Hard to Swallow
Hillarycare is back because Republicans failed to strangle it in its crib. By Andrew Cline
The Hillarycare Mythology
Did Hillary doom health reform in 1993? It’s time to get the facts straight about the Clinton plan and why compromise failed. Here’s the real story, from the Prospect co-editor who was a White House senior health policy advisor at the time. By Paul Starr
Clinton leads pack as GOP target
Her healthcare proposal only solidifies her spot as the object of Republican presidential hopefuls’ negative ads and attention.
So long, white boy Could 2008 be the year that Democrats finally admit an old sweetheart is never coming back, and stop pandering to the white male voter? By Thomas Schaller
The big news of the night was Huckabee’s Landslide victory at the Values Voter Debate Straw Poll. He now has a real chance to lock up evangelical support.
Ah, yes. Whenever Romney blathers of Europe expect to hear something completely devoid of anything resembling a fact.
Factcheck.org:
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney falsely claimed U.S. job growth had been nearly 17 times faster than Europe’s. Actually, European Union employment grew faster than that of the U.S. last year.
In his most bizarre misstatement of the past three months — including the Battlefield Earth shout-out! — Romney used the occasion of a commencement address at Regents University to condemn a non-existent French marriage policy. The line was picked up, without comment, by the Washington Post; when reporters tried to suss out what the candidate could possibly be referring to, a spokesman referred them to France’s civil union agreements…which have no set end date, either. One possible source for the impressively specific legalese ups the odd quotient even further: Seven-year marriage contracts are a plot point in the “Memories of Earth” science fiction series by Mormon author Orson Scott Card, itself a retelling of the Mormon theology in which the limited marriages stand in for the other non-traditional marriage practices of that faith. What’s Romney really trying to say here? That the French are Mormons? That they’re from outer space?
Sampo:
Romney speech at Regent University was one of the best speeches of the year - in case you missed some of the commentary on it - here is what David Brody had to say about it.
The speech was not supposed to be about Romney. It’s supposed to be about these college students and hopeful words as they tackle the future. I know there was some “controversy’ because the Mormon Romney was chosen to speak at an Evangelical college. But, really so what? It’s not like Michael Moore was speaking,
Romney’s speech was spot on. Really, as I read through the text, it may be one of his better speeches. I call it his “deeper waters” speech. Listen to some of this eloquence.
“Over the years, I have watched a number of people live out their lives in shallow water. In the shallows, life is all about yourself - your job, your money, your rights, your needs, your ideas, your comforts. In the deeper waters, life is about others - spouse, family, friends, faith, community, country. In the deep waters, there are challenging ideas, opposing opinions, protracted battles of consequence. You are, of course, giving a great deal of thought to your career. The economic environment may be more turbulent and competitive than my generation has known. Some of you will be tempted to stay near shore, where there are no big breakers and where you will never make any waves. Others will push beyond the sandbar, pursuing new frontiers, exploring new ideas, driving to achieve, to learn, to influence, to contribute. If there ever was a time for great Americans, great and good Americans, Americans who are willing to cross into the deep waters of life, it is now. You cross into the deep waters by marrying and raising good children. There is no work more important to America’s future that the work that is done within the four walls of the American home. You cross into the deep waters by driving yourself in your education and in your avocation beyond the safe and comfortable, to reach new insights, to make contributions, to serve. You cross into the deep waters by serving in your church, in your community, in the military, in government or in volunteer service. I am optimistic about the future of America because I have seen the spirit and heart of the American people.”
That’s good stuff. Romney has consistently talked about hope and optimism. He did it during the GOP debate and he did it again Saturday at Regent. It may be a speech that is remembered for a long time.
Kevin P - thanks for sharing that. What a powerful imagery.
Here’s one of my favorite quotes from Einstein:
“Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities.
The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to
hereditary prejudices, but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence
and fulfills the duty to express the results of his thought in clear form.”
–Albert Einstein, quoted in New York Times, March 19, 1940
US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)
P.S. I think this quote also expresses why so many resist Mitt Romney.
He is a truly competent, thoughtful, and spiritual man. I think that
frightens a lot folks because they don’t understand those values and so
conclude that they must be fake. I would call that projection.
And, as you know, prejudice comes from ignorance and fear. What we don’t
understand, we usually hate.
