Thursday, November 15, 2012

In Case You Missed It (Why Romney Lost Edition)......

There has been no shortage of theories as to why Mitt Romney failed to defeat the worst president in our nation's history. I decided to compile a few for all of us to ponder. I don't agree with all of them. I'm interested in knowing which theories are readers subscribe to. There's something here for everyone!

Have at it....
___________________________________

Mitt Romney - As reported by the New York Times

....“With regards to the young people, for instance, a forgiveness of college loan interest was a big gift,” Mr. Romney said. “Free contraceptives were very big with young, college-aged women. And then, finally, Obamacare also made a difference for them, because as you know, anybody now 26 years of age and younger was now going to be part of their parents’ plan, and that was a big gift to young people. They turned out in large numbers, a larger share in this election even than in 2008.” The president’s health care plan, he said, was also a useful tool in mobilizing black and Hispanic voters....
___________________________________

Bobby Jindal - As reported by Huffington Post

Lousiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) rebuffed Mitt Romney's claim that President Obama won reelection because of "gifts" to minorities and young voters, calling the statement "wrong."....

...."Mitt Romney is an honorable man. He's a good honest man. He deserves our respect, and our gratitude," Jindal said. "The reality of it, the campaign was too much about biography. It wasn't enough about a vision of where they wanted to take our country, and how they would do it ... The reality is people are not being inspired by a biography."....
____________________________________

Michael Hirsch - National Journal

....But in the end, Obama secured a second historic election victory—in the face of staggering unemployment—largely because the alternative portrait that Romney presented to the country was far too incomplete. By failing to fill in critical details that would have fleshed out both his personality and his policies, the Republican challenger gave the American people a mere pencil sketch of a candidate. It wasn’t enough, and it was much too abstract. Too many voters couldn’t figure out which Romney would show up in the Oval Office. Would it be the Massachusetts-moderate redux they saw in the last six weeks of the campaign, or the right-wing ideologue from the Republican primaries who embraced a small-government zealot, Rep. Paul Ryan, as his running mate?....
____________________________________

Ramesh Ponnuru - National Review

....Romney was not a drag on the Republican party. The Republican party was a drag on him.....
____________________________________

Bill Bennett - CNN

....We must counter the discourse and speak and educate in terms of family, faith, freedom, principle, values, work, country, community, improvement, growth, and equality of opportunity. No longer can the Republican Party be solely the party of business. Who controls the terms of discussion, dialogue, and education controls the country and, therefore, the election....
_____________________________________

Tucker Carlson - Daily Caller

....But it was a flawed candidacy from the start. Romney’s caution and ever-shifting policy positions made him seem fearful, which is to say weak. His biography hurt him. During a cycle when voters remained angry at Wall Street, Romney bore the weight of a finance background. And because of his own history in Massachusetts, he could never effectively go after President Obama on Obamacare, the president’s biggest political weakness.....
______________________________________

John Dickerson - Slate

....How did the Romney team get it so wrong? According to those involved, it was a mix of believing anecdotes about party enthusiasm and an underestimation of their opponents’ talents. The Romney campaign thought Obama’s base had lost its affection for its candidate. They believed Obama would win only if he won over independent voters. So Romney focused on independents and the economy, which was their key issue. The Republican ground game was focused on winning those voters. “We thought the only way to win was doing well with independents and we were kicking ass with independents,” says a top aide. One senior adviser bet me that if Obama won Ohio, he would donate $1,000 per point to my favorite charity. (That would be a $10,000 hit since Romney lost Ohio but won independents by 10 points). In the end, Romney won independents nationally by five points—and it didn’t matter one bit....
_________________________________________

Kathleen Parker - Kansas.com

...The truth is, Romney was better than the GOP deserved. Party nitwits undermined him and the self-righteous tried to bring him down. The nitwits are well-enough known at this point – those farthest-right social conservatives who couldn’t find it in their hearts to keep their traps shut. No abortion for rape or incest? Sit down. Legitimate rape? Put on your clown suit and go play in the street....
_________________________________________

Sean Trende - Real Clear Politics

....But most importantly, the 2012 elections actually weren’t about a demographic explosion with non-white voters. Instead, they were about a large group of white voters not showing up.... ....So who were these whites and why did they stay home? My first instinct was that they might be conservative evangelicals turned off by Romney’s Mormonism or moderate past. But the decline didn’t seem to be concentrated in Southern states with high evangelical populations....
__________________________________________

Mark America (This is a fantastic piece by Mark America. Make sure to read the whole thing.)

