Romney's a socialist?

Gargamel · 07-31-12, 06:38 PM

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_289563/con...tguid=LhpQnUn5

Romney was in Poland this week, touting their economic growth, saying its akin to a republican dream. *

According to the article, Poland:

- subsidizes childbirth
- has free tuition
- has free healthcare.*
- uses heavy government subsidies (from the eu)

Sounds pretty socialist to me.*

If this trip is supposed to show his ability to handle foreign policy, I think I'd rather have palin.*

At least she could see Russia.*

CCIP · 07-31-12, 06:46 PM

I think the only thing this whole foreign trip showed is that Romney is really dumb and unable to communicate effectively without constantly offending people in the host countries. The only thing he can do is play up his position to the domestic audience, but IMO he's consistently been rude and divisive in all three of his destinations. I'm almost relieved that he's as much of an idiot when it comes to handling foreign relations diplomatically as I feared he was.

Sorry, but at least Barry H.O. knows how to speak without running his mouth at everything he doesn't understand, and getting most of everybody outside the continental US angry at him. In the globalized society that we live in, you really need a leader who can not only represent American interests, but also respect others' and be able to participate in talks in a way that's forthcoming and balanced. All Romney's even tried to do on this trip was to score points with his key electorate, pump up his own apparent good qualities (arrogance and inability to meaningfully compromise apparently among them), and shamelessly raise funds with powerful lobby groups. And the best he could do with actual political leaders whom he doesn't see eye-to-eye with is just bluff and fake his way through. Ugh. Bad show. I hope he pays for it with moderate votes that he doesn't get.

vienna · 07-31-12, 07:26 PM

Romney is not the first American politician to go overseas and laud the "socialist" aspects of a foreign country and he won't be the last. What is now interesting is now he is now blaming the press coverage for his woes overseas. This after he exerted so much time, energy and expense to get the press to notice what a "statesman" he is; you see, the media was paying so much attention to him when they should have been foucused on the state of the US economy:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/94fc79c4-d...#axzz22FUPZZTa

There was an admonition about not being able to stand the heat and staying out of kitchens (from a person with a rather unique viewpoint, right Mr. Truman?). Romney and his handlers are making him into the latest version of the man behind the curtain in Oz: "Don't look at me, look at the image on the screen!" Actually, I have grown very, very weary and wary of all the life-size cardboard cutouts that seem to populate American politics on all sides of the political spetrum...

...

August · 07-31-12, 07:28 PM

I agree Romney missed several opportunities to shine but the fact is nobody here really cares about that right now given the domestic situation. I'm surprised he even made the trip. The Dems will try to make a big deal about his supposed gaffes (anything but run on the presidents record) but I think it won't change anyone's mind either way.

Hey, at least he didn't try to hug the queen...

vienna · 07-31-12, 07:29 PM

Quote:

I'm surprised he even made the trip.

He did it because he and his handlers aren't the sharpest knives in the drawer...

...

August · 07-31-12, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vienna

He did it because he and his handlers aren't the sharpest knives in the drawer...

...

I agree with that. Everyone knows that the foreign press is hostile to a republican more than even the domestic media. Just look at every article they've published about the Repubs since the Eisenhower administration. If you could pick out 50 positive ones out of the many thousands i'd be very surprised.

You don't walk into that lions den and make glib comments. That's just asking for it and he did it three times!

But will it matter over here? I don't think so. It doesn't seem to be making a big splash in my neck of the woods which is about as blue as it gets.

Oberon · 07-31-12, 08:31 PM

Romney is further proof that the upper ranks of the GOP have lost touch with the current America. I think they need to have a hard reboot and try again seriously for 2016.

Oberon · 07-31-12, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

I agree Romney missed several opportunities to shine but the fact is nobody here really cares about that right now given the domestic situation. I'm surprised he even made the trip. The Dems will try to make a big deal about his supposed gaffes (anything but run on the presidents record) but I think it won't change anyone's mind either way.

Hey, at least he didn't try to hug the queen...

