[Athos]

Ann Romney spends 20 minutes on the theme of "love".

The next speaker, Chris Christie, says, (I'm not making this up), "Love is not the most important thing, it's respect". Do these people ever compare their speeches so as to avoid such a faux pax as this?

I admit, tho', that the image of a morbidly obese Mafia-looking thug would have a hard time promoting love. Better for Chris to keep his face stuffed with the meatballs and the macaroni, and leave the rest of us alone.

As the keynote speaker, Christie bombed - big time. What does this do for his 2016 chances?

[talaniman]

What do you expect from a party that advertises lies, obstructs legislation and blame it on the guy who who they have plotted against since he was sworn in.

Christie better clean up his own mess in New Jersey before he thinks about a promotion.

The tough truths about Chris Christie's New Jersey - CNN.com

If the tough-talk message helps Romney win the White House in November, Christie is assured a bright future on the national stage. But if he hopes to repeat any version of Obama's astounding leap from keynote to candidate, he'll have to get New Jersey's fiscal house in order pronto.

[Athos]

What do you expect from a party that advertises lies, obstructs legislation and blame it on the guy who who they have plotted against since he was sworn in.

Christie better clean up his own mess in New Jersey before he thinks about a promotion.

The tough truths about Chris Christie's New Jersey - CNN.com

Excellent link exposing this fraud. Thanks for posting it.

[talaniman]

Fortunately we only have one more day of this red meat ego show, though I did enjoy Condi's speech, even if its wasted on at a loony parade. Seems everyone touted their immigrant roots, and accomplishments but nobody talked about solutions.

Maybe they have none, or are doing just great with things the way they are. Have you heard middle class by any one yet? I doubt you do.

[speechlesstx]

I don't see any problem here and no Christie didn't bomb. If he had come out with his usual tough guy talk the compliant media and Democrats would have come out full guns blazing about how Republicans being mean and nasty while black people drown. In fact, one did say it anyway.

And since the lefties here are so suddenly interested in context, here it is:

My Mom, who I lost eight years ago, was the enforcer. She made sure we all knew who set the rules.

In the automobile of life, Dad was just a passenger. Mom was the driver.

They both lived hard lives. Dad grew up in poverty. After returning from Army service, he worked at the Breyers Ice Cream plant in the 1950s. With that job and the G.I. bill he put himself through Rutgers University at night to become the first in his family to earn a college degree. Our first family picture was on his graduation day, with Mom beaming next to him, six months pregnant with me.

Mom also came from nothing. She was raised by a single mother who took three buses to get to work every day. And mom spent the time she was supposed to be a kid actually raising children – her two younger siblings. She was tough as nails and didn't suffer fools at all. The truth was she couldn't afford to. She spoke the truth – bluntly, directly and without much varnish.

I am her son.

I was her son as I listened to "Darkness on the Edge of Town" with my high school friends on the Jersey Shore.

I was her son as I moved into a studio apartment with Mary Pat to start a marriage that is now 26 years old.

I was her son as I coached our sons Andrew and Patrick on the fields of Mendham, and as I watched with pride as our daughters Sarah and Bridget marched with their soccer teams in the Labor Day parade.
PBS NewsHour/YouTube

And I am still her son today, as governor, following the rules she taught me: to speak from the heart and to fight for your principles. She never thought you get extra credit for just speaking the truth.

The greatest lesson Mom ever taught me, though, was this one: she told me there would be times in your life when you have to choose between being loved and being respected. She said to always pick being respected, that love without respect was always fleeting — but that respect could grow into real, lasting love.

Now, of course, she was talking about women.

But I have learned over time that it applies just as much to leadership. In fact, I think that advice applies to America today more than ever.

Totally complementary speeches and Christie is 100 percent right.

[NeedKarma]

Remember, Ann is just one of us.

[talaniman]

His family life wasn't questioned, just his leadership in New Jersey.

[NeedKarma]

His family life wasn't questioned, just his leadership in New Jersey.

Like the boondoggle which is the may-not-happen Formula 1 track in a gangsta-ridden neighborhood of NJ.

[talaniman]

Please elaborate.

[speechlesstx]

His family life wasn't questioned, just his leadership in New Jersey.

Who said his family life was questioned? Athos said it was a "faux pas" for Ann to speak on love and Christie to say respect was more important. No, it wasn't a "faux pas."

[NeedKarma]

BBC Sport - Bernie Ecclestone casts fresh doubt over New Jersey F1 race

Cotter quits New Jersey GP team | Formula 1 Blog

The F1 race that's supposed to happen in Austin TX a bit of a mess too.

[speechlesstx]

I thought you didn't like turning the conversation to sports.

[NeedKarma]

Never said that.
Anyway it relates to Christie's home state.

Do you follow F1?

I'm going for a 50km cycle tonight with a group, ever done that? We should have a good paceline so the average speed should be good, we'll likely throw a few hill climbs in there too.

