Romney Pulling Out? Campaign Doesn't Want "To Look Destructive At What Might Be The End."

National Review Corner Blog ^ | 2/07/08 | Byron York

[Greg F]

We are beginning to see signs that Mitt Romney might be preparing to pull out of the Republican race.

Everyone is looking for tea leaves from the campaign, and we'll know more about the governor's state of mind when we hear from him at CPAC today. But in the last 24 hours, I have noticed a dramatic drop-off in the number of emails I have received from Team Romney. This is no small thing. Every reporter will tell you they receive reams of emails from the Romney campaign. But the last one I got was at 1:47 p.m. yesterday, advising me of Romney's campaign schedule in Maryland. Before that, I last received on at 8:37 a.m., advising me of Romney's CPAC speech.

Normally in that time period, I would have received lots of emails telling me, among other things, that John McCain's Straight Talk Express had taken a detour. For example, I would have expected to receive one about McCain's "calm down" remark. But nothing from the Romney camp. I wondered whether the campaign is dialing back its aggressiveness in preparation for a Romney withdrawal. . . .

[qman]

Mitt’s not going to win and he knows it, he should throw all his delegates to Huckabee to stop McCain.

You can hardly blame him, the lackluster turnout and non-existant fundraising are not good signs for next november.

The democrates have this one sown up in november. Let’s hope It’s Hillary because the blank slate of Obama who knows what he will be up to!!

Hillary is running to the left to get votes but she will be pragmatic and lead center left, Obama is just left wing!!!

[cinives]

What does “making a deal” mean ? Which principles do we give up for this “deal” ?

What could McCain possibly promise conservatives that would be palatable ?

Get conservative nominations to SCOTUS but give away amnesty ?
Get WOT in exchange for global warming taxes ?
Get reasonable budget in exchange for more first amendment restrictions ?

Barf on them all. What will we hear 20 years from now ? What do we hear now is an instructive guide.

Reagan gave us the first amnesty. If Reagan thought it was OK, why don’t we ? Reagan didn’t balance budgets - why should we ? And on and on and on, no matter that he had a very liberal Congress to get around.

A McCain president will likely have a liberal Congress as well, and will he stand against his good liberal friends Kennedy, Feingold, Reid, Lieberman, Snowe and so on ?

What does it profit a man if he gains the world but loses his soul ?

[HawaiianGecko]

Well, I voted for Mitt on Tuesday.  He's been my number one choice all along.  But unlike Yosemite Sam, I'm not going to lock my arms in place, blow steam out of my ears and start shooting randomly screaming "Darn that silly RINO!" 
I'll donate to McCain for the general and vote Republican like I have all my voting career.
Elections are elections.  They are not designed for me to get my personal wishes fulfilled. They are for the public to choose a candidate.  Regardless of how dumb I may think the public is, I realize it's simply a narcissistic & condescending position as millions of people have the right to vote their choice.
How silly is it to claim that we are the true defenders of the constitution except when we don't get our way.  And if we don't get our way, we're going to take our ball and go home.

[cinives]

Maybe we’d like McCain if he acted more like Reagan.

McCain heartily dislikes conservatives, and has no problem being spiteful, petty and small-minded. Reagan never was.

[varon]

But NEVER Hitlary Clinton.

Agreed. I just want to deny the presidency to the ego-maniacal socialist. She and her criminal cohort need to be slapped down!!!

[nmh]

I’m fortunate enough to be able to listen to Mitt Romney NOW on CSPAN. He is the conservative candidate. It’s pity that people don’t know what conservatism is.

Huckabee supporters want to believe that the Huckster is a “Christian”. Far from it. He’s a BIG government guy that sucks people dry and gets them DEPENDENT on BIG GOVERNMENT. He believes he is ABOVE the law:

Huckabee promotes ‘open door’ policy at LULAC convention
Thursday, Jun 30, 2005

By Wesley Brown
Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK - In a impassioned speech before hundreds of influential Hispanic civil rights leaders from across the nation, Gov. Mike Huckabee told a captive audience Wednesday that America is great because it has always opened it doors up to people seeking a better way of life.

“Do unto others as you would have others do unto you,” Huckabee said, citing the Golden Rule. “I have tried to govern that way and it stands to reason that I really do believe that what made this great country so great and so unique is that it has always been a place for people to run to - and not run from.

“I would hope that no matter who we are, or where we are from, that America should always be a place that opens its arms, opens it heart, opens its spirit to people who come because they want the best for their families ...,” Huckabee said as the largely Hispanic audience gave him a standing ovation.

Huckabee was the keynote speaker, along with Tyson Foods Inc. Chairman and CEO John Tyson, at a noon luncheon of the League of United Latin American Citizens, which is holding its 76th annual convention in Little Rock.

About 10,000 political, community and business leaders, along with exhibitors and speakers are in Little Rock attending the convention at the Statehouse Convention Center. The convention started Monday and runs through Saturday.

Although he never actually talked about the U.S. or Arkansas immigration policy, Huckabee made it very clear where he stood on the issue. In his opening remarks, he said the nation will need to address the concerns of the Hispanic community because of its growing influence and population base.

“Pretty soon, Southern white guys like me may be in the minority,” Huckabee said jokingly as the crowd roared in laughter.

He told the LULAC delegates that their presence in the state’s capital city was very important because Arkansas has one of the fastest growing Hispanic populations in the nation.

