THE RYAN PICK, MITT ROMNEY'S BUNGLE?

Icheoku wonders what Mitt Romney wanted to achieve politically and on his general appeal by picking a vice presidential candidate from the core of the far right wing of the Republican Party; aside of proving that he is an "acute conservative" who have no soul? Unlike the pretentious GW who once dubbed himself a "compassionate conservative" but never showed any compassion whatsoever, Mitt Romney has gone full throttle in mounting his flag of extremism by choosing yet another extremist as his running mate. The far right lunatics wouldn't have gone anywhere else but to vote for Mitt Romney, at least in protest of the "NIGGER" occupying "their" White House which they want back at all cost. So a more adept political tactician would have seen that voting bloc as already bagged and used the vice presidential pick to woo another voting bloc.

A Marc Rubio pick would have automatically enticed the Hispanic voting bloc or at least help burrow into it, to such extent that President Obama would no longer be their only best hope since one of their own is going to be a vice president? Florida as a state would also have become more competitive with its large Hispanic population turning out for one of their own. But Mitt Romney's disdain and dislike for all and every non-white American, took better part of his judgment and he would rather ride the tiger and end up in its belly than to have a non-Caucasian in his ticket. Here is a man whose Mormon cult never admitted any non white person in their congregation until very recently and within a very limited role. So Icheoku asks, which Latino or Latina would throw away his or her vote with such a Romney/Ryan ticket that would make their living in the United States hellish if not deportable? Icheoku queries where is Dick Cheney on this Ryan's choice now or would he also wait for long after the election in November to tell the world that Mitt Romney made a mistake in picking a Tea Party extremist as his running mate as he did with John McCain's Sarah Palin? Even Governor Christ Christie of New Jersey would have certainly been a smarter pick since the cantankerous governor is not as far right winged as this Paul Ryan and has no national guffaw or baggage that would follow him such as the medicare/medicaid elephant in the room which would certainly cost the ticket this 2012 election for crying out loud. What a gift that keeps on giving; as God has certainly blinded Mitt Romney from making a winnable choice of a vice president just like John McCain did in 2008 with Sarah Palin.

What Icheoku is saying is that Paul Ryan brings nothing new to the moribund Mitt Romney's campaign. Put more succinctly, Paul Ryan's addition would not attract any new voting bloc other than the already secured far right Tea Party lunatics which is yoked to death with the Republican Party. So where is the smarts in Mitt Romney's choice of Paul Ryan? His first decision, bungled; needless to add his also bungled overseas foreign trip. A wiser Mitt Romney would have used his vice presidential pick to chip away at President Obama's existing political advantages; by for example picking a woman as his vice presidential running mate or even an Asian. That way he would have reassured women of America that he would not institutionalize a Taliban-styled government in America which would curtail their existing rights? That they would be part of his government. That they would be be heard and protected under a Mitt Romney's government and that their rights would be fully guaranteed. But hell no, the Mormon bishop, whose cult regard women as lower class citizens and who should rather be seen than heard was not ready even to entertain that thought. So Mitt Romney where is your joker?

Even a Portsman choice would have come with less baggage than the Ryan Medicare/Medicaid elephant in a China shop debacle. What about Governor Bob Jindal of Louisiana and his Asian bloc as well as other less controversial choices that abound in the Republican Party? But it is the Mitt, a Mormon bishop, and he could care less about other Americans whose skins are not pale enough; afterall his campaign in London, bandied their "Anglo heritage" as a fundamental reason why their candidate should become the next American president. Icheoku says Mitt Romney is inexplicably oblivious of the mosaic which America has long ago become and his decision to go all white in his ticket and in a country as diverse as America, in which minorities are fast becoming the majority was a real mistake. His problem was compounded more by the presence of a choice-ticket of President Barack Obama/Joe Biden which is more reflective of the hybrid/multi-brid America of today; but regrettably Mitt Romney thinks it is in 1950 America that he is running for president?

Icheoku makes bold to state that the days of whites-only in America, including in presidential tickets, is since over except where there is no choice as where both parties gang up to produce an all white tickets. Mitt Romney will realize this foolish mistake on November 4, 2012 when Americans would reject his ticket as simply too extreme for America and not reflective or representative of today's America polity. Once again, it has been shown that there is hand of God in President Barack Obama's presidency; otherwise why should Mitt Romney bungle it with his choice of Paul Ryan as his vice presidential pick; thus giving Obama a coast-clear second term. Luckily, the shell of the tortoise as well as the snail follows them anywhere they go, and so would the heavily anti-peoples credentials of Romney and Ryan follow them all the way to the presidential election and the majority would decide it. On his first decision picking a vice presidential candidate, Mitt Romney was not tactical nor wise enough!

WITH RYAN ITS '64 AND GOLDWATER AGAIN - ED KOCH

Mitt Romney has done this country a great service by selecting Paul Ryan as his running mate. He has changed the nature of the election from one that is about who is the best candidate to lead us out of the aftermath of the Great Recession to one that concerns fundamental party policies and philosophy.

He has turned the election into what we had in 1964. President Lyndon B. Johnson was finishing the term of our martyred President Jack Kennedy and running for his own first term against Sen. Barry Goldwater, Republican from Arizona. Goldwater was the leader of the conservative wing of the Republican Party and ultimately the leader of the entire party in that election.

The 1964 race became a referendum on whether the United States should jettison the principles of the party of hope — the Democratic party — created by FDR that united the aspirations of the middle class and addressed the needs of the poor and the concerns of women, blacks, Jews, other minorities, and farmers.

FDR, a wealthy man, was denounced by many of his peers as a traitor to his class.

What FDR gave to our country was the promise of greater fairness for all of its people. One of his greatest contributions, many would say, was the Social Security program that was intended to assist these who had worked all their lives to retire at 65 with dignity. That concept was extended by President Johnson in 1965 with the creation of both Medicare and Medicaid. The former is basically for the elderly and the latter is for the impoverished of all ages.

Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are the very programs that the Republicans and conservatives beginning with Goldwater have been seeking to chip away at and ultimately eliminate. For example, President George W. Bush rightly recognized that Social Security needs to be changed to make it solvent. However, his proposal to privatize the program, making payments dependent on stock market performance, makes no sense, particularly in view of the effects of the Great Recession on the stock market.

A better approach would have been and still would be to gradually increase the eligibility age (we fortunately live much longer today than we did in 1935), and apply the current Social Security tax to our entire personal income — it stops now at $110,100 — with such additional fiscal measures as are necessary to bring in more revenue. The program eligibility could also be made subject to a needs basis. Those who are wealthy don't need the employer subsidies which could be added to and used for those who do.

There are changes of a fiscal nature short of privatization that could similarly protect Medicare from going bankrupt. Unfortunately, privatizing Medicare is the signature proposal of Paul Ryan and his budget adopted by the Republican House of Representatives. Ryan would give those 55 or younger vouchers to buy health insurance policies to replace the current Medicare entitlement program.

Already the Romney-Ryan team is screaming it is unfair to attack Ryan on this his signature proposal. But he cannot run away from it and his philosophy. Listening to the talking heads, I hear a little buyers' remorse setting in.

The Republicans, at the urging of Paul Ryan, want to change Medicaid into a limited block grant to be provided to each state to take the place of the existing entitlement program which provides benefits to an unlimited number of eligible beneficiaries.

Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and so many other programs are in great danger if the philosophy of the Romney-Ryan team prevails at the polls.

The lack of Romney-Ryan compassion is also highlighted by their support for the Republican House-adopted budget, which slashes food stamps that are provided to poor children and others. And then there is the matter of a woman's right to choose. The Republicans are trying in every state to deprive women of all their rights under Roe v. Wade, seeking to make it more and more difficult for a woman to exercise her right in consultation with her doctor to obtain a legally permissible abortion.

The Republicans in many states are seeking to depress the black vote, requiring unneeded identification papers for voting. The effort to roll back citizen rights goes on.

The Times this morning summed up the philosophy of Paul Ryan, reporting, "though best known as an architect of conservative fiscal policy, Rep. Paul D. Ryan has also been an ardent, unwavering foe of abortion rights, has tried to cut off federal money for family planning, has opposed same-sex marriage and has championed the rights of gun owners."

The Democrats have made their share of mistakes over the years. However, they have recognized them, made needed changes and are willing to make more changes for the good of the country. We Democrats led by President Obama support the "grand bargain" entailing revenue increases and expense reductions. The Republican leadership, on the other hand, is largely interested in cutting spending for social programs, while rejecting revenue increases, particularly if such increases include higher taxes on the rich.

I am a proud Democrat but not an ideologue. I have identified myself through the years when I served as a member of Congress and mayor of New York City, as a liberal with sanity. When I thought it appropriate and in the best interest of my country, state and city, I have crossed party lines; for me, the people always come first.

I look around and see millionaires and billionaires thriving and while most of us don't resent their wealth, we do object to their not paying their fair share of taxes. We are supposed to have a progressive tax system and instead the Congress bought by their wealthy supporters has provided loopholes that permit the wealthiest corporations and individuals to pay in some cases nothing at all.

People who get their income from stock trading, unlike those of us who receive salaries, pay at a rate of 15 percent when a salaried employee receiving the same income could be paying at a 35 percent rate. This is simply not fair.

