Classic Hack Job on Romney by ABC

Unfortunately I have to add another list to my "Criticism of Mitt Romney" page.

The Criticisms is "Romney is not a true Republican because he voted for Paul Tsongas."

First a clarification. Romney voted for George H. Bush in the General (final) election, but he voted for Paul Tsongas in the primaries.

Every belief has many valid reasons to agree and disagree with it. I created a page for this belief here:

Reasons to disagree (Romney was wrong to vote for Tsongas)

1. Romney was a good republican because he was very practical. In 1992 there was no Republican primary. He had two options. He could sit on the side lines and not vote (like me this last election cycle) or he could vote for the best candidate who would not likely beat Bush in the General election. Romney chose the latter. This does not make him a bad republican.
2. Paul Tsongas was a fiscal conservative.
3. Paul Tsongas was a good guy.
4. I wish every Republican would have registered as independents in 1992 and voted for Paul Tsongus. Bush would have lost anyways, but we would have had Tsongus instead of Clinton. And now Hillary Clinton. Maybe George H. Bush would have won against Paul Tsongus. Two descent guys, that had nothing to do with Hollywood instead of Bill going against H. Bush in 1992.
5. Maybe all Republicans should claim independent, so that we can vote for Hillary in the Primaries and our guys in the general election.
6. There was no GOP primary contest in 92. In 1992 Mitt Romney voted against Bill Clinton twice.
7. I am a Romney fan, but not even I think Romney was smart enough to see that Bill Clinton was a bigger liability than George H. Bush was an asset for our Country. I am not going to attribute Mitt Romney of difficult political calculus. This was very basic addition. Vote once for the guy you like best, or vote twice? Hmm, let me see…

Reasons to agree

1. A good republican would never vote for a Democrat.
2. A vote for a Democrat is a vote for the Devil himself. D is for Devil. Even if it is the just the primary and you vote for George H. Bush (like Romney) in the General election.

But now Dan Rather's ABC is looking for times that Mitt Romney has discussed the same issue on different occasions, and not used the exact same verbatim language. ABC says that according to some (top notch, infallible, always trust worthy) Boston Globe reporters Romney did not give the exact verbatim explanation of why he voted for Tsongas as his explanation on Tomorrow's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos".

According to the Boston Globe reporters, "Romney confirmed he voted for former U.S. Sen. Paul Tsongas in the state's 1992 Democratic presidential primary, saying he did so both because Tsongas was from Massachusetts and because he favored his ideas over those of Bill Clinton," the Boston Globe's Scot Lehigh and Frank Phillips wrote on Feb. 3, 1994. "He added he had been sure the G.O.P. would renominate George Bush (was their any question?), for whom he voted in the fall election."

According to ABC this is somehow contradicted when Romney says; "In Massachusetts, if you register as an independent, you can vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary," said Romney, who until he made an unsuccessful run for Senate in 1994 had spent his adult life as a registered independent. "When there was no real contest in the Republican primary, I'd vote in the Democrat primary, vote for the person who I thought would be the weakest opponent for the Republican."

Alright. Mitt Romney did not use the same exact verbatim language, so it is apparently time to turn off any logic within your brain and accuse him of changing his story. Way to go ABC.

This article, however, asks if there is any contradiction. Romney liked Tsongas better than Clinton, and didn't think that he would win over Bush. No contradiction.

But ABC twists Romney's words and they accuse him of some Machiavellian scheme to win the election for Bush, by forcing Tongas into the race. Did Romney change his story, or is ABC just trying to make something out of nothing?

Here is a comparison. Why do you love your wife? One day you say, "she is pretty." Someone asks you the next day, "She is nice." To which ABC responds, "Oh! Your a flip-flopper! You changed your story! One day you say that you are physically attracted to her, the next day you say that it is because of the nice things she does for you? It it because you are a misogynist or because you like her slave labor? Which is it?!" It is the same exact thing with Romney. One day he explained that Paul was a Social Conservative. The next day he explained how he didn't think Paul would win Bush anyways.

We knew that Dan Rather was guilty of Document-gate, but who from CBS put out this hit piece? Don't you like how no one puts their name and takes responsibility? By the way, I've posted a couple of responses, but they do not approve anything that doesn't agree with the DNC party line.

Anyways, here is my analysis of the flip-flopper charge, and here is the analysis of the flip-flopper charge directly as it applies to Romney over voting for Paul Tsongas in the primary and Bush in the General Election.

Please tell me what you think.

~ Mike

PS: MMM has a great piece over here.

"Why I Support Mitt Romney for President"

 

I would like to create a page with all the explanations of why people support Mitt Romney. Please e-mail me reasons why you support Mitt Romney and I will add it to this page:

http://myclob.pbwiki.com/Why-I-Support-Mitt-Romney-for-President

A

Paul Allen
Congressman Robert Aderholt

B

David M Bresnahan

E

Evangelicals for Mitt

Examples of Governor Mitt Romney’s Innovations

1. Redirecting government money formerly spent re-reimbursing emergency rooms, instead paying for health insurance premiums (more}
2. Modifying the Massachusetts homeless policy of putting new people at the shelter into hotels, and putting those who have been in the shelter the longest into hotels, resulting in millions of dollars saved, and homeless people no longer going to hotels. (more)
3. Negotiating a system, the only in the country according to my knowledge, that allowed state troopers to help out with illegal immigration. (more)
4. Governor Mitt Romney supported innovation by leading his state as the only state in the union to adopt the use of only open standard software such as star office. (more)
5. Governor Mitt Romney also supports innovation by wanting companies to spend more on R&D than lawsuits. "Another burden on our economic future is our out-of-control tort system. Last year, U.S. corporations spent more money on tort claims than they did on R&D."
6. Mitt Romney is a tireless advocate of raising our school's test scores so that we can have the talent in engineering, math, and science that will allow us to stay competitive. "America and America's youth are less and less competitive. Yes, fixing our schools is a social responsibility. It is also a national economic and national security necessity." Governor Mitt Romney, Oral Testimony of Governor Mitt Romney House Committee on Education and the Workforce
7. Mitt Romney created the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award that brought attention to innovative small businesses in Massachusetts.
8. Romney promoted a competition in Massachusetts that rewarded cities with innovative approaches to smart growth. 04-19-2005 Press Release
9. Mitt Romney had to do some innovative things to turn around Bain, create Bain Capital, save the 2002 Winter Olympics, and balance the budget in Massachusetts without raising taxes. I know he was very methodical at the way that he came in and saved Bain. He made a deal with all of the executives, with kind of an innovative deal that he would only take the CEO position given certain requirements. At the time, the whole field of venture capitalism was very innovative, and I think Romney was a pioneer of the industry. Also the 2002 Olympics had very innovative aspects to it, as far as cost saving methods, and the use of volunteers.

