comMITTed to Romney!

It seems that Jack Murtha, the King of Pork, has used a weapon of mass destruction, his mouth, to get to the point where Bill Russell is within striking distance of retiring the man who slandered the Haditha Marines in one of the most shameful episodes in American political history.

If Bill Russell is successful this Tuesday night in defeating the man who said these Marines “murdered innocent civilians” only to see them exonerated or having the charges dropped, you may be able to hear me celebrating in Missouri from Pennsylvania.

~~John Cronin~~

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/murtha-pleas-for-1-million-after-racism-comments-2008-10-30.html

Veteran Democratic Rep. John Murtha (Pa.) has sent out a last-minute plea for $1 million to save his hotly contested seat, endangered by his own remarks describing his district as racist.

In an e-mail sent to potential donors, Murtha’s campaign asked his supporters to maximize all campaign contributions.

“We need to raise another $1 million to compete,” his campaign fundraiser Susan O’Neill wrote in the e-mail obtained by The Hill. “We need money immediately.”

O’Neill blamed Republicans from outside Pennsylvania for Murtha’s problems. Polls show Murtha, running for his 18th term, ahead of his GOP opponent by just a few percentage points.

“Congressman Murtha is in a brutal reelection campaign,” O’Neill wrote. “The Swift Boaters have put up a candidate from Virginia and have raised millions of dollars against Congressman Murtha. In addition, other 527s and the [National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC)] have spent millions to smear Congressman Murtha on TV, radio and in newspapers.”

Murtha’s race appeared to tighten after he called his western Pennsylvania district a “racist area.” After apologizing, he added more fuel to the fire by saying the district was, until recently, “really redneck.”

Murtha’s comments have been widely repeated, and the congressman was even parodied on “Saturday Night Live.”

In a fundraising e-mail sent on Thursday, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) asked her own supporters to help Murtha. “In Pennsylvania, my good friend John Murtha — a strong supporter for me during the primaries and an important voice against the war in Iraq — is depending on your help to win,” Clinton wrote.

GOP challenger William Russell, a 46-year-old Iraq war veteran and retired Army colonel, has outraised Murtha so far. As of Oct. 15, Russell had raised $2.9 million compared to Murtha’s $2.2 million.

Political action committees can donate up to $5,000 to candidates, while individuals may donate up to $2,300.

Murtha, a close ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), is a welcome target for Republicans, who otherwise are headed toward what appears to be a gloomy election night.

Russell moved from Virginia to run for Congress because of Murtha’s criticisms of the Iraq war.

Murtha’s comments about western Pennsylvania being racist have emboldened Republicans to give last-minute help to Russell.

Murtha, a decorated war veteran, first won his seat in a 1974 special election by a little more than 100 votes.

The NRCC this week bought a television ad that highlighted Murtha’s remarks. Separately, former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) accused Murtha in a radio spot of “insulting his own constituents” and “apparently forgetting who he works for.”

Murtha is the chairman of the House Appropriations Defense subcommittee. He has been very successful in the federal earmarking process, ranking as the highest recipient of earmarks in the defense appropriations bill.

His earmarks have revitalized Johnstown, the largest city in his district, and defense companies have opened offices and facilities throughout the region he represents.

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As we approach the primary voting season, there are more and more new folks finding their way to our humble blog. The information I found on this blog was extremely helpful to me as I assessed the various candidates in search of “the One.” As such, I thought it would be fitting for me to share why I am a staunch supporter of Governor Mitt Romney in his run for the White House.

In a nutshell, Mitt Romney is the only “full-spectrum” Conservative who can rally the support of all three wings of the Reagan coalition, namely, Social, Economic, and Foreign Policy Conservatives.

For a full treatment of Mitt Romney’s positions, I would refer you to his comprehensive policy book “Vision for a Strong America.” Let me summarize here, however, the highlights across the major issues:

• Foreign Policy
o War against Islamic Fascism: We are engaged in a multi-front war which will require using all of our military, economic, and diplomatic might to win; we must defeat the terrorists and those who aid and abet them as well as help the Muslim people enter the 21st century (click here and here)
o Iraq and Afghanistan: The surge is working and we must do what it takes to help Iraq and Afghanistan become stable democratic allies in the war on Islamic Fascism and support our troops (click here and here)
o Iran: Iran must not be allowed to become a nuclear state; diplomacy and economic sanctions are critical, but may not be enough; the military option must remain on the table (click here)
o Military: Need to increase defense spending to a minimum of 4% of GDP to make sure our armed forces have the equipment they need in the field and the support the need back home; the best ally of peace is a strong America (click here and here)

