Here in Dunedin/Clearwater is really all I can speak to. My life and business have gotten better. That being said, things are far from perfect. While I have made twice as much money in the past four years and not lost money like I was during the Bush Administration, I see many local and state trends that not only hold me back but could send all of us in the wrong direction. Under Gov Scott, Current County Comm and City of Dunedin Comm, I have seen fee's skyrocket and red tape pour out unlike ever before. On a local city, county and state level, I have watched Religion being legislated to the point if your not one of them you must be bad. This four year question is a joke, no President can solve all a countries woes in 4 years or even 8. Trends must be looked at over 40-50 years to be of any real value. When you do step back and look at the big picture the GOP stands out as a not so good choice. Facts hurt sometimes sorry. Instead of changing and moving forward my party the GOP has doubled down on stupid. So while picking President Obama again is a easy choice, my worry is closer to home. We need an even legislature again so both sides have to work with each other and in the end work for us! Not just the religious right or the liberal left but for the rest of us. Please get out and vote!

Agree 100%.

I am better off. Under Clinton, a presidential policy preventing LGBT citizens from holding some government jobs (mostly CIA/NSA type jobs) was repealed. That reduced the number of jobs I was forbidden from holding by quite a lot. (Imagine that, being legally prohibited from holding certain jobs because of non-material trait you're born with.) Bush promised to reverse Clinton's policy during his campaigning, but didn't. However, only the court system provided relief during his administration--the Supreme Court struck down sodomy laws (hey, my partner and I can do what we want in the privacy of our bedroom without the government regulating our adult relationship!) Bush left LGBT rights alone during his administration. Obama quickly removed the last limits on the sorts of jobs LGBT citizens can hold. As of 2012, my country no longer regulates my employment choices based on an in-born trait that has no material affect on my ability to work.

I have a government that doesn't automatically assume I am a threat and cannot be trusted. It's 2012 and it finally happened. The GOP party platform promised to reverse this, so you can imagine that I'll be voting with the Democrats this year.

the economy is improving, slowly. We have one less war and a president who prefers to avoid another. Yep, I'd say we are better off.

I would suggest you look at Argentina, because that is where we are headed. At the beginning of the 20th century Argentina was an industrial power, but when the unions took power and the Peron government tried to give everyone something for nothing things began to crumble. A beautiful country in an economic mess. The first time I was there they had 3% inflation in one week. The last time I was there people were in lines outside the bank in an effort to withdraw money from frozen accounts.

I am a business owner and have been much better off under the Obama administration. However, four years is not nearly enough time to right all the wrongs caused by the previous administration. I will again vote for Barack Obama.

I have lost approximately 60% of my business income over the last 3 or so years, and most of the small businesses in the area are suffering the same.Drive down US 19 in any city and you will see half of the stores in strip malls and other places , either closed or boarded up.I have never seen it this bad.

Are you nuts I dont want socialism in my country

Thank you President Obama, for stopping 750,000 jobs a month from being lost and adding jobs back every month for 30 straight months! Thank you for making it a little harder for employers to keep women down and under paid. Thank you for finally seeing that Bin Laden was caught, killed and at the bottom of the ocean. Thank you for ending "don't ask don't tell" which went against the very nature of our constitution. Thank you for having the courage to go ahead with the Affordable Care Act fully knowing it was far from perfect yet would help millions of American as we continue to refine the Act. Thank you for the Executive order to help our immigrants even though so many forget we are all immigrants. Because of all you have done and overseen, I as a Republican will vote for You!

Remember everything comes at a price

Well lets see..... my salary is 40% of what it was.... gas, food, power all cost more.... special interest groups divide us in order to conquor us. Basically if we can have four more year of the last four years I suspect we can all move into Government Housing, all receive Food Stamp, and ride our bicycles. May January 2013 bring an end to the Obama Error.

No foreclosures at my condominium complex on Dunedin Causeway and no late maintenance fees, so I'd say compared to 4 years ago we're doing much better!

Lost my job have not found another. My wife had hours cut so as for me things are not better off.

Sahara, I'm not sure what these people are drinking, but it sure ain't a Freedom on the rock's! No one is saying the country is perfect or that were recovering quickly. People are saying it is getting better. For some it is still not, for those still struggling I know it's hard! I've been there too. I do know if I were unemployed I would not vote for the candidate(s) that are going to remove the security net I at least have now. If your candidate thinks the word Compromise is a dirty word then don't vote for him/her. Our system has been running amuck for many many years, please lets not go back to the old ways. The road ahead is hard but it's worth it. Any more short cuts are going to sink us, let alone tax cuts for the wealthy. Just say no and lets move forward together!

VETERANS be aware that Ryan has cut VA benefits and the Senate has voted it through. Congressional District #1 Republican Candidate Randy Altschuler and a few other Republican candidates around the nation are needed to pass this bill in the House in the next session. They only need a hand full of seats to get it done. Republican candidates, like Altschuler, are the key link. Read the NY Times today. Take your time, it's a bit complicated, which is what Romney and Ryan hoped for, so us veterans wouldn't be able to understand it. It comes down to one thing and one thing only: Either Romney and Ryan tell us veterans "There are NO CUTS in the Ryan Budget to VA benefits" or they're lying to us. The Times and Congressional Budget Office make it clear...HUGE CUTS have been made. Read the article: http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/09/edsall-the-ryan-sinkhole/?nl=opinion&emc=edit_ty_20120910

This is a game changer for this Republican. My family has many veterans and cutting their benefits is like the enemy cutting their throats. I never thought the Republicans would do this to us, but they have. It's already been voted upon in the Senate, but thanks to Democrats, it was stopped in the House. Read the Times and be careful voting for Republicans...they do not support veterans like they say they do and the proof is in their work in 2012.

