Comparing the Two Candidates

[#1]

http://2012.candidate-comparison.org/?compare=Romney&vs=Obama

[Former_Member]

LocoBeadfromLocoBead says

We know it's not Obama...just look at the gas prices. I know the answer, Crazy. I did read the comparison.


------if i hadn't of posted it myself, i would have guessed obama...seems they aren't quite as different as the repubs would like :)

[SerenaSmithLampwork]

looky what i found...

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Overview

[LocoBead]

Crazy...that was Obama. Yes, break the law, admit it, we'll make it all better for you. BTW, go and tell your friends on the other side of the border.

[Former_Member]

any day of the week i will take someone who makes a goofy err that any of us on a rough day could make...

and he clearly laughed about it...


romney however has embraced his elitism with both arms after his 47% drama...

[LocoBead]

Seriously, Crazy? I mean, gas prices have more than doubled since he took office.

[Former_Member]

because 'hunt them down and ship them back' has been such a successful tactic historically?



hmmmm????

[Former_Member]

next...


"Let me tell you about immigration from my standpoint. I think number one, we should secure out border, and number two, We should put in place an employment verification system. And by that I mean that everybody who is not a United States citizen with a valid social security number would be expected to get a card with their name and number and some biometric information and would indicate their work status. Whether they have a visa that allows them to work here or not. And then when an employer is thinking of hiring someone, if they don't have a valid social security number, he/she ask for the card, they put the number in the computer, and the federal database immediately tells them whether they are available to be working or not. If they're not, you can't hire them. And if you do, you get the same penalties and fines as if you are not paying your taxes."

[LocoBead]

Crazy, if you were "elite" wouldn't you embrace it? I sure would. I don't resent anyone who has legally made a fortune. Or, would you give it ALL away...not just a great deal, like Romney has done.

[Former_Member]

Hmmm....I seem to remember a certain someone always complaining that Obama was an elitist.....

[LocoBead]

Houston authorities just found 85 illegals living holed away in a house. Most were in their underwear when they brought them out. Maybe VA doesn't have issues with illegals...we in the border states do.

I've got to finish work, now.......

[Former_Member]

fair question...let me shake the sudden brownie craving out of my brain and i will respond....


romney has given it all away? please cite source on that one...hiding it overseas is not the same as giving it away, btw...


now i give money away...i don't need to be rich to give...and even if i became rich i still don't have million dollar tastes...i'd rather make the lives of my friends and family better...

[Former_Member]

OMG! Illegals in their underware!!!! Aaaaaahhhhhh!!

[Former_Member]

and his statements were simply gross...if i ever have money i can't imagine i would ever speak about those that don't in that manner - or be that factually retarded...

[Former_Member]

we do have issues with illegals...my statement was 'hunt them down and ship them back' has been such a successful tactic historically?'


and the answer to that would be no...for every 1 that leaves, a dozen arrive..it's the dynamic of an extremely poor country sharing a physical border with a much better off country...

[Former_Member]

By "giving it all away" she must mean giving money to the Mormon church.

[Former_Member]

i know you're not pointing the 'obama elitist' comment at me, missy! LOL!

[Former_Member]

LocoBead says

Seriously, Crazy? I mean, gas prices have more than doubled since he took office.


http://www.factcheck.org/2012/03/obama-wanted-higher-gasoline-prices/

Bart Chilton, a commissioner at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission — the federal agency that regulates trading in oil futures, among other commodities — warns that too few financial players control too much of the oil market. This allows them to push oil prices higher and higher — not only on the basis of their expectations about the future but also expectations about how high other speculators will drive the price.

In other words, a relatively few players with very deep pockets are placing huge bets on oil — and you’re paying.

Chilton estimates that drivers of small cars like Honda Civics are paying an extra $7.30 every time they fill up — and that money is going into the pockets of Wall Street speculators. Drivers of larger vehicles like the Ford Explorer are paying speculators $10.41 when they fill up.

Funny, but I don’t hear Republicans rail against Wall Street speculators. Could this have anything to do with the fact that hedge funds and money managers are bankrolling the GOP as never before?

Wall Street isn’t bankrolling Democrats nearly as much this time around because the Street is still smarting from the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law pushed by the Democrats, and from the president’s offhand remark in 2010 calling the denizens of the Street “fat cats.”

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is trying to limit how much speculators can bet in oil futures — a power it was given by Dodd-Frank. It issued a rule in October, but it won’t take effect for another year.

Meanwhile, Wall Street has gone to court to stop the rule. It’s already won a stay.

As rising gas prices start wagging the election-year dog, the President should let America know what’s really causing prices to rise.

