Thursday, June 7, 2012

55% Of the Worlds Population Lives On Less Than $2 A Day


The average income in America is $38,611 per person or about $105 per day. Compare that to the shocking reality for more than half the world's population of 7 billion people.
  • 40% of the world’s people, or 2.6 billion people, live on less than $2 a day
  • 15% of the world’s people, or 1.0 billion people, live on less than $1 a day
  • 4.5% of the world’s people, or 0.3 billion people, live on $105 per day or more.

The average American makes over 100 times what the bottom billion people on the planet make. 
  • Today’s 1125 billionaires hold more wealth than the wealth of half the world’s adult population.
  •  The wealthiest 7 people on earth control more wealth than the combined GDP of the 41 most heavily indebted (poor) nations.
  •  The poorest 40% of the world’s population accounts for just 5% of global income. The richest 20% accounts for three-quarters of the world’s income.
  •  The top 20% of the world’s population consumes 86% of the world’s goods.

Monday, June 4, 2012

12 Reasons Why I Am Endorsing Mitt Romney For President (And Not Ron Paul)



1. Consistency - Mitt Romney has been unwavering in his public devotion to the principles and issues that would help to advance the political career of Mitt Romney.
2. Flexibility - Unlike Ron Paul who has been ridiculously rigid in his defense of the U.S. constitution, personal liberty, a balanced budget and the sanctity of life (so much so that he earned the nickname “Dr. No” in congress); Romney has shown that he is capable of rolling with the punches, going with the tide, changing with the times, and bending with the breeze.
3. Supporters - The top six donors to Romney’s campaign are banks (including Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, Bank of America, etc.). Who knows what is best for the average American? Why, multi-billionaire bankers, of course. Obviously Romney’s supporters have the kind of deep pockets that can not only pay for his campaign, but also buy the kind of congress that will make SURE that America will have another TARP bailout if we need it.
On the other hand, 97% of Ron Paul’s donations come from individuals. His top three donor groups are the active military in the US Army, US Navy and US Air Force. Many of his donors live paycheck to paycheck, are small business owners, or are even unemployed. No wonder a lot of them are running out of money. Ron Paul has only himself to blame. After twelve terms in congress, lobbyists from the big corporations don’t even bother to come to his office. They know it would be a waste of time.
4. Public image - With unrelenting national and international press coverage labeling him as the “frontrunner” (and now the “presumptive candidate”) Mitt Romney has tremendous credibility. He has pearly teeth, perfect hair, tailored suits and looks, well... “presidential”. Ron Paul wears suits that could have come off the rack at J.C. Penney, has kind of a squeaky voice, talks for an hour without notes (let alone a teleprompter), and looks like your favorite uncle. You would never catch Mitt talking about things like “monetary policy”. Borrrrrrring!
5. Freedom - Romney knows that the greatest threat to our freedom are the “Islamo-fascists”. Not the Chinese, that manufacture everything that we consume and that we depend on to finance our national debt. Not the politicians, that treat the constitution like a blank piece of paper and the U.S. Treasury like their personal piggy bank. Not federal agents, that can track us by GPS, tap our phones without a warrant, watch the books we read and websites we visit, and monitor the politicians we support. And certainly not the President of the United States who now has the legal authority to order the execution of any American citizen that he suspects might be a “terrorist”. Or the American-born underage son of a “terrorist”. Or the underage friend who happens to be standing next to the American-born underage son of a “terrorist”.
After all, Obama has promised not to execute any U.S. citizen within the borders of the United States without a trial and I am fairly confident that Romney wouldn't either. At least not without a really good reason.
Ron Paul thinks the National Defense Authorization Act is unconstitutional. That’s just crazy. The Bill of Rights prohibits “unreasonable search and seizure”, it doesn’t say anything at all about “vaporization by a drone missile”.
6. Foreign Aid - Romney understands why we should continue to mortgage our children’s future to give foreign aid to ANY government of ANY country that isn’t actually at war with us; including countries that are run by a dictator or whose citizens have a higher per capita income than the United States. Romney knows that the only TRUE friends are the ones that you buy and the best way to foster economic independence is to GIVE a country hundreds of billions of dollars.That is why Afghanistan, where 97% of the gross national product comes from the United States treasury, is so loyal and has such a vibrant economy.
7. Foreign Policy - Here again is where Romney really shines. He knows that American exceptionalism means that we should police the world. He knows that in this age of global economy, there are no nations in which the United States does not have a “vital national interest”. And even if there were, we could always justify bombing them to “prevent a bloodbath” or “promote democracy” or “enforce a U.N. resolution”. That means that Americans can rest easy knowing that we are spending ourselves into bankruptcy paying for the defense of impoverished countries like Germany, Japan, and South Korea so that they don’t have to tax their corporations which can then manufacture inexpensive cars and flat screen TV’s that put Americans out of work.
8. National debt - Romney is against it. How do we know? Because he said so a whole lot of times in a very convincing tone of voice. And just as soon as he is elected president he will show us how we can eliminate the budget deficit without raising any taxes, eliminating any cabinet departments, reducing military spending, or cutting Social Security, Medicare, or any other popular program. How will he do this? Well he hasn’t explained his whole program but it has something to do with getting rid of all of those federal regulations that are smothering small businesses like Goldman Sachs.
9. Immigration - Romney is the only candidate who has had the guts NOT to come out with a firm stand on this thorny issue.
10. Charisma - Romney has tons of it. Almost as much as Obama. Why is this important? Because in 2016, when the national debt has soared to record heights and unemployment is still in double digits it will take a lot of “charisma” to convince the voters to put him (or any other Republican) back in office.
11. Economy - Romney is a businessman. That means he is an expert on “economics”. He is also in favor of “free enterprise”. That’s why he likes the Federal Reserve. They print all of our money. Then they GIVE it to Goldman Sachs, which LOANS it back to the U.S.Treasury and charges the taxpayer interest. How is this “free enterprise”? Because Goldman Sachs gets to take our money, for FREE!
But that isn’t the reason Goldman Sachs is the biggest contributor to the Romney campaign. Its because they know he is the “best man for the job”. And he knows a lot about the economy.
Romney had enough sense to know that the only way out of the 2008 crash was to give $700 billion dollars to the same guys that had caused the problem. Like Obama, he knew they were “too big to fail”, especially after Goldman Sachs and J.P.Morgan had bought them at fire sale prices. That is because Romney understands “free enterprise”.
12. Electability - Romney is electable. Everybody knows this because we heard it on Fox News. He knows that he doesn't need the support of the thousands of young people who have been attending rallies for Ron Paul or attending conventions or campaigning door to door or becoming delegates or GOP party officials for the first time. Why? Because he isn’t Obama. And he understands “free enterprise”.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Obviously sarcastic. I'm just reposting and the original author is here: http://www.dailypaul.com/236937/why-i-am-endorsing-mitt-romney-for-president-and-not-ron-paul

