Posted on 12/26/2006 10:58:04 PM PST by circumbendibus
Terry O'Brien saw a flash of the man he 'd voted for in 2002 last summer, after the fatal ceiling collapse in the Interstate 90 connector tunnel. Governor Mitt Romney hurled himself at the problem, holding press conferences, touring the tunnel, and ordering a comprehensive safety inspection.
The crisis offered "a 10-minute view," O'Brien said, of the governor's keen managerial talent. It reminded O'Brien of Candidate Romney, the energetic campaigner bursting with determination to root out waste in government and kick the Massachusetts economy into high gear.
"You always felt that he had the capacity to do great things," said O'Brien, 44, an undeclared voter from Wrentham. "But I think unfortunately, as soon as he came into the state, he was elsewhere."
As Romney prepares to leave the State House and concentrate on a possible run for the presidency, Massachusetts voters are experiencing a range of emotions. "Glee!" is how one woman expressed her feelings about seeing him go. There is also hope that he will succeed in a quest for higher office, as well as gratitude for his service, and disappointment with what he left undone.
But interviews with more than three dozen voters last week most strikingly revealed a wistfulness among those who voted for the governor and even those who did not. Many saw huge potential in Romney, a smart business executive with few connections to the clannish Massachusetts establishment, when he took office four years ago. Looking back, they wondered what he might have accomplished, had his ambition to run for president not overshadowed his term as governor.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
Is this the same Globe that glorified Kerry at every opportunity while ignoring the wealth of evidence that he was inflating is military service?
This is the third or fourth attack on Romney by the Globe since the election.
There was a Hugh Hewitt commentary posted this past Friday but unfortunately I cannot find the link. However, Hugh Hewitt basically stated that we can use the MSM as a divining rod to find the real conservative candidates because that is whom the MSM will attack. You will note that there are very few hit pieces on John McCain.
I'm sure the Globe will run an attack every day while Romney is a contender. The Washington post did the same against Allen.
These media outlets are so obvious, they are laughable.
This IS The Boston Globe, folks. More liberal than the NYT, run by the same people.
"Let me add to your post.
Mitt did all you said in the last half of 2006, plus he did little to support the Repub candidate for Gov. How could he when he was out of the state 200 plus day of 06."
I disagree. Romney actively and effectively opposed the expansion of privileges to illegal immigrants throughout his term (if you don't believe me, wait and see what happens in Jan. and Feb, when the tide is unleashed). He has tried to oppose the extraconstitutional creation of a "right" to gay marriage since it started, and has been handcuffed by an 85% Democrat legislature that does exactly what the bought-off leadership tells it to do or not do, plus an Attorney General running for the Corner Office with lots of gay backing, refusing to file his legal actions. He spent his ENTIRE administration, from Day One, attempting to wrest control of the Turnpike Authority away from the legislature, which continued to use chicanery to deny him his constituional appointment power to control that Board; they were scheduled to extend their hegemony over that board on the day after the tunnel dropped 3 tons of concrete on a lady, so they decided they'd better try to disassociate themselves from that "tar baby". Anyone who thinks Mitt is not a fairly classic Conservative on economics and Government spending is going to have to look at his fiscal policies since the beginning of his administration and explain to me how all the major budget cuts that took a budget from shortfall and crisis to surplus and fighting over how to spend the new rainy-day funds on the legislature's cousins' phony-ass no-show jobs make him a liberal. I don't see it, but then, I'm still on my first cup of coffee.
As for supporting Kerry Healey's campaign, I believe he correctly perceived that 1) his coattails were only an asset to her with people whose support she already had, since there was no more conservative candidate running against her, 2) her more liberal stances on abortion and gay marriage were not going to help him out with you guys, and 3) she desperately needed to be seen as her own woman, out from under his shadow. He did allow and encourage her to take the point in the last year on a number of crucial issues, where he stood back and let her run the battle. (She organized and won a last-minute blitzkrieg against a legislative attempt to gut an anti-drunk driving bill, and also beat back an attempt to require in-state tuition for illegal aliens at state colleges.) That helped her more than standing next to her would have done.
Say what you will, but Mitt has been a lot more consistent than people on this site think he's been. Take a fair look at him. Resist the tempatation to stereotype him as another damn Northeast Liberal. He's a solid American carpetbagger from Michigan and Utah. (Hope I got that right; I know I'll get corrected if I'm wrong).
