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I watched last weeks premier of RHOC and it took me 3 hours because I was so bored I stopped several times. These women are not interesting and have become a clichÃ. Between the nipped bodies, plumped up faces, bleached hair, and fake friendships, I am done. This is my one and only blog on this very tired show.
The ladies are having dinner at Vickieâ??s house and it is beyond stupid. By stupid of course I mean these women are so stupid they donâ??t understand they have signed onto a show we all watch with the sole purpose of laughing at them. We are mocking you, and think you are pathetic. Good choices ladies. Let the public humiliation begin.
Tamra and Gretchen have decided to be friends and Iâ??m not buying it. This show is so desperate for excitement they are making these chicks do stuff that is not real, and they are so dumb and such fame whores, that they do it. There is a new chick, Heather, who once again proves there are no cool Jews on reality television.
Tamra is a bitch and a moron. Gretchen is a bitch and a moron. Alexis is a bitch and a moron. Vicki is a bitch and a moron. Not sure about Heather yet, but I think we can safely assume she will end up being a bitch. Probably not a moron but she agreed to go this show so it wonâ??t be a great leap to being a moron for her. They are having Cajun food because Vicki is proud as itâ??s the cuisine of the south where her boyfriend is from. Important to note, her boyfriend is a douchelord who has been arrested for failure to pay child support. He is into her money and I do not believe she is anything other than a money train. I could be wrong, but Iâ??m not.
Tamra and Gretchen are friends but Tamra is calling out Gretchen for having her lips done, which she denies. We are supposed to believe her lips got twice as big from the plumper she sells? Tamra is good friends with Vicki, but she is trashing her dinner. Tamra is not a good friend, or girlfriend apparently. Peggy is digging at Alexis and itâ??s uncomfortable. Peggy is calling Alexis dumb which is hilarious because Peggy is not that sharp. Peggy slept with Alexisâ??s husband Jim back in the day and Alexis cannot forgive her for not telling her. Peggy totally should have told her, but so should have her husband.
Peggy approaches Alexis and Alexis handles herself quite nicely. She is calm, but wrong. Her husband banged a chick, then met her, let her be friends with his old sex buddy, and never told her. Peggy was a money whore so you can forgive her the indiscretion, but her husband should have told her. Peggy feels bad and cries to Vicki and Tamra. She tells them Jim is shady and implies he could have had her hurt if she told Alexis. Jim was a pig, is a pig, and will always be a bog. I get Alexis is mad, but move on and direct your anger at the pig not the whore. Peggy announces she is out of the group.
We get a formal introduction to Heather and I am wondering if she is Jewish by birth or converted to marry her husband. Iâ??m betting she is a convert. I like her because she is bold and speaks her mind, but she pulls the Jew card early and it sets her up for being labeled the crazy Jew who is a snob and only cares about money. Sidebar: I hate it when Jews are not cool on television. I have been waiting years for a cool Jew to be on reality TV. Her house is beautiful, her kids are beautiful, her husband is lovely, and she is a stereotyped parody of what people think Jews are like. Itâ??s a shame. Bravo sucks when it comes to Jews on TV.
Tamra and Eddie, along with Vickie and Brooks are going to Catalina for the weekend. Tamra is talking to Eddie and it sounds lame and rehearsed. Tamra is not at all interesting and heâ??s sweet so I donâ??t get it. Vicki calls Brooks and says, â??Itâ??s Vickieâ?, and he says, â??Hi Vickiâ?, and itâ??s awkward. She immediately tells him what to bring, what to wear, and it has to be the things she bought for him. I donâ??t get how anyone is into a woman like this. You cannot have any balls when hers are so big. Over to Gretchen, that she is still with Slade makes no sense. He is a pig and leaching off of her.
We are off to Catalina and get our first look at Brooks up close and personal. Heâ??s creepy. He gives her a card and Iâ??m not paying attention to what it says because I am focused on Vickiâ??s face, which is so puffy and full of filler that she looks like a freak. Even her dimples look smaller because her face is so swollen. We then take a quick trip to LA to see Gretchen doing a photo shoot with one of her painfully ugly handbags. She is naked, Slade is being emasculated, and her laugh is nails on a chalkboard. He is useless, she publicly humiliates him, and I almost feel bad for him. By almost of course I mean I don’t feel bad at all.
