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Controversy dogs Romney as he jets in for London Olympics

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It’s hard to know just how well it will turn out

My gut feeling is telling me the same. Hope Mr. Romney and I are wrong on this. Anyway, hosting Olympic is a tough business. Mr. Ishihara - a mayor of Tokyo should learn what he is against.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"I don’t agree with whoever that adviser might be,” he said..."

Totally disingenuous. Really believe Mitt dosn't know who the adviser is?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

@paulinusa: How should he know what every body in his entourage says within earshot of a reporter? It's not near as important as the White House not knowing who leaked national security secrets.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

" How should he know what every body in his entourage says within earshot of a reporter?"

The remarks weren't overheard. They were told to "The Telegraph" newspaper in London. And try not to change the subject.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

The remarks weren't overheard. They were told to "The Telegraph" newspaper in London. And try not to change the subject.

The subject is, there is none. Read all about it.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Romney: "I will not be watching the event ( competitive dressage )."

Nor I.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

“I have to tell you. This is Ann’s sport. I’m not even sure which day the sport goes on,”

Translation: "I'm not hyper-rich and out of touch with the great unwashed. Honest fellas!"

9 ( +9 / -0 )

This is silly. Obvious a very biased AFP would promote this "controversy dogs" narrative. Lately in the USA, the Obama Team has been turning to all sorts of fabrications, including slandering Mr. Romney's excellent record via his successful Private Enterprise endeavors. It is sad, but that is the state of failure the Democratic Partisans face. Clearly the Romney Campaign can make a very clear case Mr. Obama has a resentment and a dysfunctional vision of the US - Great Britain relationship. Regardless, so many in the Media biased towards the Democrats are desperately trying to sink Mr. Romney, and this latest fluff is not going to matter either. The domestic and foreign failures of the Obama Administration are too vast. The economy in the USA is dreadful primarily due to Mr. Obama's partisan policies, and ironically he has waged Global War every single day as President. It is a symbol for his complete breakdown in promises once offered. The American Public was sold a fraud in 2008, and have payed a heavy price for the Democratic Partisan folly.

-17 ( +2 / -19 )

What?

So, while millions of Americans are mired amid unemployment and bankruptcy, Mitt feels it necessary to jet off on a junket to watch the Olympics????

This is as idiotic as Newt Gingrich's Greek island cruise at the start of his campaign that led to a mass staff walkout.

The callous timing of this junket shows than in American's hour of need..... Mitt Romney bails on them.

Some 'leadership'!

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Comments like Old Fan above only show how biased and partisan both sides have become. Completely removed from any ability to look objectively at the situation. The reality is that articles like this persist because Romney has shown complete incompetence in defining himself or making his case for why America would be better with him. Obama has done only slightly better at making his case, but recently has actually been either lucky or very skillful at controlling the message of why Romney would be a worse solution. Still lacking from either candidate what THEY would do to improve the current situation.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

...I must add "controversy dogs" does clearly seem to be a reference to Romney's treatment of the family dog... Wonder if this was a intentional or subconscious bias...

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Nessie - That's a bad translation. It's more like

"I couldn't give a flying about people prancing around on horses."

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Wonder if this was a intentional or subconscious bias...

Intentional......

Should have went with a better headline to match the reporting here, something along the lines of;

Romney Admits London Olympics a Plot to Ditch Wife

And yet her husband sounded on NBC like he knew little about competitive dressage, which in London marks its 100th year as an Olympic sport.

“I have to tell you. This is Ann’s sport. I’m not even sure which day the sport goes on,” he said. “She will get the chance to see it, I will not be watching the event.”

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Cameron and Clegg, while no doubt following political protocol by agreeing to sit down with Romney, are wasting their time.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Yes, Obama has demonstrated his understanding of Britain many times, e.g. when he surprised diplomats by sending back diplomatic gifts, by hugging the queen or by starting to blabber while she was still speaking, to name just a few. Google it, it is all there and plenty more (although the democrat leaning press in the US plays it down).

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

Forgot to mention, Obamas brilliant gift to the queen .... a CD with his collected speeches.... stands as another testimony to the deep understanding of Britain of this brilliant statesman...

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

"Forgot to mention, Obamas brilliant gift to the queen .... a CD with his collected speeches.... stands as another testimony to the deep understanding of Britain of this brilliant statesman..."

