Hot, Hot, and Hotter in Middle America

UPDATE:  8/3 9:40 a.m

In case you missed it, this picture from Stillwater, OK, has been making the rounds from the heat which set off a fire in a dumpster and would have caused some black on the light but since it was already 113 degrees, look what happened to the light!

Twenty-three out of the last 28 months we have been warmer than normal in Oklahoma and set a record last summer for 100 degree days.  Don't mind setting higher temps in winter although we didn't get sufficient cold weather to kill a lot of bugs, but in summer months, it is brutal.

It was nice this morning because a cloud cover was in place to cover up the sun, but now the sun has come out, wind is starting to pick up which has led to a high fire danger alert.  Winds are supposed to get worse as the day goes on because right now they are pretty normal.  Watered my lawn in last night so it wouldn't be so dry with the threat of high danger.

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There is no global warming -- there is no drought -- it is all my imagination that Oklahoma is flat out hot and could reach at at least 114 right here in Norman and could be 115 in other parts of the state breaking a Dust Bowl record.  Last year we broke the record for the number of days over 100 degrees and this summer we are going to break the record going back to the dust bowl.  We have been blasting through records this week to set new ones and looks like two more days until we cool off in the low 100's which is going to seem cool.

We also have ozone alerts this week telling you not to mow grass, ride a motorcycle or anything else with that type of engine.  Only supposed fuel up your car at certain times and cut down on driving.  Seems reasonable to me but not to some of my neighbors who mow grass when there is very little grass to mow.  I am not mowing grass which is the one good thing about heat.  I have bermuda grass which means when the first drop of rain comes, it will green back up.  I am watering around my foundation and my plants throughout the yard I have invested in so they can survive the heat and drought and some of that water is getting on my lawn so it is slightly green.  My one neighbor left his hose going all night so that water was running in the street when I got up and in the process lost some rose bushes when they fell over with a little wind.

Next year I am investing in a sprinkler system for my plants and lawn so I can put it on a timer and not stand outside in the heat watering my plants to keep them from dying.  They can be watered early before the sun actually comes up like we did in So California.  A timer works GREAT!  Maybe that means we won't have a heat wave next summer if I get a sprinkler system.

This is more like southern California weather in August then Oklahoma but it was nicer on the west coast living in the foothills  because when the sun went down, it cooled off a lot.  Last night it was still 111 at 8 p.m. after reaching 113 yesterday.  Tomorrow there is a high danger of fire as the winds are picking up with about 11% humidity which I hope means that my neighbor who smokes and throws cigarette butts around uses common sense.

Feeding the birds, squirrels, and ducks.  They are not going to get much out of this landscape right now to eat.   I must have 100 birds feeding at my house now.  If this heat keeps up I will set up some feeders in the lower level of the yard in the big trees.  Right now I am very thankful for the big trees in my yard and green belt because it keeps the hot afternoon sun from scorching my deck which faces north but gets plenty of sun in the afternoon in my area.

If you are complaining about the heat where you leave, come visit us.

The good news is that this afternoon OU football kicks off for the fall with meetings.  Then an early practice tomorrow morning and more meetings in the afternoon.  We have an indoor practice facility that could be used in the afternoon because no way you would want players out in this afternoon heat.  Looking forward to going to the opening game in El Paso -- might get a chance to cool off.  The people who schedule football games for the networks wanted our game to start at 1:30 and were told by both schools -- no way so we are starting later in the evening because when the sun goes down in the desert, it gets much cooler.

The Americans are picking up more gold today at The London Olympics in a variety of sports although gymnastics and swimming are where we are picking up the most medals.  The way the USA is playing basketball, I would expect that our three OKC Thunder players, Durant, Westbrook, and Harden will be bringing home the gold along with the rest of the team.  They are going to roast when they get back to OKC and want to return to the cooler temperatures of Great Britain.

Don't know if this hot weather is caused by global warming as I have been a skeptic but when you break a record from the dust bowl, it does make you wonder.  I am not so fast to dismiss it today after two summers in a row with this intense heat -- we had more 100 degree days last year but this is hotter.

Too hot for politics today after the members of the Republican House made fools of themselves yesterday comparing mandates on insurance companies to provide contraception for women on their healthcare plan comparing it to 9/11 and Pearl Harbor.  The same thing Federal Employees Health Benefit program has been doing for years with no one complaining.  Very much over the top and what I have come to expect out of the far right of the House who are intentionally stalling bills to make Obama look bad and hurt people looking for jobs.

That came on top of Chick-Fil-A where I was told my a neighbor that I had to go eat there to support the push against gay marriage.  How is my not eating at Chick-Fil-A going to stop gay marriage when I don't like their food but the fact I never eat there didn't matter, I had to do it to support the anti-gay marriage group.  I think whoever came up with the idea is a marketing genius because Chick-Fil-A profits went through the roof as Rush's 'mind numbed robots' (neighbor's description) flocked to Chick-Fil-A yesterday.

I told my neighbor I was going to Raising Cane's for their chicken fingers which are excellent and much better buy for your money.  After he got his Chick-Fil-A, he tells me last night when I was watering my plants that he should have gone to Raising Cane's because he forgot how much he didn't like Chick-Fil-A -- even his kids like Raising Cane's better.  He also said that is the last time he listens to anyone telling him where to eat as he will make his up his own mind when it is his money.  Said he got caught up in the moment.  Another convert to the anti-boycott movement that the Tea Party likes to throw around if they don't like some business.  After all all businesses have to think like them are they are bad.  Maybe more people are going to wake up before November and realize we have been fed a bunch of garbage by the so-called conservative pundits and the far right in Congress who are nothing but obstructionist who could care less about the American people as a whole.