I am an early retiree not yet eligible for Medicare. My health insurance plan no longer has a lifetime cap thanks to ObamaCare so I am better off.

These posts for the most part are inconsistent. Those supporting Obama seem to be rallying around the cry "I'm doing fine the hell with the rest of you. The comments syaing there not doing fine are expressing concern for our country's future. I am doing much worse and am only finally back to work on a day to day basis. I know food prices are way up for everyone and gas oline has doubled, while North Dakota's econmomy is experiencing an oil boom and President Obama does everything is his power to avoid using our God given resources. All I know is that the Democrats voted 3 times on God and Jerusalem being the capital of Isreal and three time the vote failed...what does that say about "How far disconected the Democratic Party has become a party of the radical left. Do you really think 20 or 30 years ago that vote would have been a fringe element in the Democratic Party? Now the left is trying to deny that the vote was a clear 2/3's majority when at best it was a tie which means the vote failed.

It was not bad at all here until after Obama begin his hope & change. Must be blind people writing or deaf. We have two main traveled streets here in Bradenton and there is one business after another which is now after the last 3 years setting empty and more each time we check. New business come and go just about as fast. We have 3 in our household who have lost jobs and have about given up hope. Our house has lost over half of its value, the condos in my son's place have many waiting on foreclosures and the association have had to take them over to keep, not sure how long this will be able to work till it affects the credit rating or insurance rates or being able to maintain the place. Rentals have gone up so much families can't afford that either, or their credit is now damaged by the economy and they can't rent. My husband was cut after 8 years in a corporate office established over 75 years. After about 8 months he found a job as library aid and it was temporary & after only 6 mo., now he is back to looking again. Maybe some here should look at the little towns and see what is really happening all over and will get them soon too. I would never vote for Obama again.

Lost a great job in the medical product industry on Obama's inauguration day, January 2009. It took over 1 year to secure another. When I did, it and a subsequent job was eliminated due to the looming effects of ObamaCare. I've been unemployed, again, since January 2012. Am I better off under Obama? I'd have to say ABSOLUTELY NOT!! And to think, 49% of American citizens don't pay income tax. Let's tax those more who provide those who do work with a job and a living? That way, more can continue on the government's handouts. Question - Once the majority of the public are on government subsidies, who's going to pay for all of them?

It is truly amazing watching History repeat itself over and over. You would think after being bent over so many times people, all people would wake up. Obama got handed crap from Bush's 8 years and Obama's first four are a struggle. Then Rewind Clinton had a rough first four year because he got handed the same crap from the almighty Reagan/Bush 12 years. Rewind Carter had a rough first term, got handed Nixon/Fords mess. Do we need to continue? you actually have to go back to Theodore Roosevelt before you find a decent Republican President! Can we once and for all just fix things instead of being such a fast food society? Yes it takes time! It took FDR four terms and he did it with a World War going on. Republican politics continue to get more and more radical. More importantly they don't work! And yes Bill Clinton was right, they don't use math.

How charming Victoria! This coming from a person with a teletubie holding a flag as their picture. I truly value your input into the conversation.

What kills me is the incessant and idiotic rants that still blame Bush. If we had 4 more Socialist, I mean democratic presidents you'd still blame Bush. Proves what a bunch of shallow moronic and ignorant bunch of people you are. There is no real hope as long as you idiots have a vote.

WOW! Rollo, with you we really have stumbled onto a literary genius! Lets see what was that you said again, "There is no real hope as long as you idiots have a vote" is that correct? Did I miss quote? Do we really need to dissect you comment! Or does the simple content of it speak for itself? I think it does. My only question, IS THERE ANY INTELLIGENT LIFE OUT THERE!

Well put Trace, cause this problem goes all the way back to Prohibition.

It may of started in caves lol

I've been waiting for 4 years for the people who support Obama, as well as the media to take an honest look at who Obama is and what he stands for. You can tell a lot about a person by looking at their past and at who they have been associated with. Obama has been associated with some of the biggest anti-american minded people ever exposed. Yet he gets a free pass. I dare any one of you to use your "openminded" mantra that you like to tout, and go see the movie "2016'. You just might learn that it is less propaganda and more facts than you expected. It will at least wake you up to the possibility that America has made and is making the gravest mistake ever thought possible by supporting this man. None of you can deny you yourselves have heard him flat out lie(C-Span anyone?, or how about it's not a tax?), heard him flat out mock and belittle, seen him act like a wanna be movie star, watched him divide this nation with class warfare, watched him turn a blind eye to crimes committed at election polls by the black panthers, shall I go on. Wake up people!!!

Oh, and wasn't it sweet of him to declare 3 days of prayer suddenly when he has refused to recognize National days of prayer for the last 4 years. How convenient so close to an election.

Psinded, saw the movie and laughed with a whole bunch of other people in the movie. Now we're laughing at you! Rant on please! The more you rant the deeper the hole you dig! The more you rant the more people like me leave the party!

VETERANS BEWARE...Ryan has cut VA benefits and the Senate has voted it through. Republican desperately need their Congressional candidates to win in order for them to pass this bill in the House, They only need a hand full of seats. Altschuler is the key link. Read the NY Times today. Take your time, it's a bit complicated, which is what Romney and Ryan hoped for, so us veterans wouldn't be able to understand it. It comes down to one thing and one thing only: Both Romney and Ryan must tell the truth to veterans "There are NO CUTS in the Ryan Budget to VA benefits" or they're lying to us. The NYTimes and Congressional Budget Office make it clear...HUGE CUTS have been made. Read the article: http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/09/edsall-the-ryan-sinkhole/?nl=opinion&emc=edit_ty_20120910

Let Romney and Ryan deny it. We HAVE read the article all the way through and it was the Romney Campaign that has sent a mumbo-jumbo of non-denial denials.

