The Case for Mitt Romney – Part 1

     I am a libertarian at the core, and although I love what I’m seeing from Gary Johnson, I’m not sure the message I tried to send with my vote back in 2008 with Bob Barr was well received. At the countries current pace I see little light at the end of a tunnel due to the pile of cans that had been kicked all the way down to the end of the line. We don’t know what our taxes will be this time next year, we don’t have any plan to address our Education woes, and we are still spending far too much money into our overseas military operations. After reading up on Romney including his economic plan. I am believing that Mitt is the right guy for the country at this time. I want to create a narrative to try and persuade any undecided voters out there, I'll attempt to refrain from veering to an anti-Obama rant, but I promise nothing, enjoy!

The Case for Mitt Romney – Part 1: The Fixer

     

     Bain Capital, which was founded by Mitt Romney in 1984, makes investments in companies with the hopes of growing those companies to profitability. Once an investment has been made, Bain analyzes the company, restructuring management if necessary, cuts excessive spending and puts the company on a path for growth.  Although a handful of Bain Capital's investments have not succeeded, the bulk of the companies have grown to become some of America's most recognized business names, such as Staples, Dominoes, Sports Authority, Toys ‘R’ Us, and Warner Music, Pizza Hut, along with countless others. Mitt Romney's foresight and expertise was at the center of those successes. He knows what inhibits and what promotes these industries and can use that knowledge to apply practical protections while alleviating the cumbersome burden these companies are faced with.

     When he left Bain in ’99 (before companies like AmPad went bankrupt) he went to Utah to assist with organizing an event, The 2002 Winter Olympics. The Salt Lake City Games were rocked by a scandal. The top two officials in the Salt Lake Organizing Committee had to resign. The games were facing a $379 million deficit because sponsors were pulling out. Because they were short on money and many venues hadn't been built yet, politicians, business leaders and International Olympic Committee officials were suggesting the games be cancelled or moved to another location. And don't forget they had to adapt when the 9/11 attacks threatened the games all together. The games went off without any major hitchs, and In September of 2002, ESPN reported a $100 million dollar profit for the games. He even received Geppetto markings from the Washington Post when people attempted to downplay his contribution.

     Returning to Massachusetts a national hero, he entered public service with a gubernatorial victory and an R on his name in a state that has a 3 to 1 ration of registered Democrats to Republicans that he had been denied a senate seat in previously, but I digress.  Entering the State Capitol in '02, the State faced a deficit of somewhere in the 1 to 3 Billion dollar range (some dispute in real amount due to money flowing through the Federal Government, here's a fun little packet from UMass explaining the situation) But by the time he left, once again, he went from being in the red to the black, and in '06, the State touted a surplus of over half a billion (page 32). The books looked well enough that he tried unsuccessfully to pass a tax cut at the end of his term. What's that? You saw a commercial that told you differently? Was it this one? Also, When Mitt took over as Governor of Massachusetts, unemployment was 5.6%, when he left 4 years later, it was 4.7%. If that makes him 47th out of 50 then I say fine, since I don't really know what you can do to force unemployment much lower then 4.7% short of a CCC type program where 2.35% dig a ditch and the other 2.35% fill it back up.

     So I'm feeling a little bit better about November, Crossing my fingers that no major social agendas come up if the Republicans assume/resume majorities in the House and Senate. But, I think it will take years to get our fiscal house straightened out, and I think Mitt is the guy to do it.

Coming Soon, Part 2: The Romney Plan, has it Worked Before?