Analysis of Romney's conservatism based on website (vanity)

This is an analysis of Mitt's CURRENT positions and proposals: He's got problems with his past, but no frontrunner doesn't, but that's for another thread. I'm taking all information from his website and current news releases, starting with his entrance into the race.

Mitt's catching on it seems, so I'm posting this largely for my own reference and for other freepers to join in if they want. The other purpose is to catalogue his positions so we can spot changes OVER THE COURSE OF CAMPAIGNING. It'll be a good measure of overall campaign consistency.

-"I believe that we are overtaxed and government is overfed. Washington is spending too much money." (romney 2-13-07)

-Veto domestic nondefense discretionary appropriations that increase spending by more than inflation minus one percent.(website)

-Impose congressional rule requiring a three-fifths (60%) supermajority to pass any law that would raise taxes.[this would be great even when fighting dem congress, but it'd be hard to pass](website)

-"The key to effective homeland security, in my view, is intelligence, finding the attackers before they attack, gathering and analyzing tips, monitoring suspects, wiretapping, surveillance, all of the tools associated with intelligence work." (Romney 2004)

-While there has been much emphasis on protecting facilities and responding to attacks, a key priority must be prevention. (website)

-"I think many of us still fail to comprehend the extent of the threat posed by radical Islam, by Jihad." [ya, half the country!] (romney 4-10-07)

-Governor Romney has called for strategic divestment from companies that support the Iranian regime's dangerous actions, using efforts similar to the actions taken against Apartheid South Africa.[as long as sanctions are only the beginning](website)

Zero Rate On Middle Class Savings. Eliminate all taxes on interest, dividends, and capital gains for anyone with Adjusted Gross Income under $200,000 to make it easier for the middle class to save. [i like this idea, but it would add to the complexity of an already burdensome tax code. The flat tax does this in its very nature] (website)

Make The Bush Tax Cuts Permanent, Eliminate The Death Tax Once And For All. (website)

Implement National Tort Reform. [put Edwardsesque leeches out of business for good!](website)

-Pursue our domestic sources of energy, drawing from our broad and diverse base of options, including opening ANWR to oil and natural gas development.(website)

-Accelerate construction of new nuclear power plants in order to ensure that nuclear power continues to be a part of a robust, cleaner, and reliable energy mix.[directly resulting from EPA/envirowhackos etc, we've become practically 3rd world in our nuclear power supply. This is ridiculous](website)

-Pursue our domestic sources of energy, drawing from our broad and diverse base of options, including opening ANWR to oil and natural gas development.[ANWR=good](website)

-Follow through on Congressional commitment to build a physical and technological fence along the southern border, and secure other points of entry.[None of this virtual fence stuff! Incredibly, the only time when Fed govt has a direct right and responsibility to take action, they drag their feet](website)

-Do not give amnesty or any special pathway to those who have come to this country illegally.(website)

-Punish Sanctuary Cities, Improve Interior Enforcement, Reject Amnesty.(website)

-Deregulate State Markets. Encourage states to eliminate the cumbersome insurance regulations that drive costs up and providers out of the market. (website)

-Level the playing field by making all health care expenses tax deductible, eliminating the special treatment afforded employer-provided health plans. (wbsite)

-"Conservative principles have the answers for health care. I think I'm going to be able to demonstrate to you today the conservative principles of personal responsibility and free market dynamics and choice and personal care – these kinds of elements allow us to reform health care in such a way that we can solve the problems that America faces in health care without having a government takeover, without having socialized medicine with all its drawbacks and all its weaknesses." (Governor Mitt Romney, Remarks At The Florida Medical Association, 8/24/07)

-As President, Governor Romney will promote a culture of life. Governor Romney believes that Roe v. Wade should be overturned so that the issue of abortion can be returned to the American people and their elected representatives at the state and federal level.[Yes I know he's got a dirty past but he's turned in the right direction. This policy is the correct conservative policy, NOT "making abortion illegal!" like Huck supporters have been calling for. Prez doesn't have that right](website)

-Governor Romney supports a Federal Marriage Amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman. (website)

