Also, don't mis this [important story by Matt Taibbi][1], one of the best indepth journalists/writers working today: "Greed and Debt: The True Story of Mitt Romney and Bain Capital." It begins:

> The great criticism of Mitt Romney, from both sides of the aisle, has always been that he doesn't stand for anything. He's a flip-flopper, they say, a lightweight, a cardboard opportunist who'll say anything to get elected.

>The critics couldn't be more wrong. Mitt Romney is no tissue-paper man. He's closer to being a revolutionary, a backward-world version of Che or Trotsky, with tweezed nostrils instead of a beard, a half-Windsor instead of a leather jerkin. His legendary flip-flops aren't the lies of a bumbling opportunist – they're the confident prevarications of a man untroubled by misleading the nonbeliever in pursuit of a single, all-consuming goal. Romney has a vision, and he's trying for something big: We've just been too slow to sort out what it is, just as we've been slow to grasp the roots of the radical economic changes that have swept the country in the last generation.

>The incredible untold story of the 2012 election so far is that Romney's run has been a shimmering pearl of perfect political hypocrisy, which he's somehow managed to keep hidden, even with thousands of cameras following his every move.

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/ne…

[1]: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/ne…
[2]: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/ne…

Here's the [Gawker story][1], which has tons of links and includes Ryan's rather flippant statement about the marathon lie, which doesn't exactly express regret (which he hasn't done for the [multiple falsehoods in his Convention speech][2] either):

> The race was more than 20 years ago, but my brother Tobin — who ran Boston last year — reminds me that he is the owner of the fastest marathon in the family and has never himself ran a sub-three. If I were to do any rounding, it would certainly be to four hours, not three. He gave me a good ribbing over this at dinner tonight.

[1]: http://gawker.com/5939846/paul-ryans-mo…
[2]: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/pos…

Thanks. Both Democrats' and Republicans' ignorance of political-party history in the U.S. is very harmful. And knowing the history can show how it's possible to change a political party (either direction).

I remember being shocked when I first started learning the state's political race history from political-science professors at Mississippi State. Then, I chose to study this history much deeper over the years.

I hope and pray that this election will prove that this strategy will no longer work at least on a national level. It's time that politicians stop treating white Americans like we're racist -- and for white Americans to get educated enough about what racism actually is (not calling out racism) that they stop feeding into this very racist political strategy.

Thanks!

The story above is updated now.

[Factcheck.org breaks down ][1]the distortions in Paul #Ryan speech, including lots of links.

[Get the facts on Romney's infamous, and false, welfare ad][2] while you're there, too (and watch it).

[1]: http://factcheck.org/2012/08/ryans-vp-s…
[2]: http://www.factcheck.org/2012/08/does-o…

Yes. Funny error. ;-)

Thanks for pointing it out!

“The demographics race we’re losing badly,” said Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.). “We’re not generating enough angry white guys to stay in business for the long term.”

Wow. [Reported by the Washington Post from Tampa.][1]

Here's an idea, Sen. Graham: Stop doubling down on whiteness and start adopting policies that show that you care more about rich white men. Stop lying about welfare in ads designed to make it look like Obama is taking more white money and giving it to black people. And stop running on crazy, backward policies that even Republican women are stunned over.

Seriously. Change.

[1]: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/…

Some very interesting video clips in here:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ukkJYkANZ98" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

It's really sad that Rep. Ryan blew such a great opportunity to win wider support with such a lie and distortion-filled speech -- that red-baited about "central planners," to boot.

When even [FOX News takes him down,][1] you know he flubbed it.

All people are talking about today are the distortions. Seriously floored that he doesn't know that the American people -- beyond his red-meat base -- know how to read and factcheck.

[1]: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/08/…