The Skinny: Meet Mitt Romney

Papers Pay Attention To Those "Other" Candidates Not Named Obama Or Clinton

(CBS)  The Skinny is Hillary Profita's take on the top news of the day and the best of the Internet.

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The non-Clinton/Obama front-page story trend is catching on.

Today, everyone is writing about Republican candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who is formally, officially, really announcing his run for office today in Michigan.

USA Today does its duty by following up on an article that the New York Times wrote last Thursday, asking whether Romney's Mormon faith will hinder his quest for the presidency. The answer is, shockingly, maybe or maybe not.

While the American public's views on his religion might pose a slight problem (or not,) the Los Angeles Times explains that Romney does appear to have the support of a very important constituency: lobbyists and "influential GOP lawmakers."

One more vital constituency is that of Christian conservatives in the Republican party, writes the Washington Post, and both Romney and Sen. John McCain are doing a bang-up job of seeking their affections.

Evangelicals are seeking the most conservative candidate possible, but also one who can win, as the president of the Southern Baptist's Convention's policy arm explained. "Winability is a bigger issue in this campaign because of the Darth Vader-like specter of a Hillary Clinton presidency," he said.

North Korea: Deal Or No Deal?

Well, in this case, it's a deal. Following six-nation talks in China, North Korea's agreement to take the first step toward nuclear disarmament – which by the time papers printed was still tentative – makes the front pages, including the Wall Street Journal's newsbox this morning.

Unless you otherwise eliminated it from your mind to remain sane, you'll recall that North Korea tested a nuclear bomb four months ago.

The agreement now in place exchanges "roughly $400 million in various kinds of aid in return for the North starting a permanent disabling of its nuclear facilities and allowing inspectors into the country," writes the New York Times.

Within 60 days, North Korea must shut down its main nuclear complex, and then inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency must be allowed into the country.

The Washington Post follows up on its front page article in the paper this morning with an Associated Press story online that explains North Korea and the U.S. will "embark on talks aimed at resolving disputes and restarting diplomatic relations." The US will also "begin the process of removing North Korea from its designation as a terror-sponsoring state and also on ending U.S. trade sanctions."

"The Day Civil War Erupted In Iraq."

It was one year ago that Sunni insurgents bombed one of the holiest of Shiite mosques in Samarra, setting off a rash of tit-for-tat violence in the country. The Los Angeles Times' headline looking back on that day refers to it bluntly as "The Day Civil War Erupted In Iraq."

The New York Times revisits the mosque as well, noting that "not a single brick," of the building has been moved since the incident. As far as reconstruction goes, "a proposal from the Shiite-led government to send thousands of Shiite troops to provide protection for a reconstruction project has been met with threats of bloodshed."

As that morbid anniversary was marked on Monday, four bombs were detonated in a marketplace where many Shiites shop, killing at least 70 people and wounding more than 120, reports the Washington Post.

Gallup Assesses The Blame Game

In the midst of all of this, of course, the House of Representatives is set to begin debate today on a non-binding resolution "that vows to 'support and protect' U.S. troops and then 'disapproves of the decision of President George W. Bush … to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq.'"

With that going on, USA Today reports on its front page the results of a recent Gallup poll – that six in 10 of those surveyed "oppose President Bush's plan to use more troops to try to stabilize Iraq," and "a nearly equal number also oppose any effort to cut off funding for those additional forces." There also appears to be a majority of support for the non-binding resolution – 51 percent support that.

As for results in the blame game for the Senate's failure last week to vote on its non-binding measure opposing the troop increase, Democrats were the big winners. Republicans were held responsible, 51 percent to 19 percent.

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[slr38]

Romney may be worth as much as $500 million dollars. He has been more successful in business than any of the Harvard professors that taught him ever were, and his net worth would be closer to a billion dollars if he hadn't donated well over $100 million to universities and charities, much of it to the Mormon church (and paid hundreds of millions in taxes). He's an extraordinarily pricipled person when it comes to family, business, finance and religion. He is so talented, smart, disciplined and successful it is almost uncanny.

[bluestardad]

STICK A FORK IN THE REPUBLICANS THEY ARE DONE FOR 08 THEY COULD RUN THE POPE AND NOT GET ELECTED! AMERICA IS TIRED OF THEIR LIES, HATERED, DECEIPT AND WARS!

[niteowlca]

Why is it %u201Cshocking%u201D that Romney%u2019s religion may not hinder his %u201Cquest for the presidency%u201D? I find the use of the word %u201Cshocking%u201D very offensive. This makes it sound like it is inconceivable that the American people may be willing to treat a Mormon candidate the same as any other candidate. Mitt Romney should be judged by his experience, his character and his political platform - not just his religious beliefs.

[frb01]

As far as Romney being a Mormen, to me it is a non-issue. I would rather have a candidate how had beliefs, but didn't flaunt, them. Then again, he could be like the Clintons, went they went for services.

