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Ten Reasons Mitt Romney Should Not Be the VP Nominee
National Review Online ^ | August 27, 2008 | David Frum

Posted on 08/27/2008 7:52:58 AM PDT by MeanWestTexan

10. Inexperience. Romney, a one-term governor who did not run for reelection, has precisely one-third of the elective experience that Dan Quayle had when nominated for Vice President, and Quayle was attacked for his inexperience. A Romney nomination would cut against the grain of one of McCain’s best arguments – Obama’s inexperience – and this is particularly true when placed against Joe Biden.

9. Rommey supporters typically say that he would be good on the economy. But why, exactly? Paul O’Neill and John Snow were both highly successful businessmen, and yet were weak as Treasury Secretary. Why would Romney be any different – and would McCain want to be seen to hand over control of the economy to his vice president? Business and government require different leadership styles. Few people can handle both well, and Romney’s thin record as governor provides little evidence he can. The conservative Tax Foundation stated that the total state and local tax burden in Massachusetts rose 5.1 percent on Romney’s watch, and the state ranked 46th in job growth from 2003-2005 (in the middle of a boom). In any event, skill in business is very different from skill in finance – or governing.

8. Thin skin. In the Republican debates, Romney always wanted to be the focus of attention, taking more than his allotted share of time and reacting badly when others questioned his statements or views. McCain clobbered him in the debates, helping assure his own nomination. Joe Biden would do likewise.

7. While “anybody but _______” efforts rarely work in American politics (think Carter, Reagan, Mondale), this one did. At least three candidates – Huckabee, Giuliani, Thompson – decided that they simply preferred beating Romney and effectively worked together to stop him. What was it about Romney they so disliked? This also doesn’t say much about his ability to unite the party, keep support, or exert political leadership.

6. Whether one is pro-choice or pro-life, Romney’s flip-flop on abortion seems terribly insincere. To believe the story as it was originally told, Romney was concerned over stem cell research. Ask any of your active pro-life friends: they will probably know many people who are pro-life except for the stem cells issue and will have met no one who became pro-life because of it. His palpable anger when asked detailed questions about his views does not give credence to the sincerity of his conversion.

5. Can Romney supporters point to even one poll – just one poll – showing that he would have won reelection in 2006? It is not good enough to say “oh, but he said he wanted to run for President, so there were no polls.” (What about Romney internals?) George Bush faced this dilemma in 1998 and won reelection handily as Governor of Texas. What does this say about Romney’s record as Governor? Isn’t the better conclusion that he won (with less than 50% of the vote) only against a very weak Democratic candidate from western Massachusetts and governed in an undistinguished fashion? If we want to say that Barack Obama’s record is thin, we must say the same about Romney’s, so he cannot be the nominee.

4. In 2004, some very effective advertising mocked John Kerry for windsurfing off Nantucket as a sign he was out of touch with the people. How, then, would the people react, in a time of economic gloom, to learning that Romney’s hedge funds – based offshore, presumably to avoid U.S. taxation – are named after a lighthouse on the same island? Can’t you just picture the ads now?

3. With McCain’s implicit one-term pledge, a Romney nomination – giving the vice presidency to a deep-pocketed candidate – would sharply divide the Republican party by effectively conceding the 2012 nomination to him, sidelining both up-and-coming candidates like Governors Pawlenty, Palin, and Jindal and current figures such as Mike Huckabee (who came in second, remember – Romney did not). How will the party react? The same consideration does not apply for a pick of, for instance, Pawlenty, Jindal, Governor Jon Huntsman, or Rep. Eric Cantor. They do not have the money to dominate the party and the conservative movement as Romney does. The 1988 primaries show that a sitting Vice President can be effectively challenged – but Romney would begin the race with a huge advantage simply because of his personal wealth. Allegations have already been raised that Romney’s foundation money has been used (improperly?) to bolster his political image And given this, would President McCain have any assurance that Romney would be loyal?