....The most fatal flaw was the candidate. Whether by ineptitude, or by sabotage, his campaign missed too many opportunities to attract voters and score big when Obama fumbled. They let the media put them off their game with ludicrous notions. They permitted the Obama campaign to define Mitt, and he did not effectively counter. Most of all, however, Mitt Romney failed to capitalize on the natural constituencies of the conservative movement, perhaps in part because he was at least as unpalatable to them as they were to him. I said early on in the primary fight that Romney seemed to have been planning to ignore the Tea Party and evangelicals on the basis that they’d show up anyway. In many important ways, they didn’t, and this is what spelled defeat for Romney. That, and I don’t think he was supposed to win. More on that later.

If you like what you see, please "Like" us on Facebook here.
Please follow us on Twitter here.

41 comments:

Anonymous said...

Romney is right!

Anonymous said...

i don't see mitt romney or his campaign like any of the words written above! this was a decent man that had the answer to what was needed at the perfect time couldnt have been more plain to me. mitt romney was the man who would have went down as one great president! he didnt lay out a plan? yes he did and i understood it perfectly. not sure why nobody else did though. he told everybody how he was going to create jobs, how he was going to make our military stronger, how he was going to tackle the budget by cutting ridiculous worthless spending. im must not sure what you are all talking about because he surely told you all what he was going to do. i hope everybody understands that not only did obama win his campaign was funded by all of us...now how dumb was that is the question!

Anonymous said...

Romney hit it on the nail and also so did rush limbaugh. you can't compete with santa clause! what obama did to get elected is pathetic and he has no right buying this election with tax payers money! ESPECIALLY MY MONEY when i want nothing to do with that evil man! he's a disgrace to me and i will never consider him the president of the united states nor is he even eligible to be a president of the united states! all these people trying to do their next day quarterbacking should be ashamed of themselves for even speaking any words about what they think he did wrong. WHERE WERE YOU ALL WHEN HE WAS RUNNING WITH YOUR BIG MOUTHS! don't forget this election had massive voter fraud so how can one even say obama won this election is my question! he didnt win this by any means. he had to cheat to win it and i'd say based on all the petitions circulationg throughout the entire country the verdict's in...ROMNEY PRESIDENT ELECT!

Joel2012 said...

It is so easy to talk like you know anything after the fact, but the real issue here is, what did you do beforehand to help us win this election? All of these so-called experts who like to tell us why our candidate lost are simply talking heads with their own agendas. The final comment was the most telling of all. "I said early on in the primary fight that Romney seemed to have been planning to ignore the Tea Party and evangelicals on the basis that they’d show up anyway. In many important ways, they didn’t, and this is what spelled defeat for Romney." If this is the case, then what a bunch of selfish morons. If the so-called patriots of our country are also the same ones responsible for turning this election for the incumbent than I want nothing to do with them. If the so-called evangelical vote refused to vote for a strong and decent man because of his religious views, then shame on them for being blinded by their own prejudices. Either way, if this is the argument being made, then we are our own worst enemy. The fact is, our candidate should have expected that these individuals would show up and vote for him and for our party. This would have been a logical assumption. For them not to do so, was not only a mistake, but a disgrace. It was a slap in the face to all of us. If you are telling me that in the most important election of our times these individuals chose to sit at home rather than vote, then that is the most cowardly thing they could have ever done. If this is true, then they more than anything or anyone else are the ones responsible for this loss. Our candidate had the courage to run against overwhelming odds and he ran an incredible campaign. A campaign worthy of the principles that we should all stand for. It saddens me that our own side chose evil over good. Can you imagine, evil over good? That might be a harsh statement to some, but it is what it is. Our country lost a great leader and a great opportunity because of self-righteous idiots. Even the idiots on the other side, those without a clue who are brainless and void of any common sense went out and voted for their candidate. And here we are, the so-called informed voters, choosing to stay at home rather than voting the incumbent out of office? This is beyond contempt! If you hated our candidate for what he did or didn't stand for, you have a right to, nothing can change that. But when it comes down to voting and there are two options available, then it is your obligation to vote, period. A true patriot voted in this election. An idiot who stayed at home refusing to cast their vote is not a patriot, they are the exact opposite. And anyone including the author of this post who considers the last commentary in this article as "fantastic" can revel in their astuteness, but as far as I am concerned, who cares? It is the aftermath of the decisions that were made that matter most. I mourn for our nation and I shudder to thing that all was lost because of the irresponsible actions of individuals who were selfish and should have known better.