This are just some of the top things that came to my mind. It only took me a few seconds, and I know you will have many more examples. Please help me, I think this is very important.

Governor Mitt Romney and Innovation

2007 quotes

• "This place is not just about automobiles; it is about innovation, Innovation that transformed an industry, and in doing so, gave Americans a way of life our grandparents could never have imagined.
  • Governor Mitt Romney, 02-13-07 Governor Mitt Romney's presidential announcement

• "Innovation and transformation have been at the heart of America's success. If there ever was a time when Innovation and transformation were needed in government, it is now.
  • Governor Mitt Romney, 02-13-07 Governor Mitt Romney's presidential announcement

• "It is time for Innovation and transformation in Washington. It is what our country needs. It is what our people deserve.
  • Governor Mitt Romney, 02-13-07 Governor Mitt Romney's presidential announcement

• "Throughout my life, I have pursued Innovation and transformation. It has taught me the vital lessons that come only from experience, from failures and successes, from the private, public and voluntary sectors, from small and large enterprise, from leading a state, from being in the arena, not just talking about it. Talk is easy, talk is cheap. It is doing that is hard. And it is only in doing that hope and dreams come to life."
  • Governor Mitt Romney, 02-13-07 Governor Mitt Romney's presidential announcement

• "We strengthen the American people by giving them more freedom, by letting them keep more of what they earn, by making sure our Schools are providing the skills our children will need for tomorrow, and by keeping America at the leading edge of Innovation and technology."
  • Governor Mitt Romney, 02-13-07 Governor Mitt Romney's presidential announcement

• "Our government has become a weight on the American people, sapping their strength and slowing their climb. We must transform our government – to become a government that is smaller and less bureaucratic, one with fewer regulations and more freedom for our people. The Innovation we need today is to make government more responsive to the needs of everyday American citizens. It's time to put government in its place, and to put the American people first!"
  • Governor Mitt Romney, 02-13-07 GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY'S PRESIDENTIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

• "As we look around us in this museum, we see the evidence of American Innovation – airplanes, automobiles, appliances. But these are not America's greatest innovation. America's greatest Innovation is freedom. Without freedom, we have nothing. With freedom, nothing can hold us back."
  • Governor Mitt Romney, 02-13-07 Governor Mitt Romney's presidential announcement

2006 quotes

• "Charter schools are important centers for innovation, achievement and accountability in education. It is especially important for parents with children in low-performing districts to have an alternative, and I will continue to fight any measure that would restrict this choice or the addition of new charters."
  • Governor Mitt Romney, 05-03-2006 Press Release

2005 quotes

• "I want to start by commending the Committee for your decision to engage in what I consider to be the greatest challenge facing our nation – how to remain the world leader in intellectual capital. Slowly, yet systematically, the advantage the United States has in producing and retaining the thought leaders of our world has been eroded. We are, I believe, at an inflection point that will determine whether America remains a strong and viable leader in a global world economy or whether, like Great Britain before us, we will allow other countries to become the drivers of innovation while the United States slowly fades into a nation of shopkeepers."
  • Governor Mitt Romney, 05-17-2005 U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce, Hearing on "High School Reform: Examining State and Local Efforts"

• "We have every reason to believe Massachusetts can offer a lot more good jobs. Last year, we created incentives for new jobs and funding for innovation. We stepped up to the expansion plan at Hanscom and Natick laboratories that has the potential to create thousands of new jobs. We boosted workforce training. And we hit the bricks, selling Massachusetts. We marketed our state to hundreds of employers, many of whom I met personally."
  • Governor Mitt Romney, 01-13-2005, 2005 STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS

2004 quotes

• "Charter schools provide more alternatives in public education and encourage innovation and excellence. They hold teachers and administration accountable for the educational success of their students and give parents the chance to make choices regarding their children's education."
  • Governor Mitt Romney, 05-05-2004 Press Release

• "Massachusetts is a world-class center of innovation. Let's work together to keep our jobs and keep our employers here in our state where they belong."
  • Governor Mitt Romney, 03-22-2004 Press Release

2003 quotes

• " So being here this evening with Dr. Vest, Mr. d'Arbeloff, the Deshpandes and other scientists and leaders in the field of innovation and technology is something which I find to be beyond my capability. I want to underscore how important what you are doing is, not just for yourselves, but to our state, to our nation, and I believe to our total global economy and global population. "
  • Governor Mitt Romney, 05-13-03, Deshpande Center IdeaStream Symposium

• "Let me come back to something more parochial, which is how our state fits into all of that and how you who are entrepreneurs and investors, financiers, faculty members and others who are associated with the process of innovation fit into, if you will, "our state." I am convinced that this is an extraordinarily attractive place to grow and develop ideas and technology. That this state has many of the features which are unique in our nation and perhaps in our world - the clusters of technology and capability that have assembled here -- means that enterprises that begin here begin with a natural advantage. We have also thought to keep the attractiveness of the, if you will, 'the Petri dish" here for technology innovation very robust and vital. There are some who would suggest we could solve our problems best by, for instance, raising our tax rates and business payroll taxes and so forth. I am afraid of going down the path California is going down. I am afraid that going to an 11% income tax will scare away innovation and scare away jobs. California is a beautiful place. We don't have their weather to compete with, so we have to compete on other bases. For us it's a place where that tax burden is not overwhelming with a 5.3% tax rate - they're going up to an 11% tax rate, with over 9% today. We have to make sure this is a place as attractive for people to come and grow their enterprise - our regulatory structure."
• Governor Mitt Romney, Deshpande Center IdeaStream Symposium, 05-13-03

• "The numbers are clear. Small businesses are not just apart of our economy. They are the engine of economic growth and innovation."
  • Governor Mitt Romney, 09-25-2003 Press Release

• "Each month, we will present this award to an individual who, like Bernie Goldhirsh, uses innovation and drive to grow small ideas into the businesses that make Massachusetts the leader we are."
  • Governor Mitt Romney, 07-14-2003 Press Release