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Robert-Reich/2012/0319/Gas-prices-rising-Why-GOP-won-t-address-rea...


http://useconomy.about.com/od/commoditiesmarketfaq/p/high_gas_prices.htm

The Underlying Reasons for High Gas Prices:

High gas prices are usually caused by high prices for crude oil, which accounted for 72% of the price of gasoline as of February 2012. Distribution and taxes influence the remaining 28% of gas prices. Usually, distribution and taxes are stable, so that the daily change in the price of gasoline directly reflects oil price fluctuations.

Why Are Gas Prices Going Up Right Now?:

Hurricane Isaac hit the Gulf Coast region on August 28, 2012. In anticipation of the Category I hurricane, refineries in the area shut down production. As a result, crude oil production lost 1.3 million barrels per day. This caused the average national price of gas to jump $.05 in one day, to $3.80 on Wednesday. Prices in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois rose even further, as the storm closed a pipeline that feeds the Midwest. (Source: EIA, Hurricane Isaac Affects U.S. Gulf Coast Energy Infrastructure, August 29, 2012; ABC News, Isaac Brings Higher Gas Prices, August 30, 2012)

When Else Have Gas Prices Been High?:

In February 2012, concerns about a potential military action, by either Israel or even the U.S., against Iran caused high oil prices. Second, some oil refineries in the U.S. were closing, according to an EIA report. Third, oil and gas prices tend to rise every spring, in anticipation of increased demand during the summer driving vacation season.

As a result, gas prices hit the benchmark $3.50 a gallon by February 15, two weeks earlier than in 2011. By mid-March, the national average had jumped to $3.87 a gallon. That's because the price of oil reached its benchmark of $100 a barrel two weeks earlier, as well. Oil went on to hit $109.77 by the end of February, before dropping slightly to $107.40 in mid-March. (Source: EIA)

In April 2011, fears about unrest in Libya and Egypt sent oil prices up to $113 a barrel. In May 2011, as oil prices dropped, gas prices stayed high. Why? Commodities traders were concerned about refinery closures due to the Mississippi River floods.

In the summer of 2008, gas prices rose to $4 a gallon as oil prices skyrocketed to $145 a barrel, even though demand and supply were fairly constant. In summer of 2009, gas prices again rose, despite the recession, which decreased demand. Commodities traders were the reason for both. Gas prices also usually rise during the summer vacation season, as driving increases. Finally, gas and oil prices also increase whenever there is concern about surging demand from China and India, or a curtailment of oil supply.

What's the Real Reason Behind High Oil Prices?:

Oil prices are set by commodities traders who buy and sell futures contracts on the commodities exchanges.These are agreements to buy or sell oil at a specific date in the future at a specific price. Commodities traders can create a self-fulfilling prophecy by bidding up oil futures prices. Once this starts, it can create an asset bubble. Unfortunately, the one who pays for this bubble is you!

Like most of the things you buy, oil prices are affected by supply and demand. However, oil prices are also affected by oil price futures, which are traded on the commodities futures exchange. These prices fluctuate daily, depending on what investors think the price of oil will be in the future. When traders think oil will be high, they bid it up even higher. This soon causes rising gas prices.

Another reason for rising oil prices is the declining dollar. Since oil is denominated in dollars, the 40% decline in the dollar in the last six years puts upward pressure on oil prices. (Source: BBC, Oil Price May Hit $200 a Barrel, May 7, 2008)

Sometimes commodities traders drive up the price of oil, even when supply increases and demand falls. The EIA cited an increased flow of investment money into commodities markets. In other words, money that used to be invested in real estate or the global stock market is now being invested in oil futures. For more on the factors commodities traders use, see How Are Oil Prices Determined? (Source: EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook)

What Makes High Gas Prices Go Down?:

The summertime vacation driving season usually increases gas prices by an average of ten cents per gallon. This price increase is despite the increased use of ethanol. Gas prices usually go down in the winter, since transportation needs are lower. This even offsets an increase in oil usage for winter heating in the Northeast U.S.

What Can We Do About Rising Gas Prices?:

The most immediate thing we can do is reduce our usage of gas, either through driving less or increasing fuel efficiency. Surprisingly, the best way to increase fuel efficiency is to keep tires inflated. These, and other suggestions, are included in the "Related Reading" section of this article.

Longer term, we can change our need for oil and gas by switching to alternative fuel vehicles, using public transit and moving closer to work to reduce commuting time. This will reduce the impact of gas prices on each of us individually by reducing use.


Could this reduction in itself reduce gas prices? It could, if it could reduce demand for oil enough to lower oil prices. It would have to happen on a sustained basis over a long period of time. That's because gasoline accounts for only 20% of each barrel of oil. Oil companies would still profit from the non-gasoline parts of their business. Therefore, even if consumers could conceivably stop 100% of gasoline use, oil prices might only decline 20%.

