Romney's Good Ideas and Free Stuff for Votes

If the worst thing about the presidential election process is the un-ending and ceaseless barrage of campaign commercials, the second worst thing has got to be the weeks of Monday morning quarterbacking that go on after the election ends.

With today seeing the first White House press conference since summer, of course there was talk of the election, and how Our Great Leader, HRH Barack Hussein Obama, (Peace Be Upon Him) feels about Gov. Mitt Romney.  And then for some reason (probably to show they were covering both sides) our liberal media decided to share the contents of a conference call that Gov. Romney had with his top supporters.

HRH Obama, in his press conference today, said, "my hope is before the end of the year, though, that we have a chance to sit down and talk.  There are certain aspects of Gov. Romney's record and his ideas that I think would be very helpful."  This an absolutely amazing turnaround. During the campaign, Gov. Romney had no good ideas according to the Obama campaign.  In fact, it was Gov. Romney, who said he agreed with the President on some issues, particularly in the realm of foreign relations, and was blasted for it in the press.

Of course, with the President being so "bipartisan" and "magnanimous" the mainstream media could not resist participating in their favorite sport; spinning comments so Republicans look bad.

Gov. Romney commented during a "post-election conference call" with major donors, that some of the policies enacted by the administration appeared like "gifts" to help win young minority and low income voters.  From the New York Times:

“In each case they were very generous in what they gave to those groups,” Mr. Romney said.

“With regards to the young people, for instance, a forgiveness of college loan interest, was a big gift,” he said. “Free contraceptives were very big with young college-aged women. And then, finally, Obamacare also made a difference for them, because as you know, anybody now 26 years of age and younger was now going to be part of their parents’ plan, and that was a big gift to young people. They turned out in large numbers, a larger share in this election even than in 2008.”

Even the voters saw these policies and "gifts" as a reason to keep Obama in office.  A prime example of this was the YouTube video of the woman saying, vote for Obama because he gave us Obama phones and Romney will take them away.

At the GOP convention people like Sen. Rubio, Sen. Martinez, and Sen. Rice were showcased.  They all shared the same story.  They came from very humble and sometimes poor beginnings, but they worked hard, overcame adversity and made themselves into successes.

But prosperity that involves hard work is frowned upon by the left.  The left says, we will take care of you.  The government will fix your problems.  Besides, it's not your fault.  It's the rich guys fault.  We need to get at him and hit him in the wallet.  Vote for us so you can keep getting government handouts--like free healthcare, free cell phones, free Internet. Vote for us to "get revenge."

All this really shows is that Alexis de Tocqueville was right:

“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years.” 

If you offer someone YOUR cash for their vote, it is called "bribery".  If you offer someone OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY (TAX DOLLARS) for their vote, it is called "public policy."

Romney's Good Ideas and Free Stuff for Votes

First Thoughts on the Obama Care Ruling

Like most I am still trying to decide exactly how I feel about the Supreme Court's ruling this morning in "National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius" also known as the Obama Care ruling.

I've downloaded the Court's opinion and am in the process of reading and digesting it.

While on the surface it appears to some, especially those on the liberal side of the aisle, that this was a defeat for the GOP.  It may not have been.

Of primary import is the fact that nothing galvanizes conservatives like a Supreme Court ruling that does not go their way. While the ruling upheld what was previously called an individual mandate, it's important to note that the Court ruled that this is an individual tax not a mandate. It is also important to note that the Chief Justice in his opinion limited the application of the Commerce Clause.

Further the Court held that the government cannot coerce States into an enormous expansion of Medicare. If the states choose not to expand Medicare then that would force those that are above the poverty level but without insurance into government pools. This could potentially put a large burden on the Federal Government financially.

This ruling also paints the Obama administration into a corner. If they brag about their health care ruling, then they have to admit that this is the largest tax increase in the history of the United States certainly if not the history of modern civilization. They swore they would not raise taxes on the middle class or the poor and yet the Court has ruled today that they did.

I'm also looking at the dissent from Justice Kennedy. It is been reported, but not widely, that there are some very interesting "errors" in the wording of the dissent. The dissent appears to read like a majority opinion. Further the dissent is reported to refer in places to a dissent that no longer exists begging the question was this dissent actually the majority opinion at one point? Did Chief Justice Roberts originally vote to strike the entire law? If so why did the Chief Justice change his vote?

The final opinion handed down by the Court today is 193 pages long and I have certainly not finished reading it yet. Rest assured when I do I will have more here.

