I have a question. Sort of a trivia thing.

Does Willard Mitt Romney have enough holdings in other countries to allow him to become a citizen there?







See, that is how Murdoch became a USA citizen. I think it was 20% of his holdings had to be in the USA in order to apply for citizenship. 


So, I was wondering if the amount of holdings Romney has in other countries, like the Cayman Islands or in Swiss Bank Accounts would provide him the ability to become a citizen there? Not that he would, but, could he based on that reality?

What is impugning the USA economy? The dense use of petroleum in our nation.

We can't afford to continue to use fossil fuels, for more than one reason.


The purchasing power within the nation is consolidating around the cost of fossil fuels. It is impacting the ability of consumers to purchase other products, decreasing the momentum of the economy and decreasing employment opportunity.


By Jim Puzzanghera
July 13, 2012


WASHINGTON -- Consumer confidence (click here) has fallen to its lowest level of the year this month as discouraging economic news here and abroad erodes Americans' view of the recovery. 

The preliminary reading for July from the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Survey of Consumers fell to 72 from June's figure of 73.2, the second straight monthly decline, Reuters reported Friday.

Economists surveyed separately by Bloomberg had expected the confidence reading to tick up to 73.5.

The index was dragged down by worsening expectations among respondents about economic conditions in general and their own personal finances over the next six months....


Measuring tourism is an inexact science. Tourism includes international travel. New York had become a shopping destination for Europe. Is that still happening with the issues the Euro is having?

Measuring tourism's impact (click title to entry - thank you)

July 10, 2012 | 02:32 PM

...Having just written my last column on the importance of applying sound statistical methods to study data, I need to point out the inherent difficulties in quantifying the exact economic impact of tourism.

For starters, the tourism industry is not precisely defined, but rather, is comprised of numerous other industries as diverse as hospitality and new construction. As a result most of the data depends on surveys of travelers of how they report spending their time and money....


The US has been experiencing record heat, wildfires and drought. I don't know about you, but, that is not inviting for tourism. It is cooler and more fun in Canada.

Tourism spending in Canada by both Canadians and visitors rose in Q1: StatsCan (click here)

By The Canadian Press  | June 28, 2012

OTTAWA - Statistics Canada says tourism spending in Canada rose 0.9 per cent in the first quarter, as spending by international visitors and Canadians touring at home both increased.

The federal agency says it was the 11th consecutive quarterly increase in tourism spending in Canada.

Tourism spending by Canadians at home rose 0.6 per cent in the quarter, continuing an upward trend that began in the third quarter of 2009....
If all those variables aren't enough there are planned layoffs this time of year so the unemployment claims go up, however, this year is a bit different. Adjusting for seasonal averages are inaccurate because there are less layoffs at the auto plants than in past years. 

Jobless Claims In U.S. Rise As Auto Layoff Effects Ease (click here)

By Alex Kowalski - Jul 19, 2012 8:55 AM ET ...Determining whether the labor market is improving or deteriorating has been more difficult in recent weeks because a reduction in the number of auto-plant layoffs typical at this point of the year has thrown the Labor Department’s seasonal adjustment process out of line. It may take weeks to judge the direction the labor market is taking.
“Seeing through the statistical noise, the labor market is pretty soggy, and the claims numbers will reflect that once they settle down,” said Joshua Shapiro, chief U.S. economist at Maria Fiorini Ramirez Inc. in New York and the best forecaster of U.S. economic indicators in the two years through May, according to Bloomberg data. “I don’t think next week is going to be a clean read either, so you might have to wait a little while longer.”...

The point is there is a lot in play. Some of it good, some of it bad and the Labor Department never expected their seasonal averages applied to statistics to be inaccurate.


So, it is difficult to know how we are doing at this very moment in time.


I'll say this much, did you see the commercial for the Chevy Volt? Like, wow.

A man of no regrets and no respect for authority either.

I think Hannity did well with the interview. I think Zimmerman is way out of line with his comments. I didn't hear that Hannity asked Zimmerman if he regretted lying about his cash flow when setting bond. I don't think that came out.


