Mitt Romney shelled out plenty of criticism against Barack Obama and his policies last night in a speech to the Young America’s Foundation. His remarks mostly focused on Obama’s foreign policy, but he always mentioned how the president’s domestic and economic failures are hurting our nation’s stance in the world.

Romney’s speech, which took place near the Reagan Ranch in Santa Barbara California, was approximately 45 minutes, consisting of 22 minutes of his prepared remarks, and 23 minutes of questions and answers. Both the substance and the setting of the speech, plus the mention of his new book to be released in March, send strong signals that he has every intention to run for president again in 2012. The name of his book of course is a less than veiled jab at Obama’s foreign policy stance: No Apology: A Case for American Greatness. With Romney’s speech on Friday he continues to beat the foreign policy drum as he has done in several recent meetings and speeches, perhaps in effort to win over the DefCons in the 2012 election interim.

Below is Romney’s full speech. Some personal thoughts I had regarding it are that he speaks very fluidly and without a teleprompter (very refreshing when in contrast to Mr. Chop Talk), but at times he speaks a little too quickly. He did speak from prepared notes, but not during the Q & A, obviously.

Overview/Highlight Points:

• Our conservative message will connect with young voters if it is presented to them clearly.
• Romney had hoped that Obama would govern from the center as he had campaigned, but he has moved sharply to the left to reflect more of how he actually believes.
• Obama has taken a dramatic departure from the U.S. foreign policy that has existed for last 60 years. His policy has taken a step back from America’s values, in order to become a neutral player. In effort to be neutral he has stiff-armed our friends and drawn closer to our enemies.
• Romney mentions Obama’s mistakes with Honduras, Iran, Czech Republic and Poland, Columbia, Israel and Afghanistan.
• It is inexplicable and incomprehensible that Obama has not had enough time on his calendar to meet regularly with his Generals, but at the same time has done at least 30 campaign events this year.
• Obama has been in office 10 months and has no strategy to protect our soldiers. What has he been doing? (My answer: golf, basketball, huge parties on the White House lawn, dates in Paris. Oh, and still doing campaign events endlessly.)
• EVERY policy step that Obama has taken has made America weaker.
• Stimulus failed because it focused on growing government instead of growing the private sector.
• Deficit spending is not just bad economics, it is morally wrong to place the burden on the next generation.
• In regards to health care, Romney opines that “Obama is not going to get what he wants thanks to the thousands of tea party participants fighting for the things we believe in. Congratulations to them.”
• Having a strong military is fully dependent on having a strong economy.
• The people of America are what are going to change this country and change the leadership in Washington and continue to elect more conservatives.

Q & A: I’ll write the questions, you watch the video for the answer. I’ve paraphrased some of the lengthy questions.

• 22:20 What do you want to do to promote the conservative movement? (In this answer he mentions his book and jokes that he will be selling millions of copies. As an afterthought he mentions that all the proceeds will go to charity.)
• 27:00 What is the difference between Obama’s healthcare plan and what was enacted in Massachusetts?
• 30:00 Obama is pulling back from America’s role in the world. What are the long-term implications of that and how can we get back to greatness?
• 33:30 What are the steps we can take to move towards a more limited government?
• 38:50 How does illegal immigration affect the strength of our nation and affect our national security and domestic policy?

Not mentioned anywhere above is the humor that was infused into his speech, as well as the few personal stories. There were about 5 or 6 good jokes. Some I had heard previously, but they were still very apt.

~Nate Gunderson

Barack Obama announced today that come December, he’ll be holding a jobs summit. Looks like the 10.2 percent unemployment rate and the failure of the massive stimulus bill now has the White House grasping at straws, hoping to find something that works now.

Or, at least give Americans the impression that they’re trying to find something that works.

“I’m hoping that this is not just another press conference,” House Republican Whip Eric Cantor told POLITICO. “We’ve seen a lot of these dog and pony shows out of the White House, but there’s no follow through.” Cantor complained that the White House has not listened to Republican ideas on job creation.

When I first heard this news, my immediate thought was, “Mitt Romney has to be invited to this jobs summit, right? It would only make sense.” But then I realized that Obama would never invite Romney to such a thing. Just like Obama never once considered Romney to be his auto czar. While someone who is truly trying to solve these kinds of problems would include Romney, we have to remember that Obama is still playing politics. I will be shocked if Romney is invited to participate in Obama’s jobs summit.

Think of it this way: Obama holds his jobs summit and invites Romney to participate. Jobs summit is successful. Romney is now able to trumpet his success at jobs summit. In the end, Obama gave Romney the means to prove he can accomplish what Obama has failed to do over the past year. Romney now has this to use against Obama in 2012.