2. Can Romney supporters name a single major accomplishment of Romeny’s as Governor that would please conservatives? His “RomneyCare” health plan? Unlikely, as the candidate himself walked away from it during the primaries. Did he have any ability to persuade the legislature? After the Massachusetts Supreme Court’s decision on gay marriage, did Romney even switch a single legislator to vote in favor of placing a constitutional amendment on gay marriage on the ballot, so the people could deicide rather than judges? If so, who? The burden should be on Romney supporters to provide the names and details. Did the Legislature not like him, or is it better to say that he simply walked away from the issue? The Boston Globe’s valedictory editorial (December 26, 2006) sums it up well: "Romney himself admits that a number of his goals remain unmet. His inability to lower the nation's highest unemployment insurance rate, to secure merit pay for teachers, and to reinvigorate the Republican Party were among the frustrations he listed."

1. On a family vacation, he put the family dog in a cage on top of the car while driving for 12 hours, across an international border – an experiment in logistics, aerodynamics, and animal welfare that predictably failed when the dog became ill. Over 50 million American dogs – and 40 million American dog owners – would be horrified. For my own part, I think Obama's selection of Joe Biden (one of the least wealthy men in the US Senate) makes a Romney pick a very, very dangerous exercise in bad optics


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons
KEYWORDS: 2008; 2008veep; cantor; frum; mccain; mormonhaters; romney; topten
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To: K-oneTexas

I just think we need a Southern VP, and it would be nice to be thrown a bone. Fred’s not too contraversial and would add a nice touch to the ticket. Hunter would too but he is not as well known.


141 posted on 08/27/2008 2:51:56 PM PDT by Camel Joe (liberal=socialist=royalist/imperialist pawn=enemy of Freedom)
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To: Camel Joe
I don't think either of them want it truthfully. I also think we need someone who is young (younger than McCain) and someone who can speak well and not choke. Many of those on 'the list' a bland and very unknown except in their own States.

The only ones who have been picked up on the 'national' radar by voters is Gov. Sarah Palin and Mitt. Many have no record to speak of and have not addressed national issues, except that they'll speak at the Convention. Many do not engender trust since they are unknown. Jindall is not ready for prime time yet, if he straightens out LA then maybe. Hayley Barber is older and has baggage that will not help a ticket.

Others who are know are unacceptable, to me. Like Crist or Rudy or Huckabee to name three. Cantor I have never heard of in Texas and have no feel and therefore no confidence in. KBH is my one of my Senators and I have no faith in her conservatism.

I don't think a bone is what is needed. We need someone who can learn and carry-on after McCain is done. Be it 4 (more likely) or 8 years.
142 posted on 08/27/2008 3:05:45 PM PDT by K-oneTexas (I'm not a judge and there ain't enough of me to be a jury. (Zell Miller, A National Party No More))
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To: Zevonismymuse
Romney, like me, is personally and morally opposed to abortion, but because he is a conservative he was opposed to abortion being outlawed. He has now changed his position and believes that the unborn should be legally protected.

After including $50 abortions in his health care plan, attending PP fundraisers and even lying about his mother's position on abortion, you want us to believe, conveniently at the time he decided to run for President, that he has change his mind in a few short years?

You know if a Democrat tried that kind of flip-flop, you'd be all over him or her like a bee on honey.

143 posted on 08/27/2008 4:05:14 PM PDT by Ol' Sparky (Liberal Republicans are the greater of two evils)
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To: MeanWestTexan

Didn’t NRO endorse Romney???


144 posted on 08/27/2008 5:47:16 PM PDT by Fred (The Democrat Party is the Nadir of Nihilism)
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To: Behind Liberal Lines; libh8er
Using the HATE word is so dem. Behind Liberal Lines is really being quite honest. Just go to youtube.com and search on Romney, the dems will have little or no work to do with this romney feeding frenzy on youtube.


145 posted on 08/27/2008 5:50:39 PM PDT by Fred (The Democrat Party is the Nadir of Nihilism)
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Placemark


146 posted on 08/27/2008 5:54:26 PM PDT by greyfoxx39 (Romney supporters' sixth sense...."Mommy, I see BIGOTS EVERYWHERE......WAHHHH!)
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To: Owen
This insane Mormon hatred

Now wait a minute champ. The article and subsequent comments NEVER said a thing about Romney's religion.

Kill that straw man right now.

