comMITTed to Romney!

All eyes are on Utah this weekend as voters get ready to cast their ballots this Tuesday, June 24. The race between incumbent Chris Cannon and Jason Chaffetz is getting national attention because the stakes are so high and because the race is a surrogate referendum on whether we start drilling for domestic oil and wean ourselves from our dangerous dependence on foreign oil and whether we will finally secure our borders and insist that our immigration policies will be guided by the rule of law.

If you want to see these positions upheld in Congress and you live in Utah’s 3rd Congressional District, please be sure you vote for Jason Chaffetz and bring along 2 or 3 like minded friends or relatives.

Vote for Jason Chaffetz for Congress in Utah’s 3rd District this Tuesday!!

~~John Cronin~~

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=3581444

It’s a primary election too close to call, and the hottest political races are among Republicans.
Congressman Chris Cannon is facing another close election next Tuesday, this time against fellow Republican Jason Chaffetz. And that’s not all: The state’s treasurer’s race is close too.

These are a hard-fought Republican-versus-Republican races, and an exclusive Dan Jones poll for KSL and The Deseret News shows no clear winner in either race.

In the 3rd Congressional District race, challenger Jason Chaffetz is aggressive about running for office. Before and since the Republican state convention, he’s been attacking incumbent Chris Cannon’s record.

The race has boosted interest in the primary. Of the 312 registered voters in the 3rd District, interest is high. All of them expressed they are very or somewhat likely to vote. But how will they vote?

The poll shows Cannon with a slight edge over Chaffetz, 44-40 percent. But the remaining 16 percent are undecided, which means Tuesday’s results could depend on turnout.

“Of those, those who show the most interest, Chaffetz is one or two points ahead. But of those who plan to vote, it is Mr. Cannon,” said political pollster Dan Jones.

Share on Facebook

Share This

If Obama and McCain really believe what they are saying about the oil companies, they both need to re-open their studies of Economics 101. The quotes below show a stunning lack of understanding about both economics and human nature. Although I am not a big fan of McCain, Obama’s policies are radioactive. What he says in the quote below is just good old fashioned socialism and I don’t use that term lightly. He proposes to take money from Exxon, in other words from American citizens who own Exxon stock and then redistribute it to other Americans to use however they see fit. The implication, of course, is that if you will vote for me, I’ll confiscate someone else’s property and turn it over to you.

This attitude is flat out dangerous. Mr. Obama must be defeated at the polls this November. You might be tempted to think, well, I don’t own any Exxon stock, so his policy won’t adversely affect me. Don’t think for one moment that he will stop with Exxon. To politicians who think like Obama, the U.S. Treasury is their very own gigantic piggy bank and it exists only to fund whatever ideas emanate from their fevered brains.

~~John Cronin~~

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121383441884986739.html?mod=googlenews
_wsj

By KARL ROVE

June 19, 2008; Page A13

Barack Obama and John McCain are busy demonstrating that in close elections during tough economic times, candidates for president can be economically illiterate and irresponsibly populist.

In Raleigh, N.C., last week, Sen. Obama promised, “I’ll make oil companies like Exxon pay a tax on their windfall profits, and we’ll use the money to help families pay for their skyrocketing energy costs and other bills.”

Set aside for a minute that Jimmy Carter passed a “windfall profits tax” to devastating effect, putting American oil companies at a competitive disadvantage to foreign competitors, virtually ending domestic energy exploration, and making the U.S. more dependent on foreign sources of oil and gas.

This past Thursday, Mr. McCain came close to advocating a form of industrial policy, saying, “I’m very angry, frankly, at the oil companies not only because of the obscene profits they’ve made, but their failure to invest in alternate energy.”

Share on Facebook

Share This

More good news on the common sense in energy policy front. Two Republicans have changed their minds about drilling in ANWR.

~~John Cronin~~

http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=298251904169099

By INVESTORS BUSINESS DAILY | Posted Friday, June 13, 2008 4:20 PM PT

Oil: Exxon Mobil is selling its gas stations because there’s no money in it. Meanwhile, two GOP congressmen do what John McCain should do — change their position on drilling in ANWR.

