Frontline: Examining Romney & Obama

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the political dynamics and personal characteristics of presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Barack Obama, as explored through various media sources. It touches on themes of ego, campaign financing, and the implications of political strategies, with references to specific videos and articles.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that both Romney and Obama exhibit significant egos, which they argue is a common trait among successful political candidates.
  • One participant references NPR's coverage of the candidates' backgrounds, highlighting how their educational experiences shaped their ambitions.
  • Another participant discusses Stephen Colbert's commentary on the political landscape, particularly regarding the influence of money in politics and the concept of a "Politico-Industrial Complex."
  • Concerns are raised about the role of 501(c)(4) nonprofits in campaign financing, with one participant noting the lack of transparency and regulation in their operations.
  • There is speculation about the potential economic policies of a Romney administration, with comparisons drawn to the previous Bush administration.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the candidates' motivations and the implications of their campaign strategies. There is no consensus on the effectiveness or morality of the current political financing system.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various media sources to support their claims, but the discussion remains open-ended with no definitive conclusions drawn about the candidates or their policies.

edward
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I think both candidates have big egos.

NPR had done bit on the parallel lives of Obama and Romney.


Strict Private School Prepped Romney To 'Aim High'
http://www.npr.org/2012/10/14/162810265/strict-private-school-prepped-romney-to-aim-high


Hawaii Prep School Gave Obama Window To Success
http://www.npr.org/2012/10/13/162786014/hawaii-prep-school-gave-obama-window-to-success

and Steven Colbert has some interesting comments and insights.

Stephen Colbert steps out of character to assess Romney on ‘Meet the Press’ (VIDEO)
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/colbert-meet-press-video-214951743--election.html


I thought Colbert's comment (about 6:30 in) about the Politico-Industrial Complex, ". . . there's an entire industry in politics. But I didn't know. I suspected. There's an entire industry. There's a politico industrial complex that is not only raising money but that is built around making money off of the fact that there is so much money in politics, and that there are almost no rules" is right on target.

Colbert ends with an interesting observation.
 
That was a very interesting Colbert video.

The money floating around under the guise of non profit social welfare is absurd.

Forget super PACs, their much-hyped cousins, which can take unlimited contributions but must name their donors. More money [6] is being spent on TV advertising in the presidential race by social welfare nonprofits, known as 501(c)(4)s for their section of the tax code, than by any other type of independent group.

The majority of the money collected must go to social welfare, but there is an easy way around that; just give remaining money to another 501 (c) 4.

http://www.propublica.org/article/h...lions-on-elections-and-call-it-public-welfare

There is no limit that I know of on how much the director of one of the non profits can pay himself or staff. Karl Rove had two operating at the same time. It truly has become a Politico-Industrial Complex.

It is futile for the IRS to try to keep up with

One reason the IRS struggles is that it can't match the speed of politics. By the time some groups submitted tax returns spelling out the millions they put into the 2010 election, they had stopped operating, or disbanded and reformed under new names, ProPublica found.

The most politically active social welfare groups — former Minnesota Republican Sen. Norm Coleman's American Action Network and GOP strategist Karl Rove's Crossroads GPS — only filed tax returns covering fall 2010 in the spring of this year.
 
I think both candidates have big egos.

I think both, any and all candidates MUST have big egos.
No one gets this far in politics without one. imo

In this go-round, one is for money and the other is for people.



'We the people ... ' ... when written, was not all inclusive back then.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
FACT CHECK: It's a perfect storm of Frankenfacts
http://news.yahoo.com/fact-check-perfect-storm-frankenfacts-164835491--election.html
 

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