Anonymous said...

Rubio2012!!

Anonymous said...

I'm not a huge fan of Tucker Carlson, but I think his explanation is the closest to reality. Romney never had a chance based on the biography he peddled as his reasons for being elected. His self perceived strong suits were the basis of his demise ... oh the irony.

BUT...

The truth of the matter is that none of the other canditards had any better of a chance. He was the best with the best chance.

BUT...

Even the best chance had no shot at all, and the only reasons he polled so well was not due to himself, it was due to his competitor and you cannot win a Presidential election based solely on President Obama's flaws.

jerseyrepublican

Anonymous said...

Joel is very wise and I agree with ALL that he said. Thank you, Joel. The contributor called Right Wingnut disappeared from this site ever since Romney won the GOP nomination. He's not right wing, but he is a nut. Romney courted evangelicals and had the support of their leaders urging evangelicals to vote for Romney. The largest Tea Party organization, PA Independence Hall, endorsed Romney. I was amazed at Romney's successes. Mormons were taken off the cult list. It is foolish and ignorant to say Romney ignored these groups. The South was the most difficult 'religious' region for Romney to cultivate, but he did NOT fail in the South. The loss was in corrupt union centers, and you can look there for answers. Those ideas involving taxpayers paying for Obama's campaign tell a definite part of the story. Ask yourselves, why did Obama run a far Left campaign? And how did Obama win without the Independent demographic? Explain that, and you may stumble across answers. Right Wingnut just wishes to destroy conservatives and the Republican Party. His 'handle' tells his story since conservatives don't consider themselves 'nuts.' We dislike being pegged in a box with the notion of 'right wing' since the Left and their media lapdogs have demonized the concept as 'fringe' and too extreme for the sane. We naturally disagree with the entire concepts inherent in the "Right Wingnut" phrase. He's not a conservative and he HATES Romney and conservatives. I am sorry for those who listen to his rhetoric and nonsense. I am disappointed with this site publishing this so often discredited person again.

Right Wingnut said...

Anon @ XX:13,

LOL!

Right Wingnut said...

The bottom line is that too many white conservatives stayed home. It's not about demographics. It's not about Akin and Mourdock. It's not about birth control.

The question is, why did they stay home?

Right Wingnut said...

Just a reminder....

Romney won Independents 50-45. McCain lost Indies 52-44.

How anyone can argue that the Romney's loss is attributed to anything other than a lack of turnout among the conservative base is beyond me.

Anonymous said...

I call out those bumpkins who continue to say we could win by running as NON-Americans, and ignoring our Constitution. Republicans unite around a clear understanding that a Republic does without the efficiency of a King because Kingdoms normally imply bondage for the people.

We replaced the King concept with the "Law" to govern. Without reverence for the Law, we are chaos and not a Republic. So the kooks who come here peddling their Rubio nonsense might not realize that if we listened to them, there would be no Republican Party or American Republic. I suspect they know, and it is their GOAL.

Please go find your own pinko friends. This site is for actual conservatives. You are NOT from the Right. The Right believes in correct principles that apply equally to all. We aren't dividers who pander to one race and then the next.

This is also the entire concept of all our Rights, which come from God. We are created equal. This doesn't mean we are exactly the same in traits, advantages, and talent. It means that we write laws with the express intention of them applying to all EQUALLY.

So for you people who love pandering to a race or special constituencies, you just don't get conservatism. There is no such Right in the Constitution that one will be liked. That is dumb and part of the Democrat Party platform. It was never part of the Founding Fathers' discussion or intention.