First Thoughts on the Obama Care Ruling

Gov. Romney's Speech to CPAC

I want to begin by saying thank you. It’s great to be with you again.And I look forward to joining with you many more times in the future.
Last year, CPAC gave me the sendoff I needed. I was in single digits in the polls and I was facing household Republican names. As of today, more than 4 million people have given me their vote for president, less than Senator McCain’s 4.7 million, but quite a statement nonetheless. 11 states have given me their nod, compared to his 13.Of course, because size does matter, he’s doing quite a bit better with his number of delegates.
To all of you, thank you for caring enough about the future of America to show up, stand up and speak up for conservative principles.
As I said to you last year, conservative principles are needed now more than ever. We face a new generation of challenges, challenges which threaten our prosperity, our security and our future. I am convinced that unless America changes course, we will become the France of the 21st century—still a great nation, but no longer the leader of the world, no longer the superpower. And to me, that is unthinkable. Simon Peres, in a visit to Boston, was asked what he thought about the war in Iraq. “First,” he said, “I must put something in context. America is unique in the history of the world. In the history of the world, whenever there has been conflict, the nation that wins takes land from the nation that loses. One nation in history, and this during the last century, laid down hundreds of thousands of lives and took no land. No land from Germany, no land from Japan, no land from Korea. America is unique in the sacrifice it has made for liberty, for itself and for freedom loving people around the world.” The best ally peace has ever known, and will ever know, is a strong America!
And that is why we must rise to the occasion, as we have always done before, to confront the challenges ahead. Perhaps the most fundamental of these is the attack on the American culture.
Over the years, my business has taken me to many countries. I have been struck by the enormous differences in the wealth and well-being of people of different nations. I have read a number of scholarly explanations for the disparities. I found the most convincing was that written by David Landes, a professor emeritus from Harvard University.I presume he’s a liberal–I guess that’s redundant. His work traces the coming and going of great civilizations throughout history. After hundreds of pages of analysis, he concludes with this:
If we learn anything from the history of economic development, it is that culture makes all the difference. Culture makes all the difference.
What is it about American culture that has led us to become the most powerful nation in the history of the world? We believe in hard work and education. We love opportunity: almost all of us are immigrants or descendants of immigrants who came here for opportunity—opportunity is in our DNA. Americans love God, and those who don’t have faith, typically believe in something greater than themselves—a “Purpose Driven Life.” And we sacrifice everything we have, even our lives, for our families, our freedoms and our country. The values and beliefs of the free American people are the source of our nation’s strength and they always will be!
The threat to our culture comes from within. The 1960’s welfare programs created a culture of poverty. Some think we won that battle when we reformed welfare, but the liberals haven’t given up. At every turn, they try to substitute government largesse for individual responsibility. They fight to strip work requirements from welfare, to put more people on Medicaid, and to remove more and more people from having to pay any income tax whatsoever. Dependency is death to initiative, risk-taking and opportunity. Dependency is a culture-killing drug—we have got to fight it like the poison it is!
The attack on faith and religion is no less relentless. And tolerance for pornography—even celebration of it—and sexual promiscuity, combined with the twisted incentives of government welfare programs have led to today’s grim realities: 68% of African American children are born out-of-wedlock, 45% of Hispanic children, and 25% of White children. How much harder it is for these children to succeed in school—and in life. A nation built on the principles of the founding fathers cannot long stand when its children are raised without fathers in the home.
The development of a child is enhanced by having a mother and father.Such a family is the ideal for the future of the child and for the strength of a nation. I wonder how it is that unelected judges, like some in my state of Massachusetts, are so unaware of this reality, so oblivious to the millennia of recorded history. It is time for the people of America to fortify marriage through constitutional amendment, so that liberal judges cannot continue to attack it!
Europe is facing a demographic disaster. That is the inevitable product of weakened faith in the Creator, failed families, disrespect for the sanctity of human life and eroded morality. Some reason that culture is merely an accessory to America’s vitality; we know that it is the source of our strength. And we are not dissuaded by the snickers and knowing glances when we stand up for family values, and morality, and culture. We will always be honored to stand on principle and to stand for principle.
The attack on our culture is not our sole challenge. We face economic competition unlike anything we have ever known before. China and Asia are emerging from centuries of poverty. Their people are plentiful, innovative, and ambitious. If we do not change course, Asia or China will pass us by as the economic superpower, just as we passed England and France during the last century. The prosperity and security of our children and grandchildren depend on us.
