 must be the year we prove the doubters wrong. The year we strike out boldly not merely to avert national bankruptcy but to say to a new generation that America is still the world’s premier land of opportunity. Republicans will speak for those who believe in the dignity and capacity of the individual citizen; who believe that government is meant to serve the people rather than supervise them; who trust Americans enough to tell them the plain truth about the fix we are in, and to lay before them a specific, credible program of change big enough to meet the emergency we are facing.

Source: House Speaker, John Boehner

Let’s just hope we  don’t have another Bobby Jindal moment. Mitch Daniels has the potential to go on to bigger things in politics, and I would hate to see it ruined by a bad speech delivery.

Over the past few days I have spent a great deal of time reading through some of the various websites maintained by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), and after each article I find myself even more fascinated (and concerned) with what this regime has been able to do through long-term psychological warfare.

Even though all of the websites are in Korean, using the translate feature in Google Chrome makes most of the articles understandable. I’ll include links to the various sites I’ve been reading, but before that I just wanted to share some of the photos released by the DPRK media following the death of Kim Jong-il.

These are truly mind-boggling:

I’ll be the first to admit that when I initially saw coverage of the reaction of North Korean’s to the death of Kim Jong-il, my immediate response was that they were likely acting to play in to the propaganda machine. But after thinking about it, as crazy as it is, I have no doubt that there are probably people in North Korea that have no idea what to do with themselves, simply given the god-like status the Kim’s have given themselves.

While coverage of the transition will likely fade in the American media, I’ll try to post any interesting things I come across.

In the meantime, here are some links to the various website run by the DPRK:

Korean Central News Agency: http://www.kcna.kp

“Our People Speak:” http://www.uriminzokkiri.com/

Rodong Sin Mun: http://www.rodong.rep.kp/

Note: I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a novice when it comes to North Korea, so if anyone additional things that they would like me to share, simply leave them in the comments section

All Images are from KCNA.kp

“Thank you, American men and women in uniform. You are America’s finest and we are all so proud. Thank you for fighting against terrorism”

Source

Related: Statements from Members of Congress on the Death of Osama bin Laden

“The killing of Osama bin Laden does not lessen the suffering that New Yorkers and Americans experienced at his hands, but it is a critically important victory for our nation — and a tribute to the millions of men and women in our armed forces and elsewhere who have fought so hard for our nation.”

Source

Related: Statements from Members of Congress on the Death of Osama bin Laden

MINNEAPOLIS — GOP presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty is calling Osama bin Laden’s death “terrific news for freedom and justice.”

Pawlenty issued a statement saying the news fulfills the promise made by President George W. Bush after the Sept. 11 attacks that the U.S. would bring bin Laden to justice.

The former governor of Minnesota also congratulated Obama “for a job well done.”

Pawlenty also said, “America will never shrink from the fight and ultimately those who seek to harm us face only defeat. Today, justice is done, but the fight against radical Islamic terrorism is not yet over.”

Source

Related: Statements from Members of Congress on the Death of Osama bin Laden

“There is hardly a life that has gone untouched in New Jersey by the horrifying assault on American soil that took place on September 11th and today, after years of waiting, justice has finally been delivered,” Christie said. “While our fight against terrorism continues, Osama bin Laden’s reign of terror has come to an end, sending a clear signal that even in the face of immeasurable horror, democracy and freedom continue to prevail.”

Source

Related: Statements from Members of Congress on the Death of Osama bin Laden

“Justice has been served.  Osama bin Laden, the man responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent Americans is dead, thanks to the relentless efforts of President Obama and American security forces. Our thanks to the brave men and women who serve in our military and security forces who put their lives on the line in the successful pursuit of the mastermind of the 9/11 terror attacks.

“The President kept his word pledging in 2007 to send American forces to hunt down this heinous terrorist wherever he was hiding even in Pakistan if need be. I join with all Americans in thanking the President for making the demise of Osama Bin Laden his number one priority in the war on terror.”

Source

Statement from Congressman Denny Rehberg on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“This welcome news is bigger than any single terrorist or architect of evil – it is about the ultimate futility of the stand he took against our freedom. In the ten years after his cowardly attacks, bin Laden lived as a fugitive, even hiding in caves. But he could not hide from the long arm of justice. Jan and I are so proud of our men and women serving our great country and we honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in keeping America safe.”

Source

Statement from Congressman Erik Paulsen on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“The news that American forces have killed Osama bin Laden marks a significant achievement in the fight against terrorism. I want to thank the countless American soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen, intelligence officials, as well as their families, for their tireless efforts in protecting our country.”

Source

Statement from US Senator Patty Murray on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“The President’s announcement tonight is tremendous news for all Americans and for counterterrorism efforts worldwide.

“The superb work of our military and intelligence communities have led to the death of the mastermind of the worst attack in our nation’s history. It is indeed a great moment.

“I applaud our troops, intelligence operatives, and the Administration for never wavering in this important goal in the broader war on terrorism.

“This is a particularly important day for the thousands of Americans who lost a family member, friend or loved one nearly ten years ago. And all of our thanks go to those who have been lost in our military efforts and to our veterans and their families.

“This is indeed a significant moment and one that will continue to propel our efforts to root out terrorists wherever they reside. We must continue to remain vigilant and focused on the protection of the American people.”

Source

Statement from US Senator Debbie Stabenow on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“Osama bin Laden murdered thousands of Americans, yet evaded justice for years. Our country is united in gratitude to the brave men and women of our intelligence and counter terrorism community and our troops for their sacrifices in keeping us safe from terror.”

Source

Statement from US Senator Rand Paul on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“I commend our troops, the intelligence community, and the military leaders involved in both the administrations of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama for their perseverance and courage in pursuit of this most grievous enemy of the United States of America.”

