After Congressman Paul Ryan’s strong endorsement of Mitt Romney today, we saw the powerful duo later join up to take to the stage at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. Before Romney delivered an inspiring “Restoring America” speech, Congressman Ryan introduced him.

Speaking on America’s absolute need for a true leader in the White House, Ryan said we must have a leader who has courage, conservative principles, and conviction… who has the integrity and tenacity to get America back on track. “In my humble opinion as a guy from Janesville, we need Mitt Romney to be the next president of the United States of America,” he enthusiastically offered. “I’m excited, I’m encouraged, I’m enthused.”

Ryan ended by asking his fellow Wisconsinites to join him in supporting Romney.

Romney’s presidential-sounding speech had an unmistakable general election tone. He spoke on the troubled Obama legacy and introduced a new theme: Obama’s Government-Centered Society versus rebuilding the foundation of our Opportunity Society.

VIDEO of his entire speech may be viewed here.





Excerpts from Romney’s speech (For full text, click here.):

In 222 days, something pretty extraordinary is going to happen in the country. We’ll have an election. Across this country, millions and millions of Americans will be able to do something that is really quite amazing: They will choose not only a President, but an entire House of Representatives and a third of the US Senate.

The entire world will be watching us. And by around midnight on November 6th, maybe a little earlier or a little later, we’ll know the results of millions of Americans exercising their right to vote and in doing so, making a choice so profound that it is very difficult for any of us to grasp.

But I believe Americans face a fundamental choice in this election, a decision that is much more important than the candidates or the political parties. We should understand that we are selecting not just who should guide us but a choice between two distinct paths and destinies for our nation.

In the days and months ahead, we should ask ourselves some very fundamental questions about who we are as a nation and who we are becoming. What does it mean to be an American in 2012? What will it mean in 2016 and beyond? Are we keeping faith with the great legacy – and trust – that has been handed to us by previous generations? And what America will we leave the next generation?

Our yearly budget deficits are soaring and our national debt now stands at an all-time high. Barack Obama presided over the first trillion-dollar deficit in American history. And he has repeated this dreadful distinction for each year he has been in office.

For the first time since World War II, our national debt is greater than the size of our entire economy. Each American’s share of the national debt stands at $50,000.

. . . As much as we would like to, we can’t undo what has happened these past years. The families who have lost their homes, the factories that have closed, the students who had to drop out of college and those who never could make it in the door, all those missed chances and lost opportunities can’t be regained.

And that’s why it is important to understand one astonishing fact about this election: President Obama thinks he’s doing a good job. No, I’m not kidding. He actually thinks he’s doing a great job. An historically great job. According to the President, only Lincoln, FDR and Lyndon Johnson have accomplished more. And no, he didn’t say that on Saturday Night Live.

This is a President who was elected not on the strength of a compelling record but a compelling personality and story. There was much about the campaign of Barack Obama that appealed to many Americans. And though the reality has failed the hope and change he promised, he remains surrounded by true believers who attack anyone who challenges their power. And, as we see each day, they will fight even more fiercely to hold on to that power.

All of this is to be expected. That power loves power and never lets go easily is hardly new.

The choice before us could not be more profound. Barack Obama and I have fundamentally different visions for America.

He has spent the last four years laying the foundation for a new Government-Centered Society. I will spend the next four years rebuilding the foundation of our Opportunity Society, led by free people and free enterprises.

Continue reading here.

Romney’s scope of understanding of what truly is at stake for the land of the free and the home of the brave was plainly evident today. It was an inspiring, magnificent speech. My heart swelled with pride and hope knowing he has the courage, conviction, and resolve to take the battle directly to Obama and win.

Mitt Romney will restore America’s greatness.

► Jayde Wyatt

After spending time on the House floor yesterday overseeing the passing of his budget plan, Congressman Paul Ryan (Republican Chairman of the House Budget Committee) appeared this morning on FOX & Friends to. . .

ENDORSE MITT ROMNEY!

“I am convinced that Mitt Romney has the skills, the tenacity, the courage and the principles to get America back on track.”

Coming on the heels of endorsements from President Bush 41 and Senator Marco Rubio, the backing from Ryan essentially signals a primary wind-up.

It’s over.

Ryan said he’d put in an earlier call to Rick Santorum to alert him of his pending endorsement of Romney. He also stressed the fact that America is at a crossroads and the necessity of coalescing now behind Governor Romney.