Our prosperity and security also depend on finally acting to become energy secure. Oil producing states like Russia and Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Iran are siphoning over $400 billion per year from our economy—that’s almost what we spend annually for defense. It is past time for us to invest in energy technology, nuclear power, clean coal,liquid coal, renewable sources and energy efficiency. America mustnever be held hostage by the likes of Putin, Chavez, and Ahmendinejad.
And our economy is also burdened by the inexorable ramping of government spending. Don’t focus on the pork alone—even though it is indeed irritating and shameful. Look at the entitlements. `They make up 60% of federal spending today. By the end of the next President’s second term, they will total 70%. Any conservative plan for the future has to include entitlement reform that solves the problem, not just acknowledges it.
Most politicians don’t seem to understand the connection between our ability to compete and our national wealth, and the wealth of our families. They act as if money just happens–that it’s just there. But every dollar represents a good or service produced in the private sector. Depress the private sector and you depress the well-being of Americans.
That’s exactly what happens with high taxes, over-regulation, tort windfalls, mandates, and overfed, over-spending government. Did you see that today, government workers make more money than people who work in the private sector. Can you imagine what happens to an economy where the best opportunities are for bureaucrats?
It’s high time to lower taxes, including corporate taxes, to take a weed-whacker to government regulations, to reform entitlements, and to stand up to the increasingly voracious appetite of the unions in our government!
And finally, let’s consider the greatest challenge facing America—and facing the entire civilized world: the threat of violent, radical Jihad. In one wing of the world of Islam, there is a conviction that all governments should be destroyed and replaced by a religious caliphate. These Jihadists will battle any form of democracy—to them, democracy is blasphemous for it says that citizens, not God shape the law. They find the idea of human equality to be offensive. They hate everything we believe about freedom just as we hate everything they believe about radical Jihad.
To battle this threat, we have sent the most courageous and brave soldiers in the world. But their numbers have been depleted by the Clinton years when troops were reduced by 500,000, when 80 ships were retired from the Navy, and when our human intelligence was slashed by 25%. We were told that we were getting a peace dividend. We got the dividend, but we didn’t get the peace. In the face of evil in radical Jihad and given the inevitable military ambitions of China, we must act to rebuild our military might. Raise military spending to 4% of our GDP, purchase the most modern armament, re-shape our fighting forces for the asymmetric demands we now face, and give the veterans the care they deserve!
Soon, the face of liberalism in America will have a new name. Whether it is Barack or Hillary, the result would be the same if they were to win the Presidency. The opponents of American culture would push the throttle, devising new justifications for judges to depart from the constitution. Economic neophytes would layer heavier and heavier burdens on employers and families, slowing our economy and opening the way for foreign competition to further erode our lead.
Even though we face an uphill fight, I know that many in this room are fully behind my campaign.” You are with me all the way to the convention. Fight on, just like Ronald Reagan did in 1976. But there is an important difference from 1976: today… we are a nation at war.
And Barack and Hillary have made their intentions clear regarding Iraq and the war on terror. They would retreat and declare defeat. And the consequence of that would be devastating. It would mean attacks on America, launched from safe havens that make Afghanistan under the Taliban look like child’s play. About this, I have no doubt.
I disagree with Senator McCain on a number of issues, as you know. But I agree with him on doing whatever it takes to be successful in Iraq, on finding and executing Osama bin Laden, and on eliminating Al Qaeda and terror. If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or Obama would win. And in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign, be a part of aiding a surrender to terror.
This is not an easy decision for me. I hate to lose. My family, my friends and our supporters… many of you right here in this room…have given a great deal to get me where I have a shot at becoming President. If this were only about me, I would go on. But I entered this race because I love America, and because I love America, I feel I must now stand aside, for our party and for our country.
I will continue to stand for conservative principles; I will fight alongside you for all the things we believe in. And one of those things is that we cannot allow the next President of the United States to retreat in the face evil extremism!!
It is the common task of each generation—and the burden of liberty—to preserve this country, expand its freedoms and renew its spirit so that its noble past is prologue to its glorious future.
To this task… accepting this burden… we are all dedicated, and I firmly believe, by the providence of the Almighty, that we will succeed beyond our fondest hope. America must remain, as it has always been, the hope of the earth.
Thank you, and God bless America.

