Couple things there. First, that Rush said those words in 08 and not 12 validates my point.
Second, he did govern Massachusetts to the RIGHT of the prevailing Massachusetts mood. He campaigned that way in a classic left-right campaign to win.
I don’t view the CPAC speech cynically at all. We get the truest read of our politicians the day they drop out of the race, and just let it rip. What ripped out of Mitt in early 08 was far more conservative than what has been ripping out of him since he lost 2012. He has moved left while the Republican base has moved right. Money and other dynamics of the field allowed him to win the nomination in 12, but he was a nominee not in the zeitgeist of his own party.
Throughout the tread I’ve said Rush flipped flopped from 08 to 12 by saying Romney met the three legs in 08 and thus a conservative then flipped saying Romney wasn’t a conservative in 12. The only governing Guage was his term as governor which was at best moderate. Maybe conservative in Mass. But moderate at best for the rest of the country. Since there were gains in the house in 08 and the Senate was still in dem hands, would he be a Mass president?
Rush hated McCain. Mostly for good reason. But his goal was to stop McCain in 08. Mitt tracked right in 12, but not as much as Newt and Santorum. And suddenly he was no longer a conservative. No just not as conservative as the othe 2. But not a conservative. Because in 12 Rush didn’t want Romney.
Rush likes how Trump plays the game. He doesn’t really want him as President or the R standad bearer. and he’s starting to throw little barbs or using deniable phrases Trumps way.