TNcon

1. If the Supreme Court declares Obamacare unconstitutional, Romneycare will remain
2. because it is a state plan
3. that was passed with overwhelming, bi-partisan support
4. without kickbacks created to secure enough votes
5. to get it through the legislature on a corrupt technicality,
6. and it was based on the conservative movement’s alternative to single payer,
7. without tax increases
8. or multiple accounting gimmicks,
9. making it popular among constituents
10. who can move to another state if they don’t like it.

Obamacare is

1. an unconstitutional plan
2. encompassing the entire nation
3. passed with the narrowest vote against bi-partisan opposition
4. bolstered by kickbacks to states
5. and rammed through Congress under a “deem and pass” scheme
6. containing more than 1300 pages of statutes and regulations
7. and 18 separate tax increases,
8. declared feasible through delayed implementation and phantom Medicare cuts
9. making it unpopular among constituents
10. who can’t avoid the law or, like favored groups, get a waiver.

This post is a work in progress, but below are some links that make the conservative case for Mitt Romney.

Washington Examiner: Romney is GOP’s best choice

Ann Coulter: If Not Romney, Who? If Not Now, When?

Ramesh Ponnuru: Romney’s the One

Powerline: FOR PRESIDENT IN 2012, MITT ROMNEY

Des Moines Register: Mitt Romney is best to lead

David French: The Case for Mitt Romney

Timothy Dalrymple: An Open Letter to the Romney Skeptics

PARADE: A Mitt Romney You Haven’t Seen Yet

National Review: Romney for President

Why conservatives should embrace Romney’s health-care legacy

I love Rush Limbaugh, but his flip-flop on Mitt Romney is getting out of control.

Rush recently said Mitt Romney is “not a conservative,” but Limbaugh had once characterized Gov. Romney as the one “candidate on our side who does embody all three legs of the conservative stool,” which he described as “national security/foreign policy, the social conservatives, and the fiscal conservatives. The social conservatives are the cultural people. The fiscal conservatives are the economic crowd: low taxes, smaller government, get out of the way.”

Rush is certainly free to change his mind, but what began as criticism mostly limited to mischaracterizing Romney’s view on global warming has now become full-fledged dishonesty.

In last night’s debate, Newt Gingrich raised some eyebrows by signaling his support for an amnesty program for illegal immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for 20 or 25 years. Today, Rush Limbaugh is defending Gingrich while simultaneously attacking Romney over his comments on Meet the Press in 2007.

Rush is being intentionally dishonest, however, in quoting and airing only a brief clip of what Romney said.

Here’s how Rush quotes Romney: “My own view is consistent with what you saw in the Lowell Sun, that those people who had come here illegally and are in this country–the 12 million or so that are here illegally–should be able to stay sign up for permanent residency or citizenship…”

Rush clips Romney there, in mid-sentence.

In his full remarks, Romney contrasts his view with the amnesty plan favored by President Bush and Senator McCain, saying that illegal immigrants should merely have the same ability to apply for residency or citizenship as everyone else, which may involve them having to return to their home country first.

The Romney quote clipped by Rush continues, “..but they should not be given a special pathway, a special guarantee that all of them get to say here for the rest of their lives merely by virtue of having come here illegally.”

Below are Romney’s full comments in context:
Continue reading →

CNN: Hello and welcome to the first 2012 GOP Presidential primary debate, live from New Hampshire.

My name is John King, and I will serve as moderator.

Tonight we’re asking each of the candidates to be mindful of the clock, but instead of bells and whistles, I will be keeping time with a steady barrage of grunts and guttural ticks.

The first question comes from our live audience.

AUDIENCE: My name is Perry Taft, and I’m from central New Hampshire. My question is for Rep. Bachmann of Minnesota. Ms. Bachmann, I like vanilla ice cream, white bread, moderation and the status quo. I’m looking for a candidate who barely registers a pulse. Can we count on you to not rock the boat or be too exciting?

BACHMANN: Well, as a former federal tax litigation attorney, successful businesswoman, chairman of the Tea Party Caucus in the House of Representatives, wife of 33 years, mother of five children, with 23 foster children, eighty-eight cats and nine turtles, I’m going to have to say no to that one.

In fact, I was the very first member of Congress to introduce the full-scale repeal of Obamacare, and I also introduced the bill to repeal Dodd-Frank.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to officially announce I’m running for president.

CNN: It looks like Mr. Taft just fainted. While we get medical to help him out, does anyone disagree with Mrs. Bachmann?

SANTORUM: Rep. Bachmann is exactly right. She’s a rock star. Actually, most of the candidates on this stage will be able to put together a campaign that’s far more engaging than that twisted wreck of a catastrophe we were handed last time.

That is, except for me; you probably won’t remember I was ever here. But I was hoping some of the excitement and charisma would really trickle down.