• "I know as well that what you are doing here has impact well beyond my parochial interests in Massachusetts. I think we can all appreciate the broader context of what's involved. On a global basis, I'm convinced that you are seeing - as some have indicated in some recent journals and books -- the civilizations of the world weighing the values, which will be followed by their civilizations and by their peoples. On the one hand, we have the model of the US and other nations of the west -- which is model based upon individual entrepreneurship and individual decision-making and democracy. Everything related to the individual and the innovation and creativity of the individual, and saying the individual given full freedoms and incentives and opportunities for innovation, will create enormous innovation and potential for other people to live and grow from, and that this is the best way for building a civilization and an economy. There are other civilizations in our word that are convinced, that no, that's not the right model. That in fact you are much better under a more authoritarian structure where collectivity of purpose is defined as the objective and that this idea of individuality and innovation by individuals is actually quite counterproductive. And there is a debate between these differing views in the civilizations of the world today."
  • Governor Mitt Romney

• "There's a common misperception that we do all the innovation and send off the grunt work to people offshore, that somehow American technology does all the high-end work and we send out routine drafting elsewhere. We have the perception we're the best and the brightest but we didn't score as well as others in some studies. We know this market but when our market is no longer the target market in the world, when India and China surpass us, the idea that we'll be innovating and they'll be copying is not an accurate perception."
  • Governor Mitt Romney, Forrester Research executive strategy summit in Boston

• "Another burden on our economic future is our out-of-control tort system. Last year, U.S. corporations spent more money on tort claims than they did on R&D. If innovation is the key to our long term leadership, then some tort lawyers are cashing out our country's future. I spoke with one member of the plaintiff's bar the other day. He said that the tort lawyers are ok with state reform, but not national reform. You know what state level tort reform means - it means that as long as there is one lawsuit-friendly state, they can sue almost any major, deep-pocketed company in America. No thanks, America needs national tort reform."
  • Governor Mitt Romney,

"Our generation has not had a Sputnik moment…yet. But our Sputnik is on its way. It is coming from Asia. One of the great developments of our time is the economic emergence of China, India, and other nations of Asia. Their poverty is thankfully being reduced. And new opportunities for our employers are opening, but so are new challenges. Asia is not content with making our Christmas tree ornaments: they want to build commercial jets and MRI machines, create software and breakthrough drugs. They are planning for the innovation and technical capital of the world to move from America to Asia."
"And it is on its way. Corporate investment in Asia is exploding. CEO's in my high tech state tell me they plan to transfer major operations there, not for the low cost, but because of the highly educated, highly motivated and plentiful workforce. Bill Gates reports that Microsoft's new ideas come increasingly from Beijing."
"We take comfort in the fact that we spend many times as much as Asian nations on R&D but don't forget that our engineers cost about ten times as much as theirs."
"Two decades ago, American citizens and Asian citizens were awarded about the same number of Ph.D.s annually in physical science and engineering—about 5,000. Today, 4,400 US citizens receive those Ph.D.s compared with 24,900 Asian citizens."
"America and America's youth are less and less competitive. Yes, fixing our schools is a social responsibility. It is also a national economic and national security necessity."
* Governor Mitt Romney, Oral Testimony of Governor Mitt Romney House Committee on Education and the Workforce
 

Press Releases

• 04-19-2005; ROMNEY HONORS 9 COMMUNITIES FOR SMART GROWTH INNOVATION
• 04-19-2005; Governor Mitt Romney honors 9 communities for smart growth innovation
• 12-06-2004; Governor Mitt Romney; healthcare leaders tout medical innovations

Michigan, Iowa, Alabama, and Detroit Photos

Presidential candidate and Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney holds a press conference before speaking to Michigan Republicans during the Michigan GOP Convention in Grand Rapids, Mi. on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007. (AP Photo/Adam Bird)

 

Former Massachusetts Gov. and Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney, left, and wife Ann listen to the Pledge of Allegiance before his speech at the Missouri Republican Party's 108th Lincoln Days gathering Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Bill Boyce)

 

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney addresses members of the Alabama Republican Party, Friday, Feb. 9, 2007, in Montgomery, Ala. (AP Photo/Kevin Glackmeyer)

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney listens to Lawrence Johnson, director of the Center for Crops Utilization Research at Iowa State University, after a tour Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Steve Pope)

Republican Mitt Romney meets with the media after addressing the Detroit Economic Club in Detroit, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2007. Romney used the first major policy speech of his fledgling presidential campaign to promote permanent tax cuts, portable health insurance and free and open markets. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Obama, Clinton May Skip Early Debates

"Major candidates are complaining that too many states are planning too many debates too early."

What? Too many debates too early? That is the problem with modern politics. We don't have enough debates, soon enough. Also, we don't have the right type of debates.

No one wants to talk to each other; they would rather have their henchmen make 30 second TV commercials about each other. And the debates are not even real debates. They are just scripted formats for them to repeat their campaign slogans. It is a horse and pony show.

How do you tell when a politician is telling lies? His/her lips move. That is why we need to hook politicians onto lie detectors when they debate. If I was a politician I would wear a lie detector. Why should politicians have the right to lie to us? We have the technology to have them hooked up during a debate. You have to pass a lie detector test to go into the CIA, why not to become POTUS?

However, I wouldn't just have a standard lie detector, I would hook the bio-feedback outputs up to the computer that runs the audio and lighting in the debate hall, so it plays atonal experimental academic music and an eerie light show when the candidate is lying.

This will allow honest politicians (like Romney) to REALLY communicate – to really give people a detailed picture of their emotional process. This will make politicians into rock stars. Watching them will be much more entertaining, and educational. Once this becomes mainstream we can start to follow leaders who really say what they believe. There is new cat scan technology that makes lie-detection fool proof. Even the threat of lie detectors will stop people like Hillary from going into politics: like the threat of radar guns stop people from speeding.

If referees in the Super Bowl can use instant replay to ensure that what happens in an un-important (in the big scheme of things) football game, than the people of the United States need technology to help us make the most important decision of the planet's future: who should be the next POTUS.

This product would not be too difficult to make. If the dad in "Meet the Parents" could get a lie detector, I'm sure someone at one of these colleges could bring one by on the night of the debate.

At the very least we need to put the presidential candidates in some sort of "American Political Idle", or "Big Brother - 2008 President"... lock them up and see them duke it out for a week, not for an hour long debate.