• Economic Policy
o Taxes: We need to keep the Bush tax cuts permanent, eliminate the Death Tax, and cut taxes on capital gains, dividends, and interest to zero for the Middle Class (click here, and here)
o Spending: We need to restrain Federal spending and close the deficit; will veto any budget where non-defense discretionary spending growth exceeds inflation minus 1%; Need to give the President a line-item veto; Strong track record of financial management from Massachusetts where he closed a $3B deficit and turned it into a $1B surplus without raising taxes; carry out a comprehensive review of government spending to increase efficiency and effectiveness (click here and here)
o Entitlements reform: Maintain benefits for current Seniors, but institute fundamental reforms combining slowing the rate of increase for benefits based on income, extending the retirement age, individual retirement accounts, and no tax increases (click here)
o Healthcare: Mitt Romney is the only candidate on either side of the aisle who implemented a universal health care plan; He covered all of the citizens of Massachusetts using market-based insurance without raising taxes; Governor Romney advocates a Federalist state-by-state approach to make health insurance more affordable for everyone (click here)
o Globalization: Continue to trade around the world but make sure we negotiate level playing fields in foreign markets and upgrade American competitiveness through investments in education and innovation (click here and here)

• Culture and Values
o Illegal immigration: Control the border first and turn of the “magnets” that attract illegal immigrants by implementing an employment verification system, no special path for illegal immigrants to become citizens (i.e. no amnesty), no sanctuary cities, increased enforcement by local police agencies (click here, here, and here)
o Traditional marriage: In favor of amending the constitution to keep marriage defined as between a man and a woman; fought the Massachusetts Supreme Court to prevent the state from becoming a destination for same-sex couples looking for marriage licenses (click here and here and here)
o Life: Much has been made of Governor Romney’s switch from being Pro-Abortion to Pro-Life; This is a critical issue for me; I have heard many times why he made this change, and I believe him; I believe that Mitt Romney will fight for the rights of the unborn and be a great leader in supporting Life (click here, here, and here)

The choice of a nominee and President, however, is not strictly a “right-brained” decision based on policy statements and positions. There needs to be something inspirational about a candidate whether it’s the way that they speak to a crowd, interact one on one, or something about their personal story that sets them apart.

Experiencing Mitt through articles and videos really helped seal the deal for me. Below, I have listed some of what I would consider the best of the best articles and videos that helped me come to the decision to support Mitt actively. I’m sure I’m missing some great material, but there is a lot down below. I would encourage you to click through as much of this as you can, and if you have a favorite that wasn’t listed, please leave a link in the comments!

Key videos, speeches, appearances, and articles:
• Articles
o Romney to the Rescue (Newsmax) – Great overview of Mitt Romney
o National Review’s endorsement of Mitt Romney
o The House that Mitt Built (Private Equity International) – Behind the scenes view of how Mitt ran Bain Capital and his leadership style
o The Making of Mitt Romney (Boston Globe) – Reasonably balanced biography of each of the major phases of Mitt’s life starting from his youth through today
o Consultant in Chief (Wall Street Journal) – Interview of Mitt where he talks about how he would fix the Federal Government
o For Romney & Company, Campaign is all Business (NY Times) – How Mitt runs his campaign and what it would mean for his Presidency
o Evangelicals for Mitt statement of support
o Mark DeMoss on why Evangelicals should support Mitt
o Ann Romney Opens Up (People Magazine) – Great interview with Ann; she would be a fantastic First Lady!

• Speeches
o “Faith in America” – Seminal address on the role of religious faith and liberty in our nation
o Address to the Value Voters Summit – Seminal address on culture and value issues
o Iowa Straw Poll victory speech
o Highlights from the Republican debates (click 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th)
o Speech at CPAC 2007 – One of Mitt’s first major addresses to the leading grassroots gathering of Conservatives; one of his best speeches in my opinion
o Presidential Campaign Announcement – Mitt announcing that he’s running and why he’s running

