My Final Case for Mitt Romney

Tomorrow, Americans get to make our choice.  We have two very different leaders--with two very different leadership styles--who want two very visions for America.

One believes in the power of government solutions.  One believes in the power of its people.

I truly believe that Mitt Romney's vision, leadership and his rare ability to execute are the reasons why he deserves our vote.  Americans can confidently stand with this man.

Why am I voting for Romney?

He Does What He Says
If Romney says that he can lead America to a more prosperous future---his resume reflects that he will know how to actually get it done.

In Massachusetts, like today, Romney campaigned in the middle of a fiscal crisis.  His state faced a massive budget deficit and Massachusetts was knee-deep in a post dot-com recession.  Romney ran on the promise that he would lead a recovery, lower unemployment, lower taxes, strengthen education, cut spending and balance the budget.  (It is important to remember that he made these promises facing an 87% democratically controlled state legislature---undoubtedly, a hostile environment for any conservative).

How did he fare? Mitt Romney did what he said and somehow kept every single one of his 44 campaign promises.

At the end of his term, he had successfully led his state into a solid recovery.  He cut spending, eliminated waste, strengthened education, cut taxes 19 times, balanced the budget, passed significant legislation and he accomplished it all in just four years.  Even more remarkable?  He turned a $3 billion budget shortfall into a $2 billion surplus without raising taxes and without borrowing a single dollar.

Most remarkable?  He did it all in a respectful, bipartisan-led fashion.

Has our president even come close?


Changing the Tone
I believe that the current hostile and divisive tone in America has crippled and demoralized our great country.  The bitter tone in Washington has trickled down to nearly every suburb across the nation.

We all feel it.  We all hate it.

What was the most refreshing message of Candidate Obama back in 2008?  He promised to bridge that divide.  He promised to unite America and change the tone.  We all remember "No Red States, No Blue States, just the United States."  It all sounded so hopeful.  So possible.  

But here we are 4 years later, and in my lifetime, our country has never felt more divided and I would argue that Obama's leadership style has actually made things worse.  It started on his third day in office when he rejected Republican proposals for the stimulus bill.  He brazenly said, "Elections have consequences.  I won."

Bob Woodward (hardly a right leaning commentator) recently told ABC News that the president's "gaps in leadership" and statements that day were was essentially "the beginning of a war" with conservatives.

President Obama set the precedent.  The result?  Under his watch, nearly all legislation passed along strict party lines.  Bipartisan proposals were nonexistent.  Bipartisan collaboration was avoided.  And crucial legislation failed to pass.  Division literally paralyzed our government.

I realize that compromise is needed on both sides of the aisle, but Obama's presidency has been void of it.  His campaign this time hasn't even mentioned changing the tone---no inspirational "Red States, Blue States, United States."  In fact, President Obama recently told supporters not to boo Romney's name but to vote against him.  He said, "Voting is the best revenge."

Revenge?  Wow.  Revenge is not even the word he used to describe America's response to the terrorists in Benghazi.  Revenge is a hostile and divisive word, but I believe in sums up exactly how the president must feel about those who support a conservative agenda.  He views us as the bad guys.  We are his enemies---it sucks to know this is how my president regards me.

Under Obama's leadership, it certainly hasn't felt like a democracy.

The reality is that President Obama failed to change the tone in America and I think it is the greatest failure of his presidency and he hasn't given me any reason to believe that his second term would be any different.

We deserve better.



Need for Real Recovery
Yes, Obama inherited a mess, but his skill-set has proven incapable of fixing it.  He promised his agenda would lower unemployment, cut the deficit in half, rebound our economy and strengthen the middle class---he has failed to accomplish any of it.

Image from 123rf.com

Unemployment has been stuck near 8% for nearly his entire term.  Labor force participation is at the lowest level in decades.  23 million Americans are struggling to find stable employment.  Median incomes are down.  Poverty is at record highs.  The housing market is still crumbling and America is teetering on a fiscal cliff---the president has yet to produce a credible plan to address any of it.

Sorry Mr. President, asking the wealthy to pay a little more is hardly a robust plan to fix robust problems.

The contrast?  Mitt Romney has actually led a successful recovery.  He'll know what to do, not just what to say.  He has a career of balancing budgets.  He has a career of leading the bankrupt back onto the path of prosperity.  He has a career of being accountable with other people's money.  He has a career of fixing messes he inherited--and he has been successful nearly every time.

Change is Possible--It Just Requires the Right Leadership
Americans are desperate for stability.  We are aching for prosperity.  And we are fearful that the American Dream is slipping from our grasp.

But with the right leadership, it all can be preserved.  I agree with candid analysis of Obama's failed leadership from Peggy Noonan of the Wall Street Journal.  She said that Obama's leadership failed because his vision was, "Confidence without Capacity." America is better than this.  It is time for a change.

