The Romney Agenda: July 30, 2007

A Real Tax-Free Savings Program For Middle-Income Americans:

Governor Romney: "[Y]ou ought to be able to save your money and you ought to have a special tax rate [on your savings]... the tax rate ought to be absolutely zero. ... [Edwards is] going to announce today that he's in favor of a plan that let's you save $250 tax free. That's not going to pay for college, or retirement, or a car – maybe a bike..." (Gov. Mitt Romney, Delivered Remarks, Des Moines, IA, 7/26/07)

- Watch Governor Romney Discuss The Edwards Tax Increase Plan.

- Read About Governor Romney's Vision For Lower Taxes And Tax-Free Savings.

America's Strength:

Unlike Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), Governor Romney Will Not Meet With Some Of The World's Worst Dictators. "Romney says Obama was wrong to say he'd meet with the leaders of Iran, Syria and North Korea. 'The president of the United States does not bestow our dignity and the power of our reputation around the world around those people,' Romney says. 'It's a remarkable difference if a Democratic president like Barack Obama were running this country.'" (O. Kay Henderson, "Romney Sides With Clinton In Foreign Policy Spat," Radio Iowa, 7/26/07) 

- Read Governor Romney's Statement On The Democrat Debate And Senator Obama.

- Read The Romney Vision In Response To The Democrat Debate.

Protecting Our Children:

Governor Romney Proposed A "One-Strike, You're Ours" Law For Those Convicted Of Preying On Children Using The Internet. We need new, tougher federal penalties for first-time offenders who use the Internet to sexually assault children, including stiff mandatory jail time to be followed by lifetime tracking by Global Positioning Satellite (GPS).

- Read A Statement From Massachusetts Law Enforcement In Support Of "One Strike, You're Ours."

- Listen To Michigan Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard Endorse "One Strike, You're Ours."

Governor Romney Will Enforce Our Nation's Obscenity Laws. We need to require the Department of Justice to enforce our existing federal obscenity laws.

Governor Romney Will Punish And Fine Retailers For Selling Excessively Violent And Sexually Explicit Video Games To Minors. While the current system of voluntary self-regulation of video games has improved, we still need to do more to protect our children.

Governor Romney Will Work To Prevent Pornography From Reaching Children On Their Computers. Governor Romney will work with computer and software companies to ensure that every home computer has effective software to filter out unwanted pornography.

- Read Governor Romney's Full Plan To Protect Our Children.

- Read Governor Romney's Initiative To Guard Our Children On Their Computers.

- Watch Governor Romney Discuss The Need To Guard Our Children While They Use Their Computers.

Romney Tries To Build On Strong N.H. Polls

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney visited New Hampshire on Wednesday, where, in contrast to national polls, he holds a sizable lead. Scott Spradling reports.

Mitt Romney in Council Bluffs

Added: April 20, 2007
From: IowaPoliticsDotCom
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney... Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney campaigns in Council Bluffs.

Mitt Romney Meets With Media in Ames

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a GOP presidential candidate, discusses his pro-life stance and religion with media members May 9 in Ames.

Go to http://blogs.iowapolitics.com/multimedia for more video from IowaPolitics.com

Mitt Romney after Des Moines luncheon

Added: May 30, 2007
From: IowaPoliticsDotCom
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney... Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney talks to the media following the May 30 Greater Des Moines Partnership luncheon at the Des Moines Marriott.

Mitt Romney after Des Moines forum

Added: July 03, 2007
From: IowaPoliticsDotCom
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney... Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican presidential candidate, talks with the media after a June 30 candidate forum sponsored by the Iowans for Tax Relief/Iowa Christian Alliance.

Mitt Romney speaks in Winterset

Added: July 27, 2007
From: IowaPoliticsDotCom

Iowa's premier political news site: http://www.iowapolitics.com

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a GOP presidential candidate, discusses Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards' savings plan and other differences he has with Democrats at a July 27 gathering in Madison County.

On Air With Don And Roma In Chicago

I had the chance to talk live with Don and Roma last week on their WLS Radio program in Chicago last week. It's always a little nerve-wracking to do an interview live, especially for me as I don't have a lot of experience doing it. I can't help it: I think about the risk that I'll say something stupid, that I'll fumble badly over my words, that I'll forget to wear my pants, etc. But Don and Roma were nice to talk to so they put me at ease.

Here's a link where you can hear part of the interview: 

And here are a couple of photos from the interview:

Posted at 2007-07-30 08:20:29 by Matt Romney

 

 

Comments

 

Sounds like you did a great job! I would've been so nervous. It seems that the more people are exposed your dad, around the country, the more they like him! I'm confident that national poll numbers will rise, the more states your dad is able to visit and get to meet people face-to-face.

Posted by Sara in AZ at 2007-07-30 10:14:57

I was born and raised in Chicago. I grew up listening to WLS, this post brought back fond memories for me. Your interview was great! They were friendly interviews and you stayed on target reinforcing your father's statements. You're a wonderful campaign asset! I'm looking forward to hearing more interviews from you.

Posted by tk at 2007-07-30 10:15:01

You did a great job in the interview. You've got great genes and come from good stock... And you become who you hang around. You absolutely have a great family and we appreciate all of your sacrifice in this season of primary elections. Hey, get your dad to comMITT to write a tad more often on your blog. :)

Posted by Angel at 2007-07-30 09:22:35

Harry Caray's Restaurant in Chicago

 

Last week I had the opportunity to go to Chicago and attend a "networking party" hosted by State Senator Dan Rutherford at Harry Caray's Restaurant in Chicago. Senator Rutherford was nice enough to introduce me and let me say a few words on behalf of my dad. There must have been over 300 of Senator Rutherford's closest friends there (they all said how much they admire him). It was a great chance to meet so many Republican activists in Chicago and get a chance to tell them about my dad's candidacy. On the way back to the hotel, I had a nice stroll down Michigan Avenue. Chicago is a beautiful city. If you haven't been there, I highly recommend it.