4 years ago I renewed my CD's for 4 years and received 4% interest.
Besides SS this interest income is what we live on. We have no pension. Worked in private industry and had a 401K at work. Have been living pretty comfortably with no complaints.
Now when my CD's mature next month The very best I can hope for is 1.5% if I am lucky.
So to answer your question the answer is NO I am not better off.

Im better off because the stock market has doubled, real estate is coming back, osama bi laden is dead and general motors is still making cars.

The question was, " Are YOU better off now than you were 4 years ago"? Not, how are things in Argentina, or who's a socialist, others that you know, or how many shops are closed in your town. The question was are you better off, You!

No

DLC That is amazing, considering the last 4% CD rate was posted in the summer of 2007 and was a 5 year CD not four year! Your Banker must be someone no one else has access to in America! Mitt Romney himself was quoted on the campaign trail 4 years ago talking about a 2.75 rate and how he thought it would drop??????

Let’s be realistic...Where the heck would we be if we had put McCain and Sarah Palin in office? Obama came in as our economy was about to collapse. It took 8 years for Bush to get us to that position and it will take us at least that long to get out of it. And the Republicans have fought him on everything he has tried to do(and I'm a registered Republican). If you missed the speech Clinton made at the DNC, find it online and listen to it. It will give you an idea of just what all has been accomplished. Facts and figures. Something that Romney has not given me. What is his plan and give me some facts and figures. So far it just looks like he is good at attacking the President while appearing to want to take us back to the same old rules and regulations we had when Bush was in office. He is rich and I don't think can relate to people who are struggling. Not sure if all the Bain commercials are true but they make him look bad. My plan is to research everything and vote for the best man for the job regardless of your affiliation. Bottom line, compared to where I was when he first took office, I am way better off. The housing market in my area is starting to come back, the stock market is in good shape and financially I am starting to come back as well. Right now I want to see Obama finish the job.

Without getting on my soapbox all I can say is...I don't believe that ANYONE could have turned EVEYTHING around in 4 years. Our American Public is generally spolied and we want it NOW. Getting US back on track will be a process and it will take time. Myself, no I'm not better off, but no worse. I have to believe we can crawl out of his hole we are in..and get back on track..just that we gotta give it time and the politicians gotta stop slinging "you know what" at each other and really come up wih a plan.....That's all I've got to say - Have a wonderful day~

Sorry for the Delay Mr/Mrs DLC. For starters I did not call you a liar, I was amazed! I had a long talk with your bank and yes in fact while most others were beginning to drop their rates your bank held on through Apr 17th 2009 then in Dec 2009 your bank was at 2.5 and now they are at 1.25 Your bank was very very very very clear that this had nothing to do with our current president and if you would like to call them they would be glad to discuss economics and banking with you. Although I doubt you will or would believe anyone that did not believe in praying the problem away.
DLC, these are serious times and we need serious people to solve serious problems. I wish you the very best I really do.

Personally I am not better off financially but I do believe that the country is better off under Obama. I am much more optimistic when I think about the future especially for the working class, poor, disabled, students and veterans and those who have not been able to get health care coverage.

(It's not what your country can do for you, etc)

If we flip flop from Dem to Rep every 4 years we won't achieve anything. I want Obama gets in again, followed by Hillary Clinton. In 8 to 10 years this country will be prosperous again and we'll all be back to full employment.

It takes time and a plan. Obama has been implementing a solid plan. Romney can't make up his mind on anything and doesn't have coherent policies except those which will help his greedy rich friends and bloated, under-taxed corporations. In each interview he changes his answers - if he doesn't get pissed off because he doesn't have an answer.

If you're on the edge and don't know who to vote for watch MSNBC, especially Rachel Maddow's programs and listen to NPR and Democracy Now on WMNF. The truth will set you free.

Also be aware that we are one of the 5 states that have had our voting rights seriously hampered by the Republicans. That's how Bush got in. The ballots are going to be 10 pages long, take ages to fill out AND voting hours are going to be restricted. If this is an example of the Republicans' idea of democracy, maybe you'll understand why I call them Fascists.

Raise your hand if you would do the following: You need a new roof for your home. It costs $12k. You don't have $12k. You ask your boss to reduce your hours, thus reducing the $ you are bringing in, then you cut spending by replacing expensive veggies with rice. Then you'd have enough money for the new roof. Right? That's basically Romney's plan. Reduce the debt by bringing less $ (tax breaks for the wealthy) and cut spending. OR, would the smart thing be to increase income AND cut spending. Won't that get your new roof faster?

But Dave we are entitlement heathens! I thought we were supposed to just go without food and be kicked out of our house yet still show up for work at the rich guys house to mow the yard using my PhD as a guide. Sorry you would think people would get it lol Yes I agree with you.

Yes I am!,,

Yes, I am. Thank you President Obama!!

HOW MUCH MONEY DID YOU EARN YESTERDAY?

Mitt and Ann Romney made $57,260 each and every day of 2011.

And, they chose to open secret bank accounts in well-known tax havens including Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and other foreign countries to bet against America.

Help Mitt Romney and his BILLIONAIRE friends make millions more in the future.

Vote Romney-Ryan.

Screw the MIDDLE CLASS!

Four years ago, Sept. 2008, Bush was our president...remember what happened in Sept. 2008? You bet I'm better off than four years ago and Barack Obama needs to see this through to 2016!

