Posted on 12/27/2011 5:52:49 PM PST by COBOL2Java
Romney’s speech was billed by his advisers as his closing argument before the GOP nomination fight kicks off in earnest with the Iowa caucuses on January 3. But you would be forgiven for thinking it sounded more like the opening salvo in a general election. Romney drew no explicit or, really, implicit contrasts with any of his Republican rivals, training his fire exclusively on the Democrat in the Oval Office. His focus reflected a strategy from which his campaign has rarely deviated all year long. But it was also born of a confidence in Team Romney so deep it borders on serene: that the nomination is, if not in entirely the bag, then about to stuffed there soon. “The dynamics couldn’t be better for us,: says a senior Romney strategist. “I don’t see any scenario where we’re not the nominee.”Hey, why even bother to have a primary? Why doesn’t the GOP simply announce “The most establishment guy who ran last time and lost gets to be the winner the next time.” It was a great strategy for Presidents Dole and McCain.
We are on the verge of taking the first step in the inevitable march toward Mitt Romney’s polite defeat in November. Mitt’s good at that—losing politely. He did it against Kennedy, and he did it in 2008.
Step one: Mitt wins Iowa, thanks in large part to Ron Paul dividing the opposition. Step two is New Hampshire. Once Mitt is 2-0, obedient Republicans will fall into line. By February 1, he’ll be the nominee presumptive, going through the motions against the token holdout, once again likely Ron Paul.
Then the Axelrod attack machine will crank up and label Mitt a “typical Republican.” He’ll have all the problems of the GOP brand dumped on him, and the more he tries to return to his “I’m no Reagan Bush Republican” MA roots, the more of his own base will stay home.
Obama’s message—“If you’re going to have big-government mandates and a social welfare state, why not have a president who’s SINCERE about it”—will resonate against the empty suit that is Romney.
Mitt will be just Republican enough to whip up Obama’s base, but not Republican enough to inspire his own. Congressional and senate races will be lost because uninspired conservatives won’t bother getting to the polls.
Mitt won’t run mean ads, he’ll pointed defend Obama’s on the Jeremiah Wright charges, he’ll bow before complaints that trying to hold Obama responsible for Eric Holder’s awful record is “playing the race card.” By the time we reach next November, Mitt Romney’s campaign slogan will essentially by “I’m sorry I’m a Republican,” and Obama’s will be “You should be.”
It’s all so obviously, so easy to foretell. And it starts with the myth of “Mitt the inevitable,” fed by his own smug campaign.
Well, I just sent Newt another donation to make this not happen. GO NEWT!
Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
I really hope that Santorum wins. I mean we are conservatives and should be supporting the only two conservatives. Michele Bachmann is the other. Some on Rush’s show today were saying that Newt never even won a state wide election. I had not noticed that but it is true. I tell you that Obama will have a field day if Newt wins the nomination. He will have the easiest win to victory in history. If Newt wins the nomination, I will just pray that the Senate and House picks up ALOT of seats.
This guy thinks he has it wrapped up?
What a A$$, while he is a democrat. He is running as a republican.
The hard core conservative base says he won’t win the free house at 1600...
Mitt will have a terrible time trying to fly in flyover country. The more evangelical, the more conservative and also the more that LDS is viewed as a weird-out factor. That’s simply a demographic observation. Newt will beat Mitt’s pants off in “Jesusland.”
Newt said something similar a few weeks ago. Big deal. Lets wait till some votes are counted. With this assembly of candidates, the joke is on us.
A pox on him and his arrogant supporters!
Grab a clue..when you can.
And Obama will squeak out a second term as GOP voters boycott Mitt en masse, some even saying they won’t bother going to vote for the sake of Congressmen.
Isn’t this common politician-speak? Mind fakes?
Exactly. Nominating Romney will be the Republican Party committing suicide.
I know that. I know you are in love with the guy (I have no idea why). But you are causing us to personally lose this election by your stupidity.
So... What was incorrect?
/johnny
The smug cultist bastard!
/johnny
He will not get my vote!
If you think one vote will make a difference.. you need to look up the definition of stupid.
But if you mean to say that advocating for a conservative... A true conservative... will cause us to lose the election.... say that.
But one person, makes no difference.
What scares you, is that there are millions of us that don't think like you.
Sleep well.
/johnny
I don’t know, but Mitt supporters sure come across as very presumptuous and arrogant. Though we have seen things change a lot in the primary race so far - I guess we just have to wait and see how long their arrogance last if Mitt finds himself performing below their expectations.
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