Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Romney May Be the End of the Line for the Republican Establishment
Town Hall ^ | Sep 21, 2012 | Scott Rasmussen

Posted on 09/21/2012 8:43:12 AM PDT by xzins

Mitt Romney's comments about 47 percent of Americans being dependent on government and locked in to vote for President Obama highlight a fundamental reality in American politics today: The gap between the American people and the political class is bigger than the gap between Republicans and Democrats in Washington, D.C.

Romney's remarks are the GOP equivalent of Obama's notorious comments about small-town Pennsylvania voters bitterly clinging to their guns and religion.

Both Romney and Obama highlighted the condescending attitude that political elites hold of the people they want to rule over. A National Journal survey found that 59 percent of political insiders don't think voters know enough to have meaningful opinions on the important issues of the day. That's a handy rationalization for those who want to ignore the voters and impose their own agenda.

In the nation's capital, this gap creates bigger problems for Republicans than Democrats. Democratic voters tend to think that their representatives in Congress do a decent job representing them. That's because Democrats are a bit more comfortable with the idea of government playing a leading role in American society. However, 63 percent of Republican voters believe their representatives in Washington are out of touch with the party base.

Establishment Republicans in Washington broadly share the Democrats' view that the government should manage the economy. They may favor a somewhat more pro-business set of policies than their Democratic colleagues, but they still act as if government policy is the starting point for all economic activity.

Republican voters reject this view. They are more interested in promoting free market competition rather than handing out favors to big business. They detest corporate welfare and government bailouts, even though their party leaders support them.

The GOP base sees government as a burden that weighs the private sector down rather than a tool that can generate growth if used properly. Ninety-six percent of Republican voters believe that the best thing the government can do to help the economy is to cut spending and free up more money for the private sector.

The Republican base is looking for someone like a 21st century Ronald Reagan, who will display his faith in the American people. The Washington Republicans are more comfortable with politicians like George W. Bush, Bob Dole, John McCain and Mitt Romney. Though the establishment has dominated the party since Reagan left the White House, the 2012 election could well be the end of the line.

If Romney loses in November, the Republican base will no longer buy the electability argument for an establishment candidate. From the view of the base, the elites will have given away an eminently winnable election. Someone new, from outside of Washington, will be the party's nominee in 2016.

If Romney wins and does nothing to change the status quo, the economy will falter. He will end up as the second straight one-term president, and the nation will desperately be searching for an authentic outsider in 2016.

If he wins the White House, the only way for Romney to succeed will be to side with the nation's voters and throw out the club in Washington. That will be great news for the country but bad news for political insiders on both sides of the partisan aisle.


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2012polls; electable; elections; establishment; gope; letitbelord; lordletitbe; romney; romneywimp; stupidparty; unelectable; whattookthemsolong; wimpromney
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-104 next last

1 posted on 09/21/2012 8:43:15 AM PDT by xzins
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: xzins

Obama May Be the End of the Line for the US.


2 posted on 09/21/2012 8:45:07 AM PDT by dfwgator (I'm voting for Ryan and that other guy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RitaOK
The GOP base sees government as a burden that weighs the private sector down rather than a tool that can generate growth if used properly. Ninety-six percent of Republican voters believe that the best thing the government can do to help the economy is to cut spending and free up more money for the private sector.

Corporate welfare is nothing more than 1940's state socialism in the emperor's new clothing

3 posted on 09/21/2012 8:45:27 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! True supporters of our troops pray for their victory!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

read the article.

you’ll agree with it.


4 posted on 09/21/2012 8:46:13 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! True supporters of our troops pray for their victory!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: xzins

It is a winner takes all bet, IMO.


5 posted on 09/21/2012 8:47:22 AM PDT by Psalm 144 (Voodoo Republicans. Don't read their lips. Watch their hands.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xzins
Though the establishment has dominated the party since Reagan left the White House, the 2012 election could well be the end of the line.

This will be the end of the line for the GOP-E, should Romney fail to beat the snot out of the Marxist.

6 posted on 09/21/2012 8:48:25 AM PDT by onyx (FREE REPUBLIC IS HERE TO STAY! DONATE MONTHLY! IF YOU WANT ON SARAH PALIN''S PING LIST, LET ME KNOW)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xzins

If Romney loses, he will be the most hated man among conservative voters.