Thank you Mitt Romney for selecting Paul Ryan as your running mate and thereby unwittingly turning this election into a crusade by all Americans who put country first and are willing to join hands across party lines to fight for fairness for all of our fellow citizens.

Facilitator's note: article was published by Newsmax. 

MOVE OVER KIM KARDASHIAN, ENTER LOZADA.

Icheoku says when the nation and the world had thought that Kim Kardasian's 72 day old marriage had set the record on the shortest lasting marriage, here comes an NFL wife, Evelyn Lozada, who now holds the shattering record of being in the shortest ever lasting marriage. Her marriage to now axed Miami Dolphins Chad Johnson of just 41-days is now ending? 

Lozada filed for divorce after being head-butted and bloodied by her irate husband following an argument over condom receipts! Yep, you heard it right; the husband was getting some outside hers and she won't stand it. Icheoku asks, why does some men marry or is it a curse of monogamous marriage? Welcome to Splitsville Lozada and Chad.

IT IS PAUL RYAN, STUPID.

If anyone is still in doubt about the dislike and aversion for the poor candidate Mitt Romney has, his choice of anti-peoples budget proposer, Paul Ryan, as his vice presidential candidate, now soundly puts that to rest. A man who once described himself as an "ACUTE CONSERVATIVE" and who would go to any length to prove his credentials as such, has now gone over the cliff to assure the Rush Limbaugh's ultra-right wing of the Republican party that he is indeed a merciless rightist.

Of all the candidates available for Mitt Romney to pick, he instead settled for a man whose proposed budget plans would see the middle class, the poor and the needy of America reeling in pain of survival under additional tax burden. Such a man who does not care about the vulnerable of America is Mitt Romney's veepee pick; and please let somebody tell Icheoku Mitt Romney is not making an emphatic statement with Ryan's choice of the direction his government would take in the unfortunate event his ticket gets into the White House.

Anyway America, Mitt Romney has made his choice and in unmistakable terms, told Americans that his government would not take care of American poor and middle class. Now is your turn to tell Mitt and Ryan, NOT SO FAST. On November 4, reject this heartless duo as not what America wants or needs at this time. Vote to reject Mitt and Ryan ticket as not good for America's 99% because they would increase the tax burden on the poor and middle class while protecting their fellow 1 per-centers. America can do better than having a Mitt and a Ryan in the White House; therefore VOTE 4 OBAMA, vote for a forward looking government that has compassion and which will carry every America along. Icheoku says that Paul Ryan's choice is a smack in the face of independents, the middle class, the poor as well as many reasonable and rational rich Americans voting blocs and Mitt Romney should not go unpunished for this effrontery.

SIKH TEMPLE SHOOTING, NO PLACE IS SAFE IN AMERICA?

The other time it was inside an university classroom in Oakland California that a deranged South Korean man opened fire and sent seven students out of this world, wounding three others in the process. The other day it was in a movie theater in Aurora Colorado that another mentally challenged man dispatched twelve innocent people watching a movie to meet with their maker without asking if they consented. And just today, it was inside a holy temple of the Punjabi India people Sikh religion that another lunatic shot and killed six worshipers and you ask yourself are these gunmen not aware that certain grounds are sanctified and spilling blood thereon a no no? Icheoku asks, where else is safe in America for someone to be and not be so afraid of the closeness of death that can claim his life at any time without more?  

Something is terribly wrong with this morbid state of fear living in America has become, that classrooms, churches, temples, grocery stores, streets, hospitals and movie theaters have become a place where harbingers of death operate without remorse. What do we do America but to prepare ourselves that as we take a step outside of our various habitations, we might as well be taking our last step alive on this planet earth. Admitted even our places of abode are to certain degree, not even safe anymore either since many people have been killed by streaming bullets while sleeping on their own beds and in their own bedrooms in their abodes. The solution - we just have to live our lives as honestly as we can every day as if it is our last since no one knows where the next gun-ho killer would emerge to cause further mayhem. Otherwise what else can anyone do in such gun-infested environment where many people who should not have guns end up having an armory? To the Sikh community in Oak Creek Wisconsin, Icheoku sends our condolences and pray that you find solace that you are not alone at this trying times. America is praying for your healing and by faith, your loved ones are now in a better place.

THE BOLT, BOLTED AWAY YET AGAIN!

Unstoppably the best 100meters runner the world has know thus far. Jamaican Usain Bolt once again proved he is the man to beat in the 100 meters dash at the London Olympics. This time, he ate up the distance in a flash - a mere 9.63seconds. Icheoku says there is something in a name and The Bolt bolts, really fast that is. Congratulations Usain and may the Reggae and Rub-a-dub rent the air in the streets of Kingston; Yah Man!

MIKE PHELPS GOES OUT, STILL WEARING HIS CROWN.

