[BobL]

Don't get me wrong, Mitt Romney has EVERY RIGHT to build whatever house he can afford (providing taxpayers are subsidizing it...which I hope, and doubt, is the case here).

The problem is ARROGANCE. Why build it now, in the middle of a campaign season? This is no different than President Obama taking vacation after vacation, often with huge numbers of travelers, and essentially telling the public that they can stuff it, if they don't approve.

If Mitt wants to build (or upgrade) a house in a still-nice area of California, how about waiting until AFTER THE ELECTION, when it won't be fodder for Obama and his bunch (assuming he gets the nomination)? Does he REALLY think he's got this all sowed up, already?

I could go on about how former President Bush was about to take a victory lap of Texas two days BEFORE the 2000 election, even as Algore was letting it all hang out and going for broke. Someone finally shook some sense into him (or his campaign) and told him that Zogby was showing him down in the popular vote (which ended up being the case). Bush instead campaigned in West Virginia and Tennessee and managed to win both by a squeaker...you just have to wonder about how much COMMON SENSE some of these campaigns have.

[newzjunkey]

You'll notice in the article the plans have been on file since 2008. This is modification to an existing home and if you knew about California, the environmental regulations, the coastal commission, the neighborhood busy bodies, you'd know he'll be lucky to have his place finished in time to retire in 2017 if he served two-terms.

Try to look at it this way: he's putting Americans to work... home builders, roofers, landscapers, artisans, craftsman using his own money.

[The Duke]

I would recommend he get four elevators - one for each car! (And maybe an extra one in case guests stop by)

[fieldmarshaldj]

This is yet one more reason why he won’t win the general election if he hijacks the GOP nomination.