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)
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.
Tradition, meaning: absolutely no good reason at all.
I would vote for Romney over any Democrat that might run, and some Republicans who might run.
Economic & Foreign-policy conservative BUMP!
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)
"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
I'm glad to see Romney among the contenders. The more the better right now, imo.
"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.
"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.
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?).
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.
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?
Hey Mitt, a little lighter on the brylcreem, okay?
Romney still has family living in Mexico. His father George Romney was born there. I guess he could just hire his relatives.
Romney will most certainly be for what's most politically expedient at the moment. And that goes for everything, not just illegal immigration.
Good choice. I don't think Laramie would be wise. Manhattan would be better.
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