A View from Left Field-Three Strikes you're Out!

We’re closing in on the 9th inning and Mitt Romney’s batting clean-up.  If you’re envisioning Mitt as leader of the Free World, look no further than his trip to the London Olympics.  No sooner did the “Mitt-ster” land on the soil of our foremost ally, the British press begin berating him for intemperate remarks.  He questioned London’s readiness for the games which set off a storm of protest, and he defied protocol by calling the House of Commons Minority Leader, the Majority Leader…so much for preparedness and proper social etiquette.  For sure, this is not the behavior we want or expect from a president in action.  Strike One!

An American film producer released a film which disparaged the Prophet Mohammed.   As a result, religious fundamentalists in Egypt and Libya attacked our embassies causing destruction and death.  Instead of following tradition by supporting our country, Mitt saw fit to blame President Obama for these spontaneous tragedies by not being more belligerent.  Frankly, that what I like most about our president.  He’s firm but sure.  Rather than escalate a confrontation, he takes a more measured and planned response.  After eight years of Bush II shooting from the hip, we don’t need Romney doing the same “play it again, Sam” routine.  Have you heard him lately?  He wants to get tough all over the Middle East.  Haven't we had enough warefare in one lifetime?  Strike Two!

Even though Mitt showed some style in his first debate with the President, as usual he lacked substance.  Also, he spent six months preparing for it while the on-duty president spent less than a week.  Once again, the "Mitt-ster" was all smoke and mirrors, but this time he did it with a supercilious smile and a ruefully disingenuous outreach to middle class voters.  All you Republicans out there, help me out.  What does Mitt Romney stand for?  I know he’s for creating jobs, but how?  He’s for education too, but where will the funding come from?  Also, when is he going to reveal his secretive plans on "righting the ship", the election is less than a month away?  With all the Republican emphasis on tax reduction, especially for the super rich, where will we get the money to fund legitimate government programs for the rest of us.

While praising the state healthcare system he devised for Massachusetts, Romney opposes President Obama for doing the same thing nationally.  Mitt originally supported reproductive choice for women. Now he sees it as sanctity of life issue.  He has a grand scheme to create jobs and overcome the recession, but fails to disclose the details.  At Bain Capital Romney bought and sold companies while cannibalizing them to move jobs overseas for greater profit. The Chinese must love him!

He pays less than his fair share of taxes and hides his money in Switzerland and the Cayman Islands.  Again is this the leadership we are seeking?  Morals and principles aside, for Mitt it’s time to win at all costs.  The major oil companies are even helping by running up the cost of gasoline.   Have you check the prices at the pumps lately?  Seems to me like the big fix is in, and the American voting public is being led down the garden path of a major sting operation.

To continue our baseball analogy, the game of life for many millions of Americans is on the line.  Most of us are better off now than four years ago, even though things might not be fabulous yet.  President Obama has brought us back from the brink.  Give him a chance to finish the job.  Let’s not get sandbagged by corporate greed and the Bush League politics of Mitt Romney.  Come Election Day; let’s hang a third strike on him, so America can come away a winner!