Today is a very special day for me, as Judy and I celebrate our 20th anniversary. I still remember first meeting Judy in our science class at Bakersfield High and dancing to Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” on our wedding day. It has been an amazing journey and I am indeed a very lucky man.
Watching Ann Romney speak last night, America witnessed a woman of tremendous compassion and love. A woman who understands the challenges of every woman, mother, and grandmother.
As we listened to Governors Kasich, Fallin, McDonnell, Sandoval, Walker, Haley and of course Governor Christie, I was impressed by the range of bold Republican leaders that we have across the country. And I cannot wait to welcome Mayor Mia Love to Congress!
Yesterday, the message was clear: we all face a call to action to roll up our sleeves and tackle the big challenges that confront our nation.
This may be a simple analogy, but I believe there are two types of leaders. There are thermometers and thermostats. Here’s what I mean, thermometers tell us what everyone knows but they can do nothing to change anything. A thermostat is a Winston Churchill or a Ronald Reagan or the types of leaders that spoke yesterday. They can tell you it is 98 degrees but, more importantly, they can also change the temperature. With Governor Mitt Romney and Congressman Paul Ryan, we have thermostat leaders that will take on our nation’s most pressing challenges.
Let’s take our country back by returning to America’s founding principles of freedom, liberty, and personal initiative. There is no doubt that the shining city on the hill that Reagan spoke of has dimmed a little in the past four years. But our mission is to recharge that light so it shines brighter than ever before.