Here's a picture of me and Senator Rutherford next to Harry Caray's bust:

Posted at 2007-07-30 10:10:05 by Matt Romney

 

Looks like fun! I could have gone, but I think it cost 50 or something...

No Left Turns

To view this email as a web page, go here. We can all agree that we need change in America.  America’s strength depends on change and innovation. I’m convinced that America is going to change course. The question is which way it is going to go?  Are we going to take the sharp left turn Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards represent, or are we going to move forward with the American values that have always made us the strongest nation on earth? I believe we'll do the latter, but it’s going to take a fight. The Democrats’ solutions for change are Big Brother, big taxes and big government.  That’s not the right answer, it’s frightening. We need change, but not that kind of change. Stand with me against big government, on the side of the American people. Ask your friends to take a stand, too, by forwarding this message and ask them to join my team.  Just one click and we’ll be on our way to bringing real conservative change, not Clinton-style big government to Washington. Thank you for your support, This email was sent by: Romney for President, Inc. PO Box 55899 Boston, MA 02205 USA We respect your right to privacy - view our policy Manage Subscriptions | Update Profile | One-Click Unsubscribe

John Cronin says:

When Ann Coulter was at the CPAC convention earlier this year, she said that "if both major parties' nominees are pro-abortion, we can pretty much hang it up as a country." I think she was right. If we didn't have MR as the pro-life standard bearer, we would be in dire straights right about now.

The only (formerly) top tier candidate, John McCain, who is pro-life, fell on his sword for the Immigration bill. The remaining pro-life Republicans are mired at or below 2%.

One thing that I think is worth considering is that younger voters in the 18-30 age bracket are dramatically more supportive of politicians who propose policies that respect life in all it's stages. I really feel that those Americans who have labored long and hard to move this country away from the "culture of death" are starting to see the first fruits of their labors.

Mitt is right on this issue and as we get into the general election campaign mode, wait until you see the television ads that Team Romney will produce to drive home the stark choices before the electorate, when it becomes apparent that MR will be the ONLY viable pro-life candidate. I believe the pendulum is swinging back towards us and I see an exciting opportunity for us to begin the process of restoring the rights of the pre-born for the first time since Roe v. Wade.

Republicans: Too "Important" for YouTube Debate?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=RIoQ6MhhhDQ

I have news for you "<a href="http://youtube.com/user/EmergencyCheese ">EmergencyCheese</a>" people stopped doing the air quotes thing about 5 years ago. Also the people on a stick is kind of an example of the problem with you tube…

It's not that our presidential candidates are "too important" to talk to you, but everyone is too important to talk to you. I know you "YouTubers" have found a forum that makes you feel important, but you are not. You tube levels the playing field, so any narcissistic idiot with a camera (myself included) can think they are the center of the universe.  

EmergencyCheese says that the snow man asking a question at the last debate is part of the reason that young people are connecting with politics…

That is the problem with YouTube. People just make crap up. Are "young people connecting with politics"? What evidence do we have that young people are connecting with politics? The real question is what has the YouTube done to improve the debates? Nothing. They are a freek show. Youtube, can improve politics, because it cost less to get your message out, but having CNN pick from YouTube videos, instead of the typical townhall where they have real people standing their in real life, within the townhall, does nothing but promote YouTube.

EmergencyCheese says the CNN YouTube debate was the highest rated presidential debate among 18 to 35 year olds. Yes. It was promoted as something new and different. But is the next YouTube debate going to be higher rated after the gimmicky way that CNN promoted it?

EmergencyCheese asks, "would you rather have the debates be boring, Governor Romney?" HELL YES! Politics are not here to entertain. If people don't care about issues enough to watch unless a snow man ask the questions, THAN WE DON"T WANT THESE TYPE OF PEOPLE PARTICPATING IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS!

He goes on to call the professional journalist "vanilla" and says that we have to choose between them (turning off young people) and engaging them with youtube.

EmergencyCheese says, "tell me republican candidates, are you also too important to answer questions from parents with children serving in Iraq."

Again, I restate my thesis. We are all too important to listen to what these idiots on YouTube have to say. Do not waste your time! Mitt Romney has been having these forums called, "Ask Mitt Anything". Let me give you the gist of them. You can "Ask Mitt Anything". So no, Mitt Romney is not afraid of taking questions from anyone. He has been doing it with actual people in the same room as him, not with a TV screen where someone is able to put together some artificial "production".

Perhaps Mitt Romney is strategic enough to not walk into a trap where CNN gets to ask republicans the questions they have always wanted to, while hiding behind the public.

So you think EmergencyCheese is pretty stupid, for asking the question about being afraid to take questions from real people, when Romney, McCain, and Rudy have been doing that for months in townhalls across the country. So you think he must be pretty embarrassed, right? There is not much more that he could do to embarrass himself right? Well…

EmergencyChees asks the stupid question, how can you take on terrorist, when you are too afraid to go to the YouTube debate? Lets think about this for ½ a second… Do you notice any problems with his logic? Maybe any hypocracy? No? Perhaps you see a problem that he didn't have a problem with the Democrats not wanting to go to a Fox debate? If EmergencyChees had any logic to use, he could see that the democrats didn't want to go on the fox debate for the same reason that the republicans didn't want to go on the YouTube debate… they didn't see it being in their best interest…

Now that we are talking about interest, EmergencyCheese spends all his life on YouTube, do you think he is an impartial witness? Perhaps he has a dog in the race? Perhaps he is insulted that Mitt Romney thinks is "is not important" that he is a "nut" that he "wastes his time" that he "should get a real job" or "get a degree" or "make something of himself" instead of "wasting all his time on the computer posting videos to his friends, when he should just go over to their house".