We already drill in Alaska. More than 15 billion barrels of oil have been sent down the Alaska pipeline from Prudhoe Bay, just 60 miles west of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, over the last three decades, much more than the six months’ supply predicted by critics.

As Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman notes, the development “footprint” would be minimal: “ANWR, in its totality, is about the size of South Carolina, and the area where we believe the hydrocarbons are located is about the size of Delaware, not to mention the exploration site would be no larger than about the size of (Boston’s) Logan International Airport.”

As for the “pristine” wilderness, the tiny portion of ANWR where drilling would occur is what hell would look like if it ever froze over. Winter on the coastal plain lasts for nine months. Total darkness reigns for 58 days. The temperature drops to 70 degrees below zero without the wind chill. Your spit freezes before it hits the ground.

Unfortunately, GOP nominee John McCain’s energy policy has been, well, inconsistent. He opposes drilling in ANWR because he considers it a historical treasure like the Grand Canyon.

Two House Republicans previously opposed to drilling in ANWR, Reps. Jim Walsh of New York and Roscoe Bartlett of Maryland, announced Thursday that they’d now support drilling there. Some would call it flip-flopping. We’d call it coming to your senses.

Share on Facebook

Share This

Hat Tip To SED!

Below is listed a comment from one of our readers in Massachusetts. I understand from SED’s comment that MA. has a ballot initiative to abolish their state income tax! This coming from one of the most socially liberal states in the country. I wonder if this is the start of a trend?

I also noted that SED would like Mitt Romney to spend time in the state rebuilding it’s Republican Party if he is not picked for the VP spot. This is what I was writing about in my post “Participatory Democracy.”

It is very encouraging to hear from readers like SED and to be kept informed of the grassroots efforts in other states to steer the country back toward the conservative principles that set off the economic boom of the Reagan years.

~~John Cronin~~

SED on 05 Apr 2008 at 2:07 pm

This election cycle has the potential to be big for the mass gop. We have the abolishment of the state income tax on the ballot as well as great candidates for the US Senate. I hope that if Mitt is not chosen as McCain’s VP, he will spend some considerable time here rebuilding our party in this state. Massachusetts maybe a socially liberal state, however I believe the fiscal conservatives will have a great shot this year due to fear of an imminent recession. In one year, Mitt’s surplus is now a 1.6 billion dollar deficit under the dem’s super-majority!

John Cronin

SED, thanks for the great feed back! I was thinking about Missouri’s income tax about a month ago when I filed my taxes. Our rates have been steadily creeping up for the last few years and I was thinking we need our state politicians to start the process of getting Missourians some tax relief.

The locality where I live now has a 7.3% sales tax as well. Hats off to the citizens of Massachusetts for their income tax ballot initiative. Wow!

Share on Facebook

Share This

Share on Facebook

Share This

From The Wall Street Journal

He Touts Expertise as Focus Shifts to Economy
By ELIZABETH HOLMES
January 26, 2008; Page A4

The bad economic outlook might be good news for Mitt Romney, the millionaire venture capitalist who is in a tight race here for the Republican presidential nomination.

As voters’ worries have shifted away from the war in Iraq and turned to the roiled markets, Mr. Romney, with his fixation on PowerPoint slides and fever lines, has come into his own on the stump just ahead of Tuesday’s primary. Armed with a stimulus plan that favors big business, a reputation for hard-line cuts and even a sign that boasts “Economic Turnaround,” Mr. Romney has shifted his campaign rhetoric back into his comfort zone.

The new focus has put his opponents on the defensive — but also helped them step up their jabs at the perpetually stiff and rehearsed Mr. Romney. “Gov. Romney is touting his qualifications and his experience and his résumé as a manager,” said Arizona Sen. John McCain. “I am telling the American people, and they know it, that I am a leader.”

His punches didn’t stop there. “You can hire managers all the time. People who do the mechanics, people who implement policies. People who are good with assets,” Mr. McCain told reporters Friday. “Leadership is people who have had the hands-on experience and patriotism in service to our country and the nation.”

Starting at the southern tip of the Sunshine State before flying north Friday to the Panhandle, Mr. Romney, a former head of Bain Capital, was every bit the confident executive. To a crowd standing in the parking lot outside a military-technology manufacturer, Mr. Romney heralded the focus on the economy. “I particularly like the fact that the other candidates are increasingly talking about the issues that you want to have talked about,” he said.