As I have said before, to echo Paul Ryan,

"I don't think there has been a time in our nation's history when a man and the moment have met so perfectly.  Everything Mitt Romney has done in his life has prepared him for the kind of leadership we need now.  This is a defining moment."

Mitt Romney's entire career has prepared him for this moment, for this fight.  He can do it.  He is ready.  And I am confident that under his leadership, the recovery will be real.

I invite you to stand with me.  The time is here.  This is the moment.  America needs Mitt.

Commander-in-Chief Moment? Too Little Too Late

The devastation on the east coast is heartbreaking.  The images of disaster, sadness and turmoil are truly gripping the nation.  How long will it take that area to recover?  Where does the clean-up even begin? And how will the confidence of those most impacted ever be fully restored?

Images from Denver Post

Sadly, this storm has reminded us that our great nation is not immune to heartache---but this massive storm has also reminded us that when tragedy strikes our borders, the goodness of our people surges.  Strangers help strangers.  Neighbors comfort neighbors.  Weary hands are lifted and broken hearts are consoled.

When tragedy strikes, Americans unite and the resolve of our people prevails.

This storm will be no different.

The timing of any storm is tragic, but the timing of Hurricane Sandy was historic.  Days before a pivotal election, the most populated cities in America were under siege by Mother Nature.

For two days, the political world came to a standstill.  Each candidate tried to tread careful waters to ensure that the events were not politicized.  Sincerity and intentions were highly scrutinized by the ever-watching eye of the media.

Both candidates cancelled campaign rallies and their fundraisers were replaced with relief efforts.

The media has claimed that this storm gave Obama a much needed "Commander-in-Chief Moment."  Many have said that he rose to the challenge and commanded himself with authority.

The president made sure that FEMA was offering adequate support.

Um...isn't that in his job?  Did he do anything but fill his role as the president?  Was his concern unique?  Was his leadership above and beyond?  No.

In this disaster response, the president did his job.  Period.  But will it be enough to tip sliding numbers in his favor on November 6th?

I would argue no and here is why:  Long after the FEMA trucks have cleaned up the last pile of debris and long after the pumps have emptied the last flooded subway station, Americans who struggled to find work for the last four years, (23 million Americans) will still be looking for a job in Obama's crumbling economy.

That will resonate long after the images have faded of the president flying over the disaster in a helicopter or standing behind a podium at the FEMA headquarters.  Americans know that for four years, the president has tried to fix our economy, unite our country and cut the deficit.  He hasn't even come close.  Too little too late.

It is hard to ignore that although the president offered Hope and Change, anywhere the president promised specifics, he has failed to deliver.

It is time to heal.  It is time to really recover.  It is time to finally get it right.

More and more Americans are beginning to recognize that we need the leadership of someone with a track record of being successful at bringing about real change.  No storm can change that.

As Michael Gerson so brilliantly stated here in The Washington Post,

"He (Obama) has not shown the leadership skills or the inclination to create consensus around large issues. The problem is that large issues — avoiding the fiscal cliff, reforming the tax code, making entitlement commitments more sustainable — are coming. Either Obama will have to become an entirely different type of leader — or America needs a new one."

I think Gerson is right, America needs Mitt.

Failed Leadership

On September 11, 2012, the US Embassy in Benghazi, Libya was attacked.  Four Americans were killed including our Ambassador, Chris Stevens.  It was the first time in 30 years that an Ambassador has been killed abroad.

It was a tragic and horrific event carried out by extremists who hate everything about us.  Their hatred is deep.  Their rage is insatiable.  And their utter disgust for America allows them to justify abhorrent atrocities against our people.

The White House has been deeply criticized for what appears to be a distinct attempt to mislead Americans about the nature of this attack.  For 14 days, we heard about "spontaneous protests which grew out of control," we heard about an obscure YouTube video which inspired "angry riots" and we also heard, although abstractly, it referred to as an "act of terror."

Six weeks later, the picture becomes clear.

1. Months before the attack, our ambassador feared for his life and had requested for additional security measures.  It was denied.  
2. Benghazi was a dangerous place.  On the day of the attack, the British and even the Red Cross had evacuated the city.  Despite the danger and the anniversary of 9/11, our ambassador and his team remained with inadequate protection.  
3. There was no protest of any kind.  Multiple eye witnesses said, "The streets were quiet." So where did this fabricated story originate and why did the president believe it?  
4. It was undoubtedly terrorism and a jihadist group has claimed responsibility.

Most discouraging?  Emails and paper trail show that the White House knew it all.

Today there is a fascinating and heart breaking Fox News Exclusive report which shows that during the horrific raids, CIA operatives were on the phone with US Intelligence agencies.  In real time, they requested additional military back-up.  Three times they requested reinforcements, yet all three times they were told to "Stand Down."

For seven hours, these men hid behind the walls of a safe house.  For seven hours, they must have heard the angry hate-filled voices of the terrorists getting closer.  For seven hours, these men must have clung to each other and probably clung to the hope that someone would come to save them.