There's no question that Barack has failed as President. If you think otherwise then you're just not paying attention. Price of gas, price of groceries, price of medical care... everything is going WAY UP, except housing which continues to go down. Wake up drones. There is no chance that I'll vote for Barack again. Everything in America is worse than when he was elected.

Why I will "never" vote Democratic again!

http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/48634

Veterans will be the losers if Romney wins. The Romney-Ryan budget has cut tens of billions. Yesterday's NY Times (Sept 10) brought it all to light and the method the GOP is making to hide it in the budget details. Because this is a complicated area of the budget, it's difficult to read and even more so to explain, so the Democrats have left it alone.

I think Romney and Ryan have to be asked the question directly; "Are you cutting VA benefits?" If they say no, frankly they're lying.

Truth teller
Maybe you should start worrying about why Mitt Romney keeps HIS money off-shore and why he is unwilling to disclose his earning or more than a couple of years of income taxes. If you have facts and figures that Obama has RIPPED off the public instead of trying to build us back up after the Great Bush debackle which put us in the mess we are trying to dig out of now, please post them. But make sure they are factual and not coming from one or the others side DEM or REP.

Two words...George BUSH

I can understand why he wants to give Romney $100 Million. It's good business! What are all you other Republicans going to get except have your tax money go to Sheldon.
Sheldon Adelson Stands To Get $2 Billion Tax Cut If Mitt Romney Is Elected

Truth Teller, you need to read the sequence of events at this site concerning Solyndra. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solyndra
under the headers - Government support and politics and Shutdown and investigation which clearly shows that the Obama camp had concerns about the legality of the Energy Departments loan restrurcturing plan and sent emails concerning this yet the concerns were dismissed. It also shows that another Energy manufac. Konarka also declared bankruptcy shortly after after receiving financial support from then Gov. Romney's administration. As such Konarka became something of a counterpoint to Solyndra in the political exchange with President Obama. FACTS

If you will just keep digging, you will find that almost all these loans were approved not by Obama, but the state govenment agencies whose responsibility was to make sure these companies qualified for these loans like in the case of TR Auto Truck Plaza you mentioned. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) approved the stimulus grant to Mountain Plaza Inc., The EPA did not require financial or criminal background checks or information to be disclosed on grant applications," according to a TDOT spokesperson B.J. Doughty . Many people went to jail over that deal. The good part is now TDOT Commissioner John Schroer celebrated the truckstop electrification system's opening in July, and Doughty said it could be resurrected by a new owner.

All I'm saying is no politician is perfect. Just do your homework and lets make sure that we have all the facts. Our futures and livelyhoods depend on it.

there many more examples just like this some wasting more (lots more) money some less add them up and we as Americans have been ripped off to the tune of billions and the bottom line is all that stimulus did NOTHING for unemployment NOTHING.

Michael, Wikipedia is not my only source, but it has the bulk of the information in a shorter version. Facts are facts. Again, my thing is dont take the polititions word for anything. If you have a computer, look all these things being spewed out and look it up using serveral sources. Then you will know for sure who is telling the truth and who is lying. Only then will you be able to make and educated decision on who should be in the White House. Good Luck everybody!

Michael, You can read more on Sollyndra at these sites
http://theweek.com/article/index/219243/the-solyndra-scandal-a-guide-to-the-new-revelations

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/five-myths-about-the-solyndra-collapse/2011/09/14/gIQAfkyvRK_blog.html

http://heartland.org/editorial/2011/10/26/real-solyndra-scandal

"Stimulus did NOTHING" Its impossible to prove a negative. Mechanic says you need new tires before you have a blowout. You buy new tires. How do you know you would have had a blowout had you waited another year? You take the word if the expert that's how. MOST economist (not all mind you) say that the stimulus prevented the recession from becoming an all out depression. Did it? I don't know, I have to take the word of the expert.

I could have used any of those sites and there would be an opinion on that sites validity. So no matter your opinion on Wikipedia, and not everyone shares that, as I have stated, search all the sites, get many opinions and make the best decision you can.
I got caught up on this site at 8:53 am today and now it's 4:06. I've been able to get through my work day and also be engaged in some great political back in forth with a couple of fellow Americans that I don't even know. I love the USA!!!

Did everyone see the VA benefit cuts reported in the NY Times yesterday? Ryan has cut VA benefits and the Senate has voted it through. Republican desperately need their Congressional candidates to win this November in order for them to pass this bill in the House. They only need a hand full of seats to pull it off. The link for Times story is below. Take your time, it's a bit complicated, which is what Romney and Ryan apparently have counted on. In this way we veterans wouldn't be able to uncover it, but the Times has done that for us.

It comes down to one thing and one thing only: Both Romney and Ryan must tell the truth to veterans. They must say that "There are NO CUTS in the Ryan Budget to VA benefits" or they're lying to us and cannot be given the votes of veterans.

HUGE CUTS have been made. Read the article: http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/09/edsall-the-ryan-sinkhole/?nl=opinion&emc=edit_ty_20120910

Let's hold onto our VA benefits and keep Ryan from taking them from us. Romney never served in the military and does not have compassion for veterans. To keep our benefits, we must not give them our vote.

My wife and I are better off than we were 4 years ago. And I think that whatever happens in the next 4 years, we'll be better off under an Obama Admin than we will under Romney. There'll also be less chance that we'll be involved in some type of armed conflict. Most of all, whether the economy grows or stagnates, an Obama Admin. wil be more humane and compassionate than a Romney one.