It is what he has wanted to talk about all along. Mr. Romney has served up the economy as part of his stump fare for months. At a debate in Iowa in August, he was asked about fixing roads and bridges following the Minneapolis bridge collapse. As part of his answer, he prescribed: “Invest in the future of the economy.” In December, the first slide of a PowerPoint presentation in Manchester, N.H., was titled, “What is the future of the U.S. economy?”

Now, with troubles from the housing sector spilling over into other markets, Mr. Romney’s financial background gets a warmer reception. “What you want is someone that’s competent,” said Luis Espino, a 38-year-old attorney from Miami and undecided Republican, “someone that’s able to engage with the people that make decisions about the economy.” He paused before adding: “Just like the president does when he’s talking to generals to make military decisions.”

Mr. Romney’s economy-heavy stump speech plays well in Florida, the state with the highest population — roughly 17% — of residents 65 years and older. Many are retirees who worry about their income. “I live on a fixed income, mostly from investments in the Wall Street,” said Mildred Klemp, an 80-year-old Republican living in Naples, who hasn’t decided between Messrs. Romney and McCain. “The bulk of my estate is in the stock market, and I don’t know about that,” she said of the turbulent markets last Tuesday. “Had me worried.”

It also doesn’t hurt that Mr. Romney, with his tanned face and slicked-back hair, looks the part of a successful investor. Mr. Romney also has plenty of experience asking people to trust him with their money. In Iowa and New Hampshire — two early contests he poured resources into only to place second — the 60-year-old regularly brought out PowerPoint presentations with bar charts and bullet points to delve deep into the wonky side of politics.

Mr. Romney touts himself as a turnaround artist, and is a staunch defender of big business. Earlier this month, he held an impromptu news conference outside a General Motors Corp. facility in Ypsilanti, Mich., to talk about the auto industry’s troubles, not to slam the corporate giant for job cuts. “General Motors is taking action to remain competitive, to remain profitable, and that’s essential for the survival of that company,” he said.

Those kinds of comments have opened him up to attacks from his rivals. Mike Huckabee, who came from behind to trounce Mr. Romney in the Iowa caucuses, has repeatedly said voters don’t want a White House run by the “guy who laid them off.” And Mr. McCain has said that running the Senate Commerce Committee, as he has done, is better experience than running an investment company.

Mr. Romney directly responded to those attacks Friday. At an outdoor rally in Pensacola, he ticked off several quotes from Mr. McCain’s past in which the Arizona senator admitted to knowing more about foreign policy than the economy, including when Mr. McCain told reporters in December, “the issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should.”

At a meeting of the Latin Builders Association in Miami Friday morning, Mr. Romney subtly addressed Mr. Huckabee’s critiques — without naming his opponent. Mr. Romney called layoffs “the hardest thing I’ve done in business” and said it was “awful, feels terrible.”

Mr. Romney, speaking to a crowd of executives, sought to turn around the critiques of his business record. “I hear people now and then say not every business that you invested in or managed was successful,” he said. “It’s like, yeah, of course — have you ever been in business before?” He continued: “They don’t all work. That’s the nature of risk and return.”

Mr. Romney’s handling of the touchy subject impressed Israel Velasco, a regional executive for Banco Popular and an undecided voter. “It’s bad times — the experience with those bad times — that help you grow a business,” said Mr. Velasco, a 43-year-old from Coral Gables, Fla. “He was dead on the money when he talked about that.”

Even Republican voters who support other candidates don’t doubt Mr. Romney’s capabilities when it comes to the economy. Daniel Diaz Leyva, a 28-year-old attorney from Coral Gables, said he has great respect for Mr. Romney’s economic expertise but plans to vote for Mr. Giuliani on Tuesday. “You can’t be one-track minded,” he said. “The economy obviously is a huge issue but…experience in foreign affairs, I think, is a big issue.” He’s still holding out hope for Mr. Romney elsewhere in the new administration.

“I hope they appoint him Secretary of the Treasury,” he said.

