From the bard

In the South Carolina Debate, when asked about the recent encounter
with the Iranian navy, Huck made the statement effectually warning
others to not mess with the "most powerful military the world has ever
known" He then said that if they do engage us, take a long look at the
gunboats because their next view will be of the "gates of hell"
.
It may have curried an applause from an emotionally charged audience,
but there are a few assumptions here that really bothered me.

Firstly, It is assumed that to fight against the U.S. is to sin
against God. So either God is an American or he is on their side
because the Americans are "good"

This is very close to the prevailing sentiment of Roman goodness
( regardless of the rampant licentiousness and greed) that was extant
during those final years leading up to the fall of Rome. There was an
'us' vs 'them' sentiment also between east (asiatic) and west (greco-
roman) that during the decline was used as a force to try to unify
roman citizens because loyalty to Rome seemed to be crumbling as fast
as their morality. Each side felt that the fastest way to unify the
people was to oppose a negative outside force... so they re-created
the other as the devils to be opposed.

I see the same blind force of 'us' vs 'them' (eastern vs western)
being used today and in that statement as an ignorant banner to rally
behind. It is an unsettling comparison to me.

It is also an unsettling assumption to me that after the magnificent
expense of the current conflicts that we will continue to have the
"most powerful military the earth has ever known". I really don't
think we are in the position that we want to be issuing such
inflammatory challenges for the enemies of the U.S. (whoever they are)
to take us up on.

Well, I hope that wasn't too hard to follow...It's finally good to
have it all said!

On to Florida

http://floridaformitt.blogspot.com/

Governor Mitt Romney and Florida

Can someone help me keep this Florida page updated?

Romney in the Florida News

• Feb 06, 2007; Romney Heeds Call Of Florida
• Apr 24, 2007; Romney Stresses Conservative Values In Speech To Florida GOP Lawmakers

Press Releases

• Mar 28, 2007; Governor Mitt Romney Names Former Secretary of State Glenda
• Mar 28, 2007; Jacksonville Leaders Endorse Governor Mitt Romney
• Feb 22, 2007; Governor Mitt Romney Names Florida Statewide Finance Committee
• Feb 01, 2007; Governor Mitt Romney Announces Expanding Florida Field Team

 

 

Nevada

Throughout the state of Nevada this morning, people gathered at their local caucus site and cast their vote for change in Washington.  With this important victory in the heart of the West, Governor Romney will continue traveling across the country calling for change in a Washington that is fundamentally broken.  Governor Romney issued the following statement concerning his victory in Nevada:
http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Nevada_Victory
"Today, the people of Nevada voted for change in Washington.  For far too long, our leaders have promised to take the action necessary to build a stronger America, and still the people of Nevada and all across this country are waiting.  Whether it is reforming health care, making America energy independent or securing the border, the American people have been promised much and are now ready for change.
"The need for change is even more apparent today as our economy faces challenges both here at home and abroad.  For decades, we have talked about the long-term economic challenges confronting our country but still the tax burden is too high, business is stifled by regulations and more money goes to defending against junk lawsuits than promoting research and innovation.  Now, Washington must act and take the steps necessary to strengthen our economy.  With a career spent turning around businesses, creating jobs and imposing fiscal discipline, I am ready to get my hands on Washington and turn it inside out."
And here are some fast facts and demographics information on Nevada:
 
Swing state: Nevada is a key swing state that has been decided by 4 percentage points or fewer in each of the last four general elections.
 
General election: Winning presidential candidates have carried Nevada in every election since 1976, and in 23 of the last 24 presidential elections.
 
Large Hispanic block of voters: Nevada is the first GOP primary state with a significant Hispanic population—10% of all votes cast in 2004 were by Hispanic voters, and the number of Hispanic voters will likely be even higher this year. 
 
Fastest growing state in the nation: According to the US Census Bureau, Nevada is the fastest-growing state in the nation—its population grew 2.9 percent in the past year, and has more than doubled since 1990.  By 2030, Nevada is projected to have almost as many residents as Iowa and New Hampshire combined.
 