Ryan’s endorsement comes just day’s ahead of Wisconsin’s primary (his home state).

Stay tuned for more details!

UPDATE: When asked who he will support, here is what Paul Ryan said:

Mitt Romney. Here is the point, we vote on Tuesday here in Wisconsin. Lots of my friends, family and supporters are asking me, who do we think we should vote for? I have two criteria I’m using to make my decision to vote in our primary on Tuesday. Who is the best person to be President – who will make the best President? And who has the best chance of defeating Barak Obama? In my opinion, Mitt Romney is clearly that person.

Here’s the other point. I spent a good deal of time with Mitt Romney and his staff recently going through our country’s fiscal situation, talking about what it will take to get the country back on track. I am convinced Mitt Romney has the skills, the tenacity, the principles, the courage and the integrity to do what it takes to get America back on track. So I believe he’s the right person for the job. And I think this primary has been productive, I think it’s been constructive up until now. I think it’s made the candidates better. But I think we’re entering a phase where it could become counterproductive if it drags on much longer. That’s why I think we as conservatives need to coalesce around Mitt Romney and focus on the big task at hand, which is defeating Barak Obama in the fall.

UPDATE 2 - Governor Romney tweeted:

With @RepPaulRyan’s support, I have every confidence that we can begin the hard work of setting our country on a better course.

— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) March 30, 2012

UPDATE 3 - From The Washington Post

Wisconsin is holding its primary on Tuesday, but Ryan’s endorsement will resonates far outside his home state. Ryan, a proponent of deep cuts in entitlements and agency funding, has become the leading voice on debt and spending issues in the Republican party.

His blessing of Romney comes on the heels of endorsements from former Florida governor Jeb Bush, former president George H.W. Bush and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)–clear signs that Republican leaders young and old, from both the tea party and establishment wings, are ready for this primary season to be over.

UPDATE 4 - Romney’s statement:

“When the history of this chapter of American politics is written, I venture to say that Paul Ryan will occupy a significant place in the story of how our country rescued itself from financial disaster. Congressman Ryan has not only thought deeply and creatively about how to bring our extraordinary budget shortfall under control, but he has demonstrated the leadership to bring Americans together to put his bold reforms into practice. In the battle for fiscal responsibility, we have been facing gale force headwinds from the Democratic Party and from the Obama White House. But with Paul Ryan’s support, I have every confidence that we can overcome those headwinds, recapture the White House for the American people, and begin the hard work of setting our country on a better course. I am profoundly grateful to Congressman Ryan for his endorsement today. I am even more grateful for all the hard work he has done to help turn around our country and restore it to greatness.”

(emphasis added)

► Jayde Wyatt

Gov Mitt Romney met with former President George H W Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush last December. (Photo AP/Pat Sullivan)

“As a naval aviator, congressman, ambassador, CIA director, vice president, and president, George H.W. Bush served our country with great devotion and high distinction over many decades. When we talk about the Greatest Generation, we are talking about those like President Bush, who, after Pearl Harbor, enlisted in our armed forces and served with unflinching courage during World War II. This is a man who knows from the ground up – and from the top down – the meaning of responsibility in exercising leadership in our democracy. I am proud to have him as my mentor. Ann and I are grateful to be able to call Barbara and George our good friends. There is no greater honor than earning President Bush’s endorsement and I am grateful for all George and Barbara have done.”

(emphasis added)

FOX News aired the endorsement LIVE this afternoon. This important news, combined with yesterday’s backing from Senator Marco Rubio and the recent endorsement from Jeb Bush, underscores the flood of sentiment that it’s time to end the primary season, rally around Romney, and get ready to battle Obama.

When video becomes available, we’ll post it. Check back for updates!

UPDATE - Maggie Haberman – Politico

George H.W. Bush, re-endorsing Mitt Romney today in Texas and making it formal for the first time – complete with live Fox News footage – was egged on by his wife Barbara:

“Aren’t you going to sing a song for us? Know when to fold ‘em?” she asked her husband, per POLITICO’s Reid Epstein.

“Yeah,” he said. “I do think it’s time for the party to get behind Gov. Romney. And she was reminding me Kenny Rogers sang, ‘It’s time when to hold ‘em and time when to fold ‘em.’ Well I think it’s time for people to all get behind this good man…We’re so convinced and we’ve known Mitt for a very long time, that he’s the man to do this job and get on and win the presidency, and that’s about it. And with no further ado, here’s the man.”