They were fighting elitism, where the wealthy could break laws without consequence; it was expected. The Democrats are pushing for the same OLD system: Kings distribute wealth. It is a absolutely corrupt system that corrupts absolutely.

Thomas Jefferson said, "Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty." Too many unconsciously rely on the idea of a magic money tree. People governing themselves is a learned behavior and takes practice and time.

One is never free when in debt bondage and / or dependent like children. The Founding Fathers knew it would end our Republic when voters vote themselves money.


Anonymous said...

*See the film "Gladiator." Notice how the tyrants in this film pander with free bread. This is not a modern or forward concept, it is repulsive. The souls of free men rot and decay while looking for handouts.

George Washington knew liberty was for a noble People, and that virtue in the People is essential to remain free. He explained it is folly to expect a People to be free who are not religious and good. Reverence for rights of private property are the foundation of a free People.

Many today seem to not understand that legislating morality is what all laws do. We need consensus and good Law, not micromanaging that destroys liberty. Every day we make decisions about what is wrong or right.

We need to put in a lifetime of effort and study to make wise choices. Our Founding Fathers knew religious freedom is the founding liberty. The practice of plunder cannot co-exist with freedom.

It is self-destructive to tax the wealthy in our country far more than all the other nations. Our wealthy are the most productive and successful, and we will not like what we become without them. So MANY advances we share began with their patronage, until at last the price of these modern conveniences is low enough for all to pay.

Anonymous said...

For example, without rich people buying very expensive TV's, the technology would not have evolved far enough to mass produce at economically attainable values the way it did in America.

When Obama breached the sanctuary of the Church this past year, he violated the freedom of our conscience, and the freedom to think independently. It is vital to being a free people to decide for one's self what is good or bad. Without being free to think independent thoughts, we cannot be free.

We cannot choose our own course or Laws without this particular independence. Free People form concepts for themselves, and then formulate laws to govern. The government cannot be allowed to dictate to churches, or we The People are no longer the makers of the Law. The force of Government then dictates.

Anonymous said...

Let's avoid the Democrat way of establishing a homesteading bunch of incumbents, who've been re-elected at near 100% rates.

We must begin by preventing the perpetuity of office in the same hands for life which by a little well timed bribery continues.

"We are there, the Era of incumbency and bribery. 'Homesteading' in Congress became possible by re-election rates that approached 100% by the end of the 20th century." Wiki Quote

The founding fathers sought every way possible to limit government. The Constitution is anti-big government. The Founding Fathers KNEW big government is NOT trustworthy. Let's not try to keep re-inventing the wheel. We will not benefit from a Marquis and Duchess class form of government.

Anonymous said...

As "Right Wingnut" was not here in action since Romney won the GOP nomination (Romney won the GOP nomination against Wingnut's ever urgent wishes) one can only wonder if Wingnut is partly to blame for Romney not becoming our President.

After all, Wingnut is the kind of conservative who refused to support Romney. He resisted Romney with great determination. I entirely doubt Wingnut's sincerity.

I have to believe Wingnut is another false flag operation at this site. Why else is he here stomping on Romney and Romney supporters. Why does Wingnut show little sorrow, and virulently attack fellow Republicans? Highly not copacetic in Republican behavior and demeanor.

Anonymous said...

The ideas regarding what is "fair" form our morality. So, of course, laws legislate morality. Sadly, our young these days suffer from a lack of time spent in moral instruction.

Anonymous said...

One cannot be ignorant and at the same time make wise choices.

Anonymous said...

Anyone who didn't vote for Romney should be blamed. More Democrats are to blame than anyone else, morons. Romney was our perfect solution.

Another defect leading to this demise was the process where people DID vote for Romney, and their votes changed electronically to votes for Obama. This defect has been witnessed at all levels. It isn't a mere possibility, this evil flaw is well documented.

This election was the triumph of evil, and Republicans fought most against the evil.

Stop attacking those who sent a Landslide to Congress to block this tyrant. We've been highly mobilized. The blame lies on those who with their vote don't hold officials accountable for violating the Constitution.

We The People are the only check on lawlessness run foul. Democrats and their greedy coveting are the most to blame who prefer plundering the property of others to saving our Republic, liberty, and world.

We all flounder without a strong Navy.

