Now what?

My regret about this election year is that I didn't do enough to help Mitt Romney get the Republican nomination. Since I'm working full-time and going to school full-time, I didn't get to express in my blogs half of my thoughts and feelings when he was running. Sure, I'm just one obscure person, and I'm sure not many actually read my blogs, but I could have done more. But, alas, I find myself in the deep South where anti-Mormon sentiment runs as deep as the South. I talked about Mitt any chance I got with anyone who would listen, and I even got a few to jump on the Mitt-wagon. But, many held that they just could not vote for a Mormon. Maybe in the future, after all, who would have thought Barack Obama would get over 56% of the votes to Hillary's 42% in Alabama. Maybe we're finally getting over racism.

Well, the question for 2008 is, now what? In the general election, do I vote for McCain, with whom I have many differences, particularly on immigration. Do I vote for a Democrat? That would certainly mean nominating judges who will further the liberal agenda of abortion and homosexual marraige. I've told several people around me now that Mitt's out, I will vote for Obama. But if Hillary's the Democratic nominee, well, I don't think I'll venture too far from home on election day. I don't think I can bring myself to vote for an independent. First of all, they don't have a chance to win and secondly, there's usually only one or two things on their agendas. Well, we've got nine months till the general election. Maybe in that time we can sort out who the best candidate will be. To be honest, I think the country is fed up with Republicans for now and I really don't see how McCain could beat either Democrat. It will be interesting to see how 2009 will begin. Well, let's get through 2008 first.

Personally, I've decided that I'm going to work on myself for 2008. I'm not where I once was spiritually and I'd like to get back there. I'm almost done with my Bachelor's in Nursing, and I'll immediately go into the Master's program in the summer. I'd like to strengthen my relationships with my family members. Leah and I are planning to go on a cruise this summer, we are so excited and can't wait to have our first real vacation after four years of marriage. I'm working on living a healthier lifestyle (gotta look good for the cruise!). So, there's a lot to do to keep myself occupied. Much more to life than politics and government (Leah will be glad I'm less preoccupied with it now, I know I drive her crazy). I think what I need to do the most is to live for now. I'm always thinking about the future. When the future gets here, it's not enough and I focus on something else in the future. It's a terrible cycle I keep myself in. Sure, I'll plan for the future and have goals, but I'm not going to allow myself to miss out on what's going on now because I'm too concerned about what's down the road.

Michigan coming up...

Ok, so I've taken a couple of weeks off. Of course, I've been so disgusted with Iowa and New Hampshire that I've really just been speechless. Yes, I am a staunch Mitt Romney supporter and I'll make no apology for that. If we have a Democrat for President for the next four years, I think I'll blame Iowa. Honestly, I thought Iowans were supposed to be the most informed and involved when it came to politics, but evidently, they're only thinking with their pastors' permission. Not all of them, of course. Maybe I'm a little biased, and maybe I'm just completely wrong. But I don't care, I will not apologize. I don't want to accuse anyone of religious bigotry, but it's really hard to rule it out. It's not about not being bought off, it's about voting "for one of our own." How could anyone who professes to be a Republican vote for a Mike Huckabee, who is only conservative in one area of conservatism? If we are to have a Republican President, it will have to be by someone who can unite the conservative base - social, fiscal, and foreign policy conservatives. Huck only serves the social aspect. Otherwise, he is a tax and spend liberal who's answer to his lack of foreign policy experience is, "Well, I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night." And of course the liberal media is singing his praises because he's the easiest in the bunch to beat regardless of who the Democrat nominee is. John McCain is no better. He can't unite all three brances of conservatives. He voted against the Bush tax cuts and supports, for lack of a better word, amnesty for illegals. Can we move out all 20 million illegal immigrants? Of course not, but they shouldn't have an easier route to citizenship than others who have been standing in line for years because they are already here - illegally.