Have a terrific rest of the day and stay cool if you are in the heat that is baking the Country.

The war on women continues in the Republican Party.  Now we have  a group of male Congressman -- get that MALE, equating the birth-control mandate with Pearl Harbor and 9/11.  Also calling it Catholic bigotry.  Guess they don't understand how many Catholics use birth control.  Most women today don't want to have a lot of children -- they prefer to have the number of children they can handle.  Why should they be made to stay bare foot and pregnant because some idiot Congressmen demand they not be given birth control as part of their health insurance.  Take away Viagara and the rest from the healthcare programs as part of a prescriptions -- let men pay for it since they want women to pay for all birth control.

Note to the idiots -- federal employee health insurance has been paying for birth control for years.  I had three C-Sections and was told a 4th could kill me.  I wasn't willing to take a chance with three small children but my mother-in-law who was Catholic even though I wasn't, blasted me but good and wanted her son to leave the three kids and I because I decided to make it permanent I was having no more children.  I know what bigotry is being a non-catholic in a catholic family.

If this is what today's Republican Party is turning into, I want no part of it because it is a war on women and their rights.  Let's see women are not supposed to get an abortion for any reason even the life of the mother and not supposed to take birth control.  Maybe if men had to go through nine months of pregnancy, they wouldn't be so out of touch.  These statements by members of the House including Boehner's who wants this portion overturned as he panders to the far right for his job, can take and shove it.

After November, I will make the decision on whether to remain in a Party who does not value women or leave the Party I have been part of since a teenager.  This group of people in the House and a few in the Senate are some of the meanest Republicans I have ever seen filled with hate and loathing for anyone who doesn't agree with them.

This is not anti-Catholic bigotry -- not even a little and 80% of Catholic women on birth control will agree.  This is giving all American women the right to have birth control.  If men don't like it, tough!

GOP lawmakers equate birth-control mandate with Pearl Harbor, 9/11

By Elise Viebeck - 08/01/12 01:05 PM ET 

The heated remarks came at a press conference marking the mandate's first day.
House Republicans called the Obama administration's birth-control mandate "religious bigotry" and compared it to the events of Pearl Harbor and Sept. 11, 2001.

"I know in your mind you can think of the times America was attacked," said Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), a freshman. 

"One is December 7 — that is Pearl Harbor Day. Another was September 11 — that was the day of the terrorist attack.

"I want you to remember August 1, 2012 — the attack on our religious freedom. That is a date that will live in infamy, along with those other dates."

Starting Wednesday, most employers will have to cover contraception in their health plans without a co-pay.

Republicans have denounced the policy as an attack on the religious freedom of people who object to birth control or consider some forms equal to abortion.

Another freshman, Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.), said the mandate marks the return of "anti-Catholic bigotry" to American life.

"We thought we were past that," he said, "but the mandate from this administration represents the rearing of its head again."

House Republican leadership, striving to keep its focus on taxes, encouraged the freshmen to take responsibility for the press conference.

Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) released a statement saying the Health and Human Services mandate "must be reversed."

"On this day, let us renew our determination to reverse the mandate and restore the religious liberty that has been demolished by the Obama Administration’s actions," he said.

The new policy covers a range of preventive healthcare services apart from birth control, including disease screenings and counseling for women who are breastfeeding or are victims of domestic violence.

But the birth-control provision remains the most controversial, and 24 lawsuits have been filed in response.

Under the policy, employees of some religiously affiliated institutions, such as Catholic hospitals and schools, will receive birth control directly from their insurance company, still without a co-pay. Churches and houses of worship are exempt altogether.  

"I know in your mind you can think of the times America was attacked," said Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), a freshman. 

"One is December 7 — that is Pearl Harbor Day. Another was September 11 — that was the day of the terrorist attack.

"I want you to remember August 1, 2012 — the attack on our religious freedom. That is a date that will live in infamy, along with those other dates."

Starting Wednesday, most employers will have to cover contraception in their health plans without a co-pay.

Republicans have denounced the policy as an attack on the religious freedom of people who object to birth control or consider some forms equal to abortion.

Another freshman, Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.), said the mandate marks the return of "anti-Catholic bigotry" to American life.

"We thought we were past that," he said, "but the mandate from this administration represents the rearing of its head again."

House Republican leadership, striving to keep its focus on taxes, encouraged the freshmen to take responsibility for the press conference.

Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) released a statement saying the Health and Human Services mandate "must be reversed."

"On this day, let us renew our determination to reverse the mandate and restore the religious liberty that has been demolished by the Obama Administration’s actions," he said.

The new policy covers a range of preventive healthcare services apart from birth control, including disease screenings and counseling for women who are breastfeeding or are victims of domestic violence.

But the birth-control provision remains the most controversial, and 24 lawsuits have been filed in response.

Under the policy, employees of some religiously affiliated institutions, such as Catholic hospitals and schools, will receive birth control directly from their insurance company, still without a co-pay. Churches and houses of worship are exempt altogether.  

Source:  The Hill

Romney's role in wind credit cut

Why would anyone believe what Orrin Hatch says on something Romney doesn't want.  If Romney says jump to Hatch, he will ask how high?  Doesn't take a genius to figure that one out.  More of the nonsense coming out of Republicans in the Senate to join their friends in the House.  This doesn't stoop to McConnell wanting to attach repeal of the Affordable Healthcare Act on the Cyber Security Bill the night before Women's Healthcare kicked in today, but it is close.  Are some Republicans in the Senate brain dead to even think of attaching Repeal of Affordable Healthcare to the Cyber Security bill when it has nothing to do with cyber security?  The American people are on to their games.

