GOP watch: Mitt's 'hard-hitting' speech

Posted: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 9:16 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Republicans

The Boston Globe’s lead on Romney’s speech yesterday: “In a hard-hitting speech designed to build his credentials as commander in chief before a possible second presidential run in 2012, Romney said Obama has made a ‘grave miscalculation’ with budget cuts to a strategic missile defense system that would protect the nation and its allies from nuclear threats.”

Nevada GOP Sen. John Ensign’s stop in Iowa yesterday made the front page centerpiece of the Sioux City Journal with the headline: “Ready for 2012? Ensign: GOP can solve problems.” Subheadline: Republican says he’s a ‘fresh face’ but not seeking the White House.” The paper’s lead: “U.S. Sen. John Ensign's visit Monday afternoon to The Ice Cream Capital of the World Visitor Center in Le Mars looked every bit like a campaign stop, right down to the Fox News camera and boom mike that followed him around. But ‘I'm not running for president,’ the Nevada Republican said when asked directly if he was. ‘I think it's really important the Republican Party has some new, fresh faces.’”

Whoops. Cheney’s Osama-Obama mix up: At the National Press Club, Cheney said, per The Hill while speaking about Al Qaeda: "The important thing is that I don't think he can have much impact in terms of managing an organization, because that link between Obama [sic] and the people under him is pretty fragile. I don't think he has the capacity to do as much harm as he did at one point, but we ought to still continue to chase him."

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Comments

I especially like Mitt's closing line:

"I'm Bob Rumson, and I'm running for president."

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 9:21 AM)

Mitt "FLIP FLOP" Romney is a big FOOL!

TheDonald (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 9:22 AM)

Responding to a post yesterday on Romney's remarks:

--------------------------------

I saw Romney at a fundraising breakfast last week. I always thought he was a little plastic, but he gave a great speech at that breakfast. It was particularly good because he outlined the differences between the two parties with more clarity than I've heard anyone do in a long time on either side of the aisle. I'm sure his being Mormon and rich will simply not do for those 'tolerant' liberals, but he was very impressive.

Go ahead, start with the criticism. Won't change my opinion of him.
Erin, Chesapeake VA (Sent Monday, June 01, 2009 4:23 PM)

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"It was the base that rejected Mitt because it had issues with Mormonism."

- RNC Chairman Michael Steele while guest-hosting Bill Bennett's radio program, 5/8/2009

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 9:28 AM)

Yeah right, presidential run in 2012. Keep dreaming Mittens....LOL

Joyce (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 9:28 AM)

Mitt Romney - more spectacular than Obie in so many ways because Mitt did it HIS way ... he wasn't elevated by others and doesn't make it up as he goes along. He doesn't intimidate by strong-arm tactics like Obie did. He's NOT affiliated with ACORN and will not spend this country into oblivion.

The trouble is that he's an all-white guy and that's not gonna play with Sotomayor in any arena.

Bad Chihuahua (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 9:32 AM)

To quote Ensign: Need new faces, not like the old tan faces! (Ensign & Bonehead)

cindy, las vegas, nv (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 9:42 AM)

Why isn't MSNBC and FIRST READ covering Dick Cheney's confession about Iraq?! WHAT ABOUT IT REPUBS...WHAT ABOUT IT? You ALL should be in jail!

Dem4Life (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 9:45 AM)

>>>Whoops. Cheney’s Osama-Obama mix up: At the National Press Club, Cheney said, per The Hill while speaking about Al Qaeda: "The important thing is that I don't think he can have much impact in terms of managing an organization, because that link between Obama [sic] and the people under him is pretty fragile. I don't think he has the capacity to do as much harm as he did at one point, but we ought to still continue to chase him."
==========
Sounds Freudian to me, or perhaps a bit of coded language here. Wouldn't be surprised.

>>>Why isn't MSNBC and FIRST READ covering Dick Cheney's confession about Iraq?! WHAT ABOUT IT REPUBS...WHAT ABOUT IT? You ALL should be in jail! Dem4Life (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 9:45 AM)
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Actually, Rachael Maddow last night gave a pretty good revelation regarding Cheney's admission that he'd never seen any intel that connected Iraq to Al Qaeda, and he's now blaming George Tennet for the faulty information. Guess that's honor among thieves for you.

