header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 29
1928 - Little dam victim, thought unidentified & buried in SCV, actually ID'd & buried in Chatsworth [story]
Newhall Cowboys


Out of Left Field | Commentary by Charlie Vignola
| Monday, Dec 10, 2012

It’s been a month since Barack Obama was re-elected president, despite how utterly convinced all of my Republican friends were that it would never happen.  In retrospect, I really should have made more bets on the outcome, as I’d be on easy street right now.

In the post-mortem, lots of different reasons have been proffered: Romney wasn’t conservative enough (because Rick Santorum or Newt Gingrich would have stood a better chance of being elected?); Hurricane Sandy blunted Romney’s momentum from the first debate (which was statistically gone by the time the hurricane hit). The biggest consensus among conservatives for why Obama won was basically a re-run of Romney’s infamous “47 percent” argument: People just wanted “gifts,” so they voted for the guy offering more of them.

But what this excuse always conveniently leaves out is that Romney was offering plenty of “gifts” to the people who voted for him, as well.  It’s just that Romney’s gifts were much more extravagant.

If you voted for Romney, oil and gas companies would have looked forward to gifts such as tens of billions in subsidies that they don’t need and didn’t deserve, as well as Romney killing subsidies for their biggest competition – clean energy companies – thus slanting the markets even further in their favor.

Not only that, but with Romney taking the teeth out of the Environmental Protection Agency, energy companies would have made even more money since they’d no longer have to worry about cleaning up their pollution – which, as we all know, doesn’t contribute to global warming, since that’s just a hoax anyway.

Wealthy people who voted for Romney would have received gifts in the form of another generous income tax cut that would have been the equivalent of giving them an annual 20-percent raise without having to grow their businesses or create even one new job.

That’s not all.  If you were a millionaire or billionaire, you would have been able to leave your entire fortune tax-free to your heirs, since Romney intended to get rid of the estate tax.  Oh, and that dividend money that rich folks like Romney live on?  They’d make even more money, since dividend taxes would be slashed, as well.

Christmas would have come early for religious extremists, as Romney would have done everything possible to ensure that women lost their reproductive freedoms.  So, all you teenagers who accidentally got pregnant?  Under Romney, you’d be on the hook for the $300,000 it costs to raise a child until age 17, and don’t expect any extra help from government social programs because we’d be be slashing those, too, to pay for all those goodies for the “makers.”

Social conservatives would also look forward to having the Constitution rewritten to enshrine bigotry by depriving gay Americans of marriage equality, thus relegating an entire class of people to second-class status and guaranteeing that they were legally perceived as abnormal.

Finally, Romney would grant conservatives one of the biggest gifts of all by appointing a few more hard-right justices to the Supreme Court, shifting the balance of power for a generation and allowing the GOP to roll back affirmative action, voters’ rights laws, protections for working Americans, and rendering democracy even more vulnerable to corporate takeover with further decisions like Citizens United.

You have to admit that those are some pretty good gifts, right?  A little more epic in scope than food stamps and unemployment insurance.

Fortunately for the majority of Americans, none of that shall come to pass.  On Nov. 6, 2012, 4.5 million more voters chose Obama than Romney.  Conservatives insist that’s not that big of a victory.  Oh, really?  That’s 45 Super Bowl stadiums full of people more.  Sounds pretty big to me.

Obama doesn’t have a mandate, say disgruntled conservatives.  Oh, really?  He won by 332 electoral votes. That’s 126 more electoral votes than Romney.  In 2004, Bush claimed he had a mandate after winning by just one state.  Sorry, but Republicans don’t get to redefine “mandate” just because they’ve lost the popular vote five out of the last six presidential election cycles.

My best advice to the GOP: Stop coming up with excuses for why your guy lost. More people rejected him and his policies; that’s why he lost. Give up on trying to brand Obama as a socialist. It’s a losing strategy and nobody cares. Start getting used to real political compromise, or it’s going to be a long four years.

 

Charlie Vignola describes himself as a former College Republican turned Liberal Democrat.  A resident of the Santa Clarita Valley since 1999, he works in the motion picture industry and loves his wife and kids.

