SECTIONS TO POSSIBLY READ
The most qualified candidate
How he fits for the left and the right and the independents
His background and successes
The religion factor - With information it is not really a factor
The potentially most powerful management team ever.
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Not just someone who says "I think I can win, I hope I am ready," but "I know I'm ready, I hope I can win." (Chris Christie, paraphrased, in his endorsement.)
RATIONALLY, THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATE, BY FAR
As I, for the first time, look more deeply at his actual accomplishments and the methods he employs, I am astounded at his performance. I know of none better.
As a candidate for President he is the best choice for all, including those who are extreme left, as he will produce benefits that will help all the people.
(Disclosure: I voted for Obama last time.)
Among all the candidates for President for 2012, there is no competitor (with the exception of Huntsman) who even comes close as to the qualifications and ability to manage the United States government for the betterment of all, regardless of one's party affiliation.
He could be the single most effective president ever in creating a hugely more effective and efficient government that would truly serve the needs of the poor, the disabled and help the economy to produce ethically greater prosperity for America. (See his record of having accomplished this in business and in government.)
If all were to vote on facts and qualifications, he would have 90+% of the vote. But, unfortunately, there will be a huge political battle and lots of smears and exaggerated claims against him, which people will probably not investigate and/or see through.
I will bet that he will form the most powerful management and advisory team ever formed in government. See discussion below.
From my analysis and review of his experience and his viewpoints, I believe this man could be the most effective President we have ever had, in terms of getting the government in shape again and making it effective and efficient and managing such that our prosperity and American capability will rise dramatically. If President Obama is reelected, barring a miracle of better advisors whose advice he actually takes plus a number of other changes in his practices, then the gap will be huge between how much better off we would have been with Romney.
There is no other rational choice and no better choice.
HOW HE FITS FOR THE LEFT, THE RIGHT, THE INDEPENDENTS
The independents should dramatically swing his way IF the facts are out there prominently enough.
The far right should vote for him simply because it helps assure that the left doesn't get elected. Though a moderate, balanced, results oriented, do-right individual, he will increase prosperity and what will work to benefit the far right. He honors all people's beliefs, but he won't impose one set of beliefs on other people.
The left will have to balance off the benefits against some conflicting views, though they will find that he will not seek to impose on the people's wishes, and he supports totally taking care of those who need it and in operating for the benefit of all of the citizens.
1. The economy and taxes (and reduced deficits) will be sufficiently better off that the left and its key causes will be enabled.
2 Health care and the safety nets - will be handled very well, and their will be greater capability to handle these benefits. His super-consulting approach with expert teams is a proven exceptionally effective approach that will transform the costs of medical care like no one else is known to be able to do. He will dramatically extinguish waste.
"A man of great conscience, which would cause him to have social balance where even those on the left could be confident of his taking care of those who are unable to take care of themselves", but also requiring responsibility and contribution (and even retraining). His bipartisan cooperation with great input from his team of experts put together a health plan that was excellent for those previously uninsured and for all overall - proof of his caring to do what is right and works.
He has focused on its having had bipartisan support in the state legislature, while the Obama plan received no Republican support at all in Congress and had some different provisions.
3. Abortion - This is an area of difference in values, where he is opposed to it. And he says 'Well, I'll let other people make that decision.' In short, the right to abortion under the current laws will not change, as the people of the United States will not allow it, though I do believe that "full disclosure" will be more widely spread. It seems rational to me that honoring both sides of the argument with full information is what makes sense for us all. Except for the far right, I believe that the struggle is over and we can all settle down and respect each others' views.
"The choice to have an abortion is a deeply personal one. Women should be free to choose based on their own beliefs, not the government’s."
4. The environment - He will protect it, but in a rational, cost-effective way that is more effective overall, by prioritizing and planning and being sure to keep things practical, without wishful thinking.
5. Gay Rights - Called "too moderate for the Republican base. He wishes to protect the institution of marriage for what it means for children AND to also provide for partnership rights and benefits. The question of the "form" is the issue, to respect both sides AND to provide benefits for gay couples. He supports gay rights, but not in the form of marriage.
"All citizens deserve equal rights, regardless of their sexual orientation. While he does not support gay marriage, Mitt Romney believes domestic partnership status should be recognized in a way that includes the potential for health benefits and rights of survivorship."
His stated objectives are to be tolerant or permissive on social issues, protect the environment, be tough on crime, and to try to appear post-partisan. (This is an intention I greatly admire, for it is the closest to straight rationality and realism.)
PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITIES WITH FAIRNESS
"There were two key things I learned at Bain. One was a series of concepts for approaching tough problems and a problem-solving methodology; the other was an enormous respect for data, analysis, and debate."
"He's not an ideologue. He makes decisions based on researching data more deeply than anyone I know."
MANAGEMENT CAPABILITIES
There are few, if any, greater resumes of experience and success in producing results and managing people.
He turned around the 2002 Olympics, saving it from disaster and corruption.
He consulted with many companies, effectively implementing the "Bain Way" for making companies effective. (The Bain Way is simply a means of getting the correct and sufficient data and then coming to a solution that works and can be implemented with the cooperation of all.)
He bought and managed and created and raised capital to form and/or to make companies more effective. The record of return on investment when he ran Bain Capital was 113 per cent - a magnificent success and display of management skills.
He took over and managed Bain Consulting back to thriving. The businesses added alot more employees than were pruned to save the companies or turn them around - if he hadn't saved the companies that he did there would be no jobs! (It's a false rap to say he is a job destroyer and just a political ploy.)