No one answered their call.   All four of them were killed.

Yet, from this article, we learned that 480 miles away at the Sigonella US Air Force Base, military jets were aware of the attacks and were waiting for the go ahead to send Tier One Special operations forces and Delta Force Operators to help.

They would have made it in time.  The command never came.

Where was our president in all of this and even just a few hours later?  Our president stood at a campaign rally / fundraiser in Las Vegas while he boasted of his accomplishments and how America needs to fear someone like Mitt Romney.

Enough.

Our president failed to fix our economy.  Our president failed to balance a budget and restore fiscal discipline in Washington, instead he added $5 trillion to our debt---$4 billion dollars a day.  Our president has failed to end bitter partisanship.  Our president failed to guide our leaders to find compromise for our country's biggest problems.  Our president has failed us.

And in the Benghazi attack---an act of war---our president failed to lead.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."                                                  - Martin Luther King, Jr.

In 11 days, we need to hold him accountable for it all.

We can.  We should.  We will.

Go Mitt.

Mr. President, A Lack of Plan isn't the Problem, It's Your Inability to Execute

This week, our president released a 20-page pamphlet with his plan to get America back to work.  He is calling it a "The New Economic Patriotism--A Plan for Jobs."

In its glossy pages, the president touts that his 2nd term will focus on 1) Reviving manufacturing 2) Creating energy independence, 3) Encouraging small business growth 4) Improving education 5) Cutting the deficit.

He believes this will be the key to turning the economy around.

Hmmm.

Am I wrong?  It sure sounds a lot like Mitt Romney's 5-point plan: 1) Energy Independence  2) Improving Trade  3) Improve Education and Skills Training  4) Cut Deficit & Balance the Budget  5) Strengthen Small Business.

With less than 2 weeks to go, is this little blue book, the October surprise?

The president seems to think so.  He is now proudly distributing the 20-page pamphlet and the contents are now part of every stump speech.  He says, "I've got a plan that will actually create jobs, that will actually lower the deficit, that will actually create middle-class security."

"Actually" create jobs?  "Actually" lower the deficit?  "Actually" create security?

The truth of the matter is Mr. President, your record of the past four years has shown that every single one of those areas has "actually" been hurt under your leadership.

***

His Plan Will Actually Create Jobs?
Problem?  Obama has already been trying to create jobs for the past 4 years and he spent trillions to accomplish it.  Yet, 23 million Americans are still out of work.  Median incomes are down ($4300 per family), overly qualified people are taking underpaying jobs and college graduates can't find work.

Image from Blue Point Trading

Why should we expect this to be any different if the leadership stays the same? 

***

His Plan Will Actually Lower the Deficit?
In the first few weeks of his presidency, President Obama vowed to the American people that he would cut the budget deficit in half in his first term.  Did he keep that promise?  No, far from it.  He actually doubled it.  Under his watch, our government is now borrowing $4 billion a day.

The truth? $5 trillion has been added to the deficit under his watch.

Why should we expect this to be any different if the leadership stays the same?

***

His Plan Will Actually Create Security for the Middle-Class?
In the last four years, more Americans---47 million people---more than any other time in our history are now dependent on the Food Stamp program.  In the last four years, 1 in 6 Americans now lives in a state of poverty.  Under this president's watch, millions of Americans have slipped out of the Middle Class.

It is important to remember that according to this Administration, the recovery from the Great Recession  began in the summer of 2009.  Does that record reflect a recovery?

Image from US Daily Review

Why should we have confidence that the results would be any different if the leadership stays the same?

***

It isn't that the president lacks a plan--it's that he has simply shown a complete inability to execute one.

The promises he now makes are just recycled promises from his first term.  This video shows it perfectly.  If he couldn't get it done in four years, why would the results be any different in the next four?

While I appreciate the boldness and sincerity of a specific plan, I am afraid that this time around I don't need lofty ideas or beautiful speeches, I need results.

I will fully support the candidate who also has a 5-point plan, but this candidate's record tells me that he'll know how to execute it.  The candidate whose career has revived the bankrupt, fixed the broken, balanced the budgets, created jobs, created surpluses, worked in a bipartisan fashion and never raised a single tax or borrowed a single dollar to accomplish it.

Image from Real Clear Politics

Unfortunately the president's record doesn't even come close.

Go Mitt.

A Defining Moment

Something has changed in this election.  If you can't feel it then you aren't paying attention.  Mitt's support is beginning to surge.  Something is different.  It's happening.

I was one of 10,000+ who attended an extremely powerful rally last night at the famous Red Rocks outdoor amphitheater outside of Denver.  It was definitely one of the coolest and most stirring political events I have ever attended.  

When Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan came on stage, they were each visibly moved by the size of the crowd.  It was a site to be seen and felt.