Write to Elizabeth Holmes at elizabeth.holmes@wsj.com

Share on Facebook

Share This

There are tons of John McCain supporters out there. Frankly, I am baffled by the fact there are more than a 10% of the electorate supporting the man. Following is one of dozens of examples where John McCain isn’t very sure of what he knows. I don’t know if this is simply a sign of memory lapses or what. I honestly believe it is both a memory lapse issue and a sign he really does not know much about economics. His huge face-plant the other night in the debate, when asked a simple question involving the President’s Group on Financial Markets in the executive branch, was stunning.

My question to all you John McCain supporters: What are we all missing with Senator McCain? You all obviously still support him, but why don’t these enormous missteps cause you to change course to support someone else in the race?

McCain Said That Because Of His Experience On The Senate Commerce Committee, He Wouldn’t Need A Vice President With Economic Experience.

“Noting that he also later ran the Senate Commerce Committee, Mr. McCain said in the interview that he would feel no need to select a vice president with expertise in economic policy to balance his own foreign-policy experience.”

(David Leonhardt, “Fiscal Mantra For McCain: Less Is More,” www.nytimes.com, The New York Times, 1/26/08)

You will recall that he challenged Tim Russert in the debate for using one of his quotes that he really does not know much about economics. Then, check this:

However, In November, McCain Said He Would Choose A Vice-President Who Understands Economics Because He Doesn’t.

“On at least one occasion, McCain has raised the matter himself. On Nov. 10, while traveling through New Hampshire on his Straight Talk Express bus, McCain was asked what he would seek in a vice presidential candidate if nominated. After mentioning the ability of a potential running mate to replace the president, McCain said, ‘You also look for people who maybe have talents you don’t, or experience or knowledge you don’t, as well.’ ‘What are those qualities that you don’t - that you wouldn’t mind complementing?’ asked David Brooks, a columnist for The New York Times. McCain paused. ‘Uh, maybe I shouldn’t say this, but, somebody who’s really well grounded in economics,’ he said.”

(Sasha Issenberg, “McCain Tested On Economy,” The Boston Globe, www.boston.com, 1/26/08)

Senator McCain’s “straight talk express” is turning and over-correcting at every turn these days. “Straight talk”? I don’t think so.

~ Vic

Share on Facebook

Share This

Share on Facebook

Share This

I wrote the following blog back on Jan 5th . . . and the issue has only become more and more important. However, with the worldwide stock market crashes today (here too) and Wall Street likely to suffer as well (the Dow Futures look dismal) it bears repeating now. I think it’s becoming clearer and clearer that we NEED Mitt Romney at the helm of our country and economy. And we absolutely DON’T NEED John McCain anywhere near the control panel of our economy . . . . :

So “The Economy” constantly ranks up there among the top issues/concerns among voters of BOTH parties. With the Iraq issue being far less polarizing of late, the Economy, Illegal Immigration, and Healthcare look to be the key issues for the general election. Additionally, this New Hampshire Fox News Poll last month had the Economy and Illegal Immigration as the two most important issues to GOP voters with the Economy being by far the most important issue.

Additionally, unlike many issues listed, the status of the economy is something that touches EVERY American in some real and powerful way (as opposed to Iraq, or abortion, or foreign policy, or those without healthcare insurance).

In the financial world, the news of an imminent recession has been dominating the headlines (including the sinking strength on Wall Street). Just yesterday, Bush met with the economic advisors and the Fed Chairman to discuss these issues. The press conference afterwards was not terribly positive.

So is a McCain presidency a good fit for a good economy? Back in 2003 many didn’t think so. His new economic plan isn’t impressing many. And let’s not forget what the Club for Growth thinks about McCain’s economic record (Their main points are that “John McCain is No Supply-Sider” and that he has a “Tenuous Record as an Economic Conservative”)

Those are the words of others . . . but what does McCain think of himself in relation to the ecomony?

Just one month ago, a piece from the Boston Globe (who has since endorsed McCain) led off with this:

SALEM, N.H. — John McCain, who happily volunteers he doesn’t know much about economics . . .

Later in the piece:

McCain stood before a line graph showing the increase of the alternative-minimum tax, a low-budget campaign’s alternative to the PowerPoint presentation Mitt Romney uses when talking about economic policy, a subject McCain has said he feels he is unknowledgeable and that filling the void would be a priority when selecting a vice-presidential nominee.