So don’t expect to see Romney’s name on the jobs summit roster. Like Cantor said, this is only a dog and pony show.

Former MA Governor Mitt Romney appeared yesterday on CNBC’s The Kudlow Report. Larry Kudlow questioned Mitt on Obama’s economic stimulus plan, lowering marginal business and personal tax rates, the flat tax, the Pelosi health care plan, and his Massachusetts health care program.

A ‘Mitthead Nod’ to MRC commenter Frank for bringing this video to our attention.

Governor Romney, thank you for your unwavering work on behalf of conservative candidates everywhere. As 2012 draws nearer, we hope to return the favor for you!

Speaking from Newton, MA this morning, former Governor Mitt Romney connected by remote to the The Early Morning Show (CBS) for an interview with Harry Smith. Questioned on the president’s war strategy in Afghanistan, Romney reminded viewers that Afghanistan was the centerpiece of Obama’s presidential campaign. Mitt compared Obama to Shakespeare’s Hamlet and chastened him for not having made a decision on sending additional troops.

Romney also spoke on tomorrow’s important elections and his fundraising efforts to support conservative candidates. He’s been criss-crossing the country non-stop to attend fundraisers for Va. gubernatorial Bob McDonnell and the candidate for Lt. Governor, Bill Bolling; New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie; South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint; and candidates for races in Arizona, Georgia, New York, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Missouri, Texas, Utah, and elsewhere.

Just three days after the Obama White House bragged that their stimulus program has created or saved some 650,000 jobs, Romney stated that “the stimulus that the president and the Congress passed is not what’s helped the economy.”

Romney (after ad): “As you recall, the scenario they (Obama administration) forecast would occur without the stimulus, is now the very scenario which they’re forecasting is going to occur. So the jobless rate is going to hit 10%. We’re not going to have any net new jobs into the third quarter of next year. That’s what was supposed to happen without the stimulus. So their stimulus didn’t work. The right answer is to stop the stimulus that they put in place, reform it, or scrap it, because it is not what’s creating jobs in this country; instead, it’s the private sector.”

I am not an adviser to Mitt Romney. However, if I were, (if you are reading this Mr. Romney, I’d be happy to fill any vacancies you may have) this is what I’d be telling the Governor, assuming that today’s issues are still relevant in the 2012 campaign:

Barack Obama’s approval ratings are trending steadily downward. People across the nation are frustrated with the stagnant economy, dithering in Afghanistan, an unclear foreign policy (just what exactly is the president trying to achieve?), unprecedented and irresponsible government spending, and an ongoing apology tour de farce. They are worried about how health care reform, cap and trade, and any more “stimulus” bills will effect their daily lives – their jobs, taxes, energy costs, grocery bills, and so forth. In other words, there is a fair amount of civil unrest throughout the nation. In fact, I think the only bipartisan sentiment we are witnessing in America today is a collective cry to “slow down!”

For the first time in his life, our current president will have to run for re-election. And for the first time in his career he will have to defend his leadership record. Suffice it to say, he is not off to a great start. How then can a challenger in 2012 capitalize on the political climate of today?

Mitt Romney has a unique talent to “see around corners”. I wonder if our current leadership, Republican and Democrat alike, truly understand the symbiotic relationship between our economy, and our national security. Current trends, remarks, and actions suggest they are at best, ignorant, and at worst, malicious. Governor Romney is best known for his economic skills. That reputation is warranted, however, one aspect of those skills that is largely overlooked is his ability to take a dire situation, and turn it around into something profitable and successful. He knows that the strength of our military, the power of our negotiators, and the authority of our president is all contingent on the power of our economy. If it is weak, then everything else follows. What is alarming is that our enemies seem to understand this principle better than our president, secretary of state, and representatives on Capitol Hill.

Mitt Romney knows these things. He has built a career on building success through economic prosperity.

Right now the American people want to hear once again how great the United States is. They want to know that through our ingenuity, our courage, and our entrepreneurial spirit, that any challenges that we face can be, not only overcome, but turned to our advantage. That through the unfettered spirit of the individual, all things are possible. It was not increased government spending, or bloated entitlement programs that lifted us out of the Great Depression. It was not health care reform or climate change legislation that sent an American to the moon. It was not bailouts, handouts, and a White House led culture war that defeated Communism, some 20 years ago.

It was Americans. You. And I. Our grandparents, and parents.

Mitt Romney could quickly become the candidate (and president) of an American Renaissance. A period of recovery, peace, and prosperity led by the peoples confidence once again in the individual pursuit of happiness.