• Campaign videos
o Biographical overview video of Mitt Romney (click part I, II, III, IV, V, VI, and VII)
o “Path to Victory” webcast – Mitt and Meg Whitman (CEO of eBay) discussing the 2007 campaign and discussing the plan for 2008
o Retrospective of Governor Romney’s campaign in 2007
o Online “Ask Mitt Anything” – For those of us who don’t live in an early primary state, Mitt held an online town hall meeting which provides a really good overview of his key positions
o Christmas 2006 – Behind the scenes look at the Romney family and how they made the decision together that Mitt should run for President; cynics have criticized this video as contrived, but I love the fact that he has held his family together while achieving such exceptional success; you can’t fake this stuff

• Media appearances
o Mitt on Jim Cramer of CNBC’s Mad Money – Great interview by Jim Cramer where he calls Mitt the “Best businessman in America”
o Mitt on ABC News talking about Ann – Great interview of Mitt where he discusses what he loves so much about Ann
o Mitt on Meet the Press – Tim Russert throws everything he’s got plus the kitchen sink at Mitt who proceeds to address each point in a clear, classy, and compelling way

• My favorite TV spots
o “Searched” – Compelling true story of how Mitt Romney shut down Bain Capital and moved all the employees to NYC to search for and find the daughter of one of his partners
o “Choice: Judgment” – Striking contrast ad highlighting Mike Huckabee’s 1,033 pardons and clemencies (more than 2x his three predecessors) vs. zero from Mitt Romney
o “Choice: The Record” – Ad contrasting Mitt’s record on illegal immigration vs. Mike Huckabee’s record of supporting tax payer funded scholarships and in-state tuition for illegal immigrants
o “Not Politically Correct” – Mitt’s record supporting life, English immersion education, and traditional marriage
o “Experience Matters” – Ad highlighting the lack of real world, executive experience on the part of Hillary Clinton (and equally applicable to the other Democrats)
o “Ready for Action” – Summary of Governor Romney’s stump speech in 60 seconds; user-generated ad based on a contest that was run back in September
o “Our Home” – Some precious footage of Mitt playing with his children and grandchildren; focuses on the importance of strengthening our families
o “Leadership” and “Energy” – I just love the images of Mitt jogging through the backwoods and the focus on his track record in business; I think he’s the only politician I’ve seen jogging where it looked like he was actually in shape…not just a photo op
o “Ocean” – Ad lamenting the degradation of our culture and Mitt’s thoughts on how he would like to address it; as a parent this one really resonated with me
o “Tested, Proven” – One of his early ads highlighting his track record in Massachusetts
o “I Like Vetoes” – Ad highlights his track record of vetoing excessive spending; no doubt in my mind that he’ll control spending after seeing this ad and other times when he has addressed this topic

Finally, it is one thing to support Mitt with your vote, but I’d like to ask you to consider supporting Mitt in a more active way. Like many of you, I had always followed politics, but never became active in politics (other than voting) until this year in support of Governor Romney.

This year is different. First, this is arguably the most consequential election in over twenty years. The challenges and issues that will be faced by our next President will have far reaching ramifications for our children and grandchildren.

Additionally, we face a set of candidates on the Republican side who represent vastly different positions and perspectives, some of whom threaten to tear asunder the Reagan coalition that has served us so well. Whether it is the socially liberal and sanctuary city defending Rudy Giuliani, the divisive, theocratic, soft on crime and illegal immigration, and fiscally populist Mike Huckabee, or the McCain Feingold, “Gang of 14”, and pro-Amnesty John McCain, there are clear differences in the way that each of these individuals would take the Republican Party.

If you’ve found this persuasive, please do whatever you can to support Mitt Romney’s candidacy. If you’re from Iowa, please caucus for Mitt (get more information here). Winning Iowa is job one between now and January 3.

If you are not from Iowa, please stay informed by checking in here at Elect Romney in 2008 every day. Make a donation to help Mitt win the media air war. Put on a bumper sticker or put up a yard sign (get them here). And most importantly, talk with your friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors about why you’re supporting Mitt Romney! Personal testimonials from trusted individuals are by far the most effective ways to gain more supporters for Mitt!

If you still have questions or remain unconvinced, leave a comment and we’ll do our best to answer your question. Or better yet, if you are also a Mitt supporter, leave a comment telling us why! Thank you for reading!

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TO THE MILITARY SERVICE MEN & WOMEN WHO VISIT THIS SITE: See request at the end of this post.

At the end of the debate last night, I recalled a great article I read earlier this year, written by a USMC officer. Before I give my opinion as to why this article below came to mind, consider my thoughts on John McCain:

1) In all sincerity, I am personally grateful for his incredible service to my nation, 2) he epitomizes every attribute of “hero”, a word overused today, and 3) I consider him a military expert.

