Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Romney vs. Obama. Is there a difference?

"Romney and Obama are the same".

That is the phrase I keep hearing from those who simply refuse to concede defeat. You know exactly who I am referring to here. I never thought it would come to this. Instead, we find ourselves in a fight against the most radical left president in American history, and the Republican challenger is viewed as "just as bad". The nonsense is laughable. They are the same misguided and misinformed people who love to say, "Fire them all! Republicans and Democrats are all the same!". Ok, should we fire Paul Ryan? Allen West? Marco Rubio?  Many now are unable to understand the simple differences between a potential Romney presidency, and the current Obama administration.

We can start by delving into personality and influences. Do I really need to explain to you how Mitt Romney and Barack Obama differ as men and leaders? I'm not going to, because it is unnecessary. Romney has led a life of executive leadership, and a successful one at that. Do we need to discuss early life influences? Romney had his father, George Romney, a successful businessman and governor. Obama had Frank Marshall Davis, Bill Ayers, Derrick Bell, Jeremiah Wright, etc. It shows in how both men developed into who they are today.

-What would a Romney administration look like? Would we have radicals such as Eric Holder, Van Jones, Anita Dunn, Steven Chu, Eboo Patel and others? Barack Obama has clearly built up an administration of people all sharing his agenda of "transforming" America. Does Romney hold the same deep seeded hatred for this country as Obama does, and would he act as such if he were to be president?

-Would a Mitt Romney presidency treat our strongest allies with as much disrespect and contempt as this current administration has? On the flipside, would he pander to nations that hate us? Would President Romney bow to the Saudi king?

-Would President Romney apologize to the rest of the world for America's mistakes? Would he apologize to Afghans after they murdered our troops? Would he sympathize with the Islamic world that calls us "The Great Satan"? Would he be indifferent towards the conflict in Afghanistan?

-Would a President Mitt Romney appoint potential Supreme Court nominees like Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor?

-Would a Romney administration try to ween us off oil in order to usher in green energy like Obama and his energy secretary are doing? Would a Romney administration choke our very own oil supply that lies at our fingertips in the Gulf, in Utah, North Dakota, and Alaska?

-Would a President Romney advocate the redistribution of wealth and embrace Occupy rhetoric like Obama has? Would Romney be a business friendly president? A capitalism embracing president? Or would he pursue "taxing the rich" to give to the poor? The two economic views are so polarizing, it gives you a headache. What gives me an even worse headache, is the fact that so many people simply don't understand the differences.

-Would a Romney administration be as rabidly pro abortion as the Obama administration? Does Romney openly support partial birth abortion? Would Romney rescind the Mexico City Policy on day two of taking office as Obama did, allowing federal tax dollars to flow to overseas nations to fund abortions?

-Would a Romney budget be as catastrophic as an Obama budget?

-Doesn't Mitt Romney's vast experience and proven record in creating wealth, balancing budgets, hiring employees, and reversing deficits count for anything? How does Mitt Romney's economic background fare against Obama's?

"Romney and Obama are the same". My foot.

You know, the further I get along in this post, the more I realize just how pointless it is. There is no comparison, because Barack H. Obama is just that bad.

To be fair, I am disgusted I even have to do this. One year ago today I would have laughed if I ever thought I would be defending Mitt Romney of all people. Mitt Romney, if you'll recall, was always my last choice to be the nominee. I am by no means a Mitt Romney "fan". Never, ever.

But it has come to this and we can't change what has already been done. Mitt Romney is already the nominee and it is going to be either him or Obama. Granted, he is not the best conservative, but I can't think of any greater incentive or motivation to vote for Romney than imagining a 2nd term for Barack Obama.

If Barack Obama wins in 2012, you are going to see an Obama you haven't seen before. If you think he is bad now, wait until 2013. Just as he so candidly told Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, "After my election I'll have more flexibility." More flexibility to do anything and everything he couldn't accomplish due to political constraints in the first term. Lame duck Obama is going to go all out. In addition, a second term for Obama could likely alter the makeup of the Supreme Court indefinitely, if indeed Ginsberg, Scalia, and Kennedy do retire. The balance of power in the judicial branch from Obama appointees would cause far left ripples this country could never recover from. On the flip side, if Romney were in office during this time, this would present a golden opportunity to cement a center-right majority in the court for years to come.

