Romney criticized for advocating that graduates get married and have families

AmericanThinker: Romney criticized for advocating that graduates get married and have families http://t.co/w7sdDpGjfN


- Jeremy Buchanan Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Conservatives Know Mitt Romney. That's His Problem!

Conservatives know everything about Mitt Romney.  We know all of his press releases and talking points.  We know of his resume highlights about Bain Capital and “saving the Olympics”.  We know Mitt Romney well from the last time he ran back in 2008 when he actually had most of our support over John McCain.  We’re told to look at Mitt Romney as a business man from the private sector.  We’re told that he has the best “executive experience” because he was governor of Massachusetts.  We’re told he’s a nice guy with a great family.  We’re told that Mitt Romney is a Conservative and Romney proves it by spending millions of dollars from fundraising and his Super PACs on negative attack ads focusing on his Republican rivals.  Especially if those candidates are considered conservative or tea party or anything like that. 

On paper, Mitt Romney looks like he has everything and the media plays up his looks like a president, has lots of money, great organization and name recognition from 2008 run but what Mitt Romney is lacking is Conservative principles.  Mitt Romney is not winning over his Conservative base that he desperately needs to beat Obama in the general election to become President.  Just as McCain had Amnesty through immigration reform that he never admitted to, Romney has forced an individual mandate of health insurance on his citizens as governor of Massachusetts that he still refuses to admit was wrong or a mistake.

Here’s my problem with Mitt Romney.  Mitt Romney is not a Conservative.  When Conservatives have looked into Romney’s “executive experience” as governor of Massachusetts, Conservatives find Romneycare.  The Obamacarebefore Obamacare.  As Conservatives, We must Naturally reject and object to Romneycare and the individual mandate that Romney supported, fought for and signed into law with a big smile and clapping standing right next to Senator Ted Kennedy.  Here is actual video from that bill signing with Liberal Senator Ted Kennedy.  Romneycare is not a State’s Right Issue or a 10^th Amendment Issue.  An individual mandate is an individual mandate.  For Romney to stillnot admit that Romneycare was a mistake or wrong just makes Conservatives even angrier.  Romney upsets Conservatives further by defending it and trying to make it out to be something we know it is not.  Romneycare is a disaster.  Romneycare is as big government as big government gets.  The National Conservative Tea Party Movement was created, in large part, to Obama fighting as long and as hard as he did to get Obamacare finally passed against the wishes of the American people and with no support from Republicans.  Romneycare takes over 1/6^th of Massachusetts’ economy forcing every citizen to purchase health care insurance or pay a fine whether they want to or not.   Whether they can afford health care insurance or not.  Romneycare is a nightmare destroying health care in Massachusetts.  The whole premise of why Mitt Romney felt that he needed to enforce Romneycare on the people of Massachusetts is ridiculous.  Romney says he needed to pass Romneycare to cut down on the “free riders” that were taking advantage of the existing system.  Mitt Romney actually suggested three times in 2009 that Obama imitate Romneycare.  Mitt Romney's urging Obama to embrace the individual mandate is well documented by Erick Erickson of Redstate and well known among Conservatives.  Mitt Romney actually advocated for Obamacare and then lied about it as reported by Jon Chait of New York Magazine and posted on RealClearPolitics.  Virginia Attorney General, Kenneth T. Cuccinelli fears Romney nomination would neutralize health law as issue.  I know I am not alone in this insecurity about Romney vs Obama on health law issue. 

Conservatives know there is a solution to this problem already.  It is called Medicaid and a portion of our hard earned tax dollars goes to funding it every paycheck.  Every state has Medicaid and it’s designated purpose is to insure the poor and needy.  Every governor in every state in America faces these same kind of financial hardships in health care in their respective states.  Mitt Romney is the only governor to force an individual mandate in health care on the people he was elected to represent.  If You ever listen to or get a chance to actually hear Mitt Romney talk about what he did as governor in respect to Romneycare, you'd hear with your own ears and see with your own eyes exactly how proud and excited he gets when the subject does come up.  IF Mitt Romney is so proud and so confident about his role in passing Romneycare, Where are all of his campaign ads where he is describing how good and positive Romneycare is for Massachusetts and America?  They don’t exist.  They are not coming either. 

