Romney Critical of Obama’s Defense Cuts

More criticism of the Obama Administration from our former governor…

Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney says the Obama adminstration’s push for new social spending could hurt defense programs and endanger America’s national security.

Romney, speaking to the conservative Heritage Foundation today, called Obama’s proposal to cut missile defense programs a “grave miscalculation” in light of North Korea’s provocations. The former Massachusetts governor is seen as a likely contender for the GOP’s presidential nomination.

The speech was seen as a bid to enhance his foreign policy credentials among conservative Republicans.

Rep. William Delahunt: Terrorist Sympathizer?

This video (featuring the 10th Congressional District’s own Rep. William Delahunt questioning Vice President Cheney’s chief of staff David Addington) is appalling. If you haven’t seen it yet, it is very telling about the Democrats’ general view on fighting terrorism:

You got that? Addington said he couldn’t discuss what kinds of techniques are being used to interrogate captured terrorists because to do so publicly would give al Qaeda inside knowledge. This point is not contested by Delahunt, but he seems pleased by the idea.

Boston Maggie, one of Delahunt’s constituents, is calling for his censure, and also has other updates to this story.

Lawrence Eagle-Tribune Endorses Ogonowski

Today, the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune endorsed Jim Ogonowski for Congress:

The people of the Massachusetts 5th District need a representative in Congress who understands what it is like to run a family business. We need someone who will be an independent voice for the district, not a tool of union interests and a stagnant, one-party political culture. We need someone who is clear-eyed on the threats we face to our national security and interests.

We need Jim Ogonowski as our representative in Congress.

Ogonowski, a Republican, is a lifelong resident of the Merrimack Valley. He grew up on family farms in Dracut and still runs the family business today. He served for 28 years in the Air Force and Air National Guard.

His principal opponent, Democrat Niki Tsongas, says her experience as the wife of the late Sen. Paul Tsongas, gives her an insider’s insight into the ways of Washington. We prefer someone with the military and business experience of Ogonowski, someone who knows how the world works for the rest of us.

Ogonowski understands what happens to ordinary people when Washington politicians try to “fix” things. He’s rightly wary of government intrusion into private affairs.

In addition to highlighting Ogonowski’s positions, the endorsement noted the faults and dangers of electing Tsongas.

The contrast with his opponent could not be more clear. Tsongas wants U.S. military personnel withdrawn from Iraq within 270 days. But she seems to have little understanding of who or what would fill the power vacuum thus created.

Tsongas’ nonstop television ad campaign leads voters to believe a vote for her is a vote to end the war. Yet Tsongas has no such power. This is not a campaign for president but a race to replace Congressman Marty Meehan, who also supported a withdrawal. Tsongas would have one vote among 435 congressmen, just as Meehan did. All 435 congressmen and 100 senators could vote to “end the war in Iraq” and President Bush, the commander-in-chief, could simply refuse – unless Congress votes to cut off funding for the conflict. That’s something Tsongas has said she’ll never do.

More startlingly, Tsongas said at Tuesday’s final debate in Lowell that she would “never vote to advance the surge or send additional troops to Iraq.” Really? Not even if there were solid evidence of progress in Iraq? Not if Iran were to intervene more blatantly on behalf of its Shiite allies? Not if our generals urgently requested reinforcements? Never?

We live in a dangerous, chaotic world. We can’t afford a congressman who would handcuff our ability to react to changing circumstances.

Read the whole thing.

Ogonowski and Tsongas Win Primaries

Jim Ogonowski won today’s special election primary with 90% of the vote. His remarks are posted in the extended entry.

Oh, and Paul Tsongas’s widow bested her Democratic rivals with 35% of the vote.

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5th District Republican Debate: Ogonowski vs. Tierney

Last night was a pre-primary debate between Republican candidates Jim Ogonowski and Tom Tierney, vying for the 5th Congressional District seat vacated by US Representative Marty Meehan. The debate was broadcast on WCVB TV-5, and can be viewed online for those who missed it.

Jim Ogonowski is making his first run for office, while Tom Tierney has made several runs for Marty Meehan’s seat, as a Republican and a Democrat. The candidates debated health care,

In a press release from the Ogonowski campaign, campaign manager Dustin Olson praised Ogonowski’s performance and highlighted his strengths.

Tonight, Jim won the debate by once again showing why he is the best candidate to represent the people of the 5th Congressional District. He spoke passionately and directly to the issues impacting voters during this special election season, and discussed what we must do to advance a strong energy policy, reform big government, reign in wasteful spending, and strengthen our borders and national security. We are looking forward to more opportunities where Jim can take his message of change directly to the people throughout the primary season and into the general election.

Tierney clearly has some party identification problems. With comments like “big government is okay,” and in referring to President George W. Bush, said “he’s pure 100% Texas redneck. He’s a pickup truck guy in jeans.” How would Tierney fix Social Security? “It’s working perfectly. We shouldn’t need to touch it for another 25 years,” he said. Tierney also said he would vote to repeal the Bush tax cuts. All of this is not surprising for a guy who loves big government.

In response to why he’s running as a Republican, he said he chooses his party affiliation based on mood, and who’s sitting in the Oval Office. Not exactly someone you can stand behind. Not much of a leader’s response. Not a great strategy either; he has run in about a dozen elections, and lost them all.

Ogonowski appeared passionate over issues like national security and the War in Iraq. He strongly disagrees with being labeled a “Bush loyalist,” noting in particular his disagreement with the President on the War in Iraq and how to fix Social Security, but still holds many traditional Republican values, such as his stance on illegal immigrants, strengthening national security, and taxes.

Tierney has an uphill battle to convince Republican primary ballot holders to vote for someone who hardly represents Republican values and admits he picks his party based on which will benefit him most at the time.

As far as this Republican Primary goes, vote for the only Republican running: Jim Ogonowski.

Additional Coverage:
Lowell Sun
WCVB