I have some unsolicited advice for Republican Presidential Wannabes. If you really want to be POTUS, avoid trying to convince Iowan Republicans that you are Sean Hannity's twin. Let's call this advice the Mitt Romney Rule.
Not that Romney didn't try to avoid the very thing of which I am accusing him of. In 2005, Mitt Romney was a fairly "moderate" governor (I place "moderate" in italics, because he was actually quite conservative). He decided to run for President. So he lurched to the "right" (again, there are italics surrounding "right" because I don't really believe that the hardcore "right" of the base are more conservative than the "moderates"). He lost the nomination because McCain also lurched to the "right." Romney knew he wanted to run for President again, yet he also knew that a Republican attached to the Tea Party brand would surely lose. Furthermore, he had spent years chasing hardcore "conservatives" only to be disappointed when they showed up to the ballot boxes.
So Romney decided to be just as "conservative" enough to slip through the primaries, so that his lurch back to the "middle" would be as unnoticeable as possible. It didn't quite go according to plan. Romney had trouble solidifying a majority of Republicans. First, came Perry, later Gingrich. Romney had to get to the right of them in order to win. Enter the famous self-deportation zinger. And the conservative "right" is all about zingers. Not so much everyone else, unfortunately.
I can also recall a huge moment during the summer when Romney was trying to finish off Santorum that a certain talk radio host dominated the news cycle for weeks because he called a young woman a slut and wished on air to watch her non-existing porn videos. Romney was corned by the media - most of whom were glad to talk about the incident - and asked about the comments. He replied quite meekly that it was not what he would have say and then quickly vanished before he offended any more said talk radio host and said talk radio host's base of supporters. Women took special note, just like Hispanics had taken note of Romney's immigration stance. Both groups heavily went to Obama in the general election.
While Romney deserves credit for doing his darndest to distance himself for the worst elements of the modern conservative movement, he failed in many ways to grow a pair. He thought he could win the nomination and then hope everyone would forget about some of his positions (read zingers).
So listen up, you potential electable Republicans! I am basically talking only to you, Gov. Christie. If you want to win the Presidency, be the kind of man you are now! It makes no sense to win the Republican nomination, just so you can lose in the general.
Not that Romney didn't try to avoid the very thing of which I am accusing him of. In 2005, Mitt Romney was a fairly "moderate" governor (I place "moderate" in italics, because he was actually quite conservative). He decided to run for President. So he lurched to the "right" (again, there are italics surrounding "right" because I don't really believe that the hardcore "right" of the base are more conservative than the "moderates"). He lost the nomination because McCain also lurched to the "right." Romney knew he wanted to run for President again, yet he also knew that a Republican attached to the Tea Party brand would surely lose. Furthermore, he had spent years chasing hardcore "conservatives" only to be disappointed when they showed up to the ballot boxes.
So Romney decided to be just as "conservative" enough to slip through the primaries, so that his lurch back to the "middle" would be as unnoticeable as possible. It didn't quite go according to plan. Romney had trouble solidifying a majority of Republicans. First, came Perry, later Gingrich. Romney had to get to the right of them in order to win. Enter the famous self-deportation zinger. And the conservative "right" is all about zingers. Not so much everyone else, unfortunately.
I can also recall a huge moment during the summer when Romney was trying to finish off Santorum that a certain talk radio host dominated the news cycle for weeks because he called a young woman a slut and wished on air to watch her non-existing porn videos. Romney was corned by the media - most of whom were glad to talk about the incident - and asked about the comments. He replied quite meekly that it was not what he would have say and then quickly vanished before he offended any more said talk radio host and said talk radio host's base of supporters. Women took special note, just like Hispanics had taken note of Romney's immigration stance. Both groups heavily went to Obama in the general election.
While Romney deserves credit for doing his darndest to distance himself for the worst elements of the modern conservative movement, he failed in many ways to grow a pair. He thought he could win the nomination and then hope everyone would forget about some of his positions (read zingers).
So listen up, you potential electable Republicans! I am basically talking only to you, Gov. Christie. If you want to win the Presidency, be the kind of man you are now! It makes no sense to win the Republican nomination, just so you can lose in the general.
16 comments:
Pablo, that sounds good in theory, but I doubt it will work in real life. Christie's manner is not going to match up well against Hillary--just no way it can. Or anyone they nominate. Christie has a nasty habit of speaking before thinking, and many times it just wasn't in his best interest--or ours. Over a year long campaign, I doubt Christie could keep a lid on the things he probably shouldn't say.
Yes, it is one of the things everyone loves about him, me included, but it's also reckless. He was one of my favs, but he has exhibited terrible judgment the past few months. I just don't have a lot of confidence in him at the moment.
Also, some Republicans are already gunning for him.
-Martha
I agree with most of what you said about Romney, but let's face it, Romney was damned if he did, and damned if he didn't.
Sure, he could have gone ape on Rush, Akin and co., but then the so-called 'real conservatives' would have punished him even more.
-Martha
Martha,
I agree with assessment of Romney's position. Unfortunately, the only way Republicans win in the future is if we have a leader with the personality and charisma to navigate between the "real conservatives" and swing voters. Romney didn't have it, whatever 'it' is. Christie might have it. But it is probable that it just can't be done.
I agree with your assessment is what I should have said.