To be fair on the guy, he just said what most Brits had been saying for the past seven years! It's just he doesn't get the British custom that it's only US that can bash ourselves, no-one else is allowed. Self-deprication doesn't work when someone else does it for you!

August · 07-31-12, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

To be fair on the guy, he just said what most Brits had been saying for the past seven years! It's just he doesn't get the British custom that it's only US that can bash ourselves, no-one else is allowed. Self-deprication doesn't work when someone else does it for you!

Exactly. We're like that too and that's why I think he should have known better.

CCIP · 07-31-12, 09:51 PM

In all fairness, I can't say I like Barry O's stance on foreign policy. He has proven himself to be a disingenuous backstabber and opportunist in foreign affairs. But he is way and above more diplomatic, capable of compromise, and heck - understanding and adapting to situations - than Romney is. In the meantime, what Romney showed on this trip, aside from bad manners, is his utter inability to even understand something as basic as Israel-Palestine (all I got from his comments on Palestine is that he knows NOTHING about Palestine other than what he learned in church - and I say that as someone highly unsympathetic to the PLO) or US-Russia, or US-Europe, or US-UK relations (I mean really? These should international politics 101 for anybody in office in the US...)

Obama is a politician, and I mean that in the worst sense of the word, but I have to give him some due as someone who is capable of navigating international diplomacy. Does he deserve the presidency for that? No, not really. Anything I say about Romney shouldn't be interpreted as a tacit approval of the other side. But Romney, who is also a politician in every bad sense of the world, also happens to be grossly incompetent as a diplomat. IMO that should be a disqualifier from presidency right there. He needs to change his tack and/or change his advisors, and quickly, otherwise he is rapidly going to lose support among moderates and I dare say even some neocons, because these groups generally care about foreign relations a lot. That, on top of the fact that the social conservatives are still shaky on him, does not bode well for him. All the campaign funds in the world can't hide the level of diplomatic incompetence he's shown so far.

JU_88 · 08-01-12, 02:32 AM

The US needs soming who is willing to recognise the country is broke and give Government programs a massive haircut, from military spending to welfare. And Someone who will tell the banks where to get off next time they come crying for a bailout.
Niether Romney or Obama is this person, which one 'wins' is totally irrelivent - they will both lead America in the same direction... the wrong one.

A few gaffes by Romeny isnt even news, it just more pre-election petty partisan garbage..

nikimcbee · 08-01-12, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Sorry, but at least Barry H.O. knows how to speak without running his mouth

I totally disagree. Turn off the teleprompter and he's not so sharp.

nikimcbee · 08-01-12, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JU_88

The US needs soming who is willing to recognise the country is broke and give Government programs a massive haircut, from military spending to welfare. And Someone who will tell the banks where to get off next time they come crying for a bailout.
Niether Romney or Obama is this person, which one 'wins' is totally irrelivent - they will both lead America in the same direction... the wrong one.

A few gaffes by Romeny isnt even news, it just more pre-election petty partisan garbage..

You sir, are spot on.

CCIP · 08-01-12, 03:28 AM

Oh, I agree with that entirely, as I said already. I'm just commenting on foreign policy specifically. I think on the big issues at home, both of them are stuck, with Obama probably being even more of a lame duck than Romney. But abroad, teleprompter or not, Obama at the very least seems to have better advisors, if nothing else, and did in fact court some positive diplomacy before he was even elected. What he did with it is another story, of course. But most of what I've been reading on this Romney trip has been foreign press rather than the US, and he's really tanked with them so far. He doesn't understand the Israel-Palestine problem, which like it or not, is gonna hang over practically the whole world and especially the Middle East for the near future. He has trouble understanding the UK, your biggest ally. And he has a poor grasp of recent history and key issues facing Europe, as shown by Europe. His staff have also behaved themselves poorly and made several irresponsible remarks on this trip, and haven't added to good publicity. Add to that his history of remarks on Russia and China, the "enemy" etc.

