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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSusan Katz: What’s The Difference Between Romney And Bush?


This was one of my favorite questions of the second presidential debate. It was asked by Susan Katz, who inquired, Governor Romney, I am an undecided voter, because Im disappointed with the lack of progress Ive seen in the last four years. However, I do attribute much of Americas economic and international problems to the failings and missteps of the Bush administration. Since both you and President Bush are Republicans, I fear a return to the policies of those years should you win this election. What is the biggest difference between you and George W. Bush, and how do you differentiate yourself from George W. Bush?
The reason this question is so apt is because she hits the nail on the head: she lists one of the truly valid reasons that Obama might be a questionable pick. She didnt say that the economy and job markets are his fault. She put the blame where it goes, on Bush and the recession. However, she did point out that the progress that has been made hasnt been enough or come fast enough for her. To me, that is the fault of the congressional obstructionism that has hogtied the president with regard to policy. However, her question is still valid. Romney immediately replied, Thank you. And I appreciate that question. He then decided to show himself a liar and go back to answering the question before. (Ill start where his answer gets back on the topic of Romney versus Bush.)
ROMNEY: President Bush and I are are different people and these are different times and thats why my five point plan is so different than what he would have done.
What a stellar opening line! First of all, saying something is so different than what [Bush] would have done is a fallacy. There is no possible way to know that. Second, isnt [we] are different people and these are different times a statement of the obvious? I mean, it sounds good at first, but if you think about it a bit, he isnt actually saying anything at all.
ROMNEY: I mean for instance, we can now, by virtue of new technology, actually get all the energy we need in North America without having to go to the the Arabs or the Venezuelans or anyone else. That wasnt true in his time, thats why my policy starts with a very robust policy to get all that energy in North America become energy secure. Number two, trade: Ill crack down on China. President Bush didnt. Im also going to dramatically expand trade in Latin America. Its been growing about 12 percent per year over a long period of time. I want to add more free trade agreements so well have more trade. Number three, Im going to get us to a balanced budget. President Bush didnt. President Obama was right, he said that that was outrageous to have deficits as high as half a trillion dollars under the Bush years. He was right, but then he put in place deficits twice that size for every one of his four years. And his forecast for the next four years is more deficits, almost that large. So thats the next area Im different than President Bush.
Notice hes only saying what he will do. Hes missing the vital how.
ROMNEY: And then lets take the last one, championing small business. Our party has been focused too long. I came through small business. I understand how hard it is to start a small business. Thats why everything Ill do is designed to help small businesses grow and add jobs. I want to keep their taxes down on small business. I want regulators to see their job as encouraging small enterprise, not crushing it.
Mitt Romney considers Trump to be a small business:
ROMNEY: And the thing I find the most troubling about Obamacare well, its a long list but one of the things I find most troubling is that when you go out and talk to small businesses and ask them what they think about it, they tell you it keeps them from hiring more people.
The only businesses that are saying this are those that dont understand how it works. With Obamacare, healthcare prices will drop and so will premiums. If the businesses dont provide it, the people have to buy it themselves or stay uninsured. Its not like the employees have the money if the business doesnt. People die from lack of insurance.
cont'
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/10/17/difference-romney-bush/
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Susan Katz: What’s The Difference Between Romney And Bush? (Original Post)
Segami
Oct 2012
OP
MADem
(135,425 posts)1. Bush was a chickenshit, but at least he guarded the Alamo from a Mexican invasion
between bouts of AWOL. RMoney guarded the foie gras from the North Vietnamese Paris delegation, perhaps...?
rustydog
(9,186 posts)2. Odor? Can't be intelligence, class or humanity
Neither possesses those qualities.
Flashmann
(2,140 posts)3. I spotted a difference between the 2 shitstains
Boy George has a smart wife....At least one smart enough to be a texican school teacher....willard has......Anne.....
Segami
(14,923 posts)4. ....And a smart horse!
Fresh_Start
(11,365 posts)5. I preferred.....I would invade a different country in the middle east whose name begins with an I
really isn't that one of the most critical difference!
Flashmann
(2,140 posts)6. I would invade a different country
Too bad there isn't a coordinated effort to convince rethugs North Korea sits on vast,untapped oil fields.....They'd forget everything else,and in MINUTES be shrieking for an invasion to save the people from tyranny.....Install a democracy....Search for WMDs....Same old rot....
And in the process,inadvertently go after a Nation that actually is a World threat.....