House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced yesterday (March 12th) that final passage of sweeping health care legislation is now just a very few days away.

Obama smells victory in the air…

President Barack Obama is delaying his trip to Indonesia and Australia by three days in hopes of finalizing a health care deal — and will scrap plans to take along first lady Michelle Obama and his two daughters, according to senior administration officials.

On Thursday, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs brushed aside suggestions that the president planned to postpone or cancel the long-planned trip to his childhood home in Indonesia, even as Hill Democrats groused that the excursion came at the precise time he demanded they finalize a deal.

Instead of leaving next Thursday, March 18 — the deadline he imposed on Congress — Obama will take off on Sunday, March 21, officials said, shortening his itinerary to omit all sidetrips not deemed official business.

On Thursday, both Gibbs and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House was close to finalizing a strategy for pushing a previously passed Senate bill through the lower chamber, but that the deal might require a few extra days. By postponing his trip, Obama effectively gives the House some breathing room, preserving the hope that members will be able to depart the Capitol for their Easter break two weeks from today with a deal in their pockets.

Pick up your phones and start calling the following swing Congressman . Let your opposition be known! If the line is busy, keep trying. Don’t give up! Print out extra copies of these numbers and enlist family members and friends to help. Whenever you have a spare moment, CALL.

PLEASE CALL!………DC OFFICE……….LOCAL OFFICE
Harry Mitchell………….(202) 225-2190….(480) 946-2411
Gabrielle Giffords……(202) 225-2542….(520) 881-3588
Ann Kirkpatrick……….(202) 225-2315….(928) 226-6914
Jerry McNerney……….(202) 225-1947….(925) 833-0643
John Salazar…………..(202) 225-4761….(970) 245-7107
Jim Himes………………..(202) 225-5541….(866) 453-0028
Alan Grayson…………..(202) 225-2176….(407) 841-1757
Bill Foster………………..(202) 225-2976….(630) 406-1145
Baron Hill…………………(202) 225 5315….(812) 288 3999
Mark Schauer………….(202) 225-6276….(517) 780-9075
Gary Peters……………..(202) 225-5802….(248) 273-4227
Dina Titus………………..(202) 225-3252….(702) 256-DINA (3462)
Carol Shea-Porter…..(202) 225-5456….(603) 743-4813
Tim Bishop……………….(202) 225-3826….(631) 696-6500
John Hall………………….(202) 225-5441….(845) 225-3641 x49371
Bill Owens……………….(202) 225-4611….(315) 782-3150
Mike Arcuri……………….(202) 225-3665….(315) 793-8146
Dan Maffei……………….(202) 225-3701….(315) 423-5657
Earl Pomneroy…………(202) 225-2611….(701) 224-0355
Steven Driehaus……..(202) 225-2216….(513) 684-2723
Mary Jo Kilroy…………..(202) 225-2015….(614) 294-2196
Zach Space………………(202) 225-6265….(330) 364-4300
Kathy Dahlkemper…..(202) 225-5406….(814) 456-2038
Patrick Murphy…………(202) 225-4276….(215) 826-1963
Christopher Carney…(202) 225-3731….(570) 585-9988
Paul Kanjorski………….(202) 225-6511….(570) 825-2200
John Spratt………………(202) 225-5501….(803) 327-1114
Tom Perriello…………….(202) 225-4711….(276) 656-2291
Alan Mollohan…………..(202) 225-4172….(304) 623-4422
Nick Rahall………………..(202) 225-3452….(304) 252-5000
Steve Kagen…………….(202) 225-5665….(920) 437-1954

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Governor Mitt Romney and Republican gubernatorial candidate, Meg Whitman, highlighted yesterday’s first day of California’s Republican Party 2010 Spring Convention in Santa Clara, CA. Romney has endorsed Ms. Whitman and was honored to introduce her at last night’s dinner banquet. Also attending were: Andrew Breitbart (publisher and media star) Steve Poizner (CA Insurance Commissioner and gubernatorial candidate) Tom Campbell, Carly Fiorina, and Chuck DeVore (CA U.S. Senate candidates). The convention will be in session until Sunday afternoon.