So EmergencyCheese and all his budies that spend 5 hours a day on YouTube and Myspace all want validation that they are not losers. Well, he isn't going to get it from me, and I hope Mitt Romney doesn't give it to him.

John Le Carre quotes said, "A desk is a dangerous place from which to watch the world."
I computer doubly so.

EmergencyCheese says "the internet is making regular people more powerful every day". Lets just put aside weather or not EmergencyChees is "regular" or not, and go straight to the heart of the problem…

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle maintenance says the only thing in life that matters in art, and science is quality. EmergencyChees warns politicians if they don't embrace "the new" format (YouTube) they and their politics will become "irrelevant".  I have a hard time imagining a world where someone who gave the valedictorian speech, with a degree in English, who graduated with honors (Cum Laud) from Harvard Law school, and as a Baker Scholar from Harvard Business school, who went on to run one of the most successful businesses of the 90s will ever become irrelevant in a world that has anyone that still values quality. Mitt Romney is not on trial, in my mind. The question for me is if our horse and pony show of a political process, can still pick a person like Mitt Romney, or if the people who Google "Paris Hilton" will pick our next president.

South Carolina Photos

On Thursday Governor Mitt Romney joined his wife Ann, daughter-in-law Mary and grandson Parker in Spartanburg, South Carolina where they met with voters at The Beacon Drive-In and later traveled to West Columbia for a barbeque picnic with local residents.

 

Romney: Americans Angry With Iraq War

View larger image

ADEL, Iowa (AP) - Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney said Friday that the country is angry over the lack of progress in the Iraq war, a stinging assessment of the Bush administration's handling of the conflict from a Republican candidate. Campaigning in Iowa, the former Massachusetts governor also argued that despite the nation's frustration over the war, voters aren't ready to replace President Bush with a Democrat. "I know the Democrats are getting all ready, they are measuring the drapes and getting the carpet all ready for how they are going to take over the White House, and I think they are going to get a big surprise," Romney told a crowd gathered at a golf course. "America is not happy with how the war in Iraq is going, and is angry. But America is not about to take a sharp left turn and put somebody in the White House who would turn America into a European-type state." While Romney supported the March 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq and backs Bush's current troop increase, he has repeatedly said the post- invasion period was "mismanaged" with a lack of preparation for the insurgency and adequate planning for a government handover. Before various New Hampshire audiences on Wednesday, Romney said he would wait until a mid-September report from U.S. generals in Iraq before deciding the next course of action that he would support. He said if the surge succeeds, he believes it will allow U.S. troop withdrawals. He had refused to detail alternate scenarios should insurgent violence continue unabated. On immigration, Romney adopted a hardline stance. "I ... don't think it makes sense to have an immigration policy that says that if an illegal couple—a couple that comes across the border illegally—has a child here, that child becomes a U.S. citizen, that then the whole family gets to come in, if you will, through 'chain migration,'" he said. ____ On the Net: Mitt Romney for President 2008: http://www.mittromney.com/     Governor Romney on Iraq   Gov. Romney Stresses The Importance Of Winning In Iraq And Defeating Radical Islam Globally. "The congressional debate in Washington has largely, and myopically, focused on whether troops should be redeployed from Iraq to Afghanistan, as if these were isolated issues. Yet the jihad is much broader than any one nation, or even several nations. ... The jihadist threat is the defining challenge of our generation and is symptomatic of a range of new global realities." (Gov. Mitt Romney, "Rising To A New Generation Of Global Challenges," Foreign Affairs, July/August 2007)   Iraq Questions for Governor Mitt Romney   George Stephanopoulos Do you keep Bush or let him go? But how do you explain why all that planning wasn't done ? Yet, you support the president's decision to send more troops right now ? Are you confident the surge is going to work? Bill O Reilly Would you agree that we can't stop the Iraqi from killing each other ? Tom Bevan What's your impression of the job Rumsfeld did? Do you believe it's still fixable at this point? What happens if Iraq is not successful? Chris Wallace Where do you disagree with Bush on Iraq? Wolf Blitzer Do you have a time frame in mind? Hugh Hewitt Do you support sending more troops into that country? Robert B Bluey Do you think right now the US is losing the war in Iraq? Katherine Jean Lopez What did you make of the Iraq Study Group? Mary Katharine Ham What do you think about Harry Reid saying the war is lost ? Greta Van Susteren Would you have gone into Iraq? Do you think enough questions were asked in March of 2003 ? [1st Debate Should we be in Iraq when the American people do not victory is possible ? ''2nd Debate'' Can you foresee any circumstances under which you would pull out of Iraq without leaving behind a stable political and security situation ?   Governor Mitt Romney on Iraq   ABC'S GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: "National security, you're a management consultant again. You've come into the United States looking at the commander-in-chief. Do you keep him or let him go?"   GOVERNOR ROMNEY: "Well, you have to look at Iraq and Iraq was superbly executed in terms of taking down Saddam Hussein's government. But I think everybody recognizes, from the president to Tony Blair to Secretary Rumsfeld that post the period of major conflict, we had major problems in the way we've managed the war in Iraq, and that has contributed to much of the difficulty we have today. It was under-planned, under-prepared, under-staffed, too low a level of troops, under-managed."   STEPHANOPOULOS: "But how do you explain why all that planning wasn't done? President Bush is a Harvard MBA, too."   GOVERNOR ROMNEY: "Well, everybody has their own management style and their own approach and I respect enormously the approach other people. Mine is just different. And if you read "Cobra II" and "Assassins' Gate" and "Looming Tower" and some of the reports of the events leading up not only to 9/11, but to the conflict itself, there's a sense that we really weren't ready for the post major conflict period. And that has resulted in a blossoming of the sectarian violence, of insurgents within the country and from without, and a setting which is a very troubled, difficult position."   STEPHANOPOULOS: "Yet, you support the president's decision to send more troops right now."   GOVERNOR ROMNEY: "Yeah."   STEPHANOPOULOS: "How much time do you give it to work?"   GOVERNOR ROMNEY: "Well, it's not years. I think you're going to know within months."   STEPHANOPOULOS: "Mayor Giuliani said the other night he's not confident it's going to work. Are you?"   GOVERNOR ROMNEY: "Well, you know, I think it's hard to predict whether this troop surge will work, but I'm absolutely confident it's the right thing to do."   Press Releases Jan 10, 2007; Governor Mitt Romney on Iraq   Quotes   2007   "She can do what she likes – but I take exception to her conclusions. I don't think we should run our foreign policy based upon elections, election schedules or anything of that nature. We should look at the interests of America and our friends and our citizens and our solders and do what it's our collective best interests. This president has taken action which he believes is calculated to make America a safer land. We should not make decisions based on an election schedule...I would not move to those choices unless we were convinced there was no prospect of success with the current strategy...A number of mistakes have been made and those mistakes have contributed to some of the challenges we now face...I'm glad we're seeing a change in strategy. I'm glad we're adding to the mission of our military the protection of the safety of citizens in and around Baghdad., I don't know how you could rebuild a country and an economy if you have your capital city is literally all covered by what we call a red zone. You know you've failed if you have a red zone. The conduct of our policy in Iraq has been fraught with a number of mistakes." Governor Mitt Romney, Adam Nagourney, The New York Times, January 29th, 2007 In Responce to Hillary Clinton, who said that President Bush needed to resolve the war he started before he left office and not hand it off to his successor   2006   "I wouldn't presume to present a plan different from that of the President. But I believe he was right to take on the war on terror on an aggressive front rather than a defensive front. We toppled the government ... walking away would mean a humanitarian disaster. We're there and we have a responsibility to finish the job." Response to Bill O'Reilly Sept, 27 2006   "I agree with the President: Our strategy in Iraq must change. Our military mission, for the first time, must include securing the civilian population from violence and terror. It is impossible to defeat the insurgency without first providing security for the Iraqi people. Civilian security is the precondition for any political and economic reconstruction.   "In consultation with Generals, military experts and troops who have served on the ground in Iraq, I believe securing Iraqi civilians requires additional troops. I support adding five brigades in Baghdad and two regiments in Al-Anbar province. Success will require rapid deployment.   "This effort should be combined with clear objectives and milestones for U.S. and Iraqi leaders.   "The road ahead will be difficult but success is still possible in Iraq. I believe it is in America's national security interest to achieve it."     Governor Mitt Romney has been to Iraq. If you go to Google Video and type Mitt Romney, you will find this video, http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4362623183954478320&q=tvshow%3ACharlie_Rose, The Governor Mitt Romney interview takes about 20 min. If you just want to watch the part about this topic, go to this portion of the video: Iraq: 20:05 Min

