ROMNEY: Cautionary tale of card check

The Washington Times ^ | 03-25-09 | Mitt Romney

[GOP_Lady]

ROMNEY: Cautionary tale of card check Mitt Romney Wednesday, March 25, 2009

** FILE ** Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Mr. Romney submitted a column to The Washington Times as part of the Reinventing Conservatism series. (Astrid Riecken/The Washington Times)

ANALYSIS/OPINION: (Part of our Reinventing Conservatism series)

In 2006, my last year as governor of Massachusetts, I vetoed a card-check bill that allowed public workers to organize if a majority signed union authorization cards as opposed to casting a traditional secret ballot. The veto was a gain for the rights of employees and employers to a fair election, but the victory was short-lived.

[Osage Orange]

Good post, Jeff............

[Reagan Man]

I struck a nerve! Good. Maybe you forgot, Jim supported Fred too. Link So, I'm in good company. Never took after your guy, Duncan Hunter. But lets face it, second tier candidates like Hunter end of going nowhere. That's what happens when you can't get polling numbers above the margin of error within your own party. Hunter had no chance in 2008 and sadly, if he runs in 2012, he'll be a loser again. I know the truth bothers you. Learn to live with it.

[Reagan Man]

You should have given up while you were ahead.

One problem, you never were ahead.

Troll on, RomneyBot!

[ejonesie22]

Finally and LDS member I can agree with Politically.

There are some good Mormon politicians out there. Mitt ain't one of them.

I have deep disagreements with the LDS Church. I am a Conservative Christian, but I also had grave reservations about Huck. While I saw more of it with LDS members and Mitt, I saw evangelicals backing Huckabee and over looking his numerous failures for exactly the same reason so many Mormons here were/are selling Romney, he was a religious peer.

Bring me a good Conservative Mormon and unless SLC really has come up with some “conversion laser” they can convert folks through TV with, he has my vote. (that's a joke boys and girls, the laser part, not the has my vote)

[pissant]

No nerves. Just truth. Hide behind Jim all you want. If Hunter runs, and he may, of course there will be those who insist that such an unknown Reaganite “can’t win”. Happened last time too. And we ended up the guy whose campaign the horse stalker ran in 2000. Go figure.

[WVKayaker]

I have enjoyed reading your works, and know your mind is on the right. Unfortunately, Mitt has revealed too much of himself in his prior stint in Mass. He hasn't converted to anything except hunger for more power. I just don't see him in the fore front because of that instability of thought. There is plenty more not to like for a "conservative" leader.

I was a Fredhead. I think he gave up early due to his friendship with McLame. He is one of those old-time Southern gentlemen.

I am supporting Sarah because she IS a leader, and there is no doubt about her commitment, and her credentials. I haven't seen Michelle until recently, but upon investigation saw quite a lot to like.

God does play a role in this. He has raised up some women to lead in history. He may be heading that way again. It's a shame when the men take the back seat! But, God is still in charge. Believe it or not.

(I will honor your non-debate request. It isn't hard to discredit Mitt with his record in office.)

[gondramB]

>>Cmon, Reagan Man, there are a plenty of Romney fans here that are pretty darn conservative. I think the reason why they support Romney, is that they are willing to believe that his road to Des Moines conversion on myriad topics is genuine. And, generally speaking, they believe his spin on his record that he governed conservatively. I can’t claim to know Romney’s true thoughts, but I guess that a legit conversion is a possibility.

As you know, I have no use for the guy, and if he runs again, which seems likely, he won’t be getting my support. But to think you can’t be conservative and support the guy is simply not true.<<

For me there is a middle ground - I can accept and support people in their endeavors to do good things even if I’d never think of them as a good candidate for President. Heck, that’s how I live with Saxby Chambliss as my senator without slitting my wrists.

So I’m glad to see Governor Romney’s work on the card check and glad to see him speaking for conservative financial positions. I cut him some slack on his positions as governor, like I do Arnold, given the state he governed.

I’m never gonna support him for President and I hope Freep doesn’t but I don’t see the point in a whole lot of fight about him in the off season.

