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Romney: Smartest guy in the room (Romney, not Thompson the one to watch today)
Chicago Tribune ^ | 10/8/07 | Tim Jones

Posted on 10/09/2007 11:40:55 AM PDT by teddyballgame

Among all the Republican candidates for president, the chronically striving Romney might be the smartest guy in the room. Armed with a law degree and a master's of business administration from Harvard, he's the well-prepped answer man on health care and immigration, and quick-draw responder to the urgent events of the media moment. Staples would be one of the great American business success stories. It's an $18 billion company with 1,700 stores. Christensen, now a professor at Harvard Business School, describes Romney as "a great helicopter pilot. He can go down to the level of detail to see what a person needs and can go up to see the big picture and then fly away when he has the right people in place," Christensen said.

Romney's personal wealth, now estimated at up to $250 million, soared on the wings of his success.

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: debate; electionpresident; elections; gopdebates; mi2008; romney
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To: teddyballgame
Citing his proven record of results, Mitt received another endorsement today. Romney has the support of more Republican elected and grassroots officials in Michigan than any other Republican presidential candidate.

Former Lt. Governor of Michigan Connie Binsfeld Endorses Governor Mitt Romney:
“Governor Romney is the leader our country needs,” said Lt. Governor Binsfeld. “He is committed to strengthening our economy and adding jobs to the workforce, critical issues for the people of Michigan. Additionally, Governor Romney has a proven record on the issues facing our nation. He’ll keep taxes low, cut government spending, and reform healthcare. With Governor Romney, Americans know they have an exceptional leader with a proven record of results.”
http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/48734401_mitt_romney_mitt_romney_former_lt_governor_michigan_connie_binsfeld_endorses_governor_mitt_

Romney Leading Endorsements

81 posted on 10/09/2007 12:48:56 PM PDT by redgirlinabluestate (Mitt = Newt-like brilliance without the baggage)
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To: teddyballgame
There are thousands of liberal university professors who have a very high IQ, higher than any GOP or Democrat candidate I'm sure, but I don't want any one of them as my President and I don't want Mitt either. There are also many successful business men who run companies and corporations competently, but I don't want any of them as president either unless they fit the conservative pattern of the president I want.

Intelligence and a record of success are pluses for a presidential candidate, but traits such as high moral character and where a candidate stands on the liberal to conservative political spectrum are more important to me. Mitt's newly found "conservatism" doesn't fit well with his recent liberal record on 2nd Amendment rights, bogus homosexual "rights", and right to life issues. I will reluctantly vote for him if he's the GOP nominee, but I won't vote for him in the primary. If he should then win the Presidency in the general election (very doubtful) I don't have any favorable expectations for his administration.

82 posted on 10/09/2007 12:48:59 PM PDT by epow ("The best we can hope for the people is that they be suitably armed" Alexander Hamilton)
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To: teddyballgame

This is the first debate that I will watch. Romney and Rudy have a long way to go to convince me that they are conservative.


83 posted on 10/09/2007 12:49:12 PM PDT by linn37 (Phlebotomists need love too.)
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To: Nav_Mom
Perhaps "both have eluded to the..." yet each have not signed on to the media blitz and phony "news" each and every day that "it will be Hillary" and "only someone who agrees with Hillary" has a snowball's chance in Hell to win!

That is pure defeatest attitude on the part of the RINOs and dims who only want a liberal for president.

84 posted on 10/09/2007 12:49:45 PM PDT by zerosix (Native Sunflower)
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To: Badeye

“Actually, I think all eyes will be on the candidate that bitch slaps chrissy mathews repeatedly tonight.”

Matthews is expecting at least 3 candidates to challenge him. He’s prepared for it. He was asked about it, and admitted that he had responses already planned out.

Expect him to say something along the lines of “This debate is not about me, it’s about you, and if you’re prepared to be President of the United States. Attacking the moderator instead of taking the opportunity to address actual issues of importance to this nation speaks volumes about your preparedness for the job.”

I hope none of the candidates fall into this trap. Of course, Matthews is incredibly likely to overplay it and seem like a pompous moron, so I guess it’s 50:50 whether this would play to a candidates advantage or not.


