Democratic Party Convention 2012
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Biden makes case for Obama as defender of the "average American"
(CBS News) CHARLOTTE, N.C. -Vice President Joe Biden suited up his familiar attire as attack dog Thursday night, leaving nothing to the imagination on the "completely different value set" and "vastly different visions" between President Obama and GOP nominee Mitt Romney.
After officially accepting the nomination for a second term, Biden blew past his allotted 30 minutes to speak and said he wanted to use his speech to "take you inside the White House," where he said he's seen the president demonstrate incomparable courage in his decision-making, just as the "average American" makes "equally as consequential" decisions at his or her kitchen table. On everything from the auto industry bailout to the hunt for Osama bin Laden to Medicare to the DREAM Act, Biden tried to make the president's case as more qualified than Romney because of his "profound concern for the average American."
While Romney and Mr. Obama are "both loving husbands, both loving fathers," Biden, in signature tongue-in-cheek style, said he "found it fascinating last week, when Gov. Romney said that as president, he'd take a jobs tour. Well with all his support for outsourcing, it's going to have to be a foreign trip," he continued to an eruption of laughter and applause, alluding to Romney's former company Bain Capital's history with shipping jobs overseas. But Mr. Obama, Biden continued, "knows that creating jobs in America, keeping jobs in America, and bringing jobs back to America, is what the president's job is all about."
Where the president saw the auto bailout not as "about the cars, but about the Americans who built those cars," Biden said, Romney "saw it the Bain way - in terms of balance sheets and write-offs. Folks, the Bain way may bring your firm the highest profit. But it's not the way to lead your country from its highest office."
On the killing of bin Laden, orchestrated by the president and his advisers and carried out by a team of Navy Seals, Biden cited a previous remark by Romney that it's "not worth moving heaven and earth, and spending billions of dollars just to catch one person." If Romney "had understood that America's heart had to be healed," Biden continued, "you would have done exactly what the president did."
(Watch: Jill Biden introduces the vice president.)
Prior to taking the podium, a video played featuring Biden expressing thanks for his opportunities in America despite his own humble beginnings. Picking that message up in his speech, Biden lauded the country for "proving itself" even "in the face of the deepest economic crisis in our lifetimes.
"We possess that same grit, the same determination, the same courage, that has always defined what it's meant to be an American, has always defined all of you," he continued. "Together, we're on a mission to move this nation forward, from doubt and downturn, to promise and prosperity - a mission we will continue and a mission we will complete."
Stumbling occasionally, the rarely glib Biden never let up, driving home his message with a fiery delivery that prompted chants of "U-S-A!" from the crowd.
Full coverage of the 2012 Democratic National Convention
"My fellow Americans, we now find ourselves at the hinge of history," the vice president concluded. "And the direction we turn is in your hands. It has been an honor to serve you, and to serve with a president who has always stood up for you. As I've said, I've seen him tested."
(Watch: Biden tears up at son Beau's DNC remarks.)
Wrapping up his 40-plus-minute speech, Biden concluded, "We are on our way. The journey of hope is not yet finished, but we are on our way. The cause of change is not fully accomplished, but we are on our way."
Biden was introduced by his wife, Jill Biden. Earlier in the evening, he was shown tearing up in the arena during remarks by his son, Beau, who said: "Four years ago, I told you that my father has always been there for me, my brother, and my sister, and that as vice president, he would be there for you. And he has."
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The Republican game plan is to destroy the economy blame the Democrats and President Obama. This is their strategy to obtain the White House and the Senate in the 2012 elections. If you think the Republicans are death on average Americans, working-class and middle-class people now. Just think of how much more damage they would do to this country if they had the house,the Senate and the presidency to consolidate power to do whatever they want. They would then have free reign to turn America into the Third World country that they want for their corporate overlords.
They've already shown their hand by not approving extended unemployment benefits for people and anything else that would help the average American. Then they took America to the brink of default with the debt ceiling crisis. A crisis in which they created. Republicans on the supreme court ruling corporations are people and therefore can give unlimited funding to politicians. Republicans fighting for tax cuts for corporations, big oil and the wealthy while advocating cutting social security, medicare and medicaid. For those reasons and more I can't imagine any thinking working-class poor or middle-class person voting to support Republicans after all the damage they've done to this country. Americans must reject republicans at town hall meetings and the polls for their anti American unpatriotic strategy and tactics. The only difference between terrorist and the republicans is they used planes & explosives and they used their congressional positions.