[sitetest]

Dear GOP Poet,

I certainly don't hate you for it. I just think you're wrong. I don't think that Mr. Romney would have been a very good candidate in the general election. I doubt he'd have been worse than that jackass Sen. McCain, but I doubt he'd have been elected. I'm not even sure that I would have voted for him.

For such a great communicator, combined with the nearly uncounted millions he spent, he sure didn't do so well in the primaries.

“Mitt is and has been in the trenches for us all along.”

That appears to be true in recent times, but how about all through the ‘90s and early 2000s when he was distancing himself from conservative Republicanism, when he was clearly a pro-abort, when he introduced RomneyCare (which now appears to be having significant problems)? He may have been in the trenches at those times, but not in the conservative Republican trenches, and certainly not for me.

But time will tell. Perhaps he might be an appropriate candidate for 2012, having, by that time, been a consistent conservative for more than, say, three or four weeks. I know, I know, I exaggerate. So sue me.

sitetest

[pissant]

There will be plenty of fisticuffs to come, so not much sense in starting now.

[Reagan Man]

Struck another nerve. Excellent!

Btw, you wouldn't know the truth if ran up and bit you in the butt. You haven't taken a serious position for several years now and it looks like you'll be on that track for the foreseeable future. Face it, you're nothing but a malcontent of the first order. Obama has nothing to fear from you.

[pissant]

If your perception is that you are hitting some nerves, then your perception is even worse than I thought. Water off a duck, spanky. Go donate to some more global warming alarmists. Cheers.

[Jeff Head]

Mitt has a lot of ground to make up. But, he also indicates he has changed. Now he has to, in my mind, take several years, not running for President or looking to, and prove it. If he will do that, he may earn, at a later date, my belief that his change is genuine.

I believe a person can change. The Apostle Paul comes to mind. The Lord changed him, but I imagine there were many Christians who had suffered at his hands who did not believe it at first and who distrusted him for a long time...and yet the change was geniuine and the Lord went on to use him for great good as we all know.

It is not my intent to say that Mitt is literally like Paul. Just that people who were avidly one way, in this case on the wrong side of the issue, can sincerely change and the Lord can use them afterwards.

I am willing to let time tell on Mitt...it always, ultimately does, one way or another.

In the mean time, Sarah has the record, and the appeal to turn the libs on their ewars and I am working and praying to that end for 2010 and 1012.

God above knows we desperately need it.

[Reagan Man]

When you're a conservative, I don't think there is any middle ground for supporting moderate-centrist candidates, or any room for political expediency. Romney is an unprincipled political chameleon and his liberal past shouldn't be given a pass. Not now, not ever.

I usually don't pay close attention to what Romney does outside of the political arena. The fact he is a successful businessman and a religious person are well known facts, but it has no impact on how I view his politics. If Romney spent the next 10-20 years renouncing his liberal past, while preaching conservatism, I might consider him a changed man.

Otherwise, I think he's an albatross around the neck of the GOP and has no chance of ever getting elected president. His attempts to hoodwink some new supporters into joining him is his goal in this off-season.

The GOP needs new blood --- no more RudyMcRombee's!

[Jeff Head]

I will support any American, regardless of persuasion, who shows by word and particularly by deed that he/she understands, is committed to, and willing to stand up for and defend the principles upon which our Constitution was founded and upon which this nation has prospered and been smiled upon by God in Heaven...who has granted us our liberty.

The founders recognized this and stated it clearly and directly...we must do the same.

God in Heaven give us such a statesman! and we will rise up and carry them forward!

For such an one will do this nation's work without flinching or bowing to the PC, liberal, socialist, marxist crowd who want to destroy this Republic and every good thing she has stood for.

I believe Sarah Palin is such a one and that she and her family have been preserved for this day up there in Alaska to come forward at this precise time.

Those liberal/socialist/marxist (for in truth, they are all three) people hate her for it, and they want to destroy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness through the free market and ownership. We see it happening before our very eyes.

I still have faith enough...and virtue enough...to know that God in Heaven will smile upon us if we will turn to Him and support life, liberty, and the pursuit with all of our honor, fortune, and very life.