 

 

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


Opinion Section Policy
All opinions and ideas are welcome. Factually inaccurate, libelous, defamatory, profane or hateful statements are not. Your words must be your own. All commentary is subject to editing for legibility. There is no length limit, but the shorter, the better the odds of people reading it. "Local" SCV-related topics are preferred. Send commentary to: LETTERS (at) SCVNEWS.COM. Author's full name, community name, phone number and e-mail address are required. Phone numbers and e-mail addresses are not published except at author's request. Acknowledgment of submission does not guarantee publication.
Read More From...
RECENT COMMENTARY
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
Tuesday, Mar 26, 2024
Springtime in Santa Clarita brings not only vibrant blooms and opportunities to embrace the outdoors with warmer weather, but also an array of free, family-friendly events and this Saturday is no exception.
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024
Did you know that each year, Main Street in Old Town Newhall undergoes countless makeovers for different events, such as Light Up Main Street and the Fourth of July Parade?
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose Fifth District includes the Santa Clarita Valley, issued the following statement Thursday in response to an announcement by Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel of a proposal to change how calls to the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline are routed.
Monday, Mar 18, 2024
Unlike our children who enjoy a week-long spring break, we adults no longer have that luxury.
Friday, Mar 15, 2024

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1928 - Little dam victim, thought unidentified & buried in SCV, actually ID'd & buried in Chatsworth [story]
Newhall Cowboys
Los Angeles County Public Works is updating the Los Angeles County Bicycle Master Plan.
April 16:  County Bicycle Master Plan Virtual Community Meeting
College of the Canyons mens golf got back on track during its return to conference play on Monday, carding a five-man score of 370 to top the eight-team field at Brookside Golf Course and maintain its unblemished conference mark.
Cougars Win Again, Keep Conference Streak
Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, reminds property owners that the second installment of the 2023-24 Annual Secured Property Taxes becomes  delinquent if not received by 5 p.m. Pacific Time or United States Postal Service postmarked on or before Wednesday, April 10, 2024.
County Treasurer Reminds Property Owners of April 10 Due Date
Local nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence is seeking “Allies” to support Santa Clarita youth who are aging out of the L.A. County foster care system.
April 16: FYI Seeks Volunteers To Pair With Local Foster Youth
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health today unveiled the latest L.A. County Health Survey, which gathers vital data on health behaviors, conditions, neighborhood settings, and the needs of L.A .County residents, informing future public health policies and programs.
Public Health Unveils the 2023 L.A. County Health Survey Findings
Due to the projected rain forecast, Eggstravaganza will now be held indoors at the Canyon Country Community Center beginning promptly at 10 a.m. on March 30.
March 30: Eggstravaganza Now Being Held Indoors at Canyon Country Community Center
To support the mental health of California's young people, the California Department of Public Health awarded $25 million to 28 tribal and community-based organizations across the state.
California Announces $25 Million in Awards for Youth Mental Health
The College of the Canyons Athletic Department will host a dedication ceremony to unveil the Michele Jenkins Softball Team Room in honor of the longtime board member and ardent softball program supporter’s nearly 40 years of service to the district.
April 16: COC to Host Michele Jenkins Team Room Dedication Ceremony
PFLAG Santa Clarita has announced the establishment of the Peggy and Jeff Stabile PFLAG SCV Scholarship. The scholarship will provide financial assistance to LGBTQIA+ students pursuing higher education and committed to advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and promoting diversity and inclusion.
PFLAG SCV Announces Stabile PFLAG Scholarship
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites the community to "Let the Sunshine In," a delightful evening of food, wine and song at the annual Cabaret & Cabernet fundraising benefit.
April 20: Santa Clarita Master Chorale’s Cabaret, Cabernet Fundraiser
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
March 27 Ocean Water Warning
As an integral ingredient necessary to help the Santa Clarita Valley to flourish, feedback from the business community is the secret sauce for achieving great things.
SCVEDC Asks For the Business Community’s Opinion on Santa Clarita
Raise your heart rate while raising funds for the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Dollars-for-Desks campaign to provide school desks for students in Sariaya, Santa Clarita's Sister City in the Philippines.
April 13: Sister Cities Zumba-thon Fundraiser
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
SCVEDC Company Spotlight: Drumming Up Big Business with Remo, Inc.
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Schiavo Introduces Bill to Prohibit ‘Derogatory’ School Mascot Names
Los Angeles County’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department  in collaboration with Local Initiatives Support Corporation Los Angeles is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Pitch Competition for the cohorts of JCOD's Incubation Academy.
March 28: JCOD Incubation Academy Helps Grassroots Non-Profits For the Second Year
Children’s Bureau is seeking foster families and now offers two virtual ways for individuals and/or couples to learn how to help children in foster care while reunifying with birth families or how to provide legal permanency by adoption.
April 18: Children’s Bureau Hosts Virtual Orientation
The Sunburst track was constructed in 1887 by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was a part of the main line running between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Enjoy Spring With a Ride On The Sunburst Track
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation.
State Superintendent Announces Support for Personal Finance Graduation Requirement
1847 - Probable birth date of Pico Canyon oil driller Charles Alexander Mentry [story]
C.A. Mentry
SCVNews.com