If I had to give Romney marks so far, he'd get an F from me on Israel/Palestine and therefore Middle East issues in general, an F on Russia, a D on China and Europe, and maybe a C on Britain. On most of those, what I've heard from Obama scores at least a B-, though his actual performance on most of these has been worse than that. The Obama administration's actual response to the situation in the Middle East has been especially pathetic, indecisive, inconsistent, often illegal and ultimately playing into the hands of forces that really, really dislike the US. Shockingly though, if Romney's remarks are anything to go by, I see him doing even worse on this front.

Romney just needs better advisors on foreign relations. If he keeps on this way, nobody who believes that the world outside the US borders matters will be able to take him seriously.

nikimcbee · 08-01-12, 03:34 AM

Bah, it's all pre-election huffing and puffing.

07-31-12, 06:38 PM	#1
Gargamel Lucky Sailor Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Rome Posts: 4,273 Downloads: 81 Uploads: 0	Romney's a socialist? http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_289563/con...tguid=LhpQnUn5 Romney was in Poland this week, touting their economic growth, saying its akin to a republican dream. * According to the article, Poland: - subsidizes childbirth - has free tuition - has free healthcare.* - uses heavy government subsidies (from the eu) Sounds pretty socialist to me.* If this trip is supposed to show his ability to handle foreign policy, I think I'd rather have palin.* At least she could see Russia.* __________________ Luck is a residue of Design.

07-31-12, 06:46 PM	#2
CCIP Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterloo, Canada Posts: 8,700 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 2	I think the only thing this whole foreign trip showed is that Romney is really dumb and unable to communicate effectively without constantly offending people in the host countries. The only thing he can do is play up his position to the domestic audience, but IMO he's consistently been rude and divisive in all three of his destinations. I'm almost relieved that he's as much of an idiot when it comes to handling foreign relations diplomatically as I feared he was. Sorry, but at least Barry H.O. knows how to speak without running his mouth at everything he doesn't understand, and getting most of everybody outside the continental US angry at him. In the globalized society that we live in, you really need a leader who can not only represent American interests, but also respect others' and be able to participate in talks in a way that's forthcoming and balanced. All Romney's even tried to do on this trip was to score points with his key electorate, pump up his own apparent good qualities (arrogance and inability to meaningfully compromise apparently among them), and shamelessly raise funds with powerful lobby groups. And the best he could do with actual political leaders whom he doesn't see eye-to-eye with is just bluff and fake his way through. Ugh. Bad show. I hope he pays for it with moderate votes that he doesn't get. __________________ There are only forty people in the world and five of them are hamburgers. -Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart) Last edited by CCIP; 07-31-12 at 06:56 PM.

07-31-12, 07:26 PM	#3
vienna Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anywhere but the here & now... Posts: 7,711 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Romney blames media over trip troubles Romney is not the first American politician to go overseas and laud the "socialist" aspects of a foreign country and he won't be the last. What is now interesting is now he is now blaming the press coverage for his woes overseas. This after he exerted so much time, energy and expense to get the press to notice what a "statesman" he is; you see, the media was paying so much attention to him when they should have been foucused on the state of the US economy: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/94fc79c4-d...#axzz22FUPZZTa There was an admonition about not being able to stand the heat and staying out of kitchens (from a person with a rather unique viewpoint, right Mr. Truman?). Romney and his handlers are making him into the latest version of the man behind the curtain in Oz: "Don't look at me, look at the image on the screen!" Actually, I have grown very, very weary and wary of all the life-size cardboard cutouts that seem to populate American politics on all sides of the political spetrum... ... __________________ __________________________________________________ __

07-31-12, 07:28 PM	#4
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,197 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I agree Romney missed several opportunities to shine but the fact is nobody here really cares about that right now given the domestic situation. I'm surprised he even made the trip. The Dems will try to make a big deal about his supposed gaffes (anything but run on the presidents record) but I think it won't change anyone's mind either way. Hey, at least he didn't try to hug the queen... __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