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http://jawillie.blog.com

jawillie, Philadelphia, PA. (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 9:55 AM)

I wish the guy would stick to doing the weather at 6.o'clock,if the guy is still trying out for the part,after the millions he spent of his own loot,and still got waxed,maybe he should just stay indoors,keep combing his hair,and count all of his money,Just another rich boy,never worked a day in his life,acting like he has the answers,only if Rush and Dead eye want him to have the answers.

jesse St.Paul Minnesota (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 9:57 AM)

Ha - people the free press isn't free, it ran by a bunch of people that want to influence our country the way they see fit.

News is carefully designed to inject thoughts and persuasion - it designed to mode our culture and fuel discord or discontent in some degree or another.

Bottom line - with the national news - you will never get the real story only their story.

Keep that in mine - Mitt, Cheney, all these other knuckle heads that don't really mean anything to our country because they have no power to run it.

When they speak and the news broadcast them - is to create doubt in our setting President - that's it.

There is no other reason or agenda - these idiots speak and they have no power to make enforce their decisions.

Think about it - why else would the national media continue to give these guys "air time".

The news media is trying to help the GOP discredit a sitting President; it's a conspiracy at the highest levels.

Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA

The - Democrat Soldier (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 9:59 AM)

Bad Chihuahua says:

"Mitt Romney - more spectacular than Obie in so many ways because Mitt did it HIS way ... he wasn't elevated by others and doesn't make it up as he goes along."
------------------------------------------------------

However, wikipedia says that Mitt Romney:

...is the son of former Michigan Governor, American Motors chairman and 1968 presidential candidate George W. Romney, and 1970 Michigan U.S. Senatorial candidate Lenore Romney.

So, are you implying that Mitt came from nothing and worked his way up to the top on his own? Right, sure he did. Are you purposely trying to revise his personal history, or do you genuinely not have a clue about the candidate you support?

And- as for making it up as he goes along? Last year Mitt was running hard right. Watch him now drift back to the center, the way he did as governor of a bluer-than-blue state. Sheesh.

Suburban Mom paying attention, IL (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:07 AM)

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 9:21 AM)

to which Obama will merely need to add, "I'm Barack Obama and I AM the President".

(Love that movie reference, it fits SO many of the wanna be du jours).

Good to see you here Paul!

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:10 AM)

Bad Chihuahua (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 9:32 AM)

righhhhhhhhhht,...and his dad's fame and fortune didn't give him even the slightest bit of a boost?

You guys are pathetic with your hero worship of 'legacy' polilticians. They wouldn't understand the 'common man' if one waited on them hand and foot, oh wait a minute; probably not my best analogy.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:12 AM)

“In a hard-hitting speech designed to build his credentials as commander in chief

I THOUGHT IT TAKES MORE THAN JUST WORDS? MITT THE FLIPPER. WANT TO LAUGH? JUST ASK HIM WHO IS GOING TO MEET HIM AT THE PEARLY GATES ...

Mitts Underwear (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:22 AM)

Mitt Romney. If he can overhaul his image as a Mormon....I am sorry, I don't mind, but the very people he is trying to appeal to.....DO Mind, and if he can sell himself to Independents in 2012, then, and only then, does he have a chance to win.

Barbara C. - Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:23 AM)

"It's the economy, stupid". Truer than ever - seriously.

If Obama (or luck) can put a smile on folks' face about the economy, he's got 2012 in the bag and everyone else can go home. But if people are still bummed about it, in 2010, then he could have big trouble in Congress, and right on through 2012.

The longer the economy remains the cause of a lot of disappointment in the country, the stronger Romney's hand becomes.

It could also very well be that the excessive reaction to Proposition 8 will bring support to Mormons generally, and take some of the weirdness off Romney's religion.

The gay movement not only detracted from their own case, but probably weakened the liberal/Democrat position against any Mormon or other religious candidate (eh, Huckabee?).

Romney's weakness now isn't that he's Mormon, but that he's a big-shot financial/business dude ... like all those fancy creeps who ripped off the country for ungodly amounts of our wealth - and got away with it, Scot-free.

It will be interesting to see how Romney deals with the stench of Wall Street, Banks, and institutionalized CEO-corruption - a liability that hits closer to home for him than for other candidates.

Ted Clayton, Olympic Peninsula, WA (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:26 AM)

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