Back to Catalina, Vicki is a bitch, her boyfriend is a loser, Eddie is wasting his time, and Tamra crosses the line. Vicki and Eddie are playing around and flirt in a super cute way. Tamra gets upset and puts the hand of Brooks on her boob. Eddie is pissed, Vickie is shocked, and Brooks is mortified. The episode ends with Eddie and Tamra fighting. I am honestly over this show. If I stumble upon it I might tune in, if I have wine, but my blogging of the RHoOC has come to an end. I wish them well, hope Heather is not a crazy Jewish bitch, and officially give up on their ever keeping it real.
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§ February 21st, 2012 § Filed under Friendships § Tagged Friendships Comments Off
In a world of hyperbole, some things live up to their reputation.
It was either Scott Van Pelt or an ESPN copywriter that put it best to kick-off SportsCenter tonight.
Watching the 233rd installment of Duke – North Carolina reminded me of a time when life was much less complicated and this biannual match-up was discussed among friends both days before and after it was played.
Now everyone is either busy or off the radar, and neither team looks nearly as talented as they were 10-15 years ago. But when the best rivalry in college basketball provides us with another incredible finish a lot of those old friends resurface with an ALL CAPS text message, and together youre elated to fully understand the magnitude of the latest act in one of your favorite unscripted dramas.
What Austin Rivers did tonight earned a special place in Duke lore. It will be played and replayed alongside Jeff Capels half-court heave, Jerry Stackhouses reverse jam, and a bloodied Eric Montross standing tall at the free-throw line.
If Duke stumbles in the first weekend of this years NCAA Tournament; if Rivers leaves after only one season on campus, neither can squash the stupendous heroics the freshman phenom pulled off with ease on February 8th of 2012 in Chapel Hill.
Entering the final seconds I remained skeptical, if not peeved by Austin Rivers night in Chapel Hill. Despite a then game high 26-points, and shooting 5-9 from beyond the arc it didnt have the feel of an exceptional performance even though it would look like one in a box score.
Arguably the toughest player in the country to guard off the dribble, Rivers exhibited both poor shot selection and poor decision. His tendencies have been a point of discussion throughout much of the season, and those tendencies were evident early and often as the Blue Devils backed their way into a 13-point second half deficit. He took 12-foot floaters, took on multiple defenders in transition, he even took away his greatest strength by refusing to dribble penetrate, instead settling for the three-pointer.
Somehow, throughout his erratic play, Rivers continued to score and keep Duke from completely playing their way out of a comeback.
Then, with his team still within striking distance, Rivers helped his team climb back, capped off by the buzzer-beating three-pointer over a lanky seven footer who froze when he realized he was left out on an island to defend the games final play.
While most college basketball players would shy away from taking the last shot, River squared up, kindly asked his teammates to get out of the way, told Tyler Zeller exactly what he was going to do, and delivered a punishing blow to the North Carolina Tar Heels.
If [North Carolina] had hit the two free throws, we had set up a play for a three. A different play, head coach Mike Krzyzewski told reporters after the game. Instead we put the ball in Austins hands, the drive wasnt there and he hit a great shot.
Seems so simple, no?
Its storybook for the kid. he added. I love when someone does something special like that.
So now, with the Tar Heels 31-game home winning streak snapped, and Florida State losing to Boston College tonight, the ACC has officially turned into a three-horse race. Duke is rejuvenated, and that March 3rd rematch just became a bit of a bigger deal, too.
Thank you, Austin Rivers, for keeping old friendships and an even older rivalry alive and well.
§ February 21st, 2012 § Filed under Friendships § Tagged Friendships Comments Off
The former Scotland keeper, who played at Ibrox for seven years and made two appearances for Manchester United in 2001, was famously dubbed The Goalie and revealed he gave booze the red card three months ago after furious partner Elaine Mitchell ordered him out of the home they shared in Lanarkshire.