The pure and simple truth is that Romneycare is a huge government intrusion into the Massachusetts health care system.  That is neither Conservative or fiscally responsible.  Did Mitt Romney know and understand exactly what he was doing when he signed Romneycare into law as governor of Massachusetts?  Was Romney forced into it or bullied into signing Romneycare by the over 85% Democrat legislature he faced in Massachusetts?  The answers to these questions are hard for Republicans and especially Conservatives to stomach.  Mitt Romney is in his 60’s now while running for President.  He was in his 50’s, married with grown children and over 25 years of private sector experience when he passed Romneycare into law.  I’m 34 going on 35.  I’m also married with two great kids and over twenty years of experience in the private sector.  If I know at 35 it would not be Conservative or in line with the Republican Party Principles to sign a massive individual mandate on health insurance as governor representing your party as head of your party of your state, Romney was older, wiser and further set in his ways when he fought for, championed and passed Romneycare.  Conservatives are supposed to ignore that fact and act like that is not significant or a monumental decision that ultimately defines what kind of governor he actually is.  Not what he says or pretends to be on the campaign trail.  Politicians twist themselves into pretzels trying to be all things to all people.  They do this in hopes for gaining as many votes possible for them to win the office they are running for.  Mitt Romney is this kind of politician.  Not all politicians are like this but Mitt Romney certainly does fall just perfectly into this category of politicians running for office.   Many analysts have called campaign 'plastic and dishonest'.  Conservatives have a great quality for spotting these kinds of fakes or phonies.  Conservatives are not fooled because they know the issues and stand by their principles.  They study and evaluate every candidate on the issues and principles.  I know Conservatives do this research of the candidates because I am such a Conservative.  I vet all of the candidates running because I want to know which one is best and most qualified to be in office representing me and my Conservative Principles.  I’m a Conservative that is not necessarily loyal to a particular candidate or party running for office.  I look for the best overall candidate who best represents my Conservative Principles that I can trust to follow through once elected into office.  The snag for many voters is they think certain candidates are best because of the way they look or talk or carry themselves in public.  While those are important, that is all style over substance.  Conservatives don’t believe the hype or settle for anything less than candidates championing their Conservative Principles.  Nothing less will do for us.  The other snag for some people are those who think a candidate who is well known and well liked by the Republican Party Establishment should be the candidate that all Republicans should line up behind and get on board with.  Again, Conservatives don’t necessarily go with the flow or follow the pack.  They tend to be Independent Free Thinkers who know and understand exactly what they want and expect out of their candidates in every election no matter what election it is.  We don’t base our opinions off what others do or think.  We make up our own minds based on our principles.  That’s it.   

Romneycare is not the only problem that Conservatives have seen in Mitt Romney’s extensive resume in public office.  Romney is also on record of supporting Manmade Global Warming even after climategate, Ethanol Subsidies, classwarfare rhetoric and mandatory minimum wage increases.  Romney also has no problem ruthlessly attacking his Conservative rivals calling Newt Gingrich “mentally unstable” and Rick Santorum an “Economic Lightweight”.  Then Mitt Romney is very careful when he marks his words when speaking about Obama.  This only helps remind Conservatives how Senator John McCain choose to run his Presidential campaign back in 2008.  In 2008, McCain never batted an eye when he criticized his GOP competitors in the primary leading up to his nomination but would chastise and dismiss any level of negative attacks on Barack Obama.  McCain rejected those kinds of comments even calling Obama “a good man who would make a good president”.  His words.  They still suck and are dead wrong.  So here is Mitt Romney who apparently learned right out of John McCain’s playbook to have no mercy on fellow Republicans but keep the gloves on to Obama.  Great strategy except it didn’t work out too well for John McCain in 2008 and it won’t work out well for Mitt Romney either.  You would think that the same Republicans that voted to nominate Senator John McCain in 2008 would have learned their lesson by now four years later after an Obama Presidency that has increased our National Debt, total size of government and no end in sight for an out of control government hell bent on spending the next generation’s future on today’s whims.

If you are a Mitt Romney supporter reading this, please understand that we  know the good, the bad and the ugly about Mitt Romney.  We reject him and everything he stands for.  Romney does not stand on our Conservative principles.  We’re not dumb or ignorant when it comes to who and what Mitt Romney really is.  We know.  Maybe you need to re-evaluate the Mitt Romney you think you know and trust.  We don’t trust Romney because we know his history and reject his “executive experience” as governor of Massachusetts.  Romney’s over twenty five years in the private sector experience at Bain Capital and his saving the Olympics didn’t help or serve his well as governor.  Why should Conservatives think Mitt Romney has finally learned how to be a Principled Conservative now if elected president?   Does that sound logical at this point in Romney’s career?  Not to mention that he has every Establishment Republican “Insider” endorsing him.  What do they like and see about Mitt Romney?  Could it be Romney’s weakness to cave in and give in to big government? 

Still think Romney will repeal Obamacare if elected president?  Think again.  Please consider this.  Mitt Romney stands by Romneycare.  Romney defends Romneycare just as McCain still refuses to call immigration reform “Amnesty”.  Romney Advisor Norm Coleman predicts GOP President won’t repeal Obamacare.  When pressed and pinned down by anyone about his exact plans to repeal Obamacare, No further details are given beyond check out what is posted on his webpage.  Mitt Romney offers no exact plan to repeal Obamacare on his webpage.  Mitt Romney talks a big game about repealing Obamacare on the campaign trail these days. But in the wake of the law's passage, he had a more modest goal: "repealthe bad and keep the good."  Then you have to cringe and shutter when Conservative Tea Party Republicans like BobMcDonnell, Niki Haley, Pam Bondi and Ann Coulter not only defending Romneycare as conservative but actually defending it as a good free market solution.  That goes too far and is unacceptable.  Mitt Romney may have a few Conservative Tea Party Republican candidates endorsing him and defending his individual mandate but that is to their peril.  Not ours.  Again, Conservatives are individual free thinkers who judge candidates based on their principles.  Not loyal to any candidate or party.  These four people I listed above are the exception.  Not the rule.  They may be ok with shelving their Conservative principles for whatever personal reasons they have in their life.  That does not make them right or the standard we should follow. 