But, the more I hear this man speak at every opportunity, I do believe he is attempting to groom his position in regard to the murder. I also believe he is hoping to pollute the jury pool. But, at point I think he should stick to his story. It is a good story. Believable is a different issue.

Wow, the idea that the Public Trust is as responsible for the success of business hit the Republicans right in the ego, didn't it?

President's words are taken out of context, but, the reaction by Romney and the Republicans is interesting.


President Obama has praised small business owners many times over. He has legislated and advocated that legislation for their growth. So, his record on small business is well intact. His statements were about the infrastructure we all support, from teachers to bridges to tax structures. I doubt seriously Romney can contest the tax structure has supported business growth and wealth accumulation. 


But, that isn't all of it. 


The Republicans don't like to pay taxes and always believe they always pay too much. They believe all the money they make is their's to keep. That is not the case and Mitt Romney clearly illustrates that falsehood in his statements in this film loop.


The Public Trust takes many forms and while it is true Americans pay taxes to support that infrastructure there is one form even the President didn't mention. I was wrong about that, President Obama did make a reference to those "..that made the American system...." That is a reference of a spiritual nature. People that aren't in this life anymore.


Some families in the country have experienced losses of their family, not their money, to support the infrastructure of the USA. 


You know, the stadiums in this country are now named by Wall Street firms for advertisement. I think names of the only real heroes on monuments of this country can be found in Arlington National Cemetery.


I don't like the disrespect Mr. Romney shows of the reference to our infrastructure and those that have sacrificed and served with dollars and/or lives. I really don't. The fact that Middle Class Americans pay taxes in a percentage higher than what he has paid makes it MORE of a sacrifice than he has ever experienced in his lifetime.


He has character issues. I see over and over again.

I think the Romney's have something to hide from their tax returns.

If they were allowed to redact anything they wanted on their tax returns I am sure they would submit any one the electorate wants.

Originally published: July 19, 2012 1:49 PM
Updated: July 19, 2012 4:08 PM
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON - Mitt Romney's (click title to entry - thank you) wife is reinforcing her husband's refusal to make public more of his of tax returns, saying "we've given all you people need to know" about the family's finances....

...She says she believes voters are "going to fire the coach."...

Need to know? We are back to, says who? 

Fire the coach? I guess.

They are satisfied with their campaign thus far. They are confident they can win the election because they can buy it. At least they think they can. They have a convention to go through yet, so they believe once there is a huge uptick of interest after the convention none of these issues will matter. 

This is typical of Republicans. Look at how removed Jan Brewer was during her re-election. Her position is don't provide an opportunity for controversy. That is what this is. 

I think there are a lot of things that would come up on those tax returns. We don't know what 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 say. Romney is Wall Street. Wouldn't be interesting to realize his wealth was virtually untouched during the years Americans were losing their homes all over the country. 

I mean CEOs were still making bonuses. There had to be a reason. Bonuses were based on monies made, not monies 'nearly lost.' The American Middle Class absorbed all the loses of Wall Street, not people Mitt and Ann Romney. I am sure they have a lot to hide.

The "Nuns on the Bus" has potential to help Americans far beyond their tour.

The Nun Habit (black cloak) frequently makes others believe they are all the same. Not so. Sister Corita Kent could easily be appreciated in MOMA.


Below she appears at a showing of her work at the Museum of American Art in New Britain. See, she isn't just a nun that likes to express herself though abstract art, she is an American artist as well.


One of her works found notoriety, "Let the Sun Shine In," a portrait of Pope John XXIII. That is noted in the Washington Post article. A image of the actual artwork is below.


It is safe to say if anyone was to look in a book of a collection of American artists, Sister Corita Kent won't be found. That is really not appropriate for a country that embraces self expression and religious freedom.

Posted at 09:30 PM ET, 06/19/2012

Before there were “nuns on a bus,” there was Sister Corita Kent (click title to entry - thank you)

By Melinda Henneberger

...it’s impossible not to feel both energized by her passion and acutely aware that she walked the same bumpy road many of today’s American nunsare on after Vatican criticism that their work has been infected by “radical feminism.”...

It is my opinion that much of the criticism coming from the Vatican of Americans, American women and American Nuns and Priests (Those furthest from attaining the station of Pope.) is due to their removed interest of the American culture.