However those same Americans do not want explanations. They want results. If the current political climate persists into the 2012 election season then no doubt one of the albatrosses that will be hung around Governor Romney’s neck (by his fellow Republican challengers) will be so called “Romneycare”. I do not think it is in his best interest as a candidate to try and explain away the nuances of the Massachusetts health care system. Nor is it beneficial to claim that it has not been implemented as designed. And while that may be true, that same spirit of independence that defines the American people demands accountability. And so, I think Mitt Romney ought to own Romneycare, and admit that it has fallen short of expectations. Admit it was a mistake, whose lesson was learned the hard way, but luckily on a small scale. It would give Mr. Romney a chance to admit failure, but also to offer new solutions. It would lead to an excellent opportunity to denounce government controlled health care and to point out that the private sector is best suited to fix our economic problems. And ultimately, health care is an economic problem.

The success of our nation will come down to the resolve and faith of the American people. Having a president that is constantly blaming others, complaining about messes he “inherited” and telling those who question or disagree with him to “shut up and get out of the way” is draining the spirit and morale of the people. In less than a year we have grown tired of the rhetorical tongue lashings, the attacks on the private industry, and the inability to stand firm and make hard choices. We demand optimistic, experienced, leadership.

Which is exactly what Mitt Romney will deliver.

So many important news stories to cover… so little time:

• Romney to be special guest at Senator DeMint fundraiser next week (click here)
• WH attempts to delegitimize Fox. Result: improved ratings (click here) (h/t GOP Toast)
• Sarah Palin to appear on the Oprah show on the eve of the her book’s release (click here)
• Rasmussen: Public now trusts GOP more than Dems on 10 out of 10 issues (click here)
• In case You missed it: 2009 fiscal year budget finalized at a whopping $1.42 TRILLION (click here)

Quick facts on the budget deficit: (FYI, the fiscal year ends on the Sept. 30)

• $1.42 trillion annual deficit equates to 10% of the nation’s GDP
• $1.42 trillion 2009 deficit TRIPLES the previous high of $455 billion set in 2008 by the Bush administration
• deficit is a result of an 18% increase in spending, while tax revenues decreased by 16%
• Obama’s projected deficit for 2010: 1.5 Trillion! (sorry Obama, no way you can pin that on Bush)
• total deficit officially stands at $11.9 trillion, very near to the “deficit cap” of $12.1 trillion set by congress
• the “deficit cap” has been raised 90 times since 1940, 8 times in the last six years

Someone please give me one reason I shouldn’t be upset and extremely alarmed at numbers like that! “I cants ha’dly stands it no mo’e.”

Romney 2008: I will veto any discretionary spending bill that is more than inflation minus 1%.

Romney 2012 anyone?

~Nate Gunderson

Remember back in 1997 when the U.S. Senate rejected the Kyoto protocol and then, at the end of his term, Bill Clinton signed an executive order placing America under Kyoto’s restrictions? Do you also recall that when then-President George Bush was elected, he refused to buckle to pressures to ratify the Kyoto Agreement? Bush refused to sign mainly because of faulty global warming science and the adverse effects strict carbon emission guidelines reductions would have had on our American economy. Now, the epic global climate argument will come to a dramatic head December 7-18, 2009. Representatives from 192 countries, with estimates of more than 15,000 diplomats, officials, advisers, proponents, and journalists, will cluster in Copenhagen, Denmark, to attend COP-15 (Copenhagen Climate Change Summit – 15^th annual conference). Is Obama poised to cede U.S. sovereignty to the United Nations on climate change?

 Obama clues and cues:

1) Stance on Cap and Trade

2) Refusal to pursue development of America’s off-shore/ANWR oil resources

3) Desire to eradicate the coal industry

4) Billions of dollars earmarked to create ‘green’ energy

5) American Apologetics message to the world and propensity for transnationalism, i.e. the appointment of Harold Koh as the State Department’s top legal advisor.

6) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s statements at Obama’s Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate last March, acknowledging that the U.S. had played a role in past climate emissions. She emphasized that America is  “determined to make up for lost time both at home and abroad” and that “the U.S. is no longer absent without leave.”

7) Obama’s own statements, including global warming comments delivered to the United Nations on September 23, 2009. 

It doesn’t take a solar-powered crystal ball to determine the position Obama will take at COP-15 this December!

Please watch every minute of this important video Climate Chains – The Global Warming Fraud:

“Energy is what many call the Master Resource. If you control energy, you control everything. Everything we make, use, or do starts with an infusion of energy and requires energy at every step along the way… to the point where you use it.” “Climate change is the perfect scapegoat for environmentalists. A COP-15 Treaty will be used to change the behavior, lifestyle, and standard of living of every single person on the planet.”