Friday, March 23, 2012

Bryan Spencer Talks About Rigging the St. Charles County Caucus in Missouri

Friday, March 9, 2012

Obama Caught On Hot Mic Talking About Maine Election Fraud and Ron Paul (Most Likely Fake)

I have no idea whether this is legitimate or not, but the rumor is that the audio in this YouTube clip is of Obama talking on his cell next to a hot mic. It does sound a lot like him, but it's most likely someone trying to sound like Obama. I haven't been able to find any details on it so far. If you know anything about this clip, please provide details in my comments section. So far I'm quite skeptical.



Transcript:

Obama: "Rick doesn't have a chance."

Silence

Obama: "The powers that be want it to be Romney... and it looks like that's what's going to happen."

Silence

Obama: "And, well you know how that goes... Look what they did up in Maine."

Silence

Obama: "They wanted Paul out of the picture quickly and we all know what happened there."

Silence

Obama: "I can't say I blame them."

Silence

Obama: "Well it's a moot point now anyhow."

"He's done."

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Myth: A Candidate Has To Win Five States To Get The GOP Nomination

Ok, in a way a candidate does have to win five states, but not in the way most people and the main stream media thinks you have to. According to the RNC rules, winning a state is considered "getting the plurality of delegates". A lot of people keep saying Ron Paul can't win because he isn't winning any states. False. He has won at least 5 states and probably more. He is winning on delegate count though. Winning the popular vote doesn't do you much good if you haven't won with delegate counts.

Republican National Committee Rule - RULE NO. 40
Nominations
(b) Each candidate for nomination for
President of the United States and Vice President of the
United States shall demonstrate the support of a
plurality of the delegates from each of five (5) or more
states, severally, prior to the presentation of the name of
that candidate for nomination

Source: http://www.gop.com/images/legal/2008_RULES_Adopted.pdf
(scroll down to Rule No 40)

GOP Primary Schedule and Delegates

Rules affecting delegates:
Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada may begin their delegate selection primaries, caucuses, and conventions on Wednesday 1 February 2012. All other jurisdictions may begin their processes on the Tuesday 6 March 2012. Violating this directive results in 50% of the delegates to the national convention being stripped. Iowa's, Colorado's, Washington's, Minnesota's, and Maine's delegates are not tied to their caucus dates, so these states including Iowa will not suffer a 50% penalty despite holding caucuses before said dates.

ALL nominating states allocating delegates based on statewide vote prior to April 1, 2012 must allocate delegates PROPORTIONALLY.

DELEGATE TOTALS INCLUDES EFFECTS OF THE PENALTY
CAUCUS STATES ARE DENOTED AS SUCH
TOTAL DELEGATES AFTER PENALTIES: 2,287
BOUND DELEGATES: 1,734
UNBOUND DELEGATES: 553
DELEGATES NEEDED TO WIN: 1144

DATE -------- STATE ---------- DELEGATES ----- # BOUND/UNBOUND
Jan 3 -------------- Iowa ---------- 28 delegates (caucus) -------- 28/0
Jan 10 --- New Hampshire ------ 12 delegates ------------------- 12/0
Jan 21 --- South Carolina -------- 25 delegates ------------------- 25/0
Jan 31 --------- Florida ------------ 50 delegates ------------------- 50/0
Late Jan ---- Louisiana ------------ 46 delegates ------------------ 18/28*
