Mr. Spiegler,
I must disagree with you, and I believe that Romney's comments were true, though he may have better kept them to himself.
On the larger, more important subject of this election, I would urge you to perhaps hold your nose, and vote for Romney. Every vote will count, especially in Penna.
That said, I agree that Romney is a weak and uninspiring candidate. He is about as exciting as a loaf of stale bread, and is running a clueless, lackluster campaign, which, given the Annointed One's obvious incompetence and failures, should be ahead of Barry by 10 points. Instead,Mittens is behind, and, in my opinion destined to lose in November.
Obama has to consider himself sooooo lucky that he is facing such a weak candidate, given his own many failings, we will likely have to endure four more years of this disaster, resulting in even more damage to this country than he has already done.
I shudder to think of the Orwellian world we may face by four more years of our community organizer -in-chief!

Excellent commentary. I don't agree with everything, but it's very well written and well-thought-out. Regardless of whether Romney was wrong or right in his opinion -- I'll leave that to foreign policy experts and hawks and doves (and Patch posters) to argue -- he spoke too soon. His facts were wrong and our political system has a tradition of not criticizing the American government in the midst of a crises. Especially one in which American lives are still at stake.

This column is a crock. What about all the sniping at President Bush by Reid, Pelosi, Sen. Obama, Sen. Clinton, etc. during Afghanistan and Iraq? Romney is stating a truth. Obama's foreign policy is a joke. Support the Arab Spring, get rid of despots, yet have no idea who will fill the vacuum. Now we know. Radical Islamists, surprise, surprise. Maybe Obama needs to come off the campaign trail, attend a few advisor meetings, and deal with the problems in the Middle East. What kind of guy is this who is partying while our state department people are killed and those still in-country remain in danger? What a inept president.

President Obama and Governor Johnson would both appreciate your vote

Who wrote this story? An Obama Spokesman? Since when did North Hills Patch become MSNBC. Everyone knows a vote for Libertarian Party is a vote for Obama. And what about the title attacking Romney? Obama fumbles the economy and foreign policy and he gets a free pass. This is in lock step with the main street media going after Romney to take the attention off of Obama. Obama has done far worse and he gets a blurb in the middle but you try to damage Romney with the main brunt of the story. The main street media helped elect Obama in 2008 and are doing every thing in their power to bring down Romney and put Obama back in. Keep trying. We are on to you.

You people commenting are foolish at best. The only wasted vote is the vote that goes against your conscience. This man feels, like many of us, that the two party system is a failure and it is time for some fresh ideas. Trying the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. But feel free to convince yourselves that Romney will be any better for this country than Obama.

Seems pretty simple to me. Romney puts his foot in his mouth quite often and it's tough to understand why one would vote for a person with both ambiguous and disingenuous policies. Obama is certainly not perfect- this seems to be a common criticism- however, I have witnessed many positive changes during his time in office.

And what's up today with people feeling the need to criticize PATCH?? If you don't like the site, don't use it. Also seems simple. But don't ruin it for the rest of us with unnecessary criticism and mean spirited commentary. PATCH is a forum for those who want to know more, about our community and our world. I would like to see it continue.

I do agree with Stephanie Davis on one point. The patch is here for our community and updates on what is going on in our community. I do not however need it for political talking points. If I wanted this kind of story I can get it on MSNBC. When I see an editorial that is critical of Obama on this site than it will be okay. Until then I am free to criticize them.

What does " annointed one" mean? Obama annointed himself, as the savior of not just the U.S., but the whole world as well. In his own words, and those of the lickspittle mainstream media, Barry would be a transformative figure, the likes of which we had never seen before.
Dupes such as the Nobel Prize Committee, and many others, bought into this absurd balderdash, and there is no end to the self-regard that Obama has for his wonderful self.
It never ceases to amaze me that people actually believe this nonsense!

There certainly is a lot of nonsense going around.:)

Mr. Shoaf describes Obama as an incompetent,arrogant,political hack but that description has already been used....for Dick Cheyney. Isn`t it curious how the 2 guys who royally screwed up this country and economy are all but invisible during this campaign? I have no problem with anyones criticisms of Obama but what I do have a problem with is the total lack of attaching the majority of our ills to the people who own much of it(Bush,Cheyney,their advisors and the current Republicans in congress). If you`re going to play the blame game then be sure to get all the players right!! Also,who is to blame for the Republican party having such a weak,flawed,unpopular and uninspiring group of candidates? Their failure to provide an attractive alternative to Obama will be their downfall in this election and they will have only themselves,for cowing down to the extremists in their party, to blame for the loss.

I would like to be able to vote for a competent, honorable Republican
for president, an individual who is able to think on his or her feet,
and who is able to grasp the gravity of their words before they exit
the candidate's mouth. Mitt Romney is not that person.>>>>

Yes, Mr Speigler, it is sad that Mitt is all the GOP can offer.

Mitt claims that middle class has an income of $200,000.00 to $250,000.00. All this time I thought I was living rather well and now I guess I have been at poverty level for more than thirty years. WOW!

I dread the thought of another 4 years of obama in office. The National Debt will be over 20 Trillion and he will still be blaming Bush for obama wasting the taxpayers money. States will be filing bankrupt because they won't be able to give every citizen in the state welfarecare. We need obama gone now and November can't come soon enough.

cc. Barack was the one who said "and less" and please don't assume I am a democrat for I am not, but this class system that seems to be so important to both Obama and Romney is inane. Furthermore when I lost my after 34 years at the same company in 2006 I guess I was a money grubbing user of the system since I had to collect unemployment for almost two years. And cc Mitt does not have a chance. Have you seen the recent polls? Both of our canidates seem to be out of touch with middle america.