American Mike Phelps is now the indisputable swimming champion of the world as he has won the gold in his final Olympics appearance in the 100 meters butterfly. He has now done it for consecutively four times. Boy, look at that shoulders, what a human muscle pushing against the waters. Icheoku says congratulation Mike.

OBAMA HAS EARNED A SECOND TERM, HE GETS IT.

"Barack Obama deserves to be re-elected president of the United States because he has clear objectives for the country and is meeting them."Mitt Romney on the other hand, "basically wants to do what they did before, but this time, on steroids; which will get you the same consequences you got before, but this time also on steroids." - President Bill Clinton.

Icheoku says it is simply psychotic doing the same thing again and again and expecting different results. All the boys from hell, who helped GW run this country aground not too long ago, are now back on board the Mitt Romney's train to their wishful Lalaland's White House; banking on their delusion that Americans have suffered amnesia yet again and have since forgotten the hole they were dug into by President George Walker Bush and Dick Cheney's administration. Icheoku says it will be deja vu the failed economic and foreign relations disastrous polices of the Dubya being carried on by the Mitt should the unexpected happen come November.

Anyway America, be an informed voter and vote your interest:- Mitt is not good for you, Obama is as he gets your back and protects you from the corporate sharks of Wall Street, one of which is now itching for the White House, waiting to finish off from where they were stopped in 2008. Also remember this election is a battle between we and them - the 99 per centers against the 1 per centers and please tell Icheoku who has the numbers required in a democracy. President Barack Hussein Obama is fighting for you and all you can do for him is to show appreciation and help support his effort to complete the ongoing reformation and transformation of a system that literally came to a screeching halt but for the providence which swept him into office in 2008 to clean house. Now is not the time to change horses midstream and he has kept us safe so far; having successfully taken the fight to the terrorists instead of waiting to fight them on our soil. BO deserves a second term, he has earned it; and you can make that possible America!

DEATH OF A PRESIDENT, GHANA'S ATTAH MILLS IS GONE.

Icheoku commiserates with the people and government of the former Gold Coast, now Ghana, on the death of their ebullient, very dynamic and achieving President John Attah Mills. Late President John Evans Atta Mills was 68years and died of esophagus cancer, a cancer of the throat which has afflicted him for quite some time now. Like all mortals, the president has answered his call and has now returned to his maker to render account of his stewardship while sojourning here on earth. Hopefully the Lord will find him sufficiently accomplished in his task to be worthy of eternal reward.

An aside however, not too long ago Nigeria, a somewhat neighboring country sharing the same West Africa sub-region with Ghana lost their President Umaru YarAdua to leukaemia or cancer of the bloodstream. Both presidents dying in office is where the comparison began and ended for the two countries, period. Attah Mills sickness was lived openly to the knowledge of his Ghana people unlike Umaru Yar'Adua's sickness that was shrouded in utmost secrecy and only known to his wife and a very few kitchen trusted aides. While going for medical checkups and treatments Attah Mills gracefully handed over to his deputy Mahama while Umaru Yar'Adua sidetracked his deputy Jonathan and instead delegated a minister to act in his stead. Attah Mills did not waste Ghana's resources trying desperately to stay alive at all cost but Umaru Yar'dua, even when it was medically obvious that he would not live could care less and even flew several medical ambulances, life-sustaining machines as well personnel into Aso Rock from all over the world. Attah Mills did not go for extended hospital stays overseas without the people of Ghana knowing about it while Umaru Yar'Adua once became known as a Nigeria president governing from foreign hospitals beds.

Simply stated, Icheoku says that the people of Ghana did the blackman proud with the way they, in a very civilized manner, managed and handled the indisposition of President Attah Mills including the speedy and seamless transition of power to his successor and his former vice president who has since been sworn in to serve out his term. Recall that it took an act of the Nigerian National Assembly after Nigeria's near political paralysis to authorize Umaru Yar'Adua's then vice president and current Nigeria President Jonathan to even function in Umaru YarAdua's absence. Ghana got it right and Icheoku commends. Hopefully the rest of Africa will learn from this, especially Nigeria; and lets hope that the new president of Ghana will continue the good works of the late President Attah Mills for which he earned a place in millions of Ghanaians hearts as well as so many well-wishers the world over, including Icheoku. Adieu President Mills and may your soul find rest in the bosom of the Almighty Lord.

ASSAD SHOULD BE SMART ABOUT IT, LEAVE NOW.