Bottomline.  I will vote for Mitt Romney in the general election if he wins the GOP’s nomination.  I did vote for Senator John McCain back in 2008.  That doesn’t mean that other like-minded Conservatives will do the same.  Many may decided to stay home or write-in a candidate they really like just to spite Mitt Romney and the Republican Party.  I don’t agree with those two options but everyone is different and not everyone agrees with what is best for this country.  I hope and pray that Conservatives will unite and vote for whoever the Republican Nominee is at the end of this primary.  Even if that nominee is Mitt Romney.  I’ll be open and honest by saying I will not vote for Ron Paul under any circumstance.  I don’t care what he says or does.  We all have our standards and lines we won’t cross.  I won’t support or vote for Ron Paul.  I have many valid quality reasons for that.  Ron Paul is my only exception.  Other Conservatives may have that similar feelings about Mitt Romney.  I do not agree but not all Conservatives agree on everything all of the time.  As I stated earlier, Conservatives are independent free thinkers who don’t go with the flow or follow the pack.  I know and understand that.  Will Mitt Romney ever get that?  Will his supporters ever understand it?  I doubt it.  That is their problem. 

I actually still like Mitt Romney and would absolutely vote for him if he is the Republican nominee. That being said, I don’t think America will choose Mitt Romney in 2012 just like they didn’t choose him in 2008. Mitt Romney lost to John McCain in 2008 and I predict he will lose again to Rick Santorum or Newt Gingrich. Nothing against Mitt but America Needs a Solid, Articulate, Passionate and Battle-Hardened Champion to Lead and Represent them as President going forward. As Good as Mitt Romney may have been or still is, Romney’s Best still falls short again in 2012. Sorry Mitt.

Sincerely, Conservative Voters across America

Three Cheers For Rick Santorum. None for Mitt Romney.

Rick Santorum finally deserves some credit for being a strong candidate that is clearly electable.  Rick Santorum won Oklahoma, Tennessee, North Dakota and almost won in Ohio which many analysts and so called "experts" were calling Ohio "the crown jewel" of Super Tuesday.  Combine that effort with the hat trick of three wins in one day with Colorado, Minnessota and Missouri.  Rick Santorum has proved with little doubt that his "Made In america" message along with his "Economic Freedom Agenda" vision for America is reasonating with "very conservative" and "tea party" voters.  I do think Rick Santorum will continue to win voters over in the upcoming primary states.  Rick Santorum is doing so well at this point in the primary is truly surprising and amazing because Santorum was being hammered with negative attack ads from the Romney campaign and Romney's CPACs in key counties in key states like Michigan and Ohio.  Again that only proves that more voters know and are well informed about what Mitt Romney is selling and are not buying in.  It should also be pointed out that Rick Santorum was outspent by at least 3 to 1 in every state they've done battle in.  Just as Romney and his surrogates use the same kind of negative attack ads against Newt Gingrich in New Hampshire and Florida after Gingrich's huge win in South Carolina. 

Many voting Americans who follow politics and care what is happening in this country and what our government is doing are placing their hope, trust, respect, admiration and vote into Rick Santorum.  These same concerned citizens who follow politics and turn out to vote in every election throughout their entire life are looking to Rick Santorum to rescue this primary from an easy win for Mitt Romney.  They are Conservative Tea Party Patriots who confidently and proudly describe themselves as very conservative when asked by anyone.  They show up at tea party rallies, protests and organised events with conservative guest speakers like Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, Mark Levin, Andrew Breitbart, Larry Schweikart, Jim Hoft, Bill Hennessy and Alfonzo Rachel just to name a few. 

Why are these Conservative Tea Party Patriots siding with Rick Santorum over the next-in-line establishment candidate, Mitt Romney?  What is Rick's Appeal?  Rick Sanoturm has fought for conservative issues.  Santorum handles the left with a Clear Consistent Conservative messgage.  For Rick Santorum voters,it's character that counts.  Conservative leaders like Mark Levin and Rush Limbaugh have praised Rick Santorum as the most conservative candidate left.   Rush has even said that Rick Santorum offers a clear contrast to Obama."  There has also been a huge boost in support for Ricksantorum through Great articles on Conservative web pages like Redstate with titles like "Rick Santorum: Yes, he is a true conservative", "Femi-regulars for Rick Santorum", the weeklystandard's Jeffery H. Anderson and Wickersham wrote "Was Santorum a Senate Spendthrift", Which was followed up nicely by popular conservative blogger TheRightScoop's wrote "Dear Santorum Bashers. Read this and weep.", NationalJournal's "Candidate Guide: Where Does Rick Santorum Stand?" and popular conservative blogger Dan Riehl of Riehl World View has written a few positive pieces supporting Santorum when he wrote "Conservatives Shouldn't Abandon Rick Santorum", "It's Rick Santorum's Time", and my personal favorite, "Dear Spineless Cowards: STFU About Santorum's Religion-based Comments".

It could also be Santorum's Winning Work Ethic, Rick Santorum's Iowa video: 'With seven kids...in two mini-vans' helped to prove just that.  Rick Santorum has the best chance of winning over Reagan democrats especially in battleground swing states that will be crucial in the general election against Obama.  Star Parker Wrote "America's heartland supports Santorum".  Rick Santorum is winning more support from Republican women.  Many believe that Santorum is a tough, scrappy and confident guy who would take the fight directly to Obama in the general election.  The Daily Caller's Matt Lewis came up with 5 Reasons Obama Should 'Fear the Vest'.  Newsobserver.com  made their case Why it should be Obama vs. Santorum.  TwinCities.com wrote "Joe Soucheray: Santorum, the guy in the sweater vest, is the one Obama fears "  These kinds of articles clearly cast a positive light on and about Rick Santorum vs Obama in the general election.  So much so that even Paul Scicchitano of Newsmax wrote a column about it entitled "Rasmussen: Santorum Surge Has 'Substance'"

The Wall Street Journal wrote about Rick Santorum's Spirited Reception at CPAC.  Al DiGuido of HumanEvents wrote about Rick Santorum's Surge Online, Winning Friends on Facebook and Followers on Twitter.  That is very important and vital edge to have with the new media among.  Every candidate wants that edge but rarely gains it with some exceptions like Sarah Palin, Herman Cain and Allen West.  If that doesn't matter to you or impress you, Rick Santorum does have a long endorsement list of more well known famous people posted on his website showing who have publicly endorsed him.  It is impressive.  Conservative people like Mark Levin, Glenn Beck, Michelle Malkin, David Limbaugh, Gary Bauer, James Dobson and Joseph Farah just to name a few. 