Mitt Romney spoke of his love for our country, his deep concern for millions who are burdened with desperate financial times and then he also spoke of his resolve to help every one of them.   He spoke of America's greatness and the potential that is about to be reborn in this country.  He spoke of patriotism and he told a story about an American flag that somehow survived the 1986 Challenger crash.  The story moved the crowd and will undoubtedly stay with me forever.

Image from Mitt Romney Scrapbook

Image from Mitt Romney Scrapbook 

Image from Mitt Romney Scrapbook 

I want to echo the words Paul Ryan so often says, 

"I don't think there has been a time in our nation's history when a man and the moment have met so perfectly.  Everything Mitt Romney has done is his life has prepared him for the kind of leadership we need now.  This is a defining moment."

I couldn't agree more.  Mitt Romney's entire career has prepared him for this fight.  He has been trained to know what to do and not just what to say.  He is ready.  Of one thing I am certain, under Mitt Romney's leadership, the recovery will be real.

The time is now.  This is the moment.  America needs Mitt.

Foreign Policy Takes Center Stage and The President's Judgement Will Too

During the last debate, the attacks in Benghazi took center stage.  President Obama told Mitt Romney, "The day after the attack, governor, I stood in the Rose Garden and told the American people and the world that we are going to find out exactly what happened.  That this was an act of terror and I also said that we're going to hunt down those who committed this crime."

Many people thought it was his strongest moment in the debate, but for anyone who has given this controversy 5 minutes of their time will quickly recognize that the Benghazi attacks have also shed light one of the weakest and disconcerting moments of his presidency.

It has been 6 weeks since the attack,  does this administration have a consistent story yet?  Will they at least acknowledge that they got it wrong and that it wasn't a spontaneous protest that got out of control?

Intelligence records and eye witness accounts have crumbled the president's repeated assertion that the attacks grew out of a protest over a video.  This simply isn't true.  I want to know, who told this fabricated version of the events to our president? Why did the president believe it for 14 days?  Has this person been fired?

During the debate, the president boldly promised that they would hunt down these vicious killers and bring them to justice.  Well, six weeks have passed.  Are there arrests?  Are there at least interrogations happening?

Or has six weeks simply demonstrated that the president's bold declaration "to bring about justice" is simply empty rhetoric?

***

The New York Times ran a fascinating article which shed light on the fact that the president may have delivered a carefully crafted answer to a debate question, but his actions tell a completely different story.

The NYT reporter David Kirkpatrick flew to Benghazi and personally met with a man who many eyewitnesses and government officials have said was outside the embassy that dreadful night, giving orders and is even considered one of the terrorist ring leaders.

Like me, you might ask, how did Kirkpatrick find this killer?  Did he have to meet with him in secret?  Did he meet with him in an undisclosed location surrounded by jihadist guards?  Shockingly no.  This leader sat with a reporter and "spent two leisurely hours one evening at a crowded luxury hotel, sipping a strawberry frappe on a patio and scoffing at the threats coming from the American and Libyan government."

This terrorist says that he has never been interviewed by officials and he doesn't believe that they will come after him.  This man says "he has no plans to go into hiding."

Hmm.  It doesn't sound like a "hunt for those responsible" is actually happening.  It isn't.

What a mockery this terrorist is making of us.  He brazenly killed four of our own and now brazenly, scoffs at the idea that our president will actually do anything about it.  Can we imagine for one minute how these individuals must have laughed to see the president parade himself around on "The View," "David Letterman" and even before the United Nations assembly and for 14 days apologize for some obscure video that "sparked an out-of-control protest?"

Please.  They know the president was feeding us a line and they were the only ones laughing.

***

The president and his administration's tepid and sporadic response to this terrorist attack has been troubling and offensive.

9/11 should have taught this president an interesting lesson.  Americans rallied behind President George Bush at a desperate moment.  We were broken, but he wasn't.  We were scared, but he was strong.  And what was the result?  Patriotism began to swell and Americans rallied.  We rallied behind our president and above all, the terrorists knew that we were coming for them.

President Obama missed it.  We would have rallied and millions of Americans would have rallied behind him.  But what happened instead?  His message was muddied with talk of a video and a phony protest.  It still is.

President Obama has failed to show leadership and no carefully crafted answer in a debate can change that.

Obama was so focused on trying to downplay terrorism that he missed a rare opportunity to stand behind his "megaphone" and declare to the world that terrorism will not be tolerated and that America is coming fast and strong for those who attacked us.

Instead we have a leader who is still trying to articulate which "act of terror" he was referring to in his Rose Garden speech on September 12th.  Not strong.  Not impressive.  Not leadership.

***

Am I implying that the president should have used a horrific tragedy for political gain?  Absolutely not, but a firm and decisive response to this tragedy would have had a much different impact on a president who prides himself on being a bold foreign policy leader.

All we got was a lack of coherency, which speaks volumes about his judgement.

Tonight's debate focus on foreign policy is a perfectly timed gift for Mitt Romney.  He may been caught off guard by Crowley's participation in the last debate, but he will be ready tonight and the American people will see that not only is the president's judgment questionable, but Americans will see that Mitt Romney is more than ready to take his place.

