Posted on 11/03/2009 2:52:17 PM PST by Steelfish
November 3, 2009 2:30 PM
Where’s Mitt Romney? Why was the once and no doubt future presidential contender missing from NY-23?
By Kathryn Jean Lopez
In October, everybody seemed to be doing it — getting into the campaign in New York’s 23rd Congressional District, that is. It was a three-way race among Republican Deirdre Scozzafava, Democrat Bill Owens, and Conservative Doug Hoffman to fill the seat that had been left vacant when President Obama tapped Republican John McHugh as secretary of the Army. Endorsements became such a popular sport for out-of-state Republicans that the special election came to seem a litmus test for conservatives looking at the 2012 presidential race.
If it was, Newt Gingrich didn’t come off well among conservatives. Perhaps the biggest news was when the former Speaker of the House endorsed the Republican candidate. On the face of it, that doesn’t sound like news. But Scozzafava is a Republican who supported President Obama’s stimulus package and who won the support of NARAL Pro-Choice America in the NY-23 race. When she announced on Halloween that she was suspending her campaign, and then went on to endorse the Democrat, Owens, Gingrich declared himself “deeply disappointed.”
Among other prominent Republicans, Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty was caught off guard during a Washington, D.C., fundraiser, but once alerted to this race he quickly endorsed Hoffman and has been talking about him ever since (and has been subsequently pressed on what being a Republican means).
And Sarah Palin Facebooked her enthusiastic endorsement of the same. Mike Huckabee showed up to deliver a paid speech at a New York Conservative party dinner but did not actually endorse Hoffman — that is, until Scozzafava withdrew. He’s been Tweeting for Hoffman ever since.
But notably missing from the endorsement mix was former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.
(Excerpt) Read more at article.nationalreview.com ...
I’m sure he’ll rear his hairy head again. He’s the RINO that won’t die.
muck fitt
I am ashamed at some of the names that were silent, on the wrong side or came in at the last minute.
There are a lot of former contenders in that group.
Mitt is too busy giving r9etb and Bob J pep talks to keep them posting anti Palin crap on every thread.
Just a little congressional race a full three years before the next presidential election, but yet it provides the clearest indication of exactly who all the major candidates are: Here are my grades from a conservative perspective.
Sarah Palin
First on October 22, Sarah Palin came out on her Facebook page with a strong endorsement of the Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman. A clear shot across the bow of the GOP establishment favoring principle over party. Palin cited Reagan’s ‘time for choosing’ and the principles of “smaller government, lower taxes, strong national defense, and a commitment to individual liberty “. Palin’s bold action against the party establishment further established her strong conservative credentials. GRADE: A
Tim Pawlenty
Three days after the Palin endorsement, Pawlenty followed suit and endorsed Hoffman. He gave a solid endorsement. But Pawlenty seems jealous of Palin’s popularity and appears just trying to keep up with Palin among the conservative wing. Pawlenty scored a few points with conservatives for doing the right thing, but would have come out a bigger winner if he endorsed sooner. GRADE: B -
Mike Huckabee
On October 15, Huckabee made it very clear he could never support a pro-abortion candidate, but yet did not endorse Hoffman despite saying he agrees with him on most issues. Huckabee had a chance to publicly be the first leading candidate to make the endorsement, but instead showed he feared going against the establishment. Huckabee has now finally endorsed Hoffman, but only after Scozzafava threw in the towel. GRADE: C -
Mitt Romney
“I have chosen not to endorse the Republican candidate in New York’s 23rd District.” Basically identical to Huckabee, but Romney did not articulate why he could not endorse Scozzafava and gave no praise to Hoffman. The thought of going against the GOP and supporting a conservative did not even appear to cross Romney’s mind. GRADE D
Newt Gingrich
Not only did Newt endorsed Scozzafava, but he attacked those who dared support Hoffman. Gingrich completely mischaracterized this election, insisting it was anti 10th Amendment to go against the party operatives to endorse the conservative. Newt’s star has fallen far since leading the 1994 revolution, and instead of being a visionary is now a simple establishment guy. Now, hypocritically he has finally endorsed Hoffman. GRADE: ZERO
I will never vote for a rino again for president even if satan himself is in the race.
opportunistic...RINO..don’t need him, don’t want him
I like the word ‘former’ as I don’t want to see the names of anyone who ran in the GOP primary in 2008 on the primary ballot in 2012.
