[ Michael Ramirez cartoon below the fold -- at the end ]

Nationally syndicated columnist Peggy Noonan is one of my favorite writers in the world. She was a speech writer for President Reagan and always provides interesting insight and depth to any presidential contest.

Very few writers, that cover presidential administrations and candidates, convert their thoughts to paper as does Peggy Noonan. I look forward to every one of her columns and have since before the last cycle. As a journalist, with her natural in-depth probing style, she has not always been positive on Romney, but that is what we expect by the very best American journalists — brutal candor.

Peggy Noonan’s editorial below is one of the very best I have seen about President Obama in the last 3+ years.

In my volunteer work for MittRomneyCentral, I have to read a lot. We have to wade through a lot of nonsense. There are thousands of paid “journalists” across America that are constantly writing about politics. They are always looking for some new, different angle — they have to write — that is what they do.

Then there is Noonan.

For a few weeks now, I have been contemplating a shift in my work at MRC. Not only do we hope to attract the broader electorate that has passionately supported Speaker Gingrich and Senator Santorum, we also expect to attract a large number of the “Reagan Democrats” — I have spoken to many. A few are my friends. Some of them are very close to making a decision to vote for Gov. Romney. One already has. This is my first post about a Democrat that I think will go down in American history as one of our worst Presidents, based entirely on his poor judgment and decisions.

Peggy Noonan’s column this week described perfectly every odd comment of Obama’s I had heard these past several weeks. And those odd expressions of his that viscerally seemed both comfortable and awkward to him. She nailed it all in this wonderful Op-Ed, using simple words like “creepy” and “not-so-smooth operator.” Even giving her opinion that he does not like being president — something I had been sensing but was reticent to write about.

Below are excerpts of this week’s Noonan column along with commentary from other sources. There has been a conspicuous increase in the number of comments (and articles) about Mr. Obama from within and outside the White House. In my opinion, these signal a clear understanding by the Obama administration that the Republican nominating process is effectively over and that Obama is in full campaign (combat) mode – they are donning their battle gear on all fronts.

Since I interspersed several other excerpts throughout Noonan’s below, each Noonan excerpt is preceded by the initials “PN.”

PN:

Something’s happening to President Obama’s relationship with those who are inclined not to like his policies. They are now inclined not to like him. His supporters would say, “Nothing new there,” but actually I think there is. I’m referring to the broad, stable, nonradical, non-birther right. Among them the level of dislike for the president has ratcheted up sharply the past few months.
[…]
What is happening is that the president is coming across more and more as a trimmer, as an operator who’s not operating in good faith. Read more…

Governor Romney loves a clever, non-malicious prank and has been known to pull a few monkeyshines in his lifetime.

Last night, as the spirit of April Fool’s Day began to waft across the Romney camp, Congressman Paul Ryan, Senator Ron Johnson, and Romney aides entered into a conspiracy…

The Republican presidential front-runner was all set to deliver a stump speech at a pancake breakfast in Milwaukee. He was ushered into a ballroom. He waited backstage behind a black curtain. Arrows on the floor showed him where to walk.

An aide warned Romney that, for whatever reason, turnout was low but that he would have to power through the event. “It’s really small,” one aide said, “but it will be okay.”

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) went out first to introduce Romney, “the next president of the United States!” Romney could hear applause, and when his intro music, Kid Rock’s “Born Free,” blared from the speakers, he and Sen. Ronald H. Johnson (R-Wis.) walked out from behind the black curtain.

“It’s completely empty!” Romney said, save for a handful of aides. “There’s nobody there. I thought, ‘Oh, boy, this is gonna look really bad on the evening news, let me tell you.’ ”

It turned out that Ryan and Johnson were in on the prank, which Romney’s traveling aides had hatched up late Saturday night. They had built a fake set for a Romney event. The applause was really a soundtrack played through a set of speakers.

“So not only did they do that, but they caught it on camera,” Romney said. “You guys — this is known as ‘forgive but remember,’ I’ll tell ya. We’re gonna remember this.”

After aides shouted “April fools!” at him, the former Massachusetts governor made his way to the real ballroom, where he addressed an overflow crowd of several hundred supporters and served them pancakes.

Read more and see a good photo here.

Romney shadowman, D G Jackson, caught the prank on video:

A well-executed caper!

“The first of April, some do say
is set apart for All Fools’ Day
But why the people call it so
Nor I, nor they themselves do know
But on this day are people sent
on purpose for pure merriment.”

- Poor Robin’s Almanac (1790)

Happy April Fool’s Day, everyone!

► Jayde Wyatt

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

Today, Governor Mitt Romney announced the support of former President George H.W. Bush:

“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!):

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

Obama bared his soul in Seoul yesterday.

Except, he didn’t mean to.

It was a flub.

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…

One of our favorite Romney guys, Former NH Governor John Sununu, spoke this morning to FOX News’ Martha MacCallum (America’s Newsroom). With the Santorum/Gingrich led media hoopla surrounding a Romney aide’s comment about Etch-a-Sketch, Sununu pulled no punches:

“Mitt Romney is talking about creating jobs and Santorum is waving kiddie toys in the air. It’s from the sublime to the ridiculous. ~ Fmr NH Gov John Sununu

We’ve now reached the silly stage of primary politics… With the gravity of the domestic and foreign threats America is facing, images of foolhardy Santorum and Gingrich pinching and twisting plastic toy knobs on the campaign trail, hoping to etch and sketch enough favor to hang on for another day, is pitiable.