My electric company, OGE, offered us not only wind power but also to become part of the smart grid which I did both.  I also signed up this year for a price alert so not to use a lot of energy during certain periods of the day if we got a price alert which would raise the price per kwh.  My electric bill for last month was half of what it was the year before and has been down every month since I signed up.  Giving wind energy credit is a better use of taxpayer dollars then giving the rich a continued tax cut so the wealthy like Romney can pay less than 15% on taxable income due to a loophole.  Close all loopholes for the wealthy if you are going to keep their rate low.  I am still looking for the loophole to take off my dog's expenses as he is a guard dog when someone comes to the door.  Chewie should be able to have a tax break if a dressage horse can get one on the Romney taxes.

So now it is official -- when Romney says he doesn't like something, the Republican Senators now join their House counterparts in stalling bills that might help Obama.  McConnell said that was exactly what they were going to do in order to defeat Obama.  They think they are being smart but if you leave out Limbaugh, Hannity, Levin, and the rest of the chattering class including Fox News, you discover that a lot of people are fed up with the Republicans in Congress and their shenanigans -- I am one of them but I am not alone.  We send people to DC to work for what is best for all the American people not just the Party or the party's candidate.  Seems today's Republicans don't care about the Country as a whole especially women but about what their donors and Romney tell them to do.  Shame on them!

Sources dispute Mitt Romney's role in wind credit cut
By ALEX GUILLEN | 8/1/12 1:30 PM EDT Updated: 8/1/12 5:20 PM EDT 

Mitt Romney’s announcement this week that he opposes any extension of the wind production tax credit derailed a bipartisan agreement in the Senate to renew the industry’s crucial tax break, sources said Wednesday. 

The wind PTC, which expires at the end of this year, was originally going to be included in the bipartisan deal that the Senate Finance Committee announced early Wednesday, senior Senate sources familiar with the negotiations told POLITICO. 

But wind was cut out of the deal after Romney came out against any extension or gradual phase-out of the credit in a campaign statement Monday. The statement, which came while the former Massachusetts governor was still on his overseas trip, prompted several Republican members to withdraw their support, the sources said. 

Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, the committee’s top Republican, disputed that account later Wednesday, saying Romney’s opposition had no influence on the wind credit’s exclusion.
Hatch, a major Romney supporter, said he hasn’t even spoken to the Republican presidential candidate about the issue. He said he expects to do so soon, in part because he doesn’t understand whether Romney is truly opposed to any type of extension. 

“Almost everybody admits that if you’re going to do this, you’re going to have to phase it out,” he said. “I don’t know of anybody who objected to that concept, and I think that might be more consistent with Mitt Romney’s feelings.” 

The tax extenders package includes credits for biofuel production and energy efficiency. But along with wind, it also omits any renewal of the expired 1603 Treasury grants program that was popular with the solar industry. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) told reporters Wednesday that work was still being done to reconfigure the 1603 grants and that they are still in play. 

The fight between the presidential campaigns over the wind credit quickly heated up following the Romney campaign’s announcement, with fiscal conservatives backing Romney’s stance while Democrats and some Republicans — including Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad — expressed dismay. 

Without congressional action, the PTC will expire on Dec. 31. The wind industry has been pushing for some time for an extension because of the long lead time to plan, permit and construct wind projects. 

Recent talks among lawmakers had swung toward either a short-term extension to keep the wind industry going until a broader tax reform effort could take place, or some sort of phase-out period to gradually lower the PTC. 

While the PTC is not in the deal for now, Senate staffers said Wednesday they believe an extension ultimately will make the cut. 

An aide to Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), chairman of the Finance Committee’s energy subcommittee, told POLITICO an extension of the wind PTC will probably be offered as an amendment during the package’s markup Thursday. 

“There is a strong sense that the final bill will include the wind production credit,” spokeswoman Maria Najera said.

Excerpt:  Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/79262.html#ixzz22KfsiBsy

Romney's Press Secretary Cusses Out Media after Romney Photo Op in Poland

Another country, another bad headline for Romney on his foreign trip this time in Poland.

Would bet many press secretaries over the years would have loved to make similar comments to the media but they had the class not to act like jerk.  Romney has been dissing the American press on this foreign trip starting with his ignoring the American press when he was at a press conference with Prime Minister Cameron.  Instead only the British press were recognized which goes against protocol but Romney seems to make it up as he goes as we have been witnessing.

Talk about zero class -- read this transcript with remarks from his press secretary:

When members of the press tried to ask Romney about some of the mishaps on his trip, his traveling press secretary Rick Gorka verbally dressed down reporters. 

Here's a transcript of the questions and Gorka's response: 

CNN: "Governor Romney are you concerned about some of the mishaps of your trip? 

NYT: "Governor Romney do you have a statement for the Palestinians?

Washington Post: "What about your gaffes? 

NYT: "Governor Romney do you feel that your gaffes have overshadowed your foreign trip?" 

CNN: "Governor Romney just a few questions sir, you haven't taken but three questions on this trip from the press! 

Gorka: "Show some respect" 

NYT: "We haven't had another chance to ask a question..." 

Gorka: "Kiss my ass. This is a Holy site for the Polish people. Show some respect." 

Moments later, Gorka told Jonathan Martin, a reporter for Politico, to "shove it." About a half-hour later, the aide called reporters to apologize. 

Gorka's comments to the media came just hours before Romney's foreign policy speech in Warsaw. 

Source:  CNN

Juvenile behavior seems to be the norm with this Romney campaign not to mention not living in reality.  When they tried to keep all media out of the fundraiser in Israel, they finally relented but the bad taste was left with the media.  Best reason I can think of for excluding all press was Romney didn't want the media to see him pandering to his billionaire campaign bank roller Adelson whose dollars from his gambling empire in McCau are helping fund the Romney campaign.

