2012 Update Romney Delivers Rousing, Sensible Foreign Policy Speech, Obama Campaign Response Ad Weak

2012 Presidential Candidate, former Massachusetts Governor, Mitt Romney, gave a solid foreign policy speech at the Virginia Military Institute on Monday – the video appears below via C-Span. The New York Times editorialized the event in it’s headline “Mitt Romney Speaks Harshly but Treads Fine Line on Foreign Policy”, with an opening paragraph outline Romney’s “attack” on Obama and go on to cite their own editorial. (Read entire article here.).

Romney on Foreign policy approach.



Not sitting idly by, the Obama Campaign released an ad in response to Romney’s speech, the ad rehashes Romney’s trip abroad this past summer, visiting England, Poland and Israel. In the eyes of the media, as well as some “Republican’s”, Romney had made foreign policy “gaffes” on his trip. The ad continuously cites the New York Times as evidence of these gaffes, and notes “even Republican’s” without naming one. (Of course, 30 seconds is not enough time to get in all points, or the alleged gaffe for that matter.) Romney was in Israel for the fourth time, in Poland he was endorsed by Lech Walesa and in the UK, Romney was asked and answered questions about the U.K.’s preparedness for the Olympic Games, something he’s familiar with. After giving his opinion, which was a review that noted problems with the preparedness, he was roundly criticized in the UK and US press. Other than that, one is hard pressed to find an actual gaffe, if that is a “gaffe”. Included in the mix was Romney’s jump on the President over the attacks on our embassy in Libya. The ad appears below.

Obama anti-Romney foreign policy speech



Romney’s speech, ideas and basic foreign policy outline given in the speech, has to have the Obama Campaign a bit nervous after the drubbing Romney gave Obama on Economic Policy during the first debate. To understand that what the average American has seen on Romney’s foreign policy is mere clips by a less than friendly media, once Romney takes the debate stage, there is no way to hide his depth of knowledge, nor to control the environment for the President. It remains to be seen, of course, how well Romney will deliver during the foreign policy debate, however, if it is a tenth of what he showed in the speech at the Virginia Military Institute, there will be no “do-over’s” for the Obama Campaign going forward.

Note on Romney and foreign policy, specifically Iran. As the 2009 Green revolution and attack on those demonstrators by the Theocratic government in Iran began, there was little to no US coverage of unfolding events. For days the brutality against peaceful demonstrators went unchallenged, all communications coming through Twitter and video’s posted to YouTube and other sites. It was heartbreaking to watch half a nation stand up and beg for help, while the U.S. with troops in Iraq and in Afghanistan, stood by silent. It was heartbreaking to watch as CNN International finally began reporting, after so many lives were lost and demonstrators imprisoned. It was heartwarming to know that that Canadian’s and Italian’s were taking in demonstrators, trying to help the best they could while the Iranian Government had to hire mercenaries to kill and contain the Iranian freedom seekers. It was embarrassing that the US did nothing until several weeks later, and it was nothing but a condemnation of the government in “harsh” tones. A perfect opportunity lay before us, to deliver peace to the region by merely showing signs of support, and yet, nothing. Of course, Russia has particular interest in Iran – go figure.

Romney, to his credit, understood the revolution, and the opportunity that this peaceful revolution had presented. There were, of course, mentions of other issues that had taken place or are taking place now, however, to this mind that comment was worth more, perhaps than the others. It is of course, easy to “Monday morning quarterback”, on any given event or subject, but it appears to have the ability to grasp the import is critical.

Romney Receives Endorsement of Poland’s Lech Walesa, New Hill Poll – Election 2012: Competence Trumps Likeability 93% to 7%?

Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - Not a Romney Fan! - image: Haaretz/AP


From Politico – The Headline: “Walesa proclaims solidarity with Mitt”, reviews 2012 Presidential Candidate, Mitt Romney’s Overseas Tour, and his last stop in Poland and visit with legendary Polish Leader Lech Walesa, who heartily endorsed Romney:

“I wish you to be successful because this success is needed to the United States, of course, but to Europe and the rest of the world, too,” Walesa said through a translator...

Then, with a bang of his fist on a wooden table, the Nobel Prize winner urged the Republican to claim victory: “Gov. Romney, get your success — be successful!”

The gist of the surrounding text: all moves were prepared for a photo opportunity – never taking into account that perhaps Walesa meant his comments and purposefully let the press (especially the U.S. Press) know it. The rest of the article reviews his successful visit to Israel by outlining his allegedly “racist” comments regarding Romney’s stance on Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel and his take on prosperity in Israel. The Palestinian’s were somewhat put out that Romney did not take the time to visit with their head of state, Mahmoud Abbas as well. The Palestinian’s pulled the race card?