[mattcat25]

Lets see here%u2026.in light of the Scooter Louis Libby Trial and it's route to the Pre-War on Iraq deceptive actions taken by the Whitehouse, is going to leave Libby with a slap on the wrist sentence for covering for his boss Richard Cheney. A humiliated Cheney would then see it fit to resign due to health reasons. George Bush could then appoint Mitt Romney to the post of Vice President, and in the event of the many impeachable offenses taken by Bush and the continued failure in the Middle East GW would be then able to step aside leaving Romney as our US President (along with a pardon). Sounds like plan only Karl Rove could come up with?

[bigwhtpony]

Obama is a Christian, always has been.
Posted by huskerarmy at 12:39 PM : Feb 13, 2007

Let's see....mother was an athiest....father was a muslim......according to huskerarmy he was always a Christian. Hmmmm...perhaps we should start referring to him as the baby Jesus!!! He's a MIRACLE!!!!

[bigwhtpony]

And of course the indictments and convictions that go along with it.

Posted by huskerarmy at 11:14 AM : Feb 13, 2007

Funny....I can't think of any??? You must be remembering the Clintonion era.

[mattcat25]

I can understand why a "good picture" is important and the right wing should be excited about putting a new face on their old policies. But, like the adage states lipstick on a pig still leaves you pig. A new face but the same old detrimental actions against the American People aren't anything to be excited about. If the GOP really would want to launch "a new face candidate" they do have the time to show the American People by their actions that this is a face for change and liberty, and democracy and stay the course%u2026911 911 911 911 1911 911?

[huskerarmy]

"In his first stumble, White House hopeful Barack Obama on Monday took back words from the day before, when he said the lives of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq were "wasted.""

Preceptions,
This is that same "political correctness" you on the right always hide behind when you are being intolerant. It may have been a bad choice of words but, only the right would suggest that Obama, the undercover terrorist that he is, really meant to belittle the sacrifices of the troops. The problem is that the right has a paranoid view of anyone who doesn't agree with you. The rest of us are all communist, terrorist sympathisers with a hidden agenda. If the media doens't agree with your paranoid characterizations, they're biased... Everyone has to agree with you or else you cry like a spoiled child. But then being the spoiled class is at the root of your philosophy isn't it?

[huskerarmy]

"ditto for Obama's muslim past.........!!"

More FOX misinformation. Obama is a Christian, always has been. Even if he wasn't, it wouldn't be anything for the intolerant right to put him on trial over. We do after all live in a democracy where freedom of religion is a cornerstone.

[mattcat25]

Will Romney be the one to take Vice President *** Cheney's place once he is (forced)decided to resign?

[perception5]

huskerarmy, FYI.........
The picture looks fine for Pete's sake. The GOPer plutocrat echo chamber complains ad nauseum about the so-called "corrupt liberal MSM wolfpack," but they don't offer a logical motive. We know that greed for example motivates the plutocrats and their tools on the right, but what is the motive for the so-called liberal conspiracy in the meida? And why is it different for FOX? Or can they even sell this silliness without the devil getting involved?
Posted by huskerarmy at 12:30 PM : Feb 13, 2007


You hear me say it "all the time" America has a corrupt liberal MSM wolfpack....... here's just "ANOTHER" example. Please see below excerpt from "drudge report".


DURHAM, N.H. -- In his first stumble, White House hopeful Barack Obama on Monday took back words from the day before, when he said the lives of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq were "wasted."

Can anyone explain how CBS could have left this out of their story??????????
Americans "everyday" get their news censored, distorted, and filtered. I hope this "decontaminates" some of those out there who still believe that we're getting the "straight" unbias news from our "free left-wing press".........

[huskerarmy]

The picture looks fine for Pete's sake. The GOPer plutocrat echo chamber complains ad nauseum about the so-called "corrupt liberal MSM wolfpack," but they don't offer a logical motive. We know that greed for example motivates the plutocrats and their tools on the right, but what is the motive for the so-called liberal conspiracy in the meida? And why is it different for FOX? Or can they even sell this silliness without the devil getting involved?

[perception5]

Don't you think our corrupt liberal MSM wolfpack could have found a "better" picture of Mit Romney???? ...........you know kind of like the ones they pick out for their "darling" Obama?

[mattcat25]

Does the Presidency of Mitt Romney mean that marriage will be defined as being between a Man and a Woman, and a Woman, and a Woman?

[huskerarmy]

"What the world needs now, is corporate, neo-con self-indulgence..."

And of course the indictments and convictions that go along with it.

[bigwhtpony]

"What the world needs now, is corporate, neo-con self-indulgence...no not just for some, but for everyone." - Burt Bacharach

Thanks RR :)

[huskerarmy]

Just what we need, more corporate, neo-con self-indulgence.

[random_radar]

"Well said....."Darth Vader like presidency of Hitlerry Clintax." I think this guy is a winner.
Posted by bigwhtpony at 10:19 AM : Feb 13, 2007"

You made me laugh out loud at work. Some people just have a talent for a turn of a phrase...

[bigwhtpony]

Well said....."Darth Vader like presidency of Hitlerry Clintax." I think this guy is a winner.