Sone of the running between the candidates in the primaries was people who were clearly struggling to vote for a Mormon candidate. They used "trust" as an excuse, but it was often code for discomfort with Romney's religion. Many of them have been absolutely uncomfortable voting for a Mormon because they are very uncomfortable with Mormons period. Progress has been made, but I am certain this was a factor in the general, although no one really knows to what extent.
AZ
Romney won MO by double digits, but Akin lost.
It is the Lefties and Democrats who hate Mormons the most, not Republicans.
An expert D.A. wrote a book about the O.J. Simpson trial. He said something quite true, the prosecutors couldn't win that trial against the Defendant by calling him a nice guy. I do object when the top of our ticket does that, and his opponent isn't nice.
But I didn't buy this type of insulting of Romney when the state run media did it.
It is difficult when the incumbent and his bribery machine was on steroids, "campaigning" more than any previous incumbent.
And it is also hard to compete with unprecedented non-citizen voting with free health care as the bribe.
Try the blackmail, bribery and extortion rackets on steroids. We are all in trouble, and I feel more like thanking Romney for running than insulting him more and more and more. Think of the good people we'll discourage from running by these vicious blaming-Romney self-immolations.
Consider our real enemies:
http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/03/ofa_the_organizing_of_america.html
http://spectator.org/archives/2013/03/07/what-would-barry-think
Romney had the strength and courage to run. The so-called real conservatives sat this one out so I have zero respect for those who are now bashing our former candidate. It is stupid and counter-produce, more like the actions of little children than responsible adults. Romney was the adult in this campaign but it didn't matter to a low information electorate. As for our side, only a fool thought Bachmann, Perry, Gingrich, Cain, Santorum, were better candidates than Romney, this was plain stupid. There was no reason for Romney to have to fight his way through the primaries. As I've stated many times, we are our own worst enemy. The conservative right is all about zingers? One of the stupidest comments I have ever read here. As for the silly comment about Romney growing a pair, this is both ludicrous and downright offensive. No one in the business world would have ever made such a slanderous statement. Take a look at your own lack of accomplishments before making such an absurd claim. Romney's speak for themselves. In a climate where the cards were stacked against him from the start, he ran an inspiring campaign and he did not lower himself to the gutter levels some suggest was necessary for victory. If our party feels in order to win future elections we have to pander to those who lean towards the left and change our core values to harvest the votes of individuals who have no clue what it is to be conservative, then I for one am not interested in playing this game. If the majority of the electorate today revels in evil rather than good, I am not interested in lowing my standards in order to win an election. As far as I am concerned, there are more important things in life than winning an election. Romney was the overwhelming better choice and like fools, an illiterate society by hook or by crook chose the other side. Rather than chastise him, I agree with others here that we should thank him for stepping up to the plate, showing true leadership at a time when it was desperately needed. Thanks Mitt!
Joel states- concerning Romney's campaign "he ran an inspiring campaign "
There is no hope.
I was inspiring, but America is asleep at the wheel, and wants cool.
Mitt Romney is a throwback to a time when values, competence, common sense and decency mattered. Apparently we don't need those virtues anymore.
-Martha
The problem is the right, thanks to Reagan's amnesty and the millions and millions of new Democrats,doesn't have the numbers to win nationally and is and was far too stubborn to truly support Romney, in hopes that if they tough it out, they will eventually get rewarded with someone like Palin.
Rush, Levin, Ingraham, Beck, and Levine, among the main offenders, had a full out assault on Romney-everyday-leading up to the primaries and even up until a few months shy of the election. Not only did this bashing drag out the primaries for far longer than they should've lasted and soured many GOP voters, it was accompanied with threats of a floor fight at the convention.
It looked to me like the talk radio heads were deliberately dragging out the primaries in the hopes that the "unconventional" Palin campaign, as described by Limbaugh, could take place in the longed for convention floor fight where Romney would lose the nomination for their preferred choice, and if not Palin than someone else of their approval like Santorum.
The right set itself up to fail in the presidential election with its tactics against Romney,as Romney had not only to fight the Democrats, the national media, but the right wing media as well. Nevermind that Palin or Santorum couldn't win nationally.
It is true that the Left hate Mormons more, but that doesn't automatically mean everyone on the right are comfortable with them. There are many good people in this country who had a very hard time voting for a Mormon. Many overcame their fears, some didn't. No one knows how many that is. My point is that it's part of what made the primaries so awful. You can't tell me that "Laying on of hands" by preachers for Santorum was helpful for anybody.
AZ
There is no hope for those who claim to have conservative values but always support this administration and their politics. Seems to me it is far more important to stand on the side of honesty and integrity than to embrace evil, regardless of what is more popular in the minds of a illiterate society that cannot think rationally.
Joel has stated (paraphrased first quote) 'others can worry about voter fraud if they choose, Romney does not need to' as 'Romney is at peace' and [Romney] 'ran an inspiring campaign'
After, during the campaign, stating all sorts of *predictions* with regard to the impending election resultsuch as: 'it's all over for the incumbent' and 'the emperor has no clothes'
Need we say anymore?
Romneyman will always stay loyal to his party, he is as far left and as far away from conservative values as anyone here. A lot of people who are a lot smarter than anyone here, people who get paid millions of dollars for their predictions, got this one wrong. When every single state that did not have a photo identification law in place goes to the incumbent, well that's all we need to know about this election. For some that's an acceptable statistic, for others it makes final results questionable. There is no honor nor glory in a tainted election. There is no honor nor glory in hiding the truth. Except in the minds of those who choose evil over good. In this election, the emperor had no clothes on, it just didn't matter to an illiterate society.
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