PEOPLE EXCLUSIVE: Ann Romney Opens Up

THURSDAY JULY 26, 2007 11:00 AM EDT

By Sandra Sobieraj Westfall

Ann Romney Photo by: Ben Baker

Ann Romney, wife of Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, finds strength in her family and her horses – and she's emerging as a potent political force this campaign season.

"Ann deserves a lot of credit," says GOP pollster Neil Newhouse. "Politicians talk about family values, Ann and Mitt Romney live them."

Her husband calls her "one of America's great moms" – a description she's "totally satisfied with."

Mrs. Romney, 58, invited PEOPLE into the sunshine-yellow sitting room of her Belmont, Mass., home on June 12 to talk about her Mormon faith, raising five boys, living with Multiple Sclerosis – and her designs on the White House.

Here is the complete interview:

What do you most want people to know about you?
The thing people are most curious about is that I have MS and then the fact that I've overcome it. When you're used to being healthy and strong and vibrant and everything and then – bang – overnight you're desperately ill, it's frightening. People liken it to the same stages you go through grieving a death, where it takes a long time to accept it. Now that I've had it a number of years, I spend a lot of time on the phone privately talking to people who have just been recently diagnosed. That's my way of helping others. I always recommend going to a good doctor, doing the right medicines and then combining that with holistic [treatments.]

Opens Up

Ann Romney Photo by: Rob Carr / AP

What was your experience with MS like?
I had a very aggressive deterioration where I went from a matter of – October to December [1997] – of my whole right side going completely numb and being completely weakened and, I mean, I don't want to get that graphic about what happens, but you lose bowel and bladder control. It's so scary, you can't even imagine. I thought it was moving so fast it was going to kill me. But for me, I was put on [a 9-month course of] intravenous steroids and that worked like a charm. The thing is, you want to caution that everyone's diagnosis is different and everyone's treatment is different. I was having enormous fatigue and that's where the holistic part helped me. So, the steroids worked for stopping the progression and the holistic part helped me with energy.

You used horseback riding as therapy?
This enormous joy and passion that I had with riding horses got me out of bed, got me motivated, got me physically moving again, removed me to a very happy place and I would have so much joy and happiness and just so much fun while I was on the horse that I would even forget I was sick. Now I was really, really weak at the beginning when I was first riding. I had always dreamed that I might be able to even compete in the Grand Prix ring. Well, last year, not only did I compete, I earned the Gold Medal for the United States. Not only did I compete in Grand Prix, I'm also the highest-ranked Grand Prix rider in New England. Amateur, but still.

How did your husband take your diagnosis?
He was amazing. Initially we were both devastated. There was a lot of education we had to absorb about the disease. When he really helped me was when I was going through this really depressed period where I felt like I was 80 years old, there was nothing I could ever do again and life was over for me. I was of no use to anybody. It wasn't as though I was suicidal, but I was at the point where I thought, Couldn't I please just have cancer and die? And that's when Mitt would look at me, like, what? Finally he just said, 'I don't care if you aren't able to do the things you used to do, those things don't matter. We can get through anything together. As long as you're just still here, everything will be okay.'

