Posted on 03/10/2010 10:33:18 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Mitt Romneys new book, No Apology, makes a very striking contrast with the most recent book entry by a potential Republican presidential candidate, Sarah Palins Going Rogue. Palins subject is Palin: her wrongs and grievances.
Unlike Palin, Romney cares about the external world. His book is an action plan, not a memoir. It is crammed with factual claims and policy recommendations, with only the lightest sprinkling of self-references. You may have already heard my theory of the two Romneys, Good Romney and Bad Romney. No Apologies is mostly written by Good Romney, but Bad Romney does make himself heard at regular intervals. This dual authorship makes it difficult to write of the book as a whole, not without invoking now-forgotten literary theories of deconstruction and unstable narration.
Its probably simpler to go page by page
Good Romney commences unasserted assumption: Americans live in a world defined by competition between great powers. It is the job of the American statesman to ensure that America remains paramount in this competition.
Who are the competitors?
First, the United States and its partners: Canada, Europe, and the other democratic allies, about whom Good Romney has this to say: Sweden and several other European nations place a far heavier governmental hand on free enterprise and on economic freedom than does the United States. Citizens are highly taxed to provide not only a very substantial social safety net but also a relatively comfortable lifestyle. Business and employment are highly regulated. Despite the differences among Western nations, economic freedom and political freedom are at the core. (p. 13)
A refreshing departure from the representation of all non-America as a hellhole of tyranny.
Second, China. Third, Russia (?), of whom Romney has surprisingly respectful things to say. Fourth, Iran and the jihadists.
Of these four, only one the West is founded upon freedom. The outcome of this great power competition will determine the fate of human freedom in the world. That seems to me exactly right, a serious conclusion, very much in the mainstream of American conservative thinking about foreign policy. American foreign policy should seek the American interest first, with the expansion of human freedom as an expected but indirect benefit.
A couple of things to remark in passing.
On page 19, Romney inserts an inflammatory thought designed to appeal to his harder-core readers. Romney suggests that the jihadists, an uncoordinated movement, operate in many different ways to achieve different kinds of goals. Among these diverging methods: Some endeavor to mollify and pacify the West, lulling these nations into complacency and inaction. Lebanese American scholar and NBC commentator Walid Phares argues in his book, Future Jihad, that the massive Saudi investment in Islamic study centers in Western universities is designed to do just that.
Notice that Romney inserts this criticism of the Saudis into somebody elses mouth. This is something of a pattern in the book: it is carefully structured to preserve disavowability at key points.
Also notice: first (of many!) favorable mention of a corporate CEO: p. 17, Jim Sens of GEN3 Partners.
David Frum is the definition of a moron
“The bad Romney is the Romney who delivered the governors last major public address, at the Republican convention in St. Paul in August 2008.
You know, for decades now, the Washington sun has been rising in the east. You see, Washington has been looking to the eastern elites . If America really wants to change, its time to look for the sun in the west . A strange thing to hear from the ex-governor of Americas second most easterly state.”
Seems like I prefer Bad Romney, then. Which just goes to show how twisted Frume is. Well, assuming by Western sun that we stop before we hit the West coast.
Moron may not fit as he is anencephalic.
*Slick Willard ping*
Message to both Frum and Romney and anyone foolish enough to believe them: Romney is for Romney and will do and say whatever it takes to get elected. It will be too late for the country, then, and we’ll realize that he is little better than Obama with an R behind his name. Romney is no conservative. LOOK at his RECORD!
Only two?
There’s millions of Slick Willards, but none good.
Romney is a Rino and I wouldn’t vote for him for dog catcher.........
Plus, he is just a little to cute for me........I don’t trust him............
(((PING)))
Hey Frum, how many people do you think will actually read RINO Romney’s wonkish book?
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."
"Im told by very good sources that this was indeed the case and that a rift had developed, but it was between Palins 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 Romneys 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 praises Obama
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney praised President Obama
at a GOP fundraising dinner Wednesday ..
"I also think it's important for us to nod to the president when he's right," Romney said....
Romney, who spoke at a dinner for the National Republican Senatorial Committee,
said he's pleased with the president's plans to "finish the job" in Iraq and Afghanistan
-- lines that drew applause from the partisan audience. He also applauded the president
for standing up to the auto industry.
"I hope he continues to be tough ....The former businessman even offered faint praise for
Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, saying that after a series of initial missteps,
"I think he's finally getting close to the right answer."
Romney: I Was For The Bailout Before I Was Against It
They hated Reagan: “Palin is my Dad in a skirt”: Michael Reagan. Nuff said.
LLS
Mitt He's Our Man: Sarah She's Our Woman signs kind of turn my stomach.
Reagan Brand of political thought is in Sarah's corner and would be a more interesting campaign theme, IMO.
Let's get to it before people get discouraged by a RINO Republican Standard Bearer Again with this Romney presence.
Palin in 2012
###
“Notice that Romney inserts this criticism of the Saudis into somebody elses mouth. This is something of a pattern in the book: it is carefully structured to preserve disavowability at key points.”
___________________________________________________________
This is Romney’s modus operandi. Despicable attacks from surrogates, minions and hirelings. It showed up in the attacks on the GOP ticket before the 2008 election and the swipes at Sarah Palin both before and after her nomination. He is, plain and simply, a rich, spoiled coward, who uses others to do his fighting for him.
Memo to Mitt: We know the tactics you employ and who your minions are. Know this. You are going to be attacked fiercely both for your lack of character and courage and for RomneyCare and Gay Marriage which you foisted on Massachusetts, and which we are going to hang around your neck like a fiery albatross. We are not just going to edge you out. We are going to vanquish you and your ilk.Your defeat will be total.
And it is going to be pasted on you by Sarah Palin.(My goodness, what will the felooswsat the Bohemian Grove say?) I suggest you read the Chapter from Going Rogue on Murkowski’s demise. That will be your fate in just 2 short years, only you won’t do as well.
And, you will not be able to weasel your way onto her ticket. You will be so damaged by the abortive campaign you are about to undertake that you will never again rear your head.
Frum should return to Canada
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