Mitt Romney shelled out plenty of criticism against Barack Obama and his policies last night in a speech to the Young America’s Foundation. His remarks mostly focused on Obama’s foreign policy, but he always mentioned how the president’s domestic and economic failures are hurting our nation’s stance in the world.
Romney’s speech, which took place near the Reagan Ranch in Santa Barbara California, was approximately 45 minutes, consisting of 22 minutes of his prepared remarks, and 23 minutes of questions and answers. Both the substance and the setting of the speech, plus the mention of his new book to be released in March, send strong signals that he has every intention to run for president again in 2012. The name of his book of course is a less than veiled jab at Obama’s foreign policy stance: No Apology: A Case for American Greatness. With Romney’s speech on Friday he continues to beat the foreign policy drum as he has done in several recent meetings and speeches, perhaps in effort to win over the DefCons in the 2012 election interim.
Below is Romney’s full speech. Some personal thoughts I had regarding it are that he speaks very fluidly and without a teleprompter (very refreshing when in contrast to Mr. Chop Talk), but at times he speaks a little too quickly. He did speak from prepared notes, but not during the Q & A, obviously.
(My apologies. I twice embedded the code and had not noticed that it doesn’t work. I cross-posted this at MittRomneyCentral.com. The full video can be watched there.)
Overview/Highlight Points:
- Our conservative message will connect with young voters if it is presented to them clearly.
- Romney had hoped that Obama would govern from the center as he had campaigned, but he has moved sharply to the left to reflect more of how he actually believes.
- Obama has taken a dramatic departure from the U.S. foreign policy that has existed for last 60 years. His policy has taken a step back from America’s values, in order to become a neutral player. In effort to be neutral he has stiff-armed our friends and drawn closer to our enemies.
- Romney mentions Obama’s mistakes with Honduras, Iran, Czech Republic and Poland, Columbia, Israel and Afghanistan.
- It is inexplicable and incomprehensible that Obama has not had enough time on his calendar to meet regularly with his Generals, but at the same time has done at least 30 campaign events this year.
- Obama has been in office 10 months and has no strategy to protect our soldiers. What has he been doing? (My answer: golf, basketball, huge parties on the White House lawn, dates in Paris. Oh, and still doing campaign events endlessly.)
- EVERY policy step that Obama has taken has made America weaker.
- Stimulus failed because it focused on growing government instead of growing the private sector.
- Deficit spending is not just bad economics, it is morally wrong to place the burden on the next generation.
- In regards to health care, Romney opines that “Obama is not going to get what he wants thanks to the thousands of tea party participants fighting for the things we believe in. Congratulations to them.”
- Having a strong military is fully dependent on having a strong economy.
- The people of America are what are going to change this country and change the leadership in Washington and continue to elect more conservatives.
Q & A: I’ll write the questions, you watch the video for the answer. I’ve paraphrased some of the lengthy questions.
- 22:20 What do you want to do to promote the conservative movement? (In this answer he mentions his book and jokes that he will be selling millions of copies. As an afterthought he mentions that all the proceeds will go to charity.)
- 27:00 What is the difference between Obama’s healthcare plan and what was enacted in Massachusetts?
- 30:00 Obama is pulling back from America’s role in the world. What are the long-term implications of that and how can we get back to greatness?
- 33:30 What are the steps we can take to move towards a more limited government?
- 38:50 How does illegal immigration affect the strength of our nation and affect our national security and domestic policy?
Not mentioned anywhere above is the humor that was infused into his speech, as well as the few personal stories. There were about 5 or 6 good jokes. Some I had heard previously, but they were still very apt.
November 14th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Would love to view a video of the speech; I agree that one of MR’s relative weakneses is that he often speaks a tad too fast, and that this gives a patina of “slickness” to his persona. I hope he works on this. Because I want him to run, and win in 2012!
November 14th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
We are starting to see Mitt Romney’s line of attack for 2012. Obama is managing America’s decline in the world. America is great, it needs government to get off our backs. Romney is uniquely qualified to helm America’s turnaround. Can we afford 4 more year of decline? That will be the message hammered during a Romney campaign, and I think its a winning one.
November 14th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Mr.Romney’s presentations are always informative and precise, but I loved his spontaneous responses to direct questions even more. He seemed to enjoy the direct questions and so did his audience. He takes great practical knowledge and makes it simple to understand. We may need populists to stir up our emotions. But I want knowledge to crush my enemies. I appreciate all leaders in our party, but I hope this tailor made leader gets a chance to put together a team of his equal peers.