Feb 4 ---------- Nevada ----------- 28 delegates (caucus) --------- 25/3
Feb 4-11 ------ Maine ------------- 24 delegates (caucus) --------- 0/24
Feb 7 ---------- Colorado ---------- 36 delegates (caucus) --------- 36/0
Feb 7 ---------- Minnesota --------- 40 delegates (caucus) --------- 0/40
Feb 28 --------- Michigan ----------- 30 delegates ------------------- 30/0
Feb 28 --------- Arizona ------------ 29 delegates -------------------- 29/0
Mar 3 -------Washington ----------- 43 delegates (caucus) --------- 23/20
Mar 6 ------- Alaska ---------------- 27 delegates (caucus) --------- 24/3
Mar 6 ------- Georgia --------------- 76 delegates -------------------- 76/0
Mar 6 -------- Idaho ----------------- 32 delegates (caucus) --------- 32/0
Mar 6 -------Massachusetts -------- 41 delegates -------------------- 38/3
Mar 6 ------- North Dakota -------- 28 delegates (caucus) --------- 0/28
Mar 6 --------- Ohio ---------------- 66 delegates ---------------------- 0/66
Mar 6 -------Oklahoma ------------ 43 delegates --------------------- 40/3
Mar 6 ------- Tennessee ------------ 58 delegates --------------------- 55/3
Mar 6 ------- Vermont ------------- 17 delegates ---------------------- 17/0
Mar 6 -------- Virginia ------------- 50 delegates ---------------------- 50/0
Mar 6-10 ----- Wyoming ---------- 29 delegates (caucus) ----------- 0/29
Mar 10 --------- Kansas ----------- 40 delegates (caucus) ------------ 40/0
Mar 10 --- U.S. Virgin Islands --- 9 delegates (caucus) ------------- 6/3
Mar 13 ------- Alabama ----------- 50 delegates ----------------------- 47/3
Mar 13 ------- Hawaii ------------- 20 delegates (caucus) ------------ 17/3
Mar 13 ----- Mississippi ---------- 39 delegates ----------------------- 36/3
Mar 17 ------- Missouri ----------- 52 delegates (caucus) ------------ 49/3
Mar 20 ------- Illinois ------------- 69 delegates ----------------------- 56/13
Apr 3 ---------- Maryland --------- 37 delegates ----------------------- 37/0
Apr 3 ------- Texas ----------------- 155 delegates -------------------- 152/3
Apr 3 ------ Washington, D.C. --- 19 delegates ----------------------- 16/3
Apr 3 -------- Wisconsin ---------- 42 delegates ----------------------- 42/0
Apr 24 ------- Connecticut -------- 28 delegates ----------------------- 25/3
Apr 24 ------- Delaware ----------- 17 delegates ----------------------- 17/0
Apr 24 ------- New York ----------- 95 delegates ---------------------- 81/14
Apr 24 ------- Pennsylvania ------- 72 delegates ---------------------- 0/72
Apr 24 ------- Rhode Island ------- 19 delegates ---------------------- 16/3
May 8 -------- Indiana -------------- 46 delegates ---------------------- 27/19
May 8 ------ North Carolina ------- 55 delegates ---------------------- 55/0
May 8 ------- West Virginia -------- 31 delegates ---------------------- 28/3
May 15 -------- Nebraska ----------- 35 delegates ---------------------- 32/3
May 15 -------- Oregon ------------- 29 delegates ---------------------- 26/3
May 22 --------- Arkansas ---------- 36 delegates ---------------------- 33/3
May 22 --------- Kentucky ---------- 45 delegates --------------------- 42/3
June 5 ----------- California --------- 172 delegates -------------------- 169/3
June 5 ----------- Montana ----------- 26 delegates ---------------------- 0/26
June 5 ----------- New Jersey -------- 50 delegates ---------------------- 50/0
June 5 --------- South Dakota ------- 28 delegates ---------------------- 25/3
June 26 ----------- Utah --------------- 40 delegates --------------------- 40/0