So McCain wants to bolster the ticket because he’s weak on the #1 issue and at a time that recession is a real concern? Sounds scary to me.

Yet further:

Like Mike Huckabee, who joked recently that he “may not be the expert that some people are on foreign policy, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night,” McCain suggested to reporters Monday that American consumer culture offered a short cut to expertise. “The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should,” McCain said. “I’ve got Greenspan’s book.“

Sorry John, but if you haven’t gotten a grasp of economic issues after 71 years of life, and after 3+ decades in politics, something tells me that you’re not ever going to “get it” . . . even if Greenspan’s book is really good.

If we really are headed toward recession in the next few months, do we really want John McCain as our nominee to put up against Hillary or Obama? I think we have much better options to have at the TOP of the ticket.

Update Jan 14th:
I was just watching Road to the White House 2008 on C-Span (DVR’d) and John McCain, in a Saturday town hall meeting in MI, got a question about the economy and the sub-prime mortgage crisis.

He promptly said he knew it was a problem, but didn’t know much about the details and so he brought up Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett Packard to discuss the issue. After she answered the question, McCain mentioned that he wasn’t an expert on every issue, but that he’d get people like her to advise him. I mean, this is a major issue in our economy and every other POTUS candidate can grasp it enough to say a few nice lines. Even Huck can sound conversant on the issue!

Update Jan 20th:
McCain is showing his lack of depth on economic understanding . . . and is proposing policy based on his faulty logic. It’s SCARY folks!

I also noticed that the Romney campaign has been reading my blog
Jeff Fuller

Share on Facebook

Share This

THANK YOU to my good friend Mark Cragun for the tip on what is happening world wide. Mark is a trader and he told me that what he is seeing worldwide is really, really scary. To read this entire article sent to me by Mark, click here:

Stocks Plummet in Germany, Hong Kong and India in Global Rout — By Sarah Thompson — Jan. 21 (Bloomberg)

Governor Romney is the only person any voter should be considering for President right now. The United States of America, and the world are entering an era unknown to man. Economically, we are in unchartered territory. We need an economic expert to navigate the waters we are entering!

Stocks tumbled from Hong Kong to Germany and Brazil and U.S. futures posted their steepest drop since 2001 on mounting speculation the world economy is slowing and company defaults will rise.

Check out this quote. Folks, I think we are only at the beginning of this:

Trading in the U.S. is closed today for Martin Luther King Day.

“It’s the worst I’ve ever seen,” said Johan Stein, who helps manage the equivalent of about $14 billion at Nordea Asset Management in Stockholm. “The financial system is in terrible shape, and no one knows where this will end.”

Today’s declines follow the worst week for U.S. stocks in five years after President George W. Bush’s $150 billion plan to revive the economy and expectations of interest-rate cuts failed to allay recession concerns.

The risk of European companies defaulting soared to a record today on speculation credit-rating cuts at bond insurers including Ambac Financial Group Inc. may trigger forced asset sales. European Central Bank council member Nout Wellink said economic growth in the region may slow more than policy makers had expected.

Market Crisis

“This is a stock-market crisis,” said Alberto Roldan, head of research at Inverseguros SVB in Madrid. “Investors believe that neither a government package nor a huge rate cut is going to help evade a recession in the U.S.”

White House spokesman Tony Fratto said in Washington today the government doesn’t comment on daily market moves.

Check this link too: Hourly Action In Gold From Trader Dan — Author: Dan Norcini

Hold on tight for the next year!

~ Vic

More »

Share on Facebook

Share This

H/T to Kyle over at My Man Mitt. In my opinion this is one of Mitt’s best interviews. He will dominate the talk on the economy while in Florida this week.

Part 1

Part 2

~Ryan Jesperson

Share on Facebook

Share This

I’m sure this has been posted before here, but given the political climate right now it needs to be heard again!

Share on Facebook

Share This

I don’t have the time to make it all pretty right now, so just go to this link.

Share on Facebook

Share This

Following is a note I received from a friend of Governor and Ann Romney today. I ask that you read it carefully and consider his request:

As you know, I have sent out many appeals for financial support for Mitt’s Presidential Campaign, and many have been kind and gracious in their support — Thank you. We are at a very critical juncture in the campaign, having made great strides. You can go to Political Scene 2008 which offers further insight to the Republican Race.