The President apologizes yet again to the Egyptians for invading our own sovereign territory, our embassy grounds. The wimp factor and our Man-of-Steel President has spoken again! Liberals in the USA seen hiding under their beds!

http://weaselzippers.us/2012/09/11/krauthammer-rips-obama-regime-for-issuing-apology-to-muslims-in-egypt-after-embassy-attack-tells-mob-to-go-to-hell/

I am way better off than 4 years ago. 3 years ago I was laid off from a major mortgage company after 20 years in the business...twice in one year by the same company. I was living in Orlando, which was not my FL dream location and got lucky and found Dunedin. Getting a job in the area was easy, making money was not. I moved to FL in 2007 right when the mortgage industry tanked. I didn't see it coming or I would have stayed where I was. Luckily, I now have a new job, busy as I can be and watching the mortgage industry bounce back with a gusto nationwide! I'm happy I found Dunedin and am even happier to be doing better than ever and able to support local businesses!

yep -- and we could have been worst off ...they stuck the finger in the dam again- but we need some real cooperation form BIG money to invest back in the USA, and not just their wallets. ...

Well, our family is a lot better off than we were in 2008, but we have not yet recovered to how our family was doing in 2000. What happened, I wonder between 2000 and 2008?

Oh yeah; two un-funded wars, plus tax cuts at the same time, plus a financial melt-down which was caused by lax regulation plus Wall Street greed, and an automobile industry close to the edge of the cliff.

But you have to give George Bush credit for starting the process of funding a recovery of the automotive industry; still, it took Obama to put the final structures in place thus saving over a million American jobs at not only GM and Chrysler, but at hundreds of companies that supply the American automobile industry.

Yes, we're coming back, but some people are still hurting and they need support from America until the recovery, from a five and one-half year old recession, is complete.

As the owner of Harris Plumbing, a family owned business since 1947 in Dunedin, I know of no greater time that our business was in jeopardy than during the Carter or Bush administrations. As a business the numbers just don't lie. I am not trying to be political in anyway, it's just simple math here. On a personal note I have been very dissatisfied with local and state government due to being promised less taxes and better responsibility. As a business I've watched my local and State fee's triple and the red tape flow out of our city and state capitol like water out of a broken tap (sorry for the plumbing pun). I for one have never been a fan of the question "are you better off than 4 years ago". If my grandfather was alive he would probably say something about watching the pot and not boiling or giving the cookies time to bake lol. The point is our woes have been going on a long time and it will take twice as long to fix them. My wish is that people would just work together and stop attacking each other. There is to much to do to be wasting time fighting among ourselves. The world will keep on spinning and in the blink of a eye twenty years will of pasted. If you feel yourself getting to overwhelmed in all the political debates and feel like our problems are just to big to overcome, remember this question. "how do you take care of 1 million kittens?" answer: One kitten at a time.

We are much better off today than 4 years ago, and will be even better if we vote Republicans, like do-nothing Gus Bilirakis, out of Congress.

We have volunterred in the Port of Tampa for nearly 10 years. Before Obama took office the port was a thriving place with dozens and dozens of ships coming and going daily. Now the port is like a ghost town. Where are all those port workers, dock workers, shipyard workers, and seafarers now? People are not facing the facts of just how bad our economy is under this administration.

Michael is correct. If you look at the latest report from Norbridge Martin Assoc. on the Tampa Port Authority, specifially under "The Recession’s Effects on the U.S. and Florida Economies" it details the decline which started before Obama ever got into office. However, in the Dec. 2011 State of the Port Presentation, it states that "Visable and substantial progress has been and is being made at The Port of Tampa. And this report gives in detail where we are now and plans and progress for the future.

When Obama took office, the challenges for his administration were unprecedented. Under the circumstances, and with little sincere cooperation across the isle, I think he has done a remarkable job. YES, my family and I feel better and far more secure NOW (than when Bush left office.) The work is obviously NOT done. Those who want to see the middle-class completely go under water, support the candidate who has NO comprehension of what middle class even is. If you want a candidate who can move us forward in a direction that is most fair to the people who are doing the majority of the work in this country today, support Obama. That's what my family is doing.

Yes. Before Obama took office I was not able to live in Florida. Since then, I've been able to buy a condo in Dunedin and I'm in the process of rehabbing it for retirement. So yes, Dunedin is in my life now and I consider it a win win.

When George Bush was President there was so much more manure in my garden. Now Obama is President and the manure is gone. It's all Obama's fault!

@Jasminetea. Maybe it was because of all the banking and financial deregulation, no loan oversight so folks were buying houses they knew they shouldn't, along with two wars we couldn't afford with huge tax cuts thrown in for good measure. Ya know, if hadn't of happened, it would be OK since the economy would have been in much better shape. Sorry, your Savior Bush doesn't get off without blame on this one. Nice try.

@jasminetea. Agreed. Interesting article. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/31/treasury.mortgages/index.html

Your original post back at me was condescending and had nothing to do with Bush or Obama but yet you took the jab. Nice. We all know banks are not the most giving organizations in this country like a lot of others. It's all about the profits. Certain people and big business shout deregulation and all it's glory but when it's hands off and folks aren't treated fairly, it's now a different story. Somewhere in the middle would be nice.
Like I said, I agree with you that it's not right, but don't make a snide comment to me because I worked hard to save my money and was make the purchase.

The spirit of the program was right on the money: Lower a person’s mortgage payment in line with the amount their income dropped, or by the amount their mortgage payment has jumped. Seems simple enough. But very few people who would actually be helped by this program are being approved for it. Because it’s solely the banks decision which of their borrowers to approve for the program, or if they even want to participate in it at all. And that’s why the Obama administration has expressed anger over the banks’ use of the program, and why the administration concedes the program is not helping nearly enough people. I was turned down twice when I knew I qualified, so I called my representative in Washington and sent a letter complaining that my mortgage company would not help me. Three weeks later, I not only got a response from my Representative, but also got a call from my mortgage with the details of my modification. It took me more than 5 months to get it done, but only persistence actually got me what I wanted. the Obama administration can not police every policy and every mandate. Its up to us sometimes and our state and local reps and whoever else will listen to try and get what we want. Just my opinion.

