General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIt is not Bain that will bring down Romney - it is the tax returns.
They have all sorts of legal/business shenanigans they can pull to explain away the Bain timing, and they'll likely use this issue to their advantage to distract us from asking more about the tax returns. That's where the real gold nugget will be, is somewhere in the tax returns so we need to remember our end goal here and keep pressuring them to release the tax returns.
MADem
(135,425 posts)The Bain stuff might paint RMoney into a corner so that he has to give us a return or two.
He needs to give us seven or so....
midnight
(26,624 posts)Dawgs
(14,755 posts)It was one of only a few things he thought could point to as a positive.
louis-t
(23,295 posts)And repugs will defend him for not releasing.
Orangepeel
(13,933 posts)I think the plan is relentless hammering.
I'll be surprised if there is some bombshell in the tax returns. There will be stuff -- an outrageously low tax rate, offshore accounts, more deductions that signify being out of touch, etc. -- that reinforce the narrative. I agree with your point about the pressure, but I don't think the tax records are really the end goal. The end goal is defining Rmoney.
flamingdem
(39,313 posts)Even if they're not really that bad
aint_no_life_nowhere
(21,925 posts)I think it's all being woven into a narrative, the Swiss and Bermuda accounts, the tax returns, the Bain offshoring, the $12 million remodeling job on one of his mansions in La Jolla, the car elevator, "I love to fire people", etc. into a picture of a candidate of the rich and only the rich and not of the people. That is to say I don't think we can ever count on nailing Romney cold on either the Bain activities or the taxes. It would be great but I don't anticipate that one dramatic coup de grace where Romney slinks away with his tail between his legs. The Romney camp controls the evidence. Internal Bain documents have probably been shredded, like the records of Romney's time as Massachusetts Governor. The tax records are privileged and entirely within Romney's control, unless an anonymous whistleblower were to release them to wikileaks, but that would be an unexpected windfall we shouldn't count on. I'm sure there's plenty more scandalous material coming out on Romney for which he'll continue being bled from a thousand cuts.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)which would prove him to be a tax cheat and a thief. Mittwit is royally fucked. In the words of Bugs Bunny, it is to laugh.
Spazito
(50,365 posts)as long as he does so, the suspicion that he has something really, really bad in them will continue to grow and become part and parcel of how the public sees him regardless of what he and his campaign do to try and MITTigate (thanks to the DUer who coined this!) that view. Arrogant, dishonest and out of touch.
targetpractice
(4,919 posts)According to today's Boston Globe article...
It was not until 2002 that Romney finalized a severance agreement with Bain, a 10-year deal with undisclosed terms that was retroactive to 1999.
So, that seems to imply that he PROFITED from Bain investments from 1999 - 2009. The issue of when he actually left Bain is not so important.
spanone
(135,844 posts)they want his ad money more than they want the truth
riverwalker
(8,694 posts)Remind them of this: if they want more stuff from government, tell them to go vote for the other guy more free stuff. ~ Willard Rmoney
If the reason he has not released returns, besides proof he is a liar, is because he paid little or no taxes for 12 years (as rumored) then the one who was given "free stuff" is Mitt Romney.
It means the freedom he and his family enjoys because of sacrifices of others who served in the military, was a gift to the Romney clan, none of which has ever served in our military for generations. He contributed nothing in taxes to pay for the care of our servicemen, their medical care, their proper equipment. Nothing. Free Stuff. The clean air and clean water he enjoys at his mansions, environmental protections our taxes support, was a gift to the Romney's. Free stuff. The MS treatments and drugs for Anne were developed with grants and research paid for with our taxes, not his. Free stuff. The shady dealings of his pampered sons (Tagg? Biff? Tripp? Thurston?) ponzi scheme at Solamere Capital investigated by SEC paid for by our taxes, not his. Free Stuff. He is Reagan's fictional cadillac driving welfare queen on steroids. Willard, we want our "free stuff" back, including the $77,000. for your ballerina horse.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)in US tax rates for years. Why else would the ever-cautious Harry Reid make that accusation? I believe Harry knows everything the WH knows and that it came directly from Grampy's people, who saw all and picked Griftin' Princess Dumbass anyway.
Ruby the Liberal
(26,219 posts)When you pick out Harry Reid's comments as the HUGE tell on this over everything else being said by everyone else.
[font size=1]...and that was my reaction too.[/font]
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)But it's true!
Rosa Luxemburg
(28,627 posts)if it gets tough for the GOP who knows what they may do to him?
fascisthunter
(29,381 posts)Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)The man is completely immoral. All of his crimes are fair game
magnifisense
(285 posts)He's his own worst enemy. The lies, the flip-flops, the inconsistency, the pandering, everything he says he opens himself up to scrutiny. He can't be trusted and most Americans are finally getting the message.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)his father - an honest and decent man - would shit on Mittens' grave after he dies.