Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Sundance and beyond!

We are having weather this week!


Our upcoming Itinerary for those interested -

September 26-October 8 England with Julianne (Woodstock, Hartwell House and Buckland)
October 8-October 11 Carmel, New York
October 11-October 16 Houston with the Horn's
October 14-October 16 Pa in NYC for Mitt Meetings
October 16-October 20 Carmel, Indiana (celebrating Sophie's birthday)
October 20-October 27 Driving a black Volvo from Carmel, Indiana to Sundance via the Northern Route
November 1-November 5 Ladera Ranch, California
November 5-November 10 Sundance
November 14-November 28 Mesa, Arizona
November 28-December 3 Houston, Texas
December 3-December 5 Miami, Florida
December 5-January 2008 Sundance

This is as firm as it gets with some intermittent trips along the way.

Monday, September 24, 2007

If Not Me, Who? If Not Now, When?

Ronald Reagan often quoted the adage in the subject line above. It is appropriate to each of us today as we consider the times in which we live. We are in the midst of America’s defining moment and thus to each of us, an individual defining moment!

As a country, and as citizens, we face a critical inflection point. A nexus when the course of our future is profoundly impacted by the choices we make as a country, and who we choose to lead this great nation. Fifty years from now, history will look back to this point in time as America’s Defining Moment. If we fail to act and remain lukewarm we will bear significant consequence. America’s critical crossroad affects each of us, our children and our grandchildren.

The economic precipice we find ourselves on demands prudence on our part, to live within our means, and leadership on the part of our President and elected officials. The subprime mortgage, housing and credit crises demand leadership with knowledge and experience in economics and capital markets. The burden’s of entitlement in Washington, if left unchecked will cripple our economic foundation, and thus we require a leader who can, with knowledge and capacity, lead this country united through uncharted waters. The burdens of illegal immigration are weighing down upon our people – we need someone to lead and effect the needed changes to restore stability and reason to the debate, we need someone to lead the enforcement of our laws, both civil and criminal. The threats to our freedom and security demand leadership with an understanding of the fundamental foundations of the threats of radical jihad, not just reactive management in security breaches or crisis. Our need for energy independence demands leadership that understands innovation and transformation, and the economics of such. The deterioration of our educational system and degradation of our country’s moral fiber demands one who can lead by example and can effect change through experience. The situational standards of our society further demand a leader who is constant and true to the principles on which our country was founded. The fundamental foundations of our nation reside within the families of America, the strength of our economy, the strength of our military and the wisdom and understanding to stand as the hope of the earth in the service of Liberty and Freedom.

Many in society have chosen the path of cynicism or mediocrity. Some have opted to yield to others and remain passive, believing that we needn’t act today; that either others will take the lead, or they will consider our course more seriously in the future, or perhaps that their individual actions will have little impact, so why try. To remain on the sidelines at this critical defining moment in our day is to fail in our God-given responsibilities as citizens of this great country as one endowed with inalienable rights.

In taking a stand for what is right, and in reference to one of Ronald Reagan’s most notable quotes, some have stated to me that they will wait and see what comes in early 2008 before they consider the course of who should lead our country. By then it is too late. Now is the time to stand for what is right and it demands our active participation.

Please note below why the timing is now and waiting will be too late. Consider the following:

The compressed Presidential Primary schedule will determine the Republican and Democratic nominees for President of the United States by February 6, 2008 (only 4 months from now). The early primary states (Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan, Nevada, Wyoming, South Carolina and Florida) will provide only a 5 to 30 day window for people to determine for whom they will vote, if they, like most, have a wait and see attitude, before the “national” primary on February 5th.

The need is now; the time to act is now! What transpires in the next 75-90 days will be critical to what happens in January/February of 2008. In essence, our course for 2008 and who we choose as President will be determined by what we do in the next 90 days. How will we respond in this defining moment of our day? Will we be passive and wait, letting this critical juncture pass? Or, will we act NOW?

Now is the time to consider who should lead our nation. A number have questioned the electability of one who we fervently support, Mitt Romney. To each reader of this text, please consider the following:

Mitt Romney is the one candidate whose value system, moral fiber, and successful experience in the private sector (25 years as a successful executive with Bain & Co, and Bain Capital), philanthropic sector (Chairman of the 2002 Winter Olympics), and public sector (Governor of Massachusetts) set him apart from the field of both Republican and Democratic candidates. He is the only one running for President that has successfully led enterprises in all sectors and who has the depth of capacity and the value system that is consistent with the values and principles that define America. He can effect the needed changes to lead us through the societal storms that lie ahead. Finally we are not choosing the lesser of two evils for President, as we have a candidate truly capable and qualified to lead our nation. Please study the man and what he stands for by going to www.mittromney.com.

Governor Mitt Romney is currently leading in the polls, by significant margin, in five of the first seven early primary states. No Republican candidate for President has ever become the nominee without winning Iowa and New Hampshire. Governor Romney leads the polls in both by significant margin. He is also strongly leading the polls in Michigan, Wyoming and Nevada. He is the only Republican candidate who continues to trend upward, gaining ground each month, state by state and nationally. He is very competitive in the polls in Florida and California, and continuing to trend upwards. With the early primary victories, Governor Romney should garner a significant bounce leading into the multi-state primaries on February 5th. Further, I am confident that the depth of his grass roots campaign organization in the key battle ground states, along with the early primary victories will lead him to the Republican nomination, and then to the White House.

To assure success in this campaign, we need your financial support, and we need it today. Many have been generous to date, for which we are grateful, but more is needed and we ask that you consider a contribution. If you have made a contribution, please consider another; if you have maxed out in your contributions ($2,300), please ask your friends, family members, associations and acquaintances to join us by making a contribution. Please go to www.mittromney.com and make your contribution today or cut and paste the following link to your URL on the internet, https://www.mittromney.com/contribution/form:fid=116000,sc=vdp013.