Curiouser And Curiouser: Romney Surprises Us.

Free Republic Original Content | October 11, 2012 | by Laz A. Mataz

[Lazamataz]

It was obvious to me, and to all ConservativeKind, that Romney was an East Coast RINO, the sort of politician who we detest almost more than an "honest" liberal Democrat.

We were off-put by his Massachussettes record, we were enraged at his selection, and we vowed to fight him right up to the very second he was named the Republican candidate.

Yet, a few things happened recently that call into question our assumption:

1. The Debate. Sure Romney shined. Yes, Obama sulked. The contrast in performance was wonderful to behold. But this is not enough for conservatives: A skilled RINO is as deadly to our cause as an incompetent Marxist. No, the critical takeaway from this debate, for me, was the not-insignificant mention of the 10th Amendment! Perhaps I am wrong about this, but in my adult lifetime, I do not believe I have ever heard any Democrat or Republican candidate mention this all-important limitation of the Federal Behemoth.
2. In the very same debate, Romney repeatedly observed that the private sector manages the economy much better than central planning at the Federal level. Any student of history surely recognises this, but Obama seems to be only a student of his own "magnificent self". This core belief tells me we are dealing with a Capitalist, and this checks off another box for those of us who value conservatism.
3. Again, at the debate: Romney, when finished, hugged his many children. This is small, but significant, since I observed Obama hug only his wife and his aides. Family values WIN.
4. An interview by the NRA of Romney shows a much different Romney than has been portrayed by our conservative brethren. Yes, of course, Romney will be a little more compliant to the views of the NRA when in front of them, yet his going on record will make it more difficult to flip flop -- and remember, a first term means he needs to live to his word to garner support for a second.
5. I have heard, from the rumor mill, that Romney's closest aides say he is much more conservative than his record in Massachussettes shows, and that he actually has to tamp his beliefs down a bit to connect with the fuzzy middle of America, the all-important Independent. Hearsay? Absolutely. Yet this is a tiny wisp of smoke that may indicate a hidden fire.

In Massachussettes, Romney had to play ball with liberals to get anything done at all. In his own words:

In Miami, Romney said he reached out to Democrats to make deals -- most notably, the state health care plan, which he did not explicitly mention during Wednesday’s event.

"My legislature was 85 percent Democrat," he said. "It did not take a rocket scientist to realize I had to work with people across the aisle. I didn’t attack the senate president, I didn’t attack the speaker of the house, I had to work with them. I hope we have a Republican House and a Republican Senate and I get elected as president. But I will not ignore people across the aisle."

Color me skeptical about working with the enemy should we capture the House and Senate, but okay. I can see this in a man of honor.

So: Could it be? Could our wildest fantasies be realized? Could we have accidentally stumbled into a candidate that we fought tooth-and-nail, who is actually a conservative, or close to one?

It's worth gambling on. I have changed my vote from third party to Mitt Romney.

[Awgie]

I am proud of our Presidential ticket. They are honorable honest humble men. They deserve the support of every God fearing Patriotic American.

[Lazamataz]

I actually saw the beginning of the Leviathan waaaaay back in Reagan's second term. I was working at Xerox, and the War on Drugs was flexing new muscles: Civil forfeiture. It was already a 'prove your innocence' deal, and I flipped. I posted stuff on the bulletin board (the FIRST version of Free Republic) about where this would lead. I got no response, positive or negative.

The modern totalitarian state can mark it's beginning there. I don't think it was Reagan's doing -- it was late in his term and he was faltering -- I think it was that execrable globalist George H.W. Bush's doing.

[Lazamataz]

bert, you know I love ya, but I gotta side with xzins here. The Bible is timeless.

[Lazamataz]

"Well, Buckeye looked on as I made a can dance from 10 to 25 yards, hitting 9 out of 10 shots with a Glock."

You hit it!

And Buckeye Texan watched!

(I'd say she's a voyeur, but she hit it quite a bit herself) XD

[Lazamataz]

You are added, sugarplum!

[Utah Binger]

Xerox?

Utah Binger Xerox 1967-1980

[Lazamataz]

Missed ya by about 13-15 years. :)

[xzins]

Read the 2 Chronicles link and you’ll see why I cannot.

[Utah Binger]

Xeroids everywhere.

[Lakeshark]

Did you vote for Reagan?

Try Romans 3 starting at vs 9 for a while after you realize Reagan was just as flawed.

[xzins]

You both are correct about the bible. Any argument against one claiming to take a biblical stand should be a more biblical stand.

As I understand her, and I truly do not wish to put words in her mouth, Alamo-girl believes Romney’s support of Israela and Obama’s obvious disdain for Israel to be justification for supporting Romney. (God’s statement to Israel that “those who bless you, I will bless; those who curse you, I will curse.)

We have discussed it, and I respect her position. My response to her has to do with Jeremiah’s opposition to Judah during the days when Nebuchadnezzar was amidst his campaign that conquered Judah.

Jehoshaphat’s reign explains my concern for sinful alliances.

Now, does this discussion become moot in the face of Obama’s ineptitude with Libya, the economy...even life?

It is true — I was believing God for a greater deliverance than that offered by Mitt Romney. Who knows what would have grown and come to pass had we not placed our hopes on an unrighteous alliance.

[xzins]

Lakeshark, I think you are a solid conservative. We have had our disagreements. I would seriously disagree with you about Reagan. There is no comparing the two men, there is only contrasting.

Romans is a wonderful treatise on the grace of God in the lives of sinful by nature humans. That, however, does not mean that I would make a good decision as a pastor if I put a former embezzlar in place as the church treasurer. I would expect God to call that person to a different ministry.

[Lazamataz]

The only solution to this entire mess is to give Laz a machine gun. I recommend an HK MP5, suppressed.

[xzins]

I am still a fan of the claymore.

(the exploding kind)

[Lakeshark]

Reagan signed an abortion law while governor that was worse than anything Romney did as governor.

We only know he changed because he became president, his record did not show him to be pro-life, only his promises. At the point of the first vote for him we didn't know.

We do tragically know Bambi's record and positions on abortion, gays, pro-muzzie beliefs, anti-Christian attitudes (forcing us to pay for aborion, etc.) and they are for worse than your church treasurer embezzlement straw man.

You seem to not comprehend how distinctly different the two candidates actually are. Messily impure versus the face of evil on everything you claim to love.

[CityCenter]

That’s the key and that’s what changed my mind. Romney loves our country and that’s exactly what we need in a President right now.

[bigheadfred]

The only solution to this entire mess is to give Laz a machine gun.

Share-zees or I'm telling mom.

And it is pretty simple, Laz. If I don't vote for Romney then all of obama's (sins) will be my fault (blood on my hands). If I vote for Romney then what I decided when I was 11 is meaningless (my Faith in God and Jesus Christ) and I once again have (blood on my hands). Sooo, for me personally, I am going to wait for you to hand me that machine gun, cause I don't think that day can be avoided for all of us. Weird as it sounds, that blood on my hands I can accept.

[Lazamataz]

I gotchya now. Thx for the clarification....

[bigheadfred]

Where was I? oh yeah..."Gods of the season...
Lead me to my next in-ci-dent"... ;-))

[xzins]

Reagan contrasted with Romney: Reagan realized he was wrong and never went that way again.

Romney was pro-choice, pro-life, pro-choice, pro-life, then pro-rape, incest life, and the pro-rape/incest/life/health, and then pro rape/incest/life.

So, there’s really no comparison.