Having just returned from a reception with Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney let me provide a few comments on this event that was held at the five star St. Regis Resort in Dana Point.
As fellow blogger Jon Fleischman was practicing with his video equipment I expect that he will have the entire event, or parts thereof, posted on his Flash Report blog later tonight.
As a fiscal and social conservative, this upcoming election is not a slam dunk. There were several in attendance whom I spoke to that attended this reception to hear the governor but as of now have not selected the candidate that they will eventually support.
The opening remarks, after the invocation and pledge, were provided by the Honorable Chairman of the Board, Supervisor Chris Norby followed by OCGOP Chairman Scott Baugh who introduced many of the elected officials in the crowd. That list included Congressman John Campbell, Senator Dick Ackerman, Supervisor Bill Campbell, Supervisor Pat Bates, Dana Point Mayor Diane Harkey, Santa Ana councilman Carlos Bustamante, former CAGOP Chairman attorney Michael Schroeder and Judge John S. Adams.
Governor Romney shared part of his life experiences from meeting and marrying his bride to his involvement as president and CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee in turning around the 2002 Winter Olympics that was held in Salt Lake City.
His background is a success story in the world of finance. He founded Bain Capital, one of the nations most successful VC and investment companies.
In his presentation the Governor identified five key areas that the next president must face but I did not hear any real solutions. Governor Romney is a very articulate speaker, and perhaps, if we had more time, we could have pressed him to cite examples of his “blueprint” to fixing the obvious issues as stated.
What is very obvious is that the Republican faithful in CA will be split in the primary. While several were introduced for the OCGOP one clap, many other big names were missing. Some supporting Mayor Rudy Giuliani while others like Senator John McCain. At our table the discussion was about actor and former Senator Fred Thompson whose track record for some is the most conservative of the announced candidates from both a fiscal and social evaluation. Where’s Newt? In my vocabulary is the expression “snooze, you lose.” You can’t sit on the sideline, remain undecided til Oct/Nov, and expect your supporters to hold off endorsements and funding for those who enter early. That’s the slippery slope of holding early primary elections.
Before I make my presidential candidate selection I intend to let Google dig up as much background information on each Republican to see if their public policy actions or statements has been consistent with their current campaign rhetoric. Is their message the same from Maine to Montana? Can they lead this country out of the current quagmire that is keeping our leadership from being productive?
Hey Larry, great post!
I got your email earlier about going to the Romney event. Scott invited me, but I chose not to go.
I’m not a Romney supporter and I told him why. Just a personal thing.
Ryan,
Never mind Romney’s religion…he is being supported by Bustamante – stick a fork in Romney, he’s toast!
Although, Larry does mention Fred Thompson.
I like Fred. Fred is cool.
It’s Saturday morning, Saint Patrick’s Day and I have read both the OC Register and the LA Times.
Speak of “no traction.” Neither major local newspaper printed a single word of this fundraiser in today’s edition.
Without blogs this “stealth” event would not have been mentioned anywhere.
My sense of the political hard core is that fiscal/social conservatives in Orange County are not happy with the current field of candidates.
What did resonate with me this morning was the Times feature on the impact of blogs on the news entitled “nimble and newsy with no ink.” Long live the blogospehere.
Yikes!
While SantAna burns, Bustamonte keeps on playing Hispanic Republican goldenboy games.Fix SantAna first Carlos.
E-mail response:
Dear Larry, ……… well written commentary. I would suggest that it is Newt’s thought to hold session with all candidates, both Democrat(ics) and Republicans to discuss all facets of the state of the nation. I believe he is doing that to see how each of them stand on the issues and what their idea is to solve the problems.
To me the biggest issue is the size and cost of government. When someone talks about global warming it is with the idea of growing government. When someone suggests there are over a thousand damn dams in the United States that are in various states of disrepair it is to grow government not fix the dams. When the NEA says, “it’s for the children”, it really means it is to give teachers and administrators pay hikes and to pay for their retirements and other perks. It is not to improve buildings and campuses or improve curriculum and teaching techniques. Even Bond Issues are voted on an often approved because of the way they are presented. We think we are going to get something tangible for them but they are designed to support government.
The politicians, both Democrat(ics) and Republicans, are trying to come up with new ways to tax us that appear, on the surface, to benefit the needy. They are really attempting to raise revenues to grow government. The reason Social Security and Medicare are in such a sorry state is because they are run by government. And the government wants to expand Healthcare to cover everybody with government controlling it. The monies will go to supporting the government and not to the individuals who need it. At the same time the cost of medical will go up.
Social Security and Medicare are in financial difficulty. What is the government’s solution? Add the illegal immigrants to it’s roles by giving them amnesty. Wasn’t it the Democrat(ics) who campaigned about the numbers for unemployment during the 2006 presidential run? If we exported the “illegals” we should have a demand for employees. Unfortunately there is an element in our society that won’t work in the areas the “illegals” work in. We all have an “entitlement” mentality. And the government would lead you to believe they will supply it. Please note that when I refer to government I am referring to both Democrat(ics) and Republicans. Or should that have been Republican(ics)?
The “illegals” are allowed to work for businesses but the businesses don’t pay for the schooling of the children or their medical needs. That burden falls on us, the tax payer, as the benevolent Liberals say look how kind and generous and compassionate we are.
Hope you took time to read this and see where I am coming from. Maybe it will give you some thoughts for interaction with your political friends. Remember, the best government is less government. …………………………
Email from a LA political consultant:
Larry,
Thanks for your perspective on the Romney event. I might point out that Republicans ought to think long and hard about nominating a Mormon for President. Polling shows that anywhere between 25-35% say they won’t vote for a Mormon for President which probably means 30-40%; in the same polls, 5% say they won’t vote for a Jew, 5% say they won’t vote for a Black and 10% say they won’t vote for a woman. In 1960 (and to some
extent 1928), when Kennedy’s Catholicism was presumed to be an issue.
In fact, it turned out to be less of an issue since he won the West
Virginia Primary and later gave his famous speech to the Houston
Ministerial Association which assuaged Protestants. The key is that Catholicism is a branch of main stream Christianity. And the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints is not a branch of mainstream Christianity. The fact is that the Book of Mormon is the most important document in the Church. And when folks learn about the history of the Church and its rites it’s going to hurt Romney big time. The Mormon
Church is the 19th Century version of the Church of Scientology. Joseph Smith could never prove that there were actually gold tablets and that there was an Angel Moroni. No one disputes that Jesus Christ actually
lived and that he had disciples. Also, the very folks that the GOP
relies upon to win–evangelical Christians are the same folks who are the least likely to vote for a Mormon. It’s true they probably won’t vote for Clinton, Obama or Edwards, but many will stay home–and at least Clinton, Obama and Edwards are mainstream Christians. Judaism is a lot closer to Christianity than Mormonism.
I am a Catholic and Mitt belongs to a cult. Voting for him would be a sin.I dont care how the boys from Salt Lake try and spin this they are cultists and nothing more. And don’t try and compare JFK with Romney. JFK belonged to the religion Jesus made Peter the rock of.