-Appoint Conservative Justices Who Abide By The Constitution. Governor Romney will appoint judges who respect the Constitution and the rule of law, and will not legislate from the bench. (website)

-Repeal McCain-Feingold. Governor Romney believes that McCain-Feingold should be repealed because it restricts our First Amendment rights. He believes we should enact reforms that promote transparency and disclosure, preserve grassroots activism and protect the ability to criticize or endorse current officeholders and candidates. [biggest single assault on our constitutional rights in any of our lifetimes.](website)

-Support Court Decisions That Strengthen The Second Amendment. The Governor applauds court decisions finding the Second Amendment protects an individualized right to keep and bear arms. As President he would support that interpretation and protect the right of every law abiding adult to keep and use firearms. [well and good, but just support constitutionalist judges and it's a non-issue.](website)

-Governor Romney Strongly Opposes The Taking Of Private Property For Private Development. Governor Romney believes that the Kelo property rights case was wrongly decided.(website)

-Governor Romney Will Promote School Choice, will support performance-based pay, Governor Romney Has Proposed A Federal Home Schooling Tax Credit. [similar to vouchers, and definitely a plus.](website)

-address the looming budget crisis caused by increasing entitlement spending in a BIPARTISAN WAY.(website)

-Create A Special Partnership Force (SPF). The SPF will integrate all elements of national power under a new force with leadership drawn from a core group of our Army Special Forces trained to work with civilian governments and intelligence personnel (website)[yet another bureau of govt??]

-Strengthen Global Alliances. The failure of efforts such as the United Nations Human Rights Council has given multilateralism a bad name. America’s strength is amplified when it is combined with the strength of other nations. [America's strength is directly proportional to the strength of our alliances. Multilateralism is acceptable only when subordinate to America's strength and interests. Too often "work together" means "at the expense of USA international interests]

-"I am pro-life. I believe that abortion is the wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother. I wish the people of America agreed, and that the laws of our nation could reflect that view. But while the nation remains so divided over abortion, I believe that the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate." [good, except I don't like "pro-life except" positions.] (Governor Mitt Romney, Boston Globe, Op-Ed, 7/26/05"

-Software Filters To Guard Children From Online Pornography. Governor Romney will work with computer and software companies to make sure all new computers have optional parental control software filters that are ready and easy to use during setup. Governor Romney will also promote and increase awareness of available parental control filtering products for existing computers. [nice idea, but outside the purview of the presidency imo. Nannystatery](website)

Improve Worker Retraining. Consolidate and streamline the numerous federal programs in this area, and focus on giving workers the skills they need to succeed in a global economy.[it is not the responsibility of the federal government to train individuals!](website)

Build And Repair Transportation Infrastructure. [This is buying into the canard that the MN bridge collapse last year was evidence of an aging infrastructure and that federal government needs to swoop in and help. Let state governments maintain and oversee their own transportation systems. The last thing we need is expansion federal power!]

-Dramatically increase federal spending on research, development, and demonstration projects that hold promise for diversifying our energy supply and increasing our energy efficiency. [I call bullshit: private enterprise and investment are the ONLY effective means of innovation and advancement. Computing hardware/software, medical/drug advancements, etc are all the result of private investment, not federal grants! The market WILL drive and decide.](website)

-Support More Severe Punishments For Those Who Commit Crimes With A Firearm. Those who use a firearm during the commission of crime must be punished severely. The key is to provide law enforcement with the resources they need and punish criminals, not burden lawful gun owners. [Lame. Crimes are crimes, gun-involved or not. Demonizes gun ownership.](website)

Romney explained his position on abortion by saying he was flat out wrong, and he’s since “found the way”. I think it’s PROBABLY genuine, considering it didn’t come with the usual equivocating, “I didn’t say everything I said” type politicospeak that accompanies most changes in policy.

See here:
http://www.ontheissues.org/Governor/Mitt_Romney_Abortion.htm

Your last two statements defy what came right out of his mouth.

Nope. They're the truth. Romney never supported civil unions, and he only voted for Tsongas in the primary. Those are facts, whether you choose to accept them or not.

BINGO. I am very impressed with his business experience. Kramer on CNBC said that “Mitt Romney is simply the best businessman in the country.” Kramer is a big lib.

