Now all we need is for someone talented with Photoshop to swap "Romey" for "Kerry" and we'll be set for 08.
Posted on 06/06/2007 9:12:08 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
BEDFORD, N.H. - Republican Mitt Romney on Wednesday jabbed at President Bush, saying the image of the United States has suffered globally based on the perception that it invaded Iraq unilaterally.
Addressing civic and business leaders, the former Massachusetts governor chided Bush as his fellow Republican traveled overseas for an economic summit and a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been critical of U.S. efforts to install a missile defense shield in Europe.
"I do think that we have suffered over the past several years for a number of reasons, and I think you probably know what they are," Romney said, citing the absence of strong international support in the lead-up to the war.
"There has been the perception that we have not been as open and participative with other nations as is our normal approach," he said.
The anti-Bush comments revived a theme from the debate Tuesday night in which Romney and several of his GOP rivals criticized the president on his management of the war, the immigration bill and diplomacy.
"There are a few countries and a few people who have demonstrated themselves for being so evil that we will cut off our engagement with those countries," Romney said, mentioning Cuba and Iran. "With most of the others, even those that are doing authoritative and outrageous acts like Putin in Russia, I don't want to cut off talking."
He said the next president must not only re-engage Middle East and European leaders — labeling France's new conservative leader Nicolas Sarkozy as a potential "blood brother" — but also Latin American nations.
Romney said his call for expanding the U.S. prison camp for terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, was consistent with that world view, despite condemnation from some human rights groups and other countries. He said the prison's intense interrogating environment is necessary to prevent future attacks.
"I think some people see Guantanamo as a source of America's arrogance, and I see it as a source of America's resolve," Romney said.
He said terrorists such as Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed had broken when they were kept from the traditional U.S. justice system with legal representation and typical court proceedings.
Romney added: "The food down there is unbelievable. This is not this gulag; this is a modern prison which treats people with dignity and respect."
In a follow-up news conference, Romney repeated his criticism of an immigration compromise brokered by one of his rivals, Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), R-Ariz. Romney said the bill, as currently drafted, would allow illegal immigrants to remain in the country indefinitely.
Asked how he would eliminate that group, estimated at 12 million, without a roundup, Romney said there were two alternatives: make a registration visa proposed in McCain's bill temporary instead of permanent, or wait for attrition created by efforts to secure U.S. borders and new efforts to force employers to verify the legality of their workers.
"No loss of workers necessary," the former governor said. "The idea is a gradual and humane replacement of illegal workers with either U.S. citizens or legal immigrants."
I think they are jealous. Check out Romneys highlight reel from the NH debate....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meUUE_ZxSjU&NR=1
No one can touch this guy.
Don't worry, he'll pick it back up on the flip flop. Next week it'll probably be "US out of the UN and UN out of the US!"
Jealous? Of what?
The impression I got, btw, was that Romney had read Jasser or more likely an opinion thereof.
If he hadn’t said he was for gays adopting kids, I might have fallen for his family “leg.”
The family leg of his 3-legged stool is very important. But he has not elaborated. Working family? Stay-at-home mom family? Two very different things.
Gosh. Romney’s comments from just today will require at least twenty thousand words of intricate spin from his staff.
When they finish, he will have been for it, against it, for it all along, against it all along, misunderstood, and right about it in every case. Confusing? Well, that’s the idea...
I wouldn't mind if he'd SAY so, but he's got a well-oiled campaign machine (I know someone in it), and they feed him all these lines meant to get conservatives all happy.
As long as they don't look at his record, he'll be fine with them. But you know what they say about fooling some of the people some of the time...
Mitt seems to be the strongest republican candidate so far. It will be a close race between him and Hillary but I think he has a good chance of winning.
“and they feed him all these lines meant to get conservatives all happy.”
I agree...and, as I said, I got that same impression with what he said about coming out about moderate Islam. It was like “pick me, oh pick me” and his people knew so little that they probably think CAIR is moderate.
I was going to hold my nose for Romney if necessary, but not any longer.
You're right--talk about safe. "Moderate Islam"? What's that, they sterilize their knives before they cut your head off?
Agreed. But it's still early though.
So what is the plan Mitt? Let Iran obtain nukes while we try to get international consensus? Sign up for whatever global warming treaty Europe thinks we should? It is easy to get everyone to like you, just do whatever they want you to.
Summary of Five-Point Plan To Confront The Iran Threat
First, We Should Tighten Economic Sanctions. The Administration deserves recognition for restricting access to banking and credit services. Other nations must act now to follow our lead. In addition, Governor Romney has called for strategic divestment from companies that support the Iranian regime's dangerous actions. As the world's financial center, no state could have a bigger impact than New York. After a new state Comptroller was named for New York, Governor Romney wrote the Comptroller, Governor Spitzer and Senators Schumer and Clinton urging them to join in the effort to stop New York pension funds from aiding Iran's efforts.
Second, We Should Isolate Iran Diplomatically. Their leaders should be made to feel like those of Apartheid South Africa. Until there are indications that high level engagement would do anything other than reward bad behavior, the United States should not engage Iran in direct, bilateral negotiations over their nuclear weapons program. Finally, Iran's President Ahmadinejad should be indicted under the terms of the Genocide Convention for incitement to genocide.
Third, Arab States Must Join This Effort To Prevent A Nuclear Iran. These states should support Iraq's government; turn down the temperature of the Arab-Israeli conflict; stop the financial and weapons flows to Hamas and Hezbollah; and tell the Palestinians to drop their terror campaign and recognize Israel's right to exist.
Fourth, We Must Make It Clear To The Iranian People That While Nuclear Capabilities May Be A Source Of Pride, It Can Also Be A Source Of Peril. If nuclear material from their nation falls into the hands of terrorists and is used, it would provoke a devastating response from the civilized world. The military option remains on the table.
Fifth, Our Strategy Must Be Integrated Into A Broader Approach To The Muslim World. We must work with moderate Muslim communities and leaders to build a lasting Partnership for Prosperity and Progress.
_________________________________
Also, Mitt knows we did not invade unitalerally, but the WH allowed a false perception to grow and fester when the truth was that nearly 50 countries assisted our war effort and over a dozen sent troops.
HANNITY: Explain what you mean, “the battle between forces of civilization and evil.” What do you mean by that?
THOMPSON: Well, it has to do with the need for all of the civilized countries, as I would call them — that is, most all of them that are not terrorist countries or terrorist havens — to realize we have to come together. I mean, that's one of the big failures that we have right now, because a lot of people in other parts of the world just don't see it yet. They see us as the number-one threat and really, in some cases, the only threat. We're going to have to bond together and face this thing together against these forces, because it's going to pick us off one by one.
We've seen our country attacked time and time again over the last decades. Now you see it, whether it's Madrid, whether it's London, whether it's places that most people have never heard of, they're methodically going around trying to undermine our allies and attack people in conventional ways. Meanwhile they try to develop non-conventional ways, and get their hands on a nuclear capability, and ultimately to see a mushroom cloud over an American city. No country can do that alone, and by themselves, when you face the global threat that we're facing.
www.foxnews.com
I think Mitt and Fred agree that we can be strong without being stupid.
Me too, Politicalmom. I wanted to like him, and then that fake NRA/gun story came along. I still kept him as my second choice. Then this came along.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.