Posted on 01/22/2008 5:40:51 PM PST by shortstop
I'm voting for Mitt Romney.
In two weeks, on Super Tuesday, I'm casting my primary ballot for Mitt Romney.
It's been a decision that's taken almost a year, and it's involved several back-and-forths, but this is where I come down. The candidate I want to represent the Republican party in this year's presidential election is Mitt Romney.
Let me tell you why.
Before I look at him, I want to look at the others.
First, Rudy. Great man, outstanding leader, would probably make a fine president. Proven in time of crisis, well spoken under pressure, as smart as they come.
But he's a liberal.
Nowhere near as liberal as whoever the Democratic candidate ends up being, but liberal nonetheless. And I'm not a liberal. I'm a conservative. And as I thought about the issues that matter to me, I could not think of very many that I would expect Rudy Giuliani to agree with me on.
He might be a winning candidate, but he's not a very Republican candidate, and after eight years of George W. Bush, I'd like to try a Republican, for a change.
Next, McCain. American hero, unflinchingly brave, would make a tough, no-nonsense president. Proven over a lifetime of military and government service, he would have our enemies shaking in their boots.
But he's a liberal.
And he's too old – in body and mind. He's such a part of the past that his natural energy and vitality are distant memories. Unfortunately, his years in a prisoner-of-war camp – which set him apart and qualify him for greatness – were so long ago as to be little more than a footnote on the relevancies of today.
But mostly, he's just plain liberal. From empowering political special interests and silencing regular folks though his “campaign finance reform,” to his amnesty-for-everyone immigration bill, his years in elective office have been distinctive for their lack of principle and conservatism.
He's one of the greatest Americans of his generation or mine, but he would not be my choice for president, and he wouldn't be America's, either. He is the Bob Dole of 2008.
Next, Thompson.
He was a big deal eight months ago. But he's nosedived since then. The irony is that the man who might actually be dispositioned best to serve as president seems incapable of mounting a presidential campaign. I believe he's a true conservative, but we'll have to wait for him to wake up to find out.
Thompson is, to me, the most disappointing candidate of the batch. All hat and no cattle.
Now, Huckabee.
Mike Huckabee is the only politician I've ever donated money to. I sent him $50 last fall, when he was on the Glenn Beck TV show. I liked what he had to say about the Second Amendment and I liked the way he was so upfront with his strong religious values.
But this guy's only a conservative when it suits him, and he's got a new brand of conservatism he's peddling that is nothing but the old brand of liberalism. He is, to me, a keen, keen disappointment.
He has prostituted his religion, seeming to actively promote his Christian ties for personal political gain, and cunningly using religious bigotry against at least one opponent. He is too clever by half and it comes off looking not just cunning, but sinister.
He did grow government, he did raise taxes, he was a good friend of illegal aliens – and all the 180s he's pulled in the last few weeks won't change that. Mike Huckabee is talented, and part of me still likes him a lot, but the more I learn about him, the more he reminds me of Elmer Gantry.
That brings us to Mitt.
I didn't like him to start. I was very bothered by his late-life conversion to conservatism. I also thought he hid his Mormon beliefs like a candle under a bushel.
But as the long campaign has dragged on I think he has looked better and better. First, he has been the best spokesman for conservative and traditional-Republican values. He has stood up in debate after debate and shown a better understanding of what's what than his opponents.
And he has kept his cool and his class through the campaign. As Huckabee got dirty on him, and McCain and Thompson sought to ridicule him in the debates, he has been calm but not weak, firm but not antagonistic. He has had a presidential demeanor.
He has also been positive.
Whereas the others – in both parties – talk about problem, problem, problem, Mitt Romney's approach has been solution, solution, solution. He hasn't exactly said that it's morning in America, but we got the message.
And he is the most conservative major candidate. With Duncan Hunter and – soon – Fred Thompson gone, Mitt's the only one even close to conservative. Further, the endorsement of Tom Tancredo is very significant to me. Nobody is stronger on the issue of illegal immigration than Tancredo, and if he feels good about Mitt Romney, so do I.
There is also the issue of his religion.