Mr. President, All Signs Are Pointing to Your Rival

It is almost hard to imagine, given the unprecedented swell of support in 2008 and even how the polls were just 2 weeks ago, that President Obama's reelection could ever be vulnerable, but it is.

Gallup Poll shows Mitt Romney surging and is now enjoying a 7-point lead nationally.

Image from CNN

The press and the Obama team are trying to argue that polls don't really reflect the true heat of the race and that swing states are the only states that matter.  While I do agree, it is also hard to deny that 18-days before the election, momentum is clearly on Romney's side.

A lot can happen in the next few weeks, but I believe there are undeniable facts that hurt this president:  The economy is not improving.  Layoffs are happening in droves.  Americans aren't idiots.  And it's still about the economy.  Period.

I have said before that long after the soundbites have faded, Mitt Romney's words uttered in the last debate will leave a lasting sting on the president.  Namely, his scathing critique of the president's failed policies.

This short clip from Tuesday's debate, says it all and believe me, it won't be soon forgotten.

The president is asking for a second chance to get it right, but we are quickly beginning to see that he is asking us to take a huge gamble on him and we know full-well that we are the ones who will be impacted if he gets it wrong...again.

Americans concern for their own well-being must trump the allegiance once felt for a president they adored.  Mr. President, this time around, it has to be about us.  We have to put our job security ahead of yours.  We have to put our livelihood and financial security ahead of your political aspirations.

Truth is, we know you wanted to help.  We know you wanted to save us, but it didn't work.  Despite all you tried, America's economy is still crumbling.

We need to recover.  We need help.  We need leadership and it is becoming increasingly clear that to achieve it, all signs are pointing to your rival.

Image from Orlando Sentinel

Go Mitt.

Does Benghazi Matter? 3 Reasons Why it Does

The most highly talked about moment in Tuesday's debate isn't the fact that Obama had a strong performance---it isn't that the president "won" the debate---and much to Obama's dismay, the focus isn't "binders full of women."

Like it or not, the focus continues to be the Benghazi attacks.

Image from ABC News

During the debate, Mitt Romney said, "It took the President 14 days before he called the attack in Benghazi an act of terror."

The president then interrupted and said, "Get the transcript." (Who was he talking to?)  Then out of nowhere, the debate moderator Candy Crowley, interjected and declared that the president did indeed call it an "act of terror."

Wait...When the president said, "Get the transcript," did he actually cue the moderator?  Had the president actually prepared her in advance with materials to help him at just the right moment?

Is that even allowed?  Isn't that a conflict of interest?

Well, I want to know if Mitt Romney was granted the same courtesy.  Because I am sure Romney would have appreciated Crowley's "fact checking skills" when the president flatly denied that his administration has cut the number of permits and licenses for oil drilling on federal lands and waters. Obama said Romney was lying.  Fact checkers and analysts have confirmed that Romney was right.

{It is worth noting, that following the debate, Crowley admitted that "Romney was largely right on Libya."}

Image from Wall Street Journal

But thanks to the debate, Obama finally offered some clarity:  He wants the American people to know that on September 12th, he officially, although somewhat ambiguously, called the embassy attack an "act of terror."

Well, I would argue that there are three reasons why Obama made a huge mistake in "clarifying an act of terror:"

***

#1 Did the President Prioritize Fundraising over National Security?

1) If the president firmly believed that the attacks were an "act of terror," how did he justify hours after the attack, to leave the confines of closed door meetings with his National Security Advisers and Intelligence Staff at the White House to parade himself around at fundraisers and campaign events? 

Obama in Las Vegas on September 12th (Image from Flickr)

Hadn't terrorists just committed a despicable act of war on America's interests abroad?  Wasn't an Ambassador dead?  For the first time in 30 years, an American ambassador had been murdered in an attack on our embassy and hours later, the president is off talking to supporters in Las Vegas about looking "Forward?"

That doesn't exactly look like leadership.  And it certainly doesn't show the terrorists that we have a president who is serious about terrorism.

#2 Who Fed the President False Information? Why Did he Believe Them?

If the president was convinced on September 12th that it was terrorism, then at what point did he change his conviction?  Who told him that it was a spontaneous attack in response to a YouTube video and why did he trust them enough to believe it?  Who had the president's ear?  And how did they convince him so quickly to change his description of the attacks to repeatedly say that it was simply a spontaneous protest in response to an obscure 20 minute video? 

Image from UPI.com

Whoever fed the president and Secretary Hillary Clinton this false information should be fired.  This information tarnished their reputation and their judgement.  My heavens, days after the attack, our president and the Secretary of State stood before the caskets of the four dead Americans and in front of their families, they simply condemned the video.  

Even worse?  Obama and Clinton spent millions of dollars on a commercial aired in Pakistan where they actually apologized for any offense that the video had caused---yet not one condemnation of terrorism.  