TO BE ANNOUNCED (UNBOUND): 
American Samoa --------------- 9 delegates
Guam ---------------------------- 9 delegates
Northern Mariana Islands ----- 9 delegates
Puerto Rico --------------------- 23 delegates

Notes:
* Louisiana has a somewhat confusing Caucus-then-Primary process to select delegates, the caucus being some as-yet-announced time in late January and the primary being on March 24. Unpledged delegates may be allocated to a candidate on the basis of the primary vote if the candidate receive more than 25% of the vote in the primary on Mar. 24, otherwise they are unpledged. (Republican Party of Louisiana, State Convention Rule 20b)

Open Primaries/Caucuses
(Where Independents and Democrats Can Vote)

Alabama
Arkansas
Georgia
Hawaii (caucus)
Idaho (caucus)
Indiana
Iowa* (caucus)
Massachusetts**
Michigan
Minnesota (caucus)
Mississippi
Missouri (caucus)
New Hampshire
North Dakota (caucus)
Ohio***
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Vermont
Virginia
Washington (caucus)
Wisconsin

*Iowa caucus open to anyone who wants to register Republican at the caucus location
**Massachusetts primary open to unaffiliated voters, not Democrats
***Ohio primary allows voter to change registration at the polling place by completing a statement confirming the change in his/her political party affiliation (source)

Common Misconception About GOP Primary Delegate Counts - Ron Paul's Real Counts

"Delegates are assigned according to how people voted." is a common misconception about the primary delegate selection process.

In some states, yes, that is true. In others, it's a bunch of crap. I keep seeing Ron Paul's delegate counts on various main stream media station that have it all wrong. Fox has it at 23 and CNN has it at about 30. These numbers are completely inaccurate and show that the main stream media doesn't have a clue about how to calculate delegate counts. 