November 14th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
@ Zeek – Couldn’t agree with you more!
November 14th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
People have very, very short memories. I understand where Mitt Romney is coming from since he is a Republican, but damn–he acts as if President Obama STARTED the Afghanistan war; that it’s his fault that we’re in a situation that we wouldn’t have been in if we hadn’t veered off into Iraq. Not to sound like a Liberal, but you can easily equate Obama’s fancy trips and date nights to visits to Crawford, TX in the midst of American unrest, and neither are acceptable. The tea-party protesters are a more isolated group that do not speak for the entire Republican party, and it seems that the Republican party has done little to provide solid alternatives to expensive Democratic proposals, all for the sake of being able to say, “if FAILED…and my name wasn’t on it.” Without a doubt, the extremism that spoiled what would have been perfectly respectable and legitimate protests has shown little credibility, and most likely led to the Conservative loss in New York.
Much of their behavior isn’t any better than the Middle Eastern ruckus that all of America condemns, and it isn’t any better than some of the Liberals’ anti-Bush rallies. Too much of today’s political atmosphere is based on “The Conservative Republican way is the right and only way.” “No, the Liberal Democratic way is the right and only way” while the rest of us suffer because of this petty fingerpointing, and I speak for many who say that we’re sick of it. We want plans, we want politicians who actually work with each other and we want politicians that care about this country. This childish back-and-forth has got to stop. Still, best of luck to Mr. Romney.
November 14th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Here is a video of the speech…
http://www.freestrongamerica.com/blog/item/2009/11/14/video-romney-at-yaf-speech-obama-has-lost-his-way-on-afghanistan
November 14th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
I wrote this and had to hurry and leave to Wal-Mart. I just noticed the video embedding didn’t work so I put a link to it on my blog. Plus I made a dozen spelling and grammatical corrections. Sheesh.
Any of the other bloggers here have any insight into why the embed code from Ustream doesn’t work on this site?
November 14th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
The link I provided works fine Nate.
November 14th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
#5 Javan-
I have to refute a few of your remarks.
Romney does not insinuate in any way that Obama started the war. His complaint is that he has done nothing with the current situation.
Crawford is not nearly as expensive or time consuming as Paris. Bush was very aware of how the public viewed him in his leisure time. That’s why he stopped playing golf altogether during wartime.
Tea Party activists are the strongest voice this party currently has right now. Sure they don’t represent the whole party, but they are at least doing something that should have been done before Obama was elected. Being silent, like the rest, will not get the GOP anywhere.
Republicans have offered plenty of alternatives to EVERY agenda offered by the democrats. I’ve seen and read them. I don’t know why you haven’t.
Obama promised to be bipartisan but has been anything but. Romney has shown they he can be bipartisan as his health care plan was approved by vast bipartisan support, as opposed to Obama’s which is nearly down party lines.
November 14th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
It does CR. I had not seen your comment yet, nor had I seen that the PAC posted the video.
November 14th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Wonderful speech. Yes, he had some notes, but it was mostly just from the head and heart.
I challenge anyone to listen to this, and then tell me he’s not the man we need to lead America right now.
November 14th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
However, weak Romney is saying Obama is, Romneys track record is way worst. Romney the absent Gov., Romney the flip flopper, Romney the used car salesman.
Romney lives in a glass house, he is the last to throw stone. Romney is nothing more than the bully on the block, boasting, big mouth, and hot air. Hopefully, people with sense will chose someone other than Romney.
November 14th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Romney has no heart Martha he is a ‘V” visitor, reptilian.
November 14th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
bpb, is there any doubt that you are “anonymous”? We rarely have 4th graders make comments here so it’s hard for you to hide that in your posts.
November 14th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
I checked Micah. That is the first time bpb has posted here, at least from that IP address. What I seriously doubt is that bpb even watched the video.
November 14th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
It didn’t sound like anonymous to me…both really stupid, but the verbage didn’t quite fit.
November 14th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
#16: Anonymous isn’t so very much “in to” conjugated verbs.
Nice video. I’ve only watched about ten minutes so far, but Mitt strikes me as much more at ease here than during the campaign. He’s still talking a bit fast, and I wish he’d work on cutting out the occasional lip-smacking. But the presentation is much less hurried, machine-like, and, well, anxious. Just my impression.