Lincoln and Douglas had 7 debates. Each debate had this format: one candidate spoke for an hour and a half, then the other candidate spoke for two hours, and then the first candidate spoke for a half hour. The candidates alternated going first. That is 4 hours each debate, with 7 debates, and a total of 28 hours of debate, for just two candidates . If we only have 4 candidates for 2008, we will need a minimum of 56 hours of debate in order to have each candidate speak as much as Lincoln and Douglas. I will be suppried if there is 12 hours of debate, let alone (my miniumum of) 56. This was just for the Illinois senate seat. Our next election will determine the president of the most powerful country on the face of the planet, in a very difficult time. Much more complicated than 7 score and 9 years ago. The Baby Boomers will start to retire, the deficit will explode. We, as citizens, need to demand at least 56 hours of debate for the 2008 presidency, and everyone who wants to be president needs to show up for each debate. This is a Minimum. I think we also need lie detectors, and need to lock them all in the same building for a month straight, but that is just my opinion.

What do you think? What type of debate would you like to see? What kind of format should we use to determine the next president? What are your feelings about presidential debates? What could we do to improve them? Do you agree, that at a Minimum, we need to have 28 hours worth of debate between the candidates? Do we face more complex questions that Lincoln and Douglas faced when they were trying to be senators for Illinois?

~ Mike

Obama, Clinton May Skip Early Debates

"Major candidates are complaining that too many states are planning too many debates too early."

What? Too many debates too early? That is the problem with modern politics. We don't have enough debates, soon enough. Also, we don't have the right type of debates.

No one wants to talk to each other; they would rather have their henchmen make 30 second TV commercials about each other. And the debates are not even real debates. They are just scripted formats for them to repeat their campaign slogans. It is a horse and pony show.

How do you tell when a politician is telling lies? His/her lips move. That is why we need to hook politicians onto lie detectors when they debate. If I was a politician I would wear a lie detector. Why should politicians have the right to lie to us? We have the technology to have them hooked up during a debate. You have to pass a lie detector test to go into the CIA, why not to become POTUS?

However, I wouldn't just have a standard lie detector, I would hook the bio-feedback outputs up to the computer that runs the audio and lighting in the debate hall, so it plays atonal experimental academic music and an eerie light show when the candidate is lying.

This will allow honest politicians (like Romney) to REALLY communicate – to really give people a detailed picture of their emotional process. This will make politicians into rock stars. Watching them will be much more entertaining, and educational. Once this becomes mainstream we can start to follow leaders who really say what they believe. There is new cat scan technology that makes lie-detection fool proof. Even the threat of lie detectors will stop people like Hillary from going into politics: like the threat of radar guns stop people from speeding.

If referees in the Super Bowl can use instant replay to ensure that what happens in an un-important (in the big scheme of things) football game, than the people of the United States need technology to help us make the most important decision of the planet's future: who should be the next POTUS.

This product would not be too difficult to make. If the dad in "Meet the Parents" could get a lie detector, I'm sure someone at one of these colleges could bring one by on the night of the debate.

At the very least we need to put the presidential candidates in some sort of "American Political Idle", or "Big Brother - 2008 President"... lock them up and see them duke it out for a week, not for an hour long debate.

Lincoln and Douglas had 7 debates. Each debate had this format: one candidate spoke for an hour and a half, then the other candidate spoke for two hours, and then the first candidate spoke for a half hour. The candidates alternated going first. That is 4 hours each debate, with 7 debates, and a total of 28 hours of debate, for just two candidates . If we only have 4 candidates for 2008, we will need a minimum of 56 hours of debate in order to have each candidate speak as much as Lincoln and Douglas. I will be suppried if there is 12 hours of debate, let alone (my miniumum of) 56. This was just for the Illinois senate seat. Our next election will determine the president of the most powerful country on the face of the planet, in a very difficult time. Much more complicated than 7 score and 9 years ago. The Baby Boomers will start to retire, the deficit will explode. We, as citizens, need to demand at least 56 hours of debate for the 2008 presidency, and everyone who wants to be president needs to show up for each debate. This is a Minimum. I think we also need lie detectors, and need to lock them all in the same building for a month straight, but that is just my opinion.

What do you think? What type of debate would you like to see? What kind of format should we use to determine the next president? What are your feelings about presidential debates? What could we do to improve them? Do you agree, that at a Minimum, we need to have 28 hours worth of debate between the candidates? Do we face more complex questions that Lincoln and Douglas faced when they were trying to be senators for Illinois?

~ Mike

Governor Mitt Romney Speech Transcripts:

I would like to maintain the most comprehensive list of Romney speech transcripts on the internet. If I missed any, and you know the password, please add them to this page:

http://myclob.pbwiki.com/Speeches

Or if I missed any, and you have the info, please e-mail it to me.

2007

• 01-23-07; Excerpts from Governor Mitt Romney's Remarks at the Seventh Annual Herzliya Conference

2006

• 09-05-2006; ROMNEY DENOUNCES KHATAMI VISIT TO HARVARD, Declines to provide escort, or offer state support for trip

2005

• 05-17-2005; Oral Testimony of Governor Mitt Romney House Committee on Education and the Workforce
• 06-03-2005; NH Federation of Republican Women's Lilac Dinner
• 09-07-2005; Homeland Security: Status of Federal, State, and Local Efforts

2004

• 05-04-2004; Lessons Learned from Security at Past Olympic Games
• 05-23-2004; Commencement address to the students of Suffolk University
• 05-24-2004; Grading Progress on Homeland Security: Before and After 9/11
• 09-01-2004; Republican National Convention

2003

• 02-25-2003; Governor Mitt Romney's 2003 State of the Commonwealth Address
• 05-13-2003; Deshpande Center Idea Stream Symposium
• 05-15-2003; Investing in homeland security: Challenges facing state and local government.
• 05-15-2003; Statement of Governor Mitt Romney COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS before the GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE UNITED STATES SENATE
• 06-17-2003; "First Responders: How States, Localities and the Federal Government Can Strengthen Their Partnership to Make America Safer"
• 06-02-2003; Testimony on an Act to Reform, Restructure, and Revitalize Government
• 06-17-2003; First Responders: How States, Localities, and the Federal Government Can Strengthen Their Partnership to Make America Safer.
• 10-23-2003; Grading Progress on Homeland Security: Before and After 911

State of the State Speeches

• 01-18-2006; Governor Romney's State of the Commonwealth Address in 2006 State of the Commonwealth speech
• 01-13-2005 ; Focusing on education, calls for more accountability, help in troubled urban districts in 2005 State of the Commonwealth speech
• 01-15-2004, Romney focuses on Education in 2004 State of the Commonwealth speech
• 02-25-2003; Governor Mitt Romney's 2003 State of the Commonwealth Address

DNC attacking Romney

Please help me respond to DNC press releases attaching Mitt Romney.

