Mitt Romney: Teachers, Firefighters, Police not Americans?

Image of Mr. Interesting from
Think Progress.

When President Obama said, "The private sector is doing fine. Where we’re seeing weaknesses in our economy have to do with state and local government," the other day, it didn't even raise my eyebrows, because I knew what he meant. Every sentient human who heard it knew what he meant too, but it became a major "gaffe" anyhow. Because the news is starved for scandal, I guess. But when Mitt Romney countered with, “. . .He says we need more firemen, more policemen, more teachers. Did he not get the message of Wisconsin? The American people did. It’s time for us to cut back on government and help the American people.”

Why wasn't this considered a gaffe? First, you have his sort of anachronistically sexist "firemen" instead of "firefighters." But forget that, exactly when did cops, firefighters and teachers become the enemy? I know that teachers are often punching bags for Rush Limbaugh and his imitators, but I thought our "first responders" were sacrosanct, particularly on the right. And then there's that last part. . ."and help the American people," as though none of these people are Americans? I find his whole response very odd, and certainly worse than the President's badly constructed sentence.


[Excerpt]


Romney Says America Doesn’t Need ‘More Firemen, More Policemen, More Teachers’

The last three years are the worst on record for public sector job loss, and the 700,000 government jobs that no longer exist remain a large drag on the American economy. . . 


Read more at: Think Progress

Is Our Country Crumbling?

I've been seeing and hearing from various sources a somewhat scary, connected bunch of stories. In several states, municipalities are grinding up their roads and reverting them to gravel. Towns are turning off their streetlights. Schools are cutting days of the week like some jobs already have. Teachers, Policemen and Firefighters are being laid off.

These are the basic, most important parts of our society that conservatives gloss over when ranting and raving about "socialism."  Everyone pays for them, and everyone uses them. But let's see, what pays for all that? Taxes! And what are we being told you must not raise? Taxes! And what are conservatives pressing to cut? Taxes!  Somebody please tell me how extending the Bush tax cuts for the richest 2% of Americans is going to keep paved roads paved?

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2 Firefighters Killed Near Ground Zero

Photo from source, HuffingtonPost.com

This is sad. I didn't even know there were still abandoned buildings around Ground Zero. A shame that saving an empty building would lead to more firefighter deaths. My step-dad is a retired fire-fighter, so this hits a little close to home. I know they can't just let it burn, but sheesh.

[Excerpt]

Firefighters Die in Blaze by Ground Zero

NEW YORK — A seven-alarm fire ripped through an abandoned skyscraper next to ground zero in Lower Manhattan Saturday, killing two firefighters who were responding to the blaze.

Officers at the scene were preventing nearby residents from returning to their homes, telling them that authorities were concerned the former Deutsche Bank office building, vacant since the 2001 terrorist attacks turned it into a toxic nightmare, could fall. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that fear turned out to be unfounded.

The plume of gray smoke that trailed above the site of the World Trade Center raised concerns that toxic substances in the building could be spreading.

Bloomberg sought to reassure residents that the chemicals in the building likely did not present a significant health risk, saying air-quality tests so far showed no danger. . .

Read more at: HuffingtonPost.com

Firefighters' Union Anti Rudy Giuliani Video

My step-father is a retired firefighter. When I get to Ohio, I plan to ask him his thoughts on this video. I'll see if he lets me post his response.