For two weeks, White House spokesmen, Obama and Clinton repeated claims about the video.  President Obama appeared on The View, David Letterman and he even spoke before the United Nations, but never once clarified that our embassy had been attacked by terrorists.  Rather, we simply heard that there was an investigation and that the video clip had sparked the violence.    

We now know that this not true. 

#3 Why Are Only Women Taking the Heat?   Did Obama throw Women Under the Bus?

Five days after the Benghazi attacks, the White House sent the current UN Ambassador, Susan Rice to appear on five different Sunday talk shows.  On each of these shows, Rice adamantly and consistently insisted, "Our current assessment is that what happened in Benghazi was, in fact, a spontaneous protest prompted by the YouTube video." 

The Washington Post reported that Rice says that "days before her TV appearances, she relied on updates from Security Officials and also on a set of talking points prepared by the administration."  She says that there was no attempt on her part to "pick and choose" possible explanations.  

Either she is lying or someone deliberately used her to downplay suspicions of terrorism.  Why?  Either way, Rice's reputation and her credibility is ruined and someone in this administration is letting it happen.

Secretary Hillary Clinton is also at the center of this controversy.  She now takes "full responsibility for what happened on September 11th."  Full responsibility for what?

Is Hillary confirming that she was the one who ignored Ambassador Steven's repeated requests to beef up security in Benghazi?  Was she responsible for the phony talking points provided for Susan Rice?  Was she the one who had the president's ear and convinced him to waver on his September 12th "act of terror" declaration? 

Was she the one who failed to inform the President and Joe Biden that this was truly terrorism and that there were security breeches?  Because according to the last two debates, apparently neither of them were "aware" of any security issues at this embassy.

If all of this is true, will the president be forced to fire Susan Rice and Hillary Clinton?  If it isn't true, then why is President Obama allowing these two women to take the blame?

Either way, his administration seems perfectly willing to throw these women under the bus.

***

The president and his administration have handled the Benghazi tragedy with sloppiness and careless ambiguity.   An ambassador is dead.  American interests have been attacked by terrorists.  American security has been breached.  And yet, all we see from this administration is that a strange cover-up is unraveling.

To defend the president on many things is fine with me, but to defend his handling of the Benghazi attack is indefensible.

The press may not want to hold him accountable for it, but in 19 days, we can.  We should.  We will.

Go Mitt.

The Presidential Debate: Sorry, Mr. President, You Built This Economy, but I Can Fix It

As we have come to know our president over the past four years, I think most would agree on a few things about him: 1) He is extremely competitive.  2)  He doesn't like to lose.  3) He hates it when he isn't the smartest person in the room.

All of this has been tested since his debate debacle in Denver.

Should it come as a surprise to anyone that his campaign is now vowing a "more aggressive," "improved," "47 percent referenced," "Bain Capital infused," "Romney tax plan," "better prepared" performance tonight?  

Everyone is expecting it--especially Mitt Romney, but he is ready for it.

Yes, the president will come out swinging, but the danger for Obama is that he knows his base is demanding it of him.  Biden tried to feed that beast last week and it proved to be disastrous for him among independents.  The latest Pew poll shows that 50% of independents thought Paul Ryan did a better job compared to 39% for Joe Biden.  Ouch.

It is going to be a tricky line for the president to feed his base the contentious meat they crave, while still convincing the undecided voter, (who is now giving Romney a solid look), to feel inspired that Obama's 2nd term agenda will somehow make up for all he was unable to accomplish in his first.

But what is going to be the hardest thing the president has to face?  Mitt Romney has found his feet.  

Image from The Examiner

In just 90 minutes on a stage here in Denver, Mitt Romney shattered the image that the Obama camp had desperately tried to create with hundreds of millions of dollars spent on ad campaigns to destroy his character.  Instead, Mitt Romney emerged as the leader with solutions, the leader with competence, and the believable, likable leader with the resume to back it all up.  

Like it or not, Romney spoke with authenticity.  He spoke with authority.  He inspired us and offered real solutions to our problems.  Americans liked what we heard.

Is Obama going to be feisty?  Probably.  Is Obama going to attack?  Undoubtedly.  Will Obama have a good debate?  Most likely, but what will Obama be unable to do?

Defend his record.

All Mitt Romney needs to do tonight is to continue to remind voters that Obama has had four years to accomplish everything he now promises.  He already had four years to fix the mess he inherited--to make things right.  He didn't.

Since Obama's inauguration:

• $4500 drop in Median income
• $5.5 trillion added to the deficit
• 47 million Americans living on Food Stamps
• 23 million unemployed Americans
• 5.5 million homes are in foreclosure
• 1 in 6 Americans now living in poverty
• Gas prices have doubled
• US credit rating has been downgraded for the first time in history

Maybe Mitt needs to simply say, "Sorry Mr. President, like it or not, you built that." And then confidently say, "But I can fix it."