Before deciding to run for President, he was Governor of Massachussetts, balancing the budget and creating a health care safety net and system for the uninsured. He used strategic audits, pulling together experts from business, academia, and government, and posing a few basic—though frequently overlooked—questions in much of what he did, especially in the health care reform, producing ideas and methods of savings not suggested in the normal government channels nor by the legislators.
He knows how to make organizations more effective!
He knows how to produce jobs in a practical way and will not fall prey to impractical schemes that do not have economic value. He knows that one has to set up a workable, well-managed enterprise and useful organizational procedures to assure effectiveness if one is to effectively create long lasting jobs.
His thinking centers around a hate of waste and inefficiency, a love for data and charts and analysis and presentation, and a belief in keeping an open mind and seeking opposing points of view.
ECONOMIC KNOWLEDGE
While he would not pretend to be an expert in economics and would seek counsel from experts, he does understand how things work. In all the many businesses and organization he's seen, consulted with, managed, and run, he has seen what works and what doesn't.
And he is one who will use in-depth inquiry where needed. His expertise is so substantial that he will actually be able to understand what is said, which, of course, is a great advantage over Obama's lack of knowledge and insight. (Obama is quite intelligent, but, as I have found out in life myself, without experience one does not have a practical perspective and insight into the information and situations presented to one.)
FLEXIBILITY AND ADAPTIVENESS TO CHANGE
The political attackers accuse him of "flip flopping". But we need to look deeper and see through that smoke screen. He is adaptive and progressive, with an open mind, including listening to and questioning all sides to come to a better solution.
EDUCATION
Joint degrees: Juris Doctor (cum laude)/Master of Business Administration (top 5%, named a Baker Scholar) from Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School.
Sports teams, organizer and leader in high school and college, giving the commencement addresses for both his own College of Humanities and to the whole university (Brigham Young University).
His father was the Governor of Michigan, with the exposure to that contributing to his "education."
HIS EXPERIENCE
He actually reorganized and made more effective, while a very young missionary, the Mormon mission in France. He has been a leader in his church in various positions.
Management consulting forms an excellent basis for learning and perfecting problem solving. Only the smartest are selected by the consulting firms, as he was by one of the super leaders, Boston Consulting Group. Then he went with some who left that organization to form Bain Consulting.
At one point he was asked to lead an actual investing company that would buy and/or help provide investment dollars for various businesses or ventures. He ran the operation with astonomical success (at a 113 per cent return on investment, net of all losses) where the higher risk ventures require some failure rate as a part of the risk (potential loss is what risk is).
At one point he was asked to come back to restore Bain to profitability, which he did quite successfully. A major test of ability, met with more flying colors.
Saving the 2002 Olympics from ruin and making it a success showed exceptional leadership and management skills.
He was the governor of Massachusetts, with an 85% Democratic legislature, but he survived and had high success in eliminating the $3 billion dollar deficit and turning it into a surplus of $1 billion, with a $2 billion dollar rainy day fund - all despite the Democrats overriding many of his 1000 vetoes. His being out of state to run for President did not please residents, but he did his duties and had victories in terms of results. See the previous discussion above.
He ran for President in 2008, losing to the popular character John McCain. Since then he has targeted being President from the 2012 election, preparing in both knowledge and campaign organization, including fund raising.
HIS STYLE
Cooperation. Gathering together experts into teams. Questioning. Idea gathering.
Analysis. Excellent decision making.
As governor, he did what I would think would be the best approach, to educate and enroll, rather than impose. Romney generally used the governor's pulpit (authoritative position to speak from) approach towards promoting his agenda, staging well-organized media events to appeal directly to the public rather than pushing his proposals in behind-doors sessions with the state legislature.
THE RELIGION FACTOR - NOT A FACTOR
Although there have been attempts to call Mormonism extreme, I cannot find any evidence to support that contention.
They are Christians, but have an element that others do not believe in. Their original 'prophet' translated some tablets in New York, which became the Book Of Mormon. This is an interesting Bible-like book recounting the history of the people over on this continent and a visit by Jesus. Only narrow minded people would fault them for their unique beliefs, but anyone who is intellectually honest and has sufficient understanding will appreciate their religion. Of course, I do not believe it, but I hold their right to believe what they believe as just as important as all the other varied religions - and no one truly knows which religion is the "right one", since it seems that is claimed by over 10,000 'right' religions.
Mormons have very high values and are close knit, but integrate well with society. They have temples which have particular importance to them, for rituals, marriages within the church, and other good stuff.
He believes in other people making decisions for themselves and will not impose his values and beliefs on them nor let it interfere with (or be brought into) his running the government. Though he will be true to his values he will not impose them on others. His style, if he has values to advocate to others, is to do so with fairness, facts, and reasoning.
He has echoed Senator John F. Kennedy's famous speech during his 1960 presidential campaign in saying "I will put no doctrine of any church above the plain duties of the office and the sovereign authority of the law."
THE POTENTIALLY MOST POWERFUL MANAGEMENT TEAM EVER
Given Romney managerial abilities and his proven ability to gather expertise and form effective teams, I believe he will form the most powerful and effective teams ever formed in government.
It would be great if he could have these people on the team:
Huntsman
Mitch Daniels - In some capacity where he can implement his acute analytical ability and ability to persuade bipartisanly to achieve vast efficiencies in government yet cover the safety net. Read his book Keeping The Republic.
Gingrich, of course, would be a great consultant and advisor.
Others? (Let me know who else as I formulate the list)