PEOPLE EXCLUSIVE: Ann Romney Opens Up

Ann and Mitt Romney at a campaign stop in Iowa. Photo by: Joshua Lott / REUTERS / Landov

What drew you to the Mormon Church?
A hundred-percent personal thing. Mitt was the first Mormon I met and we began dating in high school. I just started asking him questions. I was curious.

What about the faith appealed to you?
I think it was just their belief in God and Jesus Christ and the plan of Salvation and our purpose here in life and all of those things that I think were being answered by the faith.

Was your family okay with it?
Oh, no! My dad was mortified. Can you imagine? The great agnostic that he is? Then, a few years later, not only did I get baptized, but my two brothers did, too. A few years later, my father was now telling all of his friends, "You got a problem with your teenagers? Send 'em to Brigham Young University. You can't believe it; it's the greatest place."

What are some of the misunderstandings about the church?
Polygamy, obviously is one, but that's just going to take such a long time. It's not practiced and it just drives me crazy every time I see these specials about 'Oh, the Mormons and the polygamy.' And they always equate Mormon and polygamy as if they still do it. Sometimes it's frustrating for me that the church doesn't get more aggressive about it, too, making it really clear that they're really opposed to it.

Do you follow all of the Doctrine and Covenants, the sacred undergarments, no hot drinks or alcohol?
Well, you know, I mean, we're practicing and active, so you can imagine we do some of the things that you'd expect. My kids don't drink and don't smoke. For me, that's been a great blessing actually, raising boys.

Have you seen Big Love?
Nope. Never seen it.

Law & Order (starring Fred Thompson, who's expected to enter the GOP race)?
I have seen it. Love it.

PEOPLE EXCLUSIVE: Ann Romney Opens Up

Ann Romney stands by husband Mitt. Photo by: Steve Pope / Landov

As first lady of Massachusetts, you were active in teen pregnancy prevention and faith-based work with inner-city children. Would you continue these in the White House?
I think that would be very similar. MS awareness and working to make sure that at-risk youth make right choices. Every child is terrific they just need to be given the opportunity to make the right choices so they can have a more fulfilling and rich life.

You made the decision to stay at home and have an interesting story about finishing your college degree.
I was going at night, taking this Harvard extension program and finishing my hours. I had maybe just a semester's worth of hours to do. I remember taking Josh, who was a baby then, to the class, nursing him in the back of the class. I think that was a first. It's one of those things where the professor is like, Wait, wait, wait, this is liberal Harvard, but what am I going to do about that woman in the back with a baby that's nursing? He just kept pretending like I wasn't there. There was a blind man sitting at the back of the room with me and finally after a few weeks of class, he goes, "I gotta ask you a question, what's that noise over there?"

In the circles you're in, do you ever feel self-conscious or apologetic about the choices you've made?
Never. Motherhood was my career, and I'm totally satisfied with that and the blessings that come with that. I feel it's been a privilege to be able to be a stay-at-home mom. I know there's so many women who would love to be and don't have that option and so for me it was a privilege to be able to have that option. And I value women that struggle and wish they could stay at home full-time but don't. And then I value women, too, that choose professionally to have a career.

What's your favorite memory from raising five boys?
It was wild. It was rowdy. There were times when seriously you just wanted to pull your hair out because you'd wish they would just be quiet for a minute, or sit, or even bake cookies or pick up their dishes or any of that, which never happened spontaneously. But then there were the fun times when honestly, they were so silly, the five all together that you just laughed a lot because there was just so much exuberance and happiness. I learned a lot from having boys.

Did you have any help?
No housekeeper. Nothing. No.

What keeps you in love with your husband?
No one's ever asked me that. I think we enjoy each other's company very much. We just enjoy being with each other. Sometimes we can just sit in a room and not talk; it doesn't matter. We just want to be together.

Mitt Romney at Jack's

Mitt Romney at Jack's

Mitt Romney (GG file photo)

Jack's in New London was a happening place this morning, July 25, when I arrived about 10:15 am. It helps to know the area, so I didn't even try to park at Jack's since I assumed the lot would be full. It was.

So, I scooted directly down to the Kearsarge Regional Middle School which is behind Jack's and parked the ole' gal and walked up to Jack's. The place was full when I arrived with some spillover outside.

Since I'm an "undecided" at the moment, I was asked to give an interview for the local Argus-Champion paper. The nice young reporter, Phillip, diligently wrote everything down I said so check it out next Wednesday. Hopefully, he won't misquote me on anything, but then, hey, I've been called names and misquoted before. Likely, I've misquoted people as well. I hope I don't do that here, but I'm a lefty, took some notes in shorthand and longhand and wrote a lot while I was listening to Mitt.

I really wanted to ask him if his father was a baseball fan and that's why he named him Mitt. However, it seemed there were much more pressing issues to address during the Q&A so I refrained. But, I'm still curious. Does anybody know?

I spoke with one of the nice young staffers, Christy I think, first and queried her on some war issues. She was well-prepared and knew her stuff. I had previously been sent some info on Gov. Romney's stance on major social issues, immigration, and protecting traditional marriage from the very nice, Emily Cantin, one of the field reps, whom I also had the pleasure of meeting.

Please take all of this with a grain of salt, but I think this is the gist of what Gov. Romney had to say about a lot of different things.

I met him outside first and introduced myself and asked him if I could ask him a question about the war. He said, of course, I'll call on you during the Q&A.

One thing for certain is that he definitely looks like Presidential material and has the demeanor, a strong handshake, and seems very comfortable in his own skin. He was tan and perfectly coifed, of course. In fact, with temps in the 90's and high humidity my long, thick, rather coarse, just washed hair was starting to frizz a bit and I wanted to ask him what hair product he recommends for smoothing out one's hair since his looked so sleek and smooth with just the right amount of graying so as to look distinguished.