Those who know me well know that when it comes to our men and women of the armed forces serving our nation, my emotions are close to the surface. Our family lives next to the largest USMC base in the U.S. and we bump into the wonderful Marines and their families all the time in local stores, restaurants, and parks.

But frankly, and as my kids would say, I am so over John McCain! I am tired of hearing John McCain tell Americans and presidential candidates how he is the only person who knows how to be “commander in chief” of the armed forces by virtue of his distinguished military career. I may be wrong in my perception here, but he has this, my-experience-as-a-never-give-up-naval-aviator-officer-POW-never-let-the-troops-down attitude that obviously comes across as condescending to his peers. In my opinion, aside from the drawback of being a Washington, D.C. bureaucrat, he often comes across as a single-issue candidate. We have had many great presidents in this country who never served in the military, many of whom were far better leaders than presidents with prior military experience. And the more McCain thinks he is superior to his peers, the angrier he appears! As a leader, he is a plodder.

Well guess what? Governor Romney, as an experienced, tough leader, is multi-faceted and is skilled in the art of executive leadership in ways that John McCain can only dream of. There is absolutely no question in my mind that Mitt Romney would be a far superior leader in every way that Americans demand of a competent President. When considering every character and leadership trait of those on that stage last night, not one person has the experience, depth of skills, or talent comparable to Governor Romney. Period.

The following article was published March 16, 2007 at UnionLeader.com

[emphasis is mine]

By MICHAEL MOFFETT
Another View

JOHN MCCAIN is one of my heroes.

Read Robert Timberg’s account of McCain’s prisoner of war experience in “The Nightingales’ Song” and try not to be moved.

Like so many of my fellow veterans, I enthusiastically supported McCain’s 2000 Presidential bid, which saw him win a decisive victory over George W. Bush in the New Hampshire primary.

Sen. McCain remains one of my heroes. But I now believe former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is the man who should serve as our next commander in chief.

The reasons are many, and they include the impressive analysis of the international situation that Romney articulated after his trip to Asia earlier this year. I expect that as the months go by, many of my fellow veterans will join me in supporting a Romney candidacy in 2008.

No prospective President can come close to offering the diverse record of executive leadership that Romney can.

While McCain has been doing important work in Congress for many years, Romney has run a successful billion dollar business, saved the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, and served as the Republican chief executive of one of the country’s most Democratic states. His exemplary record of accomplishment is too lengthy to begin to mention here, but as Americans learn more and more about this extraordinary man they will increasingly like what they see.

There is no substitute for executive leadership experience — a background that one just can’t get in our national legislature, where McCain has but one of 535 votes.

While a senator can lead in different ways, it’s less clear where McCain might lead us, based on so many statements and actions over recent years.

Take some of his sponsored legislation — like the proposed McCain-Kennedy bill which revisits earlier mistakes on dealing with immigration.

It was Ted Kennedy’s support for the 1965 bill that helped create many of the problems we have today. And the 1986 “reform” simply set the stage for current flood of illegals across our borders.

Or the McCain-Feingold bill. This misplaced effort at campaign finance reform has split Americans and the Supreme Court, while expanding federal regulation and abridging First Amendment freedoms.

There are folks who place great faith in expanding government. They’re called Democrats.

Our Republican standard bearer should be someone who remains true to our important principles of limited government while celebrating individual responsibility and personal liberty.

Mitt Romney is such a person.

Romney’s challenge is to better inform Americans about who he is. I expect that he will make it clear he is a man of strong faith, and most will see we share the same values and vision for our country. His wonderful Reaganesque communication skills should enable him to explain his positions on all issues. And most importantly, his true record of achievement needs to be made clear to Americans in the face of the inevitable obfuscation that marks our political process.

There’s plenty of time for this. And when the dust settles next year, I believe that Americans — veterans and non-veterans alike — will embrace this remarkable man to be our next commander in chief.

John McCain will always remain a hero. But Mitt Romney should be our next President.

Michael Moffett is a professor at NHTI-Concord. He is a member of The American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Moffett served as a Marine lieutenant colonel infantry officer during Desert Storm and later served on Gen. Tommy Franks’ operations staff at United States Central Command.