Whether he's winning voters over through his speeches, what he says at the debates or is quoted in the media while on the campaign trail, gaining fans online or important friends in high places, I find myself in agreement with Rebecca Kaplan of NationalJournal when she wrote "Santorum Rhetoric Gets Sharper".  Matt Lewis of The Daily Caller does a good job of reminding his reading audience that Republicans usually win on social issues (and why this helps Rick Santorum).  
I personally think most people began noticing and liking Rick Santorum during the Florida debate when he stood out as a positive campaigner who just wanted to focus on the issues and not personal politics.  That only helped him when he took the fight to Mitt Romney in the debate over Romney's support for Romneycare and the individual mandate he imposed as governor of Massechussetts.  I think that was a real eye opener and refreshing moment that conservatives have been waiting for a candidate to do.  Rick Santorum finally did it and did a great job too.  That only helped open the floodgates in the minds of conservatives that somone was capable and willing to take on Mitt Romney. 

Once Rick Santorum opened that door, he ran right through it.  Conservative bloggers began to take notice in support of Rick Santorum's effort to expose Mitt Romney's Romneycare and individual mandate in Massechussetts.  Mitt Romney still refuses to admit that Romneycare or the individual mandate he signed into law as governor of Massechussetts was wrong and not a good idea.  Mitt Romney defends it and makes excuses for it.  Too many conservatives already know it is.  Santorum attacks Romney’s record on heathcare, individual mandate saying "Romneycare 'In some respects' worse than Obamacare" and On Healthcare, Obamacare and Romneycare will hurt Ohio families.  Then Santorum blasts Romney for 2009 Opt-Ed on Individual Mandate.  That is a winning message to use against Mitt Romney that should continue to pick up steam and generate momentum in Santorum's direction the further this primary election goes on.    Especially since Rick Santorum has been proven time and time again to  have always been against individual mandates as far back as 1994.  Rick Santorum has always wanted and fought for free market solutions for health care related issues.  A clear distinction between himself and Mitt Romney's approach to health care. 

Obamacare, Cap-and-Trade, Stimulus and TARP bills are arguably the top hot button issues that help to create the massive Conservative Tea Party Movement in America.  Romneycare goes against the grain of the Conservative Tea Party Movement because it does include an individual mandate, it is a big government intrusion into the free market system in Massechussetts and by no means conservative.  Erick Erickson of Redstate has called Mitt Romney out at least twice about Mitt Romney Urges to Embrace Individual Mandate and again with his follow up Further Proof Romney Supported a National Individual Mandate in 2009.

I know and completely understand that Mitt Romney would love for his record of Romneycare to be forgotten about and never talked about ever again.  That can't happen, won't happen and shouldn't happen.  The whole idea of the Conservative Tea Party movement and conservative's new media is to hold these politicians accountable for their unnessessary intrussions into our lives.  Whether that be in our homes, workplace, place of worship or health care decisions.  Mitt Romney wants Romneycare to go away and never be discussed again much like John McCain wanted his multiple attempts to pass amnesty through immigration reform to go away from him back in 2008.  It never did and haunted him throughout the primary and into the general election as well.  The same will be true for Mitt Romney with his Romneycare.  It was wrong, a bad bill and should've never been signed into law by him as a republican governor.  The excuses Romney continues to offer up don't cut the mustard either.  Romney was the only governor who signed this kind of individual mandate into law.  Every governor in America faces the same economic issues that Massechussetts was facing and I have news for Romney and his diehard supporters, Massechussetts is not the only liberal blue state with over 85% Democratic legislature.  There's plenty of state governments facing similar challenges that Mitt Romney faced while governor of Massechussetts.  The difference is they found other ways to deal with the issue.  Sadly, Mitt Romney did not. 

Why should Mitt Romney's weakness and failure to make free market based solutions in Massechussett  force conservatives who know better have to twist ourselves into pretzels defending Romney's poor decision.  We shouldn't.  We must not. 

Rick Santorum is standing up against this.  Conservatives should be supporting him in this effort.  I can't think of a better way of doing this than by voting for Santorum in your state's primary.  When Rick Santorum goes on to win this nomination, don't you want to be on the right side of history.  I do.  I am.  I am doing all I can to help support Rick Santorum.  I challenge you and everyone you know or don't know to do the same. 

Here are some Great Links to Articles and Videos on and about Romneycare, Obamacare and the other problems I have with Mitt Romney winning the GOP Nomination.  Please take the time to go through them and see the research I have about this. 

