Things to Know - 24 May

1.  Touchy, Touch....Touchy.   That's the response one gets when you criticize the silver spoon that provides the backbone of Mitt Romney.  Take away that spoon, and you have the backbone character of a wet noodle:

http://www.nationalmemo.com/gene-lyons-sir-mitts-very-thin-skin/

2.  Thom Hartmann and his easy to take format in the news stories:

http://truth-out.org/news/item/9340-on-the-news-with-thom-hartmann-the-economy-could-be-headed-for-a-fiscal-cliff-and-more

3.  Robert Reich is urging Obama to take on JPMorgan and the Bain's venture capitalism on as prime examples of what is wrong with that sector of our economic system:

http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/9339-why-obama-should-be-attacking-casino-capitalism-both-romneys-bain-and-jpmorgan

4.  China's booming economy is unable to sustain it rate of growth.  As such, perhaps the central political machine is unable to deliver, and the rising expectations from within are in conflict.  This could put China in a comparative recession. and cause problems for other nations.  I guess they need Paul Ryan to run the place:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/chinas-economic-crisis/2012/05/23/gJQAB9zclU_print.html

5.  Alan Simpson is out calling a bunch of folks "greedy geezers".  He's not on the A-list for AARP socials and meet-and-greet events any more:

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-alan-simpson-pens-scathing-letter-to-greedy-geezers-retiree-group-20120523,0,7804950,print.story

6.  As you read through this Steve Lopez column, keep in mind that the LA City Council today has banned (on a 13-1 vote) the use of plastic bags at supermarkets.   The biggest city so far to do so:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0523-lopez-bagban-20120523,0,4811736,print.column

7.  Charles Blow has some voter reactions to questions on which political party is more accepting than the other on some major issues, most of which are bad news for the Republicans:

http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/23/g-o-p-nightmare-charts/?ref=opinion

8.  The Economy promises to be a factor in the main issues in the campaign.  So will the perception that the Republicans are against the civil liberties and most things in general towards women.  The so called Hispanic vote will probably be more in play this time, than ever before.  Here are four debaters on the trends and where the Latino vote will find itself come November.   I can hardly wait to see MittBott wearing a sombrero, munching a taco, and mouthing something stupid in his best Spanish:

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/05/23/securing-the-hispanic-vote/?hp

Juan

"No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." 
       -- Edward Abbey

"Money doesn't always bring happiness. People with ten million dollars are no happier than people with nine million dollars." 
       -- Hobart Brown

"Somebody has to do something, and it's just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us." 
       -- Jerry Garcia

"I'm too shy to express my sexual needs except over the phone to people I don't know." 
       -- Garry Shandling