At an impromptu ‘fireside chat’ after the banquet, Gov Romney was asked to join Meg Whitman on stage. They took questions and discussed how their business experience affects their outlook on political problem solving:

CAIVIN (California Independent Voter Network):

Traditional, non-former actor Republicans having a decent shot at the state’s highest office? Republicans tearing each other to shreds? Jerry Brown back as governor? Welcome to the 2010 California gubernatorial race! 2010 may well come to be known as the campaign year in which anything was possible.

Jerry “Governor MoonBeam” Brown, a former California governor, is jockeying for a return to the office which he left decades ago, but this time, he is joined by a number of strong Republican contenders. This is unusual for California. And yet, 2010 presents the perfect storm of opportunity for Republicans, and candidates on the red side have been quick to seize on the potential for real change on the West Coast.

Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner are the two top Republican contenders for the Governor’s Mansion. If a Daily Kos poll is to be believed, Whitman is well ahead of Poizner, though still slightly behind Brown. In a February Rassmussen Poll (typically better known and more widely trusted than Daily Kos), Whitman and Brown were running in a dead heat, both at 43%. This followed a January poll which found Brown ahead 43% to Whitman’s 39%. Within one month, Whitman caught up with Brown.

In a recent email to supporters, Whitman acknowledged her main Democratic rival, who had only recently “officially entered the race of Governor,” and noted that it will be her goal to “frequently point out our clear differences and though he was quick to criticize my candidacy, I look forward to an important conversation with Californians.”

And an important conversation that must be: with a state budget deficit of over $20 billion, someone needs to start taking action, but more importantly, someone needs to start taking responsibility.

Whitman, the billionaire and former eBay head honcho, has been gaining steam in recent months, racking up endorsement after endorsement. On March 5, Whitman wrote that she had recently been endorsed by former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice: “I was honored when Secretary Rice said I’m the only person running for Governor ‘who can lead the way toward rebuilding our state.’” Rice should be familiar with California and its politics: the former high-ranking cabinet member left a post at prestigious Stanford University when called on by George W. Bush to be a top ranking adviser to his 2000 cabinet.

After her speech, reporters swarmed Meg Whitman:

From the Sacrament Bee:

Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman came out swinging on the first night of the California Republican Party convention as she fought a two-front war against both her primary rival Steve Poizner and Democratic opponent Jerry Brown.

Whitman, the billionaire former CEO of online auction firm eBay, also went into greater detail than before on her policy proposals in an impromptu news conference Friday afternoon.
She laid out how she would change state employee pensions and said she would consider cutting personnel in the state corrections and higher education systems while seeking a 40,000-person reduction in the state work force.

Appearing with former presidential candidate Mitt Romney at a Friday night banquet, Whitman slammed Brown’s first two gubernatorial terms, which began in 1975. Brown is the only major candidate in the Democratic primary.

“You tell me: What has Jerry Brown accomplished in those four decades of political life that should give Californians a single reason to let him get a second shot?” Whitman asked.

“Nothing,” she answered.[...]

Whitman said she “would not be in favor of the children of illegal immigrants or illegal immigrants themselves getting admission to the University of California system or higher education that is publicly funded.” […]

She proposed raising from 55 to 65 the age at which state workers – except public safety employees – could retire with full pensions. She also would increase the length of pension vesting periods for most new employees and increase pension contributions from 5 percent to up to 10 percent of salaries.

During her banquet speech, Whitman drove home her targeting of state employees, sparking enthusiastic applause.

California’s Republican Party video on Jerry Brown:

Jerry Brown, presumptive Democratic nominee, known as ‘Governor MoonBeam Brown’ was the object of a smile-inducing one-liner during Whitman’s speech: “Moonbeams are, after all, fleeting things, and disappear before they can be pinned down.”

California desperately needs a turn-around. Let’s help elect Meg Whitman!

(HT to Bosman for ‘fireside chat’ video.)

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MITT!

As you greet fellow Americans and sign copies of your new book in
Sacramento, CA today, we send best wishes and love across the miles for
a joyful, jubilant day!

A metaphorical birthday video for an extraordinary man who truly is
Mr. Fix It:

Birthdays are nature’s way of telling us to eat more cake. ~ Anon

Happy birthday to…the next president of the United States!