Well done!
Romney Romney Obamney stay where you are wherever you are.
And without the jam?
He’s done. The public failure of Romney Care was the final straw that broke the camel’s back. He had enough problems with social conservatives, but now, I can’t see fiscal conservatives giving him strong support, either.
My message to Romney? Don’t let the door hit you in the backside on the way out.
Stupid article.He’s been in Virginia supporting Bob McDonnell. I guess anyone who didn’t stump for McDonnell is irrelevant now too? STOOPID!
Surely you intended to ping them! :-)
He’s off somewhere for a face lift. His mask came off and the true Mitt is not a pretty site. Lies are ugly.
Yes. As far as i am concerned he’s middle of the roadkill. He can’t be trusted.
Romneycare finished him. The duct tape is over his mouth for a long time.
He sealed his own fate. He is done.
Too busy to make a statement??? give us a break. If he can’t do two things at one time, he will never make it as president anyway.
As I posted on another thread:
This poses an excellent question: Just where was Mitt and Huck?
I’ll tell you where they were! Taking a page from ‘Zero’ and voting present is where!
"Americans more interested in Rice memoir than Bush's, Palin's coming books"
SSDD
The McCain/Palin ticket was up ++8 to 10 pts. in some polls, days prior to the election.
So rather than helping the GOP, poor loser “I am Myth” Romney and
TeamROMNEY decided …… to attack Gov. Palin (and her defenseless children) to throw Election2008.
The Palmetto Scoop reported: "One of the first stories to hit the national airwaves was
the claim of a major internal strife between close McCain aides and the folks handling his running mate Sarah Palin."
"I’m told by very good sources that this was indeed the case and that a rift had developed, but it was between Palin’s people and the staffers brought on from the failed presidential campaign of former Gov. Mitt Romney, not McCain aides."
"The sources said nearly 80 percent of Romney’s former staff was absorbed by McCain and these individuals were responsible for what amounts to a premeditated, last-minute sabotage of Palin."
… aides loyal to Romney inside the McCain campaign, said The Scoop, reportedly saw
that Palin would be a serious contender for the Republican nomination in 2012 or 2016, which made her a threat to another presidential quest by Romney.
Erick Erickson, who organized Operation Leper, said:
"These staffers are now out trying to finish her off ….hoping it would ingratiate themselves with Mitt Romney."
Who benefits most from Sanford meltdown? Californian (that's right) Mitt Romney
"Peeking Out From the McCain Wreckage: Mitt Romney"
"Someone's got to say it: IS MITT ROMNEY RESPONSIBLE FOR OBAMA'S VICTORY?"
"Vanity: Team Romney Sabotaged Palin and Continuing to Do So?"
"Romney Supporters Trashing Palin"
"Romney advisors sniping at Palin?"
Yes, He is done.
These are different times... and we are FED UP with these clowns. “Character” (consistency, credibility) is more important than ever and he fails on it miserably.
K-Lo’s Romney-fangirl-ism continues unabated.
Yep, Romney misses the boat and K-Lo says it’s all due to his superior strategy.
(He’s undergoing another “Mittamorphis”)
I predict Mitt Romney will have a cabinet post in the 1012 GOP administration
[He could be T.I.P. Czar (Travel Industry Porn Czar) due to his extensive experience as a Marriott board member]
“Some Republicans or Conservatives eager to dump on fellow Republicans and Conservatives they don’t agree with...”
Here’s the thing, Mitt is NOT, I repeat, NOT a Conservative or even a moderate. He is a weasel, posing as a Conservative.
Check his record, read his quotes, watch his speeches and especially his debates against Democrats on You Tube.
He passionately and eloquently argued for the left wing side on gays, guns, abortion and socialized medicine and campaigned as and governed as a LIBERAL in Massachusetts for years.
He considered it a smear when he was falsely labeled pro-life by his opponents and fought the charge as strongly as one would fight false accusations of being a child molester.
Then, suddenly, as the 2008 Republican primaries approached, he did a comprehensive flip-flop, that would put John Kerry to shame, and went from the left of Bill Clinton to the right of Ronald Reagan.
Yet, he still defends his socialist RomneyCare debacle.
Also, Mitt’s operatives and supporters have been actively bashing Sarah Palin since last November. They are the ones attacking Conservatives.
I will never vote for Mitt. I’d vote third party if he won the GOP nomination.
