Candidate- Mitt Romney

[Valin]

Romney wins majority in Mackinac straw poll

David Freddoso

9/25/11

 

Mitt Romney, pictured next to...who's that again? (AP photo)

 

Some more bad news for Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Mitt Romney was assumed to have a home-field advantage among Michigan's GOP political class at this celebrated event on Mackinaw Island, but this is a pretty resounding victory that puts an exclamation point on Perry's disappointing performance with a more naturally conservative crowd at the Florida CPAC.

 

From National Journal:

 

Romney Wins Mackinac Straw Poll, Rubio Favorite for VP

 

MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. – In a blowout, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney won the National Journal Hotline/National Association of Home Builders Straw Poll of GOP activists attending the biennial Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference

 

(Snip)

[clearvision]

With Perry's crash in Florida, I think Mitt moves up quite a bit as "the guy". Cain's victory in FL while good (I think) does not make up for the vast infrastructure and money Mitt has in place. I sort of hoped Perry would put a dent in Mitt, although I could live with either one (or a few of the others). Perry flubbing in FL however makes it harder for the few others to fend of Mitt.

[Valin]

With Perry's crash in Florida, I think Mitt moves up quite a bit as "the guy". Cain's victory in FL while good (I think) does not make up for the vast infrastructure and money Mitt has in place. I sort of hoped Perry would put a dent in Mitt, although I could live with either one (or a few of the others). Perry flubbing in FL however makes it harder for the few others to fend of Mitt.

 

Agree. What Herman's win does do is keep his campaign alive and gives him a better shot, by getting him A. Money, B. People. I (like you) can live with Mitt, but it must be noted a lot of people on the right really have questions about him (Romenycare anyone), so I believe Herman's plan is to hang around until he's people second choice. This win puts some more life in his run.

[Valin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qENAbpMM0A

[Valin]

Mitt Romney Delivers Remarks on U.S. Foreign Policy

 

Good Stuff! And may I just add how impressed I am about the Character of the GOP Candidates....with one exception

[WestVirginiaRebel]

GOP hopefuls clash over Perry attack ad

 

Texas Gov. Rick Perry kicked off Columbus Day with a sharply critical new Web ad that lights into presidential rival Mitt Romney’s support of universal health care in Massachusetts, calling it evidence that the former governor’s attempts to cast himself as a successful conservative businessman ring hollow.

 

A day ahead of a GOP debate in the crucial primary state of New Hampshire, Mr. Romney’s camp responded almost immediately, saying the ad used deceptive editing and showed Mr. Perry growing “desperate” as he sinks in the polls.

 

Mr. Perry’s new “Romney’s Remedy” spot describes Mr. Romney as the co-author of President Obama’s national health care overhaul - showing Mr. Obama gazing into a mirror that flashes the reflection of Mr. Romney’s image. (Click here to view the ad.)

 

“Even the richest man,” the ad’s caption reads, “can’t buy back his past.”

 

The ad also says the Bay State program, which includes the “individual mandate” to purchase insurance that conservatives abhor in the president’s plan, cost Massachusetts 18,000 jobs and $8 billion in new expenses.

 

Mr. Romney has vowed on multiple occasions to replace what he calls “Obamacare” and, while defending his state program, said he opposes a national version that requires people to obtain coverage.

 

As for his repeated claim that the former Massachusetts governor is a “conservative businessman,” the Perry ad responds, “nice try.”

 

“When it comes to government-mandated health care, there is no difference between Mitt Romney and President Obama,” Perry spokesman Mark Miner said.

 

The Romney camp said the ad is proof Mr. Perry will say “anything to prop up his sinking campaign.”

________

 

Between Cain's rise and that pastor's "Cult" remarks, I think Perry is starting to get desperate here...

[Geee]

Barone: Romney Buoyed by Good Luck and Hard Experience

 

Napoleon is supposed to have said that the quality he most valued in his generals was luck. In the current race for the Republican presidential nomination, Napoleon's favorite would clearly be Mitt Romney.

 

One lucky break after another has helped Romney maintain front-runner status or something close to it in polls of Republican primary voters and caucus-goers. And he needed luck to rebound from his unsuccessful run in 2008.

 

His strategy that cycle was slavishly modeled on George W. Bush's strategy in 2000. Romney started off early, raised and spent lots more money than any other Republican and sponsored his own "compassionate conservative" initiative, his Massachusetts health care plan.

 

He crisscrossed Iowa, campaigning as a conservative on abortion and cultural issues. Unfortunately, that was at odds with his past record, and he was overtaken by Mike Huckabee. Then he was beaten in relatively secular, tax-hating New Hampshire by John McCain. Romney came close but was out of the race after Super Tuesday.

 

An interesting counterfactual that may have occurred to him: If he had ignored Iowa and run on his business record as an economic conservative, he might have won New Hampshire and the nomination. And in the financial crisis in the fall, he might have sailed past a seemingly clueless Barack Obama.

 

But Romney clearly learns from mistakes. This time he has raised less money, mostly ignored Iowa, and is emphasizing his business and economic expertise that -- lucky for him -- seems relevant in a time of economic sluggishness.