Why am I going to vote for Romney? Because somewhere out there is a rabid liberal who is going to vote for Obama. Maybe a latte sipping, Che worshiping, Occupy hippie in Berkeley. Maybe a pro-abortion, progressive female who wants "free birth control". Maybe a Black Panther thug who hates me because of my skin color. It doesn't matter. Somewhere out there, I am going to cancel out someone's vote. And 20 years from now I can look back and say I did what I could to keep Barack Obama from taking this country down an irreversible path. You bet I am voting my conscience in November. My conscience says do what is right to beat Obama. No matter what. This isn't an allegiance to the Republican party. I am not even a registered Republican. This is an allegiance to America and a vote for the economic future of the United States.

"But how will your life change personally if Romney gets elected?" is the question I hear often. To which I will reply, how did anyone's life personally change from the Reagan years, to the Bush years, to the Clinton years, to the Bush Jr. years, to the Obama years? Presidents have little impact on the personal lives of the citizens. But the influence of presidents have an extremely large and long lasting impact on the country as a whole. Through judicial appointees, economic policy, defense policy, spending, etc. To people who are still voting for Ron Paul, here's what I think of you. I think you are so bitter and ticked off the country didn't embrace your guy like you thought they would, that deep down you want another 4 years of Obama, just to teach America a lesson. You are going to vote for "Dr. Paul", the savior, even though he has less of a chance at winning than the chances of life on Pluto. Have at it. I am going to vote my conscience too. And my conscience tells me that I will do anything I can to keep Obama from a second term.

21 comments:

One Guy 2012 said...

--Why am I going to vote for Romney? Because somewhere out there is a rabid liberal who is going to vote for Obama. Maybe a latte sipping, Che worshiping, Occupy hippie in Berkeley. Maybe a pro-abortion, progressive female who wants "free birth control". Maybe a Black Panther thug who hates me because of my skin color. It doesn't matter. Somewhere out there, I am going to cancel out someone's vote. And 20 years from now I can look back and say I did what I could to keep Barack Obama from taking this country down an irreversible path. You bet I am voting my conscience in November. My conscience says do what is right to beat Obama. No matter what. This isn't an allegiance to the Republican party. I am not even a registered Republican. This is an allegiance to America and a vote for the economic future of the United States.--
----------

Do what you gotta do, brother. However, have you considered that President Obama might beat Romney? If he does, (and I am betting he is going to due to insidious machinations far and beyond our control), what then? Will you say to yourself, "I did what was right in my own eyes", even though your vote for Romney amounted to nothing?

Consider that and then consider that I feel the same way about not voting at all.

You are voting for Romney so you can cancel out a liberal vote, and feel that you participated in our democratic process without fault. I get that. No one will ever be able to vilify you for not voting in 2012, since you are going to even though the one you are voting for is an attempt at merely slowing down the process of destroying America, unlike President Obama's blatant attempts at doing so. Romney is a slow death, while President Obama is a bullet to the brain.

If Romney wins, and I am proven wrong, I will sit down and write a lengthy public apology directly to you, and I will post it on my blog.

But I'm not wrong. Romney is going to lose. You are unwittingly supporting the GOP elites, (of whom you have said you are no a member of), and supporting their bid for power. At least with President Obama we already know his game plan and strategies. There are no secrets anymore. He has played his hand one too many times with extreme prejudice against Conservatism. Romney is a flip-flopper, and you know this. He is unstable and plays the game of politics with all the stereotypical trappings of a corrupt politician of satire.

Obviously, Hack, we have had this talk. We have both agreed to politely disagree. Of course I yet consider your blog worthwhile of my time. I simply think you are making a mistake in supporting Romney at all. I would rather see you marshal your strength and intellect in considering 2016 as the next battle year, and being able to fully support a real Conservative candidate and not the RINO bastard the GOP Elites are forcing upon you with all the subtlety of prison sex.

With respect,
One Guy 2012

Hack said...

2016? By that time, it is completely too late and you know this. If indeed Obama does win this year as you predict, this blog will be taken offline. I will no longer blog, I will no longer vote, and I will no longer take part in the political process. If this country elects Obama a second time around there is no more hope for America and it isn't worth defending. I vow to you, myself, and every other reader out there...I am finished with politics and anything related to it if Obama wins.

The Conservative Lady said...

