Posted on 01/21/2008 11:33:00 AM PST by pianomikey
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.
Conservative:
-"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)
-Lower The Corporate Tax Rate.(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)
Iffy:
-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)
Liberal:
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)
“Our guiding principle has always been to select the most conservative viable candidate. In our judgment, that candidate is Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts. Unlike some other candidates in the race, Romney is a full-spectrum conservative: a supporter of free-market economics and limited government, moral causes such as the right to life and the preservation of marriage, and a foreign policy based on the national interest…More than the other primary candidates, Romney has President Bush’s virtues and avoids his flaws. His moral positions, and his instincts on taxes and foreign policy, are the same. But he is less inclined to federal activism, less tolerant of overspending, better able to defend conservative positions in debate, and more likely to demand performance from his subordinates. A winning combination, by our lights. In this most fluid and unpredictable Republican field, we vote for Mitt Romney.”
-The Editors, National Review
Romney is clearly the best choice after Fred.
Is his past not relevant? Just because he is now saying what he thinks he needs to say to win, we should ignore the facts of the past? Give me a break!
Mitt ping!
I am a Fred supporter, but Mitt is my next choice. From a purely economic standpoint he is a no-brainer. Clearly the most qualified candidate in terms of economics.
What exactly is the problem with Mitt’s past? I have read that he has flip flopped on abortion and gun control. Can we believe that he is genuine in his conversion?
His past is relevent as is all the other candidates. It must be noted that Romney’s and Guiliani’s past statements were made when they were elected in very liberal states. McCain’s past was while he was elected in a conservative state.
Rush Limbaugh just said, minutes ago, that he is certain Romney’s conversion to ProLife and other positions were genuine.
“He explains why he changed his mind. He shows contrition. I believe Mitt Romney ‘s conversion is genuine,” Limbaugh said.
He went VERY far today toward almost endorsing Romney, although he continues to admit that ALL the candidates have flaws... and have done things NOT conservative in the past.
Romney may have been a successful businessman. However, that doesn't always translate well to the world of politics. As Governor of Massachusetts Myth was known for one major accomplishment. CommonwealthCare, aka. RomneyCare. Thats it! If you're a liberal, moderate or centrist, Romney's proposal for nationalized health care is great. If you're a conservative, its the first step on the road to socialized medicine.
Further. Romney`s recent conversions on several key issues isn’t convincing. More political expediency than political epiphany. His 35 years of support for Roe v Wade and a woman's right to have an abortion are huge black marks against him. Not to mention his past support for gay rights and gun control. All this marks him as a big government liberal Republican. Willard didn’t support Reagan`s conservative agenda of the 1980`s and even opposed the Contract With America. He even shifted from being an open borders/amnesty backer to a Tancredo clone.
Romney’s got a horrible track record on most issues. And worst of all, Mitt’s has never been a conservative. In 2007 Romney pretended he was some sort of conservative, but he's not genuine article and never will be.
No more than Reagan’s past was relevant after he was governor of Calif. & raised taxes by 1 billion. His record of doing what he said he was going to do is excellent.
Hey, until he sticks that knife in our backs, at least there is hope he might be telling the truth. We already know 100% we are screwed with McCain, Rudy, Hillary, and Obama. It is sad, but Romney seems like the most decent person left. Now how is that for an endorsement?
As a former Hunter supporter, I’m ready to go with Mitt. His stated positions are something I can agree with, even though I know he hasn’t held all of them forever. But at least we have his recent positions so that he can be held accountable.
And the other reason (petty, of course), is that the media HATES him! So he must be doing something right.
Same here...IF Fred drops out, my vote will more than likely be cast for Mitt. Fred is the only real adult in the mix and I'm disgusted with how the early states have voted. It was extremely discouraging to see how SC voted...
touche
Sometimes people who pander to a base keep their promises.
Mc Cain has been dead wrong on several issues, but his conservative voting record is rated at 86%. Take a look at Romney’s record and if you went down what he said and what he did, his conservative rating would probably be below 30%. Are we to excuse Romney for saying and doing what he did just because he was in Massachusetts/ What ever happended to priciple? Romney raised taxes and called it “fees”. Romney disassociated himself from Reagan and GHW Bush in a debate with Kennedy. Romney brags about his health care bill that fines people if the don’t sign up for health insurance. It also partially funds abortion. Romney supported and voted for Paul Tsongas against GHW Bush. Romney supports “Gay Unions”. Romney visited and supported pro abortion rally’s. Romney is nothing more than a candidate of convenience who will say and do whatever it takes at any given time. He is a person of no principle or courage.
Good stuff, thanks for posting. I feel there’s way too much apprehension directed towards Romney. The tipping point for my support of him was National Review’s endorsement. I don’t know what weight they carry anymore (here, to be specific) but for me personally as a conservative that came of age in the Clinton years, National Review is still the Godhead of conservatism. Along with George F. Will..
Also, another thing I’m hearing is that FredHead’s will move into McCain’s camp when Thompson drops out. I don’t see this at all. Fred’s supporters are true conservatives.. the next in line from the pack (IMO) is Romney. There isn’t a snowballs chance of Fred supporters jumping into McCain’s wagon.
So, who is the answer? Not trying to be sarcastic at all, I would like to hear you thoughts on who you would vote for if Fred drops. I’m leaning toward Mitt — because no one else appears to be mentally capable to handle the job.
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