In all fairness it was probably to reassure the Queen of a US leaders return to Her language after Mr Obama's predecessors strange and often shocking attempts at elocution

4 ( +6 / -2 )

@Serrano No. Nessie was on the money with that translation. Dressage isn't exactly the image multi-millionaire Mitt wants to project. Undiplomatic yes, inaccurate no. Many Londoners want this nonsense of dressage, synchronised swimming and people throwing things over with so they can get back to normal.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

With all due respect to canines, this election is going to be great.

Mitt was dog meat in the primaries, he's dog meat now, and he'll be dog meat in November when the majority of Americans, who, let's face it - never liked Mitt anyway - chew him up and spit him out into the dustbin of history.

It's kinda funny - the fixation conservatives have with Mitt now is the same as the fixation the same bunch of America-haters had for Sarah Palin in 2008.

In both Mitt and Sarah's cases, they are pipe dreams in suits.

Conservatives would do themselves a big favor by abandoning hope of a GOP victory on 2012 and desperately looking ahead to 2016.

Oh, wait - by 2016, immigration will have changed the  electorate so much that the GOP will never win again.

Viva la freedom! :-)

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Who, really cares beyond the 300 mill that can vote. 7 Billion got no say who will be the new figure head and we know little will change regardless of the elected leader.

So stop your belly-aching now.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

The man never drunk a Duff in his life....

3 ( +3 / -0 )

@It'sme Tell that to the families of the thousands of Iraqis who died in that disgraceful bloodbath. This 'figurehead' and his foul cohorts created a catastrophe and Mitt's stance on Iran could see another on the way. Many outside the '300 million' could be affected in even more devastating ways than the 300 million under Romney.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Ben, relax.

It's obviously a slow news day: Mitt's jetted off to London to do what he does best - hobnob with elitists and the super rich while - amazingly - still fantasizing that he's relevant.

Meanwhile, president Obama remains at home all hands on deck STILL struggling to clear up the ginormous mess left behind by the last Republican president, a mess that quite a lot of America-hating conservatives over there in the political equivalent of a trailer park think is a good idea to repeat.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Ben, relax. It's obviously a slow news day

I am quite relaxed. However, you are probably correct. Neither candidate has screwed anything up severely today or yesterday in their campaigns.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Ben, are you seriously saying that Mitt jetting off to London to rub shoulders with rich elitists while 13 million Americans don't have jobs isn't a 'screw up'?

I sincerely hope you were only joking.

Look at the timing - Olympics opening ceremony, Mitt  "I'm there!", then days later to his staff -  "oh, and can you arrange for me to have a meeting with British PM Gordon Blair?"

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Ben, are you seriously saying that Mitt jetting off to London to rub shoulders with rich elitists while 13 million Americans don't have jobs isn't a 'screw up'?

It is his money. He can spend in whatever way he wishes to. Why are you denying him that freedom? Sorry, if that is a screw up, he might actually be a good president.

0 ( +10 / -10 )

What an asbolute moron. Fortunately, most of the people who would support him have no idea what 'Anglo-Saxon' means, let along big words like 'economy' or excuses like, 'it's my wife's horse, not mine'.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

What an asbolute moron.

You do realize Romney is not alleged to have said anything of the sort, right? In fact, his campaign has denied it was said at all. Who do you think is the asbolute moron?

0 ( +10 / -10 )

You can thumbs me down all you want. President Obama takes vacations, as is his right. I cannot see the problem for Romney to do the same thing.

0 ( +11 / -11 )

I see that 70% of Latinos favor Obama over Romney. And with nearly 100% of blacks still favoring Obama, as SushiSake says, Mitt is dogmeat.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I, for one, really love and look forward to dressage, sychronized swimming (especially!), and other niche sports. Does this make me part of the 1%???

2 ( +3 / -1 )

the views of Governor Romney

Can someone remind the media that he is no longer a governor please?

He aint a governor. If anyone in public refers to him as "Governor Romney" they get free tooth removal.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Of course Governor Romney doesn't know much about dressage, he's a regular guy!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

So, while millions of Americans are mired amid unemployment and bankruptcy, Mitt feels it necessary to jet off on a junket to watch the Olympics????

I thought Obama was the President. Oh, right, it's not his fault that the country has an 8.2% unemployment rate and why would it be?

This is as idiotic as Newt Gingrich's Greek island cruise at the start of his campaign that led to a mass staff walkout.

