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Romney Opens Presidential Headquarters In Boston
AP ^ | Jan 4, 2007

Posted on 01/04/2007 7:28:39 PM PST by jdm

Little more than one hour after becoming a private citizen, outgoing Gov. Mitt Romney took steps to leap back into the public arena by officially opening his presidential exploratory committee headquarters and naming members of his national finance team.

Romney said he had mixed feelings about leaving office in Massachusetts.

"This is the first day in four years where I've been a private citizen. It feels good. It's also a little sad because it's been a terrific experience being governor of the commonwealth," he said.

He said he was in front of his TV at his Belmont home when Gov. Deval Patrick delivered his inaugural speech. He said he did not attend the ceremony in person because tradition dictates that the outgoing governor not be present.

Romney said his focus is squarely on his presidential aspirations.

"I've now started a new adventure of my own. My family and I met during the Christmas holiday, spent a lot of time talking about the future and every single member of my family -- my sons and my daughters-in-law -- encouraged me to take the next step forward, which is to form an exploratory committee. That's just what I've done," he said outside his committee headquarters in Boston's historic North End.

Romney declined to say when he will formally announce his decision on whether to run for president in 2008.

"We're going to be working over the next several weeks. At some point, not yet determined, I'll make a final announcement about my future plans," Romney said. "We're very hopeful we'll be able to raise sufficient funds to mount a very competitive campaign if I choose to go forward with a presidential announcement."

Romney also signed a "taxpayer protection pledge," promising to oppose any efforts by Congress to increase income tax rates or reduce or eliminate deductions and tax credits.

Romney named several regional chairs of his finance committee: Meg Whitman, president and chief executive officer of eBay, California; Christopher Collins, managing member of First Atlantic Capital, Boston; John Miller, founding member of National Beef Packing Co., Kansas City, Mo.; Mark Guzzetta, president of Gemstone Development, Florida; and Ted Welch, owner of Ted Welch Investments, Tennessee.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: boston; headquarters; romney

1 posted on 01/04/2007 7:28:41 PM PST by jdm
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To: jdm
"He said he did not attend the ceremony in person because tradition dictates that the outgoing governor not be present."

Tradition, meaning: absolutely no good reason at all.

2 posted on 01/04/2007 7:31:55 PM PST by SteveMcKing
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To: jdm
When is a 'Conservative' NOT a conservative??

If he's from Massachusetts..........
3 posted on 01/04/2007 7:32:04 PM PST by geo40xyz (Born a democRAT, dad set me free in 1952: He said that I was not required to be a MF'ing DemocRAT)
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To: jdm

I would vote for Romney over any Democrat that might run, and some Republicans who might run.


4 posted on 01/04/2007 7:34:39 PM PST by AmericanMade1776 (Democrats don't have a plan)
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To: jdm

Economic & Foreign-policy conservative BUMP!


5 posted on 01/04/2007 7:34:50 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Why can't Republicans stand up to Democrats like they do to terrorists?)
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To: AmericanMade1776

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks to reporters as he arrives to officially open the new headquarters of his presidential exploratory committee in Boston's North End Thursday, Jan. 4, 2007. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)

6 posted on 01/04/2007 7:37:29 PM PST by AmericanMade1776 (Democrats don't have a plan)
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To: jdm

"Romney also signed a "taxpayer protection pledge," promising to oppose any efforts by Congress to increase income tax rates or reduce or eliminate deductions and tax credits."

What does Romney mean by "oppose"? That's a political weasel word. It's sounds like he's promising to be a status quo President. i.e. continue the slide to banana republic


7 posted on 01/04/2007 7:37:50 PM PST by hubbubhubbub
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To: jdm

I'm glad to see Romney among the contenders. The more the better right now, imo.


8 posted on 01/04/2007 7:44:59 PM PST by Sunsong
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To: hubbubhubbub

"What does Romney mean by "oppose"? That's a political weasel word. It's sounds like he's promising to be a status quo President. i.e. continue the slide to banana republic."

It's a common tax-payer pledge that some fiscal conservatives sign. He didn't create it, he just signed it. This isn't some mass conspiracy, with Romney at it's head and a gaggle of holy-underwear garbed individuals in tow. For the record, Romney is on the record, quite extensively, as supporting significant simplification of the tax code. I.e., not so status quo.


9 posted on 01/04/2007 7:55:10 PM PST by Obilisk18
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To: hubbubhubbub

"What does Romney mean by "oppose"? That's a political weasel word. It's sounds like he's promising to be a status quo President. i.e. continue the slide to banana republic."

It's a common tax-payer pledge that some fiscal conservatives sign. He didn't create it, he just signed it. This isn't some mass conspiracy, with Romney at it's head and a gaggle of holy-underwear garbed individuals in tow. For the record, Romney is on the record, quite extensively, as supporting significant simplification of the tax code. I.e., not so status quo.


10 posted on 01/04/2007 7:55:15 PM PST by Obilisk18
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To: Obilisk18

I noticed this name: John Miller, founding member of National Beef Packing Co.

Will that mean that Mitt will consider any illegal immigration porgrams verboten? (Meat packers use huge numbers of illegals, no?).


11 posted on 01/04/2007 8:11:03 PM PST by canadianally
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To: hubbubhubbub
What does Romney mean by "oppose"? That's a political weasel word.

What exactly would you like him to do to Congressional efforts to raise taxes? As a private citizen, "oppose" is just about all he's got...

Romney's been running the best campaign of the top tier candidates (fundraising, picking up support bases in key states, etc.). If America can get by the Mormon thing, he could be the right guy to nominate.

12 posted on 01/04/2007 8:20:38 PM PST by buckeyenation
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To: canadianally

ICE has already arrested people at National's meat-packing facilities:

http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/20061212/NEWS/61212028

Romney will most certainly be an open border or guest worker type, no? Otherwise why would he be using the services of the founder of National beef Packing Co....

Input anyone?


13 posted on 01/04/2007 8:22:45 PM PST by canadianally
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To: AmericanMade1776

Hey Mitt, a little lighter on the brylcreem, okay?


14 posted on 01/04/2007 8:25:11 PM PST by LiveFree99
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To: canadianally
Romney will most certainly be an open border or guest worker type, no?

Romney still has family living in Mexico. His father George Romney was born there. I guess he could just hire his relatives.

15 posted on 01/04/2007 8:25:21 PM PST by colorcountry (Remember: Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.)
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To: canadianally

Romney will most certainly be for what's most politically expedient at the moment. And that goes for everything, not just illegal immigration.


16 posted on 01/04/2007 8:28:46 PM PST by LiveFree99
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To: jdm

Good choice. I don't think Laramie would be wise. Manhattan would be better.


17 posted on 01/04/2007 10:56:29 PM PST by ZULU (Non nobis, non nobis Domine, sed nomini tuo da gloriam. God, guts and guns made America great.)
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