Demographics:
The median household income in Nevada is $52,998, slightly above the US average of $48,451 (Census Bureau)
19.1% of Nevadans were born outside the US, significantly higher than the nationwide average of 12.5% (Census Bureau)
12% of Nevada voters say they are "white conservative Protestants" (2004 VNS Exit Poll)
By comparison, just 7.4% of Nevada residents belong to the LDS Church (Churches and Church Membership in the United States, 1990)
Nevada ranks 47th in the US in percent of married couples as a proportion of all households, at 47.4%, compared to the nationwide average of 49.7% (Census Bureau)

The Romney Economic Stimulus Plan

Today, Governor Romney has released details of his proposed economic
stimulus plan, designed around pro-growth principles that will help
lower taxes for individuals and businesses and help guide the economy
through the current housing crisis.

Here's a link and the details of Governor Romney's plan:

http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Romney_Agenda_1.19

STRATEGY FOR A STRONGER AMERICA: THE ROMNEY ECONOMIC STIMULUS PLAN

Governor Romney's Economic Stimulus Plan – Washington Must Act Now:

Governor Romney's Economic Stimulus Plan Would Provide Much-Needed
Relief To Taxpayers, Businesses And Homeowners. Today, our economy is
facing unprecedented challenges both here at home and abroad. Our
economy needs pro-growth stimulus, but Governor Romney believes any
stimulus package should return money to American taxpayers, not
increase already out-of-control government spending. To promote
economic growth, Governor Romney is proposing an economic stimulus
plan that would lower taxes on individuals, reduce taxes for
businesses and help homeowners through the current housing crisis.

· Individuals: Governor Romney would permanently reduce the
lowest income tax bracket, permanently eliminate payroll taxes on
seniors and make middle-class savings tax free.

· Businesses: Governor Romney would institute immediate 100%
expensing of equipment for two years and permanently reduce the
corporate tax rate.

· Homeowners: Governor Romney would reform and expand Federal
Housing Administration (FHA) loan portfolio limits to allow larger
loans to homeowners.

Governor Romney Urges Our Leaders To Work Together And Immediately
Debate, Pass And Sign A Stimulus Package For The American People. If
our representatives in Washington can work together and demonstrate
the leadership that the American people deserve, Governor Romney is
optimistic that we can still turn this economy around. Washington
must get to work immediately and pass a bill no later than February
19, a month from today, in order to stimulate our economy.

INDIVIDUALS: Governor Romney's Economic Stimulus Plan – Pro-Growth
Tax Cuts For Individual Taxpayers:

Permanently Reduce The Lowest Income Tax Bracket to 7.5%. Permanently
cutting taxes for all taxpayers will put more money in workers'
pockets and stimulate consumer confidence and spending.

· Cutting The Lowest Tax Rate From 10% To 7.5% Will Provide Up
To A $400 Tax Cut To Each American Taxpayer.

· Governor Romney Proposes Providing An Immediate Retroactive
Tax Credit Reflecting The Lower 7.5% Tax Rate For 2007 Earnings To
Employees Who Earned Less Than $97,500 In 2007. This tax cut would
immediately stimulate the economy as taxpayers with the highest
propensity to consume receive their increased 2007 tax refunds.

· Permanently Reducing The Lowest Bracket Is A Pro-Growth Tax
Cut For The Tens Of Millions Of Americans In The Lowest Income Tax
Bracket.

Permanently Eliminate Payroll Taxes On Employees Over The Age Of 65.
It is not fair that seniors that have worked their whole life and
earned their full Social Security benefit continue to owe payroll
taxes to the federal government.

· In This Uncertain Economic Environment, More And More Seniors
Are Returning To The Workforce. Governor Romney's proposal will
provide an immediate tax cut to working seniors.

· Governor Romney Believes That Seniors Have Already Earned
Their Full Social Security Benefit And Should Not Owe Additional
Payroll Taxes For Income Earned After Age 65.

Make Middle-Class Savings Tax Free. Governor Romney's plan will allow
middle class Americans to save tax free by changing the tax rate on
interest, capital gains and dividends to absolutely 0%. By helping
more Americans save and invest, we can meet the challenges of an aging
population and ensure the financial security of America.