Click here for more.

Governor Mitt Romney and Children

Governor Mitt Romney and Children Quotes

"The total education of our children is the measure of a generation's success or failure," said Romney. "We need to make sure our education system takes our kids from kindergarten all the way to being qualified for a good paying job." 02-26-2003 Press Release

Governor Mitt Romney and Children Press Releases

2006

• 03-21-2006; Poutre panel recommends reforms in child welfare system

2005

• 05-25-2005; Healey pushes tool to protect children from sex offenders
• 10-19-2005; Governor Mitt Romney lauds nation-topping performance by Massachusetts students
• 12-15-2005; Governor Mitt Romney awards free tuition to 14,000 Massachusetts students
• 12-21-2005; Healey kicks off student drug testing program in new bedford

2004

• 08-27-2004; heads up: Healey signs law requiring helmets for kids
• 01-20-2004; Governor Mitt Romney opens door to college for top scoring students
• 01-22-2004; Healey details plan to remove disruptive students from class
• 02-20-2004; Governor Mitt Romney applauds students for early MCAS preparation
• 05-23-2004; Commencement address to the students of Suffolk University
• 12-10-2004; 13,000 Massachusetts students win free college tuition

2003

• 04-07-2003; Governor Mitt Romney winsstudent support for higher education plan
• 04-30-2003; 86 percent of vocational students pass MCAS
• 09-03-2003; Governor Mitt Romney lauds students' high scores on 2003 MCAS

Also See

 

Education

Family

Governor Romney On Protecting Our Children

 

Ravi Zacharias on a Mormon in the White House

Ravi Zacharias on a Mormon in the White House July 25, 2007

Posted by Paul Edwards in Ravi Zacharias , Mitt Romney, Mormonism. trackback

Internationally renowned Christian apologist and theologian Ravi Zacharias raised a bit of controversy in evangelical circles back in November of 2004 when he accepted an invitation to speak at the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, UT.  He chose for his subject "The Exclusivity and Sufficiency of Jesus Christ." I asked Dr. Zacharias recently if he were at all concerned about the potential for a Mormon becoming president in the person of Mitt Romney:

What we want is a politician who will understand the basic Judeo-Christian world view, and on the basis of that  the moral laws of this nation are framed, and then run this country with the excellence of that which is recognized in a pluralistic society: the freedom to believe or to disbelieve, and the moral framework with which this was conducted: the sanctity of every individual life.

If we are looking for a minister to run this country just look back and see what havoc sometimes has happened when the church got aligned totally with the state. That's not what we want. We want political leadership that is wise, political leadership that frames itself on the moral framework of God and recognizing that you cannot dictate political ideaology to all of humanity. That's why Jesus refused to run for office, that was not what his mission was about. His mission was to change hearts.

But as you look back at the book of Kings and Chronicles you see one difference between every king: either they followed the Lord with their whole heart and blessing came; or they turned their backs upon God and then the entailments were there. And that's what will happen to this country.

Would we rather have someone who is a total secularist? Is that what people are asking for? Are we looking for someone who would run this the way he would run a bishoprick or something? I think we should ask the hard questions of everybody, be it Mitt Romney or anyone else and see if the framework of the value of human life and the moral framework of the Judeo-Christian world view, (which is the only moral framework under which this country could have been framed. It was not framed under a Hindu framework. It was not framed under a Muslim framework, not framed under a Buddhist or a naturalistic framework) that we are all created equal, that liberty and justice and all of those terms that I've given only make sense within the Judeo-Christian world view.

Created? Equal? Naturalism does not tell us we are equal. Naturalism does not tell us we are created. Liberty? Islam does not believe in the total liberty of the individual. Equal? Hinduism believes in the caste system. The Judeo-Christian world view is the only world view that could frame this country. And so I think as we elect, we go before God and see out of the candidates who will be the best one to represent the values and at the same time be a good leader for the country whose first responsibility should be to protect its citizens.

This is a great country and the challenges we face are immense to a point where this country could be totally mangled with the onslaught of a rabid atheism ala Christopher Hitchens, Samuel Harris, Richard Dawkins, those kinds of vociferous, acerbic writers in our time who would like to strip the notion of God completely from our culture. For Sam Harris to actually say if he had a magic wand to eradicate religion or eradicate rape, he would eradicate religion tells you the kind of mindset, and his book is in the top ten bestseller list of the New York Times. There's a rabid atheism out there and there's a rabid Islamic extremism out there and the secularism combined with that. I've responded to Sam Harris in a book which will be released in the early part of next year. I've said to him basically his choice is not going to be between religion and secularism. His choice is going to be between Islam and Christianity. Secularism has no staying power and has proven itself in Europe today. Europe is on the decline and on the demise and it's only a matter of time before Islam would take a foothold there unless the Christian world view reemerges.

SC for the huckster says this:

SC for the huckster says this:

"Our second candidate in the spotlight is former Governor Mitt Romney who served 1 term as the Governor of Massachusetts. Compared to that of Mike Huckabee who has 10 ½ years of executive experience as the Governor of Arkansas."

I don't think the huckster wants to get in the business of comparing resumes.

Mass has 6 million people, Ark has 2. So Romney was governor of more people for more years (24 million man-years... is that a new term?). Outside of government... do we even need to go there? What the Hell has the huckster ever done, beside attract elmer fud looking supporters like this guy? You go dude. You hunt those things with your dog. That is awsome. You go. That is the most important thing we need in our next president... someone who can attract elmer fud...

Elmer Fud has a bachelors degree in 2½ years before attending Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas! OMG! OMG! That sounds presidential? Mitt Romney only has an MBA and JD with honors from Harvard... Romney was only a baker scolar, and only graduated cum laude from harvard law school... butter go with the guy from SBTS! Yeah, lets go with the elmer fud dude...

