Mitt Romney for president

Mitt Romney, although not my first choice for the Republican presidential nomination, is still in a class above the rest of the remaining candidates. Although he tends to be a bit of a political weathervane, Romney is still a sensible, experienced grown-up running against three others who are anything but. Romney’s record as the governor of Massachusetts, executive at Bain Capital, and one of the powers behind the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics place him well above his competition in experience, accomplishments, and fitness for the office. Mitt Romney actually gets things done, as opposed to his opponents who spend their time loafing in an ideological fantasyland where the Fed goes away and homosexuals are outlawed.

Now that the nominating process is underway, I take comfort in the fact that it will soon be over, and Romney hopefully will spend a bit less time running from his accomplishments to appease the anti-intellectuals who place political talking points above all else and more time telling the American people why his plan for the country is a step above the current administration’s. Personally, I hope Romney will have the strength of character to stand up and make the case to the American people that although his vision is better for America, that doesn’t mean the other side doesn’t have any good ideas.

Unlike our current president, Romney brings much to the table from the private sector. Romney’s considerable fortune has been made starting new businesses, rescuing failing businesses and enriching existing businesses during his time at Bain Capital.

His keen eye for detail and unwavering ethics helped to turn the corrupt and failing 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics from a certain disaster into a success the American West can be proud of. Some in the Truckee Meadows hope to bring the Olympic Games back to our beloved Lake Tahoe, and we can point to Salt Lake City as an example of how that can happen.

Romney’s cool head and masterful knowledge of how to finesse his subordinates helped him lead Massachusetts out of a financial hole and, although many pan his healthcare reform, it was still way more conservative than it could have been. Massachusetts was going to get a government controlled healthcare plan no matter what, and although far from perfect, the Massachusetts plan demonstrates Romney’s penchant for putting problem solving above rigid ideological purity, and this is something we desperately need in our government.

I am a bit disappointed I didn’t get the chance to endorse my first choice in this race, Jon Huntsman, but it comes with a sense of relief that Mitt Romney possesses many of the same qualities. I believe that although Romney is not there yet, his skill set will evolve quickly into what we need in a world leader. Our current president looks down his nose in disdain with little to offer. The mark of a true leader is someone who can inspire, lead and soothe a worried people, not someone who lounges on a fainting couch breathlessly weeping, “Don’t blame me, I inherited this mess.” Americans yearn for someone who can venture into the snake’s den and take a stand for what’s right for America, not just what will earn a pass from the political chattering class.

Republicans desperately need a leader who can reintroduce them to reality and prove to the public that while ideological litmus tests may make the base happy, they don’t make for good government. This is why the base hates Romney, and this is why I like him.

In the Republican primary for president, I am endorsing Mitt Romney. Romney’s business savvy, executive experience and cool maturity set him above his rivals. Romney is proving himself a man among the boys, and for this reason he receives my caucus vote, and he deserves to receive yours as well.