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Title: The Reagan in Romney
Source:
Real Clear Politics
URL Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/ar ... e_reagan_in_romney_115070.html
Published: Aug 26, 2012
Author: Lawrence Kudlow
Post Date: 2012-08-26 17:03:34 by jwpegler
Keywords: None
Views: 4757
Comments: 15
While some of my conservative colleagues are criticizing the Romney campaign for one thing or another, I want to make a distinct point that is largely being overlooked: Mitt Romney is the most fiscally conservative Republican standard-bearer since Ronald Reagan. Looking back through his speeches, interviews and programmatic proposals, I see an emphasis on economic freedom, free enterprise, low tax rates, deep federal spending cuts, free trade, and a free-market approach to tough social problems, such as health care, education and poverty. Meaning no disrespect to George W. Bush, John McCain, Robert Dole and George H. W. Bush, not one of these former Republican leaders was the consistent and comprehensive free-market advocate that Romney is. A few recent examples help illustrate my point. Following his trip to Israel, Romney released an essay called "Culture Does Matter," which was printed on National Review Online. In it, he strongly defended his statement that culture plays a key role in creating prosperity. Romney wrote that "one feature of our culture that propels the American economy stands out above all others: freedom. The American economy is fueled by freedom. Free people and their free enterprises are what drive our economic vitality." He added that "economic freedom is the only force that has consistently succeeded in lifting people out of poverty ... the only principle that has ever created sustained prosperity." Who was the last Republican leader to talk specifically in those terms? Ronald Reagan. And when Romney walked into the NAACP lion's den in July, he told the crowd: "Free enterprise is still the greatest force for upward mobility, economic security, and the expansion of the middle class." He was booed at the beginning of that speech when he opposed Obamacare. But he received a standing ovation at the end, once people heard his overall philosophy. I recently asked the former governor about Obama's now infamous "you didn't build that" statement. Romney blasted it by saying, "This is an ideology which says, 'Hey, we're all the same here, we oughta take from all and give to one another,' and that achievement, individual initiative, risk-taking and success are not to be rewarded as they have in the past." He called it an upside-down philosophy that does not comport with the American experience. The language is clearly Reagan-like. Programmatically, Columbia Business School dean and top Romney economic adviser Glenn Hubbard recently laid out the specific Romney economic plan. (Undoubtedly, the Romney campaign crossed every "t" and dotted every "i.") The plan would lower the spending share of GDP to 20 percent from 24 percent by 2016, which is probably the largest proposed spending cut ever. The cumulative net savings of that cut could be a whopping $1.8 trillion, which not only would finance huge deficit reduction, but also would help pay for Romney's pro-growth tax reform: a supply-side, across-the-board 20 percent personal-tax-rate reduction, a limit or end to various tax deductions for upper-income payers, and a dramatically reduced corporate tax rate, from 35 percent to 25 percent -- perhaps the most powerful growth stimulant of all. Rounding out the economic program is a regulatory rollback, entitlement, trade, education and energy reform, and a sound monetary policy -- replacing Ben Bernanke at the Federal Reserve. The liberal Brookings Institute seized on the tax portion of this plan, arguing that revenue neutrality would force Romney to end deductions and raise taxes on the middle class. Nonsense. That analysis completely misses the massive spending reduction in the overall package, along with growth incentives for everyone and base-broadeners only for the upper brackets. And according to Hubbard, team Romney believes this pro-growth economic plan would generate 4 percent annual growth and create 12 million new jobs in a first term. So Romney has set specific policies and connected them to specific, positive economic results. He is arguing that a free-enterprise, supply-side program will rejuvenate jobs and economic growth. And he backs this up with an unmistakable philosophy of economic freedom. It's the backbone of his thinking, and it connects to policies that will restore American prosperity. Now I'm willing to concede that Romney's message has not been refined enough for the public at large. In particular, I would prefer that he harp on the word "growth" far more than he does. And he will probably have to winnow his key points even more, though he has brought them down from 59 to 5. So there's more work to do before the big convention speech. But to suggest that Mitt Romney is not an economic conservative makes no sense to me. Look at what he's saying. And look at what he's proposing. And then think of Reagan.
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#1. To: jwpegler (#0)
Holy shit. You've got to be THE most gullible poster I've ever encountered.
"If men through fear, fraud or mistake, should in terms renounce and give up any essential natural right, the eternal law of reason and the great end of society, would absolutely vacate such renunciation; the right to freedom being the gift of God Almighty, it is not in the power of Man to alienate this gift, and voluntarily become a slave." Samuel Adams, Rights of the Colonists, 1772
Larry, Larry, Larry...back on the coke, eh?
It is not easy reconstructing 'molded minds'...
Obama's watch stopped on 24 May 2008, but he's been too busy smoking crack to notice.
A good message to the people who give us Obama and Romney.
Asswipes like you gave us Obama Mike. You will vote for him again.
He's also supporting Obama's comrade in arms -- Elizabeth Warren, another know- nothing, leftist academic. Unbelievable.