I am copying DNC press releases about Romney to this location:

http://myclob.pbwiki.com/DNC

As always, I am putting brackets around key words which creates a link to whatever is in the bracket. Here is an example:

http://myclob.pbwiki/"whatever I put between the brackets [  ]"

What I am thinking is that is that we have the text of their press release, but whenever they say something stupid, we respond in parenthesis. Please tell me tell me if you think this will be effective, or if you can think of other ways of responding.

Just ask me for the password, and push the big edit button, and you can put your own responses. And no, the DNC, will not let you respond to their lies, because they are not interested in the truth.

Hopefully the Romney campaign will respond to the DNC attacks (and save us some work) so we can copy and paste, but until then, I think we do need to find some way to respond...

I think the press releases were written by a 3rd grader, so it shouldn't be too difficult.

Between our responses, and the links to the rest of the story, we should be able to help correct misinformation.

Click here for more info.

Governor Mitt Romney and Intelligence

In addition to his work on the Olympics, he has served on the federal Homeland Security Advisory Council, chairing its working group on intelligence and information sharing.

Key Speeches

2007

• 01-23-07; Excerpts from Governor Mitt Romney's Remarks at the Seventh Annual Herzliya Conference

2005

• 09-07-2005; Homeland Security: Status of Federal, State, and Local Efforts

2006

• 09-05-2006; ROMNEY DENOUNCES KHATAMI VISIT TO HARVARD, Declines to provide escort, or offer state support for trip

2004

• 05-24-2004; Grading Progress on Homeland Security: Before and After 9/11

2003

• 05-15-2003; INVESTING IN HOMELAND SECURITY: CHALLENGES FACING STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
• 06-17-2003; "First Responders: How States, Localities and the Federal Government Can Strengthen Their Partnership to Make America Safer"

For Much more go here:

http://myclob.pbwiki.com/intelligence

The U.S. is losing its advantage because of three main factors:

The U.S. is losing its advantage because of three main factors:

The U.S. is losing its advantage because of three main factors:

According to a study by McKinsey & Company, New York (a stratigic business consulting firm)...

"..the U.S. is losing its advantage because of three main factors:

1. The American regulatory framework, particularly Sarbanes-Oxley, is "a thicket of complicated rules, rather than a streamlined set of commonly understood principles, as is the case in the United Kingdom and elsewhere."

Mitt Romney was not just a CEO, he was a CEO of a STRATIGIC BUSINESS CONSULTING firm, Bain & Company. This firm charges companies money, to tell these companies what they should do differently to improve their performance. The most qualified person in the country to help our economy would be the CEO or former CEO of a strategic business consulting firm like Bain, or one of its competitors such as McKinsey & Company or the Boston Consulting Group .

As far as I know Mitt Romney is the only CEO or former CEO of a strategic business consulting firm running for president of the United States. I defy anyone to tell me of someone more qualified to be president of our countries economy than a former CEO of a strategic business consulting firm like Mitt Romney from Bain and Company.

According to the study the 2nd main factors causing the US to loose its advantage is:

2. While New York offers a promising talent pool for its financial services work force, "we are at risk of falling behind in attracting qualified American and foreign workers."

I see two problems. Education and the ability to recruit talent from over seas. Romney is the only candidate who is making any sense on either of these issues.

See this site for Romney's record on education:

http://myclob.pbwiki.com/Education

And here is just a small quote from Mitt Romney on the recruitment efforts of our country.

"Immigration has been an important part of our nation's success. The current system, however, puts up a concrete wall to the best and brightest, yet those without skill or education are able to walk across the border. We must reform the current immigration laws so we can secure our borders, implement a mandatory biometrically enabled, tamper proof documentation and employment verification system, and increase legal immigration into America."

Governor Romney: "We need to make America more attractive for legal immigrants for citizens and less attractive for illegal immigrants. I want to see more immigration in our country, but more legal immigration and less illegal immigration."
(AP, June 23, 2006)

3. The legal environments in other nations "far more effectively discourage frivolous litigation."

What do all of the Democratic candidates have in Common? Hillary was a lawyer for the Rose Law Firm. Barak Obama worked for the civil rights law firm Miner, Barnhill & Galland. John Edwards was a personal injury trial attorney. Mitt Romney graduated cum laude from the Harvard law school, but he did not sell his soal to the law-gods. He made money the old fashioned way, he earned it. John Edwards is the king of frivolous litigation. He made his fortune through corporate negligence and medical malpractice claims. Edwards was criticized for paying himself mostly through subchapter S corporate dividends, rather than a salary, to take advantage of a tax-law loophole that allowed him to avoid paying $591,000 in Medicare taxes.

So who do you think will do better at "discourage frivolous litigation"? Mitt Romney, Harvard Law Degree (cum laude) but chose a business career, or Barak Obama the civil rights lawyer, or John Edwards the corporate negligence and medical malpractice lawyer?

Mitt Romney, the only candidate who has an MBA, let alone a Harvard NBA. The only candidate who has probably ever read the economist, or Harvard Business Review. Mitt Romney in 08!

~ Mike

Title: "Preserving U.S. Advantages: A Business-Strategic Approach to National Leadership"

1. Issue 1: Regulatory Framework

    - The U.S. regulatory system, particularly Sarbanes-Oxley, is complex and less streamlined than other countries like the UK.

    - Mitt Romney, as a strategic business consultant, would have experience in dealing with complex regulatory systems and proposing more efficient alternatives.

    - Relevant Link: [Your Website's Page on Regulatory Reform]

2. Issue 2: Workforce

    - The U.S. is falling behind in attracting qualified American and foreign workers.

    - Education and ability to recruit talent from overseas are highlighted as key problems.

    - Romney's stance on education and immigration reform is presented as a solution.

    - Relevant Links: [Your Website's Page on Education], [Your Website's Page on Immigration]

3. Issue 3: Legal Environment

    - Other countries' legal environments discourage frivolous litigation more effectively than the U.S.

    - The legal backgrounds of Democratic candidates are presented as potential hindrances to this improvement.

    - Romney, with his legal background from Harvard Law, is presented as a more business-oriented candidate who would not be beholden to "law-gods".

    - Relevant Link: [Your Website's Page on Legal Reform]

4. Conclusion: Strategic Business Leadership

    - Romney's business, legal, and educational background positions him as a unique candidate capable of addressing these issues.

    - Romney's credentials include his MBA from Harvard Business School, his experience as a CEO, and his interest in business and economics.

    - Relevant Link: [Your Website's Page on Mitt Romney's Qualifications]

Interested Parties:

    - Business owners and workers interested in regulatory reform

    - Individuals and organizations focused on education and immigration reform

    - Parties affected by legal proceedings and interested in litigation reform

    - Supporters of Mitt Romney and his policies

Key opposing interests:

    - Supporters of current regulatory policies

    - Parties interested in maintaining current education and immigration policies

    - Supporters of Democratic candidates and their backgrounds

    - Those who oppose business-focused leadership in politics

Alternate expressions: #StrategicLeadership #RomneyReform #BusinessMindsetForAmerica

To measure the effectiveness of solutions proposed, consider:

    - Regulatory efficiency: Decrease in time and resources needed to comply with regulations

    - Talent attraction and retention: Increases in qualified workforce and decrease in brain-drain

    - Reduction in frivolous lawsuits: Decrease in the number of non-meritorious legal cases

    - Electoral success: Progress of Romney or similar candidates in political races. 

To encourage commitment to the proposed solutions, strategies might include:

    - Publicizing the issues and potential impacts of current policies on American competitiveness

    - Highlighting the successes of nations that have implemented similar solutions

    - Demonstrating Romney's (or similar figures') leadership skills and results from their business career

    - Conducting public discussions and educational campaigns about the benefits of the proposed reforms

a) Beliefs one must also reject to reject this belief:

   - The U.S. regulatory framework is optimal for business growth and competitiveness.

   - The U.S. has no issues attracting, retaining, and developing qualified workers.

   - The U.S. legal environment efficiently discourages unnecessary and frivolous litigation.

b) Alternate Expressions:

   - #RevitalizeUSEconomy

   - "Regulation, Recruitment, Litigation: A Triple Threat to U.S. Competitiveness"

   - "Addressing the Triad of U.S. Competitive Challenges"

c) Objective Criteria to measure the strength of this belief:

   - World Bank's Ease of Doing Business ranking (for regulatory framework).

   - Reports on talent migration, global skills gap analyses (for talent pool issues).

   - Legal system efficiency indices, statistics on frivolous lawsuits (for legal environment).

d) Shared interests between those who agree/disagree:

   - Interest in U.S. economic growth and stability.

   - Interest in job creation and skilled labor force.

   - Interest in maintaining U.S. global leadership and competitiveness.

e) Key opposing interests between those who agree/disagree:

   - Views on regulatory reform: some might see regulations as necessary for fairness and safety, while others see them as burdensome.

   - Views on immigration and education policy: debates around how to attract and retain talent, how to reform education.

   - Views on legal reform: debates around how to balance discouraging frivolous lawsuits with preserving people's right to seek legal remedy.

f) Solutions:

   - Simplifying and streamlining regulations to support businesses.

   - Implementing effective education and immigration policies to bolster the talent pool.

   - Undertaking legal reforms to minimize frivolous lawsuits.

g) Strategies for encouraging commitment to a resolution:

   - Lobbying for regulatory, immigration, and legal reforms.

   - Building coalitions between businesses, educational institutions, and policymakers.

   - Running public awareness campaigns about the importance of these issues to U.S. competitiveness.

re: "The undoing of a Manchurian Mormon"

Gerald Owen, National Post (The Manchurian Canadian, Gowen@nationalpost.com),

I am responding to your "The undoing of a Manchurian Mormon" article published in the National Post on Friday, January 19, 2007.

I have questions as to what exactly you mean by "Manchurian Mormon". You must be confused. Mitt Romney was born in Michigan. Manchuria is region of northeast China comprising the modern-day provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning. Are you trying to say that Mitt Romney is Chinese?

The Manchurian Candidate is a 1959 thriller novel written by Richard Condon, later adapted into films in 1962 and 2004. The central concept of the book and the subsequent 1962 film is that the son of a prominent political family has been convinced into becoming an unwilling assassin for the Communist Party; in the 2004 version, the villain was instead a giant corporation called "Manchurian Global". Are you trying to say that Mitt Romney works for the Communist or "Manchurian Global"?

No you are trying to do something more sinister. You call him the "Manchurian Mormon." Much like Joseph McCarthy, you accuse Mitt Romney of something sinister, without participating in a forum where you present any evidence, or even invite people to respond with reasons to agree or disagree with your conclusion.

You never define what exactly a "Manchurian Mormon" is, because doing so would expose your bigotry. With a wink-wink you label him the "Manchurian Mormon" and let the reader's imagination run wild hysteria of all the possibilities.

Should any Mormon be allowed to participate in the work force? I work for an architecture and engineering firm as an electrical engineer. Should you inform you write my boss about the "Manchurian Mormon" electrical engineers union (MMEE)? We are a secrete organization trying to take over the field of electrical engineers. As Mormons only make up 3% of the US population, we have not done a very good job of taking over the field of electrical engineering. Those darn "Manchurian Jews" and "Manchurian African Americans" are keeping us "Manchurin Mormons" out of power (do you see how bigoted that sounds when you replace Mormons with other groups?)

re: "The Mormonism of Mitt Romney, one of the most plausible candidates for the Republican presidential nomination, has become an issue on church-and-state grounds."

How has this become an issue and with whom?

re: "This issue was raised notably in a New Republic article by Damon Linker, excerpted on these pages a week ago. A back-and-forth debate in that magazine followed."

Mr. Linker did not bring up any separation of "church-and-state issues". He forwarded the belief that Mitt Romney proves his incompetence because he is a Mormon. Mr. Linker did not assert that Mitt Romney would affect any "church-and-state" issues.

re: "The religious views of political candidates should be open to question; they are not merely private, inner matters."

You are very good at stating the conclusions that you have adopted as truth, but you are not very good at stating any REASONS to agree with your conclusion. So where do I began, when you don't even make a case for your beliefs?

Again, you state: "The religious views of political candidates should be open to question; they are not merely private, inner matters."

Mitt Romney has indicated that his beliefs cause him to love his country, love his family, and try to do right by his neighbor. Mitt Romney does not believe in lying, stealing, or killing. Mitt Romney thinks that when he dies he will be judged according to his actions and the intent of his heart with regard to the way that he treated his wife, kids, and those that he came in contact with. What does any of this have to do with politics?

Perhaps there is an overlap of religious and political issues with regard to questions of ethics in government, but you don't want to be bothered by the details and go into these, you would rather engage in insinuation name calling (the Manchurian Mormon).

The only obvious question of where politics and religion overlap would be abortion and gay rights. Mitt Romney, like many others, believes that Abortion should be decided on a state-by-state basis. Atheist and those from every religion agree and disagree with Romney. Romney's religion does not say when life begins, and so his religious views are not an issue when it comes to abortion.