CNN: Speaking of charisma, this next question goes to former Godfather’s Pizza CEO Herman Cain. The space shuttle program is scheduled to retire, President Obama has called off a flight to the International Space Station, and U.S. astronauts are now mixing their orange Tang with human tears. What role should the government play in future space exploration?

CAIN: Let’s look at solving the real problem. The thing we need to do is to get this program boosted. Space exploration has stalled.

It’s like a shuttle on the launching pad with no rocket. And the administration has simply been burning all the fuel.

Number two, I will surround myself with the right people. Number three, I’ll ask the astronauts in space what we should do.

Number four, deep dish – it’s like deep space, but with an extra thick crust.

CNN: Does everyone agree with that? Governor Pawlenty?

PAWLENTY: I grew up in a meat-packing town. I grew up in a manufacturing town. I was in a union for six or seven years. My dad was in a union. My brothers and sisters, many of them are in unions. We were all in a union, growing up in a blue collar town.

I’m sorry, what was the question? Oh yeah, space. Like I said, for much of his life my dad was a teamster truck driver. My family understands what it’s like to navigate large vehicles across great distances. We’re asking them to climb the mountain with a big sack full of moon rocks on their back. We have to take the moon rocks out.

CNN: That brings to mind your ambitious plan to grow the economy at five percent growth, year after year. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, is five percent overly optimistic for a fully developed economy?

GINGRICH: I don’t think massive economic growth is any more desirable than weak economic growth.

I don’t think imposing radical growth or allowing radical decline is a very good way for a free economy to operate.

I think we need a national conversation to get to a better economic system with more choices for consumers.

CNN: Congressman Ron Paul, do you agree with that? Is five percent growth radical economic engineering?

PAUL: No, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wildly optimistic thinking, tilting at windmills, irrational exuberance and spitting into the wind. My campaign is very familiar with that. We’re trying to unwind a Keynesian bubble that’s been going on for 70 years, and you’re not going to touch this problem until you liquidate the bad debt and the malinvestment caused by the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy and central economic planning. If we had a free-market economy and sound money instead of mandates and military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, we’d have people here getting jobs.

GINGRICH: John, you mischaracterized me. I didn’t say radical economic engineering. It was a very narrow question. I support Gov. Pawlenty’s plan as a general proposal. And those words were taken totally out of context.

CNN: Ok, anyone else care to weigh in on this one? Governor Romney?

ROMNEY: Look, Tim has the right instincts. And the ideas Tim described, those are in the right wheelhouse. We ought to be talking about the economy and jobs and spicy hot wings. By the way, the Bruins are up 4-0.

CNN: All right. Speaking of Tim Pawlenty’s instincts, let’s talk “Obamneycare.” Why do you call it that, Governor?

PAWLENTY: Well, the issue that was raised in a question from a reporter was, what are the similarities between the two? And I just cited President Obama’s own words that he looked to Massachusetts as a blueprint or a guide when he designed Obamacare. President Obama is the person who I quoted in saying that. He’s the one who said it. And so using the term was a reflection of the president’s comments. But I don’t sit around thinking of ways to insert the names of my fellow Republican candidates into Obama’s programs. The stimulus wasn’t the A-Mitt-rican Rom-covery and Rom-vestment Act. It’s not the Patient Paul-tection and Afforda-Bachmann Care Act.

CNN: Governor, you want to respond to that at all?

ROMNEY: No, just to say this, which is my guess is the president is going to eat those words and wish he hadn’t put them out there. And I can’t wait to debate him and say, Mr. President, if, in fact, you did look at what we did in Massachusetts, why didn’t you give me a call and ask what worked and what didn’t? Why didn’t you send me an e-mail? How about a text message?

CNN: Ok let’s…

ROMNEY: I’m also on Facebook, Mr. President. You could have left a message on my wall. Or sent one of those Facebook messages. I’m also on Twitter. Why didn’t you tweet me an @ reply or send a direct message? Not the Weiner kind of tweet, but you know. Oh, and I think I’ve still got an old MySpace page where you can leave me a note. Mr. President. I’m here…

CNN: Thank you, Governor.

ROMNEY: Call me…

CNN: Getting back to Obamacare. Who else has something to say about that?

BACHMANN: I want to make a promise to everyone watching tonight: As president of the United States, I will not rest until I repeal Obamacare. It’s a promise. Take it to the bank, cash the check. I’ll make sure that that happens. You cash that check, bring me the deposit slip, and I’ll autograph it. Signed, sealed, and delivered. You can withdraw some crisp new bills, take them to the store, and they’ll be accepted as legal tender. That money will be guaranteed by the Federal Reserve Bank for all debts, public and private.

PAUL: Did somebody say Federal Reserve Bank?!

CNN: No, I don’t think so Rep. Paul. Next question is for Herman Cain. You recently said you would not appoint a dwarf to your cabinet. Are little people as a group less committed to the Constitution than, say, average-sized adults?

