From the beginning I openly have harbored doubts that Mitt Romney could not beat President Obama. At the same time I said I'd work as hard as I could to defeat him because if we didn't this country as we know it would be gone. Consider:<br />
First off, the welfare state would become entrenched, costing those who pay taxes not billions but trillions. Apply my Oglesbyism, "stopping welfare is like pulling hungry hogs from the feeding trough." Second, the next president conceivably could appoint as many as four new justices to the Supreme Court. Who'd you prefer making those appointments? An Obama victory could give liberals control of the court for generations. Is that the gift we want to give our country? Not this fellow. The Supreme Court could be the most important (but least talked about) issue of all. <br />
Third, our stature as the free world leader would be even more tarnished than he already has done. He has alienated all of our major allies, especially Israel, England, France and Germany. Our allies just don't know how far they can trust us.<br />
A community organizer, Obama has no practical free enterprise business experience, doesn't understand free market principles, etc. All summed up, his philosophy is government can do all best without discriminating fiscally or otherwise. That leads directly to our lives as we know it. Let's not let it be destroyed.<br />
Going into the convention, I thought Romney had to do several things. One of the most important was improve his "likeability" image. He seemed somewhat aloof to many, not really understanding the important middle class, the regular guys. Obama is said to be great to sit down with over a beer and just converse. People couldn't see Romney doing that. He needed to have his "regular guy" image improved. On that measure, I think the convention as a whole did just that.<br />
In his acceptance speech, Romney didn't talk much policy, leaving that to his running mate and others. I think the convention introduced the real Mitt Romney, starting with his wife Ann. She hit a bases loaded home run, describing what life was like with Mitt and how he doesn't flaunt their considerable wealth, but uses it to help others.<br />
It's no secret he rescued the Salt Lake City Olympics, leaving Bain Capital for his underlings to run and quickly reformed it and made it a huge success. About 20 members of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team came on stage telling the many ways how Romney unexpectedly and voluntarily helped them individually and as a team helping them win more medals than any other nation.<br />
Not only did Romney rescue the Olympics, he accepted no salary, working for free. He also accepted no salary serving four years as Massachusetts governor. They are tithers plus to their church and give generously to charities. He puts his money where his mouth is.<br />
Former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice explained how Obama alienated our important allies. Running mate Paul Ryan assured the elderly and those they could keep their Medicare as it is. Any who wanted could convert to another plan involving vouchers to use in the free market. The other plan would be required for only the young who are far away from Medicare. It's not "sentencing grandma to death" as Obama claims. He made no unrealizable claims such as eliminating the deficit during two terms. It would go a long way in that direction but realistically would take a minimum of 10 years. Had you rather hear it as it really is or as you wish it was?<br />
A surprising number of handicapped people spoke briefly about how unasked, Romney approached them giving them the help they needed to go on in life.<br />
No review of the convention could be complete without the short appearance of movie star Clint Eastwood's "interview with Obama." He literally brought the house down. He came to the podium with an empty chair next to it with an imaginary President Obama supposedly in it. He thanked the president for appearing at his opponent's convention and answer Romney's questions himself. Some of the condensed lines that produced uncontrollable laughter:<br />
"Mr. President. You said you'd eliminate the deficit in your two terms. It looks like the first term has been to increase it tremendously. How do you plan to overcome all that in four more years? (Pause) What do you mean "shut up."<br />
"I saw Jimmy Carter the other day, and he said he was supporting you strongly. He genuinely wants you to win so he no longer will be known as the country's worst president, a title he inherited from Herbert Hoover. (Pause) Mr. President, it is sexually and physically impossible to do that to one's self." The house came down in prolonged laughter.<br />
He spoke only about 7 minutes total in his unusual but unequivocal endorsement of Romney.<br />
My friend Bob Billbrough thinks Romney will win by at least 10 points with a strong "silent majority" showing up at the polls. I disagree, but after the humanizing convention I believe he now has a chance to win by 2-3 points. Besides the convention, here's why:<br />
Nine of the 12 battleground states have Republican governors. While Obama generally socializes almost exclusively with a close circle of friends and seldom campaigns with members of Congress, Romney consistently campaigns with members of Congress and governors, helping them (and him too). Those Congressional members and governors are going to be going out of their way to help Romney (and themselves, too) in their states.<br />
With adequate voter turnout, I really think Romney now has a real chance of a narrow victory and our country will be better off for it . <br />