PS cc before you call me out on my facts or my typos, Mitt was asked by George Stephanopolus whether $100,000.00 was middle class. Mr Mitt replied with "middle class is $200,000. to $250,000.00. Also I left out the word "job". Lost my job in 2006. Now I am a successful small business owner but still suffering at what Mitt might say is poverty level. "Just sayin" cc.

Lynn - Where do you get your info? Everywhere I look online says that the following was said:

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Is $100,000 middle income?
MITT ROMNEY: No, middle income is $200,000 to $250,000 and less.

yes parent #2 and that is exactly what I said. Are you middle class at $100,000.00 or middle class at $200,000.00 to $250,000.00? Not sure what point you are trying to make, but I am not debating Mitt vs Barack. I am just pointing out that both parties are out of touch of what middle class might be, unless I really am poor. Goodnight Pine Richland community, land of opportunity,rose's, wine, and the choice of what Country Club we might belong to. And lets not even go there as to where I might belong, because it is not Treesdale, Wildwood, Butler, but it might be a club named after a chief native American.

The Patch is obviously a liberal controlled blog. Look at the "opinions" that are posted. They are so far left radical. Then when you click on an article to read on the post, the page is covered top, side and bottom with obama ads. It really would be humorous if it wasn't so sad how uninformed these people are about what obama has done to this country and his all out plan to finish it and completely bring this country down. All you have to do is watch a 90 minute documentary in the theaters now, called 2016 obamas America, to see his background and what his beliefs are. Then it will all be clear what he has already done to our great nation and his goal. It is evil and I pray everyone who is uneducated about this person will at least try to find out what this man is about, since you obviously knew nothing about him when you voted for him. On top of his radical beliefs, he has destroyed our great nation! We are further in debt, 16 TRILLION, he is making us defenseless against the world, our credit rating has dropped again since he took office to AA-, unemployment has gone up and stayed the whole time he has been in office, Social Security and Medicaire are broke because of obamacare and it will only be worse.

Our freedoms are being taken away and I am voting this evil out for the sake of my children and grandchildren while we still have a chance to bring back our country with 2 intelligent men who love the USA!!

Janet name a freedom you don't have now that you did before the President was elected. And BTW that film is like Nazi propaganda. Obama 2012!

Janet, our Patch sites are staffed by trained journalists who strive for unbiased, fair and accurate reporting. In contrast, we offer a "Local Voices" section, where this piece is found, where anyone in the community can "blog." A blog, as defined by Mirriam-Webster Dictionary, is an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer. We welcome bloggers from both sides of the political spectrum—and anywhere in between. Our bloggers are unpaid and share their opinions, interests and ideas on a variety of topics, many of which have nothing to do with politics. In fact, we welcome anyone who wants to blog from a different viewpoint to do so because it gives our readers a chance to see a variety of opinions.

As for the Obama ads, they are paid advertisements. Mr. Romney and groups supporting him are more than welcome to advertise on Patch sites. However, it appears that Romney's campaign is pulling ads in Pennsylvania and Michigan: http://www.drudge.com/news/160722/romney-pulls-ads-michigan-pennsylvania

Part 1:
I really cannot understand the degree by which these opinions differ. Nowhere is the causation of the events that transpired these beliefs. No one here has mentioned that the video on you tube brought so much anger among the Muslim world. It is our democracy where free speech is guaranteed that events like this can happen in other parts of the world. Gov. Romney did in fact made these tragic events a political pond in which he moved it prior to the time of the next of kin was notified. To go on the offensive without knowing the facts or events is the true indication of the inability to lead. One who desires the office of President cannot be acting as an enforcer in the sport of hockey. Like in the world of science where every motion has an equal and opposite reaction, the President’s actions have consequences.

Part 2
A patriot does what is best for his country where in this instance, Gov. Romney did what he thought was best for his chance at the office of the presidency. He was totally wrong.
It is my opinion that this action displayed a total lack of maturity (even at his advanced age) and respect to our people who gave up their lives for our country. Instead of condemning the offenders, he attacks the president. Gov. Romney had a chance to appear presidential and he failed. It is so apparent that he is "not ready for prime time". While I am at it, he really does not understand the new social media, as he will say whatever his audience desires. That was the old way of campaigning in that you would promise anything to anyone as the people in this area would not know what people in another area hear from the candidate. No so today as every speech is online seconds after it is given.

Let me also address the Congress meeting problem. Since the election of 2010, the US House has changed many rules and procedures since they took power in 2011. One most drastic change is that they will not convene until Tuesdays and adjourn at the end of the day on Thursday giving the members of the house Mondays and Fridays to travel back to their home districts. This is the way the House does business now. They just returned from a 5-week vacation with all the unfinished business they left behind. Look at the Bills the House has passed since January 2011. I have never seen so many restricted bills using the government power to dictate what used to be a woman's rights to her body. The party in power says they are for small government UNLESS it is in their furthering their morals upon the people. It is just a shame that they won control of the House on the basis of promising jobs, jobs and jobs and done nothing to create a single job other than indirectly increasing the travel agents booking the members’ flights to and out of DC.