The Democrats don't have to morph Mitt Romney into a radical extremist. He has done it all himself! The truth about your party's nominee Jim is that he has taken every side of any given political issue. Given the ready availability of old video clips on youtube, it's so easy for everyone to do a Jon Stewart (minus the shtick which is difficult to do of course) on Romney. He was for women's right to choose before he wasn't, he was for more gun control before he wasn't, and he was for Romneycare before he wasn't. I don't know what Mitt's core is other than that he has a lovely family that he obviously adores, and that he desperately wants to be president.

Another interesting thing about the GOP this year is that they couldn't manage to nominate someone who has clearly and consistently stood for their ideals. Someone like Huckabee with whom what you say is what you get. They've had to nominate someone they've had to drag to the right from his former and seemingly more comfortable perch closer to the center. I've never heard anyone having to describe himself as "severely conservative" and hoping really hard that his audience will find him deadly earnest. That video clip always brings a chuckle.

I meant, "what you see is what you get". Wish we had the ability to edit these responses.

Ron Paul was he best candidate that had some good ideals.
Like everything else that is good he didn't make it because he made to much sense.
Jim@ccfiile.com

Max, Jim--To edit a post, all you do is ctrl-c the entire post, then push the Delete Post button, upper right on the post, then ctrl-v the post again as though you were doing a new post, and before pushing "Submit"--you fix your errors! It's that simple. And if I can do it, anybody can!

Having taken a serious and prolonged pounding for his "Thirteen Bullet Points of Attack", Mr. Hatherley has now created the fictitious Cliff Piston to front his views. Let's have Mr. Piston step to the front and erect his own blog -- post his name and photo as the courageous Mr. Hatherley has done -- and lay claim his own views.

Eastwood converses -- rudely -- with an empty chair. Mr. Hatherley has an imaginary friend.

Accidentally deleted my post by trying to follow David's suggestion. Guess forgot to control-c before deleting. Grrr...

Anyway what I had said was that I give Mitt credit for passing the MA healthcare law the precise thing he is running away from right now. And that the GOP in pulling Mitt way to the right had turned a Nelson Rockefeller like Republican into Barry Goldwater. Quite an accomplishment.

And Max, if you've already posted something and then want to change it--don't worry--you DON't lose the original! Click on yourself (Max Walker), and it will take you to your own page, where, if you click on your "comments", you'll find everything you've posted--even the things you've deleted! It's good for archiving, but sometimes it's like having something stuck to your shoe...

Let's find the real Cliff Piston. He may reside in Ridge Crown, MA. Check LinkedIn, bookFace. Twitter, Find a Person, White Pages, PeopleSeach, FBI Most Wanted posters, etc.
He's probably hiding out with all those folks who read, but do not post, to Mr. Hatherley's blog so he should be able to spot in such a small play group.

What an undecided voter probably wants to really know about Romney right now is the extent to which he buys into the Paul Ryan plan. Is he ever going to get into the specifics, or is he just going to obfuscate the issue for the remainder of the campaign? I really hope the media and the people running the debates hold his feet to the fire.

Speaking of social security and medicare reform, here is another contradiction. The Republicans, especially Paul Ryan, want to do means-testing of future benefit recipients. Means-testing will end up punishing the people who have displayed the virtues of frugality and saving for a rainy day -- virtues that the Republicans say are very important to them. Means-testing flies in the face of everything the Republicans say they stand for. It is the most anti - Ayn Randist policy I can conceive of. And I don't know why nobody in the media has called Paul Ryan out on this yet.

Jim, like there really is a Cliff Piston. You could use a real persons name you know.
What a laugh.

Joe Rizoli

Jim I see the 'nasty grams' are already headed your way. Always remember the adage "rudeness is it's own reward."

Jim, I enjoy reading you posts. You do a great job articulating the issues of the day.

The more I learn about Romney/Ryan the more excited I get. Mr. Romney's nickname should be Mr. Fixit. He is a very smart and focused man with a highly qualified team of advisers. As you pointed out, our government is broken and needs fixing. Every other industry has gone through the painful process of reorganization and streamlining over the past couple of decades. America's federal government needs to go through that process. Romney is the man to lead America through it so that we can get our fiscal house in order.

One of the most ironic parts of this election is the demonization of Mitt Romney. When he was the Governor of Massachusetts members of Beacon Hill referred to him as Dudley Do Right. He and his family care deeply for others and show that through their actions. Compare the amount of personal time and money the Romney's have spent helping others to that of any of the leaders in the Democratic Party. That will show you the true measure of the man's personal integrity.

Each campaign takes its' liberties with truthfulness and neither side has a real plan for how to fix the problems. We get vague language and 30,000 foot viewpoints. Voter ID is just another government tax. Pay the state in order to be able to vote...... Neither side wants to address the main problem with our political circus and that's campaign finance reform. How much money does it take to convince each one of us to vote for him/her? $1,000 or $10,000 per voter. The amount of money spent to get elected is phenomenal. Take 1/2 of it and put it towards the national debt - now that would make me want to vote for someone outside my party affiliation...

Deb, thank you so much for commenting. Voter ID is a good thing in my view. In Westborough it seems that we care more about who puts their fishing line in our reservoir, and who puts their trash in the landfill than who puts their ballot in the ballot box.

This is absurd. And it is hardly racist despite all the whining from the whiners.

I do agree with you that the cost of these elections is out order. We can blame Obama for this for not accepting the campaign unding limits in the last election, and also the Unions who for years have been funding the Democrats.

I hope you come to the conclusion that we need a real leader. Obama has proven he cannot lead because the people refuse to follow. A divided America and a hyphenated America are not what we deserve. Romney has proven he can govern with a majority of Democrats. Seems pretty clear to me.

Thanks again and all the best.

Jim- many of the liberals who blog here claim to be tolerant. But just put an opposing viewpoint in front of them and see what happens. The Dems and liberals in this state have had their way for so long in Massachusetts that they simply cannot fathom/accept any divergence from the party line. Differing viewpoints are met with outrage and scorn. You know Jim you really do have a nerve trying to encourage debate and discussion especially in the state that started it all with the call to revolution and freedom from England- good work Jim.

Ed, thanks again, and I think that those who read but do not post are seeing the same thing. It's such a mystery to me that our forbears were the ones who led the way in ridding the Colonies of tyrannical rule. For the past 60+ years we have essentially had one-party rule and an intolerance toward the alternative perspective.

People like me, perhaps you, seldom have voted for a winning candidate. This is sayng something considering the morality and honesty of some of our more notable elected officals over the years. But it also tells you how Massachusetts has drifted into a sort of "Stockholm syndrome" by which we take on the identity of our captors - the Democrats and big government.

It's amusing in a very disturbing way to listen to Democrats rationalize/defend Kennedy, Studds, Frank, Kerry, 3 consecutive House Speakers, Murray et als. They have collectively made Massachusetts a punch line beyond the State border.

We deserve more and better from government. We do not deserve candidates who tell us that our efforts are pathetic and small compared to the work and services provided by government, as if our taxes paid for service rendered, whether we wanted or needed them or not. They promote the State and diminish the individual, the basis on whom the Country was foundeed.

Still, despite the attacks this is a conversation worth having - because time is running out. Thanks for raising this issue so I could respond.

Jim, I really enjoy your blog. There are a lot of people posting who are truly trying to make an informed decision about who will lead our country better. When I vote I usually vote for the best person for the job regardless of their party affiliation. The past couple of elections ( state and national) it has been more of a vote for the lesser evil. This time though the decision is crystal clear. Our country is far worse than it was when Obama took over. The debt has soared, unemployement is ( after you actually count the number unemployed, not the number collecting ) in the double digits, confidence in America is very low and the stress caused by Obama's divisive policies and attitude is showing in the increasing violent acts of the unbalanced. I am referring to the actual mentally unbalanced and also the violent attitude of staunch democrats and liberals on this and other blogs. It seems that now a days if you stick by the constitutional values or talk against Obama's revised doctrine you are not only racist, you are an enemy to be crushed. Some of these posts are very scary. I see people regurgitating talking points rather than making informed comments. I beg all of you who are going to actually vote, please get on the computer. Investigate these four candidates. Look into their past. Examine their successes and their failures. Check out where they were educated and by who. Don't just vote party line. Vote as an AMERICAN. Bring the reality of YOUR life into your decision.

Running America like a business:

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/09/daily-show-government-business.php?ref=fpnewsfeed

I sure hope the irony doesn't escape anyone here.

Max, we started out so well, and now it's devolving faster than the debt ceiling.

Here's the deal ... what Obama budget are you talking about. There is none. The only budget on the table is Paul Ryan's. The Senate has not passed a budget in over 3 years - very responsible. They would not put out a budget before the 2010 election to avoid embarrassing Democrat candidates in the mid term elections. Nice try - America saw right through that.

his "constitutional budget" was defeated 97-0 in the Senate this year. He shelved the Simpson-Bowles economic plan which was timed for delivery after the 2010 election so it would not be an issue. Wrong/manipulative.

This is the most abysmal Admininistration ever seen. It's as though Obama is our quarterback while being a member of the opposing team.