Mitt Romney needs to remind us of Obama's record and then ask each American if their family can afford to find out what happens if the president gets it wrong...again.  The answer is most likely no.

Image from mittromney.com

What can we expect of Mitt Romney tonight?  Feistiness?  Anger?  Rattled?  Nerves?  Nope, just a subtle confidence that will continue to intimidate and rattle his rival. 

I can't wait. 

Go Mitt. 

A Blatant Display of Intolerance and Disrespect--and it Came from our Vice President

Last night, as I left parent teacher conferences, I was in a panic to get home and plop myself on the couch---I was an hour behind in the Vice Presidential debate.  (For political junkies like me, events like last night are our version of the Superbowl).

I reluctantly decided to listen to the debate on my car radio.  I was shocked at what I heard.  Biden was strong.  His answers were direct and authoritative.  He seemed to be commanding the debate.  I was worried.  Was Biden winning?

But then I got home and everything changed.

Image from Politico

Image from NBCnews.com

I turned on my TV and was quite frankly, shocked and disgusted by what I saw.  Joe Biden, the Vice President of the United States was treating his fellow colleague, a fellow leader  and "friend" with complete lack of respect and civility.  It was shocking.  The mocking tone he used was degrading.  His constant eye rolling, gasps, laughter and his "Cheshire-like" smile was quite frankly, insulting.  I could not believe that I was watching the Vice-President of the United States treat a fellow colleague with such disgust and contempt.

Wasn't it this Administration that promised to "change the tone?"  Promised to bring Americans together?  And promised to be a leader for all Americans not just the "blue" ones?

It sure didn't feel that way last night and to be honest, it hasn't felt like that for the last four years.

What I saw last night insulted me as an American.  My views may be different than the Vice President's, but it doesn't mean that my view point doesn't deserve to be respected.  It wasn't.  

I kept waiting for Ryan to look at the Vice President and say, "Mr. Biden, I know that you would like this to be a discussion between just the two of us here tonight, but it isn't.  This discussion tonight is about the differing ideology that millions of Americans hold sacred---and my viewpoints represents half of them.  Half of this country embraces these principles and you are insulting every single one of those Americans.  So you can laugh and roll your eyes at me, but keep in mind that you are actually treating half of this country with disrespect for the principles they hold dear."

Then I wish he would have said, "But Mr. Biden, Americans are just seeing for themselves why it has been virtually impossible to work with your Administration to pass any bipartisan-led legislation.  This is how your Administration has treated us from day one---with arrogance, mocking and complete lack of respect."

Image from USA today

But kudos to Paul Ryan for staying his genuine self, for keeping his composure while being mocked and for being, as CNN contributor David Gergen stated, presidential.

The outcome of this debate is still unknown, but nearly every poll released showed that Paul Ryan won the debate.  He did.

Will it matter?

Most analysts say no, but a few things became crystal clear and will resonate long after the debate clips stop airing:  In just 90 minutes, our Vice President typified everything that frustrates Americans about our government.  Joe Biden was the poster child for intolerance.  He was the epitome of disdain.  Joe Biden perfectly typified bitter partisanship and stubbornness.  And I would be willing to bet that most Americans didn't like what they saw.

That is the image that will last.  That is the bitter taste that will linger.  And like it or not, that is what will affect the undecided voter.

So the President can continue to praise his running mate for a strong performance and the Vice President can continue to flash his award winning smile, but the only base that was fired up last night was their own.

Yes, Joe Biden delivered some meat, but it was pretty clear it was covered in blue.

And with 25 days until election, that is not the kind of meat that wins elections.  That kind of meat insulted.  That kind of meat offended and that kind of meat came across a little desperate.

I firmly believe that all Americans deserve better than what this Administration has offered--on every front.

Go Mitt.

Really Mr. President? I'm speechless...

It has not been a good week for the president and things are about to get even worse.

The president and his team have seen today's poll numbers and undoubtedly recognize the fragile state of his campaign.  Yesterday's poll numbers show that Mitt Romney picked up a huge bounce from the debates.  Rasmussen poll has Mitt Romney leading nationally.  Pew shows Mitt Romney with a four point lead and Gallup shows the race tied at 47-47%.

Nearly every poll shows that Mitt Romney benefited significantly from the debates.

Image from politic365.com

What is important to note?  Every one of these polls had the president leading by several points just a week ago.

Even more noteworthy? The polls reflect that Mitt Romney has eradicated President Obama's lead among women voters.  In the Pew Research Center poll, Mitt Romney is now tied among likely women voters.  This is significant because the president has boasted of an 18 point lead among this crucial demographic.

The polls also reflect that Mitt Romney has a significant lead among independents.

Like it or not, Mitt Romney got a bigger bounce from the debate than Obama got from the Democratic National Convention.  The convention where former President Bill Clinton gave a "game changing" speech.