Source

Statement from Congressman Eric Cantor on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“The man with the blood of more than 3,000 Americans on his hands, the man who forced us to begin to think the unthinkable – is now dead,” Cantor said in a statement. “I commend President Obama who has followed the vigilance of President Bush in bringing Bin Laden to justice.”

Cantor said that bin Laden’s killing shows that “justice has been done after, President Bush said nearly a decade ago, ‘Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done.”

The Virginia Republican said that “We will not relent in our fight against terror and our efforts to keep America safe and secure.”

Source

Statement from Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“I want to express my deepest gratitute to the men and women of the U.S. military and intelligence community.  The news does not bring back the lives of the thousands of innocent people who were killed that day by Bin Laden’s horrific plan, and it does not end the threat posed by terrorists.”

Source

Statement from Congressman Paul Ryan on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“The President’s announcement that Osama Bin Laden has been killed by the brave men and women of our military is a momentous turning point in our nation’s ongoing War on Terrorism. This strikes a major blow to al-Qaeda and its allies. While we must remain vigilant in defense of freedom and democracy in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other fronts, this is certainly fantastic news that Americans have spent years waiting for.”

Source

Statement from US Senator Mitch McConnell on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“The death of Osama bin Laden marks a long-awaited end to the work of the man responsible for the 9/11 attacks. No one who remembers the horror of that day can help but feel relieved that Osama bin Laden is dead. This is a great victory in the War on Terror and for all who have worked so tirelessly over the years to thwart the monstrous designs of this madman and his disciples. On September 11, 2001, America came together and vowed that we would never forget the memory of those whose lives were lost on that terrible day. Tonight’s announcement shows that we have made good on that pledge. It is proof that no matter how difficult or how long it takes, our military, intelligence forces and law enforcement officials will never stop until the job is done. America celebrates tonight, and is grateful for the heroic efforts of the many men and women around the world who have fought and who are still fighting to protect the world from terrorism. Though they may never make the headlines, we are ever mindful of their many sacrifices. This war on terror continues, but we can be happy tonight that with the death of Osama bin Laden, the world is a better place.”

Source

Statement from US Senator Roy Blunt on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“Osama bin Laden’s death is a major victory for America. This development is the culmination of the sacrifices and dedication from our brave troops and intelligence professionals. After nearly a decade, it also brings a great measure of justice and closure for all Americans who lost loved ones as a result of the brutal attacks against our nation on 9/11. While this does not mean the end of our fight against global terrorism, bin Laden’s death is a major blow to al-Qaeda and the terrorist organizations that he financed.”

Source

Statement from US Senator Richard Burr on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“The death of Osama Bin Laden marks the culmination of the greatest manhunt ever undertaken by American forces.  This is a major development in our fight against terrorism and proves our resolve to hold accountable those who harm American citizens, but we must remain vigilant and not lose focus on the overall mission and our goal of eradicating terrorist threats.  There still remains a dire threat posed by Bin Laden’s followers and the seeds of hate he planted across the globe, and while we are immensely grateful for this victory, our work is far from over.”

Source

Statement from US Senator John McCain on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“I am overjoyed that we finally got the world’s top terrorist. The world is a better and more just place now that Osama bin Laden is no longer in it. I hope the families of the victims of the September 11th attacks will sleep easier tonight and every night hence knowing that justice has been done. I commend the President and his team, as well as our men and women in uniform and our intelligence professionals, for this superb achievement.”

“But while we take heart in the news that Osama bin Laden is dead, we must be mindful that al-Qaeda and its terrorist allies are still lethal and determined enemies, and we must remain vigilant to defeat them.”

Source

Statement from US Senator Susan Collins on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“The director of the Counterterrorism Center informed me tonight that Osama Bin Laden was killed in a U.S. Operation. This welcome news is a credit to our intelligence efforts and brings to justice the architect of the attacks on our country that killed nearly 3,000 people on September 11, 2001.”

Source

Statement from US Senator Chuck Schumer on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“This is a thunderous strike for justice for the thousands of my fellow New Yorkers — and citizens from all over the world — who were murdered on 9/11,” Schumer said in a statement. “It took close to ten years, but the world’s most wanted terrorist has finally met his deserved fate. New York’s heart is still broken from the tragedy of 9/11, but this at least brings some measure of closure and consolation to the victims and their families.”

“This is a massive accomplishment for the countless military and intelligence personnel who have been urgently dedicated to this task for the past decade,” he said.  “Because Bin Laden’s evil dogma has poisoned the minds of so many others, we cannot let up in the war on terror. This successful mission sends a definitive message to those who would test the resolve of the people of the United States of America: do not doubt our resolve; if you do us harm, we will find you, we will mete out justice, and we will prevail.”

Source

Statement from US Senator Max Baucus on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“This is a great day for America. I salute the brave men and women who made this happen. Tonight my thoughts are with the victims of the 911 attacks, their families and our troops serving on the front lines. May this news bring us one step closer to finding justice and one step closer to bringing our troops home.”

Source

Statement from US Senator Jon Tester on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“America’s troops and intelligence agents have sacrificed and given precious lives in the long hunt for Osama bin Laden, and tonight our forces have delivered justice to the entire world. I proudly stand with all Montanans to say thank you – and job well done – to all who have dedicated their lives to stamping out bin Laden and the absolute evil he stood for.”

“While bin Laden’s death is a true victory, our vigilance in the worldwide fight against terrorism doesn’t end here. Bin Laden’s death with make our world safer, but together with the international community, our nation will remain steadfast in our commitment to security, safety, and opportunity for all Americans.”

“As always, my thoughts and prayers are with the hundreds of Montana troops serving overseas. We are forever grateful for their service, and we’re anxious to bring them home safely”

Source