Romney embraces change
DERRY, N.H --- Mitt Romney grabbed the mantle of change today, painting John McCain as an ossified creature of Washington and making the case that he alone can harness voters’ desire for change and beat Barack Obama in a general election.
He had a new stump speech, a new blue sign on the wall that read "Washington is Broken," and a new prop - an oversized sign on an easel that read "To Do," with a list of his top priorities and blank spaces, which he asked the audience to fill in with their own ideas.
He was noticeably more animated on the stage, his voice rising and falling and at one point he brought people to their feet in applause -- a rarity at Romney's typically subdued events.
Trying to beat back McCain, the 71-year-old senator and 25-year veteran of Congress, Romney made several references to the problem of "old faces" in Washington, who he compared to "a broken down automobile clunker that you have to push in the station and say, 'Can you fix this for me?'"
"We’ve got to fix Washington," Romney told about 250 people at Pinkerton Academy. "Sending back the same old people just in different chairs is not going to fix Washington. They’ve been saying they’ve been fighting and fighting and fighting for years, they have new ideas. But it’s the same people. Their ideas have not worked. I will get that job done."
"Now is there anybody here who agrees with me that Washington is badly broken?" he asked. "Please show it by your hands," he said, drawing applause as hands shot up. "Looks like we have a pretty good consensus on that."
"You‘ve got the tools!" someone shouted from the audience.
"I've got the tools, I agree," Romney said. " It seems like there's some agreement on that. Now I'm going to turn to you with that in mind and ask you either if you have questions about what I’d do about any one of those or you have some others you think we ought to put on the list and we'll make sure we'll keep adding this list of things that show Washington is broken and how we need new faces and new voices there."
He also sized up the Iowa caucus results as a mandate for change.
"There were a couple of people whose prospects coming out of that election I think took a big hit, and it was a message I read into those votes, and that is Hillary Clinton, who's been around Washington forever, and John McCain, who's been there even longer, those two were handily rejected by people who had messages of change, with new faces and new ideas," Romney said. "Governor Huckabee and myself, people from the outside. Barack Obama talking about change, because the American people recognize we're not going to change Washington by sending back the same old faces and just have them change chairs. We have to have new people."
Romney also took on Obama, saying he did not have the experience to bring about change in Washington.
"We cannot afford Barack Obama as the next president," Romney said. "He's a very nice fellow and he's a well-spoken fellow, but he's never done it. It's one thing to say it. It's another thing to do it. I hear all these folks out here with all these folks with their good talk. I have done it. I will do it again and I will do it for the people of America."
He also poached one of McCain’s favorite issues -- pork in Washington, mentioning McCain’s favorite target, the so-called "Bridge to Nowhere." Without mentioning McCain by name, he said pork "makes a great rallying cry...but somehow it’s always there."
He also likened Washington to a broken down old car.
"It is almost a broken down automobile clunker that you have to push in the station and say, ‘Can you fix this for me?’" he asked. "The difference is we have been pushing that clunker into the same garage year after year after year and the repairmen say, ‘Oh, sure we can take care of that. It's no problem at all,’ but they give it back to us in the exactly the same condition where we got it. Wish we had a lemon law, by the way, that says we can get our money back after the taxes we've sent there for them to fix our problems."
Mitt Romney's exceptional ability to pander continues to amaze me. This guy has absolutely no integrity whatsoever! He'll pander to anyone about anything!! It's actually very impressive that he can go one day with one message, the next day with another, and all the while pretend like he's someone you should place your trust in.
Give me a break, Mitt. In fact, give America a break Mitt. Your style of politics is out of fashion.
Mitt Romney's exceptional ability to pander continues to amaze me. This guy has absolutely no integrity whatsoever! He'll pander to anyone about anything!! It's actually very impressive that he can go one day with one message, the next day with another, and all the while pretend like he's someone you should place your trust in.
Give me a break, Mitt. In fact, give America a break Mitt. Your style of politics is out of fashion.
He's always talked about being a Washington outsider. The media just doesn't mention as much as they like to mention his changes in his positions. Romney has the experience, the capability and the energy to bring change to Washington... period.
