There was a major shift in energy between the republicans and the democrats during the New Hampshire debates tonight. During round one, the republicans were largely focused and well-spoken, even Ron Paul, who everyone else snickered at. For the republicans, I was most impressed with Huckabee's knowledge of world affairs, his eloquence and his tempered manners - I am surprised at myself for being impressed with him since I know his religiously-fueled politics are not my cup of tea. McCain also came across well, which I think he always does.
During round two, all of candidates looked tired, and frankly, their lack of energy bored me. I don't blame them. After days and days of campaiging in Iowa and now New Hampshire, they all looked like they could use a nap. Also, Richardson completely distracts from the top three frontrunners. He needs to go back to New Mexico and focus on his UFO-museum. His myopia in foreign affairs makes him completely unsuitable for world politics.
None of the democrats jazzed me up. I was looking to be "fired up" by Obama, but instead found his words to be labored, although he does have a nice voice. He also looked so aged for a man only in his late fourties.
Clinton had some good moments (she also looked better than Obama). During the change vs. experience discussion, she rightly said that having a woman president presents a change in government contrary to anything the US has elected before. I'm glad she said it, because commentators have mentioned the fact that Obama would be the first Black president - a phenomenal feat for US standards - whereas in my opinion, having the first woman president would be an even greater achievement. I think people almost forget that Clinton is a woman - her long history in the political eye seem to connect her more to her husband than her own gender.
I look forward to seeing the results in New Hampshire. Based on the debates this evening, I'm more interested in the outcome for the republicans than the democrats.
Showing posts with label 2008 Presidential election. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2008 Presidential election. Show all posts
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Friday, November 23, 2007
Mitt Romney outlines platform at VICA forum
Article in this week's Studio City Sun
www.studiocitysun.com
Mitt Romney outlines platform at VICA forum
BY NAZBANOO PAHLAVI
Former Massachusetts Governor and republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney addressed a crowd of about 150 supporters, Valley Industry & Commerce Association (VICA) members, high school students and journalists during an hour-long “Ask Mitt Anything” talk at the Burbank Airport Marriott on November 15.
According to VICA, the appearance marked the only stop this year by a Republican presidential candidate in the Valley. Democratic candidate John Edwards visited striking writers at NBC Burbank the next day.
Romney outlined his intentions if elected president with an emphasis on strengthening the military, including a proposed increase of 100,000 troops. He also laid out his plan for a new tax rate for citizens who make $200,000 a year or less.
“My new tax rate for your savings – that means your tax on the interest and dividends, and capital gains – would be absolutely zero. Let Americans save,” Romney said.
The governor credited former president Ronald Reagan for inspiring his “Strengthen our families, strengthen our economy and strengthen our military” platform, and again mentioned the former president, to loud applause, when he quoted Reagan as saying, “‘It’s not that liberals are ignorant, it’s just that what they know is wrong.’”
Romney touted his experience in business, government, and as CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee during the 2002 Winter Olympics as measures of leadership that put him ahead of the democratic forerunners – none of whom have “ever managed a corner store,” he quipped.
Romney took an indirect stab at democratic presidential hopeful Senator Hillary Clinton during the 30-minute question and answer session when he jokingly asked if there were any planted questions, in reference to questions allegedly planted by Clinton aides at a recent Iowa town hall meeting.
Most of the questions asked of the governor in Burbank aligned with hot-button issues such as healthcare reform, immigration, home foreclosures and global warming.
In response to a Korean War veteran’s question about healthcare, Romney outlined his current plan to secure Massachusetts’s half-million uninsured with coverage. Romney said his model works “without a government-run system, without new taxes required. We got everybody in our state on track to have health insurance.”
His plan mandates that all residents register for government-subsidized health insurance or buy their own way with lower rates and higher deductibles. “We don’t need socialized medicine, Hillary-care, or anything like it,” Romney commented.
Turning to immigration, Romney said, “We like folks coming from other nations of the world,” but “we also want to make sure that we’re a nation of laws. And that we match our needs with the people who come here.”
He denounced attempts to offer the children of illegal immigrants lower tuition for state college, condemned cities that are known as “sanctuary cities,” and derided New York Governor Eliot Spitzer’s now obsolete attempt at issuing driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants.
Romney’s proposed solution includes the implementation of an employment identification card for use by legal immigrants, with hopes of pushing illegal workers out of the system.
Romney also proposed ways to combat global warming by getting “on track to become energy-independent and energy secure” through alternative sources of energy such as clean and liquefied coal, and by adopting better energy efficiency strategies in homes and businesses.
When the lights in the hotel ballroom went dark for a brief moment during the Q&A session, Romney joked, “I want to make sure that you Californians are not seeing another drought or another blackout again.”
www.studiocitysun.com
Mitt Romney outlines platform at VICA forum
BY NAZBANOO PAHLAVI
Former Massachusetts Governor and republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney addressed a crowd of about 150 supporters, Valley Industry & Commerce Association (VICA) members, high school students and journalists during an hour-long “Ask Mitt Anything” talk at the Burbank Airport Marriott on November 15.
According to VICA, the appearance marked the only stop this year by a Republican presidential candidate in the Valley. Democratic candidate John Edwards visited striking writers at NBC Burbank the next day.
Romney outlined his intentions if elected president with an emphasis on strengthening the military, including a proposed increase of 100,000 troops. He also laid out his plan for a new tax rate for citizens who make $200,000 a year or less.
“My new tax rate for your savings – that means your tax on the interest and dividends, and capital gains – would be absolutely zero. Let Americans save,” Romney said.
The governor credited former president Ronald Reagan for inspiring his “Strengthen our families, strengthen our economy and strengthen our military” platform, and again mentioned the former president, to loud applause, when he quoted Reagan as saying, “‘It’s not that liberals are ignorant, it’s just that what they know is wrong.’”
Romney touted his experience in business, government, and as CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee during the 2002 Winter Olympics as measures of leadership that put him ahead of the democratic forerunners – none of whom have “ever managed a corner store,” he quipped.
Romney took an indirect stab at democratic presidential hopeful Senator Hillary Clinton during the 30-minute question and answer session when he jokingly asked if there were any planted questions, in reference to questions allegedly planted by Clinton aides at a recent Iowa town hall meeting.
Most of the questions asked of the governor in Burbank aligned with hot-button issues such as healthcare reform, immigration, home foreclosures and global warming.
In response to a Korean War veteran’s question about healthcare, Romney outlined his current plan to secure Massachusetts’s half-million uninsured with coverage. Romney said his model works “without a government-run system, without new taxes required. We got everybody in our state on track to have health insurance.”
His plan mandates that all residents register for government-subsidized health insurance or buy their own way with lower rates and higher deductibles. “We don’t need socialized medicine, Hillary-care, or anything like it,” Romney commented.
Turning to immigration, Romney said, “We like folks coming from other nations of the world,” but “we also want to make sure that we’re a nation of laws. And that we match our needs with the people who come here.”
He denounced attempts to offer the children of illegal immigrants lower tuition for state college, condemned cities that are known as “sanctuary cities,” and derided New York Governor Eliot Spitzer’s now obsolete attempt at issuing driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants.
Romney’s proposed solution includes the implementation of an employment identification card for use by legal immigrants, with hopes of pushing illegal workers out of the system.
Romney also proposed ways to combat global warming by getting “on track to become energy-independent and energy secure” through alternative sources of energy such as clean and liquefied coal, and by adopting better energy efficiency strategies in homes and businesses.
When the lights in the hotel ballroom went dark for a brief moment during the Q&A session, Romney joked, “I want to make sure that you Californians are not seeing another drought or another blackout again.”
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