"What you got against us clowns?"
” K-Lo’s Romney-fangirl-ism continues unabated.”
I had the same impression. She’s thinks he’s pretty.
I am really tired of her school girl crush.
Excellent analysis.
(Let me know when Mitt "Mittamorphisizes" into a true conservative -- until then he's not within your "dump" category...)
...as for "sowing dissension", if...
...pro-abortion RomneyCare,
Mitt's multi-sided abortion stances,
past pro-homosexual positions,
...and Mitt's board membership for the porn industry...
...If that isn't enough to provoke dissension, then you need to either re-open your eyes or reconsider your posture that you're truly "conservative."
Another Mittwit.
Did you even read the opinion piece? Do you know anything about it’s author?
This piece was written to excuse Romney’s cowardice and make him somehow appear noble. A conservative statesman. Lopez has been crushing on Mitt for years. Her and the rest of her collegues at NRO.
In this piece she did no different than you have just now Just to find a way to excuse his refusal to take a risk and support the conservative.
McDonnell is doing just fine without Romney. That is why Mitt is there. It’s “safe” to be seen with McDonnell right now as it is certain he’ll win. It wasn’t certain what would happen with Hoffman. Still isn’t.
:)
They would be funny in full custom as the last guy on the right :) but to take them seriously? DONT THINK SO.
Based the tiresome and predictable nature of the insult he attempted to make, it's clear that poor John lacks imagination as well as manners.
The guy on the end is a clown.
The second question is...who cares?
This is the very definition of Romney...a slick "tea-leaves" politician with NO core values.
Why, nothing... (cough, cough)
I think these guys are just great. But when I start looking for conservative leadership, I won't be looking at these boys.
Wiiliard the rat will not go away.
Who is the dude with the orange tie between Crist and Newt?
That said I think she's right that Romney is angling to be the establishment GOP candidate in 2012 — the McCain (2008), the Bush, the Dole. Most of the time that's a good slot to get, at least if you want a gig pushing Viagra as a former presidential candidate. But I don't think being the establishment's anointed choice is likely to work next time around, even in the primaries.
To win the nomination and beat whomever the Dems put up a Republican candidate is going to have to ride the wave that Doug Hoffman is surfing. Romney just proved he's the last man on earth capable of doing that. Unlike Sarah and Fred, he can't even see the wave. Health care made him improbable. Hoffman turned him into a joke. Buh bye Mitt.
Jon Huntsman, ex-gov of Utah.
Stuck his toe in the presidential waters (put his finger in the wind?), then became Zero’s ambassador to China.
BB: That is a gross distortion.
AMPG: He considered it a smear when he was falsely labeled pro-life.
BB: He was once pro-choice. Do you realize that one can be pro-choice and against abortion?
AMPG: he still defends his socialist RomneyCare debacle.
BB: He is for some things about it and against some things about it. He did not design the system, a conservative think tank did. MA wanted a universal plan. He showed them how they could have one and have it in the private sector. Some features he wanted were vetoed. He doesn't consider it a plan for all states. He thinks other states should choose their own. This is what MA wanted. He believes the feds should stay out of the program. If he were to help a conservative state come up with a plan, it would probably be quite different.
AMPG: Also, Mitt’s operatives and supporters have been actively bashing Sarah Palin since last November. They are the ones attacking Conservatives.
BB: That is pure BS. Romney has never attacked Sarah. If someone who voted and campaigned for Sarah committed murder, should Sarah be blamed for that?
AMPG: I will never vote for Mitt. I’d vote third party if he won the GOP nomination.
BB: That is too bad, but it is a free country (at least for now.)
Thanks. I’d heard of Huntsman occasionally, but guess I’d never seen a picture of him.
KJL was one of Romney’s most persistant pseudo-conservative backers the last time around. She just LOVED him.
I was hoping this would be a repudiation, and that maybe she had learned her lesson. But no. At the end, all she seems to be saying is summed up by Romesh Ponnaru—that Romney doesn’t NEED to run to the right this time and pretend to be a conservative, because he’s the only heavyweight contender in the race.
Think again, you sorry excuses for conservative pundits. It was folks like KJL who gave us McCain the last time around, by stupidly backing this unelectable candidate.
As I posted on another thread:
This poses an excellent question: Just where was Mitt and Huck?
I’ll tell you where they were! Taking a page from ‘Zero’ and voting present is where!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.