His delivery for the interspersed humor is much better, too. Maybe he and Huck can work up a stand-up routine as a career backup.
November 14th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
17. Mark, watch the whole thing. It’s long, but there’s some good stuff at the end worth hearing.
There just isn’t justification for calling Romney a fake any more – (not that I believed there ever was.) This is pure heart, pure authenticity and a deep understanding of what America is and needs to do.
I really don’t think Huck, Palin or Pawlenty comes close to this level of credibility.
November 14th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
He needs to change jokes more often though…I’ve heard that barber one about 5 times now. During the campaign, I heard the “you aren’t in my wildest dreams” joke about 8 times…..learn a few more jokes Mitt!
November 14th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
I think Romney is growing into a great prospective GOP candidate for 2012. A Romney v Obama race would give the nation one of the best races in US history with 2 highly intelligent and formidable candidates, what a showcase to the world after the likes of W v Kerry!
November 14th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
19. So true. Surprised someone hasn’t mentioned that to him before.
November 14th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
#12
You mean “worse”, not “worst”?
November 14th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Is Mitt really asking rhetorically about what Obama has done over the past ten months?
It’s the fact that Obama has done so much over the last ten months that has conservatives concerned. If he had done nothing, I would think conservatives wouldn’t mind that too much.
November 14th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
23 – I think he’s asking what has he been doing that’s more important.
November 14th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
He was specifically addressing the Afghanistan question in speaking of the 10 months….at least it seemed really obvious to me.
November 14th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
The more voices in the Republican party speaking out at this time against Obama’s plans, the better.
Especially our potential Presidential candidates…
Way to go – Mitt, Sarah, Tim and Mike (my favorite).
November 14th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Mitt Romney won’t get the nominee in 2012. He is done! He is not conservative and Romney is no Ronald Reagan. Romney said he is conservative; but he is not. He is another Rino’s. I don’t understand why he is guest speaker of the Young America’s Foundation. I guess he had about 200 people came to hear him. And, Sarah Palin has about 4,000 people came to see her and hear her speech in Wisconsin couple weeks ago. The conservatives rather listen to Sarah than Romney. If Romney does get the nominee in 2012, the Republican Party will lose big election.
November 14th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
#19
That is because you watch the videos of the various crowds he is speaking to. Could you imagine having a new joke for each crowd??!!
November 14th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
#27
Show your face you coward or at least answer questions put to you. Quit hiding because the “anonymous” cloke and grow some freaking cohunas man!
November 14th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
#23
I guess you weren’t watching the part where he talked about the Presidents failed stimulous, his failure to act on Afghanistan, his failure to stand up for democracy in Iran, his shunning of our allies, especially Israel, his constant campaigning….
I don’t think you need to read between the lines to understand what Mitt is saying when he says the president hasn’t done anything. What he means is, the president hasn’t done ANYTHING PRODUCTIVE OR RIGHT. It’s all been wrong.
November 14th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
I like Mitt. I think he’d make the best President of any of the possibilities. He needs to figure out why he left so many people cold last year, and how to change that.
If he doesn’t change the right element (not change himself, but how he’s perceived), he won’t get the nomination.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Pretty good presentation, speech, Q&A, etc., BUT ROMNEY IS NO PALIN!!!
November 14th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
#32. Exactly. That’s the whole point.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
32 – on that we can agree, but we probably interpret it differently.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
#32
Heck no! We should get on our knees and pour out our hearts in gratitude for that! Not that Palin is horrible, just not would be disappointing if Mitt weren’t really who he really is.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
#32:
For better or worse, there is only one Sarah Palin.
As for Romney, I’m finally starting to warm up to him. The fact that he continues to address foreign affairs and points out the multiple failings of this administration is a good sign.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
I loved the speech. I wasn’t involved in politics for the last primaries, but I’ve heard McCain speak since then. Romney is much better. I can’t figure out how he lost to McCain. But then again, politics don’t make much sense to this math/science guy. (I’m just here hoping to help beat Obama.)
November 14th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
I don’t see anyone else out there with the skill set. May the start align and may Romney run. I at least want the chance for excellence, even if he doesn’t win. At least we could come close to restoring American greatness….
November 14th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
The first two assertions are valid to debate, but what proof do you have that he sold used cars?
November 15th, 2009 at 12:00 am
I’ve heard worse speeches than this one. I just can’t remember when. Oh, now I remember. It was Romney’s loser speech to the 2008 value voters summit. Worst speech since our proud hominid forebears attained the power of speech. It will be studied in rhetoric classes until the sun goes super-nova as point-for-point what never to do behind a podium.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:09 am
What are the odds dotan watched the speech?