This is my understanding of the way MHA works: the government gives incentive money to a bank for every loan it modifies according to the stipulations of the MHA program. When a borrower applies for a modification through their mortgage company, the bank’s accountants will determine if the bank stands to make more money by accepting the government funds and modifying the loan, or by keeping the terms of the loan the same. And if they think they’ll make more money by putting their borrower in the MHA program, they’ll do it. Otherwise, they won’t. It’s as simple as that. The Government can not force the banks and mortgage companies to do the modifications.

Yes, my family is much better off since Obama took office! Bush and Cheney had the economy spinning out of control with their reckless policies, but Obama at least fended off another "Depression". We have been adding jobs at a positive rate for well over one year, and recent history has shown us that if Americans want jobs to be created then the emocratic party has outperformed the Republican by far in the creation of jobs. In addition, since Obama has come into office the stock market has rebounded and my 401K is starting to look healthy again, as it was on life support when Bush and Cheney were reunning their clown show. Also, Osama is ead and GM is alive thanks to Obama. The last thing this country needs right now is to elect Romney since he will revert right back to the Bush era policies that nearly crippled this country. I challenge anyone to give me a point by point idea of what Romney will institute as far as tax cuts, Medicare, regulation of the banking industry etc...you cannot do it because he has no idea what he would do (its a secret that he will tell everyone later about). I can tell you that if Paul Ryan has his way, the 1% will continue to enjoy perks, while the middle and lower class continue to carry the burden.

Not only am I not better off neither is the country especiall now that the Jimmy Carter clone is now the President!!!

Jimmy wasn't a very successful president in some people's eyes because he was just too nice a guy. Not a Republican standard! Not the best President to some but a good human being. If each of us could have that said about us, we wouldn't need the accolades of others. Besides he believed his god would help him solve the injustice in the world. He's learning now and working hard to rebuild himself and the world with the help of his friends. Romney on the other hand will always be known as the man who stood on the backs of others to gain his fortune. I know you admire this quality of wasting others to get to the top, that you can do it alone! Must be lonely at the top. Maybe that's why he is so out of touch. " Bet you $10,000!"

Republicans admit Romney was wrong about comments on Cairo/Benghazi:

"Romney’s “rush to condemn Obama” was “as tortured in its reasoning as it is unseemly in its timing,” said Mark Salter, a longtime aide to Arizona Sen. John McCain, the party’s presidential nominee in 2008.

Peter King, the Republican chairman of the House of Representatives’ committee on homeland security, said Romney was “right on the larger point,” but added: “I probably would have waited a day or half a day.”

Bill Kristol, editor of the conservative Weekly Standard, said Romney’s “timing and tone” were questionable.

Ed Rogers, a longtime Republican strategist, penned an opinion piece on the Washington Post’s website that maligned Romney’s response.

“At this solemn, serious moment, Mitt Romney had to be crisp and precise. He was neither,” he wrote.

“At times, Romney jumbled his words and appeared to be winging it. The president had to display stature and resolve. He did both …. I’m stunned that Romney didn’t take more time to have a clear, well-delivered statement regarding our ambassador’s murder in Libya.”

The Wall Street Journal’s Peggy Noonan said on Fox News that Romney “has not been doing himself any favours … I always think discretion is the better way to go.”

Granted anonymity, Republican critics were far more brutal, with one describing the presidential nominee as “not ready for prime time” in a Buzzfeed piece."

Thanks for that, Goin' C.; Romney may be the new Palin!

Here's an excerpt form the LA Times article that gives even more detail on some Republican comments about Romney's deeply flawed reaction.

[begin quote]
"Not much is required of Gov. Romney on this. He has to be poised. He has to be sure-footed. He has to be precise. He was none of those," said Ed Rogers, a longtime Republican strategist.

Obama spoke in the White House Rose Garden, while Romney made his remarks at a former wallpaper shop in a strip mall that was being used as a campaign "victory center." He was in Jacksonville for a fundraiser, but his campaign added a hastily arranged rally at the office, then ushered several dozen supporters outside and quickly set up a podium after deciding that a rally would be the wrong backdrop for comments on an ambassador's death.
[end quote]

Here is how Fox News station in Minneapolis reported on Romney's tactics & GOP reaction:

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/19529355/republicans-decline-to-rally-around-romney-criticism-of-libya-response?clienttype=printable

Well I guess Dunedin itself is not better off than it was 4 years ago! This just in:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/some-jobs-lost-some-added-under-dunedins-2013-budget/1251663
"Under the proposed budget, 10 staff positions would be cut through attrition, reorganization or elimination of vacant positions, and five workers would be laid off.

The city would add three full-timers (a parks service worker, a civilian fire inspector and an administrative assistant who would "float" among the clerk's, city manager's and parks offices) and five part-time positions (all at the library).

Officials say the move would save about $320,000 annually and bring the city's total number of employees to 338, down from 339 last year and a high of 401 six years ago.

The city would pull $163,000 from its general fund for employee raises. The proposal also contains $10,000 for salary increases for employees who, during upcoming job audits, are found to have taken on extensive extra duties.

Thursday's vote on the raises and layoffs was final because the employee pay plan is not based on an ordinance, which would require two separate votes.

"Our sorrow to those folks who did lose their jobs here," Mayor Dave Eggers said. "A big thank you for all the hours and years they gave.""