Most recently, Lauren and I were in New Hampshire and Boston with the Campaign. We were talking with Mitt and Ann and sharing some of our feelings about this effort. Ann mentioned how she and Mitt are committing all that they have to this effort, be it financial resource and/or personal sacrifice. From our personal perspective, the sacrifice the Romney’s are making in this pursuit is beyond measure. They have given up all privacy and luxury for the sake of serving our nation. Both Mitt and Ann are engaged in this effort, surely not for personal self interest, but out of a sincere sense of duty and service. It is their commitment to duty and service that has driven Lauren and me in our support. We know Mitt and Ann, their heartfelt sense of duty and service, as well as Mitt’s depth of experience and competency that can make a significant difference in all of our futures. I have often said that this will be an economic election, and given the flatness of the world, we need someone of Mitt’s capacity to lead our nation.

While holding our granddaughter the other night, it became poignantly clear, that the times that we face in our country are critical. I thought to myself, what kind of world will our grandkids grow up in under the leadership of those running for office. I am more committed know that ever to Mitt’s effort.

Hopefully, you will join with us again, or for the first time if you haven’t made a contribution to this cause. Although we would ask for whatever you are able to give toward this effort, recognizing for many it is a sacrifice, we ask knowing of the sacrifice of Mitt and Ann, and Lauren and me. It is times such as this that sacrifices become necessary. Please consider the seriousness of this request, and the benefits that will be ours in this nation under Mitt’s leadership. If each who receives this email were to contribute $100, we would raise $30,000 for the campaign. Enough money to purchase significant media spots in key primary markets. If some were able to give more, even to the maximum of $2,300, the impact would be even greater.

Click here to make a contribution to Governor Romney —–> OFFICIAL CONTRIBUTION FORM (no contribution is too small — please contribute what you can)

Thank you for your kind consideration and support, and your willingness to listen and give again or for the first time.

Thank you so much,

David L. Parker, Co-Chairman — National Finance Committee │Romney For President

In the note I received from David, he attached a form for those who live in California who would like to attend a luncheon with Governor Romney on January 31st (Thursday) in Orange County. The luncheon is a campaign fundraiser at $1,000 per person and for those who wish to contribute the maximum of $2,300 will have a photograph taken by the campaign with Governor Romney. If you are interested in attending the luncheon with Governor Romney, please send me an email at vic.lundquist@gmail.com and place “LUNCHEON” in the subject line.

NOTE: If you have already maxed out at $2,300 in the primary season, you can now contribute the maximum for the general election. If for any reason Governor Romney does not win the nomination, you will receive any general election contributions back.

~ Vic

Share on Facebook

Share This

Here are a few encouraging details from tonight’s contest, from the CBS News website:

According to CBS News exit polls, self-described Republicans made up 68 percent of the vote - and they supported Romney by a wide margin. Independents made up just 25 percent of the GOP primary vote today while just 7 percent were Democrats. In 2000, independents made up 35 percent of the vote while another 17 percent were Democrats.

The economy overwhelmingly topped the concerns of voters, with 55 percent of primary voters citing it as their top concern. The Iraq war ranked second, but lagged far behind. Just 17 percent said that was their top concern. Discussion of the economy dominated the Michigan contest in its closing days, as Romney sought to strike an optimistic tone about the future of a state which has seen some 76,000 jobs lost in the past year alone.

… Romney also won among late-deciding voters, indicating that his arguments may have won some supporters.

Takeaways? The GOP is supporting Mitt, and “it’s the economy, _______.”

Additional takeaways? Mitt sticking to his message seems very productive. Mitt gained a head of steam and connected with people, which he’ll need continue. Meanwhile McCain lost momentum as he had to defend his truth-distorting, sack of fibs mailer. In addition, earned media seems much better at conveying and building momentum than paid media.

And lest we forget, the big difference maker in Michigan was Mitt’s “no job left behind” theme, giving hope where the Washington insider offered only pessimism and job retraining. Now that Mitt’s found his stride I expect the good vibe and the connection he’s making with voters to continue.

Share on Facebook

Share This