November 15th, 2009 at 12:11 am
The same way he got the National Review to endorse him in 2008. He donates heavily.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:15 am
I watch or study the transcript of every Romney speech. Usually both. I never miss a Romney speech.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:18 am
I listened. I can say with complete integrity of heart that Willard Milton Romney is not the man that anyone needs to lead anything or anyone, right now, or ever. There. What do I win?
November 15th, 2009 at 12:35 am
#41
Zero to none. It was a great speech! Not his best, but a great speech indeed.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:38 am
#43
Time to change your rhetoric. It is not only outdated, but grossly false and misinformed. Just because Romney has money and contributed to his own campaign for president (parting with his very own money) he is buying out very conservative newspapers such as National Review???
You need a paradigm shift or some sort of life altering experience that will enable you to release yourself from teh grasp of this ill fated mindset.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:42 am
#44
Thanks for helping me see that you are certainly one that we should pay no heed to.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:58 am
The problem with Obama is that he can’t make the tough decisions. I’m sure he is good at many things, but being President isn’t one of them.
I really liked Romney’s speech and he’s absolutely right… He’s out there saying things that need to be said. While Republicans attention is being diverted toward silly things like Palin’s book sales, and is she or isn’t she, how many people are paying attentions to what is happening to our stature in the world.
November 15th, 2009 at 1:03 am
#44 dotan:
It’s obvious that you didn’t listen with complete integrity of heart…..Only people who don’t like Mitt call him Willard.
November 15th, 2009 at 1:25 am
Solid performance but I think he did better during the Q&A session than during the prepared segment.
I’m a fan of Romney but I’ve never thought his speeches were stirring in the way Obama is capable of. Part of the problem is that Romney appears to write his own words and while they are sound and thoughtful, they tend to be workman-like and devoid of poetic phraseology. I’d like to see how well he would deliver a speech written by someone like Peggy Noonan that would be more artistically penned.
If Romney were the ‘12 nominee, I think he could best Obama at a debate where he speaks more fluidly off-the-cuff while Obama seems to labor for words frequently pausing in mid-sentence as if waiting for his thoughts but Obama has better delivery of prepared remarks. While Romney appears hurried, Obama’s cadence and inflection have more memorable impact.
If I were Mitt, I’d be working with speech coaches and I’d hire someone to craft my words for me.
I think he’d make an outstanding President but he doesn’t have to sell himself to me, he has to sell himself to the uninformed masses that will vote on emotion and to accomplish that, his speeches need to be more compelling and inspiring.
November 15th, 2009 at 1:30 am
Where do people disagree with Romney? To me, the actual message is the point. Obama gives great speech.
November 15th, 2009 at 1:44 am
#50 Ci2Eye
I agree. The only speech that I thought was stirring was his “religion” speech. However, he wrote that himself too. If he could emulate that elocution, he would be much better. It would be good to bring someone in, who does this for a living, to polish his thoughts and ideas into a more uplifting and stirring discourse.
November 15th, 2009 at 2:08 am
CalState,
Agreed, Romney’s religion speech was the best I’ve seen him give. At the beginning, it was also hurried but as he spoke, he settled into a more appropriate pace and the ending was memorable and even a little impassioned.
His ‘08 Republican convention speech was terrible and this is coming from someone who likes the guy.
One doesn’t have to be a great speaker to get elected President but it does help. Neither of the Bushs are particularly good but then their competition (Dukakis and Gore) wasn’t either but in 2012, our nominee will go up against someone who is at his best when he’s got a teleprompter cued and words to deliver so Romney would be wise to hone his speaking skills.
November 15th, 2009 at 3:18 am
Roms has two means of access to the White House in 2013.
1) The economy
2) National Security
I’ve said it before Romney v Obama will be Reagen v Carter all over again.
November 15th, 2009 at 3:20 am
Mitt tends to give great speeches (C/PAC, religion) or shockers (08 convention!)
.
November 15th, 2009 at 3:30 am
I thought the content of the speech was solid.
“Some personal thoughts I had regarding it are that he speaks very fluidly and without a teleprompter”
I thought he looked at his notes a ton…in some parts between every line although he did a good job of not letting that interrupt his speaking flow. He does use a teleprompter at other venues, doesn’t he? I heard someone say that Mitt was the only one on his day of speaking that used a teleprompter and I know the teleprompter was gone after he spoke but I saw his speech from the back of the room and wasn’t thinking about it at the time so I didn’t notice if he was although that is what I was told later.