Let's educate the liberals :)
United States Losing Millionaires As China, India Gain Them, Study Says
The Huffington Post | By Catherine New
Posted: 05/31/2012 3:52 pm Updated: 05/31/2012 4:59 pm
The number of rich people in the United States is declining, even as the number of millionaires elsewhere in the world grows, according to a new study released on Thursday.

Driven by the United States, North America lost nearly 1 percent of its private wealth in 2011, dropping to $38 trillion in total private assets. Last year in the U.S., the number of millionaire and ultra-millionaire (those with $100 million in assets) households decreased, according to a new study from Boston Consulting Group, a global management consulting firm. The results were part of the group’s 12th annual look at the state of world’s private wealth.

Meanwhile, the developing world led by the so-called BRIC countries -- Brazil, Russia, India and China -- saw a 10 percent increase in overall private wealth because of strong GDP growth.

China had a 15 percent increase in the number of millionaire households in 2011, for a total of 1.4 million households with more than $1 million in assets. The number of ultra-millionaires in both India and Russia also increased significantly.

The study's authors called it a "two-speed" world, with emerging markets driving the future growth of wealth, as the old world, including the United States, Western Europe and Japan, loses wealth in the coming years.

Financial services and traditional wealth managers must look to these new markets in order to increase profits, said Monish Kumar, a senior partner with BCG. Already banks in Asia are gearing up to capture newly wealthy clients, according to a recent story in the New York Times.

Retailers also increasingly look to foreign markets to drive revenue. Luxury brands are making a big push for newly wealthy Chinese customers, and high-end American department stores are catering to rich foreign tourists.

Russian billionaires have garnered a fair amount of headlines for their super-wealthy antics, including one who threw paper airplanes made of money out his window.

Meanwhile, it's not hard to see evidence of wealth loss in the United States, which has had a limp recovery from the recession. In the last year, the housing and foreclosure crisis continued to grind on, the stock market was shaky, budget cuts were pervasive and unemployment remained high.

But even if it seems like America's wealthy are losing ground, they have a long way to go before losing their place as the richest group in the world. The U.S. still ranks first for number of millionaires, with more than 5.1 million households qualifying for the label, according to the report. Japan ranks second with 1.6 million millionaire households, followed by China.

Overall, just 1 percent of the world's households controls 40 percent of the world's private wealth, the study said.

Emerging markets still account for only 27 percent of the world’s private wealth, the total for which was $122.8 trillion in 2011, according to the study. The U.S., Western Europe and Japan control nearly three-fourths of the world's wealth.

Here's another article from CNN Money!

Number of millionaires see a decline in wealth
By Emily Jane Fox @CNNMoney June 4, 2012: 11:43 AM E

When it comes to wealth, Singapore has the highest number of millionaires per capita.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The number of millionaires is on the decline in the United States, even as the number of wealthy individuals has increased worldwide.
Millionaire households in the United States decreased by 129,000 in 2011, according to a new study from the Boston Consulting Group. Globally, that figure grew by 175,000. The report defines these households as having over $1 million in cash, stock and other assets, excluding property, businesses and luxury goods.
Singapore has the highest proportion of millionaires in the world; 17% of all households in the Asian city-state have wealth of over $1 million. By comparison, 4.3% of households in the United States had wealth of over $1 million, which ranks it 7th in the world.
The United States also lagged when it came to the proportion of "ultra-high-net-worth" households, defined by the Boston Consulting Group as those with more than $100 million in wealth.
Switzerland topped the list with 11 in every 100,000 households qualifying as "ultra-high-net-worth," followed by Singapore with 10 in every 100,000 households.
The United States didn't make the top 15, the report said.
Across Asia-Pacific nations, excluding Japan, wealth increased by 10.7% to $23.7 trillion, while it declined by 0.9% to $38 trillion in North America.

So more reason why we must take America back; we need factories that produce Made in USA products, we need to stop making these overseas companies rich!

Strange how we a GoodbyeObamaWelcomeRomney is talking about the richest of american when Forbes released this article today:

http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/09/19/usa-billionaires-forbes-idINL1E8KJ8PC20120919

The net worth of the richest people in American grew by 1.7 Trillion Dollars, or grew 13% from last year.. The Net Worth of the top 400 earners is $13.56 Trillion dollars, also meaning $4.2 Billion growth on average. The lowest net worth was $1.1 out of the group, compared to $1.05. So I guess our weathly must be hurting? People who know how to use the system, are making money.
I guess we are in trouble if the Standard & Poor 500 index rose almost 20% over the past year (as stated in the article).
What a difference a year makes and timing in posting an agruement. I guess the Rich are getting Richer... but that can't be happening with a "Socialist" President, right?

Here's a list of corporations who are manufacturing in China & other parts of the world, which is ruining our nation :
http://www.jiesworld.com/international_corporations_in_china.htm

http://economyincrisis.org/content/american-manufacturing-can-no-longer-compete

http://www.china-briefing.com/news/2011/09/13/u-s-manufacturing-moving-overseas-%E2%80%93-the-new-wave.html

http://inchincloser.com/2010/12/10/some-companies-prefer-to-manufacture-in-india-vs-china/

By the way this issue is beyond Politics, we all have been so busy with my candidate is better than yours argument which is getting old, it is not getting any of us anywhere, we are never going to agree with each other, therefore we need to ask each candidate what they are going to do to these corps who are sending jobs overseas!
Yes I blame these corporations, this is shameful!

I think that it is really settling in exactly where this nation was exactly 4 years ago and that this line has actually backfired on Republicans. Check out the newest Pew Research poll:

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/polls/250453-pew-obama-opens-up-big-lead-nationally

Obama has now opened up an 8 point lead over Romney amongst likely voters and this poll is even before the news of Romney's 47% insults could be taken into account.

