Looks like Mitt Romney will be taking an Overseas trip this month. No doubt this is to burnish his image as a presidential candidate. Insiders know that there will be at least one stop to roll around in his money at the secret vault in Switzerland than none of us, including the government know any thing about. Don’t you dare say anything.

Tying this in with the Olympics, Mitt will do a cannonball into a pool filled with $100 bills.

But Something Stinks
The more I think about Romney and his secret bank accounts and the mystery surrounding them, I can’t help but think we are slowly being drawn in to a cheap crime novel. And in those novels there is always a reason for the secrecy and it is never good. I have to think that is true here also. If Romney is hiding information about himself, then he and his team must view it as potentially damaging. I have no idea what it may be, but it must be good if he is willing to throw away a chance to be president over it.

The way he is handling this scares me when I think of him having control of our armed forces and our nuclear force. This is why the Founders wanted openness, so we could tell the character of our officials. I couldn’t trust him before for lying about damn near everything, but this covering up really makes me suspicious.

Cities Going Broke
Scranton, Pennsylvania teeters on the verge of bankruptcy. San Bernadino, California joins Stockton and Mammouth Lakes in California as cities that have declared bankruptcy. Birmingham, Alabama and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania also teeter on the verge of bankruptcy.

There are various reasons for these bankruptcies – less tax revenue, investing in the mortgage backed bonds, industries leaving town. Whatever the reason (and no, I don’t buy that pensions are too high – these were negotiated as part of a pay package) – cities going bankrupt opens unique opportunities for the vulture capitalists who will swoop in and buy municipal holdings for pennies on a dollar. They will also take over such city amenities as swimming pools or city cemeteries. Most of America lives in cities. I believe we are watching the leading edge of what will become a sorry trend. And the lives of those who live in the cities will become a much sadder affair. Public spaces will be sold off or not maintained. Parks, pools, libraries will become private businesses priced out of the range of residents.

This is the Shock Doctrine in action.

Romney at the NAACP reminded me of this quote
I have always seen this attributed to JC Watts father “Black people voting for Republicans is like chickens voting for Colonel Sanders.”

Team USA’s Olympic uniforms Made in China
OK – this is really stupid. Sounds like something that Bain would do. Good Grief!

Why does Romney lie when they can be checked?
This most recent scandal involving Romney – one which may end up with him in some serious trouble – is a product of his own propensity to say whatever he feels fits the moment, whether it is true or not. If he were an average man on the street, I would feel little sympathy for him. I feel no sympathy here. Romney has been rich all his life and has lied and bullied his way through life. He seems to have gone one too far. No doubt he has a team of lawyers and PR guys trying to finesse this one.

Hey Mitt, be a man. Show some “personal responsibility.” Tell the truth and take the consequences.

Obama has done a hell of a job.
If you can step out of the moment and view the Obama presidency through a historical perspective, Barack Obama has done one hell of a job. Especially considering that the Senate has created new rules with the express purpose of stopping any positive moves that might happen.

The PPACA is enough of an accomplishment for any one presidency, as would stopping the whirlpool toward a massive depression. Add in an incredible change in the military that openly gay people can serve and many other accomplishments. He has more problems to solve, but I believe he will at least attempt to solve them. Mitt Romney will only do as he is told by his owners.

I will proudly vote for President Obama.

I will also proudly vote for Dave Loebsack. The second district is well represented by Loebsack. His opponent will only be a nameless, faceless tea party rubber stamp. It really makes little difference who it is.

Great line from John Fugelsang:

“Romney, show us your worth certificate.”