Icheoku says anyone who could breach security and penetrate such a high level security meeting of a country's topmost security chiefs as was witnessed in Damascus Syria, is also capable of breaching the security of the protected president himself. Men who provided and guaranteed security of and for the president, were themselves hit and killed by a suicide bomber; and you ask yourself what manner of security did President Bashar Assad have or still have in the face of this disgraceful and shameful breach of security and massacre of his defence minister, security adviser and other top ranking generals of the armed forces as well as some officials of the Syrian government by a suicide bomber, acting alone or in concert with other moles still in his security apparatus.

The wisest thing anyone in President Assad precarious situation would do now is to seek an immediate end to this ongoing madness in Syria, which if unstopped would sooner than later lead to a bitter end for the president himself. It would eventually claim his life or find him being marshaled to Hague in handcuffs to face trials as a war criminal like Charles Taylor of Liberia. But regrettably such men as Syria's President Assad do not listen to the alarm bells nor do they learn from the experience of history. Icheoku agrees that the days of President Assad are numbered and in the words of a rebel commander, who said concerning the penetration of Syria's highest security meeting, as follows:- "It's the beginning of the breaking of the chain, the regime has lost control now and those around President Bashar Assad, whom he relied on are gone. The regime's foundations have been shaken. It's just Bashar now who's left.

Icheoku says nothing could be closer to the truth of the situation now in Syria than as was encapsulated in these words. Icheoku therefore calls on President Bashar Assad to save his neck, seek a soft landing and quit NOW before his dead body is found somewhere in the streets of Damascus, the Gaddafi style. What a shame that men, so lustfully cling to power till their bitter end; and only time shall tell whether Syria's President Bashar Assad will become part of the statistics, as next in line to suffer the fate of foolish dictators who do not know when to beat a retreat? Only time shall tell and in the case of Syria, may be a very short time indeed.

MESSAGE LOSS FOR ROMNEY, NOW DOGGED BY TAX CONTROVERSY

"I wish this president would learn how to be an American." - John Sununu, Republican former Governor of New Hampshire. Icheoku says there they go again - the birthers of America, who are convinced in their warped minds that an alien or a Kenyan is their president. America now you know why the virulent attacks coming the way of the president  - it is all about his SKIN COLOR, period. Regrettably these white good ole boys are too afraid to come out and man up to the fact that a NIGGER being in "their" White House is the reason they have been throwing fits ever since that November 4, 2008 America broke a new historical grounds. America tell these human excrements that it is a new day in America and there is no longer room enough to contain their hate and bigotry. 

Continuing John Sununu averred that "If (Romney) didn't pay taxes, you don't think the IRS would be knocking on his door? The IRS would have knocked at his door, and we would know all about it. The Obama campaign has once again demonstrated that they are clearly and unequivocally a bunch of liars." Icheoku says this man is certainly a wacko doodle and could he please tell Icheoku how many Americans don't pay their taxes and how many of them have had the IRS knock on their doors? Instead of name calling, John Sununu should advise his Mitt Romney to just do the simple thing solving this matter, comply with request and RELEASE HIS DARN TAX RETURNS, period. 

Icheoku however agrees with Team Obama2012 that the Romney campaign "has officially gone off the deep end" in their attempt to punt the damaging tax return question. The tax return is their new albatross which is not going away anytime soon; so the sooner they produce them, the better for the campaign to regain traction. In the alternative, Mitt Romney's Bain Capital connection might prove to be the bane of his now-fast losing air presidential election campaign 2012. Reechoing Obama's spokesperson, "The question is what else they'll pull to avoid answering serious questions about Romney's tenure at Bain Capital and investments in foreign tax havens and offshore accounts. This meltdown and over-the-top rhetoric won't make things better. It only calls attention to how desperate they are to change the conversation."

ROMNEY IS A HUMANOID FROM OUTER SPACE - MARK HAMIL

Icheoku says if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, a duck certainly it is. So America do not say you were not warned, Mitt Romney has no soul and won't get your back. Mitt Romney likes firing people, especially the little guys. As far as he is concerned, the very poor of the society can wait until their kingdom comes while he takes care of his rich colleagues. Also remember that this Mitt Romney is the same guy who tied his dog on the roof of his car while on a 12 hour road trip headed for vacation?

Now actor Mark Hamill has added his voice to warn that Mitt Romney only wears the mask of a human but is truly not a human-being per se. In his words, "And if you don't vote for Barack Obama, you're insane because without him, I think the middle class will completely disappear. And you look at Romney—and I'm sure he's a nice guy, but I think he's like The Thing: He only imitates human behavior. He's not actually human himself. " Icheoku agrees that looking into the eyes of Mitt Romney reveals a cold, callous and ruthless alien from space here to completely destroy what is left of America's middle class as well as the bottom feeders; so do not let him have his way. VOTE YOUR INTEREST, VOTE FOR FORWARD LOOKING, OBAMA is it.

DADDY'S VOICE FROM THE GRAVE, BUT MITT WON'T LISTEN?