Your birthday is a special time to celebrate the gift of ‘you’ to the world.
~ Anon

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Americans are riveted on Obamacare. With just seven days until the March 18th White House deadline for a vote on the Senate health care bill arrives, eyes are glued on Blue Dog Democrats. We are witnessing nearly hourly positioning on Capitol Hill and can almost hear the chest-poking, arm-twisting, and head thumping going on behind locked doors as Obama, Pelosi, and Reid shove and kick to pass their 2700 page health care confiscation scheme.

Hold on to your hospital gowns! We’ll slog through what’s happened in the last three days…

As of yesterday, the latest left-jab to the American people is aptly dubbed the “Slaughter Solution.”

The Slaughter Solution is a plan by Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), the Democratic chair of the powerful House Rules Committee and a key ally of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), to get the health care legislation through the House without an actual vote on the Senate-passed health care bill. You see, Democratic leaders currently lack the votes needed to pass the Senate health care bill through the House. Under Slaughter’s scheme, Democratic leaders will overcome this problem by simply “deeming” the Senate bill passed in the House -- without an actual vote by members of the House.

(emphasis mine)

Two days ago (March 9th), Nancy Pelosi tipped her neck-wringing hand: “But we have to pass the [health care] bill so that you can find out what is in it.”

Taking his health care punches on the road, President Obama traveled to suburban St. Louis, Missouri yesterday. Assured of muscling high schoolers (ticketed with closed doors) at St. Charles High into cheering for his socialized plan as cameras rolled (how hard is that?) he was met outside by 2300 fired-up Tea Party protestors:

Even Democrats shunned the Obama event in St. Louis (March 10th) and Pennsylvania (March 8th):

The Show Me State temporarily became the No-Show State on Wednesday as some prominent Missouri Democrats decided they’d rather be somewhere else when President Obama came to push his massive health care overhaul plan. […]

The same conspicuous absences occurred Monday [March 8th] in Pennsylvania, a state Mr. Obama won by 10 percentage points in 2008. While the president was accompanied by embattled Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter, Sen. Bob Casey and Rep. Chaka Fattah aboard Air Force One, several other Pennsylvania Democrats didn’t elect to join him there, including Reps. Patrick J. Murphy, Christopher Carney and Tim Holden, three incumbents facing tough re-election battles.

Speculation is volatile on whether Representative Bart Stupak and supposed 11 other reps who oppose abortion funding in the Senate bill will succumb to threats of non-cooperation black eyes:

News broke early yesterday morning [March 9th] announcing that Representative Bart Stupak thinks a “compromise” can be reached on the issue of abortion funding in the Democrats’ Senate version of the health care bill. “I’m more optimistic than I was a week ago,” Stupak said in an interview between meetings with constituents in his northern Michigan district.[...]

Stupak had an interview with The Weekly Standard yesterday, where he clarified what was really going on. “Obviously they don’t know me,” Stupak said in his interview. “If I didn’t cave in November, why would I do it now after all the crap I’ve been through? Everyone’s going around saying there’s a compromise — there’s no such thing,” Stupak said. What’s changed between this week and last, Stupak went on, is that he had his first real conversation with Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Congressman Henry Waxman about fixing the bill.

As if there isn’t enough padding in health care boxing gloves, we learned today that Democrat leadership is considering stuffing a student loan overhaul into the Obamacare bill:

Democratic leaders met for a second day Wednesday with administration officials, including White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, in the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), but reached no decision on the student loan measure. One participant said a consensus appeared to be emerging that it would be unwise to risk the health-care bill by including the education measure.

The projected cost of Obama’s plan to expand Pell Grants and diminish the role of the private sector in the student loan program has exploded over the past year as more people seek college loans in the weak economy. Meanwhile, the potential savings from knocking private lenders out of the system has diminished as one in five colleges has already turned to government lending.

Rather than saving $50 billion over the next decade, the student loan initiative is now projected to increase deficits by about $5 billion, according to preliminary estimates provided to Democratic lawmakers. Including it in the health-care package could wreck efforts to meet the deficit-reduction goals required under reconciliation, aides said.

Eyes glazed over yet? There’s more…

Meanwhile, Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) is staying in the ring by declaring yesterday that he’s going to change filibuster laws:

“The filibuster has been abused,” Sen. Harry Reid said at a reporter’s briefing this afternoon. “But next Congress, we are going to take a look at it. And we’re going to make some changes in it.”

