We always sneer at the concept of a person who “says what's necessary to get elected” without even considering the possibility that a person with serious long-term goals Conservative goals could do the same.
Romney has paid his dues in both arenas — politics and business — and the more I watch him and look at his past record, I am convinced that I am seeing a person who fully understands the old saw that, “politics is the art of the possible”.
His tenacity has to be acknowledged, even by those who deplore him, because without it in all its ruthless glory, he wouldn't be the nominee. I am not pleased at the way he did it, but to throw another cliche out there, “politics ain't beanbag” and he can't fix things until he can get his hands on the controls.
And this is where his selection of Ryan makes the most sense. The businessman side of Romney knows clearly that unless serious repairs are made there, the whole bloody system is going to fall apart. He can do the math.
Ryan is definitely the man to convince the voters about that, and in a way they understand and can agree with.
On the Conservative side, small c Romney has always been a full-fledged Conservative in his personal life. Anti-Mormons, as much as they may dislike the religion, have to admit his life story is a testament to the virtues and values of home, family, charity, good works, patriotism, and professional endeavor.
He may regret some of the deals he made along the way, who doesn't, but I am starting to get the sense that as the magnitude of his task becomes more apparent and the damage done to the nation becomes more frightening, he's made the decision to get back to basics there as well.
Writing all this out, I am still not totally sold, but that is where my gut is taking me right now. And it's not really a bad place.
Spot on.
See post 8, Mitt is a liberal ideologue, he is not a figure that can be manipulated.