And, as for specifics, what was "hope and change" all about? Hot air. When he claimed he was going to "transform America", what did he mean? Do you think most Democrats were hoping it meant to bankrupt and divide America? C'mon, you are an American and an academic, responsible for educating college kids who pay altogether too much to get too little. They deservee better than thnis nonsense and America deserves more and better than we have been getting. Don't you think?

For those who uncritically buy the Republican dogma that lower capital gains and dividend income rates automatically create jobs, watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBx2Y5HhplI&feature=player_embedded

Sorry Max. I found this Daily show clip crude, pointless and not at all funny. If a business has losses they try to discover the reason for their losses and they make improvements to turn their finances around. The losses these states have are based on current numbers. Obama is president of all the states so the onus is on him.
When Romney was working at Bain, he would try to save the companies by improving their performance. In most cases the first to go would be the one at the top. The management.
If elected this would automatically be his first action. Save the country. Fire the management. See ! Just like in business. Do a clean sweep and start again.

How long would Obama have been able to keep his job in the business world with such a bad proformance? And now we have to listen to him and the rest of the democrats next week defend the last four years? How many times do you think they will blame Bush?

I just don't understand why Obama gets the support of the media and the "Hollywood Crowd" and why they don't see what a disaster America will become if he is reelected. I for one do not want to work and "share" my income with people who expect a free ride all the time.

The stock market under Obama:

http://www.google.com/finance?chdnp=1&chdd=1&chds=1&chdv=1&chvs=maximized&chdeh=0&chfdeh=0&chdet=1346635089332&chddm=358938&chls=IntervalBasedLine&q=INDEXSP:.INX&ntsp=0&ei=1QREUODQLoW_0AGndQ

Corporate profits under Obama:
http://ycharts.com/indicators/corporate_profits/chart#series=type:indicator,id:corporate_profits,calc

Jim, You do such a great job dealing with those who express a different opinion than yours that there often isn't much left to be said. Your handling of those who openly taunt you with inflammatory language is worthy of praise. You show great respect toward those who hold opposing views and make me proud to have you on our side. Keep up the great work and I will try to chime in as time permits.

Jim,
Thanks for interjecting a little humor into your blog this week with the introduction of your political friend, Cliff Piston. I got a kick out of his name and your description of him, and I agreed with his in-depth analysis of the RNC!
So many smart, responsible, and energetic, young Republicans spoke at the RNC, who are trying to keep our country strong and steady. It gave me hope that our future will be bright. Paul Ryan's comment about twenty- somethings "staring at faded posters of Barack Obama on the walls of their childhood bedrooms" especially resonated with me. My twenty-something, college-educated children have been struggling for the last couple years in this terrible job market. Good paying jobs are hard to find, and my kids have had two and three low paying jobs at a time trying to make ends meet. When you add in the high price of food and gas and the lack of affordable used cars, due in large part to Cash for Clunkers, it is a recipe for disaster for the twenty-somethings of our country. So, when President Obama asks my family if we're better off than we were four years ago, our answer is a resounding, "no!" And that is why we won't be voting for more of the same come November.

Thanks for the kind words Mike and Concerned.

Max, thanks for appending your sites and pieces that substantiate your philosophy. We will be increasingly seeing this once the debates begin. Both sides will be citing contradictory polls, numbers, studies, percentages etc, ad nauseum, all meant to inform, confuse, misinform, and annoy voters. This is not new - it happens every election.

And then we'll have the usual nonsensical person say you are entitled to your opinion, but not your facts. But, what are the facts? Nobody knows, and nobody trusts the politicians.

The process has been polluted because we are literally going bankrupt. Everybody knows this, but one side insists on ratcheting up the cost while the other side insists we need to reduce the cost.

Here's the thing. Look at what the States are doing - how they are managing their obligations and costs, and what new Governors have done to get their States back into financial solvency. I believe that you will find that Republican Governors are unwittingly "helping" Obama by doing the right fiscal things despite the head winds from Washington.

I understand that you appreciate Obama and a lot of Democrats do. I get that. But right now America is broken. Blame it on Bush, blame it on Obama - knock yourself out. But right now we need someone new to take a fresh start. I would think that Romney will appeal to Indeps due to his proven ability to work with both sides to achieve results.

The DNC and President Obama will have their turn in the national spotlight this week, but lets recap the Republican agenda and how they wish to address the country's problems.

