1.) Huckabee has basically ruled out a 2012 run. I don't think he believes he can win in 2012 (though 2016 I would not rule out).
2.) I am a bit concerned that Romney might lack the grassroots connection/awareness to realize how viscerally hated some of the members of his "band" are. He must tread lightly, and show some ability to be more loyal to the Conservative base than to the Steve Schmidts of the party.
3.) Even if Mitt shows a willingness to purge the RINOs from his team - if FR is an indicator - he is going to have a beast of a time convincing the grassroots that he is authentically Conservative.
4.) Freepers need to have a sense of history and understand that Mitt Romney, not Sarah Palin, will be the odds-on favorite to win the nomination in 2012. I say this as one of the ORIGINAL Palinistas, and a current Sarah 2012 booster. Mitt will have the Party machinery behind him, is viewed as the heir apparent by the GOP establishment, and will have the Moderate Republican money behind him from moment one. Because Sarah is in the race, he will also enjoy perhaps the most positive press coverage a Republican has ever enjoyed.
You Freepers who have been around for a while know what I'm talking about - you remember the past primaries. Team Romney is going to begin a process of getting the GOP to "tweak" the primaries in his favor, something we have seen done several times before in several races. He will succeed in many cases, much to FR's dismay - that's a simple, painful truth. The GOP establishment does NOT want Sarah Palin winning the nomination, and is going to go to great lengths to make sure that important Primary races will feature hometown Conservative alternatives to Palin in every state possible. They will encourage the usual dozen Social Conservatives to run, at least 3-4 from the South so as to prevent Sarah from sweeping the Bible Belt. Don't be shocked to see DeMint encouraged to run by the Party folks (and stay in it) all the way until after FL, and Perry pushed to declare in order to take Texas off of Palin's map.
Meanwhile, we will begin to hear our first stories about states "tweaking" or "changing" Primary rules right about Spring of 2011. States like NH and MI will decide to give more delegates to the winner, whereas places like FL will choose to give proportionate to vote percentage.
Freepers need to be ready - the cold hard truth is that Mitt Romney, because of all the above stuff we've seen before - will start out as the heavy favorite to be the 2012 GOP nominee. That means we need to avoid Hunter/Thompson/Keyes-isms.
Thoughts?
Well i hope he doesnt have a heart attack on his daily runs...
Hes very old and out of condition...
/puke
I wil not vote for Romney-—————period.
I just wish these RINOS would move out of the way and help some real conservatives.
He can run all he wants: I’m not voting for him. He’s already gone a healthcare bill too far.
All I can say is: Romeycare. The rino can run all he wants, but he will not get the support of the grassroots conservatives.
Sorry, but that $hit is SOOOOO over.
Mitt Romney is a flip-flopping socialist bum! -- posted by Jim Robinson
You can see the problem in this primary if it comes down to Romney vs Palin. He knows where to get the “big” money and has lots of his own. Sarah is going to have to rely on the small donations of the little people. I really believe that is why she is campaigning for McCain. He can help her with the big donors if she can get him re-elected. McCain and Romney both contributed to Scott Brown’s campaign. So, Brown is also going to campaign for McStain. In the game of politics, as much as one does not want to play with the big money, it is almost critical for getting elected.
As Republican or Democrat?
In 2008, we had a nit-wit at the top of the ticket, we can’t afford a MITT-wit in 2012.
FR is a no-Willard zone.
"Shall not be infringed", "Right of the People", "laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding", Title 18 Sect 242.
FU WIllard. Go away...
Who Cares?
Not getting my vote. I’m voting PALIN! And proud to do it whether she runs or not!
Should have been a “double barf alert” on that post.
1.) Huckabee has basically ruled out a 2012 run. I don’t think he believes he can win in 2012 (though 2016 I would not rule out).
- - - - - - - - -
I think Huckabee *is* planning a run in 2012.
Romney is a non-starter for me. Same goes for Huckabee.
My concentration is on this year’s elections.
Imagine Mitt at the Daytona 500 addressing the crowd.
Now review the tape of Sarah addressing the crowd yesterday.
Mitt has zero charisma.
Dead candidate walking.
At my Precinct Caucus this last Saturday Romney was a distant second in a straw vote taken at the door. Palin was the leader by several votes.
When I think of Mitt I think about that GOP Debate “show of hands” question. Question - “Show of hands, if you think climate change is a serious threat and man is the major cause of it.”
Hands that went up, McCain, Rudy, Mitt, and Huckabee - before Fred Thompson saved their butts with the were not playing hand games here.
The Video speaks for itself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAYtC_jcK1U