He's always talked about being a Washington outsider. The media just doesn't mention it as much as they like to mention his changes in his positions. Romney has the experience, the capability and the energy to bring change to Washington... period.
Romney - a man with vision and hope for the future - add to that the ability and intelligence to transform that vision and optimism to lead this country into a better future and out of the present economic and security issues that face us. Romney is light years ahead of all the other candidates. Mitt Romney has my vote for President of the United States of America. Go Mitt!!!
Romney will say anything to win the presidency. He talked about Obama not having experience... but Romney was governor of Mass. for only 4 years! If Romney wins, he'll be just like Bush and will screw this country up even more than it is now.
MItt Romney is not a panderer. He has so much experience and talent that he can talk about all issues with knowlege and hands on experience. He can reach into every issue and make sense of the challenge and the remedy. He is the whole package. He doesn't have to talk JUST about foreign affairs, or immigration, or economics. He can talk about all of them and has experience in all areas. Some candidates run on "a" strength (McCain foreign affairs, Huckabee religion) but Mitt Romney runs on many strengths. He has been in the race and at the top the entire year. There is a reason for that. He attracts the interests and knows the needs of the masses not just a specialize group. He will be the strongest, most effective leaders of all. His capacity for bringing change is real not just talk.
He has a record as a great leader in business.
He has a record as a great leader for the Olympics.
He has a record of bringing about positive change as a Govenor
He is a great example in the home as husband and father.
He is a caring leader in his faith.
Romney is the candidate fought against the most by other GOP candidates because of the record he holds as a leader. He has been a lead GOP candidate the entire year. McCain was in then out then in again, Huckabee was out and then in, Guiliani was in and now out. Fred was out, in and out. Romney is the real deal. Talk about being consistant....this year shows who has remained consistent in the minds of the voters. The other candidates are good in one way or another, but they lack the "depth" needed to run a nation. Even the media has tried their best to remove the truth from Romney's outstanding record and accomplishments. One man against them all.....such a battle to win.
Romney hands down has the widest range of experience working all over the nation and around the world in various business settings. McCain might have some experience in the Senate and Huckabee has had a little in Arkansas, but Mitt Romney tops both of them. You just can't get around the fact that he has been very successful in business his whole life. You can use all the smear tactics you want, calling him every name in the book, but you can't refute the real facts that would make him a very good candidate for president
Romney hands down has the widest range of experience working all over the nation and around the world in various business settings. McCain might have some experience in the Senate and Huckabee has had a little in Arkansas, but Mitt Romney tops both of them. You just can't get around the fact that he has been very successful in business his whole life. You can use all the smear tactics you want, calling him every name in the book, but you can't refute the real facts that would make him a very good candidate for president
Mitt Romney is defineteky the Man. Huckabee;s Shamnesty is deplorable, he will only bring more illegal immigration, by having them return for 1 day and come back with papers in hand. That is what he said it would take to get back to the line. It would only take one day for the illegals to retirn. He voted for amnesty and giving free tuition to illegals. How can we as taxpayers afford anymore of this??
Democrats will do the same. Huca bee by the way Never went to Theology Scholl and such a Self ordained minister. He has no crdentials as such. Never before was a president voted because of his religion, why him? We need a president who can deal with all aspects of the job, and that my friends is Mitt Romney!
Well, when all the tools in town are on your side ...
Listen, the idea that a Harvard MBA and a $300 million net worth makes you qualified to run the USA is pretty weak. There are many thousands of rich businessmen who have succeeded at much harder business challenges than Mitt Romney has; but that doesn't meant that they or he represent America. Being a fat cat is one narrow point of view, and it happens to be one of the narrow points of view that is hardest for those who hold it to break out of.