(the top photograph of Governor Romney was made by Lieutenant Colonel Martin Moerschell, USAF, via Department of Defense)

To our military men and women serving in America and abroad: We know many of you are visiting this site from places like Kuwait, Iraq, the Philippines, Afghanistan, etc. If you would like to submit a statement as to why you have decided to support Governor Romney for President, please send the email statement to me directly from your military email address, with permission to publish the statement, and I will post it in this blog. If you wish to remain anonymous, I will honor that as long as you send the email from your military email address. Please provide information about yourself such as rank, line of service (Army, Navy…), current service location, hometown, name, etc. Send me a photograph if you like and I will post it as well.

Most of all, on behalf of this blog’s contributors and all Romney supporters and visitors to this site, we honor you. We thank you for your service and the sacrifices you and your families are making for us. God bless you during this Thanksgiving and Christmas season. You are in the personal and family prayers of millions of Americans.

Please pass along my email address to those with whom you serve who would like to submit a statement as to why they plan to support and vote for Governor Romney as our next Commander in Chief. Please submit your statement and photograph (optional) to —–> vic.lundquist@gmail.com

~ Vic

“We sleep peacefully at night, cradled by the big strong hands of America.”

– Val Saintsbury

“Our great modern Republic. May those who seek the blessings of its institutions and the protection of its flag remember the obligations they impose.”

– Ulysses S. Grant

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1: The New News Cycle: Romney and Thompson Defend Rush
2: Governor Mitt Romney rushes to Rush Limbaugh’s defense

~ Vic

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There is a new organization calling itself Freedom’s Watch. They are advocates for victory in Iraq and have produced four great commercials letting our veterans and their loved ones speak on behalf of winning. Please take a look. They are very powerful messages in support of our troops and efforts there.

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Never will I forget our visit to Normandy, France in 1998. My wife, oldest son, and I visited that hallowed land for two days. I could write for hours to describe the emotions and views of those days. Here is but one of two brief experiences: We entered the American Cemetery (land given by France to America) on a beautiful summer day. To say that entering the perimeter of that land brought incredible emotion would be an understatement. Approximately 10,000 Americans are interred there. A tiny (~3 short pews) chapel at the back of the cemetery is open for quite prayer and meditation. Beautiful ceiling mosaics depict angels holding in their arms the dying soldiers of that land. Around the exterior and top of the round structure are engraved in gold the words, “They gave away their tomorrows that we may have our todays.” [forgive me if I misquoted; I could not find the exact quote on the Net]

The second experience there: Mitchell and I spent all day traversing the many battlefields of Normandy. My wife decided she preferred to find a place to stay near the gorgeous cliffs and beaches of Normandy. The next morning, she awakened me before dawn to walk along the beach. When I walked out in the daylight, I could see that we had stayed in a new B&B at Omaha Beach, right on the sand where Americans fought to first breach the German fortifications. It was extreme low tide, slightly overcast, and almost the exact hour of the initial invasion of 1943. I walked out to the tide line and sat down without speaking for a long while. Upon completion of breakfast, I asked the husband/wife proprietors if they knew much at all about the real estate upon which their B&B business was located. As this nice French gentleman began to tell us about his land, his eyes filled with tears. He pointed out the window and said, in effect, “About 50 yards over there, about 3,000 Americans died in one day. We will be forever grateful for the sacrifices of Americans that have allowed us to have this wonderful business and to flourish here in our country.”

Peggy Noonan gives a warm tribute today to the American men and women who have served and who are serving our nation for us. Her Wall Street Journal article illustrates well what most Americans understand about our troops and what some Americans do not. These two excerpts do not do justice to the entire article she penned. I recommend the complete article for reading. This first excerpt is from an experience Noonan had in Normandy:

One of us spoke French and explained our situation. The farmer said, or asked, “You are American.” We nodded, and he made a gesture–I’ll be back!–and ran to the house. He came back with an ancient bottle of Calvados, the local brandy. It was literally covered in dust and dry dirt, as if someone had saved it a long time.

He told us–this will seem unlikely, and it amazed us–that he had not seen an American in many, many years, and we asked when. “The invasion,” he said. The Normandy invasion.

And of Iraq & Afghanistan:

We know of the broad humanitarian aspects of the occupation–the hospitals being built, the schools restored, the services administered, the kids treated by armed forces doctors. But then there are all the stories that don’t quite make it to the top of the heap, and that in a way tell you more. The lieutenant in the First Cavalry who was concerned about Iraqi kids in the countryside who didn’t have shoes, so he wrote home, started a drive, and got 3,000 pairs sent over. The lieutenant colonel from California who spent his off-hours emailing hospitals back home to get a wheelchair for a girl with cerebral palsy.