II Chron 2:14

IT'S TIME FOR A RETURN TO THE OLD SCHOOL

WRITE YOUR GOP SENATORS TODAY!

[Jeff Head]

If Romney spent the next 10-20 years renouncing his liberal past, while preaching conservatism, I might consider him a changed man.

Outside of the fact that I believe he needs to more than just preach it...he needs to live it and be involved supporting those who do with his own time and money...and perhaps needs to get into the congress or senate and show by DEED that he has changed...I agree with you.

[GOP Poet]

So you just said that you guys invest in your principles a wee bit deeper than I? Really? Hmmm. Interesting word choice too--invest. In other words at its essence it mean to clothe oneself and although it has many denotations, its connotation is to put money towards something in hopes of positive return. You do not even know me, You do not know what I do with my non FR time or money. Wow. Your pats on the back against any real facts or knowledge is truly breathtaking.

How does trashing someone personally and making breathlessly cruel and uninformed assumptions result in any positive outcome from what I assume you think is fighting for conservatism and her principles, when really it is an investment in the principles of hatred, divisiveness, and ultimately results in the take over of evil? Especially a fellow conservative or a fellow Republican? (in which I remind you of the Reagan commandment--Thou shall not speak ill or (or trash like dog do-do) of fellow Republicans--I find it funny that the one person with the name Reagan on here makes it a daily meal to violate that commandment.)

I have no time or desire for hugs and kisses and I certainly do not come to FR or post for that reason. Since when does defending oneself against personal attacks become a judgment that I was wanting hugs and kisses? Huh?

It is sure difficult for you to admit that name calling and personal attacks with little principled disagreement happened here and was totally inappropriate and could have been dealt with in a more intelligent and principled manner isn't it? If you can not see that and admit even privately to yourself than it is only to be repeated again soon toward another topic to debate, unfortunately it will be left instead for childish, bratty behavior to ensue instead. Allowing evil to laugh in glee at the distraction that keeps worthy souls that could turn this world or our country one way or another to be informed wrongly by the one group of people (the Marxists) that are well-organized and working seamlessly day and night to eliminate God and constitutional principles from America and the former from our world.

While we fight the liberal machine works overtime to brainwash the masses to its socialist, atheistic message and interpretation of things. While we fight the Marxists rub their hands together in joy. If you have a disagreement say it and move on otherwise as I said in another post bend over and await a long, dry ride by the donkey. The time I have spent defending myself here could have been better spent in a multitude of ways doing God's will in my daily life. The reason I have stuck is because I am not only invested in helping to move our world toward God and toward conservative values, but also because in order to do this we will all need skills. One that has been lacking is letting other people treat us like dog do-do with out saying BS. "Here is what I believe and this is why!"

You have no idea of my INVESTMENT towards my conservative and Godly principles. NONE.

[wagglebee]

Outside of the fact that I believe he needs to more than just preach it...he needs to live it and be involved supporting those who do with his own time and money...and perhaps needs to get into the congress or senate and show by DEED that he has changed.

Very well said.

I'm not sure what the policy in Massachusetts is for vacated senate seats, but it is almost a certainty that Kennedy's seat will open up within a year.

I am unable to get beyond the idea that Romney's "conversion" coincided with his run for the White House. His record in office would not lead anyone to conclude that he was even remotely conservative.

[gondramB]

>>When you’re a conservative, I don’t think there is any middle ground for supporting moderate-centrist candidates, or any room for political expediency.<<

Is there any ground to think about a man who ran for President in any other context than his fitness as a presidential candidate? For example I think of Kerry and McCain largely on the job they are doing (or not doing) as senators. Should they run again, I can shift gears. Likewise I can happily mock Al Gore based on what he is doing now. So if Romney is doing something good right now, then good for him. I can always oppose his nomination later if it comes to that.

[ejonesie22]

You and I work under the same banner then. God help us in our success.

[Jeff Head]

Amen...God help and speed us all in our efforts to turn this around.

He did after Carter...perhaps, He will smile down upon us and do so again if we work our hearts out for those Godly principles.