He said how he went to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings after his drinking destroyed some of his closest friendships.
He added: ‘I stood up and said, ‘I am Andy Goram and I am an alcoholic.’ I had never classed myself as that but I had to be honest now and say that I was.
§ January 20th, 2012 § Filed under Friendships § Tagged Friendships Comments Off
All of us have certain confines, if not limitations, as regards the extent to which we can back and extend support — in times of dilemma. A friend in need is a friend indeed, all right. Yet, one cannot, as a token of camaraderie, always seek a ‘supportive’ hand, as a given, while being incessantly bogged down with problems. When such a state of catch-22 ensues, it is nothing short of an unwanted invite — for one to wince and keep distance. In other words, activating, or playing, the role of a ‘victim’ is a ‘ticket’ to forestall one’s ubiquitous plea for ‘help’ — a conditioned, but wobbly petition.
Friendships are great. They are complex too. Picture this. It is all right to say, “Let’s be friends.” However, it is uncommon for one to say, in the same breath, “I have a problem, so can we be friends?” Yet, friendships are possible, even when there are a plethora of issues, other than common interests and values, hope and mutual respect. While the mosaic that represents a cardinal rule of friendship — ‘give and take,’ or vice versa — galvanises friendships to the next level, what makes true friendship tick is the power of unmotivated wisdom. Friendships for life are built on ideals that have no expectations — this is not connected to ‘making’ friends, because they are someone with a certain clout.
Good friendships are just as much an outcome of need as validation of life’s innumerable relationship dynamics. What is important for friendships to blossom and last is simplicity in your aspirations when seeking friendships. Despair loves company, or ‘company’ loves ‘despair,’ is a time-honoured idiom — with certain limitations. Remember, despair cannot mend. It can also not take us the distance we may be looking for in the long-term. You need to look at people who corroborate your feelings — only then will intent propel the friendship ‘engine’ for growth. In addition, what makes true friendships last is positivity, or empathising with people who teach and learn from each other, no matter one’s monetary backdrop. When you recognise each other’s unique gifts, which are as distinctive as one’s fingerprints, you attract friends to your fold and vice versa. The less the anticipation, the greater are the returns from robust friendships. It lends solid support in a manner born, too — something, which is just not cultivated with ‘nutrients’ called trust and faith, but also spiritual prudence.
Good friendships are an enormous support network, based on mutual encouragement — the ability to stand on your own in good and bad times. If belief in friendship is a valuable portent, it is also the cornerstone of self-reliance. It ushers in a newfound confidence — of being able to take care of oneself. When you reach such a level, which each one of us should aim for, one can confer support unselfishly. This leads to what is called as the aptitude to be your own best friend. It is like the music of the spheres — with harmonious rhythms.
Friendship is also a challenge — it is a quest to discover what talents and interests you have and what others bring to you in several baskets. Yet, it has its precincts — especially during times when you don’t reach out, or get into a quagmire. Or, when you become lonely in a crisis you deem as insurmountable. Nothing in life is impossible. All it takes is courage to accept and learn to move through tough times, realising that, in everything, there are ups and downs. Remember, a friend is just waiting round the corner — willing to assist you to turn things around.
(The writer is a physician and a
doctorate in philosophical literature)
§ January 13th, 2012 § Filed under Friendships § Tagged Friendships Comments Off
Studying the factors that bring people together creates a serious challenge for researchers. Do friendships form because of shared interests, or do those interests develop due to the friendship? A research team has now tracked a set of college students across all four years, using Facebook to identify social ties. The study reveals that people are fundamentally a bit lazy, as proximity provided the strongest predictor of social ties. Once that was accounted for, however, shared tastes in music and film did promote friendships, while books had a minimal effect.
When it comes to being influenced by their friends, the students generally werent. The exceptions were two genres of music: people liked classical and jazz pieces found via their friends, and those with interests in alternative music acted just like stereotypical hipsters, shying away from things that were popular with their friends.
The study relied on a database (described here) built by following a class from the moment that it entered college at an unnamed university. Each year, the researchers tracked the students friends and favorite items on Facebook, and linked that information to data provided by the university on the students majors and housing. (The data was anonymized, and couldnt be traced back to individual students.)