It looks like when Adelson says jump, Romney says "how high" because nothing else makes sense about Romney's comments in Israel that has the Palestinians very disgusted not to mention the fact that he declared Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.  That's okay in Romneyland as it pandered to Adelson while playing to the conservative pundits and the far right who refuse to acknowledge that Jerusalem is not recognized as the capital of Israel by 99% of countries because it is the home to many religions.

Romney has spent a lot of time walking back comments he made on this trip starting  London dissing the British handling of the Olympics, couldn't remember the opposition leader's name (where was his staff to remind), and the Anglo Saxon comment against Obama for starters.  We must not forget his dissing his wife and her horse at the Olympics which was another one of those "I know nothing" moments which he has a lot of in this campaign as he hides his taxes prior to 2010 and even then doesn't release all of 2010.

His pandering to the far right is leaving a lot of Republicans shaking their heads and asking why because he is fast losing support of the more common sense Republicans who want someone with a backbone to be President.  Speaking of backbone, Michael Tomasky, at The Daily Beast has an excellent article about Mitt's Missing Backbone:

Romney’s defenders say his combative remarks in Israel prove he’s no wimp. What they really show is the same cowardly deference to the right that has inspired countless flip-flops. 

What’s in a word? I guess a lot. All of us here at NewsBeast knew the word “wimp” would carry a charge and get people to pay attention. So to the extent that I have people’s attention, what I really would like them to focus on is the question of what makes this guy tick, and more specifically on his total lack of political backbone, because that seems to me a very serious potential shortcoming in someone who’s aiming to be president of the United States, and one that ought to be discussed more than we’re discussing it. 

What’s in a word? I guess a lot. All of us here at NewsBeast knew the word “wimp” would carry a charge and get people to pay attention. So to the extent that I have people’s attention, what I really would like them to focus on is the question of what makes this guy tick, and more specifically on his total lack of political backbone, because that seems to me a very serious potential shortcoming in someone who’s aiming to be president of the United States, and one that ought to be discussed more than we’re discussing it.

All of Romney’s ideological somersaults can be similarly described. Good policy has nothing to do with any of them. Passing muster with the right is the only thing. And no, everyone doesn’t do this. Soledad O’Brien said to me on CNN Monday morning: come on, if we had a dime for every time a politician flip-flopped, we could retire. Put that way, true enough. But actually, if you look at really successful politicians, they are surprisingly constant in their views, especially the views that truly define their character and identity.

It isn’t fine that Romney has changed his view on every issue. It’s pathetic. It suggests that he lives in fear of America’s right wing. That’s the real wimp factor.  

Read more from Tomasky's article at The Daily Beast

Watching Tomasky last night on one of the shows was struck at how articulate he was at getting his points across and had his facts lined up.  No one was going to put words in his mouth.  I have yet to run across anything he has said not backed up with the facts but yet he is trashed in conservative circles because he doesn't play their game of pandering to Romney.  He tells it like it is which is refreshing.  BTW, I have seen him go after Obama as well as Romney.  He is a true journalist in my book who isn't afraid to make people mad with his comments which are based on fact not spin.

The headline with "Wimp" IMHO was perfect to bring in readers but also describes Romney exactly as he panders to donors like Adelson in Israel and the far right wing who is out of control today with their 'my way or no way' demands.  Only thing Romney stands up on is his taxes so the question from most thinking people is "What is he hiding?"  With every passing day you have to wonder if the tax experts are correct that he took the amnesty offered by the Federal Government for Swiss Bank Accounts.  That would make more sense then the Romney statement if he overpaid his taxes he couldn't be President.  For some reason when the media brings up taxes, Romney says some pretty dumb things -- that was one of the dumbest.

If Obama made gaffes like Romney has made overseas which Romney keeps trying to walk back, the likes of Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, Fox News, Republicans in the House and Senate, and establishment types would be all over the air trashing Obama for not being ready for prime time to be President.  When it comes to Romney, those same people, for the most part, report he has had a great trip and if there have been any hiccups, it is the media's fault.  The exception is when the media talks to Republican consultants who want to remain anonymous who will say Romney has had a horrible trip with all the gaffes and misstatements.

Anyone with a brain knows this visit has been nothing but a fundraising junket for Romney along with photo ops but Romney has turned the trip into a foreign policy nightmare.  Someone needs to tell Romney he is not the President and the Cold War has been over for years.  He wants to give the Defense Department over $2 trillion more dollars to counter the geopolitical threat of the Russians, Iran, and China. Sitting here shaking my head at how ludicrous that would be.

No wonder the head of Lockheed was with Cheney lobbying in the Congress.  He smells more dollars coming their way if Romney wins.  That is another reason not to vote for Romney -- defense needs to take some cuts maybe not as drastic as sequestering but there is plenty to cut if members of Congress would quit pandering to defense contractors for donations and in exchange for funding programs they want.

Romney with his advisers are a disaster waiting to happen every day.  When Romney goes off the script from reading from his teleprompter he gets in even bigger trouble with his comments.  Speaking of teleprompters, Obama isn't the only politician to use them as Romney and most others use them as well.  Imagine that with all the stories coming out of the conservative media focusing on the Obama teleprompter like he was the only one who used a teleprompter.

What are we learning from this election so far?  Romney on foreign soil could not control his mouth along with his aides making foreign policy situations worse and leaving the adults to clean up his mess.  Didn't take the Israeli's long before leadership was praising Obama for what he has done for the security of Israel after Romney's remarks against Obama.  This trip gave us a glimpse he would be the pander in chief in the White House to what people like the billionaire Adelson tell him.  Looks like Bibi convinced Romney not to meet with the opposition leader in Israel when the meeting was already set.  He cancelled at the last minute leaving people to wonder if  Netanyahu is now telling Romney what to do.