For now, the process seems to be proceeding from the premise that Senate Democrats are fed up with the filibuster. “In baseball,” Reid said in a clipped tone, “they used to have the spitball. It originally was used with discretion. But then the ball got wetter and wetter and wetter. So soon, they outlawed the spitball.” The same, he said, had happened to the four-corner offense in basketball. “And just the way the spitball was abused in baseball and the four-corner offense was abused in basketball,” Reid said, “Republicans have abused the filibuster.”

Republicans will meet the Democrat’s reconciliation onslaught with a combat strategy of their own. Greta Van Susteren and Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) ‘On The Record’ (FOX News) last night:

Senator Kyl: “If you [Dems] are going to use the reconciliation process, we’re going to hold you to the strict limits of reconciliation. And, if you go outside the lines and are not technically correct under reconciliation, we’re going to toss it out on a point of order. And, we have the votes to do that.”

Characterizing Obama’s latest health care sales pitch as ‘snake oil’ and URGING us to keep up the fight by contacting Blue Dog Democrats, House Minority Leader John Boehner released this statement yesterday:

“While the President is visiting America’s heartland today, I hope he will take the opportunity to finally listen to the American people, who are shouting, “stop” at the top of their lungs. They just don’t want out-of-touch Washington Democrats’ job-killing government takeover of health care. They don’t want more than $500 billion in tax hikes. They don’t want nearly $500 billion in Medicare cuts. They don’t want these outrageous kickbacks, payoffs, and sweetheart backroom deals.

The Tea Party Coalition is sounding the trumpet nationwide to take the battle to Washington D.C. this month. Here is video announcing the Take the Town Halls to Washington project. Michele Bachmann @ 1:49 :

We’ve got SEVEN days to put the squeeze on Blue Dog Democrats. Let’s not get trapped into the ‘knocked-out’ way of thinking that we can lounge around while someone else does our work for us. How much effort have you made to contact BDDs in the past week? Each of us must take personal responsibility to get a headlock on Obamacare NOW. For information on who to contact, click here.

Let’s get bustin’!

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A message from Mitt Romney:

Last week, I launched the national tour for my new book, No Apology: The Case for American Greatness, and I must admit — it feels good to be on the road again.

The tour has already taken me to cities in New York, Massachusetts, Georgia, Florida, and Michigan, as well as to Washington, DC. And by the time it’s over, I’ll have visited dozens of cities in 19 states.

It’s been great reconnecting with old friends and making new ones as I travel across the country talking about our shared conservative values — that a competitive America is one where taxes are low and government is small, that our military superiority must never be compromised, that our cultural values need to be cherished and that unleashing the power of the free market is key to our economic future.

I hope to see you at one of my upcoming book events so that you can join this important dialogue, but even if you can’t be there in person, I hope you will stand with me in helping to make our conservative message heard.

As you know, this is a crucial midterm election year. All 435 Congressional seats, one third of the U.S. Senate, 37 Governorships, and control of numerous state legislatures are at stake. With your generous financial support of $25, $50, $100, $250, $500, $1,000, $2,500, or even the maximum $5,000, to my PAC, we’ll have the resources to spread our message and elect conservative candidates throughout the country.

And, for a limited time, if you contribute at least $50, we’ll send you the official No Apology 2010 Book Tour t-shirt as a token of our appreciation (select your size below) . This much sought after, limited edition item is the same t-shirt worn by my staff and volunteers at our book events, and I’d be honored to have you wear it too as a key member of my team. And as an added bonus, the first 100 people who contribute at least $100 will receive their t-shirt signed.

I hope you will stand with me in these critical months ahead. With you by my side, I am sure that America will continue to be — as it always has been — a force for good like no other in this world. And for that, I make no apology.

Best,
Mitt Romney

Expect a crowd if you plan to join Gov Romney at Borders book store in Birmingham, MI tonight. Borders ad for No Apology: The Case for American Greatness:

Recent presidential candidate Mitt Romney charts a dramatic new course to confront the most critical issues of our nation’s time. With clear vision and a bold call to action, Governor Romney examines the roads that have led us to this critical moment in our history and incisively charts a course toward a better future.

More info here.