Romney's "Collaborator and Friend", Ted Kennedy (One of the "Parents" of Romneycare) at the Romney-Kennedy Health Care Bill Signing

Mitt Romney defends the individual mandate

2009 Romney glad to hear Obama copying RomneyCare

How Romney Advocated Obamacare and Lied About It

Mitt Romney Suggested Three Times In 2009 That Obama Imitate Romneycare

More videos of Romney pushing national individual mandate

Scoring Last Week's RomneyCare Debate
Santorum pointed out crucial similarities that Romney's own plan has with Obama's deeply unpopular health law.

The Failure of RomneyCare

The former Massachusetts governor enacted something very similar to the Obama health plan. It isn't working well.

Is Obamacare just Romneycare 2.0?

Analyst says the programs are 'virtually identical'

Confirmed Romneycare = Obamacare

A Short Must See Video Romneycare Vs. Obamacare

Romneycare and Obamacare:  can You Tell the Difference?

Mark Levin’s rebuttal of Ann Coulter’s “Three Cheers for RomneyCare” article

Romneycare Becomes Obamacare, Then Coultercare

Coulter Care

Romney Explains Why He Can't Beat Obama

Can Romney Lead the Fight against ObamaCare?

The Truth About RomneyCare

Despite the candidate's denials, his program had numerous price controls.

Romney and the Mandate

Did Romney Support a Federal Mandate During the Obamacare Debate?

Romneycare Failure, Public Disappointment Bode Ill for Obamacare

It begins – Jay Carney says ObamaCare based on RomneyCare

Romney on Romneycare: First Subsidize, Then Mandate

Romney Plan for Replacing ObamaCare Light on Details

New reason to doubt Romney would repeal Obamacare

Romney adviser Norm Coleman predicts GOP president won't repeal health law

VIDEO: Mitt Heaps Praise on Romneycare "Parent" Ted Kennedy

Why A President Romney Would Find It Hard To Repeal ‘Obamacare’

Mark Levin Makes Really Good Solid Points about Mitt Romney also.   These Concerns are Not New but Span as far back as 2008.  Please take some time to hear out some of Mark Levin's Concerns.  Thanks.

Mark Levin On Mitt Romney and the EPA - Jan 5th 2011

Mark Levin Who Is Mitt Romney? - Jan 12th 2011

Mark Levin goes nuclear over Romney's inability to explain conservatism - Feb 2 2012

Mark Levin Slams the Romney Campaign Over Smears and Falsehoods! - Feb 7th 2012

Mark Levin's extensive exposition of Ron Paul and Mitt Romney alliance  - Feb 26th 2012

This is a critical time in our history and the wrong person leading our party could end up ruining our party forever.  A Mitt Romney for President can do as much harm or worse to the Republican Party and America as a Democrat.  It would just be at a slower pace.  Weak Republican leadership in the White House and Congress gets us nowhere but it does annoy us and frustrate us even more.  Let's save ourselves the frustration and anger now by supporting the Most Consistant Clear Contrast to Obama and Vote to Elect Rick Santorum for President. 

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/02/12/1845605/why-it-should-be-obama-vs-santorum.html#storylink=cpy

Romney Was The Best in '08 but in '12...

I Proudly Supported Romney and Voted for him in the 2008 Primary in my state's primary over John McCain.  Romney recieved 186,838 or 34.5% of the Total Primary Votes here in Senator John McCain's Home State.  McCain ended up winning with 255,197 or 47.2% of the Total Primary Vote in AZ.  McCain is the Senior Senator here.  It was expected.  It was still not a bad overall showing for someone many Arizonians have probably never heard of before.  Romney was more conservative than McCain in 2008 and was running a much more conservative campaign than McCain.  That is why I liked him, supported him and ultimately voted for Romney over McCain in the AZ Primary.  I still Like and Support the most conservative candidate at the time of my state's primary election.  Romney was it at that time back in 2008.  That being said.  This is not 2008 anymore and Romney is not the most conservative candidate running for President in this GOP field this time around.  Now conservatives like me have other conservative candidates to choose from from the likes of Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum and Herman Cain.  With a lingering threat still hanging around out there about a possible Sarah Palin run. 

This blog post is not intended to compare Governor Mitt Romney to Senator John McCain.  That is not my intention or goal with this blog post.  However, I do want to point out legitimate concerns and reasonable complaints that conservatives like me have against governor Mitt Romney now that they may or may not have had back in the 2008 GOP Primary against McCain.
Governor Mitt Romney may be leading in most generic national MSM and online polls right now with Rick Perry and Representative Michele Bachmann very close to him.  Most Romney supporters and advocates are doing their best to sell Romney as the candidate "Most Qualified", "Best Equiped" and "Most Prepared" to beat Obama in 2012.  I have even seen an article written on RedState.com showing electoral votes proving Romney would defeat obama right now if the election was held today. 
Is that accurate?  Is this really the case?  Or is this wishful thinking?  Optimisim for "the next guy in line"?  Now this is what this blog post is going to be about.  How and why the same conservatives like me who may have supported Romney back in 2008 may not be doing so this 2012.  (unless he wins the nomination) 

Who recieved the most attention at the Ames State Fair in Iowa?  Was it Governor Mitt Romney?  Governor Rick Perry?  Representative Michele Bachmann?  Governor Tim Pawlenty?  Rick Santorum?  Herman Cain?  Ron Paul?  I'd Argue and say it was Sarah Palin Who recieved the most attention of the people attending the state fair and the press covering the event.  Am I wrong?  I don't think so! I wonder why that is?  Many people probably have diferent opinions about that but Sarah Palin has still not officially announced to run for president yet.  Why all of the attention in who she is and what she has to say right now?