“Your gathering is so very significant for our state,” Huckabee said. “We are delighted to have you.”

Despite several light moments, Huckabee did not stray away from several controversial issues that made him a target of criticism during the recently ended 85th General Assembly. He said Arkansas needs to make the transition from a traditional Southern state to one that recognizes and cherishes diversity “in culture, in language and in population.”

“This is an issue that is going to require extraordinary efforts on both sides of the border, particularly those coming from Mexico,” Huckabee said of verifying the status of illegal aliens. “But I am confident that our government will recognize that we should accommodate people who wish to provide the best opportunities for their families (and) employers so that we can make sure our economy has the necessary work force.”

During the legislation session, Huckabee criticized an immigration bill by Republican senators Jim Holt of Springdale and Denny Altes of Fort Smith as un-Christian, un-American, irresponsible and anti-life.

Senate Bill 206, which died in the Senate, would have required proof of citizenship to register to vote and also force state agencies to report suspected cases of people living in the country illegally. Holt, R-Springdale, replied later to Huckabee’s comments that Christian charity does not include turning a blind eye to lawbreaking.

The Republican governor, who many believe will run for president in 2008, also backed legislation that would have opened the door for illegal immigrants in Arkansas to receive college scholarships.

House Bill 1525 by Rep. Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock, was approved by the House but eventually failed in the Senate. Huckabee reiterated Wednesday that he believes every child, regardless of their parent’s immigration status, should have an opportunity to receive an education in the U.S.

…

http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2005/06/30/News/323746.html

Huck’s no Christian as he Scripture twists.

McCain and him are on the same page when it comes to LEFTIST policy. Mitt is right on, as he speaks at CPAC. I am ashamed for Americans that have been DUMBED DOWN and don't SEE the direction they are happily taking us - paralleling what the Demoncrats want and are going. Count me out. There comes a time when PRINCIPLE is at stake. In the past, I've been able to hold my nose. With McCain or the Huckster I can't even hold my nose and vote for EITHER OF THEM - they are of the same WRONG cloth. Let the Demoncarts have the WH - even if they claim they are Republicans - TOUGH LOVE in needed. Have you seen the bill that McCain is pushing through RIGHT NOW on carbon tax - it's the environmentalist dream come true - another HUGE TAX.

[HawaiianGecko]

"McCain doesn’t WANT to listen to us.  Have you noticed what we sound like?"  That's about as good as it can be said.  :-)

[cinives]

Since Democrats and Independents were large participants in Republican primaries to date, you are sadly misinformed if you believe the GOP has spoken.

The GOP allowed liberals to stage our primaries, and this is the result.

Go look at the internals of the exit polls and see who registered Republicans voted for. It wasn’t McCain.

[Greg F]

If Huckabee continues his run and tries to bring this to a brokered convention by simply denying McCain the win, he could be end up doing a great service to the country. Not sure Huck can win enough up north to do that though. We’ll see.

[HawaiianGecko]

"Listening is a 2 way street.... you will never get the ear of someone when you are out there spewing insanely over the top ridiculous rhetoric about them.

Agreed. There's plenty not to like about McCain, but much of the current anti-McCain hyperbole is based on personal pique and copycat piling on, not serious and sober reflection.

So we've arrived at the rhetorical point on FR where McCain is a nasty socialist traitor and Fred Thompson, McCain's soulmate in the Senate and co-sponsor of the campaign censorship bill, belongs on Mount Rushmore.

Didn't your mother teach you that you'll never get anywhere spewing facts, logic and common sense?  :-)

[Greg F]

Only thing left is to vote for Huckabee for the “block” and to get this to a contested convention.

[Greg F]

Romney is out!! Huckabee and Romney couldn’t stop McCain together, now Huckabee has a shot at a one on one match up.

There you go. Keep hope alive.

[Greg F]

Careful with the judgments nmh. The standard gets applied to you in the end . . .

[drymans wife]

The most staunch republicans are responsible for Romney’s
demise by not backing him in the beginning.

[Greg F]

Looks like its Plan C

Plan A) Vote for Fred Thompson in Feb 9th Caucus

Plan B) Vote for Mitt Romney in Feb 9th Caucus

Plan C) Go Skiing
______________________________

A vote for Huckabee is now almost a pure vote for a contested convention. It is almost impossible for him to get the delegates to win outright.

[Greg F]

I was planning to vote for McCain in the general if he won the nomination. After what he pulled in WVa, however, I’ll be voting third party or not at all.
_______________________________

See my tagline. Since Huck has an almost impossible road to get enough delegates to win the nomination — a vote for Huck is almost purely a vote against McCain and for a contested convention.

[Greg F]

What about all the people that hate Huckabee?
________________________________

They can vote Huck in confidence that he won’t collect enough delegates to take the nomination — so it’s a purely
“contested convention” vote.

[MEGoody]

I won’t vote for Huckabee either. . .not after WVa.

[drymans wife]

I am a Huck supporter. He has deep conservative values
that the evangelicals love.

I hope some how in the end it will do well for Huckabee
because it has been the same with him as it has been
for Romney.

No one is getting behind the true conservatives.

Stop the smashing and bashing.

It makes us look like the Democrats.

[Old Professer]

Easier to nominate McCain if they double-team us.