 

Romney has been lucky as well in the shaping of the field. The decisions of Paul Ryan and Mitch Daniels not to run removed rivals who know a whole lot more about the federal budget and the looming entitlements crisis than Romney does. Each would have pressed him to take risky stands that he has deftly avoided.

 

Romney has been helped by the news media's fascination with supposed possible candidates who never seemed likely to run -- Sarah Palin, whose looming shadow has been growing dimmer for months, and Donald Trump, who flared up like a Roman candle and came crashing to ground. No room for stories on Romneycare or flip-flops on some issues.

 

Romney has also been helped by surges of support for more conservative -- they would say less establishment -- candidates who did not live up to their early promise.

http://townhall.com/columnists/michaelbarone/2011/10/17/romney_buoyed_by_good_luck_and_hard_experience

[righteousmomma]

As someone who supported Romney in 08 and even today have nothing against him personally I have to say the following article nails the concerns of many of us.

 

Why Romney Alarms Me

By Victor Volsky

 

I like Mitt Romney. I do. In fact, how can anyone help liking him? A vigorous man in the Goldilocks prime of his life -- not too young to scare the electorate by his lack of experience, not too old to worry about the onset of decrepitude. A man of indisputably high intelligence and great experience, with an enviable resume. A devoted family man with a wonderful wife and five strapping sons. A man of unimpeachable moral character with not a whiff of scandal ever attaching to him (what a relief after that paragon of supersized appetite, Bill Clinton!).

 

The son of a self-made man who rose from humble origins to become governor of Michigan, his entire life is an open book, which is a guarantee that no scandal is lurking in his past to rear its ugly head at an opportune moment of the opposition's choosing (what a relief after that man of impenetrable mystery, Barack Obama!). A fabulously successful businessman and a noted turn-around specialist, who made his fortune the old-fashioned way -- by earning it. The wizard of Salt Lake City, who took over the floundering, scandal-ridden U.S. Olympics in Utah, cleaned it up, and achieved a signal success -- under his leadership, the 2002 Winter Olympics in Utah became one of the most successful Olympic Games ever held in the U.S.

 

Read more at http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/10/why_romney_alarms_me.html

 

The gist is :

 

"Like an old janitor called to the frat house to clean up after a wild party, President Romney would dolefully peruse the disgusting scene, heave a deep sigh, and, indignantly muttering under his breath (it will be rude to aggravate the severely hung-over revelers, won't it?), proceed to clean up the gigantic mess left by the Bacchanal. But the country does not need a custodial president who will tweak here and there and apply some Band-Aids, leaving intact the structures put in place by his socialist predecessor. It needs a bold and daring leader who will extirpate the socialist poison tree root and branch.

 

Unfortunately, there is little reason to believe that Mitt Romney would be that kind of leader. Which means that an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity would be wasted, and the wounded leftist vampire would live to fight another day. That's why the prospect of this decent and otherwise remarkable man becoming the next president of the United States is not comforting at all. Indeed, it is downright alarming.

[RandyM]

righteousmomma!! Concern shared by many. That is exactly why the left, the MSM and the GOP establishment want Romney to be the GOP nominee. No significant changes.

[righteousmomma]

I am very much afraid you are right. Agree.

[Valin]

Commentary: Does OWS Nullify “Tea Party” as Election Attack?

Alana Goodman

11.03.2011

 

This new ad from Priorities USA Action, an Obama PAC, is a helpful preview of the kind of attacks Mitt Romney can look forward to during the general election, if he ends up securing the nomination

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz1aLR05eb8

 

 

(Snip)

 

 

Here's the thing...I don't find any real disagreement with what Mitt said.

[Valin]

USA Today: Romney: How I'll tackle spending, debt

Mitt Romney

11/4/11

 

I spent much of my 25-year career in the private sector turning around failing enterprises. With a great team behind me, I helped to turn around the Salt Lake City Olympic Games, and fix a badly broken state budget in Massachusetts. But I have never seen an enterprise as large, as poorly led, and as badly in need of a turnaround as our federal government.

 

President Obama inherited a severely imbalanced budget, and he made it much worse. Many now question whether we can ever return to fiscal sanity, let alone fiscal strength. A point of no return may well be approaching — a decade of huge deficits could drive our principal payments and interest rates beyond our reach while starving the economy of the capital it needs to grow.

 

We can still correct course because our economy retains tremendous capacity for growth. As president, I will bring to Washington the turnaround philosophy it so badly needs.

 

(Snip)

[Valin]

[Rheo]

I had no idea that Victor David Hanson was a registered Democrat.

Process of changing to Independent but that was a surprise to me.

 

good so far....going back to finish listening.

[Rheo]

That was excellent and must see.

[Valin]

I had no idea that Victor David Hanson was a registered Democrat.

Process of changing to Independent but that was a surprise to me.

 

good so far....going back to finish listening.

 

There was a time when Democrats were not insane. Ok, we all know all Democrats are not insane...but I do question the sanity (solid grasp of reality) of anyone who would actually vote for (say) Barney Frank or Al Franken, Nancy Pelosi and then wonder why things are not getting better.

