Herberger joins Romney team

In yet another sign of Jeb Bush's leanings for the '08 presidential contenders, his longtime fundraising chief, Ann Herberger, has signed on to help Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Herberger will be national finance adviser to Romney's Commonwealth PAC, working alongside another fundraising ace, Ann Dunsmore of California. Jeb's top political adviser, Sally Bradshaw, has also jumped on the Romney train.

"He's the real deal, and I have a penchant for governors because they are chief executives. They run states they know how to manage. He and Gov. Bush share a lot of the same chief executive skills,'' Herberger said. "He's a new kind of a leader and moving into the 08 cycle he could take this country where it needs to go....The governor (Bush) was really supportive of it, and I'm really excited about it."

Comments

“…I have a penchant for governors because they are chief executives…” and they have really cute boy-pages.

http://www.floridabaptistwitness.com/6594.article

More Florida Baptist crap from Harris

HARRIS GOING TO HEAVEN
Some day all of us have to give an account before God for what we have done. Are you certain in your own heart that when you come to that point of accounting that you'll spend eternity with God in Heaven? Yes.

HARRIS DISSES BLACKS AND OTHER MINORITY GROUPS
Do you support civil rights protections on the basis of sexual preference? No. Civil rights protections should be based upon individual rights not group rights.

"Real Deal"?? Gosh, that sounds familiar...oh yeah that was KERRY's SLOGAN, TOO. Is that now the official tagline for Losers from Massachusetts?

Romney is telegenic, can he charisma his way into "cult-like" following as Jeb has?

Romney will never win because he is a Mormon. He will not fare well in the South.

He's Mormon. He's toast.

Now I know which GOP candidate I won't be supporting! Thnaks for the heads up Buzz!

Both 10:43s, what specifically about being a Mormon disqualifies him to be President of the United States.

It's the 4th largest church in the country.

i heard that the country wasn't ready for a Catholic in the 60s....

Good for Ann! Those of us who have had the pleasure to work for her are honored and proud that she will be working for such a steller candidate as Mitt Romney.

Congrats!

Everyone knows it is either McCain or Gingrich.

Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!

romney and jeb need to get out of government and into the private sector.
that bush family has so screwed up this country. romney is a carpetbagger
who seems to move from state to state.

11:05 -- you obviously don't know what you're talking about. Romney has spent most of his adult life in Massachusetts. He moved to Utah briefly to run the Olympics.

Well, hell… if he ran the Olympics, he should be qualified to run FEMA!

“You’re doing a heck of a job Rommy”

[terminator]

Does this mean Jebbie will be Romney's VP?

[terminator]

11:15
Wasn't that the scandal plagued Salt Lake Olympics with the bid rigging and kickbacks?

Looks like good old Mitt will fit right in with the rest of the corrupt GOP politicians who have gotten busted lately.

[SpellingGestapo]

If he's elected, will we still get to drink tea?

Termie,
Romney came in to CLEAN it up after all of that stuff happened. Certainly you're not that dumb, are you?

Romney came in and turned it around and the Olympics actually made a profit.

Everything Romney has touched has turned to gold. He took Staples and the Sports Authority national, Massachusetts went from a huge budget deficit to reserves under his leadership.

As a teacher, perhaps you should read before you make uneducated comments.

romney is a republican, therefore a crook.

Just to set the record straight about his roots in Mass. and his connection to the Olympics, here is a portion of his bio from Wikipedia:

After graduation from Harvard Business School, Romney went to work for The Boston Consulting Group, where he had been a summer intern in 1974. At BCG Romney worked with recent MIT graduate and future Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

From 1978 to 1984, Romney was a Vice President of Bain & Company, Inc., a Boston-based management consulting firm. Later, as the company's CEO, he led it through a highly successful turnaround [8]. Today, Bain & Company has 32 offices in 20 countries and over 2,400 employees.

In 1984, Romney co-founded Bain Capital, one of the nation's most successful venture capital investment companies. Among the first companies it invested in was Staples, an office-supply store. In 1986 Staples, Inc., had one store. Today it has nearly 1,700. Bain Capital founded, acquired or invested in hundreds of companies including Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Brookstone, Domino's, Sealy and The Sports Authority.

CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee

Romney first obtained national attention when he served as President and CEO of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games held in Salt Lake City. In 1999 the event was running $379 million short of its revenue benchmarks. Plans were being made to scale back the games in order to compensate for the fiscal crisis. "There are contingency plans in place already in case we could not meet our revenue goals that we would scale back the budget accordingly and keep these Games on budget," said United States Olympic Committee Executive Director Dick Schultz at the time. The Games were also rocked by scandal as damaging allegations of bribery were made against top officials, including then Salt Lake Olympic Committee (SLOC) President and CEO Frank Joklik. Joklick and SLOC vice president Dave Johnson were forced to resign.