The U.S. Press wasn’t the only outlet decrying Romney’s stance – Iran and China also weighed in : Haaretz: After Romney's visit, Ahmadinejad slams U.S. Republican for 'kissing Israel's foot' speaks to the Iranian Presidents obvious unease over Romney’s remarks about the Iranian Nuclear Program and his support for Israel – China also criticized Romney :

A commentary Tuesday by the official Xinhua News Agency said Romney's "hawkish remarks" ignored the sensitive nature of Jerusalem. It said the comments disregarded the Palestinians' claim to the war-won eastern sector of the city, which was annexed by Israel in 1967 in a move that is not internationally recognized.
…..
Romney, who was on an overseas trip that also included stops in Britain and Poland to bolster his image ahead of the election, has previously upset some in China by threatening tougher action on Beijing in trade disputes if he is elected president

If Romney has both Iran and China “upset” – some might believe that’s a successful trip – especially those who neither fans of the Iranian President, the ongoing Palestinian terrorist actions against Israel, and the Chinese government’s trade and currency practices. (One might include the U.S. Press along with the aforementioned.)

Stateside: the Hill released a new poll yesterday, that hasn’t gotten a great deal of traction: (PDF link to marginals here): In choosing and voting for a Presidential candidate: Policies and Competence rated 93%, Likability 3% and Not Sure: 4%, Honest & Trustworthy: Obama 44%, Romney: 46%, Not sure: 10% - which leaves a statistical tie between Romney and Obama with the margin of error. (See Crosstabs link above in PDF). Although it now less than 100 days from the November election that will decide who leads the nation forward in the next four years; early indicators suggest a close race in nearly every poll, with few exceptions. However, should push comes to shove, and competence trumps likability and one refers to a recent polls conducted by both Gallup and USA Today where Romney trumped Obama 2 to 1 on the economy(Analysis TownHall.com) – it’s not quite as close as the polls currently suggest.

One can anticipate one of two outcomes based on polling to date: that this election may be yet another “cliffhanger” polling suggests the electorate gives a slight edge to either candidate, President Barack Obama or former Massachusetts Governor, Mitt Romney – leaving little room for either candidate to pull away by a comfortable 5 point lead (with one exception and that being Rasumussen where Romney polled 49-44%(Business Insider).

The other outcome may be more “Reaganesque” – based on Gallup’s annual state by state Presidential job approval rankings – President Obama ranks at 50% (50.1%) in 10 out of 50 states – with moderate to significantly lower approval rankings in 40 states. The 10 states where the President is over 50% include Massachusetts and Hawaii, hardly significant when it comes to electoral votes – see analysis here.

All polling, of course, is subject to change given economic circumstances, and other factors – i.e. the infamous “October Surprise” which has yet to be a factor in recent memory- these particular polls referenced are early indicators only – should the trend towards voters choosing competence of likability continue, along with Romney’s improving likeability (see TownHall on polling), and Romney maintain a 5 point lead going into October, then the odds favor the challenger over the incumbent. As to Romney’s overseas trip – the success depends upon the perception of the candidate and the overall ties to the nations visited – not the perception of the press.

Jimmy Cater plans unsanctioned meeting with Hamas Leader

(When you thought a former president could sink no lower)

photo from NYT Paul Conners(AP)

Once again, former President Jimmy Carter is meddling in U.S. Foreign policy. Should there be an enemy of the United States or our ally, Israel, one can bet the house that Carter will travel to that country or dictator or terrorist group, speak magnanimously of the same, denounce the US and Israel and of course, pose for as many photographs as Reuters and the Associated Press can handle.

Historically, the man has been on the wrong side of foreign policy from the moment he backed the return of the Ayatollah Khomeini to Iran, and everyone knows how well that turned out.

Al Jezeera is, of course, thrilled with the visit. A video report on the impending visit is shown on the homepage, with links to Al Jazeera’s YouTube page (an interesting spot in itself)



Fox News is reporting that the State Department has confirmed Mr. Carter’s visit to Syria is unsanctioned.

(Fox Report here)

While World Net Daily is confirming the plans of that doddering old fool (opinion).
Hamas Confirms Plans to meet with Jimmy Carter

To sum it up, I find I am increasingly annoyed, but not surprised that this egotistical, progressive saint is able to continue to drum up press for his progressive ideals which include a hefty does of anti-American and Anti-Semitic policy.

The Arabic Al Jezeera website has a Carter replacement at the ready. Presidential hopeful Barack Obama (Carter's twin) is featured prominently on the Arabic Language website. (Including a full profile from birth to present). In an article today regarding General Patreaus’s report on the Iraqi Surge, Al Jezeera describes Barack (Jimmy Carter) Obama’s posturing before the general: The translation notes: (aalmtrsh) democratic for the elections presidential American faithful your “awbaamaa” the sitting called in first for the listening to “diplomatic momentum” in dealing with the crisis Iraq dialogist of Iran includes…..”

It is only fair to note that this translation service will miss a word here and there, and some of the context might be lost, that said, all press, is giving Mr. Obama a pass and from an historical perspective, the same pass was given to one former preacher, peanut farmer from Georgia who went on to become our 39th president with disastrous results.