Thurston Howell Romney  —  In 1980, about 30 percent of Americans received some form of government benefits.  Today, as Nicholas Eberstadt of the American Enterprise Institute has pointed out, about 49 percent do.  —  In 1960, government transfers to individuals totaled $24 billion.

Today, Mitt Romney Lost the Election  —  You can mark my prediction now: A secret recording from a closed-door Mitt Romney fundraiser, released today by David Corn at Mother Jones, has killed Mitt Romney's campaign for president.  —  On the tape, Romney explains that his electoral strategy …

SECRET VIDEO: On Israel, Romney Trashes Two-State Solution  —  At a private fundraiser, the GOP candidate calls Middle East peace “almost unthinkable” and says he would “kick the ball down the field.”  —  At the private fundraiser held May 17 where Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney candidly spoke …

Romney: Obama's 47% of the electorate is dependent on government  —  Via Mother Jones and Ace, watch this now if you haven't seen it elsewhere because political media will be having 20 heart attacks about it tomorrow and you'll want to be up to speed.  This was recorded awhile back at a fundraiser …

Romney “47 Percent” Fundraiser Host: Hedge Fund Manager Who Likes Sex Parties  —  When Mitt Romney at a private fundraiser dismissed all Barack Obama voters as moochers and victims—showing disdain for nearly half of the American electorate—he was speaking at the home of controversial private …

Obama: No Surprise That Hard-Pressed Pennsylvanians Turn Bitter  —  LISTEN TO THE FULL OBAMA April 6.  FUNDRAISER SPEECH HERE Some highlights - Obama responds to Krugman toward the end of the audio (46:20); Obama discloses his trip to Pakistan (40:17); Obama discusses fundraising successes …

Mitt Romney versus the 47 percent  —  Over the past few years, Republicans have developed a habit of railing against the 47 percent of Americans who don't pay any federal income taxes.  It's a fairly misleading talking point, but it keeps resurfacing.  And now Mitt Romney has picked up on it:

Romney stands by his remarks in leaked video  —  Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney did not back down from comments published Monday in Mother Jones magazine, in which he dismissed supporters of President Obama as a “victims” who take no responsibility for their livelihoods …

Misconceptions and Realities About Who Pays Taxes  —  Executive Summary  —  Close to half of U.S. households currently do not owe federal income tax.  The Urban Institute-Brookings Tax Policy Center estimates that 46 percent of households will owe no federal income tax for 2011.

Romney: I'll never convince Obama voters to take responsibility for their lives  —  The Huffington Post and Mother Jones both post audio of what may be a blockbuster moment: Mitt Romney telling a private fundraiser that 47 percent of the American people — the voters who can be counted on to vote for Obama …

Romney's theory of the “taker class,” and why it matters  —  “My job is not to worry about those people,” Mitt Romney said of the 47 percent of Americans who are likely to vote for Barack Obama.  “I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.”

How Jimmy Carter's Grandson Helped Leak the Secret Romney Fund-raiser Video  —  The damning video of Mitt Romney telling a room of wealthy donors how he really feels about the free-loading 47 percent of Americans “who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing …