Posted on 08/03/2006 10:42:23 PM PDT by Jeff Fuller
First a disclaimer . . . I run a pro-Romney blogsite but do not get paid for it. I am a physician who blogs in my spare time and consider myself simply a vocal grassroots Romney supporter.
********************* Now on to the news at hand:
This Examiner article has some interesting "insider information" for the 2008 GOP presidential race.
To quote the start of the article:
"Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Virginia Sen. George Allen are strong candidates for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, although each has serious challenges to overcome.That’s the view of Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, and one of the most influential conservatives in Washington.
“When I talk to each of the presidential candidates, every one of them brings up Romney — unsolicited — because they’re all focused on him as the smartest, toughest guy in the race,” Norquist told reporters Wednesday at a breakfast hosted by the Christian Science Monitor. “He is very well thought of.”
Seriously folks . . . ROMNEY IS THE REAL DEAL! I've seen him here in Iowa and the buzz about him is amazing (see here and here.) Once the rest of the country gets exposed to him like political activists have here in Iowa he will emerge as the frontrunner.
Plus, Norquist said later in the article there were two serious challenges for Romney to overcome . . . 1) the fact that he GREW UP IN UTAH (ultra-conservative) and then governed in Massachusetts(ultra-liberal) and has no experience "in the middle". 2) the whole "Mormon Issue"
Well, strike that first one since Romney DID GROW UP IN THE MIDDLE . . . born and bred in Michigan . . . solidly "midwest" (especially when he grew up there.)
As for the "Mormon Issue" I'm pretty convinced that Romney can overcome that.
As for Allen, Norquist sees the "mini-Bush" image he has as being a major obstacle, especially if he shows any sign of inarticulateness.
So, since the competition has already identified Romney as "the smartest, toughest guy in the race" watch out for the onslaught of attacks seeking to discredit him. . . I guess I'm not surprised that he caught such flack over the relative "non-issue" of the "tar baby" comment.
1) the medical insurance deal will hurt Romney a lot
2) the Mormon thing will be a big problem
3) a governor of a northeast liberal state will have problems carrying anything west or south, just like Giulani will have problems.
1) For my take on the insurance deal . . . it's been a positive for him now and was strongly supported byt the Conservative Think Tank "The Heritage Foundation." There is a knee jerk by many conservatives that it is a form of socialized medicine . . . for my take on it see: http://jjfuller72.redstate.com/story/2006/5/29/0030/34495
2) Admittedly this issue is a wildcard. I see the strong grassroots support and financial support he gets from LDS being negated by religious bigotry. Could cancel eachother out.
3) The SOuth will be the hardest sell for Romney (I lived there for 8 yrs and plan to move back next year.) However, he grew up a midwesterner and doesn't sound like a northeasterner. In the West, any bias against northeasterners will be more than made up for by the heavy LDS population. LDS won't block vote for ROmney, but the support will be overwhelming, IMO.
Can't wait for the "Hillary Clinton before any moderate conservative" people to come on and complain that he isn't as good as that great conservative icon George Allen.
I'm not saying I will end up voting for Romney, but he seems to be currently leading a rather unimpressive pack.
Who cares what America's head dhimmi (Norquist) has to say about anything?
Associate with him at your own risk.
"I see the strong grassroots support and financial support he gets from LDS being negated by religious bigotry."
well now, pardner, bigotry is a mighty big word to be slinging around. Would you vote for a Muslim? Someone into Santeria? The Pope's influence on Catholics always was a legitimate issue. The Bishops influence on Mormons is as well. Unless you are telling me Romney is Jack Mormon?
I live in Vegas, I know all the problems with Mormons in politics. Look at Harry Reid for guidance.
This article (the top of the thread) is not from The Examiner. Rather, the top of the thread is your commentary about the article in The Examiner.
Therefore, according to the site policy (don't ask me why it isn't posted somewhere more obvious), this thread belongs in the Bloggers & Personal forum, not in News/Activism.
It will probably be moved shortly. The Mods are pretty good about enforcing site policies. :-)
Main Entry: big·ot
Pronunciation: 'bi-g&t
Function: noun
Etymology: French, hypocrite, bigot
: a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance
Surely you don't equate faith with opinions and prejudices. Because, it seems to me if a person is not obstinately and intolerantly devoted to his faith, it's not much good.
I agree, no big deal on this one.
However, as the son of a midwestern governor and working those campaigns, stumping with his father, and then working on his mother's Senate bid, I would say Romney probably knows a thing or two about politics "in the middle"
I didn't know that about "growing up politically" in Utah, during his time at the SLOC. Thanks for pointing that out!
ronna romney is his sister, not his mother.
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