The Democrats and corruption are to blame. There is NO way that the youth voted in the numbers they claim. Regurgitating the dead, fermented, debauched attacks coming from the lying lapdog media pundits is unworthy of a real conservative. We know better. The MSM does not concern themselves with freedom or America's interests.

The MSM are traitors and Obama's minions. Please peddle your hatred of religion with the Democrats. Most of them would love to hear your gibberish.

Anonymous said...

Nice summary. Conservatives disagree with the concepts inherent in the "Right Wingnut" moniker. His 'handle' tells us his story since conservatives don't consider themselves 'nuts.'

And conservatives dislike being pegged in a box with the notion of being 'right wing' since the Left and their media lapdogs have demonized the concept as 'fringe' and too extreme for the sane.

Wingnut's integrity in his position is very much to be doubted. He comes here in wrath after his long absence during the contest against Obama. You yourself were NOT helpful. You have no moral high ground from which to look down on other Republicans.

Right Wingnut said...

While "Wingnut," has never been a Romney "supporter," I held my nose and voted for him. I felt like I needed a shower afterwards, but I understood that it was necessary to vote against Obama.

Nobody is a reliable GOP voter than I am. I turn out 100% of the time, and always vote for the Republican candidate.

You might want to investigate what motivated the unreliable Republican voters to stay home, rather than blame Romney losing on my lack of participation at Right Speak over the past few months. LOL

BOSMAN said...

hahaha..Yeh, this RWN is an impostor.

Somehow though, this new improved RWN managed to get the real RWN's password.

When you figure out how he did that, let me know. Maybe there's a new and improved Bosman somewhere out there lurking in the darkness that I can pass along my password to?

Anonymous said...

When Obama breached the sanctuary of the Church this past year, he violated the freedom of our conscience. It is vital to being a free people to decide for one's self what is good or bad.

We cannot choose our own course or Laws without the freedom of religion. Free People form concepts for themselves, and then formulate laws to govern.

The government cannot be allowed to dictate to churches, or we The People are no longer the makers of the Law. The force of Government then dictates.


That is backwards, and the BACKWARD regression into the pathetic darkness of the Dark Ages. Monarchists have continually sought to destroy representative government since 1776.

The triumph of elite government is the triumph of the Marquis and Duchess class. This is a brutal world without a free America. All the world counts on the protection of our Navy.

We must not fail to restore our country being governed by the Constitution, rather than by the Charlie Rangel's and Jesse Jackson's with their extortion-racket methods.

As Lincoln said, if we wish to be free we cannot do this by becoming a master who dominates others. "As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master." ~Abraham Lincoln

"If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong." ~Abraham Lincoln

Right Wingnut said...

In case anyone hasn't figured it out yet, the anon that I've been going back and forth with is "By The People." We've had these same discussions in the chat box. That's fine, but its too bad she's a coward, and won't put her name on these comments.

Anonymous said...

Wingnut, go to Europe. They don't shower often, you'll do fine.

Or else stay in the shower until you can stop attacking the ones who've tried to stop Obama, and who want to stop Obama.

Anonymous said...

The Lefties actually want evil and Obama.

Anonymous said...

"In Case You Missed It (Why Romney Lost Edition)......Posted by Right Wingnut at 5:02 AM."

I do not buy that this person is able to post by using a fake password?!! Can everyone post articles here? Why have a "right speak"? Do you just want us to have a place to come and get insulted?

Right Wingnut said...

Has anyone considered the possibility that Romney's comments yesterday, may have done more damage to the party, along the lines of "47%?"

I wonder if he intended for the media to have access to those comments.

Right Wingnut said...

The more I think about it, the more those comments need further scrutiny.....

He makes the assumption that young people, blacks, and Hispanics voted for Obama because of Obamacare, and that college age women want free birth control.

Those a comments have the potential to offend a lot of people.

He still hasn't explained where the base was on Nov 6th.

In light of his recent comments, I do believe we are getting closer to the answer as to why he lost.

MrX said...

Before the election, everyone was saying the election would be won by the biggest turnout. That's it. The Republican base did not show up. That's all there is to it. It wasn't about anything else. Last time Romney voters stayed home. This time McCain voters stayed home.

BOSMAN said...

