Saturday, April 29, 2006

Fuller's Field (Blog)

Fuller's Field:
An LDS doctor in Iowa makes his case to the evangelicals in the Republican party.

"Much worse than this unfortunate unfamiliarity are those who teach their faithful about the 'dangers of mormonism'. Generally, this amounts to outright indoctrination by preachers who use scare tactics to keep their own sheep within their own fold--the ranks of most prostestant churches are falling while the LDS church membership continues to flourish so who would be surprised by such an attack from the top? Although such criticism is understandable, it is hardly justifiable, especially when all parties involved accept a prohibition against 'bearing false witness.'"

For Romney, A Healthy Boost

Washington Post: For Romney, A Healthy Boost:
"The banner headline on Romney's plan is the ambition to make his state the pioneer in universal coverage -- an obvious breakthrough in a nation where millions are uninsured and their numbers continue to grow."

Utah has wallets open for Romney

Salt Lake Tribune: Utah has wallets open for Romney:
"Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney picked up about $1 million during a recent fundraiser near Salt Lake City, the largest haul in a single Utah political event in recent memory, and perhaps ever. "

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Is a Member of a Cult Running for President?

NPR : Is a Member of a Cult Running for President?: "Romney's impressed a lot of folks as someone who's smart and telegenic. Romney has a wife who's a real asset on the campaign trail and he has a breakthrough health care plan to boast about.

But Romney is a Mormon."

Mitt Romney's clumsy Mormon shtick. By Adam Reilly

Slate Magazine: Mitt Romney's clumsy Mormon shtick: "now that Romney's a social conservative with national aspirations, such a move would be political suicide. Compared to Mitt, JFK had it easy."

Political Action Committees2006 PAC Summary Data

Political Action Committees:
"Commonwealth PAC
Affiliate: Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Mass)
2006 PAC Summary Data

Total Receipts

$318,820

Total Spent (view expenditures)

$108,864

Begin Cash on Hand

$5,566

End Cash on Hand

$215,521

Debts

$0

Date of last report

March 31, 2006

"

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Romney's Religious Test by Robert Novak

HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE - Romney's Religious Test by Robert Novak:
"The U.S. Constitution prohibits a religious test for public office, but that is precisely what is being posed now. Prominent, respectable Evangelical Christians have told me, not for quotation, that millions of their co-religionists cannot and will not vote for Romney for president solely because he is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If Romney is nominated and their abstention results in the election of Hillary Rodham Clinton, that's just too bad. The Evangelicals are adamant, saying there is no way Romney can win them over."

Romney defends health plan to skeptical conservatives

Romney defends health plan to skeptical conservatives - The Boston Globe:
"Governor Mitt Romney defended the Massachusetts healthcare plan from conservatives' criticism yesterday, saying that ''there has been more fog than clarity' in discussions of the policy and that once they studied the plan more carefully, they would embrace it.

In a speech to an audience at the US Chamber of Commerce, Romney sought to portray the healthcare plan as an unlikely victory for conservatism in a heavily Democratic state."

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Romney out-of-state nearly half of business days

Romney out-of-state nearly half of business days - Boston.com: "Romney started the year with a political trip to Georgia. Last week, he visited the Guantanamo Bay prison camp in Cuba. This week, he's giving speeches in Washington and New York. And next weekend he'll leave the state again for the Derby. In the past four months, Romney has traveled to western Massachusetts only twice and Cape Cod once."

House begins overrides of Romney's health care vetoes

House begins overrides of Romney's health care vetoes - Boston.com: "Sending a sharp rebuke to Gov. Mitt Romney, House lawmakers voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to overturn some of his vetoes to the state's landmark health care law, including the controversial $295 fee on businesses who don't offer insurance.

Debate lasted only a few minutes before the House voted 136-20 in the override of the $295 annual, per-worker fee on businesses with more than 11 workers that don't offer insurance. Romney said the fee is unnecessary and wouldn't raise that much money."