There are a lot of firsts in the campaign – even though Senators Clinton and Obama get all the press. There is the first Italian, and the first Mormon, in addition to the first woman and the first black. Yet only one of those identifiers has been declared by the press a liability, and I personally think it would be good to show the press how wrong it can be and how bigoted its presumptions can be.
Those who say Mitt Romney can't be elected because of his religion shortchange and insult the American people.
I'm voting for Mitt Romney.
He's run several highly successful businesses – growing companies instead of gutting them or sending their jobs overseas. He handled the odd world of the Olympics like a champion, and he governed Massachusetts with policies and principles that were successful and fundamentally conservative. And he's run a very smart and professional campaign, handling himself like a gentleman throughout, no matter what guff he was taking off his opponents.
Mitt Romney governed more conservatively than Rudy Giuliani did, or Mike Huckabee did, or John McCain has. These are men with platforms and records, and the proof of Mitt Romney's platform is in his record – given the chance to lead, he led closer to Republican principles than any of his opponents.
No, he's not perfect.
None of them are.
But he's the closest.
I can support any of them against a Democrat, but our country and our party deserve a Republican candidate that is truly strong and capable.
And that candidate is Mitt Romney.
He has my vote on primary day.
Well stated. Bravo!
Very good. Actually swayed me to a degree. I’m undecided now, but starting to lean toward Mitt. The only one I won’t vote for in the general election is RINO “shut up you plebes” McCain.
I’m voting for Newt. He will ride in on his white horse at the convention ya know.
None. But that's your choice.
I didn’t know that Tancredo had endorsed Romney. That’s a pretty strong endorsement if you are tired of the illegal invasion. Go Mitt.
Don’t worry, Mitt represents the same-old tired status-quo.
That’s a fair position to take. I hope that Romney can prove himself to you between now and Super Tuesday.
Cheers!
From that family photos thread a day or so ago, the only family that looked normal was Mitt’s.
Paul would get people killed in this country by inaction.
McCain would get people killed who knows where by insane action.
Huck would spend all my and my children's money on his pet do-good projects. He will also bow to foreign pressue “to take the high moral ground” even if it is obviously not in our interest to do so. Appearances are more important than actual truth...
Romney will further socialize everything but he doesn’t seem to blame America first.
Romney seems to be the least of the evils... At least as of this point in time...
Why can't we just once all together stand and fight for conservatism? No way will I ever vote for another rino/moderate. They are NOT better than any dem!
I agree Mitt’s got my vote as well!
Thank you. I really hope Romney can display the conservative spirit I want to see. I’ve looked at him in the past and was unimpressed. But he’s seemed to have changed his tune. I want to see if that’s real. I’m giving him a chance to prove to me it is real.
The liberal MSM have been putting out the propaganda that McCain is the only candidate who can beat Hillary. They know it’s a lie, but they are hoping Republican voters believe it. But anyone with an ounce of intelligence knows it’s a lie.
Mitt Romney is the guy they don’t want to face in November.
“Since the mods seem to think that endless Mittbot vanities are just fine, I’m going to start one that asks all conservatives to dump Mitt and post it in the NEWS section.”
Post it and I’ll BUMP your thread!
count me as a smitten mitten.......MOM for Mitt
I can just see it now, Hillary debating MYTH on universal health care. MYTH did in Massachusetts what Hillary wants to do across America.
How can MYTH do anything other than agree with Hillary that America needs universal health care now?
The mandate will be enforced by the IRS.
It is coming no matter which one of them wins.
I will never vote for Mitt.
I’m supporting Mitt Romney now, I see no other viable option.
The funny thing is I started out supporting him however many years ago this whole thing started.
But I live in California, and I am a registered “Decline to State” which means I can’t vote in the California Republican primary. Or at least my vote won’t be counted if I do.
So I had toyed around with voting in the Democrat primary. Maybe supporting Hillary just because I know she’d bring the whole Democrat party down with her in defeat. But I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if the Clintons manage to worm their way back into the White House, knowing that I helped in some small measure.
So what I think I am going to do is vote in the Democrat primary and write Fred Thompson in. Then I will vote for Mitt in November.
Nothing normal about all of them avoiding military service.
Most American families with 5 sons or more, at least one has served.
Not the MYTHS.
You are right. Because Mitt is head and shoulders (and torso and legs) above R - u - n Paul
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