November 15th, 2009 at 4:49 am
He obviously had no notes for the Q&A portion, which was the best part. I would agree that his worst speech was the convention speech. I think the reason for that is that he was only given 8 minutes, so it’s pretty hard to have a great speech in that short of time.
November 15th, 2009 at 5:17 am
Welcome back dotan, it has been many month since you were here. I used to think that you were a little too hard on Mr. Romney, but recent events may prove you correct.
“I would agree that his worst speech was the convention speech.” Ha, unless we are thinking of different Conventions, that was one of his better speeches.
November 15th, 2009 at 6:09 am
OHIO JOE:
#58
I’m curious, what recent events are you talking about that is proving dotan’s Romney hating comments correct?
November 15th, 2009 at 6:43 am
Nothing justifies hating Mr. Romney. Since I do not know Dotan’s heart, I cannot say if he actually hates Mr. Romney or not. It is fair to say that Dotan has question Mr. Romney’s character in the past. I know it has become a dead horse, but the action (or lack of action) by Mr. Romney and his camp in NY-23 appears to be a missed opportunity for Mr. Romney to show his character. I for one do not hate Mr. Romney or think that he is a bad person, but I do think less of him now and I trust him less. Once trust is lost, it is not easy to get it back.
November 15th, 2009 at 6:43 am
Romney is a good speaker, and a pretty good debater, too. I think his strength is his foreign policy. He is consistently conservative on that issue. But I think he does not have the character to lead this country well. First, he is a panderer. His claim to be a lifetime member of the NRA (knowing full well that the uninformed might think that meant he had always belonged to the NRA) was obnoxious. His promise of billions to bail out Michigan carmakers during the primary campaign was a pander. Second, he is disingenuous in defending Romneycare in Massachusetts by blaming Democrats. He gave them the authority to change his program. Conservatives rightly say it is wrong to demand that people buy something they don’t want.
November 15th, 2009 at 8:19 am
Mitt is definitely in the running for the nomination in 2012 (if he decides to run – I still think that there is a good chance he cautiously waits till 2016). However, Mitt must overcome two large hurdles – two large issues that will be important to the primary voters. The issues are support of the bailout and support of individual mandates.
To overcome these hurdles Romney must double down on foreign policy. He should adamantly oppose any withdrawal from Iraq and support a robust troop surge in Afghanistan. Romney should commit to a 15 year Afghan operation to win the hearts and minds of the Afghanis and build up Afghani infrastructure and to shepherd a thriving Afghan democracy. Lastly Mitt should make it clear that he will take the battle to Iran and go back on offense in the war against terror. He should promise to get America back on a war footing and liberate Tehran.
November 15th, 2009 at 9:03 am
JA, you’ve been around here a long time, and Mitt fought against the individual mandates, offering instead a better solution that did not allow freeloading, or mandates.
Dotan is the most devisive commenter race4 has ever had. I’d rather see anonymous’ garbage everyday than his hatred toward Mitt displayed.
November 15th, 2009 at 10:03 am
#60 – OJ – You make a big leap from “missing an opportunity” to “trusting him less”. Do you trust Huckabee less for his “missed opportunity” in the NY-23 race? By the way, the post was about Romney speech – did you like it? Did you listen to it?
November 15th, 2009 at 10:13 am
Agreed Romney’s 08 convention speech was terrible. It was not what he said, but the fact that the entire convention was on fire for Palin, and no one wanted to hear Romney, and I felt that his heart was not in it at all. It was very obvious that he knew the crowd wasn’t interested in hearing him.
I don’t know what the hype is about Obama. I’ve never been impressed by his speeches because they are not genuine. I have a problem with political speeches in general because they usually come across as totally fake. Just once, can we get a real speech with someone talking as if face to face? The Fort Hood murders were one such occasion that called for a conversation from thre heart. When Obama came on, I could only listen to a couple of minutes before I couldn’t take it.
Yesterday, contrary to what David Schmidt said in 56, Romney used his notes very little. The one main time he did, he was quoting Obama on Afghanistan, and wanted to get it right, so he looked down a lot. other than that, not much reliance on notes.