[nickydog]

That was excellent and must see.

Yes, it was. It was interesting to watch him and hear him talk. He doesn't talk like he writes. I was surprised to hear he was a registered Democrat, too, and also wonder why he is registering as an independent.

[Argyle58]

I still think Romney has problems with the religion issue. While I don't think that it SHOULD be and issue, a lot of the fundamentalist Christian right won't even consider him.

 

Other than that, he has the best chance to garner the votes of the Independent centrists.

[Valin]

I still think Romney has problems with the religion issue. While I don't think that it SHOULD be and issue, a lot of the fundamentalist Christian right won't even consider him.

 

Other than that, he has the best chance to garner the votes of the Independent centrists.

 

 

I wonder how many, or if this is ginned up by the MSM? I would also add I've have run into a few...let's just say I gave them a small does of reality therapy.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

I still think Romney has problems with the religion issue. While I don't think that it SHOULD be and issue, a lot of the fundamentalist Christian right won't even consider him.

 

Other than that, he has the best chance to garner the votes of the Independent centrists.

 

 

I wonder how many, or if this is ginned up by the MSM? I would also add I've have run into a few...let's just say I gave them a small does of reality therapy.

 

Try this on for size.

 

If Not Romney, Who? If Not Now, When

 

Instead of sitting on our thumbs, wishing Ronald Reagan were around, or chasing the latest mechanical rabbit flashed by the media, conservatives ought to start rallying around Romney as the only Republican who has a shot at beating Obama. We'll attack him when he's president.

 

It's fun to be a purist, but let's put that on hold until Obama and his abominable health care plan are gone, please.

[Valin]

I still think Romney has problems with the religion issue. While I don't think that it SHOULD be and issue, a lot of the fundamentalist Christian right won't even consider him.

 

Other than that, he has the best chance to garner the votes of the Independent centrists.

 

 

I wonder how many, or if this is ginned up by the MSM? I would also add I've have run into a few...let's just say I gave them a small does of reality therapy.

 

Try this on for size.

 

If Not Romney, Who? If Not Now, When

 

Instead of sitting on our thumbs, wishing Ronald Reagan were around, or chasing the latest mechanical rabbit flashed by the media, conservatives ought to start rallying around Romney as the only Republican who has a shot at beating Obama. We'll attack him when he's president.

 

It's fun to be a purist, but let's put that on hold until Obama and his abominable health care plan are gone, please.

 

 

The main + IMO of Mitt is he's been down this road before. Is he the most Conservative candidate, NO. Is he Conservative...Yes, can he electable?...I'd say he is.

[Valin]

Townhall Tipsheet: Ann Coulter: RINO

Guy Benson

11/17/11

 

In her new column -- available on the homepage -- noted RINO Ann Coulter endorses Mitt Romney for president:

 

 

Obamacare is going to be repealed -- provided only that a Republican wins the next presidential election. If a Republican does not win, however, it will never be repealed. Recall that, in order to boast about the amazing revenue savings under Obamacare, Democrats had to configure the bill so that the taxes to pay for it start right away, but the goodies don't kick in until 2014. Once people are thrown off their insurance plans and are forced to depend on the government for "free" health care, Obamacare is here to stay. (And Newt Gingrich will be calling plans to tinker with it "right-wing social engineering.")

 

Instead of sitting on our thumbs, wishing Ronald Reagan were around, or chasing the latest mechanical rabbit flashed by the media, conservatives ought to start rallying around Romney as the only Republican who has a shot at beating Obama. We'll attack him when he's president. It's fun to be a purist, but let's put that on hold until Obama and his abominable health care plan are gone, please.

 

(Snip)

 

Okay, "purists" (her words), does Coulter's new analysis have a ring of truth to it, or is it time to go RINO-huntin' for Ann?

[RandyM]

I will vote for my favorite "flavor" when the primaries come to town. But if Romney becomes the eventual nominee out of the convention, then I will vote for him in November. Romney in = Obama out.

[righteousmomma]

That was excellent and must see.

Ok, have not listened but am sooooo baffled. I LOVE VDH. Have read him, quoted him, posted his ideas for years and cannot believe he was ever a DemoRAT in modern times. Thought he was libertarian which I can live with -- but Democrat??? Please!! I am baffled, perfluxed, consterned - whatever... Course he is a Californian so....

 

 

 

NO!!, no way. I will go listen.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Romney Blames Obama for Supercommittee Failure

 

Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney criticized President Barack Obama on Sunday for refusing to intervene in congressional talks to cut the deficit.

 

With the so-called supercommittee at an impasse ahead of Wednesday’s deadline, Mr. Romney blamed the president for the apparent failure of the bipartisan panel, which was tasked with finding savings in excess of $1.2 trillion. He also called on Mr. Obama to introduce legislation to restore $600 billion in defense spending that will be cut automatically if the panel fails to offer alternatives.

 

“He hasn’t had any role,” Mr. Romney told roughly 200 supporters outside the city hall building in Nashua, where he appeared for a campaign event with Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte. “He’s done nothing. It’s another example of failed leadership.”