Fiscal record

Huckabee has been criticized for his fiscal record as governor. He increased state spending 65.3 percent from 1996 to 2004. He has also supported numerous tax hikes, prompting some conservative critics to accuse him of being a liberal in disguise.^[27] The Cato Institute, a libertarian non-profit public policy research foundation, ^[28] gave him an F grade for spending and tax policy in 2006, and an overall grade of D for his governorship. ^[29]

Upon entering office, Romney faced a $3 billion deficit. Facing an immediate fiscal crisis, the Governor asked the state legislature for emergency powers to make "9C" cuts to the fiscal year 2003 budget. Romney cut spending and restructured state government.^[23]
Massachusetts finished 2004 with a $700 million surplus and 2005 with a $500 million surplus. ^{[31] [32]}

Which one of these is not like the others?

Anyone else think that it is funny that Romney mentioned that video as one of his favorites?

Click here for the link.

If anyone cares (these are the dog days of summer, and not much is going on) "doublespeakshow" has some weird stuff. One of them is labeled "switch" about Bloomberg switching from D to R to I. They are liberal, because of this video. Nice logic "doubelspeak". No on in Wisconsin could possible be a terrorist!

I was watching the YouTube debate and I found it interesting that the Democrats kept singling out Mitt. I don't remember them mentioning any of the other Republican candidates. To me this is a sign of who really scares them. I saw a graphic Jonathan Martin at the POLITICO mentioned depicting that most of the attacks from the DNC were aimed at my dad too:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0707/Charting_the_DNC_attacks.html

Posted at 2007-07-24 05:43:03 by Matt Romney

The Romney Vision: Seeing Is Believing - The Romney Agenda Trumps Dem Liberal Debate Pandering

Tuesday, Jul 24, 2007

"[Democrats] think about big government, big taxes and Big Brother. That's the same course Europe has taken over the last couple of decades that has led to a level of growth far below our own." – Gov. Mitt Romney (Lisa Rossi, "Romney Blasts Obama, Others," The Des Moines Register, 7/21/07)

Romney's Vision Of A Stronger Defense Vs. Defeatist Democrats

Gov. Romney Stresses The Importance Of Winning In Iraq And Defeating Radical Islam Globally. "The congressional debate in Washington has largely, and myopically, focused on whether troops should be redeployed from Iraq to Afghanistan, as if these were isolated issues. Yet the jihad is much broader than any one nation, or even several nations. ... The jihadist threat is the defining challenge of our generation and is symptomatic of a range of new global realities." (Gov. Mitt Romney, "Rising To A New Generation Of Global Challenges," Foreign Affairs, July/August 2007)

But Sen. Hillary Clinton Claims The U.S. Has Already Lost In Afghanistan To Al Qaeda And Bin Laden. SEN. HILLARY CLINTON: "We've got to figure out what we're doing in Iraq, where our troops are stretched thin, and Afghanistan, where we're losing the fight to al Qaeda and bin Laden." (CNN/YouTube, Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Charleston, SC, 7/23/07)

While Sen. Barack Obama Would Jump At The Chance To Meet With Dictators In Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba And North Korea. YOUTUBE QUESTION: "...would you be willing to meet separately, without precondition, during the first year of your administration, in Washington or anywhere else, with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea, in order to bridge the gap that divides our countries?" ... SENATOR BARACK OBAMA: "I would. And the reason is this, that the notion that somehow not talking to countries is punishment to them -- which has been the guiding diplomatic principle of this administration -- is ridiculous." (CNN/YouTube, Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Charleston, SC, 7/23/07)

Romney's Vision Of A Stronger Economy Vs. Tax-And-Spend Democrats

Gov. Romney Believes Lower Taxes Lead To A Stronger American Economy. GOV. MITT ROMNEY: "Raising taxes will slow down the economy, will make it more and more difficult to create jobs here. It's the wrong direction. The right direction is always to bring tax rates down. If you believe that the strength of America flows from government, then you want more taxes. But if you believe that the strength of America flows from the American people, you want to hold their taxes down for themselves and for the employers that employ them." (Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes," 4/4/07)

But Sen. Joe Biden Would Raise Taxes, Rolling Back The Bush Tax Cuts. SEN. JOE BIDEN: "First of all, change the tax structure. We are giving people tax breaks who don't need it. The top 1 percent got an $85 billion a year tax break. It is not needed. My dad used to have an expression -- don't tell me what you value; show me your budget. And the budget we have here is we all dance around it. We need more revenue to be able to pay for the things the governor and everybody else talks about. And there's only one way to do it. You either raise taxes or take tax cuts away from people who don't need them. I'd take them away from people who don't need them." (CNN/YouTube, Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Charleston, SC, 7/23/07)

While Sen. John Edwards Would Create A Big Government-Run Health Insurance Program, Paid For By Taxpayers. SEN. JOHN EDWARDS: "No, because the only way to provide universal coverage is to mandate that everyone be covered. But I want to say, you know, I came out with a universal plan several months ago. A couple of months later, Senator Obama came out with a plan. He's made a very serious proposal, and I'm not casting aspersions on his plan. I think it's a very serious proposal. It just doesn't cover everybody. The only way to cover everybody is to mandate it." (CNN/YouTube, Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Charleston, SC, 7/23/07)

Romney's Vision Of Stronger Families Vs. Out-Of-The-Mainstream Democrats

Gov. Romney Believes A Stronger American Family Leads To A Stronger America. GOV. MITT ROMNEY: "How is the American family made stronger? With marriage before children. With a mother and a father in the life of every child. With healthcare that is affordable and portable. With schools that succeed. With taxes that are lower. And with leaders who strive to demonstrate enduring values and morality." (Gov. Mitt Romney, Presidential Announcement, Dearborn, MI, 2/13/07)