This is a strength for Romney, not a weakness. Romney can talk extemporaneously on the issues better than anyone. That instills a lot mor confidence than just reading prepared/well written notes with soaring rhetoric. Anyone can read a speech. Not everyone can speak convincingly off the cuff.
Yesterday, Romney was very practical/informative for most of the speech, but ended with some really good stuff from his heart.
November 15th, 2009 at 10:14 am
60. OJ, Dead horse all right.
I’m just flabbergasted that you continue to insist this was an error on Romney’s part. Really, you are grasping at straws to find something to criticize.
November 15th, 2009 at 10:25 am
63 – that’s funny…that’s how I feel about you and the way you treat Sarah Palin on this forum.
November 15th, 2009 at 10:44 am
67. That is just not true. ConservativeRepublican isn’t anywhere near as critical of Palin as I, and many others are.
November 15th, 2009 at 10:57 am
Dotan has run an anti-Romney blog for a very long-time now. The thing I’ve always wanted ask Dotan is “You do realize that Romney’s middle name is not actually Milton, right?” Well? Dotan?
November 15th, 2009 at 11:15 am
#60..Ohio Joe….Wow, you kind of lost me with your wrath on this one.
In the NY-23 race you had a GOP candidate that was barely not a Dem running against an unvetted carpet bagger who wanted to be the GOP candidate but then went third party when he didn’t get the nomination. He obviously didn’t know the local issues and wasn’t the sharpest knife in the draw either. Closer inspection of the fellow also showed he wasn’t the Great Conservative Hope he was pretending to be as well.
It was just another case of “conservatives” falling in love with the romance rather than the person.
This was a no-win situation and Mitt was smart not to cast his chips with someone he couldn’t fully recommend…..better to leave it up to the local folks to sort out.
It really amazes me what people will hold against Romney, but I must say Ohio, I’m shocked that you are one of them.
November 15th, 2009 at 11:36 am
“Do you trust Huckabee less for his “missed opportunity” in the NY-23 race?” Yes I do trust Mr. Huckabee a lot less than before this NY-23 mess. I think I made myself clear on that at least a few times. As for Mr. Romney’s foreign policy, no I do not have any problem. In fact I am glad that he appears to stand up to political gangsters in Honduras, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan; I wish he would do the same in NY.
Well, Jerald, you might know Mr. Hoffman a little better than I with regards with regards to how sharp he is compared to the other knives in the drawer. I will gladly concede that although he is Conservative, Mr. Hoffman certainly is not the most Conservative Republican, but that is not point. It is a matter of principle and in short this whole mess is a raw deal. I knew that Democrats in Illinois had a reputation for being political gangsters, but I never would believe that Republicans in this country would stoop so low. This is the kind of corruption that goes on in other country and I do not like it one bit. As I said before, I did not tolerate it before I came to America and I will not start now. I understand that you are no more happy with me than I am with Mr. Romney and Mr. Huckabee. It is a shame but this unfortunately is the way that the cookie has crumbled.
November 15th, 2009 at 11:47 am
OJ, If NY23 is what you choose to hang your anti-Romney hat on, so be it, but I think it’s just completely vacant of reason.
November 15th, 2009 at 11:54 am
You are free to feel that way Martha, but if we do not put a stop to this non-sense in NY-23, other districts will have similar problems. To use your terminology, why does it not bother you that I hang my anti-Huckabee and anti-Gingrich hat on this? It is only my anti-Romneyism that bothers you.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
#71…Ohio Joe…I’m not unhappy with you, just a little surprise how upset you are over NY23. You are mentioning GOP corruption much, but I’m not sure what you are getting at.
The NY23 GOP selected their candidate according to the rules in place.
I agree with you that I don’t like the rules, but the local people made them. I would say the situtaion is unfortunate, but not corruption.
Or is there some part of the story I missed?
November 15th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Quite right. I do not hate Romney. I am just not willing to allow my profound affection for the man to cloud my judgment with respect to his misleading words or unfortunate deeds. I at least have more respect for Romney than the many here who would encourage him in his sad and expensive delusions. Say you have a man on a ledge about to jump off. A first bystander encourages the man to jump (Go Mitt!); a second takes pains to point out the error of the man on the ledge’s judgment. Of the two, which has the man on the ledge’s best interests at heart? That would be me.
My point: It simply does not follow that someone who disagrees with Romney necessarily hates Romney. The opposite may well be the case.
