I think Romney has crossed the point of no return on taxes...

[Drunken Irishman]

He can't release 'em now. If he does, he'll be seen as extremely weak, regardless of what's on those returns. He has committed, maybe even stupidly, to hiding 'em and Ann's recent comments that the campaign won't release the taxes only solidifies my view. They'll take the hit. They'll take the rumors. But they're not going to release 'em. I think they realize if they give in to pressure, it will make them look even more weak than they already do. They're going to dig their heels in on this issue and hope it doesn't ruin 'em.

I think either way they're fucked. But we'll see.

[Inuca]

1. Absolutely

I actually think he crossed a while back already. For whatever reason, he decided that he will not do it. End of story (or so he wishes).

[davidpdx]

18. I disagree with you about when the line was crossed

I think Ann Romney coming out and saying it can be seen as where the line was crossed. Either way they are officially fucked.

[Lint Head]

2. The "prove you paid youer taxes for ten years" meme will not die and easy death.

They say you can't prove a negative but to prove something is positively true or untrue is easy.

[Drunken Irishman]

3. It will keep resurfacing...

Like herpes. They'll think it's gone, but nope - it'll just flare up again!

[enough]

4. Yes, so it remains to be seen how to keep this issue alive so it doesn't get boring and "old."

This is probably why we're not hearing about it so much at the moment. Obama's campaign doesn't want to wear it out. I hope it comes roaring back in at an opportune moment.

[BlueStreak]

12. Absolutely

There is no way Romney releases anything now. We're in the last 90 days. In fact, the only exposure he wants to have to ANY questions is the 3 debates. other than that, he'll be in tightly controlled campaign events and softball sessions on Faux.

That's the bad news. The good news is that he will be a sitting duck if there are any bombshells regarding his tax fraud schemes or other financial affairs.

There are basically two ways to get something out now in a way the MSM will pay attention:

1) a whistle blower coming forward

2) leaks

In the latter case, there are various ways to do this. Assuming that the Obama campaign has the goods on Romney's taxes, they don't have to leak the official documents. Instead they can simply put into circulation a one-page summary that excerpts the key points. That is better than releasing tons of papers anyway because it would sharpen the focus.

Given something like that, the press would have to confront Romney, "Governor Romney, we have received a document that says xxxx. can you categorically say that these numbers are false?"

[magical thyme]

20. he wants to decide your tax rate; still refuses to show his.

hmmph...one sentence soundbite.

It will disappear whenever a new meme of the moment rises up. But it's always lurking, waiting for its moment to re-appear.

It won't wear out; events won't allow that. It was offstage while the Olympics and European disaster tour led. Reappeared briefly. Back offstage with Ryan announcement and the Medicare wars. Reappeared briefly with HRH Empress Ann brought it up. Will leave the stage temporarily again with the attempted swiftboating of Obama, which will again bring foreign policy front and center. Every time Mitten's tries to take control of the narrative and flops, there is a new temporary meme (and a new Mittens fail, lol). Taxes will just re-appear in between now.

[Lasher]

5. You're right.

He is hiding immoral behavior that would turn voters against him if they were to know of it.

[msongs]

6. fortunately for them the demands to release their taxes have disappeared nt

[Drunken Irishman]

7. I doubt it.

[maxsolomon]

9. For the nonce

There's a long way to go, and Reid didn't fire that shot without a mapped-out plan and plenty of cannonballs at the ready. I bet he knows that Ann & Willard DID pay federal taxes, but if they were to release and show a rate of 5 -10% (see, we paid lots more than 0%!), that's enough to cause outrage among the teaproles and independent flibberdigibbets.

Next Reid (or another surrogate) makes another easily disproven accusation (that is, easily disproven if the returns are released). It doesn't matter if it's true, Willard can't disprove it at this point. Keep him defensive, on his heels, keep him swatting flies. It's what Rove would do, and did do, to Gore and Kerry.

[Drunken Irishman]

10. It's to be expected there would be a break in this line of attack...

Romney picking Ryan was going to suck up all the air for a week or two and so will the Republican & Democratic Conventions. But once we're back on solid ground, the issue will arise again.

[Lasher]

14. I think Romney didn't pay any federal income taxes for a decade, just like Reid says.

Recall Romney's wordsmithing? He's never denied that he went for 10 years without paying any federal income taxes. He just says he's always paid taxes. That could be payroll or sales taxes, etc.

[grantcart]

21. Just wait until they release Ryan's taxes and it will start again.

[Wellstone ruled]

8. How big were some

of the negative refunds Willard?

[Motown_Johnny]

11. I think we crossed that point before the Olympics started.

Other than that, I agree completely.

[Sheepshank]

13. Yeah...Romney's made a stand and cannot go back

I can't for the life of me imagine that Reid doesn't have a "cradle to grave" plan in mind for the 10 year tax issue.

The sly ol' fox knows what he is doing and has a contingency for several scenarios, including the scenario we are seeing right this very moment. I suppose I've been sitting on the edge of my seat wondering when the next installment is going to be released. I also suppose Reid is waiting for an opportune moment...like when the Ryan love fest dies down a little. I would like to see this new be front and center.

[lastlib]

15. I hope they're fucked.....

I hope every voter remembers on his/her way into the voting booth that Mittens wouldn't disclose what he earned/paid in taxes and what he made his money on, and think that he must be hiding something that probably would disqualify him from being a president without serious conflicts of interest, and thus not worthy of his/her vote--and pull the lever for Obama. I hope they're truly and deeply fucked--so they can see how it feels to be part of the 99% in this country.

[ailsagirl]

16. The only way he'd get to be prez is if there was some fraud successfully perpetrated

That's what worries me. Damn their hides!! Before 2000, I don't believe we had a problem with anyone "tinkering" with the numbers. Now that it's started...

[dsteve01]

17. You know you've reached the point of no return

when you can no longer see light. That means you have passed the threshold of the event horizon of a black hole.

Until Mitt Romney gets sucked passed the event horizon of political cluster (your screwed-ness), I'm going to bring up his taxes at every possible turn.

You know. Add mass to in effort for the sun to break down into a supernova and bring forth the black hole.

[davidpdx]

19. As it gets closer to the convention we need to keep hitting them on the issue

Ryan (to my knowledge) still hasn't released his. Both of them think they are above the rest of us.