Romney’s reaction to Etch-a-Sketch flap:





Regardless of frivolous and foolish antics from Romney’s opposition, conservative Senator and Tea Party leader Jim DeMint released a buzz-worthy memo today. Penning lines that are very easy to read between, Demint says it’s time for the GOP to make a decision… to go with Romney:

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Sen. Jim DeMint, the South Carolina Republican and tea party favorite, said Thursday he was ‘excited’ about the possibility of Mitt Romney becoming the GOP presidential nominee.
[...]
“I can tell conservatives from my perspective is that, I’m not only comfortable with Romney, I’m excited about the possibility of him possibly being our nominee,” DeMint said. “Again, this is not a formal endorsement and I do not intend to do that right now but I just think we just need to look at where we are.”

DeMint’s comments came the same day Romney met with influential Republicans on Capitol Hill, including House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan. Like DeMint, Ryan has not publicly backed a candidate in the GOP race, but is considered a prized endorsement for the White House.

DeMint was impressed with Romney:

“His leadership skills, the fact that he hasn’t lived his life in Washington. There’s a lot to like there,” DeMint said.
[...]
“I don’t have any immediate plans to do an endorsement but I think we all need to look at this presidential primary and encourage the candidates to do a little self-reflection here — what’s good for our country,” he said. “The sooner we can make a decision, I think the sooner we can focus on the real problem which is Obama.”

(emphasis added) Read complete article here.

DeMint’s voice joins a growing chorus; Jeb Bush endorsed Romney yesterday, Frank Luntz, Dick Morris, Henry Barbour, Bob Dole, and Donald Trump say Romney is the one. Freedom Works says it will no longer oppose The Gov. Even Ed Rollins, former Bachmann/Huckabee campaign manager, says he’s grown bored with this drawn-out nomination process and it’s time to get in the huddle with with Mitt.

I wholeheartedly agree.

► Jayde Wyatt

CONGRATULATIONS to Governor Romney and team! And THANK YOU to the voters of Illinois and all the volunteers that made such a difference yesterday! Team MRC salutes you!

THANK YOU to my friend Jim for the humor of this night. (“The secret to humor is surprise.” ~ Aristotle)

What is it about the Brits and Monty Python? There is something about this short video that seemed oddly familiar to me and I just could not resist sharing it with you.

“All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.” ~ Sun Tzu

“Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid, one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.” ~ Douglas MacArthur

“A good athlete always mentally replays a competition over and over, even in victory, to see what might be done to improve the performance the next time.” ~ Frank Shorter

And what about Lloyd? I feel sorry for him:

[THANK YOU to "Dave in Colorado" (a frequent visitor to MRC) for the Dumb and Dumber clip!]

It’s a landslide!

Governor Romney scored a HUGE win today in Puerto Rico!

GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney won a crushing victory in Puerto Rico’s primary contest on Sunday.

CNN and the Associated Press both projected Romney as the winner shortly before 7 p.m., three hours after polls closed in the island territory.

With 11 percent of precincts reporting, Romney had 82 percent of the vote followed by former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum with 9 percent. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) had 3 percent of the votes cast, followed by Rep. Ron Paul (Texas) at 1 percent.

Romney was seen as the leading candidate in the territory, as he had the endorsement of Gov. Luis Fortuño (R), who also campaigned with Romney late last week.

Puerto Rico has 20 delegates up for grabs, all of which go to Romney on passing the 50 percent threshold. The island only awards delegates proportionally if none of the candidates receive half of the vote.

Both Romney and Santorum visited the territory last week in an effort to win delegates in what could be a prolonged GOP nomination fight.

Romney held two events on the island, including a rally on Saturday in Old San Juan, where he was joined by Mr. Fortuño, a prominent advocate of statehood for the territory.

The win increases Romney’s delegate count to more than 500, and he still has more than twice as many as Rick Santorum.

(emphasis added to article)

Tweet from The Gov:

Ann and I are deeply grateful to @LuisFortuno51, his wife, & the people of Puerto Rico for their support & help in winning today’s primary.

Here’s a look at CNN’s election projection::

Here’s video of Mitt and Ann getting the news they had won (Drudge on iPad… gotta love it!):

Many Romney supporters watched a live feed of a roof-raising, hand-clapping RALLY held in Puerto Rico. Amazing! Enthusiasm was OFF THE CHARTS and we fell in love with Puerto Ricans. I wish I had the full video; here’s a small portion of the event (Gov Fortuno begins his English intro of Mitt @ 8:32):

Video streaming by Ustream

Romney is to be commended on his grand slam win of the islands: Puerto Rico, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Hawaii!

Now, our focus is on this Tuesday’s primary in Illinois (69 delegates) and Thursday’s primary in Louisiana (46 delegates). The islands got it right; time to close this process and rally behind Romney. Let’s get started on unifying the GOP and taking on the monumental task of beating Obama.

Thanks to all who voted for The Gov today and helped in any way. We appreciate Romney supporters who are making phone calls on his behalf. He needs our help; it’s easy! Click here to keep those calls going.

Here’s a pic taken by Romney Campaign embed D.G. Jackson: “Mitt with 5 year old Celina. She was so excited to meet him.” March 17, 2012

If you missed seeing The Gov on FOX News Sunday today, click below the fold to see video. (Brett Baier substituted for Chris Wallace) More pics from Puerto Rico, too…

Read more…

It’s not the campaign. This is Rick Santorum. I think everybody knows, nobody puts words into my mouth. The words out of my mouth were that if you want a conservative as the nominee of this party, you must vote for Mitt Romney. ~ Rick Santorum

Oh, that’s just too good!

Press Conference, Atlanta, GA, 2/4/08