Times are economically challenging for many of us, but now, more than ever, it’s critical that we do all we can to support Gov Romney’s hard work for conservative principles. He’s depending on US. GIVE to his Free and Strong America PAC and receive a No Apology t-shirt. Wear it proudly and you’ll be a walking billboard for a must-read book and a great American, Mitt Romney!

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RT correspondent Kristine Frazao (the Alyona Show) reports on MittRomney’s ‘No Apology’ book tour, recent National Press Club speech, and speculates on a possible Romney 2012 presidential run:

When questioned why NPC attendees were ’smitten’ with Romney, his experience, eloquence, and looks were mentioned. Frazao elaborates further:

“Everyone that I spoke to said we like his morals, his ethical background. We like that he has five children. As you heard in the story – that he married his college sweetheart. We like that he has grandchildren[…]They see him as a family man[…]They see him as somebody kind of centered in his moral compass[...].”

*Mitt Romney: Why I’m Backing McCain

‘No Apology’ volunteer (Love this guy!):

“Go Mitt!”

*(HT to Nancy French @ EFM & Frank.)

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While Mitt Romney continues to impress Americans during the first week of his whirlwind book signing tour for No Apology: The Case for American Greatness, a date in April is worth noting. On April 9, 2010, Romney will address the Freedom Foundation of Minnesota and sign copies of his new book. Present on the same stage will be a Republican notable who some say could be a potential 2012 presidential rival and who has recently been critical of Romney’s Massachusetts health care plan. Neither men have declared intentions to run for the highest office in the land, but both are giving indications of that possibility. Will Gov Tim Pawlenty have a copy of Romney’s new book tucked under his arm? If so, I’m sure Gov Romney will be happy to cordially sign it for him.

Freedom Foundation:

Former Massachusetts Governor and 2008 presidential candidate Mitt Romney will visit the Twin Cities on April 9, 2010 to speak at a dinner sponsored by the Freedom Foundation of Minnesota (FFM) and sign copies of his newly released book. Joining Governor Romney for the event will be Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. The title of Governor Romney’s book is also the topic of his remarks: No Apology: The Case for American Greatness.

“The Freedom Foundation of Minnesota is both honored and excited to host two of our country’s most influential and important conservative leaders,” said Annette Meeks, CEO of the Freedom Foundation. “Governor Romney has been and continues to be one of the most powerful voices advancing free market policy alternatives. We’re planning an exciting evening where Minnesotans will hear Romney’s public policy ideas first hand.

“We are equally excited that Governor Tim Pawlenty will be joining us on April 9th. While Pawlenty’s public policy leadership is no secret to Minnesota conservatives, this will be the first major event where these two American leaders will appear on the same stage – a spectacular opportunity for the Freedom Foundation to highlight two dynamic American leaders.”

The event will be held at the Hotel Sofitel in Bloomington, beginning with a private reception and dinner. A dessert reception will precede remarks by the two governors with a book signing by Governor Romney to occur at the end of the evening. Registration details can be found at www.freedomfoundationofminnesota.com and tickets must be purchased in advance for all events.

Mitt Romney for President 2012

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In an unusual foray into politics since leaving office, former 66th Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice endorsed Republican CA gubernatorial hopeful, Meg Whitman, today:

In a statement emailed by the Whitman campaign, Rice said:

“California is my home and there is only one person running for Governor who can lead the way toward rebuilding our state.

“In my experiences in and out of government, I find the most effective leaders to be those who maintain a clear vision, mobilize diverse groups, and inspire them to work together in confronting the most pressing challenges. That is why I am supporting Meg Whitman.

“Meg will do what is needed to get California back on track.”

Rice has resisted efforts by voters to persuade her to run for offices ranging from governor to U.S. senator to president of the United States.

The primary election is June 8. The winner in the GOP primary will probably face Democrat Jerry Brown in November.

Brown, 71, previously served as governor of California, 1975-83, and waged three unsuccessful campaigns for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Meg Whitman: A Different Kind of Leader

“I will tell you there is a profound hunger for change, for leadership, and for authenticity.”
~ Meg Whitman

Mitt Romney is also supporting Meg Whitman. If we help elect Whitman, we can change California. A new California is vital for America! For information on how to help, go here.