I’m not saying that Mitt Romney is perfect, but he is, in my opinion, one of
those people that, due to his inner convictions, hard work and perseverance,
stands head and shoulders above the rest.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:42 am
The big news of the night was Huckabee’s Landslide victory at the Values Voter Debate Straw Poll. He now has a real chance to lock up evangelical support.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:53 am
Clairvoyant Romney Drops the ‘E-Bomb’
Ah, yes. Whenever Romney blathers of Europe expect to hear something completely devoid of anything resembling a fact.
Factcheck.org:
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney falsely claimed U.S. job growth had been nearly 17 times faster than Europe’s. Actually, European Union employment grew faster than that of the U.S. last year.
D’oh.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:03 am
oh ya! how could i forget about this one too!?:
In his most bizarre misstatement of the past three months — including the Battlefield Earth shout-out! — Romney used the occasion of a commencement address at Regents University to condemn a non-existent French marriage policy. The line was picked up, without comment, by the Washington Post; when reporters tried to suss out what the candidate could possibly be referring to, a spokesman referred them to France’s civil union agreements…which have no set end date, either. One possible source for the impressively specific legalese ups the odd quotient even further: Seven-year marriage contracts are a plot point in the “Memories of Earth” science fiction series by Mormon author Orson Scott Card, itself a retelling of the Mormon theology in which the limited marriages stand in for the other non-traditional marriage practices of that faith. What’s Romney really trying to say here? That the French are Mormons? That they’re from outer space?
September 18th, 2007 at 6:07 am
Sampo:
Romney speech at Regent University was one of the best speeches of the year - in case you missed some of the commentary on it - here is what David Brody had to say about it.
The speech was not supposed to be about Romney. It’s supposed to be about these college students and hopeful words as they tackle the future. I know there was some “controversy’ because the Mormon Romney was chosen to speak at an Evangelical college. But, really so what? It’s not like Michael Moore was speaking,
Romney’s speech was spot on. Really, as I read through the text, it may be one of his better speeches. I call it his “deeper waters” speech. Listen to some of this eloquence.
“Over the years, I have watched a number of people live out their lives in shallow water. In the shallows, life is all about yourself - your job, your money, your rights, your needs, your ideas, your comforts. In the deeper waters, life is about others - spouse, family, friends, faith, community, country. In the deep waters, there are challenging ideas, opposing opinions, protracted battles of consequence. You are, of course, giving a great deal of thought to your career. The economic environment may be more turbulent and competitive than my generation has known. Some of you will be tempted to stay near shore, where there are no big breakers and where you will never make any waves. Others will push beyond the sandbar, pursuing new frontiers, exploring new ideas, driving to achieve, to learn, to influence, to contribute. If there ever was a time for great Americans, great and good Americans, Americans who are willing to cross into the deep waters of life, it is now. You cross into the deep waters by marrying and raising good children. There is no work more important to America’s future that the work that is done within the four walls of the American home. You cross into the deep waters by driving yourself in your education and in your avocation beyond the safe and comfortable, to reach new insights, to make contributions, to serve. You cross into the deep waters by serving in your church, in your community, in the military, in government or in volunteer service. I am optimistic about the future of America because I have seen the spirit and heart of the American people.”
That’s good stuff. Romney has consistently talked about hope and optimism. He did it during the GOP debate and he did it again Saturday at Regent. It may be a speech that is remembered for a long time.
September 18th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
Kevin P - thanks for sharing that. What a powerful imagery.
Here’s one of my favorite quotes from Einstein:
“Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities.
The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to
hereditary prejudices, but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence
and fulfills the duty to express the results of his thought in clear form.”
–Albert Einstein, quoted in New York Times, March 19, 1940
US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)
P.S. I think this quote also expresses why so many resist Mitt Romney.
He is a truly competent, thoughtful, and spiritual man. I think that
frightens a lot folks because they don’t understand those values and so
conclude that they must be fake. I would call that projection.
And, as you know, prejudice comes from ignorance and fear. What we don’t
understand, we usually hate.
I’m not saying that Mitt Romney is perfect, but he is, in my opinion, one of
those people that, due to his inner convictions, hard work and perseverance,
stands head and shoulders above the rest.