ComMITTed to Romney!

http://blog.electromneyin…3&more=1&page=1

In light of Mr. Novak’s piece this week, I feel that we should harken back to a blog I wrote last year about this very subject.

http://www.boston.com/new…for_guantanamo/

It looks that the Democrats are running a bit scared here, worrying about his “national ambitions”. Mr. Romney definitely has traction, and it would make sense for those who stand to lose because of his ideas to be a bit concerned.

http://www.spectator.org/…asp?art_id=9666

Here’s an article that you can actually read. Sorry about the previous one, I am still trying to get a copy of that Salem News article. But, enjoy this American Spectator Piece.

http://www.ecnnews.com/cg…0060418-+page_1

Well, I know it’s taken me a while to get this posted in full since the link does not take it to you, but without further adieu the full article.

By Claude R. Marx

Column for April 16

Will health care reform be Gov. Mtt Romney’s ticket to the White House while immigration prevents Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., from getting there?

Romney is basking in the triumph of his just-passed health insurance measure and can position himself as someone who has helped solve a problem that effects millions of Americans. By contrast, McCain is trying to solve a hot-button issue while angering some of his party’s hard-core conservatives.

The respective political standings of Romney and McCain reflect the contrasting dynamics of the two issues and highlight the differences between being a governor and a legislator.

After last week’s bill signing, Romney comes across as a pragmatic problem solver who can work with Democrats and a range of interest groups. That has been exactly what Americans have looked for when picking presidents.

Romney shed his image as an aloof executive who cared little about the day-to-day doings on Beacon Hill. Further, his compromise, while not thrilling to those on the far left or far right, is a quintessentially centrist approach. Should he win the White House, it might reinforce the adage expressed by an earlier Bay State governor, Michael Dukakis, that voters care more about competence than ideology. That’s how Bill Clinton and George W. Bush built their successful presidential campaigns.

Coupled with Romney’s experience as a businessman, his latest feat could make him appealing to party power brokers, activists and voters.

Even the fact that we don’t know how much the measure will cost probably won’t hurt the governor. When when the bills start coming in to the Bay State treasury, Romney will be long gone from office.

To paraphrase the sage philosopher Woody Allen: take the credit and run.

By contrast, McCain can’t seem to reap any political benefits from his work on immigration.

His bill, which he is working on with Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., is anathema to the very conservatives he is trying to woo in his White House run. Also, as a senator, McCain has little individual control over the outcome.

Further, the rules of the 100-member Senate are designed to make it difficult produce legislation. For example, a measure needs the support of 60 members to avoid being talked to death by filibuster.

The Senate is made up of prima donnas who are often more concerned with their political well- being than with passing legislation. This prompted former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole to say that his job �required more pleading than leading.”

Those dynamics are among the reasons why only two senators �Warren Harding and John F. Kennedy– have gone directly from that chamber to the White House.

Immigration is an especially difficult subject because of the emotional and economic issues involved. Even though the McCain-Kennedy measure has the support of some liberals, others on the left fear that having more foreigners willing to work for low wages will hurt American workers.

Consequently, McCain will have a hard time satisfying those who vote in Republican primaries and caucuses or the independent/liberal types who might support him in the general election. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place.

McCain’s troubles with immigration policy couldn’t come at a worse time for him. In addition to the national attention on the subject, his home state of Arizona has become Ground Zero in the battle over the issue. One U.S. House member from that state, Congressman J.D. Hayworth, R-Scottsdale, is a sponsor of one the most restrictive immigration-control bills. His measure would take a polar opposite to that of the McCain-Kennedy bill.

Last week’s massive demonstrations supporting that measure, and the equally strong opposition to it, show how sharply divided the public is on the issue. That’s why, by taking a lead role on the subject, McCain may be doing his White House prospects no favors.

The 2008 presidential election is a political lifetime away. The maneuvers of Romney and McCain on the key issues of health care and immigration could provide hints of how a possible intraparty contest between the two of them will play out.

Claude R. Marx writes a weekly column on politics. Contract him at crmarx@aol.com.

http://www.wfsb.com/Global/story.asp?S=4762631

Here’s a surprisingly long piece from TV station Eyewitness News 3 in Hartford CT. It really shines for Mr. Romney.

With Sincere Thanks to The Political Pit Bull here is Mr. Romney on today’s Your World With Neil Cavuto.

Click To Download The Video

http://abcnews.go.com/Hea…tory?id=1834807

As you can tell by this ABC NEWS graphic with corresponding ABC News article; health care is not just on the minds of Democrats, it’s on the minds of many Republicans as well. Mr. Romney and The Mass. Legislature’s plan has positive support across the board.

http://www.boston.com/new…_key_provision/

There we have it…it’s now official.

http://www.opinionjournal…ml?id=110008213

An editorial written by Mr. Romney himself about the health care plan recently passed in Massachusetts.

http://www.boston.com/new…igan_candidate/

In this piece from The Boston Globe via AP, Mr Romney was campaigning for Dick DeVos who is the Republican candidate for Governor of Mr. Romney’s home state of Michigan. In his stump speech he expounded on his immigration views.

Regarding immigration, Romney said U.S. borders should be made more secure to keep illegal immigrants from entering. He also said he opposed an amnesty program that would automatically grant citizenship to the approximately 11 million illegal immigrants already in this country.

“I think that route is not acceptable at this stage,” he said. “We should report illegal behavior.”

Instead, Romney said, illegal immigrants should be identified and required to apply for green cards, which would allow them to live and work in the United States. Those whose applications are accepted could stay, the rest would be returned to their native countries.