The 2002 Winter Games were on the verge of becoming a national disaster and a global embarrassment. The event needed new leadership, and the SLOC launched a search for a new Olympic chief. "The candidate I'm looking for," SLOC chairman Bob Garff said at the time, "is the white knight who is universally loved."

On February 11, 1999 the committee named Romney the new president and CEO of the Salt Lake City Games. He was charged with restoring faith in the beleaguered event, and rescuing the Olympics from failure. Romney revamped the organization's leadership and policies, reduced budgets and boosted fundraising. He also worked to ensure the safety of the Games following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 by coordinating a $300 million security budget. Under his leadership, the 2002 Olympic Winter Games turned into a remarkable success. Despite the initial fiscal shortfall, the Games ended up clearing a profit of $100 million.

"Romney and his group here, the Salt Lake Organizing Committee, did one of the great organizing jobs of all time," said NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol. Following the conclusion of the Games, then-US Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta congratulated the Salt Lake Organizing Committee, "who under Mitt Romney's leadership, hosted perhaps the best Winter Olympic Games ever." President George Bush also praised Romney's management of the Games. "Mitt, you did a fabulous job," said the President at a White House ceremony recognizing the Salt Lake City Olympics.

Romney contributed $1 million to the Olympics, and donated all three years of the salary he earned as President and CEO ($275,000 per year) to charity. He wrote a book about his experience called Turnaround: Crisis, Leadership, and the Olympic Games.

[terminator]

11:22
My bad!

Does this mean Jebby will be running with him?

[TB Blue Dog]

11:29, did you just source wikipedia?

Termy, I know who you are now - short and bald, but not fat - got it.

[SpellingGestapo]

Wow, I think they did.

Unfortunately, the earlier posters were right. Romney is qualified, but he will never get out of the primary, b/c the christians will not vote for him, b/c he is mormon.

11:42 -- again, I'll ask -- what as a Mormon disqualifies him from being President?

[Frank]

As a centrist democrat, I like Romney he seems like a pretty moderate guy. Probably could take the country in the right direction. However, there a three reasons why he will never make it out of the primary.

1) Only been Gov. for 4 years. His primary opponents are going to jump all over his lack of political experience.

2) Doesn't have any international experience. In a time where the US is involved in many events internationally, his primary opponents will be all over him for not having any experience.

3) In order to win in Mass. he has had to state on record some really liberal comments about abortion and such. Since he has decided to run for President he has rescinded on these comments, but believe me his primary opponents will bring them back up.

11:45, there can only "one" First Lady.

romney is an egotistical opportunist who never misses a chance to exhibit public piety. i am so sick of these sham christians and their excessive wealth. why are these political christians so selfish and so materialistic?

[terminator]

I don't think 6'2 qualifies as short does it?

I do have somewhat of a receding hairline and a little bald spot in the back though!

ok, narrowing it down ... although to paraphrase the drill sergeant in full metal jacket, I didn't know they stacked education lobbyists that high.

[terminator]

I really loved that movie.

Isn't that guy starring in the new Texas Chain Saw Massacre movie?

think so ...

Get ready, lunchtime is almost over! The cubicle-jockey bloggers will soon return from Taco Bell to attack all of you on behalf of their respective candidates!

God I love American Democracy… I’m enlisting so I can go to the middle east and force it on them right now.

11:52 -- that's a cheap shot and you know better. You can't be a member of the LDS church and practice polygamy. People who do under the name of religion do so in a breakaway sect not the mainstream Mormon church. It's been banned since 1890.

FYI: Mormons (and Jehovah's Witnesses) are both cults that teach heresy. They deny the deity of Christ. Both place Jesus in an exalted position, but teach that He is the first creature made by God who then is given superior power and authority over the rest of creation. (per R.C. Sproul)

1:30 -- you're so wrong. I'm a member of the Mormon church. Christ is the literal son of God. He is part of the God-head (God, Jesus, Holy Ghost).

Not to get to deep on this political blog, but there are SO MANY misconceptions about the LDS church.

This is directly from a church website and I hope this clears up the errors per R.C. Sproul.

"Latter-day Saints believe in Christ as the Savior, the Redeemer, the Son of God, the Creator of the earth, and the only source of salvation. It is His love and grace that give meaning to life and hope to humanity. We believe in the Bible, which plainly teaches that Christ is our Savior and that all men must repent and come unto Christ to be saved."

GO MIKE HUCKABEE!
http://mikehuckabeepresident2008.blogspot.com

1:30 That doesn't matter

Gov. Romney is not running to be Theologian in Chief.

He is much better than most professed Christian/Catholic politicians (especially the frontrunners; omgosh scary!)

