Presidential Campaign: 2012

[roni]

Originally Posted by roni

If he becomes our President I am confident he will do a fine job

Originally Posted by Mnbruce

I hope for the best for every president when they are elected. The reality in the end for me is that they always disappoint.

Of course they do. Doing a fine job is not the same as the best.

Mitt has done a fine job of everything he has tried except for successfully running for office. Maybe he'll do better at that this time.

[deep six]

Originally Posted by Jacko

The President sure is doing a great job driving down the price of gasoline in NC...this means we should reelect him now, right? Here


There was good news Monday for motorists in the Carolinas. After rising for much of the year, gas prices in the two states dropped below levels reported a year ago.

Gas in North Carolina reached the benchmark on Monday, AAA Carolinas reports, dropping to about $3.79 a gallon — about 2 cents less than last April 30.

Gasoline was $1.83 per gallon when Obama took office. I'll let you do the math. And remember,this was your argument.

[deep six]

Originally Posted by STOGEY

Explain why the President would want to replace Hilary Clinton as his Sec. of State?

Because she is jumping ship. It is not his choice.

[deep six]

Originally Posted by Jacko

Well, I think he has other bothersome personality traits that go along with that "successful" thing of his that make him a much bigger target than all the other "successful" politicians we have...don't you think?

What are they? Other than being republican?

[ryberg]

Originally Posted by deep six

And remember,this was your argument.

Obviously you haven't been paying much attention to the discussion on this thread!

[james]

Originally Posted by Dan-0

...people like us who paid their own way through value their education so much more than those whose parents paid the tab.

->

Originally Posted by Dan-0

I flunked out of engineering due to excessive partying and chasing women and not applying myself in math and science like I should have.

[horizon200]

Originally Posted by roni

Why do you keep insisting that it is just one account?



Romney tax returns detail funds not identified in ethics forms - latimes.com

I didn't "Insist" anything. I was identifying with the video that said "it's what you'd expect from a man with a Swiss bank Account" The video YOU posted.

I realize he has multiple offshore accounts. As do many people that invest in mutuals and trusts.

In fact, Mr. Obama's Vanguard funds invest in foreign assets (albeit a small amount). I have not looked at JP Morgan's (his bank of choice) accounts to see where they invest...but in a Global economy I would be surprised if they didn't have holdings overseas.

But then, I suppose since I am putting a car lift in my house too, I can't relate! You know...us people with elevators for our cars!

[ryberg]

Originally Posted by horizon200

But then, I suppose since I am putting a car lift in my house too, I can't relate! You know...us people with elevators for our cars!

There's quite a difference in scale here that you seem to be overlooking, and that takes the right back out of it, leaving a quite legitimate issue.

[roni]

Originally Posted by horizon200

I didn't "Insist" anything. I was identifying with the video that said "it's what you'd expect from a man with a Swiss bank Account" The video YOU posted.

I realize he has multiple offshore accounts. As do many people that invest in mutuals and trusts.

In fact, Mr. Obama's Vanguard funds invest in foreign assets (albeit a small amount). I have not looked at JP Morgan's (his bank of choice) accounts to see where they invest...but in a Global economy I would be surprised if they didn't have holdings overseas.

But then, I suppose since I am putting a car lift in my house too, I can't relate! You know...us people with elevators for our cars!

There is a difference between investing in foreign assets - equities and bonds - and have multiple offshore accounts in tax havens.

You realize that, don't you.

[horizon200]

Originally Posted by ryberg

There's quite a difference in scale here that you seem to be overlooking, and that takes the right back out of it, leaving a quite legitimate issue.

Originally Posted by roni

There is a difference between investing in foreign assets - equities and bonds - and have multiple offshore accounts in tax havens.

You realize that, don't you.

You'll be surprised to find I disagree on both comments.

[roni]

Originally Posted by horizon200

You'll be surprised to find I disagree on both comments.

Tell us, then, why you think there is no difference between me investing in a mutual fund that holds assets in companies headquartered outside the United States and me having bank accounts in other countries that have long been considered tax havens?

thanks

[horizon200]

Originally Posted by roni

Tell us, then, why you think there is no difference between me investing in a mutual fund that holds assets in companies headquartered outside the United States and me having bank accounts in other countries that have long been considered tax havens?

thanks

I have told you several times. As a wealthy person that has blind trusts, it is common place for the fund manager to put money in off shore accounts. There is nothing unlawful or improper about what he has done. So, in that vein of thought, it is no more a story than any of our accounts having holdings in foreign assets.....unless you are trying to spin what he has done for political reasons. Simple really.

[Dan-0]

Originally Posted by horizon200

I have told you several times. As a wealthy person that has blind trusts, it is common place for the fund manager to put money in off shore accounts. There is nothing unlawful or improper about what he has done. So, in that vein of thought, it is no more a story than any of our accounts having holdings in foreign assets.....unless you are trying to spin what he has done for political reasons. Simple really.

I don't blame Romney for putting his money into off shore accounts as I'm sure this is a legal form of reducing tax liability. However, this points out a problem with our tax laws in general as well as the theory of trickle-down economics and its efficacy in creating jobs.

I realize capital markets are complicated. But, in theory, shouldn't Romney use his tax windfall to directly invest & create jobs here in the U.S.? Shouldn't those who do so be rewarded and, likewise, those who fail to do so, like Romney, be penalized?

[horizon200]

Originally Posted by Dan-0

I don't blame Romney for putting his money into off shore accounts as I'm sure this is a legal form of reducing tax liability. However, this points out a problem with our tax laws in general as well as the theory of trickle-down economics and its efficacy in creating jobs.

I realize capital markets are complicated. But, in theory, shouldn't Romney use his tax windfall to directly invest & create jobs here in the U.S.? Shouldn't those who do so be rewarded and, likewise, those who fail to do so, like Romney, be penalized?

Do we really want the government telling us how to spend our legal tender....Oh wait!

Some more on the Cayman "accounts"
Romney offshore accounts contain up to $32 million

The six Romney offshore holdings are in investment funds run by Bain Capital, the private equity powerhouse he led in the 1980s and 1990s. The six funds are listed only by name and a range of amounts in Romney's financial records, but the Cayman addresses are in other corporate documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and in foreign investment portfolios.

Five of the Cayman-based funds are included within a blind trust for Romney's wife, Ann, and worth between $2.8 million and $7.6 million.

A sixth fund, called Bain Capital Investment Partners Trust Associates lll, is part of Romney's IRA retirement account and worth between $5 million and $25 million.

Again, it is no different than any other investment FUND that has offshore holdings. It's not like they took a trip to the Caymans and opened a checking account and got a free toaster!

[ryberg]

Originally Posted by horizon200

I have told you several times. As a wealthy person that has blind trusts, it is common place for the fund manager to put money in off shore accounts. There is nothing unlawful or improper about what he has done. So, in that vein of thought, it is no more a story than any of our accounts having holdings in foreign assets.....unless you are trying to spin what he has done for political reasons. Simple really.

I have not argued that he's doing something illegal, or that he should be punished or criticized for being financially successful. I have argued that there is a significant difference between you and the rest of us if you're worth maybe a quarter of a billion dollars and earn about $20 million a year from investments and your friends own NASCAR teams and a $3 million account might slip your mind or you might toss off the advice that new grads should just borrow $20K from their parents to start new businesses or say that $387K earned one year from speaking engagements "wasn't much" and so on.

I don't know if you are trying to spin this as normal or typical or if you're just upset that other people might recognize it as not normal or typical or something they can relate to in a candidate. But there it is, just the same.