Here is the LDS church's position on same sex marriage.

http://lds.org/newsroom/issues/answer/0,19491,6056-1-202-4-202,00.html

To summarize, the LDS church does not say weather same-gender attraction is Nature, Nurture, a choice, or something someone is born with. The church teaches love, acceptance and tolerance of those with same-gender attraction.

Some high-lights: "The Church does not have a position on the causes of any of these susceptibilities or inclinations, including those related to same-gender attraction. Those are scientific questions — whether nature or nurture — those are things the Church doesn't have a position on."

But the church's teaches don't really matter. The official religion of the largest country on the planet is atheism (China). And in People's Republic of China, same-sex marriage is not allowed. Many ethical atheist believe children deserve both a mother and a father. So religion, really, is not the problem. The advocates of same sex marriage shouldn't change the subject to a person's religion, or practice politics of personal destruction by saying that someone from a particular religion should not be elected president. What they should do is stay on the subject and hand, and try to advance the argument that children advance just as well when they have two mothers or two fathers.

But people don't want to have a logical debate on the issues. Gerald Owen doesn't want to deal with the specific tenants of Romney's faith that he finds objectionable. He would rather operate on the level of name calling. Well two people can play that game. Gerald Owens, is a Bigot. Anyone who brings up Romney's religion as a disqualification for office, without specifically saying which beliefs are objectionable is a bigot. Romney's religion may be so stupid that it should disqualify him for president, but you are a bigot if all you do is say that he is a Mormon, mention some thing or other about "the Manchurian Mormon", and play on people's illogical fears.

Once again, I'm not saying EVERYONE who says Romney's religion disqualifies him from being president is a bigot. Only those who leave the world of logic, and go to the world of name calling and insinuation.

Regards,

Mike

Mitt Romney Interview With Mike Gallagher

Mitt Romney Interview With Mike Gallagher

Mike talks the former Massachusetts governor.

   Length: 00:06:29

Re: Romney retreats on gun control; Ex-governor woos Republican votes, By Scott Helman, Globe Staff, January 14, 2007

Re: "Former governor Mitt Romney, who once described himself as a supporter of strong gun laws, is distancing himself from that rhetoric now as he attempts to court the gun owners who make up a significant force in Republican primary politics."

 

Is this accurate? You be the judge. Lets lay out the time line of Romney's position on Gun Control, and see if Romney has changed or if the Boston Globe is guilty of working for the Democratic party when they assert the above statement

 

Governor Mitt Romney and Firearms Policy

According to his 2002 gubernatorial campaign, Romney "is a supporter of the federal assault weapons ban. Mitt also believes in the rights of those who hunt to responsibly own and use firearms." July 1st, 2002 Mitt Romney signed a permanent ban on Assault Weapons. "Deadly assault weapons have no place in Massachusetts," Romney said, at a bill signing ceremony with legislators, sportsmen's groups and gun safety advocates. "These guns are not made for recreation or self-defense. They are instruments of destruction with the sole purpose of hunting down and killing people."

Governor Mitt Romney and Firearms Policy

2007

• "Americans should have the right to own and possess firearms as guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution. I'm proud to be among the many decent, law-abiding men and women who safely use firearms." - Governor Mitt Romney, 01-12-2007, Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney Visits Firearms Industry's Trade Show

2005

Also, in 2005, Romney designated May 7 as "The Right to Bear Arms Day" in Massachusetts to honor "the right of decent, law-abiding citizens to own and use firearms in defense of their families, persons, and property and for all lawful purposes, including the common defense."

2004

• "Deadly assault weapons have no place in Massachusetts. These guns are not made for recreation or self-defense. They are instruments of destruction with the sole purpose of hunting down and killing people." Romney said, at a bill signing ceremony with legislators, sportsmen's groups and gun safety advocates. 07-01-2004 Press Release

• "By making this common-sense change to the law we will enable target pistol manufacturers to do business in our state and allow enthusiasts to practice the sport they love." - Governor Mitt Romney, 07-01-2004 Press Release
• "Mitt Romney supports the strict enforcement of gun laws. He is a supporter of the federal assault weapons ban. Mitt also believes in the rights of those who hunt to responsibly own and use firearms." - www.romneyhealey.com/issues/, no longer active, see Web Archive
• "Stun guns have proven time and time again when used by law enforcement officers in other states that they are an effective tool in stopping suspects. It is high time for our men and women in blue to utilize this modern crime fighting technology." Governor Mitt Romney 07-15-2004 Press Release

2002

In 2002, even as he was pledging to uphold the state's strong gun laws, Romney still garnered a "B" grade from the NRA.

Governor Mitt Romney and Firearms Policy Press Releases

2004

07-01-2004, Romney signs off on permenent assault weapons ban

• The bill enjoyed the support of Massachusetts gun owners because it also encompassed several measures they favored -- including a lengthening of the terms of firearm identification cards and licenses to carry. (Asked about the bill Friday, Romney described it as a "consensus measure" and a "positive step.")

2006

07-26- 2006, Governor Romney Approves Exemption for Target Pistols

2006

01-12-2007, Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney Visits Firearms Industry's Trade Show

 

 

David Brody of The Christian Broadcasting Network has the following report:

Let's talk about the war. Not the Iraq war. This war is between Mitt Romney and the anti-Romney grassroots groups in Massachusetts. I've never seen anything like this. My email inbox is scorching hot from the rhetoric flying from both sides.

But here's where it gets real interesting. Normally, groups like Mass Resistance, led by the leader Brian Camenker get minimal attention. But they have been pretty diligent in consistently pounding home this "Romney's a hypocrite" theme. They haven't received too much attention from the mainstream media but the Boston Globe has run with some of their research and the blogosphere is talking about it.

Let's do a reset here. Mitt Romney wants to be President. A Group called Mass Resistance thinks he's a phony. Romney calls himself a true conservative. This group thinks he's anything but citing what they say are his flip flops on gay rights, abortion and a host of other issues. They detail all of their claims in a 28 page report called "The Mitt Romney deception".

So what does the Romney's campaign do? Do they ignore the group? To the contrary. They have come out with an aggressive campaign to discredit Camenker and Mass Resistance. They are fighting fire with fire. Romney's press shop knows that they must stop this group now or risk having their charges gain steam. They are trying to cut this thing off right now.  They actually put out a press release attacking this group and Camenker personally.

It seems to me Romney must be reading the book by Mark Halperin and John Harris called "The Way to Win. Because in that book, it talks about how it's vital for a Presidential candidate to keep control of his image. Don't let others define you. It seems his team is determined to define Romney on their terms, not others.