Over 1,600 students started in the study population, but not all of them were available for some aspects of this study. Many had not listed a favorite movie or book, and some had their privacy settings arranged so that the information was not public, and therefore off-limits to the researchers. In fact, the students generally increased the information they kept private over the course of the study, limiting the amount of data available at different time points.
Still, the researchers ended up with a few hundred students each for known social connections and information on movies, books, and music. Matching items were identified, and things were clustered based on genre (ie: pop, classical/jazz, hip hop, etc.). Information on housing, majors, and social connections were included, and a statistical model was built to analyze the results.
On the most basic level, shared tastes had nothing on convenience. Ending up in the same building increased the odds that people would establish and maintain a Facebook connection over the four years of college. Being the same major also boosted the odds, though not by as much. Shared friendships also provided a boost, with each additional friend strengthening the effect.
In contrast, shared tastes had a minimal effect, one that was insignificant for most genres, and small for the few cases it was significant. For music, the significant influences were classical/jazz and classic rock; for movies, satires and raunch/gore were the two genres that seemed to cement friendships. Books seemed to have absolutely no effect, although that could be a product of the students having focused their reading on course materials.
When it comes to forming our own tastes, the students generally tended to ignore their friends. Still, there were two exceptions. People seemed to pick up on classical/jazz works their friends liked, presumably because these works dont have a high level of exposure within the college crowd (although the authors explain this by saying that these works have a unique value as a high-status cultural signal). In contrast, those whose tastes were more aligned with alternative/indie acts tended to lose interest in songs if they were popular among their friends.
The authors recognize that a Facebook friend probably doesnt represent the strong social bond that we typically view as a friendship, but it is probably similar to the sort of fluid links that many of us form at work and elsewhere. Theres also a risk that at least some of the choices revealed on Facebook are the product of social posing, rather than deep-seated preferences. Despite these limitations, the study is a rare look at how social dynamics and personal tastes influence each other over the course of some very formative years. Itll be pretty difficult to arrange a study that provides a clearer picture.
PNAS, 2011. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1109739109 (About DOIs).
§ January 12th, 2012 § Filed under Friendships § Tagged Friendships Comments Off
Steve Apling made the 2008 Hilltop Hotties Calendar.
Looking through a peeling window frame, his smile carried a hint of Dont mess with me in the October montage of Hilltops Most Wanted.
For two decades, Apling was exactly who the Hilltop most wanted. The Vietnam combat veteran who jumped out of planes with the Special Forces and worked in military intelligence was tough, tactical, brave and generous.
He ranked in the pantheon of cops and activists who transformed the Hilltop from a world-famous crime dive into a nice place to live.
On Wednesday, word spread that Apling had died at his home near Ferry Park the night before. He was 62.
Hed hosted a Christmas Eve dinner and mentioned he was taking antibiotics for a strep infection. The drugs were making him tired, but it did not seem serious.
Apling was a supremely private man, and the many people who called him their best friend are wondering if he was sicker than he cared to admit.
Apling, they say, was Hilltops finest diplomat and one of its hardest workers.
He was just the perfect Hilltop elder statesman, said Carol Wolfe, a city economic development supervisor who worked with him on the neighborhood councils and Tidal Wave and Safe and Clean committees.
Steve was impatient with bureaucratic inefficiencies and redundancy, but absolutely patient with the various skill sets and concerns voiced by neighbors, Wolfe said. He was always a resource for those trying to problem-solve or navigate the system.
He parlayed thousands of hours of community meetings into tens of thousands of hours of civic action.
Apling, who grew up on farms in Oregon, could fix anything.
A master scavenger, he could raise a crew to take a porch off a house set for demolition, and rebuild it on a home that needed that particular improvement.
His crews included young people who needed skills and work. He gave them on-the-job training, then connected them with customers. The Wrecking Crew, as the neighbors know that team, can tile a kitchen, build a fence, make a garden or take down a tree. Theyre an affordable neighborhood resource.