"One year could be a fluke, perhaps done for show" - Romney Sr. it would appear, speaking to Romney Jr (Mitt) on the expectations of a presidential candidate when releasing his tax returns! But would Mitt eventually listen to his daddy George and let Americans in his business practices, who knows? So far the younger Romney appears to be adamantly saying no to his daddy on this wise counsel and would rather he becomes the circus.

TAX RETURNS, MITT ROMNEY WEIGHED THE COST.

The cost of Mitt Romney not releasing his tax returns are clear. Therefore, Mitt Romney must have calculated that there are higher costs in releasing them and so decided to withhold them from the American public. There’s obviously something in there that he does not want the voting public to know about him, because if there was nothing there, he would say, have it.

So there’s obviously something there that compromises what he said in the past about something. Many of these politicians think, ‘I can do this. I can get away with this. I don’t need to do this, because I’m going to say something and I don’t have to do this. If Mitt Romney had 20 years of stellar, great, clean, everything’s fine record, everything about him would have all been out there since without prompting or asking; but unfortunately it is not so; hence the present pulling of tooth to get him to at least release his complete tax returns.

ROMNEY IS A JOB DESTROYER.

Romney is a job destroyer who's trying to hide shady finances from the American people. Mr. Romney claims he's Mr. Fix-It for the economy because of his business experience, so American voters legitimately want to know what exactly was his business experience." Icheoku agrees that this is fair inquiry and until Mitt Romney lifts his mask, all his saying is gobbledygook; if you say you are this and that, please show us the evidence. What kind of business experience is Mitt Romney bringing to the table except that of firing working class people and he loves to; and creating more wealth for the already wealthy 1 percent?

ROMNEY COULD BE A TAX CHEAT?

"Whether technically legal or not, the idea of using international tax havens to skirt U.S. tax obligations is not only a rich man's sordid game, it also speaks to one's character. Romney's flirtation with countries of looser financial morals suggests that the candidate, who doesn't drink or have a wandering eye, may have a weakness after all." - Robyn Blumner.

COME RAIN OR SHINE, THE CAMPAIGN MUST GO ON.

Icheoku says whatever anybody is prepared to brave a drenching rain to seek, that thing must be very important to him; so goes a popular aphorism. Pictured is President Barack Obama not letting the conspiracies of the skies abort his campaign stop in Virginia. Query, would the Tax-Cheat and Republican rival Mitt Romney do the same faced with similar inclement weather circumstance? The answer.........................? 

This president gets it and continuously works hard for America and therefore has earned his reelection. Reelect President Barack Obama, VOTE OBAMA 2012; VOTE FOUR MORE YEARS of forward looking and continuing to fix what was broken over the past many years. It did not take four years to break it, so why should anyone expect a magical overnight fixing of the broken. Admitted Romney has boasted he would fix all that is broken in America, but he is yet to tell Americans the road-map to the destination and until a convincing one is given, Icheoku says lets stay with the guy already working tirelessly for America and the signs are there that he is directed and result-orientated; and pretty soon his policies will turn into dividends for America. 

ROMNEY'S PATRIOTISM QUESTION, IS HE PATRIOTIC ENOUGH TO BE PRESIDENT?

Icheoku says it is utterly disturbing that a man who once worked against America's interest now wants to be the president of America? Icheoku queries had America collapsed as Mitt Romney feared and worked to facilitate, which country would he now be campaigning to preside over as president? So many ofMitt Romney past actions have never been patriotic enough and at best rather very selfish. For Mitt Romney, it does not matter if America collapsed or anyone inside it failed, provided there is millions to be made, the millions justifies the ruthlessness deployed in the process. For Mitt Romney, as long as his stash grew in leap and bound, every other thing or interest can go to hell. In his world, the only thing that mattered is dollars and the Romney clan.

Severely did Mitt Romney direct actions work against America's economic and financial interests. Actions so detrimental that they could have gravely hurt and jeopardize America, were it not for the many more patriotic Americans committed to the wellness of the union. Instead of depositing his millions in American banks here, Mitt Romney deposited them in foreign countries? Instead of investing in America's economy, Mitt Romney invested in foreign countries' economies? Instead of creating and retaining jobs here in America, Mitt Romney preferred and outsourced millions of American jobs overseas to India and China? Instead of paying taxes on his millions, Mitt Romney stashed his millions in foreign countries tax havens in order to avoid paying taxes on his stupendous earnings to Uncle Sam; and lastly but not the least, Mitt Romney instead of helping prop up the dollar against other foreign currencies, hedged against the American dollar, betting that the American dollar will collapse?