Even though we didn't win the straw poll vote, Ron Paul is probably getting most of the delegates from IA, MN, CO, MA, and WA. In NV, they can vote to unbind the delegates are the state convention, so there is a possibility he could get most of those as well. There is also a strong possibility that he could pick up quite a few from WY.

In IA there are 28 possible delegates. It sounds like the organization was good, so Ron Paul could get around 20..

In NH, there are 10 possible BOUND delegates, Ron Paul got 3. Huntsman got 1. Since he dropped out that delegate is UNBOUND. We may get that one. NH has BOUND delegates, so the only way Ron Paul could get some of these is if it goes to a brokered convention and there are multiple rounds of voting..

In SC, Ron Paul didn't get any delegates. Grinch got 23 BOUND delegates. If Grinch drops out soon they become UNBOUND. If Ron Paul supporters are organized they could end up picking up some/most of them.

In FL, Ron Paul didn't get any and probably wont unless this goes to a brokered convention and there are multiple rounds of voting. In this case, they become UNBOUND and can vote for whoever they want.

In NV, we got 5 BOUND delegates, but most of the delegates that got selected are Ron Paul supporters. There is a possibility that these selected delegates can vote to change the rules at the state convention to UNBIND all delegates. In this case Ron Paul could pick up most of the delegates. NV has 28 BOUND delegates. If they become UNBOUND at the state convention, Ron Paul would probably have at least 15 of them.

In CO, it sounds like Ron Paul got about 50% of the UNBOUND delegates. So Ron Paul will probably have 18 of the 36. If Santorum drops out, Ron Paul could get a few more.

In MN, is sounds like Ron Paul got over 75% of the delegates. So we'll probably get 30 of the 40 UNBOUND delegates.

In Maine, Ron Paul will probably get 75% of the delegates. So Ron Paul will probably get 18 of the 24 UNBOUND delegates.

AZ is winner take all with BOUND delegates. Ron Paul probably won't get any because Romney won the state. However, if this goes to a brokered convention and the delegates become UNBOUND Ron Paul could get some of them if his supporters were organized.

In Michigan, Ron Paul didn't get any delegates, but there is a possibility that Ron Paul could pick up the delegates that become UNBOUND if Santorum drops out. Santorum got 14 delegates. If it goes to a brokered convention Ron Paul could even pick up some of Romney's delegates.

In WY, Ron Paul got at least 6 of the 29 possible delegates. However, since this is a state with UNBOUND delegates, Ron Paul will most likely get more like 14.

In WA, there are 40 UNBOUND delegates. Based on ground reports, Ron Paul will probably get most of the delegates. Let's say he gets 25.

So if no one drops out, a fairly accurate estimate of Ron Paul's delegate count is: IA (20) + NH (3) + SC (0) + FL (0) + NV(15) + CO(18) + MN(30) + ME(18) + MI (0) + AZ(0) + WY(14) + WA(25) = 143

If BOTH Gingrich and Santorum drop out and Ron Paul supporters are organized in becoming delegates (delegates become UNBOUND when the candidate they are BOUND to drops out), the delegate count would look something like this: IA (20) + NH (3) + SC (15/23) + FL (0) + NV(20) + CO(18) + MN(30) + ME(18) + MI (10) + AZ(0) + WY(14) + WA(25) = 173

Of course these are just estimates, no one will know the exact count until the delegate selection process is complete. Each state has a different delegate selection process with different timelines, so the final delegate count won't be known for quite some time.If this goes to a brokered convention and all delegates become UNBOUND, Ron Paul could also get a lot of Romney's currently BOUND delegates.

CHECK BACK SOON FOR UPDATES ON THE OTHER STATES

Reality Check: What are the "real" republican delegate counts?

Saturday, February 11, 2012

MSNBC's Maddow Talks About Ron Paul's Delegate Strategy



Maddow doesn't quite get the whole delegate strategy correct, but I do give her credit for getting it better than almost all other MSM programs. Doug Wead (Ron Paul's campaign spokesperson) is also on at the end to explain the strategy from the campaign's perspective.