A master gardener, Apling dispensed advice and seeds at the plant table at Peace Lutheran Church every Sunday with Sally Perkins. If you knew Apling, his plants would end up in your yard, thanks to his greenhouse and experiments. Theyve helped make Hilltop one of Tacomas garden spots.
A master of computer mechanics, Apling refurbished donated computers for after-school students at Peace Lutherans Hilltop Scholars. He was planning to upgrade Michael Putnams computer, too.
Michael, 14, is the grandson of Dee Margeson, one of Aplings great friends on the neighborhood council.
Steve was a grandpa, uncle and my good friend, Michael said. I always knew he was there to help me, but not now. I had a computer, and I wanted to put more gigabytes on it. I dreamed about Steve dying before we could do it.
He told his grandma about the dream before Christmas.
Now Margeson cant look at her yard without crying. Almost every design, idea and plant is there by the grace of Apling. When her walnut tree had to come down, Apling arrived with a smoke tree to plant in its place, and a lesson in proper planting technique.
But Apling was not all coffee chat, smiles and smoke trees.
He could be judgmental about lsquo;kids who dont bother to study, Perkins said. But bring him an actual situation involving a Hilltop Scholar or neighbor kid, and the first words out of his mouth were lsquo;How can I help?
Apling fancied himself a grump and backed it up with a 2 million-power spotlight he aimed at anyone making night mischief, especially in Ferry Park. Hed worked with Metro Parks to revive it as a playground, and he protected it for the children for whom it was meant.
Steve lived his life, at least the part I saw, helping others, Perkins said.
You know the phrase lsquo;Theres an app for that? Well, for a whole bunch of things, Steve was lsquo;the app for that.
Kathleen Merryman: 253-597-8677 kathleen.merryman @thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/street
§ January 8th, 2012 § Filed under Friendships § Tagged Friendships Comments Off
It can seem as though Facebook and other social networks open up the possibility for forming friendships from around the world with people youve never met. New research however suggests this isnt the case, with the majority of our Facebook friendships forming because we know that person already in the real world.
The research, conducted by NM Incite, surveyed over 1,800 social media users from around the world. It found that 82% of Facebook friendships occur because the two parties know each other offline. The next most common reason is having mutual friends, which accounts for 60% of Facebook friendships.
Some of the more superficial reasons for friendship come lower down the scale, including things like how sexy the other person is or how many other friends they already have.
Why do we unfriend?
So why do people unfriend one another? The research suggests that the most common reason is an offensive comment. That accounts for 55% of unfriendings. After that comes not knowing that person very well and sales soliciting.
Male/female divide
Interestingly, the study found that men are more likely to use Facebook for prospecting, either in a professional networking sense or a dating one. Women however use Facebook to connect up with real life friends and find deals on products.
You can see the full results in the infographic below. Click here to view the infographic in full.
Why do you friend someone on Facebook? What would encourage you to unfriend someone?
§ January 7th, 2012 § Filed under Friendships § Tagged Friendships Comments Off
Amy Werthman, a busy mother of four, had just moved into her Livonia home in the middle of a cold winter and was looking for a way to get to know her neighbors.
Beth Cooley and Tracey Jewell, both of Plymouth, were also new to their neighborhoods and seeking opportunities to build new friendships with the people living around them.
And Canton resident Tana Bridge was simply looking for the chance to celebrate holiday traditions and rituals with old friends.
Surprisingly, these four women found what they were looking for and much more in the time-honored tradition of a holiday cookie exchange.
It gives you a chance to really connect with your friends and what better way to connect than over a tray of cookies? said Bridge, an associate professor at Eastern Michigan University. It is also a great way to launch the holiday season.
For Bridge, what began as a simple holiday gathering of friends, neighbors and co-workers has now taken on a deeper significance.
Meaningful tradition
This is a tradition that has developed over time. What started out as friends and neighbors getting together now becomes a meaningful part of the holiday, she said, adding that one cookie exchange group that she participates in dates back more than 15 years.
Were an amazingly eclectic group. Its all about great conversation and celebrating connections, she said.