There is a lot of talk right now about Texas Governor Rick Perry because he just jumped into the GOP Race and also Representative Michele Bachmann because Bachmann just won the Ames Straw Poll.  It is only natural and practical Perry and Bachmann are receiving as much attention as they are right now.  My point is Sarah Palin was the big hit at the Ames State Fair just before the Iowa Straw Poll.  Not Romney, Perry or even Bachmann.   I have my thoughts and ideas of why I think that is.

Sarah Palin's Jobs Record Beats All Others.

Sarah Palin's Record on Alaska's Economy is Second to None of the current so-called "front-runners".

Sarah Palin is what America is looking for right now. 

Former Governor Sarah Palin maintains her relevence by continuing to speak out on Fox News with Sean Hannity, Social Networking Media Sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and staying in the headlines of most national newspapers across America. 

It is more than that though.  It is more than just my personal opinion.  Let's take a look at the numbers which shows who is showing support for Palin and who is showing support for Romney.

Sarah Palin has 3,224,762 "Likes" or people following her on Facebook to Mitt Romney's 1,082,088 "Likes"  A Difference of at least 2,142,674 less People "Following" Romney than Palin.
Sarah Palin has 632,736 "Followers" on Twitter to Mitt Romney's 72,529 "Followers"  A Difference of at least 560,207 less people "Following" Romney than Palin.

So why are conservatives like me favoring Sarah Palin over Mitt Romney for 2012? 

I have a list:

1.  Mitt Romney promised that his plan would lower health care costs, but an independent study shows that RomneyCare is directly responsible for increasing health premiums higher than they would have been if Romney hadn’t passed the law.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704324304575306861120760580.html

2.  The number of Massachusetts residents with insurance has gone DOWN since 2009.
http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dhcfp/r/pubs/10/key_indicators_november_2010.pdf

3.  Since RomneyCare passed in 2006, Massachusetts’ state health care costs have gone up $2.5 BILLION dollars.
http://browser.massbudget.org/CompareCurrentYear.aspx?typ=Past&bgt=22%2C23%2C24%2C25%2C27%2C45&infl=IPD&c1=22&hf=Past#topOfTable

4.  RomneyCare's Unhappy Anniversary
http://www.forbes.com/2011/04/25/health-care-mitt-romney_print.html

5.  Mitt Romney Is The Bob Dole Of 2011…”
http://www.anyonebutmitt.com/post/2011/04/25/“Mitt-Romney-Is-The-Bob-Dole-Of-2011…”.aspx

6.  Excellent piece by RCP’s Erin >>>> about Mitt Romney and ObamaCare. She covers the key problems facing our former governor http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2011/04/12/mitts_challenge_distinguishing_obamacare_from_romneycare_109508.html

7.  Romney in Iowa: "I Support the Subsidy of Ethanol"
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2011/05/27/romney_in_iowa_i_support_the_subsidy_of_ethanol_110011.html

8.  The always brilliant (and frequent Rush guest host) Mark Steyn summarizes Mitt’s plan and his current position:
http://articles.ocregister.com/2011-05-13/news/29544099_1_debt-ceiling-congress-votes-obama-cartoons

9.  Some conservative republicans are comparing Michael Dukakis to Mitt Romney.  That can't be good for Romney! 
http://conservatives4palin.com/2011/08/was-that-michael-dukakis-at-the-iowa-republican-debate-last-thursday-romney-if-only-the-constitution-would-allow-i%e2%80%99d-grab-all-your-freedoms.html


10.  Here’s Sen. Rubio (R-FL) talking honestly and directly about Medicare, and about the GOP’s approach to saving it.

America needs Medicare. We need it to continue without any benefit reductions for those like my mother currently in the system.... And we need it to survive for my generation and my children’s generation.

But Medicare is going bankrupt. Anyone who says it is not is simply lying. And anyone who is in favor of doing nothing to deal with this fact is in favor of bankrupting it. Medicare will go broke in as little as nine years. No one likes this news, but it is the undeniable truth. And the sooner we begin to deal with it, the better off we are all going to be.

Now try to imagine Mitt Romney giving this speech. Imagine him trying to tell Americans “Hey, I’ve got some hard truths to tell, and the other guys are the liars here. But me? When I saw something—you can trust me!”

Even Mitt fans would have a hard time buying this. Why? Because he lacks a fundamental credibility. It’s not the Romney’s a notorious liar, it’s that he’s an unflinching champion of the timely flip flop. And step one is to avoid declarative statements that can be clearly contradicted.

For example, here is Rubio on Ryan’s plan:

Rep. Paul Ryan has offered a plan that would make no changes whatsoever for anyone age 55 and older. I support it because, right now, it is the only plan out there that helps save Medicare. Democrats oppose it. Fine. But, if they have a better way to save Medicare, what are they waiting for to show us? What is their plan to save Medicare?

Now compare that to Romney’s position on the Ryan plan:

Like Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget, [Romney’s new healthcare proposal] includes block-granting Medicaid funds to states, but doesn’t include any changes to Medicare.

Romney said he would unveil his Medicare agenda at a later date, adding that although it wouldn’t be identical to what Ryan proposed, it would include features that he said took advantage of “market dynamics” and added choice.