Yes I saw the Hugh Hewitt commentary to which you refer. The MSM is trying to make the news rather than report it. That is why it is going to take a lot of money for Republican candidates to win the primaries and the election. They must clearly define themselves and not leave it up to the MSM, who fawn over Democrat empty suits like Obama and empty pantsuits like the Hildebeast.
"I am not impressed by your list Mitt accomplishments which are not, when you consider he could have run again and kept trying to do what you say he worked on."
I'm confused. Are you saying he shouldn't run for President because he didn't run for Governor again? If he did that, how would he ever run for Pres.?
"You ignored his socialized medical plan for the state,"
Yes, I did. I think it was a mistake, but I'm waiting to see. If you look at it, it looks to me like an attempt to keep a privatized system while requiring that everyone get insurance, in order to stop the escalation of medical costs that occurs when people use Emergency rooms as doctor's offices. I'm very leery of the unintended consequences, but I honestly don't think its' intent or thrust is socialized medicine.
"he gave the SP the power to arrest illegals, one month before his departure date, an order he could have done two years ago."
Incorrect. He had to complete negotiations with the Feds in order to bve sure that he would not be overturned in the courts. One consistent characteristic of Mitt is that he won't try to do something until he's made certain that he won't be outflanked on Constitutional grounds. Soemtimes I think he's overcautious in this regard, but he is consistent.
"How do justify his budget [cuts] actions one hand then claim on the other hand he was working against all these Libs?"
Umm.. not sure what you mean. He was exercising fiscal reponsibility by cutting expenditures to live within the state's means, promoting long-term growth, avoiding tax increases, and fighting for tax reductions, so that people could keep more of their money, invest it in growth and consumption, making a healthier economy. Maybe I'm stupid. I thought that was what supply-side economics was about. Sure, his success was limited, but YOU try reining in a 85% Dem legislature and see what you meet with.
"He let her, Muffy, take the point, IE he was out of planning his run."
I don't think you read what I wrote. Can you explain to me how Mitt's letting Muffie take the point on 2 key successful and popular battles did not help her candidacy? Do you honestly think that Mitt getting out and stumping for her in Framingham and Revere would have put her over the top? Because I can tell you it wouldn't have. His popularity ratings here in the land of the Hammer and Sickle weren't too great. He was seen by the genreal poulation here as too conservative for them. He was also too conservative on social issues for the image Healey was trying to push.
"MITT IS A RINO"
As I've said elsewhere, I don't agree with him on everything, and there are areas where he is more liberal than I am. What I'm not liking here is a tendency toward a facile dismissiveness based on region that ignores the facts. I will oppose McCain wholoehartedly, but on the basis of actual facts of his conduct and public utterances, not an emotional reflex.
It might help me to know if you are from the MA area or not. Maybe you know more facts about Romney than you've shown me. If so, please share them.
I heard on the Mark Levin radio show that the NYT newspaper group may be bought out soon. Do you know anything about this?
Excellent point-by-point analysis regarding posts from tiger-one!
In your opinion, will the incoming governor be able to overturn the deal that Mitt set up with the Feds to stem illegal immigration using Mass State Troopers?
I am with you completely on your analysis.
People who have not had the opportunity to see him close up (as we in Massachusetts have had the opportunity to do) tend to dismiss him as a "Breck Girl" RINO phoney.
He is one of the most thoughtful and genuine people holding office, as far as I can tell, and I have had the opportunity to see and hear him in person.
I would take him over any other Republican candidate out there, because I do not think any of them can win. McCain might be able to, but that would be a tragedy for this nation (albeit not as bas as a Clinton victory)
All the candidates I see are fatally flawed Bob Dole (although more conservative in some cases) clones. (And this is no knock on Bob Dole...he served his country well, but no way he should have been a presidential candidate, although I voted for him)
"In your opinion, will the incoming governor be able to overturn the deal that Mitt set up with the Feds to stem illegal immigration using Mass State Troopers?"
I'm taking 20 minutes in the betting pool. He has said that he will, and he is best known for not saying anything about what he thinks or will do. Maine's Baldacci is trying to make it illegal to enforce the law, too.
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