Mitt Romney is the only Republican candidate who is truly a conservative through and through. You know, I would bet my whole year's salary that if Mitt Romney was not Mormon, and was a member of any other Christian denomination, he would be rolling right now, winning every state bar none. Why do I say that? No evangelical Christians would be voting for Huck just because he's one of their own. Romney is by far the superior choice because of his experience and overall intelligence and social postitions. Have you listened to the words that come out of Huck's mouth? And you still voted for him?? I'm having a hard time understanding it. How can he come across as genuine to anyone? He lies and gets caught in his lies, and won't confess he was wrong, but starts pointing at someone else. Are you kidding me? He hasn't been sincere about anything. McCain would still be doing about as good as he was last summer. There's no way he would have surged as he has. Of course, Guiliani has hit the backburners and is likely to stay there unless he can pull something big on Super Tuesday. No social conservative is going to vote for Guiliani. Romney is a Republican's dream candidate because of his positions on every issue, not to mention his leadership experience in the private sector and as governor. There's just that Mormon issue that is causing people to squirm. Guess what I have to say to that? Grow up America!!! Get over it. We're not voting for a pastor, we're voting for a President. Are we going to hand the Democrats the Presidency because of the Church a particular candidate belongs to? The next Pres is going to nominate two or three Supreme Court justices. If Roe vs. Wade is ever going to be overturned it will only happen if we have a social conservative in office. Huck is unelectable. He can't win. If Romney is not the Republican nominee, we will have a Democrat for President, mark my words.

Honestly people, our economy is going to crap. Is it possible that we need someone who understands how to revitalize and grow the economy and bring jobs to Americans. Do you really want to trust that to McCain, who is trying to keep illegal aliens here? I've always thought it interesting that McCain, whose state borders Mexico, and is one of the most guilty states for using illegal immigrants for labor, is one of the only Republicans pushing to keep them here. Of course Huck would give them all great rates on tuition while I'm paying top dollar to go to school now. I have to tell you, as good as my grades are, and as hard as I work, I think I deserve a break a little more than someone who is here illegally.

So, on to Michigan. Governor Romney currently has more votes and more delegates than the rest. They say McCain is leading in the polls. The more I think about it, the more I can't help but wonder whether Republicans just really want a Democrat for President this time. I stand by what I have said for months, Mitt Romney is the only Republican candidate that can beat the likes of Hillary or Obama. The others can't get the support needed to pull an upset. I just can't see where unexperienced Obama or Hillary can compete in a debate with Romney on how to stregthen the economy, what to do about illegal immigration, or how to best provide healthcare to Americans. On the other hand, smooth talking Obama and fast talking Hillary would eat McCain or Huck for lunch. I hope and pray Michigan figures out what Iowa and New Hampshire could not.

Liberal Media Love Huck

I have one complaint tonight. Is it just me or is the media in love with Mike Huckabee? Over the last few weeks, almost every story I read involving Huck presents him in some fabulous light. And what are they about? Huck blasting Mitt Romney over his "dishonesty" or his "sincerity" in his opposition to abortion. Let's discuss honesty shall we?

Mike Huckabee swears he had nothing to do with releasing Wayne Dumond other than signing a paper. And yet three or four on the parole board swear he had a more than one closed door meeting with them pushing Dumond's release. So, the word of Huck or the word of three or four parole board members?? I tend to believe the word of several witnesses. Huck is a liar. What has Mitt lied about? Who knows? Huck said he was being dishonest to get the job, but never gives any legitimate examples.

From a CNN article, "Romney has been airing television ads criticizing Huckabee for raising state spending, backing in-state tuition for illegal immigrants at state colleges and granting more than 1,000 pardons and commutations.

"Huckabee has said the claims are taken out of context..." Let me ask a question...How does one take 1000 pardons out of context? He granted them plain and simple. Heck it was easy to get one in Arkansas. All you had to do was say you got saved and wanted to change your life, and Huckabee would fight to get you pardoned. And Huck can't possibly be backing down from his in-state tuition for illegals, I heard him defend that position emphatically on the YouTube debate. Mike Huckabee raised spending from $6 million to $16 million. How is that taken out of context? That's the facts. Of course, CNN doesn't raise this question or criticize Huck for making such a foolish statement. They provide a link to a video of Huck criticizing Romney instead.

Next thing...If Romney gets the Republican nomination for President, Huckabee will not support him in the national election. Which proves the point I and others have been making for some time. Huckabee is a Democrat in every way except that he opposes abortion and same-sex marraige. Otherwise he is very liberal. I can't help but wonder if his opposition to Romney has more to do with Romney being a Mormon than anything else. Being a Southern Baptist minister, I'm sure he has preached sermons about why Mormons are wrong and going to hell. I haven't met a Southern Baptist minister who hasn't preached such a sermon. He simply can't support a Mormon, regardless of his politics. Of course he won't admit to it, but he has stumbled with the Mormon question before.