UPDATE 2 - Apparently President Bush 41 loves socks with pizazz. At their meeting today in Texas, he presented Romney with a pair (love it!):

Photo taken by D G Jackson (Mitt Body Man) March 29, 2012 (Click on photo to enlarge.)

UPDATE 3 – Video of the endorsement (FOX didn’t cut away soon enough to get the first part of the endorsement. I’ll try to locate video of the entire event.):

UPDATE 4 – Here’s CNN’s video (Pres Bush speaks; Barbara Bush sings Ann Romney’s praises!):

UPDATE 5 – The Daily Caller is reporting a Paul Ryan endorsement of Mitt Romney is imminent. If true, this would be another breathtaking endorsement! Details here.

► Jayde Wyatt

Drudge broke the news/rumor and twitter went all a-flitter: Rubio to endorse tonight! And so tonight on the Sean Hannity show Marco Rubio made his 2012 endorsement official:

The go-ahead nod from Marco Rubio is perhaps the biggest endorsement in this race since Chris Christie. It is a rally call to all conservatives that this race, though not ended, is essentially over.

Said Rubio of Romney, “he offers a stark contrast to the President’s record.”

This news is breaking… more quotes, and perhaps video, will be forth coming.

~Nate G.

VIDEO UPDATE:

FOX News’ Sean Hannity: “Up to this point, you had not jumped into the primary race. Are you endorsing Mitt Romney then?”

Senator Marco Rubio: “Well, I am going to endorse Mitt Romney and the reason why is not only because he is going to be the Republican nominee but he offers at this point, such a stark contrast to the President’s record. Look at the President’s record. This is someone who has run the country, not very well over the last three years, that has no experience beyond that doing that, at the same time, as he has no experience with the private sector or the free enterprise system. In Mitt Romney, we have a candidate, an alternative, that in addition to being successful as a governor, running an important state in this country, has also been successful in the private sector and offers a very clear alternative to the direction this president is going to take our country. I think all the candidates in this race have a lot to be proud of. They have offered a lot to the debate. But I just can’t buy into this idea that by their own admission, they are saying the only way they can win this race is by having a floor fight in Tampa in August. I think that’s a recipe to deliver four more years to Barack Obama and our country – forget about the Republican Party – our country cannot afford that. We have got to come together behind who I think has earned this nomination and that’s Mitt Romney.”

Mitt Romney:

“Marco Rubio is living proof that the American Dream is still very much alive. … From humble origins, he has risen to become one of the brightest lights in our political party. He has been a leading voice in the U.S. Senate and the country for the cause of restoring American greatness. He knows that the way forward is to end excessive regulations, shrink government, and get our economy growing. He understands that the way to strengthen our communities is to strengthen our families. He recognizes the dangers that will face America if we fail to maintain our military power. He understands how critical it is to bring new leadership to the White House. Senator Rubio’s endorsement is a major milestone in my effort to make Barack Obama a one-term president. Ann joins me in thanking him for the confidence he is placing in my leadership and for the great honor he has done me today.”

Mitt was endorsed by Ivanka Trump as well:

► Jayde Wyatt

Romney and Leno discuss Rick Santorum, VP picks, delegate counts, “distracting issues”, tax code, Health Care, Obama’s open mic gaffe, Russia, Afghanistan and federal spending. (Just watched it myself. Way to go Governor – extremely well done!)

Parts 2 and 3 below the fold…
Read more…

Governor Romney held a fundraising event yesterday in the Orange County community of Shady Canyon at the home of a supporter. It was a beautiful, sunny day — perfect for an outdoor event [see several photographs below the fold].

Photo by Amanda Earnest

I asked three people attending the luncheon to provide highlights of the event, including the comments of Governor and Mrs. Romney. This was the first time that each of them had met Governor Romney. Following are their observations and several photos of the luncheon. They include Marine veteran Marlon Bateman, Shady Canyon resident Bill Joiner, and Amanda Earnest who helped raise funds for the event. I appreciate each of their contributions for this post.

REQUEST: There were hundreds of people in attendance at this luncheon. If you were one of them yesterday, please leave a brief comment to this post and add your observations to those of Marlon, Bill, and Amanda. Why are you supporting Governor Romney’s candidacy for President?