The Vatican will seek to support prostitutes in Rome as part of a societal culture needing protection and recognition, but, it won't recognize the beauty of the American spirit and its manifestation in art and the art of freedom of speech. Art is, of course, speech.

So, while the Roman Catholic Church is a global organization and has missionaries in some of the roughest political environments in the world, it does not necessarily embrace the cultures of countries to allow their flock to feel welcome and embraced in return. Somehow, the only aberrations appreciated by Rome are those of beatification and sainthood, while the Lord's flock has many ways of expressing their love of their faith.

Another way of saying it, "The folks at the Vatican are stuffed shirts." You can quote that.


The Nuns on the Bus are wonderful. They are centered on morality and how to sustain human dignity at a time when money is a focus rather than the 'integrity of decency' in the USA. Their voice is extremely important within the borders of the USA during a very difficult political environment. Their wholesomeness is invaluable as is their spiritual expression of upholding morality during times when an aspect of the USA government seeks to put war machines before the survival of their own citizenry. They temper the 'raw attitude' currently in our society that would like to kick the poor to the curb, literally and figuratively. They could not have come at a better time and I dare anyone to contest their intents are outside their faith and love of God.


The Nuns on the Bus may not realize when a message is begun in the USA it takes a long time, up to two years, before that message sinks into the national dialogue in a way that transcends all the capitalism static. There is a great deal of 'money dialogue' in the American culture. For spirituality to find a 'status' in this very busy 'grab attention' lifestyle; the Nuns on the Bus have a lot of work to do. They need to continue to seek 'in roads' with the American dialogue to make morality a priority and not a fiscal liability.


I was thrilled when I first heard of the tour and I strongly support it and it's continued purpose and impact within our country. I thank them for valuing the best side of us.

When Romney heads to the London Olympics, who is paying of it, the campaign?

The horse isn't running for President. I would be surprised if the horse has Secret Service, too, so leave the animal alone.


Blue ribbon first place. Red ribbon second place. Yellow ribbon third place.


His hat keeps flies out of his ears to prevent any distraction from his work.


...When Mitt Romney travels (click title to entry - thank you) to the Olympics in London next week, he is hoping for a round of positive media coverage of the strong leadership he provided in rescuing the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002. But he will be walking a tightrope because his Democratic critics will use the occasion to ridicule him and attempt to undermine his case....

Assad's government is toppling.

The reason Assad is losing his civil war.

Wednesday July 18, 2012

ANKARA: A Syrian general (click title to entry - thank you) and several soldiers crossed into Turkey on Monday, a Turkish diplomat told AFP, bringing the number of defections by generals from Bashar al-Assad's embattled regime to at least 18.

Turkey has become home to dozens of defectors who have crossed the border and formed the Free Syrian Army in opposition to Assad's regime....

The reason Russia has a strong role in the region.

By Editorial Board

...Syria holds one of the largest stockpiles of chemical weapons (click here) in the Middle East, composed of blister and nerve agents, including sarin, for which it has manufacturing facilities. It is believed to have sought out the deadliest nerve agent ever created, VX....

I caution the West to pound away at the idea of WMD, again. There is no current inventories of same from Syria. That last invasion into Iraq was completely unjustified. I might add, civilians were not under siege when the USA and its coalition of the willing invaded a stable and disarmed country. The UN Inspectors doing work in Iraq at the time were finding NO WMD.

VX alone will become inert extremely fast. So, there may be no more effective WMD in Syria. If Syria has a production plant of same, it tells me there are needs to restore their stocks because of degradation of their inventory.

As more and more generals defect from Syria the Assad regime is very exposed to intelligence and attacks at highly secure locations. It is my opinion with the defection of all the military results in a successful attack into Damascus.

If Turkey doesn't have enough intelligence today to completely bomb and dismantle WMD sites without invasion then what the heck are they doing? I am quite confident Turkey is ready to take down the regime in a moments notice no different than in Libya. I am quite sure the Syrian Generals are more than welcome when they show up at the border heading into Turkey. 

I really believe the anxiety level over Syria is inappropriate. Between Russia and Turkey there is more control than we realize. This conflict won't last forever.