So back to my original question...Is the media in love with Huckabee? Heck yeah they are. Why? Because he is the easiest Republican candidate to beat. The liberals have put it out there to keep Huck out of their negative comments. Clinton and Obama do not want to run against Mitt Romney. He represents real Reagan conservativism. He stands on all three legs of social conservative, fiscal conservative, and foreign policy conservative. He can unite the conservative coalition and obtain the support needed to easily defeat the Democratic nominee, whoever that may be. They know it and they don't want to face it. Therefore, they are keeping quiet about Huck. The liberal media even tries to make him look good. I think Americans are smarter than that. I think Americans are smarter than to have a nominee who jokes about his lack of foreign policy experience, supports benefits for illegal immigrants, and supports tax and spending increases. I think they are smarter than to nominate a candidate who is a "Christian leader" and has no other qualifications to serve in the highest office in the United States.

Top 10 Reasons Why the Media Want Clinton, Part Deux

Several months ago, Hillary Clinton’s campaign website ran a banner story called, “The Top 10 Reasons to Support Hillary for President and Help Make History.” That list is now gone from the site, undoubtedly because her own team is havi

read more | digg story

We got a new phone...

that takes the most amazing pics for a phone. It's the new LG Chocolate phone. It's much more advanced than the one we've had for the last two years, so we'll be playing with it and learning how to use it for about the next two years. It takes great pics anyway. Don't I have the most beautiful wife??!!

National Review Endorses Mitt Romney

The editors of National Review Online (NRO) have endorsed Mitt Romney for President. This is a huge endorsement. Read the entire article here. Some highlights:

"Our guiding principle has always been to select the most conservative viable candidate. In our judgment, that candidate is Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts. Unlike some other candidates in the race, Romney is a full-spectrum conservative: a supporter of free-market economics and limited government, moral causes such as the right to life and the preservation of marriage, and a foreign policy based on the national interest. While he has not talked much about the importance of resisting ethnic balkanization — none of the major candidates has — he supports enforcing the immigration laws and opposes amnesty. Those are important steps in the right direction."

"Uniting the conservative coalition is not enough to win a presidential election, but it is a prerequisite for building on that coalition. Rudolph Giuliani did extraordinary work as mayor of New York and was inspirational on 9/11. But he and Mike Huckabee would pull apart the coalition from opposite ends: Giuliani alienating the social conservatives, and Huckabee the economic (and foreign-policy) conservatives. A Republican party that abandoned either limited government or moral standards would be much diminished in the service it could give the country."

"Romney is an intelligent, articulate, and accomplished former businessman and governor. At a time when voters yearn for competence and have soured on Washington because too often the Bush administration has not demonstrated it, Romney offers proven executive skill. He has demonstrated it in everything he has done in his professional life, and his tightly organized, disciplined campaign is no exception. He himself has shown impressive focus and energy."

"For some people, Romney’s Mormonism is still a barrier. But we are not electing a pastor. The notion that he will somehow be controlled by Salt Lake City or engaged in evangelism for his church is outlandish. He deserves to be judged on his considerable merits as a potential president. As he argued in his College Station speech, his faith informs his values, which he has demonstrated in both the private and public sectors. In none of these cases have any specific doctrines of his church affected the quality of his leadership. Romney is an exemplary family man and a patriot whose character matches the high office to which he aspires.

More than the other primary candidates, Romney has President Bush’s virtues and avoids his flaws. His moral positions, and his instincts on taxes and foreign policy, are the same. But he is less inclined to federal activism, less tolerant of overspending, better able to defend conservative positions in debate, and more likely to demand performance from his subordinates. A winning combination, by our lights. In this most fluid and unpredictable Republican field, we vote for Mitt Romney."

Good Reads from Evangelical Leader

These two articles by Wayne Grudem, a research professor of Bible and theology at Phoenix Seminary, highlight why he, and all evangelical Christians, should vote for Mitt Romney.
His endorsement in October and Interview after The Speech.

Everyone needs to read this commentary by Peggy Noonan about the speech given by Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, Faith in America. To hear the speech, click play on the video posted on December 6, or go to Mitt Romney's official website.