Insiders: Romney Is Top GOP 2012 Contender, Daniels Second (Beltway love these guys, should you?)

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney continues to hold the pole position for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination in the latest National Journal Political Insiders Poll. But the surprise runner-up to Romney was the two-term Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, who moved up from fifth place when the last ranking of the potential GOP White House contenders was conducted a year ago.

Romney's assets and liabilities are well known and haven't changed much since last January. He has a national network of political and financial supporters left over from his unsuccessful run for the 2008 Republican nomination, a command of economic issues derived from his days in the private sector as a corporate turnaround artist, and the hard-won experience from have run for the presidency before.

But Romney must also figure out a way to convince Republican activists that the health care reform measure that he signed as governor of Massachusetts is different from the national health care reform passed by Pres. Obama and congressional Democrats that is anathema to the GOP rank-and-file. He also has a perceived authenticity deficit. Romney "probably knows more about macroeconomics than most but will need to learn to speak or appear more genuine," cautioned one Republican Insider.

Daniels has taken few obvious steps to lay the foundation for a prospective 2012 candidacy in the last year, but Republican Insiders nonetheless have gravitated to him as the lead alternative to Romney. Daniels is seen as having a solid conservative record as governor, particularly in controlling state spending. Yet there's still doubt about how effective a candidate he'd be. Daniels "has the credentials; needs to work on his charisma," said one Republican Insider.

Anything can happen in the time left before the primaries and such.

But this makes me think that a lot of Republicans are doing the equivalent of trying to get to first base by a walk...or a balk.

Time to swing for the fences.

I wonder how long I could keep up this metaphor if I tried?

The DOGS know the winner of 2012.

"But the details of the event are more than unseemly - they may, in fact, be illegal. Massachusetts's animal cruelty laws specifically prohibit anyone from carrying an animal "in or upon a vehicle, or otherwise, in an unnecessarily cruel or inhuman manner or in a way and manner which might endanger the animal carried thereon. "An officer for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals responded to a description of the situation saying "it's definitely something I'd want to check out." The officer, Nadia Branca, declined to give a definitive opinion on whether Romney broke the law but did note that it's against state law to have a dog in an open bed of a pick-up truck, and "if the dog was being carried in a way that endangers it, that would be illegal."

"Dog on Roof? What Was It Like for Romney's Pooch? - Scientists Say Dog Likely Experienced Wind-Whipped, Uncomfortable Trip - "Before beginning the drive, Mitt Romney put Seamus, the family's hulking Irish setter, in a dog carrier and attached it to the station wagon's roof rack. e'd built a windshield for the carrier, to make the ride more comfortable for the dog,".. Jordan Kaplan, the owner of Petaholics, a dog walking service in New York City,
and a lifelong dog owner and dog lover, said Romney's actions were uncalled for"

"Romney's dog - This is a distinction Mitt Romney probably could do without, but he is surely the first presidential candidate to be attacked for putting a dog with diarrhea in a carrier and tying it to the top of a station wagon. Romney's defense: Seamus liked it. [like the citizens under Romney's RomneyCARE, etc.?] "

"As the oldest son, Tagg Romney commandeered the way-back of the wagon, keeping his eyes fixed out the rear window, where he glimpsed the first sign of trouble. ''Dad!'' he yelled. ''Gross!'' A brown liquid was dripping down the back window, payback from an Irish setter who'd been riding on the roof in the wind for hours. As the rest of the boys joined in the howls of disgust, Romney coolly pulled off the highway and into a service station. There, he borrowed a hose, washed down Seamus and the car, then hopped back onto the highway."

"Story about dog on car roof comes back to bite Romney - 200 comments from readers complaining of animal cruelty"

Romney's bad behavior Exposed by Seamus

"Romney Loses Nomination Over Dog Abuse? - Romney was traveling that summer with his wife, five sons, and Seamus to his parent's cottage on Lake Huron. But hours into the ride, Seamus apparently suffered diarrhea, which ran down the back window of the car. .David Kravitz wrote on BlueMassGroup, a liberal blog. "It also strikes me as classic Romney: it solves a problem efficiently, in a business-like manner, and with no regard whatsoever for the suffering that the solution may cause."

I'm once again experiencing “Rear Deja Vue” where you have the feeling you've lived something before and you know exactly when and where. In this case it was with Bob Dole and John McCain. All of sudden we're being told how someone many of us would make our first choice is the leader in all sorts of polls.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

I can tell them right now, if they end up with Romney as the nominee they'll be doing without my money and my vote.

I’m once again experiencing “Rear Deja Vue” where you have the feeling you’ve lived something before and you know exactly when and where. In this case it was with Bob Dole and John McCain. All of sudden we’re being told how someone many of us would NEVER, EVER make our first choice is the leader in all sorts of polls.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

I can tell them right now, if they end up with Romney as the nominee they’ll be doing without my money and my vote.

The Rockafeller wing of the Republican Party is in for a rude shock when they see we ain’t voting for their choices.

The jig is up people no longer hang on their musings and follow their lead. They are the establishment. They are what’s wrong with the stupid Party.

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