If Obama wins in 2012, it's the end of America as we have ever known her. By 2016 Left will have sucked every bit of self-respect and self-reliance out of the American people, that they will have ensured the Democrats continued success far into the future. So many people will be on the dole that their existence will be in the hands of the Left...they will have no choice but to keep them in office.
Romney is not my choice either, but I would vote for an orange juice can (I stole that one from Mark Levin) before I would ever vote for Obama or sit it out in November.
And if Obama wins in November, I don't want to hear anyone who sat it out complain about him in his next term. They would have been complicit. It's 2012 or never.
(I wrote a post about this a few months ago. I might have to dig it out and repost it since it looks like we've got our nominee.) I'll be linking to your post on TCL FBs. Good job!

Hack said...

I agree TCL. For anyone who plans on staying home and pouting in November, I don't want to hear a SINGLE word from you after the election, no matter who wins. Thanks for the link!

Fuzzy Slippers said...

Well said, Hack. I agree with you 100% and am sick to death of nutters stating that Romney is "just the same as BO." That's dead wrong. BO is a radical communist who hates America, inflames race and class divisions, and . . . well, you've explained it all so well. Romney has many faults, and I personally can't stand him, but he'd be a million times better than BO. Ten million times better.

One Guy 2012 said...

My friends,

You honestly believe that if the Imposter in Chief wins 2012, that America will cease to be? You honestly believe that if the Empty Suit wins in 2012, that America is ended?

Oh my.

How preposterous. We are, still, THE greatest Nation on this planet, and it will take far more than President Obama and his masters to ruin us. You mean to tell me you would throw in the towel and remove yourself from the frontline simply because you believe the bogeyman in the White House is going to destroy our Nation?

Color me shocked! And not a little saddened.

I'm not sure of what to say right now. I am trying to wrap my head around this defeatist attitude of yours. If indeed the machinations and schemes of a select few America-haters can wipe us out as a free Nation, then I don't know where you live today, for I live in the America our grandfathers fought for, that our ancestors brought to greatness.

Wow. After reading your responses, I do believe I need a drink.

Hack said...

^ Most incredible string of BS hypocrisy I think I have ever heard in my life. If you aren't planning to vote, I really don't think you have much room to talk, especially concerning Obama. Since "he already won"....Please.

Gorges Smythe said...

I'm not as hep on Romney as you seem to be, and I DO believe that they have too many similarities. HOWEVER, Romney is NOT of a religion that wishes to murder all non-believers and he does NOT have the obvious loathing for America that Obama exhibits. He is therefore the lesser of two evils. I just wish the Republicans would get their heads out their backsides and give us a REAL conservative. They've let us down two elections in a row, and if Romney wins, it will be only because Obama has made so many enemies. I only hope that he's made ENOUGH enemies to insure his defeat. You'd be surprised how many idiots would vote for him again, either just because he's black, or just because he's a democrat.

RightKlik said...

As frustrated as I am with the GOP for nominating Romney, I have to do everything I can to stop Obama. Even if I have to vote for a Massachusetts liberal. But I can't give Romney any kind of praise. He hasn't earned it.

Hack said...

RK: Perfectly said.

Anonymous said...

I am a Ron Paul supporter because I oppose war without cause and I am pro-liberty.

Obviously I despise BOTH Obama and Romney because their stances are despicable.

BUT, come November I'll be hiring a van to take senior citizens who hate war to the polls to vote for Obama. And working like a dog to get as many votes as possible for him.

Obama is just as much against taking away freedoms as Romney. But, at least Obama is pretending he would rather NOT start WWIII by attacking Iran.

Allen said...

As fuzzy-slippers said in an exchange with me, "are we really going to change each other's minds." But I can't refuse.

I can sympathize with everyone's disgust with state of things. I have my own opinion like everyone else. I have some questions I think we should ask ourselves, and I would love to hear some answers on here:

1. How has your personal life changed between President Bush and Obama's presidency? If it has changed, how is it related to a change in leadership? Be objective and as un-biased as you can.

2. Do you have the same prediction of the future that you did in 2008 when Obama won? Is today as grim as you predicted? If so, how is it more grim than in 2007? Will you check your premises in 2016 when we are having the same discussion about a democratic win?