“To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.”

— George Washington, Speech to both Houses of Congress, Jan. 8, 1790

~ Vic

More »

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We knew this was coming (and it’s been swirling in the background for months now). Every election since 1992 has featured Vietnam as an important aspect of one or more of the candidates. Now, naturally, Gov. Romney is facing the same types of questions. Just as naturally, his record is being distorted:

Elsewhere on the GOP presidential front, this quote from Mitt Romney about spending the waning years of the Vietnam War in France as a Mormon missionary is drawing a lot of attention:

“I really don’t recall thinking about political positions when I was knocking at the door in France” as a missionary, Romney said. “I was supportive of my country. I longed in many respects to actually be in Vietnam and be representing our country there and in some ways it was frustrating not to feel like I was there as part of the troops that were fighting in Vietnam.”

I am completely open to the idea that Romney could be the great MBA-style, detail-oriented, problem-solver president this country really needs. He has a public sector/private sector resume that beats any other candidate’s, and pretty decisively. But between his flip-flops on issues, his too-cute explanations of those flip-flops and his pandering streak, his appeal starts to fade steadily — even if it is just him playing the getting-elected game.

Why? Because I don’t want a president who thinks the public is, collectively, stupid. When a would-be president becomes the first person in human history to utter the following — “I longed in many respects to actually be in Vietnam” — it’s plain he thinks the public is, collectively, stupid.

Posted by Chris Reed

Okay, let’s do a takedown of this.

1. First person in human history? What about the hundreds of thousands of that war’s veterans who volunteered to serve their country knowing full well that they would fight in Vietnam. Is it really difficult to believe that an idealistic young Mitt Romney had a touch of war fever during the early days (not waning day as the article states) of the war’s escalation? He certainly would not be the first young man to feel that stirring.
2. Did Reed happen to see the next paragraph in the original Boston Globe story? Here it is for those who missed it:

   At the same time, Romney said, he was influenced by the statement of his father, then-Michigan Governor George W. Romney, who said in 1967 that he had been “brainwashed” by US officials about Vietnam. “When my dad said that he had been wrong about Vietnam and that it was a mistake and they had been brainwashed and so forth, I certainly trusted him and believed him,” Romney said.

   Huh, that looks like Gov. Romney had mixed feelings about the Vietnam War. Reed gives the impression that Romney said he would have joined up for the war in a moment if not for his pesky missionary work. By reading just a little bit further, you get a more accurate view of his mindset that fits perfectly well with the experience of millions of other young men of the era.

3. Going back to the “waning days” comment which suggests that Gov. Romney completely dodged the draft. That to is not true. Gov. Romney took part in the selective service lottery in 1970 and was not selected to serve. Does anyone doubt that a person of the character of Gov. Romney would have refused to serve his country?
4. It is also suggested that Gov. Romney’s going on the mission was, itself, a way to dodge the draft. In reality, Gov. Romney’s service to the Mormon church is genuine. After finishing his mission, he continued within his church and became a local leader and bishop. Later, all five of his sons would follow in their father’s footsteps and each serve as missionaries in times of peace.
5. As we all know, the flip-flop nonsense is a perception and not reality. Gov. Romney’s only substantive change was on abortion.
6. Gov. Romney thinks the nation is stupid? Reed should watch Gov. Romney take questions from an audience sometime. If Gov. Romney has a weakness as a public speaker, it’s that he sometimes assumes that his audience is as smart and quick-witted as he is. He treats all questions he receives seriously and gives a full, frank response.

