Thursday - February 07, 2008

Mitt to Quit

Mitt Romney is dropping out of the GOP race. Expect the speech at today’s CPAC; should be around 12:50pm Eastern. It is expected that he will endorse McCain .

Damnation.

UPDATE 1:09PM

“It’s not only about me ... in this time of war I feel I need to now stand aside”. Mitt has given up.

But what a Mitt!! Where has this guy been hiding? If you missed his speech go find it on YouTube or wherever. Wow. Laura Ingrahm said she didn’t want to “calm down”, then introduced him as a “Conservative’s Conservative” ... and away he went ...

“I fear America will become the 21st century’s France” ... chastity, not promiscuity ... welfare reform ... marriage amendment ... America is a faith based culture ... europe is a demographic nightmare ... family values ... prosperity and security equal energy technology and that means nukes and gasified coal ... freedom must not be held hostage to Achmedinijad ... cut government spending, entitlements, high taxes ..."take a weed-whacker to entitlements and government unions” ... jihad is the #1 world threat; for them democracy is blasphemy ... Clinton slashed the military and said we’d get a peace dividend; we got the dividend but not the peace” ... raise veteran benefits ... Hillary and Obama will retreat and allow defeat ... “

... and the crowd went wild.

I think he has laid down a challenge for McCain here. If Johnny Boy backs off from these points he knows he’s going to lose the base.

Hmmm ... on the other hand, Mitt didn’t say a single word about building the fence or border security. Crap.

UPDATED UPDATE 2:10PM

Hannity on FoxNews - “usually when a primary candidate gets the final nod he tries to move towards center. McCain is going to have to move to the right to try and keep the base.” Yeah, but will he? And will the base believe him?

Via the Rott - CPAC instructs convention goers to NOT boo McCain. Maverick is scheduled to speak to them at 3pm Eastern. Hmmph, good thing I’m not at CPAC.

UPDATED UPDATED UPDATE 3:50PM - Drew tries his hand at live blogging. I never knew I could type so fast! “C&O” means Clinton & Obama.  McCain’s intro and his talk to CPAC ....

Sen Coburn (R-OK) intro - courage is what matters in Washington. no battle plan survives first contact with the enemy. Anything that sends chills down the spine of Washington should warm the hearts of voters ... McCain was only 1 of 11 to fight the Bridge To Nowhere ... war on pork, no earmarks, new prescription drug entitlement (Medicare part B) McCain voted against it. Most conservative health care plan, will fight H&Os plan. He has taken stances we don’t like - spins it as pork fighting. bork, thomas, roberts, owens .. mcC will support conservative judges. Immigration - he listened and learned and decided Conservs were right. McCain-Fiengold misdiagnosed things, though his desire to corral corruption was correct. Terrorism and malspending Congress are the 2 issues McCain will support ... pro life blah blah. Most qualified for national security. Elections are about choices - happy to debate those who think H or O would be better than McC. Embrace a heritage of sacrifice ... welcome soon to be president Sen. John McCain!

audience - mixed cheers & jeers, some applause, some yelling. Goes on for a couple minutes while McCain stands at the podium.

3:23pm McCain says thank you about 100 times while audience noise continues ... I haven’t been here in a little while *joke cuz he’s dissed em forever* - I was preoccupied trying not to be the GOP frontrunner back then, I’ve got it now and wouldd prefer to hold onto it a little while. I talked with Gov Romney; we agreed to sit down together and agree on the importance to unify the party. Campaign based on Conservative principles. Huckabee is a great and fine man I also know ... I’d be honored and deeply humbled to receive the nomination of my party ... I have a responsibility to unite the party ... I can’t succeed in that endeavor w/o the support of dedicated Conservatives. Many of you disagree strongly with some of my positions. I respect that. I hope you’ll allow that I’ve maintained the record of a conservative. If not (shrugs) thanks for the opp to make my case today. Liberty is a right conferred by our Creator not by governments. The proper object of justice is not to aggregate power to the state but to protect the people. In 1975 Reagan said a party cant be all things to all people. I was still in the USN when Reagan did Shining City on the Hill speech. I am proud to have come to power as a foot soldier .. I have not forgotten my political heritage; I’m as proud of it now as I was then.

My record is mainstream conservative: Small goverment, fiscal discipline, strong defense, good judges, social values, Defense of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as given to the born AND THE UNBORN. These are my beliefs. Take added comfort on the positions I have defended - no farm subsidies, against big gov health care, for tax incentives in Michigan, in FL against the Natural Catastrophic (bill), was against Medicare Part B. I argued to make Bush cuts perm, cut corp tax, abolish AMT that threatens 25 million families. I am pro 2A - against waiting periods, AWB, gun company lawsuits. 24 year pro-life record. Defended W’s long overdue decision to increase troops for the surge. I hold these positions cuz I believe they were in the best interests of my country.

On the issue of illegal immigration (major BOOS from audience, last nearly a minute, turns to cheers) which still provokes outspoken opposition. I was genuine, but I failed to convince Americans of that. I accept that. It is among my highest priorites to secure our borders first (cheers) and only after would we address other aspects of the problem in a way that follows the rule of law. Examine my record - I am not in the habit of making promises I do not intend to keep. If I get the nomination, I will offer Americans a clearly Conservative approach to governing. I will not obscure my positions from those who might not agree with them. I know that you know that elections are fought within margins of small differences. This one will not be. The Dems will govern in the ways of days gone by ... days when we averted our eyes to dangers abroad ... this election will be about big things. I intend to reduce the size of the federal government. I will not sign a bill with earmarks in it. ANY earmarks in it. I will fight for the line item veto, not permit expansion of any entitlement programs that are bankrupting us - au contraire, I will reform them. C&O will raise your taxes. I will cut them - step 1: Bush cuts permanent. Cut Corp tax from 35 to 25%. End AMT. Won’t let dem congress raise your taxes and choke the growht of your economy. Will approach health care with free market solutions. I will appoint judges who have proven trustworthy who enforce the laws, not legislate from the bench like H&O will do. C&O will withdraw forces based on timetable based on political expediency regardless. I intend to win the war and trust in our commanders there.

My friends, we share the grief over the terrible losses we have suffered in the persecution of this war. But pulling out would be worse. I will not allow that to happen. (big cheers and chanting). Those Senators won’t recognize the threat of Iran. I will not permit an Iran that espouses death to Israel and USA. H&O say we are responsible for WoT. I will defeat the threat by staying on offense ... free people against those who despise us. I promise to contest these issues from Conservative stance and keep this country safe prosperous and free.

We’ve had a few disagreements ... I will seek the counsel from my fellow Conservatives. If I’m convinced I’m wrong I’ll change my stance. We share a conception of Liberty that is the bedrock of Conservatives. My love of liberty is the equal of any Americans ... deep and unwavering. At the core of my convictions I am pro-life and an advocate of the rights of man. I promise you - our liberty will not be nibbled away bit by bit. For all my reputation as a maverick, I’ve only found true happiness by serving a greater cause - our country and what makes us great. I will never tire of serving her and I can’t do that without your council and support. Thank you and God bless you.

Posted by Drew458     on 02/07/2008 at 12:42 PM   
Filed Under: • Republicans •  
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