I am proud to include Marlon Bateman in this post. It was he that inspired me to write this after discovering it would be his first time to meet Gov. Romney. I believe I speak for my family, friends, and all Americans in publicly thanking him for his years of honorable service in protecting our nation; and to his wife Emily for her service in support. Thank you so much — we will always be grateful.

CPL Bateman in Afghanistan w/ Afghan National in Back

Marlon Bateman grew up in California, and joined the Marine Corp. after graduating high school. He served from October 2007 to September 2011 (at rank of CPL) with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines Infantry. Shortly after joining the Marines, Marlon married Emily and was later deployed to Iraq and then again to Afghanistan in 2010. He is active in his church, has a passion for politics, is a full-time college student, and will be assisting Governor Romney’s campaign any way he can in 2012 (David Parker of MRC called Gov. Romney to inform him that Marlon would be there to meet him).

On Tuesday my wife and I had a chance to meet Governor and Mrs. Romney. A friend who knew that I had served four years in the Marines and was now in college and working (as well as helping to campaign for Governor Romney) invited me to an event that supporters of the governor were holding in Irvine, California. So my wife and I came and were treated to a few minutes conversation with the governor and his wife. Read more…

From ForeignPolicy.com:

Bowing to the Kremlin

Why Obama’s “hot mic” diplomacy is endangering America.

BY MITT ROMNEY

Sometimes it’s the unguarded moments that are the most revealing of all. President Obama just had such a moment at the summit in South Korea. “This is my last election,” Obama told Russia’s president, Dmitry Medvedev, in an exchange that was inadvertently picked up by microphones. “After my election I have more flexibility.”

But flexibility to do what? The president mentioned missile defense to Medvedev as one area where the Kremlin should expect more flexibility. This is alarming.

It is not an accident that Mr. Medvedev is now busy attacking me. The Russians clearly prefer to do business with the current incumbent of the White House.

And it is not hard to understand why. The record shows that President Obama has already been pliant on missile defense and other areas of nuclear security. Without extracting meaningful concessions from Russia, he abandoned our missile defense sites in Poland. He granted Russia new limits on our nuclear arsenal. He capitulated to Russia’s demand that a United Nations resolution on the Iranian nuclear-weapons program exclude crippling sanctions.

Moscow has rewarded these gifts with nothing but obstructionism at the United Nations on a whole raft of issues. It has continued to arm the regime of Syria’s vicious dictator and blocked multilateral efforts to stop the ongoing carnage there. Across the board, it has been a thorn in our side on questions vital to America’s national security. For three years, the sum total of President Obama’s policy toward Russia has been: “We give, Russia gets.”
[CONTINUE READING AT FOREIGNPOLICY.COM]

For complete coverage on the “live mic” story check out Jayde’s post from earlier today.

Obama bared his soul in Seoul yesterday.

A big one.

Speaking to soon-to-be-booted-out Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, a hot mic caught Obama revealing a secret agenda for Russia (after claiming he’ll be re-elected this fall):

Obama: “On all these issues, but particularly missile defense, this, this can be solved but it’s important for him [Putin] to give me space.”
Medvedev: “Yeah, I understand. I understand your message about space. Space for you…”
Obama: “This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility.”
Medvedev: “I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir, and I stand with you.”

(Did you catch the body language between the two presidents…?)

Obviously, Obama and Medvedev didn’t know the world would hear their exchange. By the way, Putin (recently elected under dubious procedures) is expected to appoint Medvedev as Russia’s Prime Minister.

› Governor Romney addressed Obama’s telling revelation yesterday while speaking to an audience in San Diego, CA and talking to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. Hugh Hewitt also got The Gov’s take on it. LISTEN TO AUDIO of Hewitt’s interview here.

HH: So the President says, Governor Romney, this is my last election, after my election I have more flexibility. And President Medvedev says I understand, I will transmit this information to Vladimir. Your reaction, Governor Romney?

MR: Well, it is revealing, it is alarming, it’s troubling, it suggests that the President has a very different agenda with the Russians than he’s willing to tell the American people. And for that reason alone, we ought to vote him out of office. This is a very disconcerting development.

HH: What do you think he has in mind, Governor, when he says I will be flexible? Is it missile defense? It is the number of our warheads? Is it Iran? What is he talking about?