Washington is broken, huh, but Wall Street is just fine? Hey, fat cats made the dot com bubble. Fat cats made the mortgage banking crisis. Tax breaks for fat cats created our huge national debt. Companies run by fat cats cause acid rain and global warming and the depletion of the world's fisheries. Fat cats are the only people on earth who benefit from our misbegotten war in Iraq. One of the good things that democracy does is act as a check and balance on the fat cats. They run the economy; things always seem to work out better when they don't run the government too. We don't need a cleaned-up and botoxed Dick Cheney for our next president; nor do we need anyone whose real religion is worshiping, alternately, the almighty dollar and his own reflection. And we don't need a guy with the bald-faced gall to call himself an agent of change when in reality all he intends to do is continue and extend the same destructive policies that have earned George Bush the lowest approval ratings since Dick Nixon, and the second lowest in history.
Change? Now it's change, suddenly? No, this isn't change, this is the same old B.S. artist we all know so well -- a guy who wouldn't know a principle if it walked up and poured Grecian Formula 16 down the front of his blue suit. Strap your dog to the roof and go varmint hunting, Mitt, and leave us alone.
Well, when all the tools in town are on your side ...
Listen, the idea that a Harvard MBA and a $300 million net worth makes you qualified to run the USA is pretty weak. There are many thousands of rich businessmen who have succeeded at much harder business challenges than Mitt Romney has; but that doesn't meant that they or he represent America. Being a fat cat is one narrow point of view, and it happens to be one of the narrow points of view that is hardest for those who hold it to break out of.
Washington is broken, huh, but Wall Street is just fine? Hey, fat cats made the dot com bubble. Fat cats made the mortgage banking crisis. Tax breaks for fat cats created our huge national debt. Companies run by fat cats cause acid rain and global warming and the depletion of the world's fisheries. Fat cats are the only people on earth who benefit from our misbegotten war in Iraq. One of the good things that democracy does is act as a check and balance on the fat cats. They run the economy; things always seem to work out better when they don't run the government too. We don't need a cleaned-up and botoxed Dick Cheney for our next president; nor do we need anyone whose real religion is worshiping, alternately, the almighty dollar and his own reflection. And we don't need a guy with the bald-faced gall to call himself an agent of change when in reality all he intends to do is continue and extend the same destructive policies that have earned George Bush the lowest approval ratings since Dick Nixon, and the second lowest in history.
Change? Now it's change, suddenly? No, this isn't change, this is the same old B.S. artist we all know so well -- a guy who wouldn't know a principle if it walked up and poured Grecian Formula 16 down the front of his blue suit. Strap your dog to the roof and go varmint hunting, Mitt, and leave us alone.
If you want the same old Washington then vote for Clinton. Remember what the Democrats told us 2 years ago and even with having the majority in Congress nothing has changed. We need a new direction and Mitt Romney is the only logical choice to do the job that the others are afraid to do
This from Doctor D:
If you look through the smoke screen and look at the facts, Mitt Romney already has more delegates committed to him than Huckabee or McCain. Follow the numbers:
Iowa has 40 Delegates, Wyoming 12 Delegates, New Hampshire 12 Delegates.
RESULTS OF IOWA AND WYOMING:
Huckabee: 34% Iowa (14 delegates); 0% Wyoming (0 delegates): Total 14 delegates.
Romney: 25% Iowa (10 delegates); 73% Wyoming (8 delegates): Total 18 delegates.
McCain: 13% Iowa (5 delegates); 0% Wyoming (0 delegates): Total 5 delegates.
PROJECTION OF NEW HAMPSHIRE (CNN POLL) New Hampshire 12 Delegates. Lets now look at the current projections for New Hampshire. Total delegates 12.
If one uses a recent poll McCain is 33%, Romney 27%, Huckabee 11%. Lets add these to the above and see what emerges:
Huckabee 11% New Hampshire (1 delegate).
GRAND TOTAL: 15 delegates,
McCain 33% New Hampshire (4 delegates). GRAND TOTALL 4 delegates.
ROMNEY 27% New Hampshire (3 delegates) GRAND TOTAL: 23 delegates,
IT SEEMS THAT ROMNEY IS LEADING IN THE DELEGATE COUNT!
Doctor D
This from Dr. D:
If you look through the smoke screen and look at the facts, Mitt Romney already has more delegates committed to him than Huckabee or McCain. Follow the numbers:
Iowa has 40 Delegates, Wyoming 12 Delegates, New Hampshire 12 Delegates.