7 posted on 09/21/2012 8:48:40 AM PDT by AlmaKing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xzins

Odd how Rass response here is in lock step with the GOP Establishment reaction.

Seems Scott has met the enemy and it is him.


8 posted on 09/21/2012 8:49:15 AM PDT by MNJohnnie (Giving more money to DC to fix the Debt is like giving free drugs to addicts think it will cure them)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xzins

“Someone new, from outside of Washington, will be the party’s nominee in 2016.”

This assumes there will BE an election in 2016 if Obama wins. I don’t believe this is a safe assumption.


9 posted on 09/21/2012 8:50:35 AM PDT by ZirconEncrustedTweezers (Vote Romney to stop Obama. Vote conservative Congresspeople to stop Romney.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xzins
Both Romney and Obama highlighted the condescending attitude that political elites hold of the people they want to rule over.

Its a true contrast with Reagan and as much as it pains me to say so, its also a contrast with Bill Clinton.
10 posted on 09/21/2012 8:50:49 AM PDT by cripplecreek (What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AlmaKing
If Romney loses, he will be the most hated man among conservative voters.

He's already running a close second. :>)

11 posted on 09/21/2012 8:50:49 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! True supporters of our troops pray for their victory!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: AlmaKing

Believe me, I am holding my tongue now, because all that matters is getting Obama out.


12 posted on 09/21/2012 8:50:49 AM PDT by dfwgator (I'm voting for Ryan and that other guy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: MNJohnnie

I was surprised, too, that Rasmussen sees himself as an outsider.

Or, at least, he wants his readers to see him as an outsider.

Maybe, though, as a pollster, he wants us to see him as a “no sider”. “I just report the polls, sir, I don’t make them happen.”


13 posted on 09/21/2012 8:53:08 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! True supporters of our troops pray for their victory!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

“Obama May Be the End of the Line for the US.”

Obama is an accelerant. The fuel is idiotic federal policies going back decades.


14 posted on 09/21/2012 8:54:42 AM PDT by Psalm 144 (Voodoo Republicans. Don't read their lips. Watch their hands.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek

Yes, Bill was willing to mingle with commoner females.

LOL.


15 posted on 09/21/2012 8:55:41 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! True supporters of our troops pray for their victory!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: xzins

If Romney loses, we might not see 2016


16 posted on 09/21/2012 8:55:41 AM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Pursue Happiness)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xzins

Ok compare and contrast reactions. Bill Kristol, Scott Rassmussen and the in side DC Romney critics are all upset about how “insensitive” and “out of touch” Romney is.

Rush Limbaugh, Hannity and just about everyone outside the DC beltway in the Conservative movement are “About time someone spoke the truth about this”.


17 posted on 09/21/2012 8:56:02 AM PDT by MNJohnnie (Giving more money to DC to fix the Debt is like giving free drugs to addicts think it will cure them)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xzins
If Romney loses in November, the Republican base will no longer buy the electability argument for an establishment candidate. From the view of the base, the elites will have given away an eminently winnable election. Someone new, from outside of Washington, will be the party's nominee in 2016.

I recommend everyone seeing the documentary at your local theater "2016: Obama's America". Think about it as you leave the theater at the end of the show. Do you really think we will even have a country after another 4 years of the tin horn dictator? Even if we got rid of all the RINOS and GOPe types, the ending of that show will sink in. We are at the tipping point right now. The greatest battle for stopping tyranny is getting rid of the occupier that calls himself "king". And we all know what had to happen to stop that back in 1776.

18 posted on 09/21/2012 8:56:08 AM PDT by Evil Slayer (Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

Hear, hear!


19 posted on 09/21/2012 8:56:23 AM PDT by Irenic (The pencil sharpener and Elmer's glue is put away-- we've lost the red wheel barrow)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: xzins

“Someone new, from outside of Washington, will be the party’s nominee in 2016”

I might argue there won’t BE a party (GOP).


20 posted on 09/21/2012 8:57:53 AM PDT by ryan71
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-104 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson