GOP challengers on the attack as Obama announces re-election bid

As soon as President Obama officially announced his re-election campaign this morning (by filing the paperwork with the Federal Election Commission and releasing a new web video), Republicans were out of the gate and running with their own blistering responses.

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the most prominent Republican officially in the running against Mr. Obama, released a 35-second video response today that features ominous music and images of lightening striking over the White House and houses pegged with foreclosure signs.

"To take a new direction, it's going to take a new president," Pawlenty says at the end of the video.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, meanwhile, has yet to officially enter the race but made clear he intends to go head-to-head with Mr. Obama on issues like the economy in 2012. "@barackobama I look forward to hearing details on your jobs plan, as are 14m unemployed Americans," Romney tweeted today.

The Republican National Committee also launched a video today and a corresponding website called "HopeIsn'tHiring.com."

"You've always gotten what you wanted, but is it what we wanted?" asks a narrator in the video, over an image of Mr. Obama signing his landmark health care reform legislation. "We need jobs, we need leadership, yet you do nothing... It's like you don't even get it."

The 54-second video features the now-familiar footage of Velma Hart, the Obama supporter who told the president at a town hall last year that she was "exhausted" from defending his economic policies.

The RNC, which aims to bolster its presence in the 2012 election cycle after a relatively weak showing in 2010, asks supporters on the top of its new site, "Help us defeat Obama's billion dollar campaign."

Twenty months before the November 2012 election, only three lesser-known candidates have joined Pawlenty in formally establishing presidential exploratory committees: Godfather Pizza CEO Herman Cain, former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer and retired political consultant Fred Karger.

The GOP's main line of attack against Mr. Obama clearly focuses on jobs and the economy, but that message may present challenges for the party. While the economic recovery has been slow, unemployment levels are at a two-year low. The president's approval rating stands at 49 percent, according to the last CBS News poll.

[elmgreen11]

Just play Ronald Reagan movies in an endless loop for the Republicans....

[fiberglass3]

"images of lightening striking over the White House and houses pegged with foreclosure signs."


How about pictures of gasoline prices since November. Or pictures of Seniors having their Medicare reduced while we continue tax breaks for the rich.

Republican's don't stand a chance.

[JV1970]

What exactly has Obama done for the seniors? Most of them live below the poverty level and depend on food stamps and the meals on wheels program to survive. They haven't received a cost of living raise on their social security checks in three years. They wear their shoes and clothing until they're absolutely worn out with holes in them because they can't afford to buy more. Tell me what has Obama done to help them?

[fiberglass3]

Three years? Well President Obama wasn't in office for that first year was he?

A more important question is what is anybody doing for them?

[WeHappyFew]

Winning the Latino vote wins 2012.

[Rick03466]

After the past 3 years I am ready to vote for ANYONE other than Obama. From his pay the Credit card with CREDIT CARD brand of economics to Obama Care I would vote for anyone else. Please Democrats field a Candidate who is rational , not tied to Pelosi and Reid, Lynch from NH would be one good choice I am sure you have other sane options. As much as I hate the idea I if my only choice is between Obama ,Gingrich Palin or whoever else it will be the Republican. Obama has to go!

[JV1970]

You are right! Our country can't survive four more years of him!

[Bigheader]

If life begins at birth the a pregnant woman should be able to drive in car pool lane?

[elmgreen11]

think you mean to say conception, not birth, good idea nevertheless!

[taylorsucram]

America, Why are you listening to the REPUBLICANS? They mean you no good! I can only guess it has to do with a quest for power. For the ability to control the behavior of others, to take the average citizen back to serfdom. Their behavior does not lead to greater freedom, better living conditions or more opportunity to achieve wealth and independence, contrary to their rhetoric. Why do you vote for people that "con" you time and time again? As a result of this past Bush Administration's lack of funding for various agencies that the American people rely on to protect themselves, we were constantly being sickened and/or being killed by tomatoes, peanut butter, spinach, ground beef, contaminated water, polluted air, you name it. If the major corporations had their way there would be no child labor laws and no unions to protect the rights of workers, workers who are Americas middle class. GET A CLUE MIDDLE CLASS AMERICA, You Aren't Rich, You Don't Have Multiple Homes, You can't afford your Medical Care. Why do you still vote for and believe what these so-called conservatives say?

Here is what percentage of the American Budget is spent on certain programs:

1. Foreign Aid ~ 1 Percent of US Budget.
2. Corporation for Public Broadcasting ~ 0.1 Percent of US Budget.
3. Pensions and benefits for government workers ~ 3.5 Percent of US Budget.
4. Social Security ~ 20.4 percent of the federal budget
5. Defense Spending (Military) ~ 19 percent of US Budget.
6. Medicare and Medicaid ~ 19% of US Budget.

