Kevin Madden hasn't worked for Romney since he dropped out at his CPAC speech in February. He works for a Dem firm in DC now. Blaming Romney for his actions now is akin to the Dems argument that Cheney is still controlling Haliburton.
Kathleen Parker is a journalist who has never worked for Romney. While I would like just as much as anyone for Romney to trash her on national TV for her statements. I'm guessing he is not going waste his time playing the role of thought police against her. To engage a journalist like that would just lower his standards. And it would have been off message for McCain/Palin. If they sent Romney to respond to a journalist the media would have just made it a bigger story.
Romney was on message and did a ton holding back the tide. Look down the list of over 30 candidates he raised money for (over 20 million). Many of them won. Thank you Romney.
My favorite is Pete Hoekstra of Michigan http://www.mlive.com/chronicle/news/index.ssf/2008/11/hoekstra_cruises_to_ninth_hous.html He won against the Dems thanks in part to Romney's support. he helped develop the contract with America, was a fortune 500 CEO, and has been working in the WOT as Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
Look at the list to see who Romney helped from your state.
Yes, I liked Romney and we are fortunate to have him in the GOP. We will need to unite and choose the best to try to get Republicans back into leadership roles. It may be a long time until we see the GOP in the majority again. It will not be by looking solely to the past; we must have better ideas for the future and persuasively articulate those ideas to all generations. We should not cede the youth vote so easily.