Hem, haw, bob, weave. That’s the Romney model. Never say anything anyone can pin on you at a later date.
http://www.anyonebutmitt.com/post/2011/05/26/Could-Mitt-Romney-Give-This-Speech.aspx

So no.  I won't go so far to say that Mitt Romney is the John McCain of 2012 or even call him a "RINO" as some in conservative circles do.  I actually still like Mitt Romney and would absolutely vote for him if he is the Republican nominee.  That being said, I don't think America will choose Mitt Romney in 2012 just like they didn't choose him in 2008.  Mitt Romney lost to John McCain in 2008 and I predict he will lose again to Sarah Palin, Rick Perry or Michele Bahcmann.  Nothing against Mitt but America Needs a Solid, Articulate, Passionate and Battle-Hardened Champion to Lead and Represent them as President going forward.  As Good as Mitt Romney may have been or still is, Romney's Best still falls short again in 2012.  Sorry Mitt.

This Article is Cross Posted on RedCounty and RedState

My Short List of Quality Conservative Republican Candidates for 2012

My Short List of Quality Conservative Republican Candidates for 2012 http://t.co/VU4SFsa

Obama is Still the Very Best Candidate the Democrats Have for 2012

I wrote this blog post for all of the critics out there who are still trying to claim that the GOP Candidates for 2012 are weak or soft. The picture above is just the beginning of how weak and soft Obama is. If Obama’s Current Job Approval Polling Numbers from Rasmussen’s Presidential Daily Tracking Poll of 38% of Americans Polled “Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -14” is not enough to deter such critics.


Maybe RealClearPolitics.com’s Multiple Polls they posted showing NINE different Polling Sources while giving theirs at the top pretty much seals the deal about where Obama is standing with the American People right now.

Gallup Shows Obama’s Job Approval Rating at around 47% but if You scroll down the page to see the whole history of Obama’s Approval Rating in 2011, You will not be impressed when You see the Highest Job Approval Rating Obama has achieved through Gallup is 51% (from May 2nd - May 8th)

Again Sad and Pathetic!

Republicans are supposed to be intimidated or threatened by that man frolicking around without a care in the world as America is crumbling, struggling to survive and falling to pieces.

This GOP Field of Candidates is the Strongest and Most Conservative that I've ever seen. Rick Santorum, Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich, Herman Cain and Mitt Romney have committed to enter this race to be President in 2012 because they don’t fear Obama, the main stream media or the skeptic/critics when they try to prop up and rewrite how wonderful Obama is.

The three strongest and most conservative being Rick Santorum, Michele Bachmann and Herman Cain.

Even the weakest GOP candidates look like they're willing to mix it up with Obama about his horrible record as President without holding back. My opinion about this current crop of Presidential hopefuls is any one of them would be better than the hapless, inept and juvenile Obama/Biden Ticket in 2012.
The GOP Candidates are not perfect by any means but when judging them or grading them against Obama or Biden, they set the bar pretty low.


I Know the Main Stream Media will spin and twist the overall achievements Obama/Biden did but that is what they do in every modern election. It is a Short List and Very unimpressive. This is nothing new, special or unexpected from the sold out main stream media. The Main Stream Media is bias and Not as Main Stream as it once was. It’s been replaced with Internet Social Networking Sites like Facebook, Twitter and other Popular Blog Sites which Andrew Breitbart and Many other Tea Party Conservative Patriots like to refer to as ‘The New Media". I call it that also but I also call it “The Better Media”. Certainly More Fair and Balanced than the Dinosaur Media News Networks shilling for the Most Socialist/Progressive running in the current race. No Independent Free Thinking Person relies on the Main Stream Media for Accurate News anymore these days. None that I know or talk to anyways.

With all of the Modern Technologies available in America today from the internet, Smart cell phones, iPods, iPads, Kindles and Nooks, obtaining Accurate information as it breaks is easier than ever and more American Citizens are noticing and taking full advantage of this as it pertains to following politics, sports, music or whatever.

Today’s Concerned Citizen/Registered Voter will seek out the Truth and find it quicker than ever before in history.

Here’s Some Truth and Facts they’ll find about Obama through Very Simple and Easy Google Searches about Obama:
Obama Claims to have visited 57 States at a campaign event in Beaverton, OR on May 9th, 2008.

Another 2008 Campaign event in Bristol, VA at a Obama Townhall Event on June 5th, 2008 brought us the Famous "Obama breathalyzer moment"

Obama's Gaffes are the Gift that keep on giving and he is far from being graceful or gracious.

The Critics say we need to be fearing that man in 2012?

Really?

Seriously?

I Don't think so!

It's not just his verbal mistakes that he's made in public that the media ignores and hides the best they can to protect the image of a President that Agree Most with their Ideology or about how many states there are in America or what medical device is needed for a child with Asthma, it’s really about how Obama is far from being All American. Obama is out of touch and not in sync with most average Americans.

Have You seen this Guy Throw a Baseball?

If that isn't pathetic enough, his bowling is not any better, it’s actually worse and embarrassing!

Even Obama admitted that he was a lousy bowler but he did so in an insensitive manner which was not appropriate or Funny. He went on the Jay Leno Show and said he should be bowling in the Special Olympics. That comment was uncalled for and not Presidential by any means.


Obama’s poor bowling skills is from lack of practice, skill and technique. It has nothing to do with the Good Hearted People of the Special Olympics that he threw under the bus seemingly for no good reason except for maybe a cheap laugh. That’s all he got too. A cheap laugh. I Hope he’s proud of himself.

I hate to break it to Obama but I think mentally disabled and special needs people can bowl better than he can.