He has a backbone, knows how to lead; & has an excellent track record in Massachusetts on fiscal and social issues. Plus he is a statesmen & handsome as all get out! (that tidbit for the soccer moms)

See what Katherine Jean Lopez from National Review On line says about him today.

Finally, a candidate to get excited about!

Mitt will be the nuclear submarine that leaves Republican liberals in his wake.

2008 nominee enter: Mitt Romney

Gatorwaterskiers for MItt 08

Article below

National Review on Line 10/26

October 26, 2006 5:42 AM

What Year Is It Again?
Thinking 2008 in 2006.

By Kathryn Jean Lopez

Did I miss a year or two? Did I black out? My calendar says it is 2006 but the political talk suggests it is 2008.

Recently National Review Online had a swank celebration on Capitol Hill to mark our 10th anniversary. One of the stars of the night was Mitt Romney, Republican governor of Massachusetts, of whom I’ve long been fond and whom I have been semi-shamelessly boosting for the White House. More impartial reporters suggest that my 500-strong-conservative-packed party was a hit for Romney. As D.C.’s must-read daily newsletter “The Hotline” wrote the morning after: “The buzz” about the governor at the party “was almost audible: McCain alternative.” In other words: Good move, Gov, taking the night off from campaigning for 2006 candidates to drop by.

John McCain is a media favorite frequently described as a “maverick,” but he’s not a favorite of many conservatives (perhaps a mutual feeling, depending on what you’re reading). That McCain has never once been on Rush Limbaugh’s popular radio program — and has even been accused of attacking the conservative icon at an off-the-record event earlier this year — couldn’t possibly help him with conservative primary voters. When the Arizona Republican tried impressing another right wing talk-show host, Laura Ingraham (it was a first appearance on her show for McCain, in contrast to Romney’s many), the host very obviously not impressed, in good humor fixated on McCain’s going on about the Eagles when her introductory music for him was actually from the Steve Miller Band.

Even as Romney and McCain were courting conservatives recently, Democrat Mark Warner of Virginia announced that he would not run for the Democratic nomination for president. Warner was talked about as a possible challenger from the right to Hillary Clinton.

At the same time, back on the right side of the political spectrum, my blog colleague John Podhoretz and I relentlessly make the case for our favorite presidential candidates. In his recent book, Can She Be Stopped … ? — she being Hillary Clinton — Podhoretz insists Rudy Giuliani is the only one who can beat Hillary. I’m not so sure. Fact is, unlike political dorks, most normal Americans don’t even know the alternatives to the celebs whose names are so often floated for the White House. There’s time, in other words, for them to get to know Mitt.

For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t even put money on Rudy running. I’m a Manhattan gal and I’ll admit there was an undeniable change when he was mayor: On some important urban issues his record is clear and a success story. Rudy, though, before he was “America’s mayor,” showing real leadership in the wake of 9/11, was not an obvious candidate for a national Republican ticket. As a Washington Post reporter has put it, “Those who think that the 9/11 hero would be a formidable candidate are forgetting about the 9/10 Rudy. Meaning, this is a guy who is pro-choice on abortion, pro-gay rights and moved in with a gay couple after a messy breakup with his wife that came as he was dating another woman.”

In time, all will become clear. Rudy won’t play in Peoria — and he knows it. McCain, who is already sniping at Romney, will vie with the governor for the nomination. And a wild card like Newt Gingrich may try to spoil the otherwise two-man contest.

There are just over a dozen months now until the Iowa Caucus. But as the example of George Allen demonstrates, a lot can happen in far less time than that. The Republican senator from Virginia was long presumed among the 2008 favorites. Essentially, he and Romney would be dueling to challenge McCain for frontrunner status going into the Republican primaries. But when what was supposed to be a relatively easy reelection contest for him this year went awry thanks to a mix of Allen bungling and old stories about racism as a college kid, his presidential prospects were murdered both by his own hand and by a relentlessly hostile media. Few would have predicted that just last spring.

Still, as the social lives and chosen company of hopefuls makes clear, if your work is getting one of these guys elected, the election might as well be tomorrow.

— Kathryn Jean Lopez is the editor of National Review Online.

NRO on Mitt continues

There’s time, in other words, for them to get to know Mitt.

For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t even put money on Rudy running. I’m a Manhattan gal and I’ll admit there was an undeniable change when he was mayor: On some important urban issues his record is clear and a success story. Rudy, though, before he was “America’s mayor,” showing real leadership in the wake of 9/11, was not an obvious candidate for a national Republican ticket. As a Washington Post reporter has put it, “Those who think that the 9/11 hero would be a formidable candidate are forgetting about the 9/10 Rudy. Meaning, this is a guy who is pro-choice on abortion, pro-gay rights and moved in with a gay couple after a messy breakup with his wife that came as he was dating another woman.”