The phony debt ceiling debate and agreement is another part of the republican game plan to take back the senate and white house. They create artificial crisis to stall (run out the clock on President Obama's term) to cripple him and the economy to prevent JOBS from being discussed or created. They are counting on voters blaming the president for the bad economy even though they the republicans are sabotaging every step of the way. Even a blind man can see republicans couldn't care less for average Americans. Just imagine what they would do if they controlled the house, senate and presidency. Americans cannot let that happen. Because it is crystal clear by the behavior of republicans they do not want America to progress and will hold it hostage to prevent it.
Republicans also are screwing up government to prove their mantra " government doesn't work". This is designed to frustrate and turn off non supporters from voting thus paving the way for their depraved zealots to vote republican. Americans need to punish republicans at town halls and the polls. They cannot be allowed to get away with sabotaging our great nation. Americans need to recognize that republicans have no intention or incentive to do anything to bring America out of its economic woes. After all, they think they can also get elected by blaming President Obama and Democrats.
Republicans also are sabotaging and screwing up government to prove their mantra " government doesn't work". Their ridiculous stance on the debt ceiling is a prime example. This is designed to frustrate and turn off non supporters from voting thus paving the way for their depraved zealots to vote republican. Americans and Democrats need to recognize that republicans have no intention or incentive to work with them and President Obama to do anything to help bring America out of its economic woes. After all, they have admitted their top priority is to make sure President Obama fails. They think they can get elected by blaming President Obama and Democrats for the depression they created and are doing everything they can to see that it continues. Americans need to punish republicans at town halls and the polls. They cannot be allowed to get away with sabotaging our great nation. Time will tell if voters will fall for this again.
The country will be better off the sooner President Obama, Democrats and all Americans acknowledge republicans for what they are which are treasonous holders of political office hellbent on making President Obama and America fail by any means necessary. Americans will remember the treasonous republicans in November 2012
Unemployment down to 8.1% from 10.5% - if you can just get everyone to quit looking it will drop to zero.
Housing markets are recovering - where?
Dow is up over 13,000 from 7,500 at the depths of the 2008 crash - the market has already built in the massive inflation that's coming as a result of overspending and printing money.
bin Laden is dead - he was found because of the advanced interrogation techniques approved by Bush and condemned by obozo.
Combat Ops in Iraq are over - score one
Auto industry was saved - UAW was saved, auto industry still questionable.
Gas prices down 50 cents a gal. You've got to be kidding. Regular $1.78 last seen at the intersection of Hope and Change.
Plastic Barbie and Ken Romney just come off as being sooooooooo FAKE and rehearsed!!! The sad thing is that they really do believe they are doing what's best for the country. THEY DON'T HAVE A CLUE!!!!! Castro is right. Romney and his type JUST DON'T GET IT! Romney "has no idea how good he's had it". So true!!! To start a business you just have to go borrow money from your parents????? Really?????? Sure, like EVERYBODY's parents have the money to do that for them. That's "upper class" thinking and I'm sure he doesn't know how to think any other way. People of "privilege" always say that they understand. They've heard all the stories of their ancestor's struggles BUT unless you have actually LIVED it yourself you really don't get it. Go ahead, pat yourself on the back for giving to those less fortunate or doing good works while all the time thinking, thank goodness that's not me or I'm better than that. People from the "real" world help others all the while saying "been there, done that" let me help you out because I KNOW how you feel. The RNC just reminded me of that ad on TV about Vonage phone service. You know the one where the "stepford" neighbors come over with their "plastic" grins and say "We ALL bundle".... Just remember that at the polls......... "We ALL bundle....." (Run Forrest......Run...)
Founders,
Who put the hole in the tank? The Republicans did and now they want another credit card to try and fill it without fixing it.
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They both did. Please try to get something right today.
The unemployment rate fell to 8.1 percent from 8.3 percent in July, but only because more people gave up looking for work. The government only counts people as unemployed if they are actively searching.
The Labor Department also says 41,000 fewer jobs were created in July and June than first estimated. The economy has added just 139,000 jobs a month since the beginning of the year, below 2011's average of 153,000.
To quote an old Eastwood character:...."Truer words were never spoken"