Would a Gas Boycott Work?:

Could a gasoline boycott halt rising gas prices, even if oil prices stayed high? Probably not by much. That's because the other elements of gas prices would take a long time to change. Taxes, which comprise 19% of gas prices, would require legislative approval, which could take months. Refinery costs (also 19%) couldn't be lowered, and neither could distribution costs (9%), both of which are fixed. In addition, other pressures on the price of oil, such as dollar decline and commodities traders, would not be impacted by a gasoline boycott.(Source: EIA, A Primer on Gas Prices)

A boycott of one brand of gas could actually increase prices, since there would be fewer gas outlets. Those companies that were boycotted would simply sell their gas to those that weren't boycotted, defeating the purpose.

The only real way to lower gas prices is to lower demand for gas and oil over a long period of time. This would work, since the U.S. consumes 25% of the world's oil. This has increased over the last 20 years, from 15 million barrels per day (bpd) to 20.7 million bpd. A concerted effort might convince commodities traders that oil was a bad investment, thus allowing oil prices to return to pre-bubble levels. Article updated August 30, 2012

[Former_Member]

http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2012/aug/24/billboard/billboard-blames-obama-high-gas...

Our rating

A billboard sponsored by a local business owner notes that the price of gasoline was much lower when Obama took office -- $1.85 a gallon. That’s about right.

But experts say the president and his policies have little effect on the prices. Demand is skyrocketing in China, and that pushes up prices. There’s been ongoing turmoil in the Mideast. And locally, there have been supply disruptions that have all pushed prices higher. None of these were tied to Obama’s policies.

The blanket claim that Obama is responsible for gas prices doubling gets one part correct: the unusually low price at the start of his administration. The broader claim that Obama is to blame is off base. The statement contains some elements of truth but leaves out critical facts that would give a different impression. That’s our definition for Mostly False.

[LocoBead]

"Or, would you give it ALL away...not just a great deal, like Romney has done."

Those were my words (pg. 4.) Where did ya'll get the idea that I said Romney gave it "all away?" And, who dictates where contributions do the most good? And, how much of Obama's wealth has be contributed, and where? Seriously, folks, just because YOU weren't there when Romney's money was being handed out, doesn't mean it didn't do good works. Perhaps you've received money from Obama? If so, it didn't come from HIS pocket.

[Former_Member]

okay - how about 'great deal'...sorry - read it too fast.


Romney and his wife, Ann, paid $3 million in federal taxes in 2010 on nearly $21.7 million in income, gains derived mostly from capital gains and dividends. That is an effective tax rate of 13.9%, far lower than the top marginal tax rate of 35% on wages and salaries. The Romneys plan to release their 2011 return when it's finalized. They projected it would show taxes of $3.2 million on $20.9 million in income, an effective tax rate of 15.4%. That’s a total of $42.6 million in income for two years and $6.2 million in taxes, or a 14.5% rate over two years.

Over that same time period, though, the Romneys paid even more money to charity — a total of $7 million. The biggest beneficiary was the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which got more than $4 million. A nonprofit group controlled by the couple gave additional money to the Mormon church and to other charities, such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston and the George W. Bush Presidential Library. So the Romney’s total Tax-N-Charity payments over two years are projected at $13.2 million. That amounts to 31% of their income.

Obama and wife Michelle also gave more to charity than they paid in federal taxes in the 2011 tax year. The numbers: on income of $789,674, the Obamas paid just over $162,000, a tax rate of 20.5%. They gave $172,130 to various charities, including the Fisher House Foundation, which provides support to military families. The Obama’s Tax-N-Charity payments came to $334,000 or 42% of their income.

A few things can be concluded from the Tax-N-Charity calculations. Both the Romneys (giving away more than 16% of their income to charity) and the Obamas (22% of income to charity) are remarkably generous. Both families make considerably more than average Americans (whose charitable donations typically fall in the 2%-to-4% range) and they act like it with their philanthropy.


http://www.forbes.com/sites/edwindurgy/2012/05/17/an-inside-look-at-the-millions-mitt-romney-has-giv...

Mitt Romney’s top 10 favorite philanthropic targets in terms of total dollars awarded by the Tyler Foundation since 2000:

1. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: $4,781,000
2. Brigham Young University: $525,000
3. The United Way: $177,000
4. Right to Play: $111,500
5. The George W. Bush Library: $100,000
6. Operation Kids: $85,000
7. Center For Treatment of Pediatric MS: $75,000
8. Harvard Business School: $70,000
9. City Year: $65,000
10. Deseret International: $50,000
Weber State University: $50,000


All told, we have accounted for nearly $18 million of charitable giving by Mitt Romney to date, roughly 8% of what we currently estimate his net worth to be and three times Obama’s net worth. Yet it is very likely that we are undercounting Romney’s total lifetime giving by many millions, as any exhaustive log of Romney’s pre-2010 out of pocket donations is locked away in the presidential candidate’s historical tax returns.