Think how much better the world would be for Romney had the many hirelings and consultants who bilked the poor rube out of US$40M of his own money combined with all the money he raised had they been honest enough to laugh in Romney’s face instead of allowing him to outspend his rivals 3 to 1 or in some cases 4 to 1 and still lose one primary after another? Case in point, Romney’s agony-in-Iowa, in which a state was robbed from him by a candidate with no money at all who only showed up 2 months before the contest after Romney had spent 6 months and US$11m on the ground there, or his complete and surprise discomfiture in CA? I know there are many among you who would argue that a sheep deserves to be fleeced. But my respect for Romney will not allow me to sit quietly as Romney tries to humiliate himself and his family and bring discredit on the conservative movement all over again. So who really hates Romney, dudes? Me, or you?
November 15th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
75. So now we have a comedian.
Dotan, pray tell, who do you support?
November 15th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Giuliani Criticizes Plan to Try 9/11 ‘Mastermind’
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/16/us/politics/16giuliani.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print
Giuliani: New York trials show Obama is soft on terrorism
Rudy Giuliani said Khalid Sheikh Mohammed does not deserve the legal rights that a New York trial in a civilian court offers. Obama ‘is getting away from the fact that we’re at war,’ he said.
http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/11/15/giuliani-new-york-trials-show-obama-is-soft-on-terrorism/
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Giuliani talks terror trials, Sarah Palin and Gov. Rudy?
http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=9088493
http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000003248080
Palin is great for the GOP, Giuliani says
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/15/palin-is-great-for-the-gop-giuliani-says/
Giuliani Reacts Strongly To KSM Trial: “Dangerous And Irresponsible”
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani says trying 9/11 suspects in U.S. is “absolutely unnecessary.”
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2009/11/14/giuliani_reacts_strongly_to_ksm_trial_dangerous_and_irresponsible.html
Giuliani on 9/11 Trial in NY
Former N.Y. Mayor Rudy Giuliani says putting 9/11 terror suspects on trial in New York is an unnecessary risk.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2009/11/15/sotu.giuliani.ny.trials.cnn
Giuliani: Obama Repeating ‘Mistake of History’ With Sept. 11 Trial Decision
The mayor who oversaw rescue efforts in the wake of the attacks on lower Manhattan tells “Fox News Sunday” the president is only granting the “wish” of Khalid Sheikh Mohammad at the expense of the American people and that the conspirators should be tried in a military tribunal.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/11/15/giuliani-obama-repeating-mistakes-history-sept-trial-decision/
November 15th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
75. All excellent points, Dotan.
Romney supporters also need to start thinking about a backup candidate.
His Tarp and MassCare problems won’t play to the base.
November 15th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Q&A With Rand Paul: Shaking Up the Kentucky Senate Race
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/11/12/qa-with-rand-paul-shaking-up-the-kentucky-senate-race/?blog_id=24&post_id=14798
November 15th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
78 – I don’t know, of the three main candidates for the nomination at this point in time, two supported TARP, and the other probably would have if it had been intended to bailout Tyson Chicken during his term as governor.
November 15th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
80. TARP supporters, proceed at your own risk…
November 15th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Despite Sara Palin’s constant and lately daily media coverage, and Mike Hukabee’s Weekend show and daily appearances on Fox, Mitt Romney’s poll numbers are either equal or better than both Palin and Huckabee. Maybe SOME voters are looking for SUBSTANCE OVER GLITZ?
ROMNEY / DeMINT in 2012!
November 15th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
# Tommy Boy Says:
November 15th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Q&A With Rand Paul: Shaking Up the Kentucky Senate Race
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/11/12/qa-with-rand-paul-shaking-up-the-kentucky-senate-race/?blog_id=24&post_id=14798
Washington Wire: Do you want Sarah Palin to campaign for you?
Paul: We’d love to have her come. We’ve made some overtures to her.
Washington Wire: What about Tim Pawlenty or Mitt Romney?
Paul: I don’t know much about Tim Pawlenty. Romney, there’s a mixture of beliefs there.
—————————————————————–
I noticed McDONNELL (VA) , Christie (NJ) didn’t mind Romney campaigning for them. WHERE WAS PALIN? Oh, they Both WON! Can that be possible? with no Sarah?
ROMNEY / DeMINT in 2012!
November 15th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
# RR Says:
November 15th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
75. All excellent points, Dotan.
Romney supporters also need to start thinking about a backup candidate.
His Tarp and MassCare problems won’t play to the base.