Romney defends state's new health plan during D.C. visit

Romney defends state's new health plan during D.C. visit - Boston.com: "Romney said he did not expect the state's new law to be replicated in states across the country, though he did say some aspects were likely to be considered and used elsewhere.

'Our health care plan was not designed for 50 states,' he said. 'It was designed for one state.

'We're going to have an experiment the other 49 states can look at, elements they can adopt,' he said."

Monday, April 24, 2006

Mitt Romney's Commonwealth PAC

Mitt Romney's Commonwealth PAC
In case some of our readers have not visited Romney's office PAC site. You can't find any information there, but we'll be sure to let you know once they post some information.

The Mitt Watch

BostonHerald.com - Election 2004 News: The Monday morning briefing: "The experts say you look to fund-raising as a show of support a politician has, and by that measure Mitt doesn’t look too good at home. His state campaign account hasn’t received a single donation since Feb. 15. His Commonwealth PAC, though, has done better, giving him fistfuls of dollars to sprinkle on influential fellow Republicans. This week he travels to New York and Washington, D.C."

This short entry is at the bottom of the page.

Romney say conditions hard for military serving in Guantanamo Bay

Romney say conditions hard for military serving in Guantanamo Bay - Boston.com:
"Gov. Mitt Romney, just back from a trip to the Guantanamo Bay terrorist prison camp in Cuba, said Monday he was surprised by the stressful conditions faced by troops from Massachusetts stationed there...

Both Romney's remarks prompted criticism from the president of the state's 5,000-member correction officer union, who contended the trip was little more than a political junket for Romney, who is considering a run for the Republican presidential nomination."

Romney's PACs in 5 early states

Salt Lake Tribune - Romney's PACs in 5 early states:
"Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney may not be officially running for president in 2008, but he appears to be laying all the groundwork.
Romney, who led the successful 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, has set up political action committees (PACs) across America in states where early presidential primaries are historically held. "

Presidential hopefuls find lackluster loyalty at home

Presidential hopefuls find lackluster loyalty at home - The Boston Globe: "Politicians eyeing a run for the Oval Office in 2008 are facing a cold new reality: don't expect a hometown cheering section in the quest for presidency."

Sunday, April 23, 2006

Kerry Dismisses Idea Whites Run Nomination

Kerry Dismisses Idea Whites Run Nomination: "Kennedy had kind words for another Republican, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, also a presidential hopeful.

Kennedy said Romney showed leadership in the state‘s passage of a plan for comprehensive medical coverage and called him 'a tough contender' for president.

'I think he‘s underestimated by a number of Republicans,' Kennedy said. 'But I think the Democrat‘s going to be the better candidate. And that‘s the one I intend to support.'"

The trail report - The Boston Globe

The trail report - The Boston Globe: "Out the door

With her boss spending more and more time on the national scene, Beth Myers, Governor Mitt Romney's chief of staff, is poised to move out of her State House office and over to the payroll of his political operations.

Two highly placed administration sources confirmed that Romney wants to get Myers, an experienced political hand, to work for his political action committee, the Commonwealth PAC.

Myers, who learned her politics in Texas 20 years ago by watching Karl Rove operate in his early days, is expected to be working at the Romney PAC by this summer. She has been a key senior adviser to Romney for the last four years, serving as a stand-in for debate preps in the 2002 campaign and then moving into the State House with him in early 2003.

''Beth Myers remains as chief of staff and will remain at the job for the foreseeable future," said Eric Fehrnstrom, Romney's director of communications.

He would not say any more. But in fact, those sources said Fehrnstrom will also be moving there before year's end. Already two other senior staff members have or are about to leave and work for the PAC -- Deputy Chief of Staff Peter Flaherty is expected to leave shortly for Old City Hall, and Ben Godley, who had handled personnel for the governor's office, last week started at the PAC.

"
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