In time, all will become clear. Rudy won’t play in Peoria — and he knows it. McCain, who is already sniping at Romney, will vie with the governor for the nomination. And a wild card like Newt Gingrich may try to spoil the otherwise two-man contest.

There are just over a dozen months now until the Iowa Caucus. But as the example of George Allen demonstrates, a lot can happen in far less time than that. The Republican senator from Virginia was long presumed among the 2008 favorites. Essentially, he and Romney would be dueling to challenge McCain for frontrunner status going into the Republican primaries. But when what was supposed to be a relatively easy reelection contest for him this year went awry thanks to a mix of Allen bungling and old stories about racism as a college kid, his presidential prospects were murdered both by his own hand and by a relentlessly hostile media. Few would have predicted that just last spring.

Still, as the social lives and chosen company of hopefuls makes clear, if your work is getting one of these guys elected, the election might as well be tomorrow.

— Kathryn Jean Lopez is the editor of National Review Online.

[jaguar]

If you read anything about the early handicapping of the "08 presidential contenders, you would know that Gov. Romney is greatly respected by Evangelical Christians precisely for his deep Mormon faith. This in sharp contrast to Senator Kerry's I'm-Catholic-but-not-really-a-Catholic type of faith. Kery's profession of faith is an obvious sham, while Romney's is genuine.
Even so, I strongly prefer Rudy Giuliani. The social conservatives will forgive his liberal positions on gay marriage and abortion because they will support him for his positions on fighting terror. That issue trumps the others. That, and McCain lacks Presidential character.

Go McCain!!!! There is no "Jeb-Romney" alliance.... It is a Jeb-McCain alliance--trust me. McCain would be a great president, Romney can't beat HRC, Obama or Edwards

5:12 I believe you are wrong about that, and even though Obama has a lot of charm he cannot be HRC.

Mitt has the complete package.

HRC is just the 'bogeyman' that Repubs like to throw out there. She could NEVER win and I am a woman and a life-long (until recently) registered Dem. What a joke.

Adam Smith pimping for Herverger again.

Is he on the payroll?

[murphy]

For the folks who think Romney won't be popular with southerners, please explain the recent quotes from Chuck Colson, Ted Haggard, Jerry Falwell and other prominent evangelical leaders who say they would have no problem voting for a mormon.

www.evangelicalsformitt.com

10:51

its a cult. you may not like to hear it but most protestant churchs teach that it is a cult. you may disagree but you will never convince millions of protestant southerners that it is not a cult. like it or dislike it, that is reality.

murphy:

if you think or believe that jerry falwell and the slime like him are who conservative protestants listen to then you are mistaken.

spend the next few months talking to local preachers and ask them their take on mormans. with the exception of the most liberal of the protestant churches, 9 out of 10 will tell you that it is a cult and that is what they teach in their church.

travel the backroads of the south visiting churchs and you will be in for quite a surprise!

I have to agree with 9:04 and 9:15. You may not want to hear it but what they are saying is true.

[Jeff Fuller]

OK . . . so Protestant Preachers think MOrmonism is a cult. Big deal. Most Americans now-a-days know at least one Mormon and realize that they are normal folks.

Romney, as a candidate, is stellar and will cast off any doubts.

Until someone shows me how Romney's Mormonism (granting the "cult" status) has negatively impacted his effectiveness as a CEO, Olympics Chairman, Governor, Husband, Father, etc I don't want to hear any of this "But he's a Mormon" crap.

PS . . . Masonry is also classified as a "cult" by similar definitions . . . yet nearly half of our presidents were Masons. Didn't seem to hamper them.

I once read in Newsweek that Chrisitanity was a cult. So I guess anyone can throw out any label they want to. The Mormons I know are kind, decent people, who accept Christ as their personal savior no matter what the local southern preachers may say. Those southerners who will take the time to cast off the veil of bigotry, will find that they share more in common with the "Mormans" (sic) than any other group of people on the planet.

That issue aside, it is the voters of Iowa and New Hampshire who will give Mitt the early traction he needs to win the Republican nomination. Then, who will the southerners support? The leftist H. R. Clinton, or the social and fiscal conservative with a stellar business and government resume who shares *ALL* of their values, AKA Mitt Romney? I ask again, who will they support?

Furthermore, what really counts in the primaries, are the political activists among the Christian right. Romney is at the top of their list. They will support him and are supporting him already.

And finally, those who get to know Mitt Romney will find that he is not only a family man, but is genuine, intelligent, articulate, smart, and competent. Doesn't sound like any politician I have ever met...but it does sounds like the sort of person I would like to see running the country.

Along with Mormonism, why doesn't anyone mention that Mitt's devotion to the LDS church makes him subject to following the teachings of a "living prophet"?