[tomder55]

He didn't bomb at all . But Ryan's and Condi's was the better speech (although I caution her in praising the phony free trade deals the PRC has made) . Come 2016 if God forbid Romney loses... Ryan and Rubio will be better options than Christie.
Yeah ,from blue NJ Christie looks like a conservative Tea Party type of guy... but in reality, he is very much a Republic who the establishment beltway types can easily love.

[talaniman]

Yeah sure, he said you had to tell the truth, yet he didn't say his states unemployment was the worst in the country.

[tomder55]

If the labor force participation rate across the country was as high as it is in NJ then perhaps the national rate would more closely mirror the NJ unemployment rate. But the national participation rate masks the true but hidden national unemployment rate . And if it wasn't being masked with statistical smoke and mirrors ,the President would not stand a chance. I don't think the President wants to go there. He can't run on his dismal performance managing the economy . That is why he tries to change the narrative of the election to cr@p like phoney war on women .

[talaniman]

You mean Ryan Romney won't repeal

Obamacare
Roe v Wade

And make rich guys richer and poor guys poorer, and build more jails and start more wars? I mean real ones?

And appoint a supreme court judge to allow repub elite to keep power, and control the money to keep the masses in line, and subject to their rules.

There is no WAR on women minorities poor and old, its only a power grab by phony politician, who lie cheat and steal. But they want us to hold the door while they do. You righties have learned nothing from the great robbery of '08. No wonder you want to repeat that mistake.

Ask Mitt, this is a normal business cycle for him and his boys, he has done this all before, and repubs hope he pees on their heads yet again.

The "We Can Change It" theme was appropriate when you consider you guys changed all the facts.

How about this Tom,since your fellow winger refuses, have you read the MITT budget? Whats so good about it, and who pays for it?

[speechlesstx]

You mean Ryan Romney wont repeal

Obamacare
Roe v Wade

And make rich guys richer and poor guys poorer, and build more jails and start more wars? I mean real ones?

And appoint a supreme court judge to allow repub elite to keep power, and control the money to keep the masses in line, and subject to their rules.

There is no WAR on women minorities poor and old, its only a power grab by phony politician, who lie cheat and steal. But they want us to hold the door while they do. You righties have learned nothing from the great robbery of '08. No wonder you want to repeat that mistake.

Ask Mitt, this is a normal business cycle for him and his boys, he has done this all before, and repubs hope he pees on their heads yet again.

The "We Can Change It" theme was appropriate when you consider you guys changed all the facts.

How about this Tom,since your fellow winger refuses, have you read the MITT budget? Whats so good about it, and who pays for it?

Aren't you tired of that baseless rich get richer making poor people poorer cliché yet? I commented on Mitt's plan two days ago you can drop that line, too.

[speechlesstx]

And by the way, Romney was great and Rubio KILLED it last night. I imagine some Dems are a little nervous this morning.

My Dad used to tell us: “En este pais, ustedes van a poder lograr todas las cosas que nosotros no pudimos” “In this country, you will be able to accomplish all the things we never could.”

A few years ago during a speech, I noticed a bartender behind a portable bar at the back of the ballroom. I remembered my father who had worked for many years as a banquet bartender.

He was grateful for the work he had, but that’s not the life he wanted for us.

He stood behind a bar in the back of the room all those years, so one day I could stand behind a podium in the front of a room.

That journey, from behind that bar to behind this podium, goes to the essence of the American miracle — that we’re exceptional not because we have more rich people here.

We’re special because dreams that are impossible anywhere else, come true here.

That’s not just my story. That’s your story. That’s our story.

It’s the story of your mother who struggled to give you what she never had.

It’s the story of your father who worked two jobs so doors closed for him would open for you.
The story of that teacher or that coach who taught you the lessons that shaped who you are today.

And it’s the story of a man who was born into an uncertain future in a foreign country. His family came to America to escape revolution.

They struggled through poverty and the great depression. And yet he rose to be an admired businessman, and public servant.

And in November, his son, Mitt Romney, will be elected President of the United States.

[talaniman]

More? No, the same facts backed up. So what is it about the Mitt plan that takes from the poor, who have nothing to take, and gives to the rich. The 20 percent across the board tax cut? Eliminating the tax penalty on investments for those making less than $200k? I hardly see how letting you keep more of your money is stealing from the poor.

Where does the money come and how does that 20% across the board affect tax payers who pay a payroll tax?

How does this plan affect the deficit you guys have so hollered about? How does that relate to the military spending he has proposed, and what and by how much must he cut to achieve these numbers?

You are not getting away with ignoring the whole proposal with one sentence, and picking out ONE thing that SOUNDS good to you. Maybe I ask too much for you to look deeper, and do the math. By my figures people making less than $50,000 dollars wills see less than a grand of their money, depending on whether the existing tax cuts expire or are not, or the current deductions are kept in his plan. He doesn't address that issue, only that he will close loopholes.

Just to compare Obama has already proposed to keep the deductions and tax cut for all Americans up to $250,000 and so Romney's plan actually is a tax hike for anyone making poverty level wages. If as you say the poor have nothing to give, why is your guy expecting them to give more?

It's a fact that if the Bush tax cuts and Romneys are added together we are talking another 10trillion over 10 years added to the deficit.

Rebuttal any one??