Is that someone you want as President who panders almost every day?  Not this Republican -- would suggest that people with blinders still on, take them off and discover that Romney would be the worst person to be President.  The conservative media is feeding all of us a bunch of lies in order to get us to hate Obama so we will vote for Romney.  That is no way to run an election and the big donors behind Romney who are funding this disaster should be ashamed but you have to have a conscience to be ashamed and obvious from the last few months that a person with a conscience doesn't exist in Romneyland as they would quit.

Vote for the Best Candidate, not the Party

Took the day off from the blog to go to a meeting on a local race where I am supporting the Democrat over the Republican conscientious objector who twice declared CO status to keep from being deployed with the OK National Guard so he didn't interrupt his college.  A good friend of my daughter's was deployed during that same time frame which interrupted his Journalism college degree program but you didn't see him trying to get out of serving.

My family has a long history of people serving in the military and fighting for our Country starting with the Revolutionary War, Civil War, WWI where my grandfather was gassed in Europe and died when my Dad was five years old, WWII where my Dad fought in Europe along with four uncles in the military, Korean War where my husband and my Uncle fought.  My husband turned 18 on the ship going to Korea.  Lost several friends in the Vietnam War.   In Gulf War I we knew a lot of people serving including a former Lt we had adopted when he worked for my husband at Wright-Patterson waiting for pilot training.  Saw him on the news that first night flying an F-4.  In the current Iraq/Afghanistan theater of war, my son-in-law who retired several years ago from the Navy was deployed to Sicily and flew out of there on missions.  My daughter who served a tour in the Navy was also stationed in Sicily for the naval operations which were ongoing in Iraq and Afghanistan so we come from a long line of military plus my husband and I both were civil service for the Air Force.

In this year's upcoming election, do America a favor and vote for the best candidate not the Party.  It is time to send notices to both major parties at all levels that they cannot routinely count on our vote as they have to earn it with good, solid candidates.

US Taxpayers Bailout of 2.7 Billion for 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City

Romney continues to brag about how he saved the Salt Lake City Olympics but it seems it was the US Taxpayer not Mitt Romney who save the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.  How can the winter games cost so much more than the summer games when there are a lot less athletes and less venues that need to be built?  


Never thought about a state ripping off the taxpayers to get needed infrastructure fixed they had neglected.  What am I missing? In Los Angeles in 1984 corporate sponsors paid for the Olympic venues and games -- we lived in So Cal at the time and witnessed first hand what a fantastic job that Peter Ueberroth did as head of the 1984 Summer Games held in Los Angeles.  If you want to see a real organizer for the Olympics, look no further than peter Ueberroth not Mitt Romney.  Fast forward to 2002 and Romney ripped off the taxpayers for $2.7B for the Utah games.  This is supposed to be this big fundraiser.  Something is not right here and once again it comes down to the lies of Mitt Romney.  


Once again Romney thought nothing of taking money from the taxpayers for his own pet project -- the Utah Olympics and lying about what really happened and who bailed out the Olympics.  It was the taxpayer not his Bain Corporation Rolodex with the final bill from the US Taxpayers ending up being $2.7 billion.


Did Mitt Romney lie to then President Bush about how much this was going to cost?  My bet is YES!  With all this baggage of Romney that McCain knew, why did he back him for the nomination?  Were the other candidates that bad or is McCain up to something?

Romney’s 2.7 Billion Olympic Bailout by John McCain
Posted on July 28, 2012 by politicol 

In 2002 the Winter Games held in Salt Lake City, Utah, home of the Mormon Church, Mitt Romney canvassed the White House for a bailout of the Olympic Games. 

The Final Bill was: 2.7 Billion Dollars given to Romney by George Bush, the then, President to complete the Games which was grossly over-budget from the initial costs. 

The taxpayer saved the Olympic Games from what was corruption, greed and misappropriations of funds. 

Mitt Romney failed to gather support from corporation sponsors to swing the costs to private businesses, which is one of the qualities he boasts about in his run for the 2012 Presidential Election. Had that been true, the taxpayer would not have been footing the bill for the entire project. 

Romney has no problem asking for a government bail out and no problem admitting he could not accomplish the task of funding the Winter Games. 

In this clip, Senator John McCain blows up on Romney’s pork barrel project and the failure to remain within budget. 

\In this same clip Mitt Romney calls it” Modest help when he asked Senator Bennett, a member of the Appropriations Committee for money”. Sen. Bill Bennett was the Republican Senator for the State of Utah, whom he worked with to get the massive bailout money during the Bush Administration. 

Apparently, Mitt Romney lobbied Hard for Money from Congress to bail him out, to fund the Olympics and to add to the National Debt, and in the end he credits himself for “Saving the Olympics” as he puts it.Romney: “I think he was thinking we were asking for 5 to 10 million, we asked for several hundred million dollars in help. Everything that was needed was ultimately obtained”. 

McCain: “…The American taxpayer has become by far, the largest single underwriter of the costs of hosting the Olympics”.We apologize for the audio quality, please adjust your ears, but this is well worth listening to as we continue to vet Mitt Romney for the Presidency of the United States. 