Mitt Romney on Cap & Trade – Free and Strong America, Oct 7, 2009

Romney: “President Obama has asked Congress to pass a Cap and Trade program. It will have a devastating impact on families of America and the economy. The plan would raise energy prices on the average American family by $1,761 a year. I hope you’ll join me in opposing this legislation. Together, we need to make our voices heard!”

Among those who disagree with Obama’s position is Lord Christopher Monckton.

Monckton served as a policy adviser to Margaret Thatcher. He has repeatedly challenged Al Gore to a debate to which Gore has refused. Monckton sued to stop Gore’s film “An Inconvenient Truth” from being shown in British schools due to its inaccuracies. The judge found in-favor of Monckton, ordering 9 serious errors in the film to be corrected. Lord Monckton travels internationally in an attempt to educating the public about the myth of global warming.

On October 14, 2009, Lord Christopher Monckton, a noted climate change skeptic, gave a presentation in St. Paul, MN. In this 4-minute excerpt from his speech, he issues a dire warning to all Americans regarding the United Nations Climate Change Treaty, scheduled to be signed in Copenhagen in December 2009.

 WARNING!

Lord Monckton on United Nations Treaty to be signed December 2009: “I have read that treaty. What is says is this: 1) A world government is going to be created. 2) Transfer of wealth from countries of the west to third world countries to satisfy ‘climate debt.’ 3) Enforcement.”

Click here for Monckton’s entire 95 minute speech debunking global warming science.
Click here to read a draft copy of the treaty.
Click here to sign a petition opposing Cap and Trade.

This isn’t about the climate. It’s about international economic control over our lives. As Monckton said, in the next few weeks – UNLESS WE STOP IT – our President will sign our freedom, our democracy, and our prosperity away forever. I urge you to pass this information to your friends and neighbors. We ALL must contact our legislators and every form of media to STOP OBAMA from signing the COP-15 Climate Change Treaty.

Since Fridays are relatively slow and the is not much newsworthy content on the interweb, I’ve decided to make a poll to lighten the day with a little levity.

First, a picture I found at a local scooter business that is both funny and sad at the same time:

Sign of the Times?

And now for the poll. I know that there are some answers that aren’t included that you’d like to see, but I had to cap it somewhere. But please, if you have some good answers leave them in the comments.

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Now I realize that this post is called “Friday Fun”, but after making that list I’ve concluded that this just isn’t fun anymore. I should have added “Nobama 2012″ to the list.

~Nate G.

As the keynote speaker at a Founders’ Day dinner in Omaha, Nebraska last night, former Governor Mitt Romney continues to be a big fundraising attraction. 600 people contributed to deposit $100,000 into the Nebraskan GOP piggy bank. In these budget-stretching, uncertain economic times, the digging-deep-in-pockets truth is that Republicans are more committed than ever to support the conservative cause. It’s also moneyed approval of Romney’s clout. Also attending were Gov. Dave Heineman, U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns and U.S. Reps. Adrian Smith and Lee Terry.

Mitt’s comments last night on Obama’s health care scheme:

President Obama’s troubles with health care reform rest with his fellow Democrats, and not Republicans, former GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney said Friday in Omaha.

Democrats wary of a public takeover of health care — including Nebraska Democratic U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson — are Obama’s main obstacle, Romney said prior to his appearance at a state GOP fundraising dinner.

“The president doesn’t need one Republican vote to pass a health-care plan,” said Romney, saying there are enough Democrats in Congress to pass a bill.

“If a bill is being delayed or he’s having trouble getting it through, it’s because some Democrats are listening to what people are saying,” Romney said.

On health care reforms Romney implemented in Massachusetts:

As governor of Massachusetts, Romney helped implement health care reform in that state. In fact, Massachusetts is the only state in the union with a government mandate requiring residents to have insurance or face a penalty.

Romney stood behind the Massachusetts approach, saying he continues to support the idea.

Some Republicans object to a mandate, saying the federal government should not be in the business of requiring citizens to buy health insurance.

Romney argued that people who fail to purchase health care insurance make everyone else pay when they get sick. Hospitals cover the costs of treating the uninsured by spreading the expense among people with insurance.

Romney also said he believes the federal government should allow each state to develop its own health care reform bill with dollars currently being spent on Medicaid and Medicare.

Finally, Romney said, he opposes a “public option.” He said a government-run health insurance plan would be a takeover of the health care system.

Instead, he favors the Massachusetts plan, where the state created a pool of insurance companies, which then offered subsidized health insurance to people who could not afford insurance.

Read more here.

See Romney Keynotes Nebraska GOP Event by Rebel Ross here on MRC Forum.