Nope. I have a post office box and no one but me is getting my ballot in Oregon's mail only way of doing elections. Not to mention that my signature is hard to forge. I have already decided to vote third party for the Green Party candidate. You never believe anyone because you are ego-centric and only care about what you say and believe. In other words, you are an asshole; first class.
And I'd gladly vote for her ere I am Massachusetts resident. All I do is send her money. ;-)
Imnotabelieverso... omg, i am 17 --- when i was 13 i moved with my dad... He said once that horses were talking to him, he thinks the government do things to piss him off on purpose and he is a strong believer in UFO's and conspiracies, like your husband, he smokes weed and never stops going on about all this stuff its like he thinks he can change the world, he is obsessed, he doesnt want to work either, he just got a job and he is now saying he is never working again after this because he will be worse of... he is so selfish and thoughtless, he doesnt provide for me enough.... its so hard to deal with when he is the only family i have here with me. what can i do when he would get really aggressive if i told him i think he is mentally unstable? ps. i am not a sheep, everyone had different believes, and even if all this stuff is true, we would all be happier if we just did what we wanted to in life and played to the rules of the land, there is nothing wrong with doing it... And there is more to life than exposing the government, what about your own aims and ambitions, has the world gone insane? Reply • Comment on Whiteboard • Send message Ralphy My so-called boyfriend is exactly the same way. He has no friends, delivers pizza for a living and refuses to do anything of merit until the world ends, when he claims he will be a hero. He only talks about liberal idiots and commies and how Obama should be shot, and how he should go buy a gun. Point is: how can someone who is so obviously a failure in life profess to have all the answers to the world's problems? Is this mental illness? It's driving me crazy...he has comepletely changed into a paranoid hermit. Reply • Comment on Whiteboard • Send message http://www.wellsphere.com/schizophrenia-article/is-obsession-with-conspiracy- theories-a-sign-of-schizophrenia/897991
If you ... don't use exclamation points --- you should't be typeing ! Commas - semicolons - question marks are for girlie boys !
Boris ** Satanic Cult %% MitTard == k@@k !!!
Obama's watch stopped on 24 May 2008, but he's been too busy smoking crack to notice.
The false premise that Larry makes here is that Reagan was conservative. And as far as free markets are concerned, Romney wouldn't be able to cite an example any more than you could.
Almost every country in the Middle East is awash in oil, and we have to side with the one that has nothing but joos. Goddamn, that was good thinkin'. Esso posted on 2012-01-13 7:37:56 ET
So, my guess is that you are also a no-nothing school teacher -- all theory and no practice. Like Obama and Warren, you don't know how to run anything. You love them because you have the same extremely limited view of the world. Simpletons unite!
Actually, I worked up to a crew chief position in the 82nd Airborne Division, and when I went back in in the 1980s I went through the SFQC and became a Special Operations Communication Sergeant. As a civilian I got a degree in Poli-Sci at the University of Oregon, and promptly went to work in the woods doing Silva-culture work and worked up to being a 20 man single resource boss for Skookum Reforestation, and still own two pump trucks I pay others to man when I get them deployed on fires. I hate wearing suits, and I loathe office work. I am an outdoor person. I also have a private pilot's license, do rock climbing and go on log bicycle tours, and own several nice old machines. You know little about me, and your assumptions are way off base.
#2. To: jwpegler (#0)
#3. To: We The People, *The Two Parties ARE the Same* (#1)
"We (government) need to do a lot less, a lot sooner" ~Ron Paul
#4. To: hondo68 (#3)
#5. To: Ferret Mike (#4)
A good message to the people who give us Obama and Romney.
#6. To: A K A Stone (#5)
(Edited)
Asswipes like you gave us Obama Mike. You will vote for him again
"we must as a species go into a period of shrinkage that we have not experienced since the Dark Ages and the Black Plague" -- lucysmom
#7. To: A K A Stone (#5)
(Edited)
#8. To: jwpegler (#6)
He's also supporting Obama's comrade in arms -- Elizabeth Warren, another know- nothing, leftist academic. Unbelievable.
#9. To: Ferret Mike (#8)
#10. To: BorisY, *Yukon neo-Progressive Vermin* (#9)
A Vote for Romney is a Vote for Satan
"We (government) need to do a lot less, a lot sooner" ~Ron Paul
#11. To: jwpegler (#0)
While some of my conservative colleagues are criticizing the Romney campaign for one thing or another, I want to make a distinct point that is largely being overlooked: Mitt Romney is the most fiscally conservative Republican standard-bearer since Ronald Reagan.
#12. To: hondo68 (#10)
(Edited)
#13. To: hondo68 (#10)
"I am relying on my personal experience with Morons, which have been universally positive." -jwpegler
#14. To: Ferret Mike (#8)
(Edited)
And I'd gladly vote for her ere I am Massachusetts resident. All I do is send her money. ;-)
"we must as a species go into a period of shrinkage that we have not experienced since the Dark Ages and the Black Plague" -- lucysmom
#15. To: jwpegler (#14)
So, my guess is that you are also a no-nothing school teacher -- all theory and no practice.
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