Click to see and hear McCain video 

As Senator John McCain points out: 

1) The 1984 Summer Olympics in LA received 75 Million Dollars in Federal Support.Compared to: 

2) The 2002 Winter Olympics in Utah received 1.3 Billion Dollars in Federal Support. (Final Total was 2.7 Billion) 

3) What the Money was Used for: 

• 91% in LA was for safety, Security, Safety 7% was non-security funding  

4) In Utah the 1.3 billion was spent on building Salt Lake City Infrastructure

$ 974,000 Utah Olympics Public Safety Command

$ 5 Million Dollars to Communications Agency Networks

$ 3 Million Dollars to Olympic Regional Development (Upgrades to Sports Complex)

$ 2.5 Million Dollars Bus Facilities

$ 2.5 Million Dollars to SLC regional parks ride lines

$ 500,000 SLC Transit Bus

$ 925,000 SLC Public Safety after the Olympics

$ 1 Million for SLC Security and Training

$ 2,200,000 for SLC Sewer Infrastructure Needs associated with the Games

 (snip) 

As Sen. McCain outlines, what began as corruption and bribery charges in Salt Lake City, before Mitt Romney took over, turned to massive paybacks, pork barrel for the City and friends of Mitt Romney. 

It was no surprise that the Salt Lake City association with the Mormon Church is the connection here to Romney and the pork barrel spending. Mitt Romney now donates stocks from Bain Capital regularly to the tax free status Mormon Church. 

President George Bush approved of Mitt Romney’s pork barrel spending, which included the construction of roads and bridges for the Olympics. 

If Salt Lake City needed 1.3 billion in infrastructure required to host the games, they never should have been chosen as a viable site to host the Games. 

In conclusion, Mitt Romney claims he will slash spending and reduce the deficit, when his track record shows he does not know how to budget. In his term as Gov. of Mass. he also left the state with a 5 billion dollar deficit. As a potential candidate, Romney’s record evolves around:  

The Romney Big Tax Payer Spending record and passing the costs on to the middle class who pay the volume of taxes to run this country are legendary. 

Although he makes false claims in the mainstream media, and they erroneously report “He saved the games in 2002″ the reality of what Romney did is a completely different story. 

What you hear on NBC, CBS, Fox News, and CNN the other faux news channel, is just one example of the fabricated misinformation on the reality of the big spending, bailout that Mitt Romney received as CEO of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. 

This is the Reality of Mitt Romney’s Resume on the 2002 Winter Games- The Most Expensive Games in US History 

Excerpt:  See Politicol News 

Why all the lies by Romney and the people who surround him?  Do they honestly believe the truth will not come out in this campaign?  Did he figure people were just going to take him at his word which is worth nothing?  All questions without answers.


While watching a news show the other night they were talking about when President Bush would make a gaffe, you could see the moment on his face like he shouldn't have said that and joke about it.  When Romney gaffes he keeps on going and it doesn't bother him which is a little scary out of someone who wants to President who would be dealing with foreign leaders.  


Already it has come out that he lied about Netanyahu during the primary when he said he was good friends with him when it turns out they worked at the same place and Bibi may have known him.  Not like the best buds Romney portrayed: 

Netanyahu: Romney Lying About Their Friendship 

Imagine that -- Romney lied!  It came out two days ago from Netanyahu!      

Games of the XXX Olympiad: July 27 - August 12, 2012

The Olympic Oath

"In the name of all competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these

Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules that govern them, in the

true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honour of our teams." 

Tonight Americans will be able to view the opening of the XXX Olympiad on NBC.  Throughout the games you can log onto NBC to get the schedule events and watch them live on line.

A special "Good Luck" to our men's gymnastics team where we have five Oklahoma Sooners as part of the eight man team along with the coach of the Sooner Men's Gymnastics and to all the other Sooner athletes competing in track and field, wrestling and other sports not only for the USA but for other countries.  The Olympics rowing team is now headquartered her at the Devon Boat House in the Bricktown area of Oklahoma City so will be following their events as well.  USA basketball along with swimming events are always a favorite.  Going to be a fun couple of weeks with plenty to watch on TV ending just in time for the Football season to begin.  

This is a chance for America to showcase their Olympic team with athletes who have been training for this event for years.  Let's get behind our team and put politics aside tonight as we watch the Opening Ceremonies viewing the athletes marching in representing their countries who are as proud of their athletes as we are of ours.

Good Luck to all participants and may the true spirit of athletic competition reign supreme!

London at night showcasing the Olympic Athletes

Out of Touch? “It has been a marvelous day for us,” Romney said

When Romney decided to stick his foot in mouth to start his overseas trip, he did it in a big way insulting our closest allies, the British, more than once.  When you have a Prime Minister take a swipe at a man who is running for President as a Republican, that candidate has a problem.

Prime Minister Cameron had this to say in a clear swipe at Mr. Romney:

“We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities in the world. Of course it’s easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere.”

Romney is so far out of touch with reality that it seems like Romney and his advisers have their blinders on and cotton in their ears so they cannot read, see, or hear what is being said about the Romney gaffes where his semi-apologies made it worse.  Romney said last night at a fundraiser co-hosted by bankers involved in the rate fixing scandal in Britain:

 “It has been a marvelous day for us,” Romney said.

If yesterday was a 'marvelous day' for Romney, I would hate to see a bad one as he insulted the Brits on their own soil but he also did in his book, No Apology where he writes:

England [sic] is just a small island. Its roads and houses are small. With few exceptions, it doesn't make things that people in the rest of the world want to buy. And if it hadn't been separated from the continent by water, it almost certainly would have been lost to Hitler's ambitions. Yet only two lifetimes ago, Britain ruled the largest and wealthiest empire in the history of humankind. Britain controlled a quarter of the earth's land and a quarter of the earth's population  

How can Romney be so dumb to first write those words and second to publish them in his book.  That alone would not endear him to the Brits who BTW don't consider themselves Anglo Saxons as we learn from The Pink Flamingo blog:

"To those of us who are historians, and specialize in Post Roman Britain, and are basically Norman, DON’T call us Anglo-Saxon. Them’s fighin’ words. It’s an insult. We’re Brits. I’m basically a Brit. The Anglo-Saxons were invaders. They were the bad guys. Those of us who are students of the Arthurian consider it even a greater insult. They were the invaders King Arthur fought. Yes, I am well aware of the archaeological and historical mess here, but I am convinced there was an actual Arthur, perhaps several of them. I still think the first incarnation was Lucius Artorius Castus."