85 posted on 10/09/2007 12:50:58 PM PDT by COgamer
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To: misterrob
Saw him on TV talking about it[CFR]...

When Thompson was talking on TV, did he mention his 2003 brief to SCOTUS, defending the provisions of McCain-Feingold? Or has Thompson flip-flopped since then?


86 posted on 10/09/2007 12:53:35 PM PDT by Plutarch
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To: zerosix
zerosix writes:”That is pure defeatest attitude on the part of the RINOs and dims who only want a liberal for president”

Nav_mom responds: errrrrrr If Hillary wins we will have a Liberal President!
Hello?

87 posted on 10/09/2007 12:55:07 PM PDT by Nav_Mom
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To: Swordfished
Comparing Romney to Nagan in business is a reasonable comparison. However, Nagan can’t run a city much less a state.
88 posted on 10/09/2007 12:56:07 PM PDT by mtnwmn (mtnwmn)
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To: Plutarch

This was in the past 6 months. When he was asked about it he explained his reasons for supporting the idea and why he felt it was a mistake given the outcome. Seemed reasonable to me. I supported Bush but given how he’s turned out a President I guess I’m a flip-flopper for saying that was a mistake on my part, no?


89 posted on 10/09/2007 12:57:22 PM PDT by misterrob (Five down, 14 more til the Pats win the SB again.)
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To: broncobilly
I’m all for denigrating Jimmy Carter at (almost) every opportunity. But the truth is that Carter graduated from The Naval Academy with a degree in physics, and then took graduate courses at Union College in reactor technology and nuclear physics. I would never deny that Carter was smart in an intellectual way. He simply didn’t have much common sense, and he had no understanding of the basic principles of economics and management.
90 posted on 10/09/2007 12:58:31 PM PDT by riverdawg
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To: COgamer

If they respond back to him by grabbing a hankie and wiping their face and then asking him not to spit then they win the night.


91 posted on 10/09/2007 12:58:50 PM PDT by misterrob (Five down, 14 more til the Pats win the SB again.)
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To: epow
...but traits such as high moral character and where a candidate stands on the liberal to conservative political spectrum...

Romney's personal life, business career and Government service have been exemplary as far as moral character is concerned. There is nary a hint of scandal or taint. Romney is criticized for his liberal/conservative stances, but that is not to be confounded with moral character.

92 posted on 10/09/2007 12:59:41 PM PDT by Plutarch
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To: teddyballgame
it bolsters my argument, that Romney has shown leadership and success in the private sector.

Success in business doesn't tell me anything about a man's moral character or his position on the political spectrum. Bill Gates is apparently an excellent businessman if judged by financial success, but his political views are right in line with the Democrat leftwingers.

93 posted on 10/09/2007 1:05:29 PM PDT by epow ("The best we can hope for the people is that they be suitably armed" Alexander Hamilton)
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To: RC2

OK. In this model, did he pick the people around him or did they ‘get there by themselves’? If he didn’t pick them, would it then be accurate to say that without him, they’d be nothing (or less fruitful)?


94 posted on 10/09/2007 1:06:39 PM PDT by definitelynotaliberal
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To: misterrob
When he was asked about it he explained his reasons for supporting the idea and why he felt it was a mistake given the outcome.

Well, you said you heard something, so I guess that settles it. Alternatively, you can listen to the Audio of Laura Ingraham interview (go to 9:40 min), in which FDT mainly apologizes for CFR, and does not agree when Laura says asks if it was a "mistake". And then there is that brief to SCOTUS, in which he seeks to further the baleful speech squelching McCain-Feingold.

95 posted on 10/09/2007 1:13:53 PM PDT by Plutarch
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To: Plutarch
Romney is criticized for his liberal/conservative stances, but that is not to be confounded with moral character.

People with good moral character support and defend the right to life of all conceived human beings whenever and wherever possible. Romney's record as MA governor and his statements on the issue as candidate for that office don't indicate a high degree of moral character AFAIC.