=========================================
THAT’S FUNNY! That must be why his polling numbers are equal to or better than Sarah and Mike. That’s why YAF students choose him in a poll over the weekend. Sarah/Mike WEREN’T EVEN CLOSE. That’s why CPAC continues to choose Mitt in their Presidential Preference Polls for the last 3 years. I guess the base doesn’t like him! LMAO!
November 15th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
#60 OHIO JOE:
It’s too bad you’re blaming Romney for the loss of NY-23…Hoffman wasn’t a good candidate, he wasn’t qualified,
he didn’t live in the district, and he didn’t know the issues. From what I’ve read, the voters of NY-23 are an independent bunch and resented outsiders coming in and taking over their election ten days before they were to vote by forcing Scozzafana out and dumping several hundred thousand dollars of ouside money into Hoffman’s campaign.
November 15th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
As soon as Palin announces sometime next year that she’s NOT running…
Mitt can then say bye-bye to his chances, BoozeMan. Reality will punch you in the face, my friend.
November 15th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Leaks set stage for Palin on book tour
http://www.adn.com/news/politics/story/1014525.html
Sarah Palin, Goldie Hawn To Speak At Business Conference
http://www.turnto23.com/politics/21611178/detail.html
Obama must rethink rethinking Afghanistan
His strategy deliberations are starting to look like dangerous indecision.
by Doyle McManus
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-mcmanus15-2009nov15,0,6702184,print.column
Obama takes heat on Afghan timing
http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=F9AAFCAC-18FE-70B2-A8568801E08452AC
Obama: KSM Will Get ‘Full Military Trial’
http://www.breitbart.tv/bombshell-uncovered-obama-statement-ksm-will-get-full-military-trial/
What Are They Thinking?
by Jennifer Rubin
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/rubin/167922
Obama branded ‘Groveller-in-Chief’ after deep bow to Emperor son of Japanese ruler who authorised Pearl Harbour attack
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1228039/Obama-branded-Groveller-Chief-exaggerated-bow-Japans-Emperor-Akihito-son-ruler-authorised-Pearl-Harbour-attack.html#ixzz0WyyXM7QE
November 15th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
RR Says:
November 15th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
As soon as Palin announces sometime next year that she’s NOT running…
Mitt can then say bye-bye to his chances, BoozeMan. Reality will punch you in the face, my friend.
=======================================================
LOST IN TRANSLATION…………..???????????????????????
November 15th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
# dotan Says:
November 15th, 2009 at 12:00 am
I’ve heard worse speeches than this one. I just can’t remember when. Oh, now I remember. It was Romney’s loser speech to the 2008 value voters summit. Worst speech since our proud hominid forebears attained the power of speech. It will be studied in rhetoric classes until the sun goes super-nova as point-for-point what never to do behind a podium.
==============================================================
His ACCEPTANCE SPEECH at CPC 2010, should be a lot better! maybe he’ll use one of his last 3 there!
ROMNEY / DeMINT in 2012!
November 15th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
# dotan Says:
November 15th, 2009 at 12:00 am
I’ve heard worse speeches than this one. I just can’t remember when. Oh, now I remember. It was Romney’s loser speech to the 2008 value voters summit. Worst speech since our proud hominid forebears attained the power of speech. It will be studied in rhetoric classes until the sun goes super-nova as point-for-point what never to do behind a podium.
=============================================================
CORRECTION:
His ACCEPTANCE SPEECH at CPA 2010, should be a lot better! maybe he’ll use one of his last 3 there!
ROMNEY / DeMINT in 2012!
November 15th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
#75
So you hate Mitt Romney because you actually care about him and want what is best for him….to not humiliate himself??
ATTENTION EVERYONE! DOTAN HAS A NEW KNICKNAME. WE SHALL HENCEFORTH CALL HIM “DR. STRANGLOVE”
November 15th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
I suppose it couldn’t possibly be any worse. We shall see.
November 16th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Bosman -
Romney / Demint would be a great ticket but I think we may need DeMint in the senate more than we need him as V.P. One of the intelligent things that Romney is doing now is ensuring that he has a legislature that he can work with when he gets elected. He is not only trying to get the support of the base and establishment in campaigning for conservatives but he is trying to make sure that the 2010 elections provide him with the ingredients to be effective in the oval office. In fact me may base his decision to run in 2012 on what happens in 2010. I hate to see us pull a rock solid conservative like Jim Demint out of the senate. What we need are more like him in it.