· Allow Over 95% Of American Families To Save And Invest Tax
Free: Any taxpayer with Adjusted Gross Income under $200,000 would
pay a tax rate of absolutely 0% on all of the income they earn from
their savings, capital gains and dividends.

· Expand The Investor Class: In recent years, over
half of adult Americans have participated in the stock market either
directly or through pension plans and mutual funds. Tax-free savings
will encourage more families to build wealth by saving, investing and
participating in the stock market, which will help grow the economy.

BUSINESSES: Governor Romney's Economic Stimulus Plan – Pro-Growth Tax
Cuts For Businesses:

Institute Immediate 100% Expensing Of New Equipment Purchased By A
Business For A Two-Year Period Retroactive To January 1, 2008. This
plan would allow both large and small businesses to immediately invest
in new equipment and capital improvements, which would immediately
stimulate the economy and create new jobs.

· Boost U.S. Manufacturers And Vendors: Accelerating and
increasing capital investment in equipment and other qualified assets
in the U.S. will immediately provide a boost to U.S. manufacturers and
vendors.

· Encourage Additional Business Investment: Entrepreneurs and
small businesses, such as S corps and LLCs, which often face cash flow
difficulties, will benefit greatly by the reduced cost of investment
in equipment under this plan. Additional investment and expansion by
these growing businesses will drive economic growth.

Reduce The Corporate Tax Rate To 20% Over Two Years. Governor Romney
believes we should immediately act to reduce the corporate rate to 25%
for 2008 and 20% in 2009. A permanent U.S. corporate tax rate of 20%
will attract capital, stimulate investment, and increase American
competitiveness with the rapidly growing economies of the world.

· A More Competitive Corporate Tax Rate: Governor Romney has
spoken throughout the campaign about the need to reduce our corporate
income tax rate in order to compete more effectively against other
countries with lower rates. The United States currently has the
second-highest corporate tax rate in the Organization for Economic
Co-operation and Development.

· Encourage New Capital Flows Into The United States: Cutting
the corporate tax rate will cause new capital to flow to the U.S. and
make our U.S. companies more competitive by providing additional funds
for research, development, innovation, and hiring of additional
employees.

HOMEOWNERS: Governor Romney's Economic Stimulus Plan – Helping Homeowners:

Reform And Expand Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Loan Portfolio Limits:

· Lower The Amount Of Upfront Down Payment A
Borrower Must Make, Allowing FHA To Help Nonprime Borrowers Who May
Not Be Able To Meet The Current Requirement.

· Raise The Maximum Loan Amount Eligible For FHA
Insurance, Allowing FHA To Serve More Borrowers In Higher-Priced
Areas.

· Expand NeighborWorks America's Foreclosure Avoidance
Initiative: Governor Romney proposes expanding NeighborWorks
America's Foreclosure Avoidance Initiative to help American homeowners
stay in their homes. NeighborWorks America assists homeowners by
offering foreclosure counseling and identifying refinancing
opportunities for U.S. homeowners.

Governor Romney's Pro-Growth Tax Agenda:

Governor Romney's Economic Stimulus Plan Is In Addition To His Tax
Proposals Which Will Provide A Sound Economic Framework For Long-Term
Growth:

· Make The Bush Tax Cuts Permanent: Making the Bush Tax Cuts
permanent is the first step to ensuring that Americans are able to
keep more of their hard-earned money.

· Roll Back Tax Rates For All Americans: As President,
Governor Romney will cut marginal tax rates across the board, allowing
all Americans to save more money.

· Kill The Death Tax: It is unfair to tax Americans three
times: first when they earn their money; second when they invest it
and receive income from those investments; and third when they die.

· Make The Research And Development Tax Credit Permanent To
Encourage Capital Investment And Innovation: Governor Romney believes
that we must encourage companies to invest more in research and
development to produce the innovations our companies need to win in
the global economic competition.

· Oppose Any Increase In Social Security Taxes: We can
strengthen Social Security without resorting to higher Social Security
taxes that will impact all Americans. Governor Romney will oppose any
proposed increase in Social Security taxes.

· Prevent The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) From Hurting More
American Families: At the very least, Congress must pass a patch to
the AMT that will prevent this tax from affecting more and more
families in America.