CAIN: The question wasn’t whether I would appoint a dwarf in my administration, but if I would be comfortable with a dwarf in my administration. And I would not be comfortable because they’re creepy. Whenever they came in to order pizza, you’d see the door open, but nobody would come in. And then all the sudden a set of eyes are peering at you around the counter.

CNN: And that’s about all the time we have. Candidates, any last words?

GINGRICH: Using the Ronald Reagan equivalency scale, I’ll still be relevant for another 20 years.

SANTORUM: You can forget about me, but don’t you dare forget about Medicare Part D.

CNN: Ok, that was a mistake. Goodnight, America.

*In case you missed it, here’s the 2008 version.*

Alison and I were in the middle of watching The King’s Speech when our DVD player started to fail. We left the living room to give the machine a chance to think about its actions.

Naturally, I used the break to check Tweetdeck, and was startled to see that the President was about to give a live speech on national security. I was immediately struck by the irony, considering the movie we had been watching, but also shot through with a jolt of adrenaline. Whatever the President had to say, it would have to be important for him to cut in on a Sunday evening, particularly if the subject was national security.

Next I heard he would be speaking from the East Room, not the Oval Office, suggesting that the topic wasn’t an urgent warning about our impending doom, but still quite serious. Perhaps there was news about the campaign in Libya, as Muammar Gaddafi’s son had just been killed by an air strike the day before. If so, that seemed rather lame, since announcements like these can set people into a panic. I switched the TV to a live broadcast, and continued to follow the chatter on Twitter, where people were speculating the speech would be about Osama Bin Laden, and with increasing certainty.

Initially, President Obama was set to speak in fewer than 10 minutes. As minutes stretched into more than an hour, and the Wolf Blitzers, Geraldo Riveras and David Gregorys in media gave into the temptation to leak the news, our anticipation to hear the President’s speech lost its edge. It had already been a long, exhausting weekend, filled with schoolwork, civic duties, tornado and flood warnings and NBA playoff games. But we hung in there to experience what would be another unforgettable moment of history in the making.

When the President finally made it to the podium, his delivery was oddly flat and hesitating, but it was still a great speech. He talked about the enormous loss of life caused by Osama Bin Laden, the terrible scar he left on the psyche of our nation, and the “gaping hole” in the heart of families across the country. He reflected on 9/11, and how the country came together to grieve and promise that we would never forget what happened, that we would honor the memories of our dead, and resolve to protect ourselves and bring Al-Qaeda to justice. He spoke about the enormous and heroic actions our armed forces took at home and around the globe to “disrupt, dismantle, and defeat” the terrorist network. Bin Laden’s death, he said, marked the “most significant achievement” to date, but not the end of our effort. He reiterated that we “did not choose this fight,” and that we aren’t “at war with Islam.” He said, “today’s achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people.”

Throngs of people amassed near the White House, waving American flags and celebrating. These students, most of whom couldn’t have been older than eight or nine on 9/11/2001, were expressing what I imagine was a combination of joy, relief and pride — that we had finally captured the man most responsible for setting the tragic events of the past decade in motion, that we had scored a much needed victory, and finally closed a chapter of history.

Unfortunately, the unity lasted about 45 seconds, as friends on Twitter and Facebook lept to condemn the celebration as unChristian, comparing demonstrations and jubilation to the Palestinians who cheered when the Twin Towers were struck and fell. The self-righteous condemnation and moral relativism soon came out in full force, and those who felt differently were blood-thirsty monsters, a pox on our nation, and would probably spur more terrorists into action.

I’m sorry, but no. We who celebrate do not cheer for the death of a man, not even a terrorist. It brings us no joy to see a person killed. It does, however, bring us one fleeting moment of relief, appreciation and reflection on all of the pain and trials we’ve endured, both as a nation, and as individual families. If you cannot grant the families who have sacrificed so much financially, physically, and emotionally this one moment of triumph, you have no heart and no grace.

We do not celebrate death, we celebrate life. We cry tears of joy and tears of grief, thinking about the loved ones we lost. The months and years we spent away from our family and friends. The deep sense of loss, in more than one sense. We sacrificed for this moment. We have overcome.

For now, tuck away the context-free Bible quotes and the newly-coined Martin Luther King phrases. Consider the way we were also filled with delight when Saddam Hussein was captured, but how not a soul rejoiced when he was executed. We cheer for our country, for ourselves and our families, for the hope of a better, brighter, safer and — yes — more peaceful future.

If you can’t grant us that, could you at least keep it to yourself for a few days?

Elsewhere:
No, Really, Celebrate. If This Isn’t Worth Celebrating, What Is?
Bin Laden’s Death and the Discursive Use of Scripture in Social Media
Good, Evil, and More Evil
Death Comes as the End
Killing bin Laden, Loving Our Enemies