GO MITT!!!

Therefore, RomneyCare provided $50 abortions to almost 5% of the female population who were not eligible for medicaid. Want to offer any more disengenous comments?

That's because the SJC mandated that any medical subsidy had to include abortion coverage. It was either provide a subsidy with medical coverage, or provide no subsidy, which in turn would mean that his whole healthcare plan would never pass the state legislature. In politics you have to make compromises, something you purists seem to forget.

On the whole, the plan did more good than bad. Unsubsidized, private individual health plan premiums dropped by 50% thanks to Romney. Instead having ininsured people clogging up emergency rooms and sticking taxpayers with the bill, they now have no-frills insurance. And if the abortion question still bothers you, there is zero evidence that Romny's plan increased the number of abortions.

pianomikey -

These are politicians. Their words and promises carry little weight. They are to be judged by their actions.

I want to believe Romney. Seriously, I need a plan C. Plan B isn’t getting the votes.

1) He’s had a conversion on abortion. Has he demonstrated this in any way (protest a clinic, give a talk to school kids, etc)? It would be meaningful to me if he has.

2) He’s had a conversion on the sanctity of marriage. Has this manifested itself in any documentable actions? I would even accept actions on abortion as a good faith gesture on his changed attitude towards marriage.

3) He instituted a now-failing form of socialist-lite medical coverage in Massachussetts. How am I to believe that he now wants smaller government?

I believe has supported a federal law in the past.

Did yopu hear what Hunter just said about Romney’s company dealings that would send sensitive military technology to the PRC?

After working closeley on the regulatory issues of the American rural West for more than 15 years, I can authoritatively say that our culture and economy is on the ropes and sliding into extinction. We will not survive the return of another strong central regulatory administrative hammer like in the days of Bill Clinton.

I have not seen anything that tells me that Mitt Romney is for limited government and local control. I want to know that he won’t sell out use of our natural resources to the populist suburban eco-freaks who have all but destroyed the economies and social fabric of the rural West. Does he have the conservative backbone to stand firm on this issue? Does he stand for voluntary incentive-based management changes to accomplish public environmental goals, while protecting the integrity of individual freedom and private property ownership?

The phrase “extra-ordinary lethality” is useless in describing any particular weapon. We need more specifics.

I mean, what are we talking about here? M60s? Rocket launchers?

Yes. If the ‘its the economy stupid’ motto holds out Mitt is also a shoe in for the white house against the Dems. He sounds like a solid solution to fiscal fears when I try to place myself in a Democrat’s shoes that fear inflation and a possible recession (as they always are doing no matter how incredible the fiscal facts!!). Hilary or Obama do not offer any sort of understanding or experience, whereas Mitt is strong and reassuring when it comes to money and trimming the fat and not taxing.

I thing people make a lot of assumptions when they say he may not be able to beat the Dems. I think he looks very good on paper and in person (well on TV) when held up to the tax and big government programs that Hillary and Obama clearly have a record of.

“Can we believe that he is genuine in his conversion?”

I believe Romney is telling the truth about his conversion. I just think of him as a man of high integrity, that’s the way he comes across, the way he has conducted his personal life, business life and the fact he felt compelled to run for Governor of Masachusetts because he believed that he could help them with their problems. He didn’t take any money for being governor and he didn’t run for re-election when he had solved their economic problems. That is a man of character, so when he says he had a conversion, I believe him, even though I don’t know the details of it. I know that Rush Limbaugh said just today that he has heard Romney’s explaination and that he believes that Romney is sincere. I believe Romney is sincere.

When Newt said the era of Ronald Reagan was over, what did Romney say?

I’d like to see what he said in print, and preferably see what he said in a video.

Exactly, if Fred bows out to McCain, it was fortunate he never caught on. Romney is miles ahead of what is left if Fred has to hang up his cleats. I would even push the button for Guiliani before McCain or Huckleberry gets my vote.

First I was "pal" and now I'm "bucko"? Shuck, jive, dodge, avoid...but no answer to any of the questions posed to you. Nice...

Oh, you can call me "buddy" or "kiddo" in your next post, that would be quite clever and snippy.

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