Now we turn our sites to and our attention to the Vice President, Joe Biden.

A simple Google search for Biden Gaffes produces 565,000 Results. Do I even Need to go there?

I didn't think so.

The Bottomline about Obama/Biden in 2012 is whoever they face in the general election in 2012, the momentum is on the side of the republicans right now and will remain so all the way to the ballot box. Why is that?

Nothing will change in a positive way that needs to from now until we cast our votes in 2012.
 
Why not?


Obama/Biden are Ideologues and determined now more than ever before to finish accomplishing their list of “Changes” and “Transforming America”.

This GOP Class is Real Good and certainly Better than anything close to what Obama/Biden offer. Each and every single GOP Candidate is campaigning on Conservative, Constitutional, Free-Market, Limited Growth and Pro Job Growth Solutions meanwhile Obama is playing yet another round of Golf and Biden is trying not to make anymore public gaffes.

The sad and pathetic truth about 2012 is that Obama/Biden is still the absolute best the democrats have to offer.

That is truly sad and deeply pathetic.

I Dare these same critics and skeptics of any of the GOP Candidates take a Good, Long and Extremely Hard Look around the Country and Show us Democrats who are full of Useful, Helpful and Reasonable Ideas that will turn America around without throwing money at the problem creating more debt. I Honestly Don’t think there’s a Good, Decent Quality, Clear- Thinking Democrat Candidate left in public office to be found anywhere in America.

So that’s my personal challenge to the skeptics/critics, the left and the Main Stream Media which is really all the same anyways but they just refuse to admit it publicly.

There is one other sport that Obama has taken a liking to but we'll never know how good or bad he plays the game.

Obama has played More Rounds of Golf than any modern day President. Maybe More so than any President ever. I think 73 Rounds of Golf is excessive in an extended economic Depression that America has been in since 2008.

Playing Sports is Great Exercise and Recreational. I get that. I'm not at all bashing these sports or that Obama plays them. It is just that Obama plays them so poorly and with golf, it feels like he'd rather play a round of golf than figuere out how to balance America's Budget or sign more drilling permits for offshore drilling to help reduce the high cost of gas at the gas pumps this summer.

The Obama/Biden Team now have a public record after their first term in the White House. When any one of the GOP Candidates press Obama/Biden on their record on losing over 1.9 Million Jobs Now than before Obama/Biden or the 23 Months of Unemployment Rates of 9.0% or Higher (Highest Rate of Unemployment was in October of 2009 at 10.1%) May 2011's Unemployment Rate was at 9.1% according to Bureau of Labor Statistics Data.

“Confidence in the housing market has plummeted. Just 45% of homeowners now believe their home is worth more than the mortgage. Just 16% expect the value of their home to increase over the coming year while 37% expect a further decline. Even looking out five years, only 35% expect that the value of their home will go up.

As the debt ceiling debate unfolds, 70% believe it would be bad for the nation if a failure to increase the debt ceiling leads to a default on the federal debt. However, 56% believe the failure to significantly cut federal spending would be even worse.
The Presidential Approval Index is calculated by subtracting the number who Strongly Disapprove from the number who Strongly Approve. It is updated daily at 9:30 a.m. Eastern (sign up for free daily e-mail update). Updates are also available on Twitter and Facebook.


Overall, 47% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the president's performance. Fifty (50%) at least somewhat disapprove.

Republicans continue to hold a modest lead over Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot. Today, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern, new numbers will be released for the match-up between President Obama and a Generic Republican presidential candidate.” - Rasmussen Poll
 

I think I laid out enough evidence and proof that it's not the GOP Candidates running for President in 2012 who should be worried or concerned about winning. 
That worry and concern should be the Democrat Party Who helped place their most radical/extreme Partisan Candidate into the White House back in 2008.  Now as Obama's Famous Controversial Pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright once said "America's Chickens.....are coming Home...to Roost!" 
Well now the Democrat Party will have to Protect and Defend Against all of the Damage and Destruction that the Obama/Biden have done while in the White House during their first term. 
It won't be fun or easy for the Democrats or the Main Stream Media.  They'll do their best. 
It just won't be Good enough.
This is a new America.  A Smarter America.  It's also a Damaged and Failing America that Desperately Needs a Breathe of Fresh Air and Pep in their Step right now. 
 

The Only Party offering ideas to move America back in the right direction that it needs to go in is the Republican Party being led/fueled by the Conservative Grassroots Tea Party Movement as evident by the Mid Term Elections in which even Obama had to admit was a "Thumping".  Or in other words, the American People want a new direction because Obama's direction is not working. 
No....I'd say the GOP Candidates and the Republican Party are the Heavy Weights in this Upcoming Title Bout.  Obama/Biden are the Jokers on the Ropes Who have Tons of Explaining and Defending to do. 
The New America I described above only has to look in their own neighborhoods, businesses around town and negative news reports they hear and see every day to realise who is being honest telling the truth and Who is just trying to remain in power long enough to "Fundamentally Change/Transform" America into something they make through Government efforts.  That never works and it won't work this time either.
Actions speak louder than words but in America the actions of the Voters will be electing one of these GOP Candidates to be the Next President of these United States of America. 
Last time I checked Americans recognise and notice losers and make necessary changes when needed to save the country.  No difference here.  Americans will come together to toss out these clowns and elect a solid GOP Ticket Who will do the right things for America and Americans.
I'll write about that in one of My next Future Blog Posts.