Cooley, who has been hosting a neighborhood cookie exchange for her neighbors for the past eight years, agrees. Its really about fellowship, she said. Community is very important to me. Id do anything it takes to bring neighbors together; I love it.
The concept of the cookie exchange is centered around the swapping of holiday goodies. Everyone brings a pre-determined amount of cookies to share as well as an empty tray on which to collect the treats others have prepared.
The main idea is to catch up and also get to try some new treats. The cookies are helpful to have on hand for holiday entertaining and taking to different functions although we usually eat them right away, Cooley said. I think half the tray is gone that first night. We take the tray of cookies, put on a good movie and snuggle up and before you know it, they are gone.
Exchange history
Cookie exchanges trace their origins as far back as the 1880s and began as a way for women to socialize with others in their community, according to Robin Olson, cookie exchange expert and author of The Cookie Party Cookbook. As women sought an opportunity to be social and share favorite recipes, their popularity grew. In fact, there are now both books and blogs offering tips on the subject.
In many circles, cookie exchanges have become a much-anticipated holiday event with both formal and informal settings. Bridge said she has even participated in cookies exchanges with a purpose.
I have been to some built around a specific event like a fundraiser; you bring the cookies as well as a donation to Toys for Tots or some other charity, she said.
Cooley said that while she has experienced both, her gathering is more easy-going and relaxed. Too many rules takes the fun out of it for me, she said, I just want people to come and have fun. Jewell also prefers an informal gathering, focusing on the opportunity to build deeper relationships with her neighbors, beyond just a hello in the street, she said.
It is important to me to live in a caring community and meet my neighbors, said Jewell.
Jewell believes that most people are more comfortable in an informal setting. She said she tries to eliminate as many rules as possible, even encouraging people too busy to bake to bring store-bought goodies.
For me, it is more about getting to know people than the cookies. I just try to keep it simple, she said.
Like simpler times
Werthman, too, concentrates on the social aspects of the cookie exchange.
I appreciate meeting my neighbors. It is so important to know your neighbors so you can take care of each other. It is even more important because of the way we live now: you pull into the garage; close the door and you never see anyone, she said. This forces me to get out and meet people.
She said she began hosting cookie exchanges in an effort to slow things down a bit.
Christmas is so commercialized. Cookie exchanges go way back to simpler times, to my parents and grandparents time, she said, adding that she invites guests to share the stories and traditions behind their recipes.
I love to hear it when someone says, ‘This is what my grandmother made . and then begin sharing their traditions, Werthman said.
The cookie exchange itself is a tradition worth passing down, says Bridge, who notes that her daughter, Kayla, a college freshman, is looking forward to the opportunity to reunite with friends from high school by hosting her own cookie exchange.
Things are ever-changing. Its a great way to celebrate friendships, she said.
§ January 6th, 2012 § Filed under Friendships § Tagged Friendships Comments Off
SHARJAH // The friendships Alan Sanderson made here as a teenage volunteer in the Trucial Oman Scouts in 1968 made such a lasting impression that he would love to reconnect with the men he met all those years ago.
The British electrician from Newcastle came out to serve in the Scouts, the military force that preceded the UAE army, when he was only 19.
He was based on the Umm Al Qaiwain border about two miles from Sharjah Town at Ras Al Makab, where he worked with Mohammed Rafiq, a jeweller and electrician from India, an Arab electrician by the name of Saeed Azziz and a Baluchi electrician, Lal Mohammed.
They were the best people I ever met in my life, they were the friendliest and they would do anything for you, said Mr Sanderson.
They were genuine and honest people.
Mr Mohammed and Mr Sanderson were tasked with inspecting batteries and generators at camps in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Hamham, Manama, Masafi, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah.
Their driver, Busti Khalifi – a nickname that Mr Sanderson translates as big chap, big lad – had such mastery of the Land Rovers and Bedford lorries that he could make the tech tour across the untamed terrain in an average of 14 days.
Mr Sandersons first tour began three days after his arrival in Sharjah.
I had to learn Arabic within three days because my Arab driver, Mr Khalifi, he could speak no English at all. The technician could speak a little bit of English but he said, Why should I, when theres two Arabs and one English guy?