No more idiotic when Obama took that vacation to Martha’s Vineyard? I do recall at that time the stock market was crashing and America was on the brink on the edge of default. Not to mention the trip to their annual Christmas vacation spot in Hawaii, I do believe that they have a 6,000 square foot vacation home listed somewhere around $8 million and all while Congress had yet to pass an extension of a payroll tax break. But, yes, I keep forgetting, you liberals have different standards, if the President runs off the job to take a break, it's Ok, and in a recession to boot. But if Mitt goes to the Olympics during a bad economy that Obama created, It's somehow his fault???!

The callous timing of this junket shows than in American's hour of need..... Mitt Romney bails on them.

Obama bailed on the country a long time ago, but at least he's leaving a huge deficit. Something to cuddle up to and in the years to come.

Some 'leadership'!

I agree, that's why the President needs to take a permanent vacation away from the WH.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

What an asbolute moron. Fortunately, most of the people who would support him have no idea what 'Anglo-Saxon' means, let along big words like 'economy' or excuses like, 'it's my wife's horse, not mine'.

There is no proof that Romney made that comment, NONE. So just because you hear it on the National Barack Channel doesn't mean that's true. He said, he didn't make that comment, nor does he know of anyone else ever saying that. So unless you have concrete evidence of that coming straight out of his lips, you are just speculating or better yet, the media is. If anyone is a "moron", it would be the liberal media constantly taking either everything out of context or just making stuff up.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

@bassfunk 'A bad economy that Obama created'. You've always tried to justify preposterous comments and never failed to entertain in the process. Did Obama inherit a healthy economy?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Meanwhile, president Obama remains at home all hands on deck STILL struggling to clear up the ginormous mess left behind by the last Republican president, a mess that quite a lot of America-hating conservatives over there in the political equivalent of a trailer park think is a good idea to repeat.

First of all, how can Obama even straighten out the mess that Bush left behind when Obama tripled the deficit, not to mention increased our debt to China, Most green energy jobs that Obama tried to invest in using tax payer money went belly-up! Hands on deck? Our Captain Crook created 80,000 jobs last month...80.000?? What a joke! 8.2% unemployment, Obama will NEVER be able to clean Bush's mess, let alone his mess and it's getting worse, climbing and the debt getting bigger. But of course, we can't blame Obama for that now can we? Obama outspent Bush 3 times over, so adding that to Bush's debt, Obama will be struggling for a very, very long time. When, oh, when will Obama take responsibility for the economy, blaming Bush is as old as time. Conservatives hate America? I think this President does and all other looney liberals that try to flush this country down the toilet.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

@Jimizo

Obama DID inherit a bad economy, so how is he making it healthy? Still waiting. How's that hope and change working out for the country? Not too good, I imagine. But as I said before, when can we hold his majesty accountable for anything. Silly me, liberals have nothing to feel guilty about EVER, it's not in their nature. Now that my friend is preposterous.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

bass4funk,

The Daily Telegraph is to the right of Rupert Murdoch's UK titles. Hardly 'liberal media'.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Of course Governor Romney doesn't know much about dressage, he's a regular guy!

His wife was taking equestrian therapy to overcome her Multiple Sclerosis. I thought this may have endeared him to the sport.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@Sense

Therefore, because they printed it, it has to be the truth, right? We don't know anything as of yet, but again, liberals are pouncing on this. What ever it takes and by any means necessary in order to vilify Romney.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Seeing how Obama has in his two books made multiple comments about his "coil of rage" against caucasians, etc. one has to wonder if he would respect the common bond between Great Britain and the US even if he cared to understand anything anglo-saxon.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Mr. Romney is a Mormon. Given their complicated history in regard to African-Americans, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if he did say that, or if one of his close Mormon advisers did. The Mormon leaders removed the ban on African-Americans becoming full members of their "religion" in 1978, but on the local level, the old beliefs remain the same.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

@A bass4funk one thing I'd like to mention is that while it may be easy to say, "Obama failed at creating more jobs in his term as president" one also needs to think about how long it may actually take for a FULL economic recovery. Its not like any president (even if it wasn't Obama) would have been able to wave a magic wand and all our problems would be solved. This problem may take 15-20 years before we recover unless BOTH parties get off their collective self-serving buttocks and start more functional programs instead of jumping the gun trying to initiate their own programs that benefit only themselves or their cronies.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I am amazed at the reaction my posts above have gotten. I have not written one thing that is untrue. Not one. It seems many of you have so decided what each candidate is like in your minds that nothing in reality will change that image. Neither Obama or Romney are the devil. They each seem like rather decent people who have differing views on things. Why do some people think it is necessary to completely demonize the candidate you do not prefer? Isn't it enough to talk about specific issues?