Icheoku asks, can a man who carried out such anti-America actions still be disqualified to seek the highest office in the land or should he be barred therefrom for his lack of patriotism? Needless to add that Mitt Romney dodged the draft and stowed away in France during Vietnam war under the subterfuge of spreading his Mormonism to the French. Further, Mitt Romney has refused to release his complete tax records prompting Republican Governor Bentley of Alabama to advise that Mitt Romney released them except he has something to hide. The governor said, "I just believe in total transparency. I just believe that people should release their tax returns. So the best thing for Mitt Romney to do is just get everything out in the open and just say, 'hey I have nothing to hide and I'm going to release my tax returns." Icheoku completely agrees with the governor that a man who is not a crook fears no investigation. So which one is Mitt Romney, America?

ROMNEY'S TAX RETURNS, RELEASE THE DARN THING!

Icheoku calls on the Republican Presidential candidate putative nominee, Mitt Romney, to release his tax returns so that Americans could truly know the nature of the man's business that wants to be their president. His father released his twelve year tax return and even said that just releasing one year tax return could be a fluke; unless Mitt the son, now wants Americans to confirm what they had always suspected that he is one BIG FLUKE. 

Icheoku asks what is the Mitt hiding or trying to hide by sitting on and refusing to release his tax records of these past years or at least the last three years. At minimum, it will take the wind out of the sail of the other side that his failure and refusal to so release his tax records is indicative that there are things therein contained which he does not want Americans to know about and concerning him, such as the true nature of his business practices as well as other things which might bother on some possible ethical violations. 

A man running for president of America, whose patriotism or lack thereof was so strong that it saw him put his money away in safe deposits overseas in Switzerland and Cayman Islands while the American economy struggled, without him seeing the need to invest his millions here in America or even left in America banks to somewhat help with the American economy? A man running for the presidency of America and touting his economic skills as magical did not know that leaving his money in America instead of some foreign countries would have benefited the American economy greatly? A man running for president of America and holding up his economic magic wand as his only strong suit for seeking the office, yet he did not know that helping the American auto industry would save them from a near-death scenario they were faced with just a few years ago? Icheoku asks, if someone who bandies economic know-how as his strength cannot reasonably forecast a basic economic law that if you give assistance of some repayable loans to a cash-strapped but otherwise viable company, that they can emerge out of their malaise to become a competitive company in the future once again; how strong then is this his sole strength? Even an Economics 101 freshman understands this as a basic law of economics. But on a hindsight, Mitt Romney's views on the auto industry bailout may have now changed, but unfortunately, the American presidency does not thrive on Monday night quarterbacking like mechanism.

Icheoku does not know about you America, but this Mormon Bishop from liberal Massachusetts is not straight and is definitely hiding something from the American public; something which he does not want them to know, which his current refusal to make public his tax records further buttresses. Icheoku reiterates that there is a reason why records are kept as it tells where one has been and helps with forecast of that person's future travels and destinations. Records are the umbilical cord which holds someones future with his past and Mitt Romney must help Americans understand what he intends to do if elected by disclosing to them the stewardship of his past life. Funny enough too, this man who also proudly beats his chest with his Olympic success, a past record; in a twist fate, seldomnly mentions or would rather Americans forgot that he was once a governor of Massachusetts and destroyed evidence of his records while  in office in order to keep them protected and out of public eyes? Icheoku says Mitt Romney's phobia about his past being truthfully disclosed or known to Americans is rather frightening and you wonder what is it that is so bad and despicable he does not want American public to know about his past yet he wants to be our president? 

Icheoku says Mitt Romney has a choice to either come clean with the American public through full disclosure of and concerning his past or forget about it, the fact that he wants to become American president. He cannot have it both ways; if he wants to become our president, he must fully tell us who he is, take the mask off and reveal his true identity in order  to enable us decide if he is indeed possessed of the character and decorum required of a person to be elected our president. His current stonewalling and evasive obstinacy especially as it relates to his tax records question is short of candor and smacks of a person who wants to get into a house through the backdoor without the necessary x-ray required as a prerequisite coming through the main entrance. This snobbish attitude can only hurt him as Americans are curious about what he could possibly be really hiding by his refusal to disclose; and the curiosity would not go away anytime soon. Instead of the vociferous denial that he did not latch on to Bain Capital until 2003, the Mitt could have conclusively resolved this question in the same manner President Obama was forced to resolve his place of birth question by releasing the full unabridged records of his birth and in Mitt Romney's case, his tax returns for years 1999 through 2003. Like his shadow, his refusal to release his tax records will follow him or hunt him through the November election and American people do not usually vote for a president, someone who would not level with them; moreso bothering on the issue of his character. To Mitt Romney, Icheoku says on your tax records, RELEASE THE DARN THING.

EVERY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SHOULD BE AN OPEN BOOK - OBAMA.

