Posted on 05/09/2007 1:17:56 PM PDT by Unmarked Package
"A 50-ish couple is strolling along the beach when they stumble onto the proverbial genie in a bottle. The wife rubs the bottle, the genie pops out, and the 50-something woman makes her wish: to be covered in jewels. Poof! She's draped in gorgeous jewelry from head to toe. Seeing the efficacy of the wishing, the man also gives it a stab. 'I wish I were married to a woman 30 years younger than me.' And poof! The man instantly turns 80."
Chuckles from the fundraiser crowd. Mitt Romney continues, "Be careful what you wish for. I wished for public service ... and ended up the Republican governor of the ultimate blue state, Massachusetts."
Despite all the odious Democrats in Massachusetts, Mitt assures the adoring Republican audience that things turned out all right. Mitt built bridges with the Democratic assembly, achieving great success for Massachusetts with accomplishments such as universal health coverage and revived finances.
Romney is known for his wit, and he's just warming up.
"You know, Democrats see estates like this beautiful home we're visiting today and say, 'No one should own a home this big and opulent.' Republicans, on the other hand, say, 'Everyone should have a house like this.'"
Again, applause from the enthusiastic Republicans. And let us all eat cake, too.
Standing by the pool in the morning sun, Mitt appears the very icon of health and youth. At 60, he's fit and trim with Hollywood good looks and charm. With a golden voice and captivating speaking skills, he's a model image of what an American president should look and sound like.
My wife, glancing between Mitt at sexy 60 and me at frumpy 50, inadvertently reveals a captivation for the Cary Grant-like Romney.
Little doubt, millions of women, right and left, will fall for Mitt's chiseled good looks. Mitt should stop pandering to the Christian Right and just play to the chick vote. He'll poll better than his current 4 percent.
Mitt draws out another anecdote. His dad, George Romney, was the highly regarded CEO of American Motors through 1962. So, on Mitt's 60th birthday, his son gave him a special gift: a 1962 Rambler American. The two take off around Mitt's neighborhood, checking out the ride. Around they go - until something gives out and they end up pushing the frumpy Rambler back to the house.
Mitt describes the car's bare-bones features: no armrests, a three-on-the-tree transmission - and no seat belts. He segues to the Republican mantra of freeing business from government regulation, citing competition and business ingenuity as keys leading to today's innovative cars and products.
But Romney forgets that none other than Ralph Nader forced car manufacturers to install those seat belts and nifty safety gear. Nader's expose, "Unsafe at Any Speed," along with piles of lawsuits by "Nader's Raiders," propelled the government to mandate safety standards for a very reluctant automotive industry.
The will of the people - our government - must step in when private industry fails to protect the safety of the citizenry. Owners might fear OSHA, but workers appreciate the safe working conditions OSHA has brought to bear on industry.
Mitt was at his funniest when serious. "America is a unique country through all history. When we go to war, we don't fight for land. We fight to promote justice and freedom." Carrie turns and asks me if native American Indians would agree. Not to mention that very dirt we're standing on was Mexican territory just 159 years ago. Was the super-smart Mitt just quipping over our patriotic heads?
"We've got to strengthen our military," Romney implores. Say what, Mitt? We already spend more on warfare than the next 10 largest countries, combined. Mitt ticks off the rest of his list: "We've got to restore our competitive edge with more and better public schools." "We need to achieve universal health care." "We've got to obtain energy independence, once and for all." Sans the military knee-slapper, Romney is making sense.
I understand it's just a stump speech and Mitt is addressing an adoring audience. But as with "mansions for all," in the real world, with real budget constraints, you can't get everything you want. You've got to make choices.
The continuing slavish Republican devotion to the military-industrial complex ignores real economic constraints and our need to prioritize our nation's spending. There's a reason the next 10 countries combined spend less than America on military: It's because it's simply unaffordable and unsustainable. Billion-dollar bombers earn utterly no payback and cost more billions to maintain. But investment in public infrastructure and education pays giant dividends for decades. Which serves citizens the most in the long run?
So, Romney has some hard choices ahead in honing down his platform. At the fundraiser, his was a scatter-gun "mansions for all and programs for everything" kind of message. Maybe that's just how it plays this early in the game. Make folks feel good and accept their checks.
I thank Buck McKeon for inviting me to the Mitt Romney fundraiser. It was great to see an overall impressive Romney up-close. Perhaps Carrie and I shook the hand of our next president. As a registered Republican, I'll cast my vote for Mitt in the primary. Articulate, disciplined and super-smart, he's the best of the Republican bunch. And if he returns to his centrist past during the general election, he might just trump a Hillary Clinton as the best choice for America.
But let's wait and see which way the wind blows Mitt Romney as the primaries draw near. Romney can't remain like Forrest Gump's "box of chocolates" forever. Voters want to know exactly what they're going to get - after the tough choices are made.
Gary Horton lives in Valencia. His column reflects his own views, and not necessarily those of The Signal.
I don’t really like Romney. Something odd about him...
Mitt Romney’s looks do absolutely nothing for me.
I don’t mind Mitt, its that everyone running for office seems to be coming from New York or New England area that those of us out here on the West Coast have zero in common with for political views.
“Empty suit.” Precious Willard is our John Edwards, or Smiley Obama, take your pick.
If it came down to Willard vs Edwards, or Willard vs Obama, who’s your money on?
Again, applause from the enthusiastic Republicans. And let us all eat cake, too.
This sounds like the voice of one who firmly believes that economics is a zero-sum game.
Guess what? It's not. A good economy really can make everyone wealthy.
In a normal election cycle, Mitt would be considered a joke for President. However because the rest of the field is so dreadful, Mitt looks okay.
Indeed he is. Hopefully, the rest of the GOP will realize how lucky we are to have such a qualified, charismatic candidate. His pro-business credentials are impressive. His pro-family, pro-life, pro-American platform appears heartfelt. He has that Reagan-style optimism along with his attractive appearance and charm. He has the potential to take it all.
I haven't gotten over Slick Willard's attack on those who wanted to save Terri Schiavo's life in 2005. If he's the nominee I'll take him over a Democrat, but I'm hoping someone better will come along.
Speaking of Cary Grant, one of the old movie channels is running Bringing Up Baby this evening.
I agree, this guy may be the next president.
For a republican to win in Massachusetts is quite an accomplishment. My money has been on Mitt since I first heard him speak a few months ago.
Newt Notes on Mitt's attempt to reform health cae system:
The most exciting development of the past few weeks is what has been happening up in Massachusetts. The health bill that Governor Romney signed into law this month has tremendous potential to effect major change in the American health system.
We agree entirely with Governor Romney and Massachusetts legislators that our goal should be 100% insurance coverage for all Americans. Individuals without coverage often do not receive quality medical attention on par with those who do have insurance. We also believe strongly that personal responsibility is vital to creating a 21st Century Intelligent Health System. Individuals who can afford to purchase health insurance and simply choose not to place an unnecessary burden on a system that is on the verge of collapse; these free-riders undermine the entire health system by placing the onus of responsibility on taxpayers.
http://www.healthtransformation.net/news/E_newsletters/index.cfm?newsletterid=20
Why Slick Willard?
The lasagna.
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