This man is not ready to be President or the GOP nominee.  In fact he is not ready for prime time because his interviews and remarks are arrogant, smug, and self-serving refusing to answer any question he doesn't like including refusing to call on the American media when holding a joint press meeting with Prime Minister Cameron.  It is standard in such situations that someone like the PM would call on someone from the British Media to ask Romney a question and then the person being hosted calls on their media to ask the Prime Minister a question.  Not in Romneyland as he called on the British Media to ask the Prime Minister a question and snubbed the American media.  Yet, Romney had a "marvelous day" which is an insult once again to the British.  


London Sun ran a headline "Mitt the twit"  That is going to leave a mark!  As I asked yesterday, Can we recall Romney as the GOP candidate before he is officially nominated?

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Mitt the twit  

Wannabe US President Romney in Games insult, but David Cameron insists: We’ll show you 

By GRAEME WILSON, Deputy Political Editor Published: Today at 00:12 

WANNABE president Mitt Romney infuriated Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday by making a string of embarrassing blunders. 

The US election hopeful, on a visit to London, questioned whether the Olympics will be a success. 

Mr Romney said in a TV interview: “It’s hard to know just how well it will turn out. There are a few things that were disconcerting.” 

The Republican candidate, who organised the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, also questioned whether the British people will “come together and celebrate” the Olympics.  

There was further embarrassment when Mr Romney said he had looked out of “the backside of Number 10” to see the beach volleyball court. 

He breached diplomatic protocol by revealing he had been briefed by MI6 chief Sir John Sawers, then appeared to forget Labour leader Ed Miliband’s name, calling him “Mr Leader” instead. 

Mr Cameron later slapped down the Massachusetts governor. Visiting the Olympic Park on the eve of the opening ceremony, the PM insisted the Games would be a huge success. 

He said: “We’ll show the world we’ve not only come together as a United Kingdom, but are extremely good at welcoming people from across the world. “You will see Britain can deliver.” In a clear swipe at Mr Romney, he added:

“We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities in the world. Of course it’s easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere.” 

Where did the GOP get the idea that Romney was going to make a good candidate when over 60% of Republicans refused to vote for him in most states before Gingrich and Santorum dropped out?  He is not likable and the Brits recognize that he also is not friendly and extremely arrogant.  Shame on the Republican Party for putting money ahead of someone we would be proud to support by making sure Mitt Romney won the nomination.

London Mayor "Ready for the Olympics"

Would say the London Mayor is not happy with Mitt Romney in this video after Romney made some very arrogant comments like he is the only one who can put on a good Olympics and then later he is trying to backtrack his comments.  He has made a complete mess out of his London trip with his arrogance and trying to showcase how much he knows and who he sees.  This man is not ready for prime time even a little. 

The former lobbyist for the Utah Olympics, Mitt Romney,  is the same person who took after Newt Gingrich in the primaries because he was a lobbyist.  What else is going to come out on Romney?  Did he miss having those Olympic records destroyed like he did the contracts so no one could see the sole source contracts to Bain companies?  

Cannot believe he went to London and in two days has so many government officials plus British citizens mad not to mention he went after the President on foreign soil during his fundraiser in London.  

What is going to happen in Poland -- you want to bet Romney goes after the Russians who he considers our biggest threat?  Then there is Israel -- who knows what he will say there.  Can you recall a candidate?

Romney’s ‘We Did Build This’ Events Feature Businesses Built With Government Subsidies And Contracts (OOPS!)

In my lifetime it is hard to remember a campaign that is so dishonest as that of Mitt Romney and so non-transparent.  What was the RNC and the so-called establishment thinking getting behind his nomination?  Was it the big donors because they (RNC) needed to fund the Convention and campaign?  Have news for them if they had held fair debates, same rules for all states in the primary, and not supported a culture of win at any costs for the Romney campaign including cheating, we wouldn't be at this spot today.  They would have had the money from honest donors who didn't want anything in return.

Anyone who says a businessman does everything on his own without help to build the business is a buffoon.  Romney told Olympic athletes that they had help which they all acknowledge.  He has given speeches about the help businesses receive from the Government and infrastructure.  Guess the businesses in today's Romney World are different because they did in all on their own using their own hands according to this ad:




OOPS!  There is a slight problem:

In “These Hands,” the Romney campaign repeated the out-of-context quote, “If you’ve got a business, you didn’t build that. Somebody else did that.” Jack Gilchrist, the owner of Gilchrist Metal Fabricating in Hudson, New Hampshire, incredulously asks, “My father’s hands didn’t build this company? My hands didn’t build this company? My son’s hands aren’t building this company? …Through hard work and a little bit of luck, we built this business. Why are you demonizing us for it?”  

In context, Obama’s speech was not “demonizing” small business owners but simply challenging the idea that wealthy and successful individuals have never benefited from government services.

And, as it turns out, Jack Gilchrist is no different. The New Hampshire Union Leader reports today that Gilchrist benefited from millions of dollars of government loans and contracts to get his business on its feet: 

In 1999, Gilchrist Metal received $800,000 in tax-exempt revenue bonds issued by the New Hampshire Business Finance Authority “to set up a second manufacturing plant and purchase equipment to produce high definition television broadcasting equipment,” according to a New Hampshire Union Leader report at the time…

Last year, Gilchrist Metal also received two U.S. Navy sub-contracts totaling about $83,000 and a smaller $5,600 Coast Guard contract in 2008, according to a government web site that tracks spending. 