147 posted on 08/27/2008 6:03:57 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (All hail our leader, our savior, our beloved, The Messiah Obama)
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To: Camel Joe

Oh, I want Fred to be McCain’s first appointment to the Supremes. Just the confirmation hearings would be a pleasure to watch!


148 posted on 08/27/2008 8:20:51 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: Tammy8
Fred didn't get in 'late'. He entered the race at the typical time for previous races, but everyone else had been campaigning since the last Congressional race in 2006, so it seemed late. As for the issues, he was anything but wishy washy. He made some of the best points of any of the candidates on the important issues, but was completely ignored by the MSM. He wasn't flashy, but he's not a flashy person, so he was ignored by folks who seemed to be looking for someone with a good smile and good hair to be President.

They ended up getting neither, but McCain is very experienced, and no matter who he chooses for Veep, I'm going to vote for him. He wasn't my guy; I was a FredHead, but I don't want the Democrats anywhere NEAR the Oval Office while we have our military in an active war. I also don't want a Democrat choosing the next nominees for the Supremes. In fact, as I said up the thread, I'd LOVE for McCain to choose Fred for the Supremes, because he seemed to be the most Constitutionally literate of all the candidates this election, and it would just be a blast watching him in the nomination hearings on Capitol Hill against those folks with whom he served while in the Senate.

149 posted on 08/27/2008 8:44:11 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: K-oneTexas
Cantor I have never heard of in Texas and have no feel and therefore no confidence in.

Dan Quayle was a relative unknown as well, but it didn't keep GHW Bush from being elected in 1988.

150 posted on 08/27/2008 8:51:01 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: SuziQ

I wasn’t talking about other VP. I was giving my personal opinion on a potential candidate.


151 posted on 08/28/2008 5:47:44 AM PDT by K-oneTexas (I'm not a judge and there ain't enough of me to be a jury. (Zell Miller, A National Party No More))
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To: MeanWestTexan
percentage of people actually dispise the man so much that they will stay home.

Red Herring. This is a ridiculous argument. Biased speculation aimed at swaying opinion but having no grounds in fact. The same argument could be made that those same people would stay home because they despise McCain.


152 posted on 08/28/2008 9:44:49 PM PDT by Stourme
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To: stillonaroll
6. Whether one is pro-choice or pro-life, Romney’s flip-flop on abortion

So basically, Mitt Romney is the one human being on planet earth NOT allowed to change his mind on any subject at any point of his life? Is that correct?

He's not allowed to learn or grow or repent of any opinion that he did not have since birth...right?

hmmm...
153 posted on 08/28/2008 9:55:42 PM PDT by Stourme
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
Now wait a minute champ. The article and subsequent comments NEVER said a thing about Romney's religion.

Kill that straw man right now.


It wasn't the article that he was referring to. It was the reason it was posted is the subject of his comments.

The Mormon hatred on FR is quite thick.
154 posted on 08/28/2008 10:09:38 PM PDT by Stourme
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To: Jedidah
And he is not a vote-getter.

Did you happen to notice that Mitt won a number of states in the primary. He is a vote getter. There's a large percentage of the population that like him.

People see what they want to see.

John McCain will be the next President of the United States. Obama already looks like an idiot. The polls are showing it. And when McCain's campaign really gets to tearing into him he'll look retarded.

McCain's VP pick is irrelevant to the election. I wouldn't doubt by November that Obama is 30 points behind.
155 posted on 08/28/2008 10:23:40 PM PDT by Stourme
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To: Stourme
As you are well aware, Mitt's flips are not limited to abortion. Seems the DemonRats were on to him even before the primaries:

Since Romney himself has "outgrown" his previous positions on just about every issue in this campaign, his friends at the Democratic National Committee decided to join the fun by auctioning off Romney's past. The DNC today listed a Mitt Romney Flip Flop Kit that includes Romney's old positions on everything from gun control to immigration reform to tax cuts to gay rights to abortion on eBay.

http://dnc.org/a/2007/11/dnc_lists_smoot.php

156 posted on 08/28/2008 10:53:16 PM PDT by stillonaroll (If the VP is Romney or another RINO, I'm staying home!)
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