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Like a pork-loaded bobsled whooshing headlong into Vancouver’s formidable, icy, Olympic track, Thursday’s Health Care Summit has come… and gone. Post-race analysis shows Democrats had planned a performance they felt would be a clean run to the finish. Their strategy was to convince American spectators that their Republican counterparts are naïve, obstructionist lightweights — incapable of steering and unable to stay on track. But, when the starting bell sounded, after having been ignored for a year, Republicans’ 12 months of health care preparation gave them the lead from the beginning. Sharp and concise, Republicans cleanly navigated the far-less-speaking-time-than-Democrat bumps, the repeated interruption jolts, and the arrogant we’re-close-to-agreement Team Obama talking twists with sensible health care solutions and end-game focus.

Four minute ‘instant replay’ highlights of seven hour Health Care Summit:

The Sham Summit:

House Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel and other Democrats argued at the health care summit that the two parties were close to agreement….

Thursday’s much-hyped health “summit” seemed mainly designed to show the president telling Republicans, “Those are all legitimate points.” Democrats admit it was a setup to pass their $2 trillion plan.

Not long before the president assembled Democrats and Republicans at the Garden Room of Blair House for a health care powwow, Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., let it all hang out on the House floor, roaring that “every single Republican I have ever met in my entire life is a wholly owned subsidiary of the insurance industry.”

Civility was the cool thing during the grand gathering, but the real purpose behind this televised event was cutthroat.

A Politico story by Mike Allen made that clear, reporting that according to a Democratic official the summit was meant to “give a face to gridlock, in the form of House and Senate Republicans.”

Democratic Party strategists told the Web-based publication that the push will begin early next week for “a massive, Democrats-only health care plan.” The official said of the summit’s purpose: “The point is to alter the political atmospherics.”

Clearly, while the public face with the C-SPAN cameras on is the president’s soft-spoken “those are all reasonable points,” the unseen reality is closer to the partisan rants of Rep. Weiner.

Again and again, Democratic participants insisted that “we’re really not that far apart,” “we really are close” and “we basically agree” except for “semantic differences.” House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., whose trouble with numbers extends to his own tax returns and whose airtime was buried toward the end of the event, absurdly claimed that there was 70% agreement between Democrats and Republicans.

When Republicans respectfully objected, with factual backup, that the differences were actually basic, relating to government vs. individual control, they were curtly accused of rattling off political “talking points” by the president.

A perfect example of the trickery was the president’s seeming willingness to agree to let consumers buy health insurance across state lines — maybe after his national health insurance exchange is established. The continual theme: Let the federal government intrude, then we can talk.

What we can expect now is the possibility of a modest increase in the dismal approval ratings of the Democrats’ plan — almost inevitable after such a big media event. We’ll also likely be told that the Democratic plan incorporates lots of Republican ideas — though it doesn’t. All this will provide cover for Democrats to push hard to enact ObamaCare through the misuse of the budget reconciliation process, requiring only 50 votes in the Senate.

Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ): “Obama consumed more time than all the Republicans combined or all the Democrats combined” and just wanted Republicans to “start with his 2700 page bill and tweak it.”

Rep John Boehner (R-OH) responds to the Health Care Summit:

After the conclusion of yesterday’s nationally-televised health care “summit” hosted by President Obama, in a video for YouTube’s Citizen Tube I answered five health care questions submitted and voted on by the You Tube community. The questions posed on You Tube are the same questions and concerns I hear from Americans across the country. They want to us scrap the current bill and start over with common-sense, step-by-step measures that lower health care costs. And they want to know why Congress insists on passing massive bills that no one in America has time to read or understand. My Republican colleagues and I agree a different approach is needed – not just to health care reform, but to the way Congress works on every issue.

When the summit blur ended, Team-Captain-in-Chief Obama issued a ‘smack-down’ to Republicans. Either the GOP offers ‘real’ compromises on the government take-over health care plan within 4-6 weeks, or Democrats will cram the finest health care system in the world into ‘Sled Reconciliation’ and send it zooming helter-skelter to the socialist finish line.

TAKE ACTION! We must spare no effort to tell those who would vote for this bill, or reconciliation, that we will donate money to their 2010 opponent and work tirelessly in their district to defeat them. For all details on who to contact and why, go here.

