Andrea Mitchell: Romney Adviser Said Party Elites Will Find Alternative If he Can't Win Florida

RCP ^ | 01/24/2012

[Fledermaus]

I don’t live in Indiana and Mitch isn’t running for anything. But, if I did and he was running against Lugar I’d choose Mitch.

But I live in TN and have to cringe with Lamar and Bob Corker.

[Danae]

DJ - great thinking here! I never considered that angle!

[Kenny Bunk]

Establishment Republicans don’t want to win elections, not on any widespread basis. As odd as that sounds, it’s true.

I personally have a ton of anecdotal field experience to back that up. I call it the "Philadelphia Model." The advantages gained by the faithful minority party at the spoils table are huge for those on the inside. The ideal national situation for them is a Democrat in the WH, with Republicans holding Congress. That way, they can exact an impressive price for cooperation ... and protect the special interests that pay the personal bills for them and support their re-election efforts. Look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls. You'll see a picture of Mitch MCConnell and that drunkard Boehner.

If you have a Republican representative in Washington, do visit him or her one day. The staffs these people hire in DC are very often Left Wing operatives, who beyond being somewhat better tailored than those shaggy outright loonies who work for Democrats, make no bones about their beliefs.

How do you think Congressman arrive penniless in DC, only to leave 10 years later with net worths of $20 Million or more? The deal with Romney is that the big boys expect him to lose, but have substantial "downticket" impact to get them Congress. E.G., Bush II was defrauded out of Pennsylvania's electoral votes, but Santorum won! That's a perfect scenario in the "Philadelphia Model."

[Thane_Banquo]

The staffs these people hire in DC are very often Left Wing operatives, who beyond being somewhat better tailored than those shaggy outright loonies who work for Democrats, make no bones about their beliefs.

When I was a young conservative I interned for five weeks with a Republican Congressman. I can definitely confirm this statement. I couldn't believe this guy who had a reasonably conservative voting record (nothing to make you jump up and cheer, but respectable) had several liberals working for him. These are the people who are afraid someone like Newt will turn off the spigot again like he did temporarily in the late '90s.

[DJ MacWoW]

I would say that Newt is Reagans choice.

Reagan's Young Lieutenant - By Jeffrey Lord on 1.24.12 @ 6:09AM

Jeffrey Lord is a former Reagan White House political director

Excerpt:

Hayward also notes that in one instance towards the end of the administration, Gingrich discussed complaints about things left undone. Writes Hayward of the president Jack Kemp fondly nicknamed the "Oldest and Wisest":

Reagan put his arm around the young Georgia Congressman and said in his typically gentle fashion, "Well, some things you're just going to have to do after I'm gone."

snip

But to anyone who was present, awake, and paying attention in the 1980s -- anyone who is listening to Newt Gingrich right now -- it doesn't take much to understand that some version of those gentle words from Ronald Reagan when he put his arm around a young Newt Gingrich is in fact driving the older Newt Gingrich in this campaign.

[Thane_Banquo]

This is why we must all pray—I mean that literally—that Romney doesn’t get the nomination. If he does, it would set back the conservative movement 50 years, to before the Goldwater nomination. There would no longer be a party where conservatism was even tolerated, let alone welcome. Newt is Pitt the Younger to Reagan’s Pitt the Elder. Sure, he’ll never be as great as Ronaldus Magnus, but he can keep the legacy alive.

Romney is content to allow the country to drive off the cliff, so long as he’s the guy who gets to be behind the wheel.

[mojitojoe]

I often wonder why more people don’t ask why many Congresscritters come to DC with very little wealth but they all leave extremely wealthy. It’s not like they get paid a lot although the perks are pretty damn good. I see Giffords waited until her pension kicked in then resigned.

[mojitojoe]

will be so depleted it won’t matter what Obama can do in a second term.
__________________
Oh really? Seems to me he is doing what he damn well pleases with executive orders, non-recess appointments, more and more pinko czars and telling Congress to go to hell. Also, in your scenario, what about the Supreme Court? What if he got 2-3 more picks. How long would that take to fix? A generation? No thanks. I want him OUT!

[DJ MacWoW]

Yes. Pray and work like crazy to educate voters.

[DJ MacWoW]

Most voters think they get terrific salaries. They have no idea where congress gets it's real wealth.

I received a clueless email from a relative months back about cutting their salaries. It was one of those "circulate it" things. They had NO idea what the salaries even were.

Voters are dumbed down and NOT getting any smarter.

[Kenny Bunk]

You Conservatives!

Cheez-Louise, we have been wrangling through these dumb primaries when we have the two greatest candidates in Republican history in amazing shape and a-rarin' to go!

Of course I'm talkin' Old Bob Dole and Young John McCain. Talk about a Dream Ticket! Jeb, you ask? Too damn young and aggressive.

We need a relaxing, feel-good campaign of the sort that Karl Rove could cobble together for osay....$2 Billion? Campain slogan: "VOTE FOR THE NICE PEOPLE!"

Mexicans? Love'em. You have seen my lawn lately? Of course they should vote. They are the Republicans of the Bipartisan Future.

Are Bob and John electable, you ask? Well, that's really not the point, is it? Can't we all just get along?

[Fledermaus]

Again, if in 2012 we can gain another 900 seats accross the board, especially while the Dems in the Senate have to defend about 22 this year, he can be stopped there. At least on Supreme Court nominees.