07-31-12, 09:51 PM	#10
CCIP Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterloo, Canada Posts: 8,700 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 2	In all fairness, I can't say I like Barry O's stance on foreign policy. He has proven himself to be a disingenuous backstabber and opportunist in foreign affairs. But he is way and above more diplomatic, capable of compromise, and heck - understanding and adapting to situations - than Romney is. In the meantime, what Romney showed on this trip, aside from bad manners, is his utter inability to even understand something as basic as Israel-Palestine (all I got from his comments on Palestine is that he knows NOTHING about Palestine other than what he learned in church - and I say that as someone highly unsympathetic to the PLO) or US-Russia, or US-Europe, or US-UK relations (I mean really? These should international politics 101 for anybody in office in the US...) Obama is a politician, and I mean that in the worst sense of the word, but I have to give him some due as someone who is capable of navigating international diplomacy. Does he deserve the presidency for that? No, not really. Anything I say about Romney shouldn't be interpreted as a tacit approval of the other side. But Romney, who is also a politician in every bad sense of the world, also happens to be grossly incompetent as a diplomat. IMO that should be a disqualifier from presidency right there. He needs to change his tack and/or change his advisors, and quickly, otherwise he is rapidly going to lose support among moderates and I dare say even some neocons, because these groups generally care about foreign relations a lot. That, on top of the fact that the social conservatives are still shaky on him, does not bode well for him. All the campaign funds in the world can't hide the level of diplomatic incompetence he's shown so far. __________________ There are only forty people in the world and five of them are hamburgers. -Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart)

07-31-12, 08:31 PM	#7
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Romney is further proof that the upper ranks of the GOP have lost touch with the current America. I think they need to have a hard reboot and try again seriously for 2016.

08-01-12, 02:32 AM	#11
JU_88 Silent Hunter Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: UK Posts: 3,803 Downloads: 11 Uploads: 0	The US needs soming who is willing to recognise the country is broke and give Government programs a massive haircut, from military spending to welfare. And Someone who will tell the banks where to get off next time they come crying for a bailout. Niether Romney or Obama is this person, which one 'wins' is totally irrelivent - they will both lead America in the same direction... the wrong one. A few gaffes by Romeny isnt even news, it just more pre-election petty partisan garbage..

08-01-12, 03:28 AM	#14
CCIP Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterloo, Canada Posts: 8,700 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 2	Oh, I agree with that entirely, as I said already. I'm just commenting on foreign policy specifically. I think on the big issues at home, both of them are stuck, with Obama probably being even more of a lame duck than Romney. But abroad, teleprompter or not, Obama at the very least seems to have better advisors, if nothing else, and did in fact court some positive diplomacy before he was even elected. What he did with it is another story, of course. But most of what I've been reading on this Romney trip has been foreign press rather than the US, and he's really tanked with them so far. He doesn't understand the Israel-Palestine problem, which like it or not, is gonna hang over practically the whole world and especially the Middle East for the near future. He has trouble understanding the UK, your biggest ally. And he has a poor grasp of recent history and key issues facing Europe, as shown by Europe. His staff have also behaved themselves poorly and made several irresponsible remarks on this trip, and haven't added to good publicity. Add to that his history of remarks on Russia and China, the "enemy" etc. If I had to give Romney marks so far, he'd get an F from me on Israel/Palestine and therefore Middle East issues in general, an F on Russia, a D on China and Europe, and maybe a C on Britain. On most of those, what I've heard from Obama scores at least a B-, though his actual performance on most of these has been worse than that. The Obama administration's actual response to the situation in the Middle East has been especially pathetic, indecisive, inconsistent, often illegal and ultimately playing into the hands of forces that really, really dislike the US. Shockingly though, if Romney's remarks are anything to go by, I see him doing even worse on this front. Romney just needs better advisors on foreign relations. If he keeps on this way, nobody who believes that the world outside the US borders matters will be able to take him seriously. __________________ There are only forty people in the world and five of them are hamburgers. -Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart)

08-01-12, 03:34 AM	#15
nikimcbee Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Patroling the Slot. Posts: 17,952 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Bah, it's all pre-election huffing and puffing.