Romney’s nomination acceptance speech was like eating a Hostess Twinkie. When you first bite into a Twinkie it tastes sweet and good. A few more bites later and you realize there is not really much to it and you should not have wasted the calories on something so void of substance. Romney’s speech got you excited. It was well written and attempted to show Romney in a more approachable light. But like reflecting on the last bite, when you review what Romney said it was like the Twinkie. Well formed, consistent, and void of anything interesting or substantial.
The closest he came to making a declarative policy statement regarded new trade agreements. Obama has certainly dropped the ball in this regard having closed only a handful, and all of which were started in the Bush Presidency. Other than that, there was really nothing terribly meaningful in what Romney said. For example:
“I have a plan to create 12 million jobs.”
We have heard that from Obama, Bush, etc. Presidents cannot create jobs, it is just that simple.
“First, by 2020, North America will be energy independent by taking full advantage of our oil and coal and gas and nuclear and renewables.”
Fuel sources are quite fungible. How do you prove pure independence? Besides, it is not only impossible, it is really ill advised and the pursuit of it will cause far more hurt then these guys are acknowledging.
“Second, we will give our fellow citizens the skills they need for the jobs of today and the careers of tomorrow. When it comes to the school your child will attend, every parent should have a choice, and every child should have a chance.”
Cool. But Mitt is a fan of the DOE as well as No Child Left Behind. Again, nice concept with nothing concrete to support it.
“Third, we will make trade work for America by forging new trade agreements. And when nations cheat in trade, there will be unmistakable consequences.”
This is the good one. Go Mitt! But easy on the Chinese regarding the cheat in trade thing. I know they are in your cross hairs and I preach caution. It could break really bad.
“Assure every entrepreneur and every job creator that their investments in America will not vanish as have those in Greece, we will cut the deficit and put America on track to a balanced budget.”
I dig the support of the small business person. And increasing output will help reduce the deficit. But with no mention in the speech about the big three there is no hope of impacting the deficit.
The big three are Medicare, Social Security, and Defense. If you do nothing to impact these, you cannot do anything to reduce the size and the growth velocity of the deficit. Period. That simple. Unfortunately, in his speech he said: “[Obama's] trillion dollar cuts to our military will eliminate hundreds of thousands of jobs, and also put our security at greater risk”
“His $716 billion cut to Medicare to finance Obamacare will both hurt today’s seniors, and depress innovation— and jobs—in medicine.”
“I am running for president to help create a better future. A future where everyone who wants a job can find one. Where no senior fears for the security of their retirement.”
So he got the trifecta. Will not cut defense spending, will protect Medicare, and will not even look at Social Security.
But in his defense he said exactly what we want to hear. We are in fact the problem, not Mitt. We don’t want to hear that we need to change our expectations on Medicare or Social Security and/or increase taxes. Probably both. That makes us uncomfortable and sad. We want to be rallying around the guy we think has the answers that will take care of us with no personal sacrifice. Or if he loses, we want to feel self-righteous attacking the other side because they are incapable to helping us.
Romney’s speech was spot on and exactly what we, the customers, wanted.
Hmmm…. I’m thinking about a MoonPie next. Love me a good MoonPie.
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