So what does the president do to reclaim his message?  How does he now reassure the American people that he cares about our financial stability?  And that his second term would somehow be different than the dismal results of his first?

He ran this ad.

Umm... I am speechless.

This is sophomoric.  This is ridiculous.  This is not presidential.

The president just made Mitt Romney's job a little easier.  Why?  Because Mitt Romney is the grownup in the room with a real and authentic plan to improve the state of our economy in America.  Even better? Mitt Romney has the resume to back it up.

Americans heard Mitt Romney's plan.  We believed him.  We liked what we heard.

Romney/Ryan rally in Florida (Image from freerepublic.com)

Sorry Mr. President, you are failing to address the fact that despite everything you oversaw, tried and spent, Americans are still hurting---Americans are still losing their jobs---America's economy is still broken.

What has changed?  Americans are now demanding results---results that your leadership could not produce.

Romney/Ryan rally in Florida (Image from freerepublic.com)

Go Mitt!

Who is Drinking the Obama Kool-aid? None Other Than the President Himself

My husband is incredibly quick-witted and funny.  Combine that with his passion for college sports and it would be fair to say that he has frequently dumbfounded many who are loyal supporters of his rivals' teams.  I will never forget the time that a friend left a message on our answering machine hours after we left a college football party.  Our friend said, "Hey, I just thought of the best comeback to something you said."

It was a little sad.

This comes to mind as I have read that Obama is planning to make a "strong and decisive showing" in the next presidential debate.  Hints that he will make plenty of reference to the 47%, Mitt Romney's years at Bain Capital and his wealth.

Only problem?  Like our friend, the time for those punchlines and comebacks will have long passed.  It will appear a little sad.  A little weak.  A little desperate and definitely a little too late.

Image from Toledoblade.com

The effects of last week debacle in Denver will be long lasting.  The shock waves of the president's poor performance are still being felt.  Many reputable polls released today show that Mitt Romney has stopped the president's two week surge and is now virtually tied 47-47%.  Obama's 5-point lead in Gallup has disappeared and Rasmussen, the poll that many analysts argue is the most reliable, has Mitt Romney leading nationally.  Rasmussen also shows that Romney leapfrogged Obama in Virginia and Florida and his now leading in both swing states.

Ouch.

But was the debate really that important?  Was Obama's poor performance really that detrimental? The answer is yes and the president's team knows it.

Image from slate.com

Obama stood on a stage with his rival in front of 70 million voters and was dumbfounded.  He couldn't defend his record.  He didn't lay out an agenda.  He didn't defend himself and it almost appeared as if he was hearing about the dismal state of our economy for the very first time.

Even his closing remarks---the one statement he could prepare in advance---lacked any hint of inspiration or skill.  It fell flat---a lot like the president's hopes for changing this country for the better.

Mitt Romney on the other hand commanded the night.  He spoke with authority and presented his case for a return to prosperity in an authentic and relatable way.  He clearly identified what has gone wrong and what he planned to do to rectify it.  He spoke as a leader and I felt like I caught a glimpse of what it must have been like to watch Romney run the meetings at Bain Capital.

He showed that he was an incredibly smart, well-informed leader with a plan to improve our lives and strengthen our country---and he has the resume to prove it.   Most devastating to the president? He showed that he was likable.

It was remarkable.  It was inspiring. It was game-changing.

Image from politico.com

Romney was so effective that after the debate, Dennis Miller joked on his radio show that even Obama will be switching his vote to support Mitt Romney.

The president's team was busy on the Sunday talk shows in full damage-control mode.  They gave Mitt Romney credit for a "strong, theatrical performance."  The biggest problem with that defense?  Aren't "strong, theatrical performances" Obama's real strength?

The president is trying to make the case that his poor performance was because a "different" Mitt Romney appeared on that stage.  The problem?  A true leader doesn't get distracted.  Obama did.  This tells me that the only person guilty of drinking the Obama Kool-aid is none other than the president himself.

Image from talkingpointsmemo.com

Branding Romney with a "strong theatrical performance" doesn't explain one simple reality:  Why did that allow the president to perform so poorly?  Why couldn't he even defend his own record?

Sorry Obama Team, no matter the excuse, Obama missed a momentous opportunity to sell the American people on his plan for our future.  And many are questioning if it was simply because he didn't have a plan to sell.

The next presidential debate is 8 days away---an eternity for someone is losing momentum.

Obama thought he was untouchable.  He thought he was unaccountable.  He thought his 2008 speeches could never be forgotten.  He thought he was likable enough to dispel the reality that he has been a terrible president.  He was wrong.

Lofty speeches---masterful oratory skills---and a "brilliant mind" aren't going to be enough this time around.  Americans are still hurting.  Americans are still losing their homes.  Americans are still scared about their future.  Americans are still desperate for a leader to help them rather than a leader who simply blames someone else for their pain.

Americans are ready for results---results that Obama failed to deliver.

This is why Americans are ready for Mitt Romney.