3. If the only candidates winning the presidential race have been nothing but establishment candidates for the past 30+ years, all democrats and republicans, is it logical or rational to think the democrats are to blame for our problems?

4. Why are Mitt Romney and Barack Obama's top contributors the same?

Here are my answers:

A1. No, my life hasn't really changed, not even since Clinton. All the changes in my life occurred because of my own decisions.

A2. Yes, I have the same prediction as I did in 2008, but not because of who is president, but because most people don't have a rational philosophy to guide them. Our government and it's policies are a reflection of us.

A3. Not rational at all.

A4. Because their policies have the same net affect on those that contribute.

I still don't understand your desire to antagonize Ron Paul and his supporters. He is trying to defeat Obama as much as Romney is, if not more considering his campaigning obstacles. My observation tells me that no establishment republican candidate has changed our course towards a free, sustainable, and empowered people, and what reason do I have to think that Mitt Romney is an exception. People have debated the lesser of two evils thing for eternity and here we are.

Most of what is outlined in this blog post regarding the contrast between Obama and Romney are subjective or anecdotal. Additionally, to me, these are the classic talking points we hear every 4 years on both sides that serve as distractions from the underlying fundamental problems. You can tell me I'm wrong, but chances are, we will be here in 4 years, having the same discussion, regardless who wins between Obama and Romney, continuing on the path to our own demise. Are we going to have to hit rock bottom before we change our philosophies? People voting for the establishment republican nominees have no right to claim they have the sound philosophy, when their guys have been at the helm as much as their oppnents.

Hack said...

You know Allen, I actually agree with much of what you said, especially the part about Presidents having little influence on our personal lives, as I wrote earlier. Where we differ is this: I think if Romney wins he will be forced to govern at least semi-conservatively. Anything else would be political suicide. I also am a realist and I know that there is never a perfect candidate and this is never a perfect world.

Pedaling said...

Excellent post.

If given the chance, Romney will earn your respect.

Fuzzy Slippers said...

@Allen, we're not going to change each other's minds, we know this. But I'll play (for now, my attention span on such things is pretty much nil, though, so don't take it personally if I don't respond again).

No one is antagonizing Ron Paul and his supporters; indeed, most people I know dismiss them out-of-hand (and quite reasonably so). Your statement that he's trying to defeat BO is hilarious given that Ron Paul supporters actually support BO over the GOP nom (whom we believe to be Romney).

Conservatives understand that Romney is not a conservative, but we also can see past our belly buttons. And the moment. We don't have near enough fiscal conservatives in Congress, so we need to add to those numbers over the next few election cycles. We know that Romney is malleable, that with a TEA Party Congress he'll be unable to enact whatever crazed big-spending, big-government crap his heart truly desires. He's a place-holder. Period. And one that won't lead this country to the absolute surety of fiscal destruction and global chaos that BO has managed. And that's so far.

Reducing what is happening now, to our country and to our Constitution, to a few blithering babbles about how "it's just the same" is laughable. Hack's pointed out, quite lucidly, why and how BO and Romney differ, so I won't belabor the points; however, imagining that an un- and antiAmerican communist (and oh, yes, BO is a communist) is "the same as" Romney is just plain nuts. No one (with a brain and the ability to think critically) takes such idiocy seriously. We know better.

You confuse "compassionate conservatism" (i.e European socialism) with communism. Take some time to read about each. They are not the same, not even close.

Allen said...

Hack, I hope you're right. But what concerns me is how do we explain the fact that Obama even has a chance in 2012? People continue to ignore facts and support Obama based on emotion.

Hack said...

Harnessing emotion is and always has been the Democrat rule. Stoking the fires of racial anger. Fabricating a war on women. Class warfare. Every single person I know who supports Obama supports him for one of these 3 reasons. They either hate the white man, think women are under attack, or hate rich people.

Fuzzy Slippers said...

@Hack, which just goes to show that people just don't get who and what Obama is.

Allen said...

@Fuzzy, I will address each of your talking points, as I believe this is the best way to have rational discussion over the web:

You said: No one is antagonizing Ron Paul and his supporters; indeed, most people I know dismiss them out-of-hand (and quite reasonably so). Your statement that he's trying to defeat BO is hilarious given that Ron Paul supporters actually support BO over the GOP nom (whom we believe to be Romney).

