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Posted on 01/12/2012 1:06:00 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
It is commonly argued that Mitt Romney has benefited from a weak Republican field, which is true. And that the attacks of his opponents have been late and diffuse. True, and true.
But the political accomplishment of Willard Mitt Romney should not be underestimated. The moderate, technocratic former governor of a liberal state is poised to secure the nomination of the most monolithically conservative Republican Party of modern history.
Some of this improbable achievement can be attributed to Romney's skills as a candidate. In 14 debates, he delivered one gaffe (the $10,000 bet) and once lost his temper (with Rick Perry) — neither lapse particularly damaging. Under a barrage of awkward formats and dopey questions, Romney has been calm, knowledgeable and reassuring.
Romney is the varsity — a far better candidate than, say, Bob Dole or John McCain. A Republican nominating process that swerved again and again toward silliness — alternately elevating for consideration Donald Trump, Michele Bachmann and Herman Cain — seems ready to settle on a serious, accomplished, credible candidate. Republicans, it turns out, are choleric and fractious — but not suicidal.
The nominating process has also revealed Romney's limitations. It would be awkward for anyone this stiff to pose as a working-class stiff, and Romney should not try. But if he gains the nomination, Romney's rival in connecting with average voters will not be Bill Clinton. It will be professor Barack Obama. Again, Romney benefits from the luck of the draw.
Romney has paired his skills with a sophisticated political strategy. His campaign team learned something from the failures of four years ago. Last time, Romney flooded the early states with money and personal attention. In Iowa, his limited return on investment made him a political punch line. This time, Romney rationed both his money and his presence — lowering expectations and generating genuine enthusiasm when he finally arrived to campaign.
Ideology has always been Romney's main vulnerability. Running and winning in Massachusetts before running twice for the Republican presidential nomination is a process best described by biologists — a story of adaptation and evolution.
Other candidates have naturally carried more vivid ideological messages. In the end, the intra-Republican argument has come down to Ron Paul versus Rick Santorum — both effective spokesmen for their views. Paul carries the hopes of libertarians and those who seek a return to the federal government of an 18th-century agrarian republic. Santorum stands more in the empowerment tradition of Jack Kemp or George W. Bush. On the whole, he is reconciled to the goals of modern government — encouraging equal opportunity and care for the elderly, sick and vulnerable — but not to the bureaucratic methods of modern government. I come down on the empowerment side of this divide. But maybe, at this moment, the Republican Party doesn't need a clear decision on its identity (which might not be possible anyway). Romney has this advantage: In supporting him, no Republican is called upon to surrender his or her deepest ideological convictions. Romney is temperamentally conservative but not particularly ideological. He reserves his enthusiasm for quantitative analysis and organizational discipline. He seems to view the cultural and philosophic debates that drive others as distractions from the real task of governing — making systems work.
His competitors have attempted to portray Romney's ideological inconsistency over time as a character failure. It hasn't worked, mainly because Romney is a man of exemplary character — deeply loyal to his faith, his family and his country. But he clearly places political ideology in a different category of fidelity. Like Dwight Eisenhower, Romney is a man of vague ideology and deep values. In political matters, he is empirical and pragmatic. He studies problems, assesses risks, calculates likely outcomes. Those expecting Romney to be a philosophic leader will be disappointed. He is a management consultant, and a good one.
Has the moment of the management consultant arrived in American politics? In our desperate drought of public competence, Romney has a strong case to make.
Until he mentioned Romney by name, I thought Gersh was endorsing Micheal Dukakis.
If Mutt is the nominee, I swear, I will sit out the election.
Even if it has an impact on the legislature.
FUMR
12/22/11 Romney says he won’t release tax returns
1/11/12 Palin urges Romney to Release Tax Returns, Provide Proof he Created 100,000 Jobs at Bain Capital
In other words..... “Do what it takes.”
Yeah Perry has it all over Romney especially comparing the two as governor Unfortunately elections aren’t won because of facts especially presidential ones
Reagan won because of his personality and Carters abysmal record not because he was a conservative
If he won because of his conservative philosophy the idiot voters would not have continued to elect liberal left wing congresses who did nothing but continually harass Reagan
Oddly enough, I came back into the living room after feeding my snakes [who were *not* busily herding cattle, btw] only to find a nature special about plagues of Mormon crickets on the TV.
Hmmmmm....
I never thought the day would come when I lost total confidence in Rush but that day has come.
The only reason I can think of why Rush has betrayed Conservatism is he that his job on talk radio is at stake.
I believe the tentacles of Bain and their associates in the communication field have choke hold on Rush.
It ‘s becoming more and more evident everyday and, yes, he has said been a little more critical of Romney after he took a huge punch from Conservatives after his blatant bias towards him.
But minutes later he was gushing “RIGHT ON, RIGHT ON, RIGHT ON” while listening to Romney’s slick programed words.
His slogan “Don’t Doubt Me” are now empty and almost laughable to me and that’s not easy for me to say. I have a loyal fan since he entered the market here in SC.
It is now possible for me to speculate that Rush had to go the powers that control his show and tell them ‘I have taken a huge hit from Conservatives about my Romney support and I’ve got to be able to throw in a little doubt about him’.
They are not ignorant people and can see the logic of his argument after the backlash he received from Conservatives but they would add the caveat...’just don’t go too far’.
[I have a loyal fan...]
I have BEEN a loyal fan..., sorry.
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Hey, you posted pictures of both the men who inherited a Bush economy!
I feel like we've all been played by Fox and Rush and Sean as well as the MSM. They elevate one to depress another and so on and so on -- all the while leaving Mitt in a protected space reserved just for him. Heaven help any not-Romney that starts to move up -- and finally when the political landscape is stretched thin, and the field is left with the only tools left to them, a bare knuckle fight -- using the truth to expose Romney -- they are rebuffed by Rush as being like Castro. Un-frickin-believable.
There is no starker contrast is two candidates before the American people this election cycle than these two governors. Romney has a very mediocre RECORD. Frankly, his only real record of "accomplishment" is Romney care. On the record of life alone, Romney seems to adopt whatever position seems to be beneficial at the time.
Gov. Perry has already signed legislation defunding Planned Parenthood and legislation requiring a parent's consent for an abortion.
This illustration of SS proves that it is Gov. Perry who was telling the truth about SS and what did it get him? Ridicule.
We can make all kinds of contrasts between these two governors. Perry is a veteran. Perry has the resume but Romney has the votes.
I do not blame "the establishment", I blame those who have chosen to vote for Romney over Perry.
I know it’s become common to use “establishment” but I don’t do it to degrade just to point out that the Tea Party bent of the GOP (if it’s still alive) wants to pull right and the (for lack of a better term — help me out if you can) “establishment” doesn’t want to go there. They are content to stay where they’ve made their beds. The problem is, they need to be kicked out of their comfortable “beds” and made to get home (leave their cushy Beltway existence) .......well, that’s why they’re fighting Gov. Perry so hard. They like Gov. Romney’s noodle spine; they don’t want to work with Gov. Perry’s steel spine.
Oh boy, another newspaper for Mitt Milquetoast. Shocked.
It’s dam discouraging that so many people continue to accept the misperceptions and misinformation about Perry.
He is head and shoulders above the other non-Mitt candidates.
It’s looking like a long shot now in SC with that being an open state and the dems in a position to cross over and vote for the worst Republican, probably Ron Paul.
I hope he stays in though, and I am really sick of people telling me Rick Perry should get out and give his votes to ??? whoever they are supporting.
When I see a post suggesting that, I tend to go Newt on them and lash out against their candidates.
I know I am bad, but well, I’m disappointed and furious.
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