Posted on 06/20/2007 8:38:55 AM PDT by Reaganesque
Of the 43 Presidents of the United States, only a handful have distinguished themselves as giants who truly changed history. In every case, it was because they brought a new vision to America in times of great international challenges, and by force of their leadership, brought us from turmoil and uncertainty to building a strong America and a safer world.
Whether it was President Truman’s clear-eyed approach to containing the spread of Communism, or President Reagan’s plan to finally confront and defeat the Soviet threat, all great American Presidents are willing to buck the conventional wisdom of Washington and affirm the power of American leadership in the world.
I believe we need that kind of leadership again, and that is why I support Governor Mitt Romney for President of the United States.
Most voters know Mitt Romney from what he did as Governor of Massachusetts, where he took a financial crisis many deemed hopeless and restored the state’s economic strength – turning deficits into surpluses without raising taxes. This built on a business career specializing in taking companies facing difficult challenges and leading them to stunning successes.
Read on . . .
What most voters may not know, however, is that Mitt Romney’s real world experience and vision makes him the ideal person to lead our nation as we face a new generation of global challenges. And his experience is much different from being in Washington. After 9/11, many argued that we should cancel the Winter Olympics in the wake of these terrorist attacks. Yet Mitt Romney led efforts with leaders and government representatives from around the world to secure the first major international event on U.S. soil since that tragic day. Throughout his business career, he worked with leaders from across the world and made hard decisions with companies, jobs and critical resources on the line. His work has taken him from places ranging from Beijing to Guantanamo Bay, and to critical nations such as Israel, Iraq and Afghanistan.
The challenges we face today are fundamentally different than the industrial military conflicts of the Cold War era, and we must go farther than responding to threats once they reach our borders. No candidate for President understands how to succeed in this new era better than Mitt Romney. No one has a clearer vision of how we can build a strong America and safe world.
The Romney plan starts with a strong military. When he came into office, President Bush inherited a military that had been deprived of the funding necessary to defend America’s interests overseas. Those technological and manpower gaps remain to this day. Governor Romney knows that nothing is more important than supporting our troops and providing them with the resources they need. That is why as President, his first priority will be to invest in and strengthen our military.
His plan calls for the addition of 100,000 troops, an increase in military spending to at least 4 percent of GDP, and eliminating pork-barrel spending and waste so that we can focus on providing the personnel, modern equipment, training and health care needed to support our troops.
At the same time, Governor Romney understands that for America’s economy to be secure, we must achieve energy independence. He believes strongly that America is vulnerable because of our increasing dependence on foreign oil, often from unfriendly or unstable countries. Governor Romney has a plan to reduce this dependency by helping America become more energy efficient and attain clean, affordable, renewable and American produced sources of energy.
To prepare for the conflicts of tomorrow, Governor Romney also understands that we must learn from the conflicts of yesterday. We cannot solve every conflict and crisis with military force. Yet, America has too often treated its dozens of civilian institutions as an afterthought.
To meet today’s challenges we need to fundamentally rethink and revitalize our civilian instruments of national power as well as how they work with our military forces. Governor Romney would coordinate and unify the goals of these civilian institutions, responsible for everything from reconstruction, hunger relief, emergency health care delivery, economic growth and education. He would then give control over these various aspects of foreign policy and outreach to skilled leaders with the authority and accountability to achieve results.
Finally, Governor Romney will revitalize our alliances and act to take on radical jihadists and their sources around the world: the hateful ideologies and bleak policies that produce hopelessness and violence in the Middle East.
As President, Governor Romney would strengthen alliances such as NATO and unite the developed nations of the world with modern Muslim states to create a Partnership for Prosperity and Progress. The Partnership would support the efforts of these modern Muslim nations to turn back the jihadist movement both through stepped-up security and intelligence and through the introduction and improvement of basic services such as proper education, health care and economic growth.
By working with the rest of the world to strengthen democratic institutions and human rights in the Middle East, young Muslims can have an optimistic vision for the future beyond the false call of violent jihad.
It is a proactive and positive plan for America. It is a plan I believe most Americans will support. Sadly, so many Presidential candidates are not as bold or as optimistic about our ability to shape the world. They talk of false deadlines and of retreating from the world. I support Mitt Romney because he is different. He is a leader. He has a record of real-world executive success. In the faces of a new generation of challenges, he knows how to make America strong and build a safe world and prosperous future.
Mitt is different because he dose not have the same hanger ons or old luggage such as Howard Baker, sleezy Wolfowitz.
Mitt interest is what is best for American’s interest.
My point was that he is not a drunken lothario like Ted Kennedy nor is he a Gerry Studs/Mark Foley who had a thing for underage boys. Nor is he like any of the dozens of MA pols who are either in jail or have served time for racketeering and/or bribery. Hence the “not the usual politician” line. Particularly for MA.
I'm one who believes we should have a strong conservative as President. That eliminates Romney. I group him with McCain and Guiliani. Then again, at least McCain and Guiliani don't play "clintonesque" politics the way Romney does.
I was being very sarcastic about his age, but he does look much older than Mitt and there is no sarcasm there. Have a good one.
No, Mitt interest is climbing the ladder.
I have no respect for you big’ol_freeper because Mitt supported the established laws of the country.
That is what public servants are supposed to do up hold the Laws of the office.
When one runs for president they have a chance to make a change and you as a big’ol_freeper know how things work so you are being disingenuous!
I will call you on this every times I see you distorting truth!
“Romney family has NO PROBLEMS!” How can you be so sure? You said, “Bush family has drinking problems” Have scoured the Romney family or just Mitt and wife?
They put out a video of the family and it is very impressive. They are without a doubt “FAMILY VALUES!!!” No other candidate can even come close to this family. I just can’t believe that conservatives are not more friendly towards them. I know...I know...FREEPERS seem to gravitate towards the divorced candidates for some reason. Fred Thompson does not have more family values than Mitt and I will fight that or stand by my statement to the end.
Why are you holding me responsible for Mitt's actions?
you are so lame that is what all of the candidates are doing!
LOL
But at least Mitt wants to sacrifice his time for doing good for Amercia!
... Fred was my second choice but is going to my third choice because I think he is too old to be President. He must be at least 75 and do we really want a President at that age with a 20 year old wife? ...Fred's not too old to be president, he's around 65. Yes, he looks older and has health issues, neither of which, IMO, disqualifies him. His wife, Jeri, is around 40, she's very attractive and looks younger than her age. It's not too uncommon for older men to have younger wives these days, especially among celebrities. I confess that the first time I saw a picture of Fred with Jeri I thought that she was his daughter.
"When one runs for president they have a chance to make a change"
So we make change by supporting the established laws of the country? Huh?
I was just kidding about the age thing, but he does look awful next to her. But if you look at Mitt and his wife they are perfect not to mention married almost 40 years. Not too many Presidential candidates can say that especially Republicans.
All public servants in office are to up hold the law of the land unless you for Pelosy or Reid.
I hold you accountable for disimformation and distortion that you post on Mitt threads!
Posting this must be a Freudian slip for those who don’t have cheerful offspring’s to celibrate!
Considering that is the Romney campaign modus operandi, and I am exposing that very thing concerning Romney, your statement is quite comical (and VERY sad).
I was just kidding about the age thing, but he does look awful next to her. But if you look at Mitt and his wife they are perfect not to mention married almost 40 years. Not too many Presidential candidates can say that especially Republicans.I knew that you were exaggerating. :) Yes, Mitt and Ann are fabulous.
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.