96 posted on 10/09/2007 1:18:28 PM PDT by epow ("The best we can hope for the people is that they be suitably armed" Alexander Hamilton)
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To: teddyballgame
No we’re equating Romney to Ray Nagin?!? This why Free Republic drives me nuts some times.

Hey, you're the one hammering on the "success in private business" angle. The fact is that Nagin created a lot of buzz when he first ran for mayor, due to the fact that he had a successful business background - unlike the string of career politicians that had preceded him in that office.

I'm not equating anyone to anyone... I'm simply offering the comment as a cautionary tale. A past which includes good performance in the private sector is *nice*, but ultimately meaningless when it comes down to predicting what sort of executive a candidate might become. The guy with the slickest resume' can turn out to be a real turd.

97 posted on 10/09/2007 1:43:28 PM PDT by Charles Martel (The Tree of Liberty thirsts.)
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To: epow
People with good moral character support and defend the right to life of all conceived human beings whenever and wherever possible.

Pro-Life is a principled and correct ideological and political position, but it differs from personal moral character. A politician's ideological positions can be exemplary, but he can be a scoundrel. Likewise, a paragon of personal virtue might be less than 100% conservative on social issues.

98 posted on 10/09/2007 1:55:36 PM PDT by Plutarch
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To: Nav_Mom
If Rudy, Mitt or Thompson win, we will ALSO have a liberal for Pres, for whom (some) Republicans will have voted. Just as in W (disclosure: I KNEW he desired "rights" for illegals but held my nose and voted anyway - I got what I voted for, yet didn't want)Republicans will have backed one of these liberals with whom they also disagree.

Where do we go to complain or lodge our disagreements, they will merely ignore us (as does Bush), tell us to go back to what we were doing, THEY are President and they'll do as they please and told us they would before the election - after all WE voted them into office KNOWING their liberal ideas beforehand!

99 posted on 10/09/2007 2:12:04 PM PDT by zerosix (Native Sunflower)
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To: epow
Romney's record as MA governor and his statements on the issue as candidate for that office don't indicate a high degree of moral character AFAIC.

Where have you been? How did you miss this the first 50 times I posted it?

Governor Romney was presented with legislation concerning life issues on several occasions from the 85% majority Democrat Legislature in Massachusetts. In every instance he took the pro-life position by vetoing bills or lobbying for the pro-life approach, including the following actions:

---He vetoed the bill providing state funding for human embryonic stem cell research (Theo Emery, "Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney Vetoes Stem Cell Bill," The Associated Press, 5/27/05)

--- He vetoed a bill that provided for the "morning after pill" without a prescription because it is an abortifacient and would have been available to minors without parental notification and consent (Governor Mitt Romney, Op-Ed, "Why I Vetoed The Contraception Bill," The Boston Globe, 7/26/05)

---He vetoed legislation which would have redefined Massachusetts longstanding definition of the beginning of human life from fertilization to implantation (Governor Mitt Romney, Letter To The Massachusetts State Senate And House Of Representatives, 5/12/05)

---He supported parental notification laws and opposed efforts to weaken parental involvement (John McElhenny, "O'Brien And Romney Spar In Last Debate Before Election," The Associated Press, 10/29/02)

---He fought to promote abstinence education in public school classrooms with a program offered by faith-based Boston group Healthy Futures to middle school students. Gov. Romney's administration was the first in Massachusetts to use federal abstinence education funds for classroom programs. (Office Of Governor Mitt Romney, Romney Announces Award of Abstinence Education Contract, April 20, 2006)
Catch a clue -- review the actual record.

With all due respect to you, I think I'll go with the opinions of those directly involved in the pro-life and pro-family movements -- those who actually know Mitt, and do trust him and believe he has the highest of moral character.

I feel very comfortable trusting in individuals who have endorsed Mitt, like James Bopp, Jr., Peter Flaherty, David French, Charles Mitchell, Jay Sekulow, Jim DeMint, Pete Hoekstra, Wendy Long etc...

100 posted on 10/09/2007 5:19:34 PM PDT by redgirlinabluestate (Mitt = Newt-like brilliance without the baggage)
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