(2 votes, average: 4.5 out of 5)
Loading ...Today Michigan Votes. Republicans Choose Between Integrity and Romney
As Republican voters in Michigan go to the polls today, there are two front-runners to choose from, John McCain and Mitt Romney.
Romney is a former governor and businessman. He is also a former social liberal, who despite making impassioned claims to be pro-choice in the 1990s, is now the “most pro-life” of any Republican candidate. What is really striking about Mitt, is that he’ll say just about anything to get elected. For instance, in Michigan he has also vowed:
[T]hat in the first 100 days of a Romney presidency, he would bring together representatives of the auto industry, unions, Congress and the state to come up with a plan to “rebuild America’s automotive leadership.” He also said he would increase fivefold, to $20 billion, federal support for research and development in energy, materials science, fuel technology and automotive technology. - NYTimes
If that’s not a chicken in every pot speech, I don’t know what is. However, I do have to ask who is going to pay for this, and what budget items are we going to have to cut in order to make this happen? Is this 20 billion less for schools, roads, healthcare, defense, or is this more debt that we are passing along to the next generation?
Meanwhile, John “straight-talk express” McCain seems to have gone back in time and found the year 2000 version of himself. He is regaining traction by promising no easy solution while reaching across the isle to gain the endorsement of Joe Lieberman (I-CT). While his age is an issue (He many only be able to serve 1-term), he is clearly the least partisan candidate among the Republicans. Nevertheless, just like Barack Obama, he lacks the management ability and financial skill set, that this country will clearly need in the upcoming years.
Republicans in Michigan have the choice between a businessman who will tell them anything to get elected, and a man of great integrity who does not possess the complete set of skills necessary for our country. Is this truly the best we can do?
January 15th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
I grew up in Michigan (I’m a yooper for those who know the phrase). Over the holidays I was back there visiting family. They had received a Mitt Romney flyer and I decided to take a look.
True to what’s posted above, it was a bunch of conflicting promises that one was not supposed to realize conflicted. On one hand Mitt made promises to cut taxes everywhere, and on the other hand he promised to help everyone out who is experiencing hard times because of the decreasing power of the auto industry there.
Nothing about the correlation between cutting taxes, and more government spending, of course. I guess we’re left to assume a situation that would beakin to me taking a voluntary pay cut at work for the good of the company, but then increasing my personal spending through credit cards.
If we as citizens are smart enough to recognize the folly of this behavior in our own lives, why do politicians put out literature that suggests they’ll do the same with our government?
January 15th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
I guess that is why they call it politics as usual. Yes, a chicken in every pot while future generations get skinned. As far as all the conflicting promises and rhetoric go; Michigan now has plastic on more than just their cars.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
What’s sort of sad/funny is that the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where I grew up, is almost a separate culture than the rest of the state. We’re sort of the unwanted step child. We’re too small politically to be paid any attention.
Funny story: the map of North America in my high school history book showed us as part of Canada. And people wonder why there have been secessionistic tendencies up there…
January 15th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Yep most of those U-pers are Packers’ fans God Bless them! And I saw that similar Romney flyer in Iowa 3 weeks ago. politicians are long on promises (Ougta Dos) and way short on what it takes to implement (The Can Dos). I just want some straight talk of what is possible to synch up the two so our ends-means are connected so we do what is in truly in our capabilities to do as a nation and not what politicians spout off on and panderbear promise helter-skelter in election years devoid of any mention of the costs required.
I think Bloomie can do that as he does not have to keep looking over his shoulders (as much) for the Special Interest hammer coming down on him and holding him and the Presidency hostage to be all things to all people and fail to prioritize. He is better set up to give us all a good talking to and tell us the hard truths that we cannot do it all and that there will be no costs/sacrifices to get where we want to go as a nation. Finally! Maybe a Grown Up as Prez!!
January 15th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Everyone should check out the Daily KOS endorsement of Mitt Romney. If nothing else, it is a great case study as to what is wrong with the election process in America. (on a side note, half of the Michigan Republican delegates have been taken away by the party, whereas the Democrats stripped all of the states delegates.)
I’m glad I don’t live in Michigan!
January 15th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
The qualifications of any and all candidates is crucial ! BUT:
There is only one idea that almost 100% of Americans agree upon, “Our Present System Does Not Work” ! The quitessential reason for this is—”SPECIAL INTERESTS” !!!
NOT ONE OF THE DEMOCRATIC OR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES CAN TRUTHFULLY STATE, ” I AM NOT BACKED BY ANY SPECIAL INTERESTS ” !
WHAT A SHAME ! IT INSURES THE “Same old-Same old “. ( ALL THE CANDIDATES ARE NOW TALKING ABOUT THE, “SYSTEM IS BROKEN” AND PROMISE TO FIX IT WITH WHAT ? THEY ARE ALL BOUGHT AND PAID FOR !)
So I ask, can anyone POSSIBLY think of an Independent Candidate, who can run
WITHOUT owing favors to ANY “SPECIAL INTEREST” ? SOMEONE WHO CAN RESTORE BI-PARTISANSHIP AND COMPROMISE TO RESOLVE THE CRITICAL ISSUES FACING US—–BECAUSE HIS ONLY INDEBTEDNESS WILL BE—-
” TO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE ” !!! I will not mention his name, you know there is only one person who can do it !
January 15th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Well they got their wish.
Kudos to them. This is exactly the type of nonsense that will be the the final straw for Bloomberg to run
Hope Kos likes it in November when - at a bare minumum - they see NY and CA go “purple”
January 16th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Romney’s “100 days” plan seems to be based on the Soviet federal model from the 1950s. Perhaps we will come up with something like the Russian Volga, often pictured as being pulled by a horse. It cannot bode well for our country when Romney, who endorses torture procedures and plans to expand Gitmo (and calls this optimism), would win by such a wide margin in such a conventional, level-headed and rational state as Michigan. We spent some of the best years of our life in Ann Arbor with some of the best people. “Whither goest thou, America, in thy shiny car in the night?” - Jack Kerouac.