Posted on 07/21/2011 1:10:26 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Boarded-up shops and a nearly empty parking lot provided the backdrop for former Masschusetts' Gov. Mitt Romneys visit today to a struggling shopping center near the intersection of Victory and Laurel Canyon boulevards.
Romney, presumed to be among the leading Republican contenders for the presidency in 2012, said President Barack Obamas economic policies have contributed to the decline of this and many other malls across America.
Proposing raising taxes did not put people back to work. Obamacare made it less likely for employers to want to hire people. The talk about cap-and-trade and higher energy costs made it less likely for people to want to invest here," Romney said.
Dozens of reporters surrounded Romney, along with Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian, who represents the area.
"Im disappointed he chose to use my neighborhood and one of my top economic priorities as essentially movie set for his production today," Krevkorian said in response to a reporter's question.
Krekorian, like just about everybody else on the L.A. City Council, is a Democrat. He said millions of federal stimulus dollars have helped his area maintain a medical clinic, law enforcement and other needs. He said its not fair of Romney to blame the president for a long-struggling mall.
Its in the state that its in today because of more than a decade of economic decline," Krekorian said.
Several dozen Romney supporters showed up, too. Irene DeBlasio of Studio City said she likes the former Massachusetts governor because he was a businessman who knows about the bottom line. She also noted another reason.
Hes got five sons, a beautiful wife, lots of grandchildren. Hes a typical American." Unlike, DeBlasio said, Obama.
Oh, I think hes ghastly. I think hes destroying the country. I think all his policies are anti-American, socialist, borderline communist manifesto," she said.
Many Republicans seem to agree that Obamas got to go, but theyre far from consensus on who ought to replace him.
Mike Schroeder, an Orange County resident who is the former chair of the state GOP, was Romney's political director in California during the last election. He won't be supporting him this time around, citing Romney's "disorganized" 2008 campaign and the healthcare plan Romney enacted in Massachusetts, which had been cited frequently by the president during his bid for national healthcare reform.
Shawn Steele, a Republican National committeeman from L.A., noted that other prominent Orange County Republicans who once supported Romney last week hosted an event for Texas Gov. Rick Perry: Now theyre co-hosting Rick Perry. That in itself is a story. When you have the Orange County machinery flipping from one candidate to another, that is something very significant," Steele said.
Perry was also in Los Angeles today at a hotel in the Century City neighborhood for an event coordinated by influential fundraiser Renee Croce, who helped raise millions of dollars for former California Govs. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Pete Wilson. Perry has been traveling the nation to gauge his support among party loyalists, elected officials and donors, while fashioning the framework of what could become a national campaign.
Perry is attending more private meetings in California this week, and Steele thinks the Texan will announce his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president next month.
Among Republicans in the contest, Romney leads the money race and reported an $18.4 million haul in the second quarter.
I guess you missed this:
>>>Many Republicans seem to agree that Obamas got to go, but theyre far from consensus on who ought to replace him. <<<
Rove-type RINOs, Romney and Perry are.
Move along sonny, and let the grown-ups discuss politcs.
NO SALE.
I support and lsiten Rush Limbaugh, Britt Hume, Jim DeMInt, and Neil Cavuto, and you call me a RINO supporter???? LMAO.... You have the least crediblity of ANY one I have ever seen here. No one takes you seriously bub.
You don't have the most up to date information. Last I heard he is toying with running. AND HE IS MY CANDIDATE!!!!!!
I have no association with any campaign or political party.
Your defense of RINO after RINO shows that you
are a RINO supporter.
Romney => RomneyCARE
Perry => PerryCARE
NO MORE MANDATES OF MEDICINE.
NO MORE RINOS.
Prove I have defended one RINO... Go ahead!!!! Hume, Limbaugh, whoever..... just pick.
(snicker)
Each of your attacks on a real conservative FReeper,
unsupported and then often corrected
but continued by you anyway,
are each a pitiful defense of a RINO ... by a RINO.
Your lying is legendary. You have no credibility here
points?
Links to Free Republic Threads?
What can be “debunked”?
The only point I’m making is “here are old Rick Perry threads, look at them if you want”
noted that other prominent Orange County Republicans who once supported Romney last week hosted an event for Texas Gov. Rick Perry: Now theyre co-hosting Rick Perry. That in itself is a story. When you have the Orange County machinery flipping from one candidate to another, that is something very significant,” Steele said.<<<<
That’s what you picked out to highlight.
That Romney supporters would be happy with Perry.
Of course, they’re both RINOs.
I’ve done my research.
I can’t remember tf, if you’re a Palin or a Paul fan..
Anyway, you make your candidate appear incompetent.
By feeling it is necessary to post that stuff, it makes them look needy and unable to stand on their own merits.
I do not think they would want you associated with them.
Yep, Perry is admired in Cali...with Texas in a boom compared to Cali.
And where is your candidate? Are they out beating the bushes for money? Would they thumb their noses at Republican's giving them money? How do you think a campaign works?
I would hope that the tea party candidate wouldn’t be expecting money, so very early in the campaign season, from the people who fund Mitt Romney. The tea party candidate would get money from difference sources than the Romney sources, as they’re different candidates who appeal to different consituencies.
RINOs like Romney, and apparently RINOs like Perry, too.
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