Icheoku says unbeknonwst to President Barack Obama, to every rule there is an exception! So to the rule that the records of anyone who wants to preside over our affairs as president must be completely accessible to us, exists an exception. It is called the Romney exception, named after the Republican presidential candidate who has till date, stonewalled every effort at unmasking his true identity. Who truly is Mitt Romney or is the Mitt simply a myth? Americans are seriously beginning to wonder out aloud what this Mitt is hiding and the second to zero chance they would elect a phantom for president. A man without any records they can fact-check for accuracy or whose records they cannot even access due to roadblocks put in place by the candidate himself.

Mitt Romney has refused to release his complete tax returns to enable Americans make an informed decision as to his petition to become their president. Records filed with Securities and Exchange Commission by his company Bain Capital, indicates that Mitt Romney remained its "100 percent sole stockholder, chairman of the board, chief executive officer and president up till 2003; whereas the Mitt himself claims that he completely divested himself from the company in 1999. Icheoku queries as between Mitt Romney's recollections and the records his company earlier filed with the commission, who or which is not telling the truth? As with records, they are made with every lucidity imaginable and when there is no reason to lie, mislead or falsify accounts; unlike now during the heat of a contentious election cycle when previous records come back to hunt candidates. So Icheoku asks, does Mitt Romney have some motive here for misstating dates already documented with the Securities and Exchange Commission?

Icheoku says it is most probable that the Republican Party's presidential candidate Mitt Romney, a man with financial net worth in excess of $250 million does not want Americans to know how he made his money taking over companies, firing workers and then cannibalizing same for profit. A callous, inhumane, ruthless, non-compassionate, get-rich quick, company bursting and raiding approach, which the Texas Governor, Rick Perry, once described as vulture capitalism. Now the vulture capitalist numero uno Mitt Romney does not want to make his tax records public for the American people to see to help them decide if he is fit to become their president this November. Icheoku says if Mitt Romney will not blink and release his tax returns, America people should not either; and must reject such a farce this November at the polls. What is Mitt Romney hiding from public view or is he now the only exception to the time-tested rule that anyone who must be our president must be an open book capable of easy decoding.

AFRICAN-AMERICANS ECONOMY IS WORSE OFF - ROMNEY

Icheoku says except that President Barack Obama did not cause it. It has been the same and have always remained the same ever Mitt Romney's forebears brought unwilling Africans in chains to this shores. Regrettably too, all attempts at equalizing and/or leveling the playing field to create enabling environment for a serious headway has been rebuffed by Mitt Romney's people. Effort at reparation has also been resisted by the good ole white boys who would not hear none of that. Even the present government  of President Barack Obama honest attempt to cushion their hardship has been branded by Mitt Romney's people as redistribution and socialist? Any and every attempt at redressing this age-long, purposely maintained, economic-vice hold on African-Americans by Mitt Romney's people have been rejected in order to help keep them in their place. 

Yes, you read Icheoku right and we make bold to restate that economic disequilibrium in America was engineered and maintained by Mitt Romney's skin-color type and no one, not in minority Americans communities or the the NAACP convention, should listen to this holier than thou fellow from Massachusetts trying to patronize them with his bamboozling speech. Icheoku asks would Mitt Romney release his Bain Capital records on how many African-Americans his company employed or helped get a loan of any sort while running it? Would Mitt Romney tell Americans why the United States Senate is an all white club with no minority or an African American therein serving as a senator? Would Mitt Romney tell Americans how many African-American CEO there is in Wall Street? Would Mitt Romney tell Americans how many African-Americans there is anywhere that creates jobs or hire workers and would Mitt Romney tell Americans why African-Americans are last to be hired and first to be fired in American work-places? Would Mitt Romney tell Americans why the dissipate application of justice against African-American males which sees them being recycled through the prison system thus making them unable to play any major or supportive role in the economic system especially of their families. 

We need to know what the Mitt's plan is towards redressing these stacked up roadblocks and not to rehash the obvious. All these economic dislocations of the African-American community did not start under or with Barack Obama's presidency; no, it is an unspoken and subsisting economic-slavery, engineered to keep them down and under control. Therefore Icheoku says to Mitt Romney, to please keep his patronizing observation to himself and that NAACP does not need him to tell them what they have been forced to live with all these centuries since slavery. If Mitt must open his mouth in that direction, to please say if he will among many other palliative measures to be articulated and put in place to help African-Americans economic well-being, support the payment of reparation to the people who have been shortchanged ever since they were forcibly brought to America by Mitt Romney's people in shackles. That is what NAACP wants to hear from the Mormon Bishop and that is what Icheoku would like to also hear as any and every other thing is a cheap-talk patronage which African-Americans can use less of.