0 ( +6 / -6 )

@Honest

I will agree to most of that. I do think both parties need to come together. Both do have their agendas and I have never said that Republicans are perfect and would do the best, outstanding job to perfection. During the Reagan, Clinton years it was still a normal and reasonable thing to do that, that both sides would come together to seek a common ground, but NOT today. Both sides literally can't stand each other. Obama can't wave a magic wand, I understand that. But Obama was elected to stop the bleeding that started the last year under the Bush admin. But what happened was he made it hemorrhage. The borrowing, the spending, the spending. Interfering with the growth of the private sector. The salary for government workers is through the roof, while in the private sector it's decreasing. Yes, it will take 15 to 20 years at least. Obama never followed Clinton's example. In his second term, Clinton was working with a Republican congress and when he met them halfway, in the end, he got a lot of things done, this President however, is waaay to the far-left zone and won't even thing about compromising. His polices of taxation and what the liberals are doing will destroy America, my home state California is the greatest example. Liberal polices destroyed the 7th largest economy.

http://www.halfwaytoconcord.com/27-reasons-why-california-is-bankrupt/

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Ben, are you seriously saying that Mitt jetting off to London to rub shoulders with rich elitists

SushiSake,

Be honest, you know you did not have a problem when Obama did the same thing in 2008 during his campaign. You certainly never complained about it, did you? This is exactly what I am talking about above. Why do you think it is necessary to completely demonize the candidate you do not prefer? Isn't it enough to talk about specific issues?

0 ( +5 / -5 )

@Ben

Neither Obama or Romney are the devil. They each seem like rather decent people who have differing views on things. Why do some people think it is necessary to completely demonize the candidate you do not prefer? Isn't it enough to talk about specific issues?

This is what I am also wondering. I agree. I don't think even Obama's enemies think he is per say, "a bad guy" his policies are just terrible for the nation. He tried, the first 2 years, he controlled all 3 branches of government and what happened? The Dems had all the way green light and nothing happened. We just incurred more debt. Why do you think we had a thunderous 2010 election? That was a message. If liberals would talk instead of mud slinging and throwing out constant false accusations, we could come to a common ground.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Bass, There is no common ground anymore. We can argue about who started it (conservatives or liberals), but that won't change the fact that both parties cannot agree on even simple things, and that they are both pandering to politics instead of listening to experts for solutions to the problems in the US. Its much easier to put out a 10 point post on how you support small businesses (as Obama recently did), or so say how your going to eliminate all the job-hindering regulation (like Romney did)... But any economist with a brain will tell you that small business support is an incredibily insignificant portion of the economy, and regulation is NOT what is keeping businesses from growing. They are both politically motivated solutions that have no effect. ---- If they really were going to fix the problems, they would eliminate special interest subsidies and close loopholes, shut down citizens united to get rid of corporate influence in politics and raise the retirement age to something more reasonable. <-- Unforunately, these policies don't win you elections.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

But any economist with a brain will tell you that small business support is an incredibily insignificant portion of the economy, and regulation is NOT what is keeping businesses from growing.

These would be the same economist's whose policies have landed us in this global financial mess in the first place I take it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Its the banks that put us here, not the economists.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Lol! 

Mitt's trip to the UK is going from bad to worse.

London mayor Boris Johnson has just humiliated Mitt in front of thousands in Hyde Park.

Um....Mitt....what was this 'special relationship' you were harping on about?

Unreal - Mitt can't even start off on good terms with America's most basic of allies. 

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

He's so middle class. That's what I like about Mitt. Just a middle-class guy.

Yep.

Mainstream media! HOOOOWWWWWWLLLLLL!!!!!!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

He's so middle class. That's what I like about Mitt. Just a middle-class guy.

Yep.

Mainstream media! HOOOOWWWWWWLLLLLL!!!!!!

Not sure what Mainstream media articles you've read that would give you that impression they almost all state how rich he is just like this one.

The multimillionaire former businessman and investor was called in to head the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City after preparations were marred by scandal, and has first-hand knowledge of how to put on a successful Olympics.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It's all ok, no need to worry. Mitt Romney stood outside No.10 yesterday and said he was happy with Londons arrangements. Thank god he jetted in and sorted it out.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I'll bet Romney enjoys the opening ceremonies.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Have you guys seen him trying to backtrack on his Olympic gaffes? It's just that 'olympic'!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

It's like Romney is already our president. Its fun to watch the outrage.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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