1. Abortion should be illegal in all circumstances. "Personhood" should be applied at moment of inception, ascribing criminallity to all abortions and potentially making a rape victim a murderer. GOPers believe this will strengthen society.
2. Like the old, lawless wild west, everyone should be able to carry a gun anywhere at anytime. This will make us safer.
3. The up-and-comers in the GOP want you to believe our government is the enemy and the corporation is your friend. This is dishonest, dangerous and destabilizing.
4. Free-Market capitalism is the solution to our economic problems. The notion that "free-market" capitalism is the elixir to the nations economic woes belies the fact that utopian fantasies don't exist and that barely three years ago the country suffered an economic tsunami after the Wall Street earthquake, due to powerful investment corporations being "free" to do as they please. "Free-market" capitalism is another word for "Snake-oil".
Republicans unfortunatley didn't provide answers at their convention, to the detriment of all concerned. Instead they handed out slogans and party hats. Anybody but Obama is not a winning strategy and so far the GOP has offered little else to vote for besides a deep resentment that this President won office in the first place.

Thanks, Will O, and you have done a good job in framing the election.

As we hear from the Democrats, their view of the future is government and more government. This is a throwback to the traditional form of world governance by monarchs, dictators, socialist states etc, in which government both provides rights and privileges, and can take them away. And, by the way, the reference to "Utopia" is not a reference to free enterprise or capitalism, but the historical form of governance where the ruler rules and the people don't.

The US is different because our Country was founded on the theory that all rights were derived from Nature and from God, and that government served the people, not the reverse.

I agree that the abortion situation is just out of step - both ways - to American culture. It seems that advocates on both extremes have bullied their parties into either a zero abortion platform, or abortion on demand, including late term and even partial birth abortion. To me it is a toss-up which is worse.

But, the Democrats have removed all reference to God from their platform, solidifying the perception that it is a party of secularism, and diametrically opposed to the theories on which the Declaration of Independence was based.

Now, not all Republicans agree with the abortion platform; and I am sure that not all Democrats are ready to eradicate reference to God.

Let's get back to the economy. People need jobs, not rhetoric.

Jim, your "understanding" that America is Christian says it all. Your vision of a secular Christian society is no less dangerous and disproven a concept as Sharia. No matter how much you believe your particular religion, our founding fathers above all else knew that Church and Government are not to be comingled, that placing the power to control in the hands of those whose justifications begin and end with "God said so" is the one thing this nation had to avoid.

I do think that Democrats have fallen into the Dumb It Down trap created by the RNC. I refuse to believe that Mr and Mrs America have really reached the level where if it doesn't fit over "Truck Nutz" it isn't considered to be a supportable policy, where if the concept and it's rationale doesn't have Honey Boo Boo or Madonna's support, it can't be a rationally implementable action. We as America have finally stopped being a Third World Nation in terms of health care for the populace, but the way it was done leaves so much to be desired. The feeling that any means are justified because you believe in the end result is a dangerous and dishonest course that both major parties have resorted to. What bothers me greatly Jim, is that I think you COULD be above this type of thing, but choose not to. I find it hard to understand that you don't comprehend that in the long run, making nonsensical and indefensible "Thirteen things about Democrats" remarks actually HARMS the Republican platform. It's my opinion that making those types of statements does much more in assisting your opponents than it does in assisting your own candidates. People are simply smarter than to accept that type of thing without asking you to back it up.. and your refusal smacks of flat dishonesty across the board.

I'm a Brown supporter because he has the Cajones to stand up to the RNC and it's mindless and pointless dishonesty. I am a Republican, an actual, Jim.. what are You?

Paul, thanks, but I have to say that I could not decipher the beginning of your comment. And, I do not quite believe the end part, that you are a Republican - pretty hard to grasp from your prior responses.

I really do not know what you are talking about regarding my last blog. It has drawn over 300 comments ... think about that in terms of beginning and sustaining a dialogue. I'd say that this was a very successful piece.

I honestly could not understand why there are still so many Democrats, especially those who claim to be Democrats for their lifetime, and particularly since the Democrat Party has morphed so greatly from the inaugural of JFK 52 years ago. I have a better idea now, but am still amazed how Democrats have virtually no concern about the expanding debt, and how that is going to limit the opportunities of their children and grandchildren. We need better balance there.

And finally, you are probably unknowingly insulting when you ask e what I am. I have produced 20 pieces in the last six months, and have responded to comments made on every one. Perhaps you just don't know many Republicans.

Jim,
Cliff Piston was right on when he said that the Democrats would try to scare Americans into voting for President Obama. President Clinton's speech last night was great and "vintage Clinton," but I did not believe a word of it. Every time he raised his index finger and said, "listen to me," I had flashbacks to his famous line caught on TV where he lied about his sexual relationship with Monica Lewinski. I agree with Charles Krauthammer's assessment that Clinton was like "Casey at the Bat" and will strike out in the end. I also agree with Krauthammer that Paul Ryan will tear apart Clinton's "so-called" facts on Medicare and the budget. I can't wait for the debates to begin.