Mitt Romney won't let democrats get away with playing games

This is an actual Press Release that Mitt Romney released. We are letting the democrats get away, and no one confronts them. Romney would change this.

~ Myclob

July 23, 2004

ROMNEY, DECRYING POLITICS, VETOES SENATE VACANCY BILL

Says Democrats are putting interests of party ahead of the people

Governor Mitt Romney today vetoed a bill that would leave empty the office of U.S. Senator for as much as five months while a special election is carried out in the event of a vacancy.

Romney's veto comes after the Legislature rejected a proposed amendment by the Governor that would have allowed the Senate President and House Speaker a consultative role in an interim appointment.

"The bill deprives the people of Massachusetts from continuous representation in Congress," said Romney. "This would put Massachusetts at a disadvantage relative to every other state and would deny our citizens an equal voice on important issues that affect the Commonwealth and the nation."

Currently, if a vacancy occurs due to a senator's death, resignation or expulsion, state law empowers the Governor to appoint a replacement to hold office until a special election can take place. This is the prevailing practice across the United States.

If the veto is overridden and a vacancy occurs, Massachusetts would be under-represented in the highest lawmaking body in the land for almost half the year, with no ability to participate in votes to declare war, appoint federal judges or decide tax policy.

Romney, a Republican, blamed politics, saying the overwhelmingly Democratic Legislature has put the interests of their party ahead of the people.

"This is partisanship pure and simple," Romney said. "The Democrats would rather not have someone fighting for transportation money, for pollution regulations, to prevent base closures in our state if it means a Republican governor is going to make an appointment."

Since the passage of the 17th Amendment in 1913, which provided for the direct election of senators, 174 people have been temporarily appointed by Governors to unexpired Senate terms. Of those, 55 went on to win election; 55 tried but failed to win nomination or election; and 64 people chose not to seek election at all.

Mitt Romney and the Surge

Boston, MA – Governor Mitt Romney, in direct consideration of the proposed increase in troop deployments in Iraq, issued the following statement today putting an emphasis on the need for clear and measurable strategic objectives.

"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."

~ by Myclob

What a great cartoon hu?

You think you're tough, but even my democratic opponents stand behind me to help defeat you!!

Romney, unlike I heart Huckibee, supports Bush. Its not only the democrats pooring A-1.

Governor Mitt Romney and Islamist

• "The key issues we face, of course, are first, the conflict with the jihadists. This is a conflict which is going on within the world of Islam, and the jihadists are attempting to overcome the moderate, modern factions of Islam and replace them with a caliphate. It's going to require the involvement of the U.S. as a leader of the world to help move Islam away from that kind of extremism and violence."
• Governor Mitt Romney, Q&A: Mitt Romney Discusses Iraq War, Reagan's Influence and Gay Marriage

• "The defeat of this radical and violent faction of Islam must be achieved through a combination of American resolve, international effort, and the rejection of violence by moderate, modern, mainstream Muslims. An effective strategy will involve both military and diplomatic actions to support modern Muslim nations. America must help lead a broad-based international coalition that promotes secular education, modern financial and economic policies, international trade, and human rights."
• Governor Mitt Romney's, PAC

• "Romney wants the public to know that Jihadists are not an 'armed group of crazed maniacs in the hills of Afghanistan.' Rather, Romney says the United States is facing a 'far more sinister and broad-based extremist faction' with a 'very 8th century view of the world.'"
• Governor Mitt Romney, ABC News, April 30, 2006

• "The jihadists are waging a global war against the United States and Western governments generally with the ambition of replacing legitimate governments with a caliphate, with a theocracy."
• Governor Mitt Romney, Omaha World Herald, January 23, 2006

• "The president is right to point to an international jihadist movement aimed at the collapse of the United States. He has gone after that threat in the right way and with great energy and vigor, and I applaud the fact that he has taken it on very seriously and has not considered it just a criminal action but instead a war action, which requires a military…response."
• Governor Mitt Romney, A Mitt Romney candidacy would test the religious right, BY JAMES TARANTO, Saturday, December 31, 2005

http://myclob.pbwiki.com/Islamist

Cartoon and quote of the day.

• "The easy way to fix any problem is to go to the people and say you have to pay more money, but that's not what the job of management is. The job of management is to find ways to permanently and structurally change the costs of our structure such that we can have a balanced budget without always raising taxes every time people think there's a need."
• Governor Mitt Romney, Boston Herald, March 22, 2002

Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, right, talks with former President George H.W. Bush while his wife, Ann, listens during a tour of the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show in Orlando, Fla., Friday, Jan. 12, 2007. Gov. Romney has formed a presidential exploratory committee for the 2008 election. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

 

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, center, talks with Mike Ballew, left, of Raton, N.M., while his wife, Ann, listens during a tour of the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show in Orlando, Fla., Friday, Jan. 12, 2007. Gov. Romney has formed a presidential exploratory committee for the 2008 election. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, right, and National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre talk with attendees while touring the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show in Orlando, Fla., Friday, Jan. 12, 2007. Romney has formed a presidential exploratory committee for the 2008 election. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Romney is a conservative on marriage.

Reasons to agree

1. Romney is the only viable presidential candidate to not have "upgraded" once he made it to the big time.
2. 01-21-2004, Romney details mandatory parental prep plan
3. 02-11-2004, Romney statements regarding constitutional convention
4. 02-24-2004, Statements of Governor Romney on the Federal Marriage Amendment
5. 03-12-2004, Statements of Governor Mitt Romney on Constitutional Convention
6. 06-22-2004, "Preserving Traditional Marriage: A View from the States"
7. 04-20-2006, Romney announces award of abstinence education contract
8. 05-31-2006, Romney files bill to promote parental responsibility

Romney is a conservative

These are beliefs that I have worked a little bit on (during my lunch break).

1. Romney is conservative on abortion.
2. Romney is a conservative on abstinence education .
3. Romney is a conservative on English immersion .
4. Romney is a conservative on schools.
5. Romney is a conservative on school choice .

6. Romney is a conservative on the family .

7. Romney is a conservative on abstinence education .

These are some beliefs that I am going to work on tonight after my kid goes to sleep.

1. Romney is a conservative on ESL.
2. Romney is a conservative on taxes.
3. Romney is a conservative on debt.
4. Romney is a conservative on the war on Terror .
5. Romney is a conservative on the media .
6. Romney is a conservative on marriage .

Please help me find other issues that determine if someone is a "conservative" or not.