McCain, Romney, Clinton, Obama...

I read this post by Mark Levin on NRO's "The Corner" blog, and found it to be a good outline of Reagan's presidency and policy views (and his principles) in response to Senator McCain's attempts to say he is no different than Reagan.

Reagan challenged his party from the Right. He sought the Republican nomination in 1968 against Richard Nixon and lost. He sought the nomination against Gerald Ford in 1976 and lost. He fought the Republican establishment in 1980 as well, including Bob Dole, Howard Baker, and George H. W. Bush, and won. McCain has challenged his party from the Left. I don't know how many more times I and others have to lay out his record to prove the point. To put a fine point on it, when he had to, Reagan sought compromise from a different set of beliefs and principles than McCain. It does a great disservice to historical accuracy and the current debate to continue to urge otherwise.

In terms of who I support... at this point I have definitely ruled out Hillary Clinton, who I think is power hungry, willing to do anything for that power, and ultimatly not particularly qualified to be president (despite her "I have 35 years of experience" line, which I find to be laughable). I have also ruled out Barack Obama, though I respect him as a man and I think his hopeful view of the people, the country and the future is in sync with my own views. I rule him out because of his many liberal policies (not the least of which is his pro-choice view).

I have also ruled out Ron Paul (just a bit to crazy, his policies could never be implemented without destroying the country), and Mike Huckabee (His policies are to pragmatically motivated. He doesn't seem to operate on principle, just on what will "fix" a problem. Add to that, he seems naive in some areas, such as foreign policy and immigration.)

That leaves McCain and Romney. For many reasons, not the least of which are outlined in the article by Levin, I don't support Senator McCain. I do not think he is the worst thing that could happen to the Republican party or the conservative movement (like many do) but I don't think he is the best choice.

Not that you should think I am supporting Governor Romney because he is the least offensive to me (which many seem to be doing). I find Mitt Romney to be a generally principled conservative. I have found him to have a similar hopeful view of the country and people as Senator Obama. I find his economic policies to be very well thought out. I believe his social views on abortion and gay marriage are genuine, and I find his views on foreign policy to be intelligent and well thought out.

To those who say he is a "flip-flopper" I would say 2 things.

Number one, almost everyone in this race has changed positions on some issue or issues, and none of them have acknowledge that they changed their mind, only saying it was what they really believed all along (from McCain's major flip on immigration and taxes, Huckabee on the same issues, Hillary on the war... the only ones who seem not to have are Obama and Ron Paul). Romney has acknowledged he changed his mind, and has defended the right of everyone to change their mind as they get older and wiser.

Number two, Governor Romney can point to definite points (pivot points for those familiar with AA) where the change in thinking crystalized. This is important, because it means it wasn't just a politically expedient reason, it was a genuine change in thinking sparked by an event (his abortion view, which is really the only view he has changed a lot on, has a very definite pivot point).

From what those who worked with him and know him have said, he is not a politically motivated person. He is a duty motivated person. He is motivated by duty, and a vision for the country. There is almost universal praise for how he conducts himself and treats those he comes in contact with. You only need to look at how he treats his family, and how they look at him to know this. He is very intelligent, and has a lot of experience not only politically as an executive, but also in the workforce as a CEO, which gives him a much better handle on how the economy actually works.

So, there it is. I have other reasons to support Governor Romney, but those will suffice for now. I would also point you to a friends post at Mod-Blog for the reasons he has changed his view, and is supporting Governor Romney.

But, whatever the outcome, God is in control, which is an extremely comforting thought! It is also helpful to remember that God is less concerned with what happens to this country than what happens to His Kingdom, the Church. He isn't about the business of making countries great, He is about the business of making His Name great, and saving the people of this world. Don't forget that as we move forward in this election season.

Noonan...

This article by Peggy Noonan is quite good. It's getting press for the last section. I found the other sections to be informative as well.

A few excerpts...

the Clintons are tearing the party apart. It will not be the same after this. It will not be the same after its most famous leader, and probable ultimate victor, treated a proud and accomplished black man who is a U.S. senator as if he were nothing, a mere impediment to their plans. And to do it in a way that signals, to his supporters, How dare you have the temerity, the ingratitude, after all we've done for you?...

Mr. McCain is in the middle of a shift. Previous strategy: I'm John McCain and you know me, we've traveled through history together. New strategy: I'm the old vet who fought on the front lines of the Reagan-era front, and I am about to take on the mantle of the essentials of conservatism—lower spending, smaller government, strong in the world. He is going to strike the great Reagan gong, not in a way that is new but in a way that is new for him.

In this he is repositioning himself back to where he started 30 years ago: as a Southwestern American conservative veteran of the armed forces. That is, inherently if not showily, anti-establishment. That is, I am the best of the past.

Mr. Romney, on the other hand, is running as I Am Today. I am new and fresh, in fact I'm tomorrow, I know all about the international flow of money and the flatness of the world, I know what China is, I can see you through the turbulence just as I saw Bain to success.

It will all come down to: Whom do Republicans believe? Mr. Romney in spite of his past and now-disavowed liberal positions? Or Mr. McCain in spite of his forays, the past 10 years, into a kind of establishment mindset that has suggested that The Establishment Knows Best?

Do conservatives take inspiration from Mr. Romney's newness? Or do they take comfort and security from Mr. McCain's rugged ability to endure, and to remind?...

George W. Bush destroyed the Republican Party, by which I mean he sundered it, broke its constituent pieces apart and set them against each other. He did this on spending, the size of government, war, the ability to prosecute war, immigration and other issues.

Were there other causes? Yes, of course. But there was an immediate and essential cause.

And this needs saying, because if you don't know what broke the elephant you can't put it together again

Mormonism and Romney

This is a good review of Hugh Hewitt's new book on Mitt Romney and his religion. The beginning of the article is quite good, as it gives a succinct overview of Momonism.

Hat Tip: Between Two Worlds