Gov. Romney's Speech to CPAC

We Few, We Happy Few, We Band of Conservatives

Super Tuesday was not the greatest day for the true Conservatives.

So this morning, I was sitting in my office, thinking of Ronald Reagan's Birthday, listening to music, and trying to concentrate on work, when my media player began playing "St. Crispin's Day/The Battle of Agincort" from the Kenneth Branaugh version of William Shakespeare's "Henry V."

For those not familiar with the piece, it is played by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and was composed by Patrick Doyle. In the movie, King Henry gives his famous "Band of Brother's/St. Crispin's Day Speech" while this music is playing. Each time I watch it I am moved.

This morning I began to think, "What if Shakespeare were still alive? What might he write about last night?" Maybe it would go something like this:

Main Stream Media-

O that their movement was made of
But one ten thousand of those moderates
Who voted for John McCain!

True Conservatives-

What's he that wishes so?
The Main Stream Media? No, fair Media;
If we are mark'd to loose , we are enough
To do our Party loss; and if to win,
The truer the Conservative, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one Moderate more.
Rather proclaim it, Media, through our nation,
That he which hath no stomach to Conservatism,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not stand in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to stand for truth with us.
This day is call'd the Birthday of Ronald Reagan.
He that outlives this day, and remains Conservative,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Reagan.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Reagan's Day.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'I stood for Conservatism on Reagan's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Romney and Thompson, Limbaugh and Hannity,
Levin and Malkin, Coulter and Novak-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Reagan's Day shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of Conservatives;
For he to-day that stands for Conservatism with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And Moderates across this nation now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not with us,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That stands with us, upon Ronald Reagan's day.

We should not give up or give in. The fight for Conservative Values is not over.

We Few, We Happy Few, We Band of Conservatives

Romney Landslide in Maine

Maine has spoken. According to the reports I have seen, it appears that GOV ROMNEY has won in a land slide and will take most of Maine's 18 delegates. At the time I am writing this, Gov. Romney is at 52% with McCain at 21% and Paul at 19% with 68% reporting. So much for the polls and the MSM coronation of McCain.

(Speaking of the MSM- Why is it that Romney has won more states than McCain, but according to the MSM, the race is over? On the Democrat side, Hillary has won TWICE the states that Obama has, but according to the MSM, that race is a dead heat?)

The most important thing to remember when listing to the MSM and the Polls that they love to talk about is that The OVERALL POPULAR VOTE DOES NOT MATTER IN MANY CASES!!!! On Super Tuesday, MOST of the states are NOT winner take all. Of the more than 20 states participating in GOP Primaries or Caucuses on Super Tuesday, only 8 are Winner Take All. Of those, one- Arizona- will probably go McCain, one- Utah- will probably go Romney, and one- Missouri- may go to the Huckleberry.

California is NOT winner take all. In California, three delegates are given to the winner of each congressional district, and 11 to the overall state winner. This means that it is VERY possible that although McCain might win the popular vote, Gov. Romney could walk away with the win.

I spent last night reading polls and looking at numbers and trying to figure out how the delegate count would come one. Finally I just gave up. The numbers are too fluid and in many cases have just been plain wrong.

There is also no way to take the McCain backlash into account. I am not the only one that sees this. Hugh Hewitt wrote Friday that he sees a turning underway. Ed Morrissey writes to day that he sees "Romney Rising" as well. Michelle Malkin today talked about the "dead heat."

Bottom line- This race will not be over until someone has 1191 delegates and even after Super Tuesday, we may still be a long way from that.

Romney Landslide in Maine

Romney's New Advisor on Illegal Immigration? Kris Kobach!!!

If anyone on the conservative side of the GOP is worried about Mitt Romney's illegal immigration views, they can sleep easier- at least with the advise that Gov. Romney is getting.

The Carden Chronicles learned last night that none other than Dr. Kris Kobach is now serving as an advisor to Gov. Romney on illegal immigration and border security!

For those that are not familiar with Professor Kobach, he is a noted Immigration expert, Professor Of Law And Head Of The Kansas Republican Party. In 1996, Professor Kobach joined the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law (UMKC) faculty. In 2001, he was awarded a White House Fellowship serving in the office of U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft. There he would serve as the Attorney General's chief adviser on immigration law and border security. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Kobach was charged with the Department of Justice's (DOJ) efforts to tighten border security and implement the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System. Before leaving DOJ in 2003, he led the reform of the immigration court system. Professor Kobach has litigated a number of high-profile immigration lawsuits including representing the city of Hazleton, Pennsylvania. He is a Senior Counsel at the Immigration Reform Law Institute. At the Law School, he teaches Constitutional law and immigration law.

According to a statement from Romney for President:

Kobach will serve as an adviser to Governor Romney on border security and immigration reform issues.

"For years, Kris Kobach has distinguished himself in his work to ensure that our immigration system respects the rule of law and ends illegal immigration while protecting the legal immigration that has made our country great. He knows firsthand how important it is that we protect our country by securing our borders and rejecting amnesty proposals. I look forward to working with Kris as we tackle this critical challenge," said Governor Romney.

On a personal note, I am proud to be able to call Dr. Kobach a friend. I first met him in 2004 when he was running for the US House of Representatives and I served on his campaign staff setting up and running the technology end of his campaign. We have maintained a friendly relationship since that time. (In fact, I still need to get some elk steaks over to him from the elk I shot last fall). Kris is also an avid sportsman and a true believer that the second amendment is meant to protect the rights of the people.

There are few whose opinions I respect more. Kris Kobach is probably the best choice the Gov. Romney could have made to help secure America's borders.

UPDATE:

Michelle Malkin lists all those that are behind McCain, including those that are basically "open-border." What a marked contrast!

Romney's New Advisor on Illegal Immigration? Kris Kobach!!!