Romney added in the article:

“You can imagine for somebody making $25,000 or $30,000 or $35,000 a year, being told you’re now going to get free health care, particularly if you don’t have it, getting free health care worth, what, $10,000 per family, in perpetuity — I mean, this is huge,” Mr. Romney said. “Likewise with Hispanic voters, free health care was a big plus. But in addition with regards to Hispanic voters, the amnesty for children of illegals, the so-called Dream Act kids, was a huge plus for that voting group.”

I think he was spot on. ASK YOUR SELF THIS before you criticize his analysis:

What % of young people voted for Romney because he wouldn't forgive student loans...he was against free contraceptives for women or on demand abortion?

What % of blacks or Hispanics voted for him because he was for repealing Obamacare? and amnesty for illegals here already?

GET THE PICTURE?....like I said, he was spot on.

FACE THE FACTS..HE WAS'NT GIVING THINGS OUT...The majority of Americans are NOW takers...DEADBEATS...with NO INTEREST in working hard or making THEIR OWN opportunities to succeed in life.

BOSMAN said...

PS,

If Romney hurt any of those folks feelings in his statement.....GOOD!!!

Right Wingnut said...

If I was single college woman, and I heard Romney saying I want free birth control, I'm offended whether I want it or not. Many of them do not. We might need their vote sometime down the road.

I see the long knives are now out from the GOP brass.

Right Wingnut said...

Hispanics wanting amnesty or free health care has nothing to do with the base staying home.

My theory is evolving on this. I no longer think the base stayed home due to Romney being a "RINO."

Anonymous said...

If Romney lost because the base did not turn out then the GOP is history. I heard that The so called base would have turned out for Santorum but someone like Santorum would have lost independents.

Joel2012 said...

The funny part of this last statement is that no other candidate, least of all Santorum, had the leadership skills and credentials that Romney had. To state the so-called base would have turned out for him is telling. If this is the case it will be a long, long, time before we will ever win another election. It is going to be rough for all of us the next four years.

JRTerrier5 said...

Any analysis is flawed it if does not take into account the full-throttled support for Obama by the media and its intense interest in undermining Romney. This allowed the Obama campaign to just lie with impunity without any consequence.

It's why Romney won debate #1 so resoundedly. It was Romney unfiltered and without a moderator interfering.

JRTerrier5 said...

Everyone is thinking that Rubio is our savior should be ready for defeat. While Rubio has a lot of fine attributes, he is a lightweight by comparison to Romney.

If he wins, it'll be because the country will be sick & tired of DEMS as they were of W.

By the way, Rubio is Cuban-American. Don't think he will automatically get the Mexican-American vote.

JRTerrier5 said...

1) I wish you would set the comment section up so that we could reply to a particular post.

2) I agree with the anonymous who wrote "The loss was in corrupt union centers, and you can look there for answers. Those ideas involving taxpayers paying for Obama's campaign tell a definite part of the story. Ask yourselves, why did Obama run a far Left campaign? And how did Obama win without the Independent demographic? Explain that, and you may stumble across answers."

3) Following up on that comment, there are several explanations regarding the ones who didn't vote. Perhaps they did vote & their votes disappeared in those DEM controlled precints. Did anyone see the crowds Romney was drawing? And the antipathy for Obama among a lot of the Republican base.

Anonymous said...

And the Palin supporters are crazy...

jerseyrepublican

Face it Romney never had a chance. I said it from 2008, Romney was never capable of beating Obama. The American people cannot relate to a man with a 300 million net worth

Right Wingnut said...

JR,

Sadly, I believe that is correct. It may not be "fair" that so many Republicans stayed home because of Romney's image as rich, and "out of touch," but some of us knew that would happen from the beginning. I would argue that Team Obama knew that too. That's why Romney didn't get the full court press from the media like Gingrich and Santorum did. I'm not suggesting that either of those clowns would have won either, but it was apparent from the beginning that the left wanted to run against "Gordon Gecko."

Having said that, I voted for him, and don't regret it. I would do it again. I'm a tool for the GOP establishment, because my vote is in the bank every election cycle. Why? Because I hate Democrats. It's that simple.

Right Wingnut said...

I would also add that it's the job of the candidate to break through the scrutiny by the media and the opposing candidate. This is not one of Romney's strong points.