MR: Well, he says missile defense, but we’re talking about one of those two issues, either missile defense or warheads. What he’s done on warheads, of course, with the new START Treaty, he took warheads down to 1,500 on strategic nuclear weapons. Of course, the Russians were already at 1,500. They didn’t have to have any reductions. We were at 2,200. So the only reduction in his missile defense treaty was a reduction at the U.S. level. And of course, he ignored the tactical nuclear weapons, which are of course the same nukes. They’re just on smaller rockets. He ignored that, where Russia has an advantage of five or ten to one over us. So this is a president who continues to try and appease and accommodate, and believes that the best interests of America are to bow to the interests of Russia. And it’s very, very troubling, and I mean, I’m very disturbed by this. I hope the American people understand that what we heard from the President is revealing about his character in terms of what he tells the American people, and revealing about his direction and sentiment with regards to Russian, which is after all our number one geopolitical foe. They don’t represent a military threat to us at the present, but they oppose us at every turn in the United Nations, and oppose us in every one of our efforts, whether in Iraq or Iran, North Korea. They’re on the other side. And for him to be cozying up with them with regards to missile defense is simply unacceptable.

HH: How do you expect this aside from the President will be understood in Poland and the Czech Republic, and Ukraine, and Georgia, and other front line states facing a newly-expansive Russia?

MR: Well, I think our friends around the world have been reevaluating their relationship with the United States, in part because of this president’s treatment of friends relative to the treatment of enemies. I’ve heard from more than one foreign leader that it seems to be preferable to be an American foe than an American friend to this president.

HH: Now Governor Romney, the press will of course attempt to dismiss this as not a big issue. Will this remain a front line issue? And do you think that the President has got to spell out with great detail what he has in mind here?

MR: You know, I don’t think he can recover from it, to tell you the truth. I mean, I think he will try and spin something. But I don’t know how you spin from an open mic, where you’re talking about having more flexibility after the election, which means quite clearly that you don’t want the American people to hear what you’re really planning on doing, and that you’re going to be able to do more when you no longer are accountable to the American people. You know, the mainstream media may try and put this to bed, but we’re going to keep it alive and awake. And we’re going to keep hammering him with it all the way through November.

Full transcript may be found here.

› Here’s video of Romney discussing Obama’s comments with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer (The Situation Room):

Text and UPDATES are included below the fold.

Read more…

NOTE: See “Feelings about Mitt Romney” below the fold, at the end of this post.

Chris Wallace is one of my favorite political interviewers. He is tough and will generally stay with a line of questioning until he gets answers. Yesterday he interviewed David Plouffe, one of Obama’s senior advisers. The interview spanned a number of topics, the most important being unemployment and gasoline prices.

This video clip is over 14 minutes, but at 13 minutes, five seconds, Wallace put up a chart that shows the unemployment rate at the time three incumbent presidents lost an election “seeking another term” over the last 36 years. The implication of course being that a key reason each of these one-term-only presidents lost reelection was due to the unusually high unemployment rate.

The unemployment rate today is 8.3 percent, not including those who want to work, but who stopped looking — that the government stopped counting. Following were the unemployment rates at the time of the presidential elections:

• Gerald Ford — 7.8%
• Jimmy Carter — 7.5%
• George H. W. Bush — 7.4%

The future does not look good for Mr. Obama if history is any indication!

Of course, many things factor into the ability of any incumbent president to win reelection, but the unemployment rate is a very important number and Obama knows it. You can tell by Plouffe’s demeanor and answer that the Obama Administration knows it. Top that off with high and rising gasoline prices and we have a current political climate that is worse than that of President Carter when Governor Reagan beat him with a mandate. We have seen both Gingrich and Santorum become desperate in their rhetoric; I will venture a guess that their desperation will pale in comparison to Obama’s in October and November.

Kimberly A. Strassel WSJ Op-Ed

Many editorials have emerged these past two weeks basically advising Gov. Romney to get out ahead of the opposition and provide more details to illustrate how his Massachusetts health-care plan is different from ObamaCare. In my opinion, the differences are many and very important — but I believe Gov. Romney’s lack of focus on healthcare in his speeches right now is a good strategy. He is succeeding without it and the risks associated with bringing it up are not worth it right now.

That said, Ms. Strassel makes some valid points in her Op-Ed. The first half of the piece discusses how she feels Gov. Romney’s lack of clarity in describing/defending his health-care plan against charges from Santorum and others has hurt him, but then she ends the piece by arguing Romney can turn it to his benefit (see Paul Johnson’s excellent article below to compliment this point). Strassel: Read more…