If only everyone were worthy of it.

~~~Thomas

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I’ve seen this one show up on a number of blogs, but in case you haven’t seen it elsewhere, please take a look.

Freedom isn’t free…this video shows us the cost. Never forget…

- David

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It’s not Memorial Day yet in California. I hope this video helps us all keep our lives in perspective and remember the sacrifice of our soldiers.

- David

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In honor of Memorial Day, a bunch of airlines are matching frequent flier mile donations mile-for-mile. The miles will go toward free flights for injured service men and women or their families to visit them in the hospital. The match is in effect now through 11:59pm on Monday, 5/28.

It is being run in conjunction with Fisher House. It is a great organization that sets up free guest houses near military hospitals all around the world so that families can be near their injured soldiers while they are in the hospital. I would encourage anybody interested in supporting our troops to check them out.

Here are the airlines accepting donations:
- Airtran
- Alaska
- American
- Continental
- Delta
- Frontier
- Midwest
- Northwest
- United
- US Air

If you have any spare miles, or balances that have been sitting around dormant for a while, this is a great opportunity to direct them to a great cause, and to double their impact! Please click here for more information.

- David

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I wanted to remind both our bloggers and our visitors that we are having a Blog Silence in honor of Memorial Day. This means that there will be no blogging here at all tomorrow. If you would like you can place Memorial Day related comments on the post that will be placed on the top of the page to stay there for the day. It would actually be touching if you were to do this. So, feel free to post any Veteran/Military/etc. related comment that you wish. Enjoy the day with your family, but also remember the reason for it!

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Press Releases from governor Mitt Romney on veterans

2007
* Apr 13, 2007; Governor Mitt Romney Announces South Carolina Veterans for Romney Chairmen

2006
* 08-14-2006, Romney expands tax benefits for disabled veterans
* 06-15-2006, Romney recognizes employers for hiring veterans

2005
* 06-07-2005, Romney announces $3 million veterans cemetery expansion
* 11-03-2005, Romney declares November “hire a veteran” month

2004
* 11-30-2004, Romney dedicates I-495 overpasses to wartime heroes
* 09-23-2004, Romney signs law protecting armed service members
* 05-28-2004, Romney marks memorial day by honoring veterans

2003
* 08-28-2003, Romney appoints state’s 1st secretary of veterans’ services

Quotes from Governor Mitt Romney on Veterans

* “For anyone who follows the news, the past few weeks has seen an increase in terrorist attacks against peace and civilization. From the bombing of the United Nations hotel in Baghdad to the continuing assaults against our troops in Iraq, we are coming to fully appreciate the sacrifice our men and women in uniform make on a daily basis.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 08-28-2003 Press Release

* “By elevating the commissioner’s office to the secretariat level, we are bestowing on our veterans a stronger and more direct voice in the administration of our government,” Mitt Romney said. “It is a status they richly deserve.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 08-28-2003 Press Release

* “Our veterans and their families have given so much of themselves to protect and defend our country that our state government in return should do every thing possible to ensure their voices are heard.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 08-28-2003 Press Release

* “It is time to acknowledge the extraordinary sacrifice of all of our veterans. While many Massachusetts soldiers served our nation in a period technically dubbed ‘peacetime,’ they restored American pride in the wake of Vietnam and helped bring a successful end to the Cold War. The service of these men and women was not without cost. There are countless stories of soldiers who served with great distinction only to be denied veteran status after returning home. Every man and woman who volunteered to serve this country should be treated with the same degree of respect, gratitude and dignity.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 05-28-2004 Press Release

* “The American servicemen and women of the Guard and Reserve leave their jobs, their spouses and their children to wear the uniform that defends our country. This selfless commitment should be honored by businesses across Massachusetts as we work to ensure they are treated fairly while they balance their employment responsibilities and obligations to the armed services. No business should ever put the bottom line ahead of America’s front line.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 09-23-2004 Press Release

* “Today, on behalf of the entire Commonwealth, we remember Elia Fontecchio and offer a special thanks to every veteran from the Greater Milford area. In protecting the promise of individual freedom, they have created a better world for generations to come. Their sacrifices will never be forgotten.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 11-30-2004 Press Release

* “This cemetery is a tangible reminder of the country’s appreciation for the sacrifices veterans have made in the cause of freedom”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 06-07-2005 Press Release

* “Our veterans know the meaning of service better than anyone else and they aren’t about to quit working when they come home. The best reward we can provide our vets for their service isn’t a medal or a check; it’s a livelihood and a means of supporting themselves and their families.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 11-03-2005 Press Release
+ Press release promoting “Hire a Veteran” month

* “I want to salute the Massachusetts employers who have hired or plan to hire veterans this year,” said Romney. “As our troops return home, we remain mindful that the best way to honor their service is to help them to reenter the workforce.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 06-15-2006 Press Release