Obama...

http://bucks.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/15/all-about-the-obamas-charitable-giving/

[LocoBead]

Obama is an elitist. He was sent to "the exclusive Punahou School in Honululu, which was also the biggest private school in the country at the time." He's had everything handed to him.

Now, on to gas prices. Gas prices are manipulated, in case you hadn't noticed. Just pay attention when hurricane season rolls around each year; they always predict a very active season...then gas prices rise...and the "active season" rarely materializes.

Here are links to some stats of historical crude prices and pump prices.

http://inflationdata.com/Inflation/Inflation_Rate/Historical_Oil_Prices_Table.asp

http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&s=EMA_EPM0_PTC_NUS_DPG&f=M

As you can see, crude prices skyrocketed in 2008...and dropped sharply in 2009. Only in 2012 have they surpassed the 2008 price.

However, the price at the pump doesn't follow the same graph after 2008. Pump prices should have stayed lower, at least through 2010, but, they didn't.

If you give Obama a complete pass on rising gas prices, you are saying that the administrations policies have no effect on the price of gas or anything else. That is a totally inaccurate opinion.

[Former_Member]

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/01/29/wash-posts-parker-wildly-distorts-charitable-gi/186639


Wash. Post's Parker Wildly Distorts Charitable Giving Of Obama, Romney

Blog››› January 29, 2012


On this morning's edition of The Chris Matthews Show, panelist Kathleen Parker claimed that Mitt Romney has "give[n] away "42 percent of his income, compared to Obama, who gave away 1 percent to charity."


PARKER: Fairness, if you can frame the debate around fairness, you win. And all polling will tell you that. But the conversation that needs to take place is what is fairness? Let's define that. Is it fair to say, oh Mitt Romney gives away more money than most people earn? He didn't have to give away 42 percent of his income, compared to Obama, who gave away 1 percent to charity. I mean, let's really talk about what fairness is.

Parker is clearly suggesting that Romney gave 42 percent of his income to charity. But that 42 percent figure comes from her Washington Post colleague Jennifer Rubin, and represents the amount the Romneys estimate they will pay in 2011 in charity and federal, state, and local taxes. Obviously, Mitt Romney did have to "give away" the money he paid in taxes, unless he wanted to violate the law. In 2011, the Romneys estimate they gave 19.2 percent of adjusted gross income to charity.

In comparing the 42 percent figure to "Obama, who gave away 1 percent to charity," Parker is linking the percentage of their income the Romneys paid in taxes and charitable contributions in 2011 to the percentage the Obamas gave to charity from 2000-2004 - a true apples-to-oranges evaluation. (In 2010 -- the most recent year for which the Obamas have released their tax returns -- the Obamas donated 14.2 percent of their income before tax deductions and exemptions to charity.)

In fact, the Obamas spent a larger percentage of their income on taxes and charity in 2010 than the Romneys did in either 2010 or in 2011.

In her January 24 blog post, Rubin calculated the 42 percent figure by taking the Romneys' 2011 estimated tax filing, adding their tax payments and charitable contributions together, and then dividing it by Adjusted Gross Income. Here's her math:

Another way of looking at it is that in 2011 the Romneys paid out 42 percent of their income in taxes and charity.
Here's how I got there:

Total tax (line 60) + foreign taxes (line 47) + state taxes and real-estate taxes + other taxes (Schedule A, line 9) + charitable contributions (Schedule A, line 19) divided by Adjusted Gross Income (1040 line 37).

Rubin's calculations showed that the Romneys paid out 42 percent of their income in 2011.

Using the numbers from Romney's 2010 tax return, this math shows that the Romneys paid out 32.44 percent of their income in 2010.

Line 60: $3,009,766 + Line 47: $129,697 + Schedule A, line 9: $898,946 + Schedule A, line 19: $2,983,974 ÷ 1040 line 37: $21,646,507 =0.3244 or 32.44 percent

What neither Rubin nor Kathleen Parker mentioned: if you do the exact same math on the Obamas' tax return for 2010, you find that the Obamas paid out 46.25 percent of their income.

Here's the math using the numbers on the Obamas' tax return:

Line 60: $453,770 + Line 47: $22,215 + Schedule A, line 9: $78,269 + Schedule A, line 19: $245,075 ÷ 1040 line 37: $1,728,096 = .4625, or 46.25 percent

[Former_Member]

did his grandmother pay or did he get scholarship? now we are claiming elitism on a child?

[Former_Member]

http://privateschool.about.com/od/profiles/a/Profile-Of-Punahou-School.htm

scholarship

[Former_Member]

that's exactly what that article was saying so i absolutely agree with you that obama had little or nothing to do with the prices - that weather actually has more impact than any politician could...even the prez...