Official Endorsement: Mitt Romney for President

I haven't kept secret my intention to vote for Mitt Romney; I'm officially endorsing him because there are several issues on which Mitt Romney is better than recent Republicans.

First things first, it's important to understand that Mitt will only have two responsibilities as President: sign the legislation a conservative Congress sends him, and be a better Commander-in-Chief; any other leadership President Mitt shows will be pure bonus.

I've discussed National Security, and the continuous orgy of treason that is Barack Obama's administration, at length recently.  I don't want to re-hash ground I've previously covered.  Suffice to say, I like what I've heard from Mitt so far on this topic.  While I'm not (yet) sure that Mitt understands the threat from Islamic Cultural Subversion, I trust Mitt's instincts and ability to learn over time.  Trust me, I'll be watching.

On several other issues, however, Mitt has taken positions that are substantially better than anything proposed by recent Republican candidates or Presidents.  Consider the following:

• Energy -- This was one of Mitt's strongest areas last night.  In addition to supporting the Keystone Pipeline and expanded development in Alaska, Mitt wants to return permitting authority to the States. This is a huge shift from Dubya who, at best, reigned in a modest amount of Federal red tape.  In addition, despite the public perception of Dubya as an Oilman, he was actually a big green energy proponent.  Mitt, by contrast, has indicated a willingness to reign in these corrupt boondoggles.

• Entitlements -- Mitt put Paul Ryan on the ticket; need I say more?!?  Paul Ryan's proposal doesn't go far enough, but it's a huge shift in the right direction.  Paul Ryan's proposal will prevent a sovereign debt crisis; for now, that's good enough.

• Sound Money -- Mitt's view's on the Federal Reserve were the hidden bombshell of that (otherwise boring) 47% video.  Given those remarks, his support for auditing the Fed, and his pledge to not re-appoint Ben Bernanke, Mitt clearly intends to reign in the worst abuses.  I suspect, however, that Mitt is open to deeper structural reforms.  Paul Ryan has also been very critical of Bernanke.

• Spending -- Mitt Romney has released the most detailed plan to cut Federal Spending since Ronald Reagan, if not Calvin Coolidge.  Much like his endorsement of Paul Ryan's budget before putting him on the ticket, Mitt's proposal shows his understanding that spending reduction is a key component of economic revival.  Again, Mitt's proposal might not go far enough, but it's a major step in the right direction.

• Tenth Amendment -- Last night, Mitt discussed the role of states as 'laboratories of democracy."  Mitt has endorsed block granting Medicaid to the states.  Romneycare, for all its flaws, is a policy Mitt defends on Tenth Amendment grounds.  As discussed above, Mitt's energy policy is based on empowering states.  Who knows, maybe Mitt will even champion Uproot and Overhaul.

I harbor no illusions about Mitt Romney.  I don't think his election will be some magic elixir.  I think the real action is, and will remain, in Congress.  I do, however, think Mitt will sign the legislation a conservative Congress sends him, and I think he will be a much better Commander-in-Chief.  In addition, several of Mitt's policy proposals are dramatically superior to anything we've seen in at least 30 (if not 90) years.  For those reasons, Cahnman's Musings unapologetically and unconditionally endorses Mitt Romney for President of the United States.