* “One of the highest duties of government is our obligation to take care of the men and women who defend this nation. This legislation follows through on that commitment by providing additional benefits to disabled veterans, as well as to the families of soldiers killed or missing in action.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 08-14-2006 Press Release

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Good morning.

In the past four years, I have spoken with service men and women from every part of our Commonwealth. I have met their families – parents, wives and husbands, and children. We have spoken in the anxious days and hours before deployment to far-off and dangerous places. And, I’ve welcomed our service men and women home.

Their sacrifices inspire – there’s the star athlete who now walks with a cane, the proud hero who taught himself how to tie his shoes with an aluminum arm. And then, there were others who did not return. Army Lt. Derek Hines, a 25-year-old known for his love of hockey and infectious grin, was struck down in a firefight in Afghanistan. I met yesterday with the grieving 20-year-old widow of Edward Garvin, Lance Corporal – she and her husband were best friends since the 2nd grade, then sweethearts. He was killed 40 days after his deployment to Iraq.

In these last few years, I have attended almost 40 funerals and wakes. Every fallen soldier, every wounded veteran, every grieving loved one, paid the price for freedom and for peace. All they require of us is to care for those they left behind, to console and to shelter, and to remember the immeasurable debt we owe.

New heroes are paying the price, even today. I fear that freedom will always exact a heavy toll, until perhaps, at last, the Creator will say, “It is finished.” Oh how I wish peace and freedom could be won without so dear a price, without conflict, without soldiers, without war, without death. The history of mankind tells a very different story. Think of the human toll: the people who died in the last century because of organized violence was over 160 million.

The sad lesson of history is that war is not a rare or random occurrence that can be wished away by those of us who love peace. In the years since our nation’s founding, no American has reached their 50th birthday without having lived through at least two major U.S. wars.

The best ally of peace is a strong America, an America with unparalleled strength and resolve, an America fully engaged in every imaginable effort to pursue peace, and an America committed to lead others toward liberty. As Ronald Reagan once said, “I have seen four wars during my lifetime and none of them began because America was too strong.”

This day marks the signing of the armistice that ended the First World War — at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 88 years ago. Some claimed that World War I was “the war to end all wars,” but they had forgotten the lessons of history. General Douglas MacArthur, himself a veteran of World War I, said that old soldiers never die, they just fade away. Almost all of the nearly 5 million American veterans of that war have faded away with General MacArthur.

But, astonishingly, there are two Massachusetts citizens, veterans of that awful conflict, who are alive today. Please hold your applause until I’ve introduced them both.

Antonio Pierro of Swampscott was an Army Private in the 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 82d Division. He fought in France at the battle of St. Michel and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the final campaign of the war. If life is a journey, Private Pierro’s life is an expedition: He was born in 1896 in a small town in Italy. What a long way he has traveled: from the 19th Century to the 21st; from a mountaintop village in Italy to Swampscott, Massachusetts.

Russell Buchanan, of Watertown, tried to join the Marines to fight in World War One, but he was turned down. He turned to the Navy, but at 115 pounds, he didn’t weigh enough to meet the Navy’s 118-pound cutoff. So he worked hard, gained the extra three pounds, and joined the Navy in July of 1918. His duty to serve didn’t end there either: sensing that America would soon enter World War II, he enlisted again, 10 months before Pearl Harbor. This time he joined the Army, where he served as a technical sergeant and was sent to Europe as a member of 26th Yankee Division of General George Patton’s 3d Army.

Gentleman, will you please stand so that we may recognize you? (Long applause)

There is a great continuous chain of service, linking every American generation – past, present, and future – through love of this country and all that it stands for. Every veteran is a link in that chain. They are the senior members in the half-a-million strong group of proud military veterans in our Commonwealth.

Recognition takes on many forms. We have our disagreements in politics, but making sure that our veterans are honored and appreciated is one issue that all but erases party differences. I’d like to thank the legislature for working with me to enact important measures like the Welcome Home Bill to help ensure that Massachusetts veterans and Guard personnel receive the benefits they deserve.

But none of that ever balances the scale: there is nothing that we can do to match our gratitude for the men and women who risk everything they have to defend this nation. America will always be producing veterans, as long as there are people outside our borders who hate freedom and people inside them who love it.

~ Mike

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The students at Virginia Tech were given a One Day Blog Silence, and I believe that our fallen heroes that have protected our lives, freedom, and liberty should be bestowed at least that much. So, on Monday, May 28th, 2007 this blog will go silent for the entire day. Please take time to reflect upon it’s true meaning. If you know a Veteran thank them, shake their hand, pat them on the back, or give them a hug for their sacrifice and dedication for you and our country.

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