The businessman now famous for the ad admits he did take Government help to build the business. Nothing wrong with that as that is what these programs are for but what is terribly wrong is to represent that you had no help and built the business with only your hands and hands of family members.  Guess his family built the building where  they are located only with their own hands as well.

Fox News and Rush Limbaugh led the Romney camp in the direction they wanted him to go even it was a total misstatement of what the President said due to the editing of Fox News.  It is like Limbaugh is a puppet for Fox News today and Romney is a puppet for Fox News and Rush.  Romney or his surrogates run out to make fools of themselves routinely parroting what Fox News or Rush has to say with no fact checking.  Fox News is about the last place I would quote today.  If you want to find investigative reporting with links, you now have to use more liberal sites.

It is simply mind boggling what has happened to Conservatives who are backing Romney.  They turn into pretzels and refuse to hear anything negative about the man or positive about Obama.  Facts don't matter today.  The people on the right who yelled the loudest about Obama not releasing his college records (he should have released them) are the ones turning into crickets on Romney's tax returns and Bain Capital.  We are not supposed to go after the "perfect" candidate in their minds.

Is this what happens to a political party when it is taken over by the followers of Ayn Rand, who make up a large portion of the far right and Tea Party, along with big donors like the Koch Brothers?  Truth doesn't matter, it is the narrative?

The Romney's "We Did Build This' Events are not exactly what they imagined as the info below points out.  Seems these business people rounded up by the Romney camp did have help which was exactly what President Obama was saying.  The Romney camp has proved Obama's points were correct when you get passed the redacted Fox News/Limbaugh spin: 

Romney’s ‘We Did Build This’ Events Feature Businesses Built With Government Subsidies And Contracts 

By Aviva Shen on Jul 25, 2012 at 3:12 pm 

Today, the Romney campaign is hosting an entire series of campaign events based on President Obama’s misinterpreted comment about small businesses. While Obama’s full speech made a “no man is an island” argument, the Romney campaign has seized on the quote, “If you’ve got a business, you didn’t build that” as evidence of Obama’s disdain for small business owners.

 Romney, ignoring the fact that he has echoed this same sentiment on multiple occasions, organized 24 “We Did Build This” events in the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Virginia, Ohio, Iowa, Florida, Missouri, North Carolina, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Nevada. At each event, local business owners are speaking about their self-sufficiency in running a business and how government is hindering their growth. 

But, like the New Hampshire business owner showcased in Romney’s attack ad on the issue, many of these business owners have received significant support from the government, a ThinkProgress analysis finds.

• Ball Office Products hosted the “We Did Build This” event in Richmond, Virginia. The company received a loan of $635,000 through the Small Business Administration in 2012, according to USASpending.gov. The company was also awarded a lucrative $52,525 contract with the General Services Administration just a year after its founding.

• Midwest Tape, a media distributor of Holland, Ohio, was showcased at a local event and has been contracted by the Department of Defense since 2008, earning a cumulative $13,659.

• Columbus Truck and Equipment was featured in a neighboring event and has received $6,643 in contracts with the Department of Defense.

• Cranston Material Handling Equipment Corporation, the owner of which spoke Wednesday morning at a campaign event in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, has reaped a total of $61,729 in contracts with the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs since 2007.

• Systems Engineering Co.The owner of Systems Engineering has received a total of $180,200 in DOD contracts, as recently as last year.

• Brady Industries in Las Vegas has received $54,425 in contracts with Veterans Affairs since 2009.

• Pennsylvania business PRL Industries Inc. received a $167,847 contract through the Department of Homeland Security for ship and boat propulsion components for the U.S. Coast Guard in August 2008. Janis Herschkowitz, who spoke on behalf of PRL, Inc. used to be a director of the National Consumer Cooperative Bank, which, defined in Herschkowitz’ own words, was created by Congress “to meet personal, social or business needs, especially in low- and moderate-income communities by forming cooperatives.”

• An Iowa event featured Competitive Edge, Inc. which was contracted by Veterans Affairs for $3,543 to make informational refrigerator magnets.

• J & W Cycles of Missouri was awarded $25,808 in contracts from the DOD and Department of Interior.

• Total Resource, featured in a Sparks, Nevada campaign event, has been a federal contractor since 2010, and received a $11,200 contract from the DOD in 2009.

• Applegate Insulation, which hosted one of the events in Michigan, benefited from an energy saving federal tax credit worth 30 percent of the installation project, up to $1,500.

• Home Instead Senior Care supported Romney in Roanoke, Virginia, even though home health care companies receive 75 percent of their funding from public programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Home Instead franchises in Virginia have received at least $3,613,549 in federal funding through the Department of Veterans Affairs since 2008. Chris Head, who represented Home Instead at the event, has previously lamented the low Medicaid reimbursement rates in Virginia and told the Roanoke Times that he wished state funding had helped save the now-defunct local Mill Mountain Theatre.

• Ed Nagle of Nagle Trucking in Ohio also took issue with Obama’s speech, which mentioned roads and bridges as examples of essential government support. But less than a year ago, Nagle protested an idea to privatize the Ohio Turnpike, noting that the privatized Indiana toll road “has diminished in its quality and it’s become a lot more expensive.”

While the “We Did Build This” event was intended to “allow small business owners the chance to respond to President Obama’s claim,” it is clear that many of these owners exemplify the combined powers of individual effort and government support that Obama — and Romney — have praised. 

Additional reporting by Steven Perlberg.  

Source:  Think Progressive

Once again Romney and his campaign are proving to the American people they will say and do anything for votes even knowing it was a lie from Fox News and Rush Limbaugh that started this.  It is the narrative which the Romney campaign plays by and in the process have thrown truth and honesty out the window with the win at any cost mentality.

Does he have an enemies list like Nixon?