RESULTS OF IOWA AND WYOMING:
Huckabee: 34% Iowa (14 delegates); 0% Wyoming (0 delegates): Total 14 delegates.
Romney: 25% Iowa (10 delegates); 73% Wyoming (8 delegates): Total 18 delegates.
McCain: 13% Iowa (5 delegates); 0% Wyoming (0 delegates): Total 5 delegates.
PROJECTION OF NEW HAMPSHIRE (CNN POLL) New Hampshire 12 Delegates. Lets now look at the current projections for New Hampshire. Total delegates 12.
If one uses a recent poll McCain is 33%, Romney 27%, Huckabee 11%. Lets add these to the above and see what emerges:
Huckabee 11% New Hampshire (1 delegate).
GRAND TOTAL: 15 delegates,
McCain 33% New Hampshire (4 delegates). GRAND TOTALL 4 delegates.
ROMNEY 27% New Hampshire (3 delegates) GRAND TOTAL: 23 delegates,
IT SEEMS THAT ROMNEY IS LEADING IN THE DELEGATE COUNT!
Doctor D
Those of you looking for a bowling buddy or someone who thinks "like you" need to think again!
The leader of the free world need to think much better than you do. The leader of the Free World needs to be first-class educated in this day and age. We can't have a backwoods boy with all his childhood prejudices attempting to grasp the nuances of international issues and treaties. We need someone who has paid the price of preparation with careful schooling, even though he is not as easy a schmoozer as you would like to go fishing with.
You need to get over thinking that good hair equals slickness and that a nice family equals "not real."
If you look through the smoke screen and look at the facts, Mitt Romney already has more delegates committed to him than Huckabee or McCain. Follow the numbers:
Iowa has 40 Delegates, Wyoming 12 Delegates, New Hampshire 12 Delegates.
RESULTS OF IOWA AND WYOMING:
Huckabee: 34% Iowa (14 delegates); 0% Wyoming (0 delegates): Total 14 delegates.
Romney: 25% Iowa (10 delegates); 73% Wyoming (8 delegates): Total 18 delegates.
McCain: 13% Iowa (5 delegates); 0% Wyoming (0 delegates): Total 5 delegates.
PROJECTION OF NEW HAMPSHIRE (CNN POLL) New Hampshire 12 Delegates. Lets now look at the current projections for New Hampshire. Total delegates 12.
If one uses a recent poll McCain is 33%, Romney 27%, Huckabee 11%. Lets add these to the above and see what emerges:
Huckabee 11% New Hampshire (1 delegate).
GRAND TOTAL: 15 delegates,
McCain 33% New Hampshire (4 delegates). GRAND TOTALL 4 delegates.
ROMNEY 27% New Hampshire (3 delegates) GRAND TOTAL: 23 delegates,
IT SEEMS THAT ROMNEY IS LEADING IN THE DELEGATE COUNT!
Doctor D
Romney is the man.If in the national election the two candidates only running are McCain and Obama iam not voting and I have not Miss the national president election for the last 50 years butI will stay home and pray for our country.
A civil defense corps minuteman and Korean war veteran but more important a U.S.citizen
Romney has vision for America. He has fixed businesses , fixed the olympics, fixed mass. He can fix Washington.
Mitt Romney for President! Out of all the Candidates I see Mitt Romney as the only one for the job. Romney has is a man of integrity who sincerely cares about this country. I can understand what he says because he speaks to the people in simple words; unlike other political figures who dance around a questions all the while disguising themselves in phony confidence. Mitt Romney is exact; we need exacty. He'll do what he says and I like what he says.
Mitt Romney for President! Out of all the Candidates I see Mitt Romney as the only one for the job. Romney has is a man of integrity who sincerely cares about this country. I can understand what he says because he speaks to the people in simple words; unlike other political figures who dance around a questions all the while disguising themselves in phony confidence. Mitt Romney is exact; we need exacty. He'll do what he says and I like what he says.
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