Most Americans think the U.S. spends more than it does on foreign aid and public broadcasting but the above list shows that it's only about ONE PERCENT TOTAL. Where did Americans get the idea that PBS was costing a large amount of money? Listening to Republicans and FOX News once-again. As far as Social Security is concerned WE PUT THAT MONEY IN THE SOCIAL SECURITY FUND! Every worker contributes, that's OUR MONEY COLLECTING INTEREST AND WE WANT IT BACK! Now for your information, 62 percent of farmers in United States did not collect farm subsidy payments according to USDA. However 10 percent collected 74 percent of all subsidies. The number of millionaires receiving farm subsidies rose 28% when Bush took office, while Ken Lay saw his percentage of total farm subsidies rise by 400%. Did you know that Chevron got a farm subsidy of $260,223 and Caterpillar got one for $171,698. Others receiving subsidies are Eli Lilly Co, Kimberly-Clark, Navistar, Pfizer and RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co. Ten percent of South Carolina farms get 87% of Farm Subsidies. At the top of that list was Rogers Brothers, which received more than $7 million in cotton subsidies between 1995 and 2009, while Haigler Farms Partnership of Cameron, No. 4 overall in S.C. in terms of federal subsidies, received more than $5 million.

Now we have Earthquakes in Haiti, the Netherlands, Peru and Japan. Thousands of Birds dying and falling out of the sky. Thousands of Fish dying and floating to the surface. Global warming melting the Glaciers and Ice at the poles destroying the Polar Bear habitat and accelerated extinction of many species due to man made environmental activity which is being denied by paid shills.

..... ANYONE WHO VOTES FOR A REPUBLICAN IS A FOOL!!!

[Lindag10]

Mortarman you are just too funny. You seem to believe that Obama got the Constitution out of the safe place it's kept and shredded it and that human gestation only takes 2 months. Keep it going, I'm loving it.

[Lindag10]

Need to correct. Mortar thinks it gestation only takes two hours. That's even funnier!! Guess I misread the comment because I was thinking about how long it REALLY takes to have a baby.

[Marine_Vet]

w Bush took over and ran the country into the ground. Thankfully Obama has begun the hard work of getting us back on the right track. To anyone who doubts that Obama was born in Hawaii----why did not one, but two Honolulu newspapers print announcements of his birth in Hawaii? What on earth could have been their motive? Do you think they posted fraudulent birth announcements of a mixed race kid named Barak Obama who was born in another country just in case he grew up to run for president? This was 1961 when interracial was illegal in most states. If I were Obama, I would let these birther people continue to drive away independents from the republican party, then after completing my second term in office, release the long form birth certificate just to show them how silly and wrong they were for over 8 years.

[Lindag10]

Rest easy, birthers are nothing but a laughing stock and incredibly stupid too boot.

[Lindag10]

Pahgre: Are there really that many stupid people in the US? That's scary.

[starving1968-3]

by Mortarman429 April 4, 2011 5:04 PM EDT

But the platoon did make sure his OER ratings were very low by doing substandard work and getting him in constant trouble with the CO.







First it was "your men", and now it's turned into "I was in the ranks".

Anyway, how does one do "substandard work" while in the military to get an officer in trouble?

When I was in, it was the SFC that ran the platoon. The lieutenant told the SFC, "Sarge, here's what we have to do....." and the platoon sergeant told the section sergeants what to do, and the section sergeants told the squad leaders what had to be done.

There was accountability at 4 or 5 different levels and I - as a squad leader and later as a section sergeant - was responsible for my men carrying out my orders - not the lieutenant. And if they didn't do their jobs, it was my asss on the line - - not the lieutenant.

It's quite obvious that you've never been in the military, because you're clueless as to how the "chain of command" works.

[starving1968-3]

By the way, when command cuts orders for an officer to take command of a platoon, they aren't going to let him out of that command "after a month" unless he's been arrested, medically can't perform the duties, etc, etc.

You and "your men" aren't going to convince a company commander to "get rid of him" unless several people get killed under his command. He'd need a paper trail to do that, and it would certainly take longer than a month.

I called you a liar the first time you told this story, and I'm calling you it again: You are a liar.

[Mortarman429]

Please find the post where I said it was "my men". You cannot. So, your memory contineus to fail you, or you are a raving lunatic.

And on your issue of NCOs, yes...that is how it works. BUT....you see, there areways to make the officer look bad and the rest of us come out clean. It is an art!

I'll give you oen quick example and then I have to go...

Once we were in the woods going thru training. We were supposed to link up with the rest of the company. Well, on the march, about halfway thru, the LT comes up and tells the SSG in the lead squad that he is going the wrong way. The SSG tells him "sir, we are going the right way." He then points in the direction where 800 meters away,l the company is linking up.

But this buffoon chimes in "No, I know where we have to be. Go that way" And he points in the direction off to the left (the northwest...we needed to go north just a little further). The SSG again tried to interject...and the LT told him not to argue.

So, he said "yes sir" and then told his guys on point to head northwest, as we moved away from the link up point.

We wandered around for another hour, as the commander kept radioing the LT and the LT getting more and more worried as the CO started ripping him.

Well, he finally gave up and told the SSG to lead us in. Fifteen minutes later (we had basically been circling the area...and all of the enlisted knew it...but said nothing), we link up with the company...over an hour late.

Well, that LT was ripped and it just helped with his removal (with more events like that!). And we couldnt be held liable for anything.

Obviously Hungry, you also werent combat arms. So, you dont understand the reality on the ground!

[starving1968-3]

by Mortarman429 April 4, 2011 4:49 PM EDT

Nowhere in there di I condone murder of anyone.






What do you mean when you said, "Nowhere in there di I condone murder of anyone"?

What does 'di' mean?

[Mortarman429]

"did"

Glad I could clear that up.

[starving1968-3]

I hope you realize how childish your "spelling corrections" look now that I pulled that child-like nonsense on you.