Posted on 04/02/2007 2:02:49 PM PDT by Unmarked Package
Like a lot of kids, I grew up thinking my Dad was Superman. And like most kids, in my teenage years, my view of him changed from Superman to Supernerd. But by age 16, I realized that my earlier view, though not totally realistic, was a lot closer to the truth. We continued to have occasional disagreements, and we still do. But I've come to realize how extraordinarily lucky I am to have Mitt Romney as my father. I also think that if elected, he would be one of our nation's most remarkable presidents.
I'll never forget one weekday sometime during July 1986 (burned in my memory as a magic year for a crazy Boston sports fan, with the Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox all making it to the championship games). I went fishing in an old row boat in Buzzard's Bay on Cape Cod. I threw the anchor overboard and dropped my fishing line. After catching a few fish, I realized I hadn't tied the anchor to the front of the boat.
I returned to the house with my fish and sheepishly informed my Dad, who had company from work at the house, that I had lost the anchor. He told me to go back out and find it. I told him something along the lines of, "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard – I can't find an anchor on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean."
Now my instinct as a parent of three would be to send my kid to his room for talking to me that way and then make him work to pay off a new anchor. His reaction was different. He excused himself from his friends, got dressed in his bathing suit, grabbed a snorkel mask, and took me down to the beach with him. For 45 minutes we rowed back and forth, putting our faces into the water to see if we could find the anchor. Amazingly, we did.
I learned three lessons that day. The first is that my Dad really is pretty frugal. There isn't much that bothers him more than wasting money. The second is that my Dad honestly believes he can overcome any challenge with enough hard work and ingenuity. And third, I learned that my Dad cares for me enough to spend his day looking for an anchor in the Atlantic Ocean. He didn't care so much about finding the anchor as he did about teaching me the first two lessons – being wise with money and not letting anything stand in my way.
I've seen that pattern repeat itself dozens of times in his life – at the Olympics, as Governor of Massachusetts, as a successful businessman, and as a father and husband.
When I vote for a Congressman or a Senator, I want someone who is going to be a strong representative for my conservative values. A thinker. A legislator.
But when I vote for President, I also want a doer. No-nonsense. Pragmatic. Proven. Someone who will be able to react quickly to any crises that arise, someone I trust to safeguard my family from threats abroad and threats from within.
I've seen my Dad in action, not just in one crisis, but in dozens. I don't think there is a person alive in whom I'm more confident in placing my trust.
Take a look back to 2002. That was the year he put on an incredible Winter Olympics with a $100M surplus (right after 9/11, and despite a major scandal that almost ruined the games before he took them over), won as a Republican Governor in an overwhelmingly Democratic state, and turned a $3B budget deficit into a surplus without raising taxes.
I recognize that all of that wouldn't matter so much if he were on the wrong side of the issues. We should want someone who not only will lead, but will lead us in the right direction.
Ask yourself who you want leading our nation over the next decade as we face the following challenges: a Jihadist enemy intent on destroying our way of life; liberal elites and activist judges attempting to break down the social values and norms that have existed for centuries; an exploding immigration problem; a serious threat to our status as economic and military superpower from Asia; a looming energy crisis; out-of-control spending in Washington.
What kind of person should we want to be leading our nation at this time of challenge and opportunity? The answer seems obvious – we want someone strong; someone who recognizes our challenges and is willing to deal with them head on; a fiscal conservative; a social conservative; someone whose personal integrity and moral values are unquestioned; someone who has been tested; someone who isn't a career politician; and someone who will get the job done.
There is only one person I believe can do all of that. There's no question that I'm biased—I love my Dad. But my love hasn't blinded me. Like Lincoln in 1860, Roosevelt in 1901, and Reagan in 1980, Mitt Romney is the right leader at the right time for our great nation. He may not be Superman. But he's close enough for me.
It’s always somebody else’s fault with Romney, ain’t it.
If he gave a rip about the Constitution he would have vetoed the bill and let the chips fall where they may. It’s as simple as that.
You are incredibly dishonest in your characterizations. 'Outflank Kennedy on the left????' You're just plain illogical. This is a campaign flyer listing Romney's positions on 24 issues - ALL to the right of Kennedy: Romney Never was a "Liberal" . . . No, not even close.
Stop misleading and distorting. You're doing everyone a disservice. It's a sign of bad character.
What would have happened if Romney had vetoed the bill?
Mitt will do well enough with the base once they learn more about his background and business and family. There is a lot to like in him. He would govern more consistently conservative than GWB, IMHO.
He must be! In fact, he uses both sides of his mouth!
It's irrelevent. He had a sworn duty to uphold the Constitution. As usual, he failed in that duty.
“Were he to be the nominee the media would display his church as a wacky, polygamous cult. “
So what... Bush is *Methodist* fer crying out loud and they make him seem like a cult member for beign too overtly christian.
“I’m sure the MSM would love a Muslim or former Muslim president...”
The Barck Hussein Obama boomlet continues...
Mitt’s on Hugh Hewitt NOW!!!!
I’m not sure what you mean . I’m not LDS and it’s truly not a big deal to me that Mitt is LDS .
I can’t wait for that ! I love good debates and Mitt sure seems fiesty in a debate .
Back in ‘96, I was salivating at the thought of Buchanan debating Klinton . It was of course a dream, and regardless of where you stand on Buchanan , it would have been great to see Buchanan debate the slickster .
Joining the NRA as part of setting up his Presidential run does not an RKBA supporter make. More like a John Effin Kerry style campaign flip-flop...
No Mitt. Never a gun grabber of any stripe. Ever. This is not negotiable.
Well just so you know, Mitt was the only candidate to attend the Shot Show this year , and was well recieved . The NSSF and the NRA appear to be quite comfortable with Romney .They of course have not endorsed anyone , but Mitt has made very good moves to show where he would preside on this issue .
It’s a very difficult proposition comparing what Mitt faced in Mass to the country as whole.
He actually pulled off pro-gun advancements in that bill . Would you rather he vetoed it , had it overidden and been stuck with no pro-gun provisions ?
The NRA backed that bill because it was as good as it was going to get , and Mitt pulled it off. Do you think a Dim would have done that ? No way ....
Who are you throwing your support to ?
I have mixed feelings on Gun control!
I believe one of the reasons for the Second Amendment was to protect citizens from an over dominating government...
Bravo!
I also think gun nuts like you should NOT be allow to own a gun because you guys are too consumed and obessed about it and make it harder to keep and bear arms!
No idea what that means. But that’s not unusual with your posts...
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