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Want to read one of the first reviews offered on Mitt Romney’s highly anticipated new political book? James R. Holland handily summarizes Romney’s instructive, solution-based reader: No Apology: The Case for American Greatness. Holland reveals that Romney offers ‘pretty decent’ solutions to today’s problems and is surprised by personal stories that evoked a few tears. Romney will be making the rounds on NBC’s “Today” show, ABC’s “The View”, Fox News Channel’s “Hannity” program, and CBS’s “Late Show with David Letterman” on March 2nd, the day of No Apology’s debut. If you haven’t pre-ordered your book, better hurry!

Can Mitt Romney Save America?

The answer to that question is why most readers will bother buying, borrowing or reading this book by the former Massachusetts Governor and 2008 Presidential primary candidate. In this time of national and international recession, the voters and affected non-voters around the world are looking for a leader who can actually solve the major emergencies facing America, freedom and capitalism itself.

As the son of a third generation American Immigrant whose family was run out of Mexico by Mexican revolutionaries angry with American expatriates, Mitt grew up as part of a family that worked themselves up from desperate poverty to live the American Dream. His father worked as a wall plasterer while he supported his family and worked his way through college. He eventually earned his way into the presidency of American Motor Corporation (AMC) and bet his house (or at least the money he’d made from selling his home) on the successful development of the Rambler compact car. He later became three-time governor of Michigan.

Mitt grew up in a family that had strong core values and he discusses those core values throughout this book. This reviewer actually met most of Mitt’s family including Gov. George Romney when Mitt ran an unsuccessful campaign for Senate in Massachusetts. The whole family was part of that campaign and the lessons they learned with that loss served Mitt well a few years later when he successfully won election for the Governorship of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Romney managed to do a good job managing that state even though he didn’t have enough Republican legislative votes to uphold a veto and therefore had to reach across the aisle to the Democrats controlling the State House in order to accomplish his agenda.

Romney believes that if America becomes a victim of socialism that freedom throughout the world will be lost. If the nation is not careful, it will become a second rate world country--still strong enough to survive, but not strong enough to defend freedom anywhere else in the world.

“There are three pillars that sustain a free and strong America:

l. A Strong Economy

2. A Strong Military

3. A free and Strong People.”

Romney then provides an agenda for a free and strong America. His list of goals includes 64 separate items and even Romney admits that his is not a complete list of changes needed. Studying that agenda will provide the reader with a decent idea of how Romney would tackle the nation’s problems.

The book’s second chapter “Why Nations Decline” is also instructive. Mitt briefly examines the reasons the Ottomans, the Spanish, the Portuguese, the Chinese, the British, the Soviets—these were all super-powers of their respective eras “and they were all surpassed.” The reasons for these nation’s failures were eerily similar to much of what is occurring in the USA and Western Europe.

The book examines many of the reasons for today’s problems and provides some pretty decent ideas about how to solve them. Romney also describes why many people prefer to live in denial of the facts and why in past civilizations that failure to face undeniable facts led to the destruction of those great civilizations.

In the book’s eleventh and last chapter this reader was surprised by some personal stories that brought tears to my eyes. Since I was reading while seated at the Prudential Center Food Court Terrace, it was a little embarrassing to suddenly find my eyes tearing up and salty streams trickling down my cheeks. That anything in this volume might require having tissues available was a total shock. Surprise, surprise, because the previous 99% of the book had been straight-forward logic and business-like explanations of Romney’s beliefs and ideas on how to solve the nation’s rapidly expanding and very dangerous problems, this ability to bring forth tears in an audience was enlightening.

The text was not boring and there was a little humor such as Mitt’s description of the fall his wife Ann experienced when the stage they were speaking from in Dubuque, Iowa, collapsed. When she got up, “dusted herself off, and later ad-libbed, ‘Well, I fell on de butt in Dubuque.’” The man obvious isn’t just a cool-headed, unflappable, maybe sometimes seemingly unfeeling man; he is an experienced leader and is well schooled in the workings of Capitalism, industrial production and job producing economics. He is also amazingly well spoken and as Bostonians know, he used to sometimes substitute as a host on a popular conservative talk show in order to keep in touch with the Massachusetts public. He wasn’t afraid to talk to the general public, but he relished the opportunity that only talk radio provides for contact with typical voters. He loved that form of give and take communication.

This is a good read for this political genre. It will provide the information that many people will need to decide if years of leadership experience should triumph over hope.

Romney reads from No Apology: The Case for American Greatness

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