Romney at Planned Parenthood fund-raiser, June 12, 1994.
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)
Oh, that's why the Log Cabin Club of MA twice endorsed him twice--because of his military stance. (Yeah, right). Romney was pro-ENDA in '94 & now he's pro-ENDA @ the state level. Romney embraced state-funded programs for GLBT youth & said in '02 he would see what he could do to replicate them at the federal level. Romney was pro-taxpayer funded domestic partnership benefits for alternative sexual minorities. In 2002-2004 he was pro-civil unions and then started speaking out of both sides of his mouth on the issue in '05.
How long have you had this trouble with the word T-R-U-T-H?
Sounds like a transplant Californian who thinks mandatory health insurance is a good thing. I thought that’s what the Dem’s want.
“If that were true, you wouldn’t be considering backing Romney.”
The question isn’t whether he’s trustworthy IN THIS THREAD, which I’m not saying he is. Trustworthiness however is beyond the scope of this article. The point I’m making is that Romney is unquestionably CAMPAIGNING as a conserative and attempting to court conservatives.
IF we can trust him, THEN he will make a great president. Trustworthiness is what we have to examine, NOT his policies by and large.
Compare this to Huck, McCain (like he would be for repealing McCain-Feingold) or Rudy and there are glaring differences.
If you don’t have health insurance by Dec. 31, 2007, you will lose your personal income tax exemption for 2007. That exemption gives you a Massachusetts tax savings of approximately $219.
In 2008, the cost of the penalty goes up. The fine will equal half of the cost of the lowest-priced Health Connector-certified plan for each month that you don’t have coverage
Waivers will be available for those who cannot afford a plan that meets the rules. Check back for updates.
How is the mandate enforced?
The Massachusetts Department of Revenue will enforce the individual mandate through the tax process.
Since you’re willing to support Myth Romney, the idea of having an intelligent debate with you, is not in the cards, bucko.
When it comes to conservatism, Romney is a phony and a fraud.
“You are making the classic case of listening to what Mitt
says and not judging him based on what he does. There is
no historical reason to believe anything he says. It doesn’t
reflect any belief. It reflects his desire to win the Presidency.”
Refer to post 63.
Romney at Planned Parenthood fund-raiser, June 12, 1994.
Rush Limbaugh doesn't matter one whit when it comes to an opinion on pro-life.
The Christians will walk away. Giuliani and Romney are both non-starters from a social conservative point of view... and McCain isn't far behind them.
Romney supports the 2nd admendment for individuals. All the rest is smoke screen stuff.
His statements and actions say otherwise.
Get over it.
Get your facts straight.
My facts are straight. Show me one time he said he didn’t support the 2nd. I’m a gun lover, but, I do have a problem with an individual owning a TANK.
This is Free Republic and wide open debates are the norm. The one thing you have to remember is, Romney can't be trusted. No liberal can be trusted, for that matter.
The swimmer LOVES MYTH!!
There are two conservatives in this race, Hunter and Thompson. Neither of them are doing well, which speaks volumes, about their ability to marshal support and run a campaign, their ability to speak past the mainstream media filters, media activism in annointing Republican candidates or freezing them out, and it tells a lot about the average voter’s ability to see past mainstream media filters.
It doesn’t only happen to Repubs, Howard Dean was on fire up until the moment the press pulled the plug on him, and he vanished into vapor in the twinkling of an eye.
My preferences are Hunter, followed by Thompson. These are the only two conservatives in the race, if Repubs want conservatives, there is your choice.
Following them, is all the rest. McCain is a no-go for me. Forget it. That leaves Giuliani, Huck, and Romney. Romney is the best of the three in my view, but if you’re convinced one of the other two is the better of a bad hand, I won’t argue with you.
Where did I ever say that was a "good thing?" (I didn't; and I don't)
“If HITLER had a website I am sure he would have nice things to say about the JEWS.
You are either the most gullible person on the planet or are a paid MYTH operative.”
Insulting your fellow conservatives won’t do you any good. I haven’t been “fooled” by Romney, because there’s no QUESTION he’s CAMPAIGNING as a conservative. Whether he will live up to it is for another FReeper to analyze in another article.
*snort* Yer funny.
> IF we can trust him, THEN he will make a great president. <
Romney (or maybe it was one of his spokesmen) said he has never broken a campaign promise. If true, it’s a good sign of trustworthiness.
Romney still supports as AWB as of May 2007. So he is against individual gun rights.
"I support the rights of the Boy Scouts of America to do whatever it wants to do on that issue."
Since it's a private organization, that's the correct answer. Why the problem? Besides...Romney is running for POTUS, not the president of the Boy Scouts.
...so you’re staying home then?
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