Posted on 10/20/2006 6:44:54 AM PDT by Mo1
Mormon in race against McCain
Sarah Baxter, Washington, 21 Oct 2006In an essential rite of passage for American politicians, Mitt Romney was ushered into the presence of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher at a Washington think tank last month.
If not quite an official anointing, the handshake and chat with so venerable a figure was an unmistakable sign to conservatives that he was "one of us".
The improbably handsome right-wing Governor of left-wing Massachusetts is generating enormous buzz as the conservative with the best chance of beating independent-minded senator John McCain for the 2008 Republican nomination
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His meeting with Baroness Thatcher was swiftly incorporated into his patter. "Can you imagine? It was such an extraordinary honour to be able to sit down with her, person-to-person," he said.
"We talked about the condition of the world and I said, 'I'm optimistic that we'll overcome these problems', and she paused and said, 'We always have'."
..... has been married to his high school sweetheart for 37 years and has five photogenic children. At 59, he is no youngster but is frequently ribbed about his film-star appearance.
He would be straight out of central casting were it not for one startling drawback: Mr Romney is a Mormon, a religion some evangelical Christians regard with disdain.
In a potential double whammy, he also speaks French (a source of ridicule for 2004 Democratic candidate John Kerry), having been a Mormon missionary as a young man in France.
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints outlawed polygamy long ago. But as one wag has noted, in a 2008 Republican field consisting of Senator McCain, Rudolph Giuliani and Newt Gingrich, the only man who has had one wife would be the Mormon.
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As Governor, Mr Romney has already proved his appeal to swing voters. One party-goer described him as an American version of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, saying: "He's extremely eloquent, with strong convictions. He's a visionary who is attempting to create a health system which could be a model for the whole country."
Mr Romney is pioneering a market-based system for universal healthcare in his home state that he believes easily trumps Hillary Clinton's botched proposal when she was first lady.
"The first difference between hers and mine is that mine got voted in," he said tartly.
ping
Because I expect he needed it. I've been distracted since I've been in Colorado, so I can't keep an eye on him ALL the time.
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I just turn off my cable for good they P/U the box today and none too soon.
Can you imagine CNN showing a ambush on our US soldiers being killed but terrorist and those CNN folks from American never alerted our Soldiers this is sick!
CNN had too know this in advance to do capture this!
You're in Colorado ?.... Guess I missed that news. LOL. Having fun, I hope :)
Yeah. Came out with a friend of mine. Her kids and mine all live within about a 50 mile radius. Worked out very well.
Lollobrigida, 79, takes a toy boy
Richard Owen, Rome, 21 Oct 2006IN the heyday of la dolce vita she was one of Italy's most voluptuous stars, taking the title role in The Most Beautiful Woman in the World. Gina Lollobrigida hit the headlines again yesterday by emerging from retirement at the age of 79 to announce that she was marrying a man of 45.
"There is no age limit for love," said the woman known as La Lollo, as the news swept Italy, where the first Rome Film Festival is nearing its end. "I am so happy I want the whole world to know. Women of the world, don't worry about your wrinkles - love is the best rejuvenating cure there is."
The actor, whose fiery spirit and dramatic curves fuelled the fantasies of male filmgoers for decades, confirmed that she was to marry Javier Rigau Rifols, a Spanish property entrepreneur from Barcelona, "by the end of the year".
The news was broken by the Spanish magazine Hola!, which featured the happy couple on its cover.
"At one stroke La Lollo has redeemed all the glamorous women who have grown so old they can't bear to look in the mirror any more," said Italian daily La Stampa.
It noted that other female celebrities such as Demi Moore and Madonna had married younger men but said Lollobrigida, as a grandmother of nearly 80, had "outdone them all".
"At last all women can hope for a future, whatever their age," said Italian writer Lina Sotis, noting that Sophia Loren, La Lollo's eternal rival, had also defied the passage of time by recently posing semi-naked in a diaphanous gown at the age of 71 for next year's Pirelli calendar.
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She looks good for 79 but IMO, she couldn't stand in Sophia's shadow. Sophia set the bar for generations and probably still does.
Gosh, it must be beautiful in the mountains this month. Did you get there in time to see the Aspens change color ?
Thanks, nully :) I felt like I was searching for our "Birth Certificate" LOL
The Mexican pie sounds pretty good too. You have the best receipe's gran.
Thanks Darlin' - your all wonderful. It never ceases to amaze me how caring one's freeper friends are. It's like we've all known each other forever.
Mercy ! That looks inviting :)
True that ! Well, actually, many of us have known each other for years. At times this thread was more like a daily journal or our neighborhood bar.
LOL. Born and born again ?
Darlin, that letter should go to Bill O'Reilly!! I doubt he will ignore it. NOTHING about Kennedy really shocks me.
Trust me, it is!
You should see her dipped in chocolate...
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