§ January 5th, 2012 § Filed under Friendships § Tagged Friendships Comments Off
Posted at 06:00 PM ET, 01/01/2012
Mitt Romney: Santorum has spent his career in government
By Philip Rucker
ATLANTIC, Iowa – Mitt Romney drew a fresh contrast with his surging rival in the Republican presidential race here Sunday, saying that Rick Santorum has spent his career in government and suggesting that the former Pennsylvania senator lacks the private sector skills necessary to turn around the nation’s economy.
Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, left, listens as his wife Ann speaks during a campaign appearance at the Family Table restaurant Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012, in Atlantic, Iowa.
(Chris Carlson – AP)
Responding to questions from reporters, Romney did not attack Santorum outright, but twice drew clear contrasts between their adult life experiences. Romney tried to group Santorum with former House speaker Newt Gingrich, an opponent Romney has relentlessly dismissed as a career politician.
“Like Speaker Gingrich, Senator Santorum has spent his career in government, in Washington,” Romney said. “Nothing wrong with that, but it’s a very different background than I have. And I think that the people of this country recognize that with our economy as the major issue we face right now, that it would be helpful to have someone who understands the economy first hand, who spent the bulk of his career working in the private sector.”
Santorum is a lawyer who was elected to the House of Representatives in 1990 and to the Senate in 1994. Romney, a businessman, ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in Massachusetts in 1994, and won election as governor in 2002.
Romney said he and Santorum are “friends,” adding that “I think a good deal of him.” Romney noted, with a smile, that Santorum endorsed him in 2008 during his first presidential run.
“Senator Santorum’s a good guy,” Romney said. “He’s worked hard [and] I wouldn’t be surprised if we see him do well on Tuesday night.”
Romney also tried to beat back questions that have been raised by some Iowa voters and rival campaigns here about his conservatism. He pointed to his record as governor of Massachusetts, balancing the budget and enforcing immigration laws, as examples of “good, solid conservative principles.”
Asked whether he believed Santorum was more conservative, Romney said: “I’ll let people make their own assessment of our respective records. But I’m a conservative. I’m proud to be a conservative businessman and what distinguishes me I think from others in the field is that I understand the economy first hand having lived in it.”
Romney also defended himself against accusations that he has not logged enough days on the ground in Iowa wooing social conservative leaders. He said he “built a lot of friendships and associations [in the 2008 race] and a lot of those people continue to support me.”
“I’ve been able to rekindle those friendships over the past several days and over the past several months as I’ve been back to Iowa,” Romney said.
As he has for weeks, Romney stressed the importance of his organizational strength beyond Iowa, suggesting that he alone is capable of going the distance to become the Republican nominee.
“This is a process that begins here, gets a big boost here, but goes on across the nation and it’s been important to me to make sure that I have a team and a capability to go the full distance, to get the nomination and to have the people in Iowa who caucused for me proud that they were on that team from the very beginning,” Romney said.
Romney showed up Sunday afternoon to greet voters at the Family Table Restaurant, a diner in this rural western Iowa town. But he and his campaign aides said they were surprised to find nearly 100 journalists mobbing the restaurant.
“Goodness gracious,” Romney exclaimed as he and his wife, Ann, stood on top of a wooden box behind the diner counter to begin brief remarks. As his senior advisers ate cinnamon rolls in the kitchen, Romney noted that some Iowans were being “crushed by camera people.”
Romney did not talk about any of his Republican opponents in his speech, instead keeping his criticism aimed solely at President Obama.
“He’s trying to find someone to blame,” Romney said. “I understand that their mantra these days is that there’s a do-nothing Congress and this is all the Congress’ fault. I think he’s forgetting that he had a Democrat Congress the first two years that put in place his economic plans. He borrowed $787 billion and told us that if we let him borrow that money that he’d keep unemployment below 8 percent. It has not been below 8 percent since. He has failed.”
“These last three years,” Romney added, “are not our destiny. They’re a detour.”
By Philip Rucker
|
06:00 PM ET, 01/01/2012
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