But Sen. Barack Obama Supports Sex Education For Kindergarteners, And Wrongly Claimed That Gov. Mitt Romney Does, Too. CNN's ANDERSON COOPER: "Senator Obama, Mitt Romney has accused you this week of saying that 5-year-old children should be getting sex education. Was he right?" SEN. BARACK OBAMA: "Ironically, this was actually a proposal that he himself said he supported when he was running for governor of Massachusetts. ... I've got a 9-year-old daughter and a 6-year-old daughter. And I want them to know if somebody is doing something wrong to them, encroaching on their privacy, that they should come talk to me or my wife. And we've had that conversation, but not every parent is going to have that conversation with their child, and I think it's important that every child does, to make sure that they're not subject to the sexual predators." (CNN/YouTube, Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Charleston, SC, 7/23/07)

- In Fact, Sen. Obama Specifically Called For Sex-Ed In Kindergarten, Which Gov. Romney Did Not Support. "The Romney campaign is saying there is a difference here. Kevin Madden, Romney's national spokesman says, 'Obama specifically advocated sex-ed for small children in kindergarten.' Undaunted today, Romney said the following in South Carolina about Obama: 'Senator Obama is wrong if he thinks science-based sex education has any place in kindergarten.'" (David Brody, "Kindergarten Cop: Romney Versus Obama," CBN's The Brody File, www.cbn.com/CBNnews/198676.aspx, Posted 7/19/07) 

- The Legislation Sen. Obama Voted For In Illinois Went Even Further – Calling For STD Prevention To Be Taught In Kindergarten. Illinois Senate Bill 99, which Obama supported in the 93rd Assembly (2003-2004), reads, in part: "...whenever such courses of instruction are provided in any of grades K through 12, then such courses also shall include age appropriate instruction on the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, including the prevention, transmission and spread of HIV." (IL General Assembly Website, www.ilga.gov/legislation/, Accessed 7/24/07)

How Edwards And Thompson Are Just Alike

By RICHARD COHEN | Posted Monday, July 23, 2007 4:30 PM PT

 

Fred Thompson has stepped out of character. To much of America, he is Arthur Branch, the district attorney he portrays on the TV series "Law and Order." Branch is a straight shooter, a no-nonsense kind of guy who says what he means and means what he says. In contrast, the actor who plays him can be quite a different man. I don't think Arthur Branch would vote for Fred Thompson.

Branch's problem, as well as my own, is that Thompson does not always tell the truth. He clearly did not when it was revealed that, back when he was a lobbyist, he worked for a family planning outfit. Such honorable work is, of course, verboten to most Republicans, and so, for understandable but inexcusable reasons, Thompson — through a spokesman — lied.

There are nicer words, I know, but when you give the impression that what is true is false, that is a lie. Arthur Branch would understand.

"Fred Thompson did not lobby for this group, period," spokesman Mark Corallo said in an e-mail to the Los Angeles Times. A bit later, Thompson himself tried the old disparagement dodge: "I'd just say the flies get bigger in the summertime. I guess the flies are buzzing.'" Arthur Branch would see through this folksy piece of evasion and note not only that Thompson now denies nothing, but that flies buzz around BS.

It hardly matters to me that Thompson once lobbied for the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association. But the issue is not abortion, but truthfulness, candor, honesty — call it what you will. The impression we're entitled to take away from this episode is that when faced with some unpleasant truth, Thompson fibs. It ain't nice. It certainly ain't presidential.

Lest you think I am some sort of partisan hack, I have similar misgivings about John Edwards and his $400 haircuts. Here, too, the issue is not what he paid his barber, but his apparent willingness to trim the truth. He can't (I can't stop myself) brush that away.

Not that Edwards hasn't tried. His spokeswoman, Colleen Murray, also attempted the old disparagement trick, comparing the haircut imbroglio to matters of cosmic importance. "Breaking news — John Edwards got some expensive haircuts and probably didn't pay enough attention to the bills," she said. "He didn't lie about weapons of mass destruction or spring Scooter Libby; he just got some expensive haircuts."

Yes, he did. And he got them over and over again, sometimes summoning hairstylist Joseph Torrenueva of Beverly Hills to appointments on the campaign trail. When that happened, Edwards not only had to pay for the haircut, but for Torrenueva's airfare and hotel. A session during the 2004 race cost $1,250. On at least one occasion, Edwards paid the $400 personally.

Contrast this detailed account of Edwards' relationship with Torrenueva with the candidate's initial explanation. Edwards said he had no idea that the haircuts were so expensive and that — in a reprise of Bill Clinton's reference to Monica Lewinsky as "that woman" — called Torrenueva "that guy." You do not talk about your hairstylist like that. "When he called me 'that guy,' that hit my ears. It hurt," Torrenueva told the Washington Post's John Solomon.

Both Edwards and Thompson have something in common: They are all image. Neither has accomplished very much in public life. They are both ex-senators whose names are attached to no famous pieces of legislation.

They have built no constituencies on the basis of their legislative records, and so they apparently feel they cannot afford to admit an inconsistency — pro-choice lobbying by a proclaimed pro-lifer, or Euro-trashy indulgence by the proclaimed avatar of the poor.

FDR was a Hudson River patroon and Robert F. Kennedy had his mansion at Hickory Hill, but both had earned the trust of the poor by their evident sincerity and good works. Edwards ain't there yet. As for Thompson, he may be a good man, but for the moment he's more famous as an actor on television than as the champion of conservatives everywhere.

All presidents lie sooner or later. But Thompson and Edwards are not trimming for any noble purpose of state; they are just trying to protect a political persona that is somewhat concocted in the first place. Their rebuttals don't inspire trust or strength, and give us reason to worry.

It's a long campaign, and there's time for both men to prove that they are of sterling character. In the meantime, though, they both hit the counter with the hollow sound of a counterfeit coin.