Do a quick search on this blog, Hack doesn't hold back. It's Hack's right, I'm not questioning that. It's not productive to make dismissive statements like "it's halarious", and your statement about Ron Paul's goal of beating Obama is not even logical. The fact is Ron Paul is seeking the Republican Party nomination to run against Obama, and be an advocate of the constitution that you claim to support.

You said: Conservatives understand that Romney is not a conservative, but we also can see past our belly buttons. And the moment. We don't have near enough fiscal conservatives in Congress, so we need to add to those numbers over the next few election cycles. We know that Romney is malleable, that with a TEA Party Congress he'll be unable to enact whatever crazed big-spending, big-government crap his heart truly desires. He's a place-holder. Period. And one that won't lead this country to the absolute surety of fiscal destruction and global chaos that BO has managed. And that's so far.

I HOPE that would be the case, however, what patterns indicate this would be the case. Quite the opposite, rather by our observations we could more likely predict otherwise. We've not seen one establishment Republican in the past 30 years that has been in office and at the time have a reduction in national debt. It's a fact. Additionally, Romney never speaks of monetary policy, the source of most our issues.

You said: Reducing what is happening now, to our country and to our Constitution, to a few blithering babbles about how "it's just the same" is laughable. Hack's pointed out, quite lucidly, why and how BO and Romney differ, so I won't belabor the points; however, imagining that an un- and antiAmerican communist (and oh, yes, BO is a communist) is "the same as" Romney is just plain nuts. No one (with a brain and the ability to think critically) takes such idiocy seriously. We know better.

Another dismissive statement without talking your view out objectively. Responses like that don't leave much room for an intelligent discussion.

I know everybody here is firm in their beliefs. If we can't question each other, and make each other think, what's the point? Why even blog or write when your own audience are your only readers? I don't comment because I want you to all the sudden agree with me, but rather I want to understand your rationale.

Fuzzy Slippers said...

@Allen, Do a quick internet search, or heck, just look at a comment on this blog; Paul supporters have been saying for months now that if he doesn't win, they're organizing to vote for Obama. Check out the Paulbots on Twitter, they have a whole hashtag dedicated to just that plan. You may not agree, and I doubt that Ron Paul even agrees, but that's what they're doing. It's plain fact.

I lived in MA while Romney was governor, and while I can't stand him and couldn't then, he did work with fiscal conservatives in both parties to do some things, he also went the poll-tested "other" way (remember MA is not only a "blue" state but a progressive one) when it helped his numbers. He's malleable. Look at his record in MA. In fact, look at his "flip-flopping" on everything from abortion to what his favorite color is. There is no way in hell he'd have pushed through 0Care with the massive disapproval it had (and still has). No. way. He's a politician first and foremost. BO is not. He's a rigid ideologue who is hell-bent on destroying this nation. Romney, as a politician, will do what politicians do, moderate to keep his approval numbers high (remember Clinton's "triangulation"? That's what politicians do). Romney's not talking about monetary policy because he's been debating people who have no control over it; he'll be talking about when he's the nominee (though don't expect him to be as lucid or as right as Paul is on that particular issue).

Why on earth would I repeat all the points that Hack made so clearly? The idea that Romney and BO are "the same" IS laughable. And it's idiotic. And it's just plain nuts. Read Hack's post.

Allen said...

@Fuzzy

Paul supporters have been saying for months now that if he doesn't win, they're organizing to vote for Obama. Check out the Paulbots on Twitter, they have a whole hashtag dedicated to just that plan. You may not agree, and I doubt that Ron Paul even agrees, but that's what they're doing. It's plain fact.

There may be a handful of his supporters that are doing that, but that does not mean his goal is not to beat Obama, that was my point. Taking it for face value is one thing, but I'm assuming their reasoning is it's a vote against the GOP since the GOP is unwilling to change it's ways. If nobody protests the GOP, we keep getting what we've gotten.

Well stated on your second point, the question then becomes, are our other bodys of government practicing sound philosophy?

The term "Romney is the same as Obama" is not the correct term to describe what's going on. What it is, is they do not contrast enough. Most of what I'm calling out is those differences aren't really fact based, more subjective and are intended to evoke emotions. Would Romney do "insert horrible thing here", when the answer is yes, his policy would have the same net affect. If you disagree, then again I ask, how has your life changed between presidents? If it has, how has it been because of policy?