Romney’s 2012 Blueprint (Frum: Romney=presidential & serious, Palin=catty & self-absorbed)

Frum Forum ^ | March 10, 2010 | David Frum

[2ndDivisionVet]

Mitt Romney’s new book, No Apology, makes a very striking contrast with the most recent book entry by a potential Republican presidential candidate, Sarah Palin’s Going Rogue. Palin’s 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.

It’s 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 else’s 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.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Always with the Palin Derangement Syndrome (PDS) and Palin-bashing by the elitist RINOs.

[Sarah Barracuda]

David Frum is the definition of a moron

[CaspersGh0sts]

“The bad Romney is the Romney who delivered the governor’s 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, it’s time to look for the sun in the west ….” A strange thing to hear from the ex-governor of America’s 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.

[JApost]

This little putz is such a beta-boy he had to hire a woman(laura ingraham) to teach him how to workout/ exercise. He spent so much of his life inside, sitting down and inactive, his skin is the color of white paste and he gave himself diabetes.

[SmokingJoe]

He, Frum, just shut up and go away, will ya?

[pankot]

Moron may not fit as he is anencephalic.

[fieldmarshaldj]

*Slick Willard ping*

[Shery]

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!

[rabscuttle385]

You may have already heard my theory of the two Romneys, Good Romney and Bad Romney.

Only two?

[fieldmarshaldj]

There’s millions of Slick Willards, but none good.

[Leisler]

Canadian, Harvard Law( like Mitt ) sucks up to Bill Moyers and tells conservatives that Obama/ROmney/Pelosi Care is a good thing, don't ch'know, eh?

[RRTJSP...........]

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............

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

(((PING)))

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Hey Frum, how many people do you think will actually read RINO Romney’s wonkish book?

[Diogenesis]

Frum was one of the leaders of Team Romney's attacks
on Gov. Palin to throw Election2008 to Obama. Hmmmmmmmm Hmmmmmm. Hmmmmmm.

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.

"Frum was indeed a critic of Palin, calling her nomination a "huge mistake" during an October 13 (2008, weeks before the election) Early Show appearance."

---

David Frum: "Two of our most plausible candidates for president in 2012 are leading Mormons: Mitt Romney and Utah governor Jon Huntsman."

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David Frum: "I have a lot of regard for Mitt Romney as a man and politician… I will support him without qualm."

---

Late in October, The American Spectator's The Prowler revealed:
"Former Mitt Romney presidential campaign staffers…
have been involved in spreading anti-Palin spin to reporters, seeking to diminish her standing after the election.
'Sarah Palin is a lightweight, she won't be the first, not even the third, person people will think of when it comes to 2012,'
says one former Romney aide…
'The only serious candidate ready to challenge to lead the Republican Party is Mitt Romney.
"Some former Romney aides were behind the recent leaks to media, including CNN, that Governor Sarah Palin was a 'diva' and was going off message intentionally."

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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."
"I’m told by very good sources that this was indeed the case and that a rift had developed, but it was between Palin’s 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 Romney’s 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.

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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."

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"Who's the Palin Leaker from the McCain Campaign?
National Review Online The publication of a Vanity Fair profile of Sarah Palin
appears to have opened old wounds in the McCain campaign.
... the source of the “Diva” leak was Nicolle Wallace’s husband."

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Who benefits most from Sanford meltdown? Californian (that's right) Mitt Romney

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"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 Supporters Trashing Palin"

"Romney advisors sniping at Palin?"

[Diogenesis]

The book was ghostwritten because Romney has been such
a strong, but secret, Obama-supporter even during Election2008.

“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”

[LibLieSlayer]

They hated Reagan: “Palin is my Dad in a skirt”: Michael Reagan. Nuff said.

LLS

[1elder1]

Romney is trying to shadow Sarah Palin’s techniques for a run at the presidency in 2012.
He will get the same results as I would if I were to buy some Palin eye wear and get my hair done in an up-sweep.
Romney is as incongruous as I would be in the above for- show-tricks.
Neither Romney nor I or would get enough votes for a nomination or election for 2012.
He and his wife had to do a fast flip flop and become born again prolifers.
Romney has left behind some angry town's people in Massachusetts over his fakery in presenting the MittHealthCare mess. Rates were to go down and now they have gone sky high. So much for his mathematical genius with finances. What were his projections for increases for the residents of MA. in future years? The MA. citizens were forced into getting State Run Health Care.
I believe Romney would be too weak-minded to get us out of the statist Death Care Obama is going to force on us. We will need the help of a Conservative Congress and a Conservative Strong minded president.
Politico.com is gearing up for their anti-Palin campaign for 2012 by setting up dream scenes for Mitt Romney.
This article is favorable to Romney. http://tinyurl.com/yd9b4wt . It just reminds me Mitt is too weak to get us out of all this Obamanation damage.His financial skills are too poor if we refer to MittCare.
Socialized Medicical Care aka Death Care and ensuing Death Panels, is unwelcomed by the American people.
Can you picture Romney listening to the Tea Party protesters?
He did not listen to protests in Massachusettes why would he listen now?
I am thinking how Sarah Palin has addressed the concerns of Tea Party rally attendees.
Romney said the Tea Party should not become a third party. He said this AFTER Palin said the same thing. He is shadowing her something fierce, but he does not have the following nor the charisma to carry through in a meaningful way.
I do not think it would be a good idea to elect a Mormon to the presidency for the same reasons. I do not like this Islamic we have in the White House now. I am very wary of hidden agendas for both religions. Their religions would not be foisted on us but their traditions are something that concerns me. Mormons less so but nevertheless having an army of Mormon workers in your campaign is not grand.

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
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[Brices Crossroads]

“Notice that Romney inserts this criticism of the Saudis into somebody else’s 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.

[Friendofgeorge]

Frum should return to Canada