This is my first post, so be patient if I break with site etiquette.
You say "Obama's middeast policy is in ruins - Americans are getting killed..."
I say Bush started two wars, Obama has ended one of them & begun drawdown in Afghanistan. Bin Laden's been killed along with several top al Qaeda leaders. We have strong sanctions imposed on Iran. And the U.S. is viewed more favorably in Europe and the Middle East than under Bush.
Meanwhile, before Romney would even potentially get into office, he's insulted the British, insulted Palestinians, while in Israel he praised Jewish culture in the stereotypical context of making money, and has clarified he would order a military strike before Iran even acquired a bomb, simply when it was getting close.
You say "the Obama economy is still in the doldrums - people out of work, Obama energy policy - $$$ to failed "green" energy companies while gas is over $4/gallon (how's that for a regressive tax on the poor and working class?). In other words, Obama's record is one of dismal failure."
I say the deficit was at $1.3 Trillion when Obama took office. There have been more jobs created during Obama's term than in both of Bush's terms together (more than 3.9M private sector jobs created in the past two years). Government spending is the slowest it's been in nearly 60 years. Stock market performance in Obama’s administration has been one of the most successful of the last 100 years. Republicans criticize GDP numbers under Obama, despite the fact the numbers are comparable with GW Bush's first two years in office. This is also despite the fact Obama came into office during the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Corporate profits average 51.8% under Obama. Compare this to profits of 14.2% under Bush.
Gas prices are determined in the world market & are affected by things like instability in the Middle East and growing populations (and oil consumption). China, for example, has tripled the number of its cars in just four years. In the meantime, U.S. production of oil is rising under Obama so we're less dependent on foreign oil. Keep in mind, the
$4 billion in tax breaks the oil companies ('job creators') receive are the same tax breaks Republicans have worked so hard to protect. Looking toward alternate energy sources is a necessity. And the fact Obama's taking steps to deal with climate change & working to protect the environment (or paraphrasing your comment: slowing the rise of the oceans and helping the planet heal), I don't see that as laughable; I see that as admirable. Rather than researching Obama's green energy failures, look up his achievements.
Additionally, Obama has passed health care reform, the Stimulus, he's passed Wall Street Reform, turned around the U.S. Auto Industry, he's recapitalized banks, he's repealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", helped topple Gaddafi, publicly called on Mubarak to step down, he reversed Bush torture policies, signed measures to kick banks out of the Federal Student Loan program and expanded Pell Grant Spending, he boosted fuel efficiency standards, he helped secure more than $500 Billion for the IMF as a response to the International financial crisis, increased support for veterans, passed credit card reforms to protect consumers, signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, he signed a new START Treaty to limit strategic warheads & launchers, expanded national service three-fold through AmeriCorps, gave the FDA power to regulate tobacco, he's expanded health coverage for kids through CHIP, and expanded stem cell research, et cetera....
At last count, there have been 241 Republican Senate filibusters since Obama took office. We're on track to possibly reach more filibusters in Obama's first four years in office than in the 16 years combined of Clinton's & GW Bush's terms. Among the bills scuttled were dozens dealing with employment, unemployment, jobs & small businesses. This included the American Jobs Act that was blocked by Republicans in Congress which would have created at least 2 million jobs.
From a headcount reported mid-Oct 2011, Republicans had introduced 1,284 bills on abortion, religion, family relationships, marriage, firearms & gun control, taxation and government investigations. They introduced zero bills on job creation.
You say "But let's talk about Romney's taxes so we don't have to deal with the truth."
I say per Romney's 2006 Financial Disclosure forms (http://pfds.opensecrets.org/...), he had millions invested in Russian and Chinese oil companies, and through them, in Iran. Note, this was one of the parts left out of Romney's incomplete 2010 tax returns. His tax returns would also show how much of his money was made off of investments in Stericycle (a company that disposes of aborted fetuses). This would be of interest to Republicans who presently support his current pro-life stance. With Romney's recent criticisms of Obama re: "failing to stop China & failing American workers... it's time to stand up to China"... Romney has failed to release tax returns to disprove claims he was a leading outsourcer, primarily to China, while CEO of Bain. As Newt Gingrich phrased it: "Maybe Governor Romney in the spirit of openness should tell us how much money he's made off of how many households that have been foreclosed by his investments."
Of note, when Romney ran for governor of Massachusetts, he promised more jobs, less debt and smaller government. Under Governor Romney, Massachusetts was 1st in the nation in debt burden per person. Massachusetts was 47th in the nation on job creation (while the overall U.S. economy grew). Of the jobs created in Massachusetts, state government jobs grew at six times the rate of private sector jobs. Taxes and fees increased by $750 million per year affecting the middle class while cutting taxes for the wealthiest in the state. Long-term debt increased more than $2.6 billion. And in manufacturing, jobs declined at twice the national rate. State government spending increased every year to the point he left behind a $1 billion deficit for the next governor. Romney outsourced state jobs and he vetoed legislation that would have stopped the practice of outsourcing jobs. He's presently touting elimination of taxes on companies' foreign profits which would encourage companies to send jobs overseas.
Here's an interesting quote from Marc Wolpow, former managing partner at Bain, who worked closely with Romney for nine years: "I never thought of what I do for a living as job creation.... The primary goal of private equity is to create wealth for your investors."
I feel his tax return information is valid since it's useful for informing on his business practices & his character. And what I have seen of his character & business, I don't approve of either one.
You say "As for Romney being "morally ambiguous" - since I don't have a window into Romney's soul, I can't make such a statement, like apparently you can."
I thought that comment was a bit offensive. My opinion of Romney is based on his own words and actions. Morally ambiguous fits what I've learned of the man.