Mitt Romneys campaign is so dead the Mormon church just baptized it! See ya in November!

As a Republican, but not a Tea Party fanatic, I must admit that it now looks likely that there will be a Democratic Party celebration on Nov 7th, and a Republican Party wake on Nov 7h, very much like when boom-boom Barry lost in 1964.

If Romney had been honest to his core moderate instincts, he wouldn't be in this cow pie mess that he has created by pandering to the lunatic fringe.

Here is the Letter a 95 Year Old Pearl Harbor Survivor wrote to President Obama

Dear President Obama,

My name is Harold Estes, approaching 95 on December 13 of this year. People meeting me for the first time don’t believe my age because I remain wrinkle free and pretty much mentally alert.

I enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1934 and served proudly before, during and after WW II retiring as a Master Chief Bos’n Mate. Now I live in a “rest home” located on the western end of Pearl Harbor , allowing me to keep alive the memories of 23 years of service to my country.

One of the benefits of my age, perhaps the only one, is to speak my mind, blunt and direct even to the head man.

So here goes.

I am amazed, angry and determined not to see my country die before I do, but you seem hell bent not to grant me that wish.

I can’t figure out what country you are the president of.
You fly around the world telling our friends and enemies despicable lies like:

” We’re no longer a Christian nation”
” America is arrogant”

– (Your wife even
announced to the world,” America is mean-
spirited. ” Please tell her to try preaching
that nonsense to 23 generations of our
war dead buried all over the globe who
died for no other reason than to free a
whole lot of strangers from tyranny and
hopelessness.)

Continued Next Post...

After 9/11 you said,” America hasn’t lived up to her ideals.”

Which ones did you mean? Was it the notion of personal liberty that 11,000 farmers and shopkeepers died for to win independence from the British? Or maybe the ideal that no man should be a slave to another man, that 500,000 men died for in the Civil War? I hope you didn’t mean the ideal 470,000 fathers, brothers, husbands, and a lot of fellas I knew personally died for in WWII, because we felt real strongly about not letting any nation push us around, because we stand for freedom.

I don’t think you mean the ideal that says equality is better than discrimination. You know the one that a whole lot of white people understood when they helped to get you elected.

Take a little advice from a very old geezer, young man.

Shape up and start acting like an American. If you don’t, I’ll do what I can to see you get shipped out of that fancy rental on Pennsylvania Avenue . You were elected to lead not to bow, apologize and kiss the hands of murderers and corrupt leaders who still treat their people like slaves.

Continued Next Post...

And just who do you think you are telling the American people not to jump to conclusions and condemn that Muslim major who killed 13 of his fellow soldiers and wounded dozens more. You mean you don’t want us to do what you did when that white cop used force to subdue that black college professor in Massachusetts , who was putting up a fight? You don’t mind offending the police calling them stupid but you don’t want us to offend Muslim fanatics by calling them what they are, terrorists.

One more thing. I realize you never served in the military and never had to defend your country with your life, but you’re the Commander-in-Chief now, son. Do your job. When your battle-hardened field General asks you for 40,000 more troops to complete the mission, give them to him. But if you’re not in this fight to win, then get out. The life of one American soldier is not worth the best political strategy you’re thinking of.

You could be our greatest president because you face the greatest challenge ever presented to any president.
You’re not going to restore American greatness by bringing back our bloated economy. That’s not our greatest threat. Losing the heart and soul of who we are as Americans is our big fight now.
And I sure as hell don’t want to think my president is the enemy in this final battle…

Sincerely,
Harold B. Estes

A weak economy and chronic unemployment over 8% is the disease and whether you like them or not, Romney/ Ryan are the cure.

NOBAMA2012!

Florida has had only Republican governors for the last 14 years. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have been under Republican control since 1996. Somehow Republicans now point fingers and blame Florida's poor economy on Pres. Obama when it was their own short sighted policies that caused our economic problems. Unfortunately, the once noble GOP has been captured by religious zealots, extremist tea partiers, and Grover Norquist whose tax pledges ensure that the richest in our society will never pay a dollar more in taxes. The Party of Lincoln has now become the party of Rush Limbaugh, Todd Akin, Gov. Rick Scott, Michelle Bachman, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Santorum. God help this country if the current GOP takes over the federal government in Washington.

Yes I am better off but not because of obama!!! I have worked since I was 14 when I could get working papers. Most of my life I had two jobs (usually one p/t) I paid my way thu college by work study and studnet loans (all paid off). Married and we paid for our own wedding. Served my cournty in the US Navy. Took a job with a pension and health benefits (looking out for the future) put two children thru college and advanced degrees with student & peroonal loans all paid back. Purchased a home I could afford and paid the mortgage off. I have given to charity and my church......paid my local, federal, SSI, income tax etc..........all along being able to put a few buck away. I feel I am doing pretty good and am better off than others becasue I am not dependent on obama and his welfare entitlement state. This is the story of most middle class Americans and although I cannot speak for all of them but I think "we have paid our fair share" and are tired of supporting fakes, phonies and frauds and illegal immigrants that now riddle our welfare system and take funds from those who are trully in need,

The Democratic Party

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rC2T81nsqKA

Anyone who says they are better off today than 4 years ago, is sadly ignorant as to what is happing to them. Our country has become a sad crowd of uninformed people following after empty promises with little or no regard to the truth. We are like sheep being sent to the slaughter, all the while thinking what a nice free ride we are going on. It so sad to watch - but little can be done to stop it.

The reverend Wright was right when he said "Americas chickens have come home to roost"... in the form of one Barack Hussien Obama! Becoming a nation of fools comes with a very high price!