In Key New York Race, Barracuda Chews Up Mitt

nbcbayarea.com ^ | Oct. 30, 2009 | Robert A. George

[Al B.]

Romney ducks the leadership test

What do you find most often in the middle of the road? Road kill. Mitt Romney, who hopes to be the GOP's next presidential nominee, couldn't bring himself to endorse anyone in New York state's contentious 23rd congressional district special election.

The contest,.....has been a flashpoint for a party in search of its identity. An all-star lineup of national party leaders has weighed in, allowing themselves to be defined by whose side they're on. But not Romney. The former Massachusetts governor passed, and this could have serious ramifications down the road.

The cliche about the two parties and their presidential selection process is that Democrats "want to fall in love" -- and the GOP "falls in line." The donkeys have emotion-filled knock-down-drag-out affairs involving passionate characters who -- win or lose -- leave a dramatic mark for decades. The GOP dutifully takes note of who came in second the last time and, well, the odds are that he'll be the candidate in the next go-round.

Based on that tradition, Romney should be the favorite for the 2012 nomination. But signs are that the Republican grassroots are in a rebellious mood and may not want to fall in line this time.

---SNIP---

The conservative grassroots have rejected Scozzava,......Sarah Palin, using her unique sense of timing, one week ago became the biggest name of in-prime party leaders to endorse Hoffman. Had she stayed on the sidelines, this contest could have played out in predictable fashion: Republicans stayed split and Democrat Bill Owens would have cruised to victory. Instead, by all appearances, the conservative revolt has succeeded.

---SNIP---

It's a long three years before the GOP selects its next presidential nominee. But the guy who wants it ducked a key leadership test real early.

[Goreknowshowtocheat]

Huck and Mitt are hiding under the same rock.

[Roccus]

They’re voting, “Present.”

......now where have I heard that before?

[alarm rider]

Mrs. Palin has more courage than Mitt and Huck put together.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

They don’t want to risk offending the big money givers, the party elites. The grassroots send in minmal amounts and they need big money to campaign.

The American people (fly-over types) are DONE with seeing big dollars used as an equivalent for big votes. Some Country-club Pubbie might give the RNC thousands of dollars but...he still only has ONE vote, just like you and me.

[eeevil conservative]

I think this just proves how well conservatives can trust their gut....

We instantly recognized sincerity, boldness, and real leadership in Sarah Palin, but reluctantly entertained the thoughts of McCain, Romney, and Rudy for lack of options....

It is a shame that so many men have let us down and given into greed for power or popularity.....and now more and more women are stepping forward to remind us what real leadership looks like......

Thank God for the real men left in our country, and I am so thrilled that they hang out here at FR!

[henkster]

This article really nails it. Romney is playing the political game, and it’s been exposed. He’s NOT a conservative, he’s NOT a leader. We have too much of that in national office already and look where it’s gotten our country.

Sarah Palin gets a big “YES” on both counts. From now on, I demand this type of leadership and principle from anyone who wants my vote. Otherwise, I don’t vote. I’m done with the “lesser evil.”

[Truth is a Weapon]

We already have a ball less pantywaist as POTUS. We certainly don’t need to let another one get anywhere near the office.

Mitt, why don’t you and Newt just go off to Europe and trade your useless male parts for a vagina.

[Diogenesis]

:

"A political party cannot be all things to all people.
It must represent certain fundamental beliefs
 which must not be compromised to political expediency
or simply to swell its numbers."
--  President Ronald Reagan

"We don't intend to turn the Republican Party
 over to the traitors in the battle just ended.
We will have no more of those candidates who are pledged
 to the same goals as our opposition and who seek our support.
Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates
wouldn’t make any sense at all.""
--  President Ronald Reagan

[tioga]

Mitt in his own words.....

"I have chosen not to endorse the Republican candidate in New York's 23rd District," Romney told reporters while campaigning in Virginia for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell. "That should speak a certain amount of volume. I can't endorse our candidate in that race."

Sadly, this reeks of a wishy-washy candidate who CAN campaign and endorse the Republican in the VA governor's race. Especially, since that candidate is the front runner.

At least Sarah is willing to gamble and take a chance for her principles. And THAT reeks of honesty.

[YankeeReb]

Right or wrong, Sarah took a stand and she did it before it was cool. That says a lot about her qualifications as a leader. We already have a TOTUS who spent his 12 minute political career prior to the WH voting present and hanging up flyers on telephone poles. In the era of a nuclear Iran and N Korea we need someone who will step up. I'd like to see Palin at least as the VP nominee.

[2001convSVT]

A huge change in the Political wind is blowing. The republicans can embrace conservatives or be left behind. If the republicans want to win the white house back they had better run Sarah Palin, if not she will run as a third party independent. I don’t know if she can win as a independent-conservative but I do know that the RINO will lose.

[DGHoodini]

If they refuse to represent our views
They have no right to claim they speak for us.

We *will* disavow and disown them.

Lots of “middle of the road” roadkill cowards out there.

[NonValueAdded]

Sarah is more man than the rest of them put together. God Bless her.

[Covenantor]

Sarah Palin is doing the ground work to assemble true conservatives in the house and senate. 2010 is going to be a very, very interesting and transformative time for the GOPalin conservative wing.

[ABQHispConservative]

Despite which way he came down, at least Gingrich took a side. Albeit the wrong side, but a side nonetheless.

Romney and Huck are nothing more than a pair of weasels.

[Verginius Rufus]

So...Mitt is rooting for the Democrat in the 23rd district in NY?

O'Reilly last night was talking about Palin's upcoming appearance on Oprah. As usual, BOR was half-right and half-wrong, but at least he wasn't trashing Sarah.

[nj patriot]

It is simple, leaders lead. Leaders don’t wait to see which way the parade is turning and quickly race to get in the front, they were in the front all along. The danger of being a leader is that at times you will be wrong but that is where courage, the true test of a leader comes in.

In this small sample of leadership, Ms Palin has demonstrated the cojones. Thanks for leading Sarah!

[Diogenesis]

Compared to Gov. Palin, Romney is a cowardly, crying, whining, narcissist pussy.

[Leisler]

Nauncy Romney knows this is his last chance, and he is as his nature, working within the elderly, decayed, desperate RNC/GOP to be anointed. This was his successful tactic with the decaying, middle of the road, spineless Massachusetts GOP. Mitt, like mushrooms, thrives on decay. Of course mushrooms don’t have much backbone, they go squishy, and they don’t move fast.