Romney Wants To “Add At Least 100,000 Troops To Our Boots On The Ground Capability"

ROMNEY: If, if there are some [bases] that are, that no longer have strategic significance for us, then those clearly can be closed, and we can bring troops home here, I don't believe in reducing the number of troops, I would add at least 100,000 troops to our boots on the ground capability. I also don't believe in cutting the military budget. You might say 'but isn't there a lot of waste in the military budget?' Absolutely, and I would go after that waste and streamline to the extent possible our defense op-operation, but I would use those funds to, one, expand our number of troops and number two to update our Navy and our Air Force.

VIDEO: Romney Said He "Loves " The Idea Of A Flat Tax

ROMNEY SAID THIS WEEK HE LOVES THE FLAT TAX – JUST NOT THOSE THAT GIVE BREAKS TO WEALTHY AMERICANS

VIDEO: Bachmann Says Health Insurers Shouldn't Be Required To Pay For Birth Control

Transcript after the jump.

Pawlenty's Credit Rating Double Standard

Pawlenty Called Obama “Inept” In Response To S&P Downgrade. Pawlenty issued a statement in August 2011 responding to news that S&P had downgraded the country’s credit rating: “This is a sad moment for the United States, but it's a reflection that our country is in trouble. President Obama is inept when it comes to creating the conditions or job creation and economic growth. It's time for a new direction and a new President." [Pawlenty Statement, 8/6/11] More research after the jump

NBC News: Justice Asked To Probe Mystery Donation To Pro-Romney Group

On August 4, 2011, NBC News reported:

"Two campaign reform groups are asking the Justice Department to investigate a mysterious $1 million contribution to a political committee backing Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney from an obscure company that shut down shortly after making the donation. The contribution to Restore Our Future, a so-called “super PAC” formed by three former Romney political aides, drew scrutiny following an NBC News report on Thursday . The firm that gave the money, called W Spann LLC, was formed in March – with no listed officers or directors — made the contribution in April, then dissolved itself in July, according to corporate records."

Washington Post Editorial: An early flip-flop for Senate candidate George Allen

An August 3, 2011 Washington Post editorial wrote:   AS A ONE-TERM Republican senator, George Allen voted four times to…

ABC News: Impeach President Obama Over Libya? Jon Huntsman Punts

On August 3, 2011, ABC News reported:

"And this week, when asked by a New Hampshire resident whether President Obama should be impeached over Libya, Huntsman refused to say, telling the voter that he’d 'let Congress make that decision.'"

Dallas Morning News: Democrats Itch To See Texas Gov. Rick Perry In White House Hunt

On August 2, 2011, the Dallas Morning News reported:

Democratic operatives outside Austin are also scouring Perry’s record. Last week, American Bridge 21st Century — a liberal PAC formed to raise and spend unlimited money in the 2012 elections — flagged a new report that Texas had 86 mass layoffs in June, up from 50 in May, with a substantial uptick in initial jobless claims. “Rick Perry is the flavor of month” in a “weak, uninspiring field” of Republicans, said Rodell Mollineau, president of American Bridge. “Once the American people realize that his economic record as governor is based on smoke and mirrors, and his social record is miles out of the mainstream, his campaign will become an historical footnote just like Fred Thompson’s and Rudy Giuliani’s.”

AP: Romney And Huntsman In Spotlight As GOP Contenders Weigh In On Debt Deal In Washington

On August 2, 2011, the Associated Press reported:

A Democrat-friendly outside group, American Bridge, echoed the criticism of Romney. “It’s great to see that after more than a month of negotiations, Mitt Romney finally decided to weigh in on one of the most important issues facing our nation,” American Bridge spokesman Ty Matsdorf said. “As somebody who is trying to campaign as a savvy businessman, you would have thought he would have tried to lead his party, but instead he has decided to kowtow to the tea party.”

Boston Globe: Brown’s decision to skip ‘It Gets Better’ video brings a wave of criticism

On July 31, 2011, the Boston Globe reported:

In an act organized by [Brown's] senior partner, Senator John F. Kerry, the 11 Democrats in the state’s congressional delegation made an “It Gets Better’’ video aimed at offering moral support to gay teenagers contemplating suicide or struggling with depression. The 12th member of the delegation - Brown - declined to participate, prompting immediate questions when the video was released Wednesday.