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.

[2ndDivisionVet]

He’ll probably be somewhere between Bush 41/43 and Reagan. Anywhere in there is 10X better than Barack Hussein Obama on his best day, nicht wehr?

[Lazamataz]

In before the Laz and Humble Gunner Pic !

Please no. Anything but that horrid thing. Perhaps next year we will redo the picture and it will NOT suck.

[staytrue]

IBTZ

you know, a few months ago, you would be zotted for writing this.

[Lazamataz]

I believe we saw the Constitution read outloud in the House by Representatives. Somebody had to do the 10th didn't he or she?

Sure. But mainstream political candidates, in my adult lifetime? Not so much, as to mentions thereof.

[The Wizard]

I like you, wanted someone else, not the least Sarah, but I have concluded that she is a big deal who doesn’t need any title to be a big deal, and Romney is exactly the guy we need now.....

I will always love Sarah, and she will for always be bigger than the “game” but Romney is the right guy....

[Lazamataz]

I believe we saw the Constitution read outloud in the House by Representatives. Somebody had to do the 10th didn't he or she?

CORRECTION: Sure. But mainstream political Presidential candidates, in my adult lifetime? Not so much, as to mentions thereof.

[tnlibertarian]

Cynicism and pessimism are easy, and you are sure to get plenty of both on this thread. In fact, looks like it has already started from the usual suspects. However, I have been saying for a while, to my family and friends, that I think Romney may just surprise a lot of people. When you are a governor, you govern, to some extent, to the will of the governed. Massachussets (I don’t care how it’s spelled, either) is not the U.S. Hairy Reed aside, Mormons are generally family valued conservative types. Besides, even if we get a socially liberal guy who knows what a balance sheet is and doesn’t hate the country, we’re a whole bunch better off than where we are. And, we don’t get that by throwing our vote away voting for someone who ain’t winning.

[MNJohnnie]

No but what he is a pragmatic business man. We will have to work daily to keep his feet to the fire but he will listen to us. Obama will work tirelessly against us.

If Obama is reelected by 2016 we will be so far over the fiscal cliff there will be no climbing back. Romney sees the chart below as a problem. 0bama thinks the problem is we have not spent enough!

FY 2007 is the last Bush/GOP Congress budget. FY 2011 is the last 0bama/Dem Congress

Obama added planks favoring Gay Marriage and taxpayer funded abortion on demand up to birth to the 2012 Democrat Party platform.

By contrast the 2012 GOP platform is the most Conservative one in their history.

No matter how much one might hate Romney, no one with a brain would refuse to see the stark difference between Romney and Obama on both fiscal and social issues.

With Romney Fiscal and Social Conservatives have a seat at the table, while Obama will actively promote everything real Conservatives are against.

By 2016 everything Conservatives claim to be so passionate about will be legislated. As Roe V Wade should of taught Conservatives once something is legislated it become almost impossible to undo.

Once 2016 rolls around the Judiciary will be so packed with Obamabots anything Conservatives DID manage to legislate would simply be undone by Judicial Fiat.

If Obama is reelected there will be nothing left to win.

After another 4 year term of Obama the USA will be a European style 1 party state with a state directed media, that will allow just enough political window dressing from a “loyal opposition” to keep their peon classes passive.

And those around here who feel their political sour grapes from the 2012 GOP Primaries are more important then the future of our country will have been the active allies of that destruction.

[Lazamataz]

you know, a few months ago, you would be zotted for writing this.

Maybe. But a few months ago, the factors I outlined had not occurred.

[John 3_19-21]

Welcome aboard the good ship Lolipop.

I hope we both aren't the suckers.

[GOPsterinMA]

“Yes, I know I misspelled ‘Massachusetts’.”

But you didn’t misspell it the right way. These are three of the most common wrong/right ways to spell it:

“Massivetwoshitss”
“Massholetwoshitss”
“Massholetwoshitsstan”.

[Revolting cat!]

So, Laz, how many chickens are we gonna get out of these eggfs?

[ansel12]

No, the critical takeaway from this debate, for me, was the not-insignificant mention of the 10th Amendment!

First Romney figured this out as a way to get cover for all of his leftism and anti-conservatism as a Governor.

Second, this fits in with Mormonism and their ownership of the state of Utah, Polygamy is on it's way back, among other ways that the Mormon cult can assert total control over Utah.

[Lazamataz]

I view it only as a win-win. If we are wrong, the status quo as we believed it will be extant. If we are RIGHT, though... ahhhh, now THAT will be SWEET.....

[chiller]

I've long maintained here that Mitt might be one hell of a conservative (as most Mormons are) trapped in liberal Massachusetts. He seems very comfortable with us knuckle-dragging conservatives.

Life , freedom, small govt., Planned Parenthood, PBS....damn ! John Bolton at the UN !

He seems to know what he believes, but I'll bet his VP has bolstered the good and perhaps bent the bad back into conservative shape.

Conservative support in the house is already there, and will be significant now too in the Senate.

It's painfully clear this country is in a perilous state, and only common sense conservative policies have a chance to turn the ship around. Which will happen with an unleashed energy sector and useless burdensome regulatory bull crap stripped from the codes.

There will be a huge economic boom when all the sidelined money comes back onto the table and cheap energy runs the businesses of this country. US will prosper while the rest of the world flounders. Our oil money will dry up to end the financing of ME terrorists. I hope I'm not foreseeing a novel, but actual future headlines.

[no-to-illegals]

It took the debate to cause me to cross over also. A prayer we are not disappointed tonight, and the following two debates. Take zer0 to the woodshedm Mr. Romney. Mr. Ryan it's your turn tonight to take down biden. Please make it GREAT!

[Hardraade]

Your #5 - Jeff Head has been saying this for a long time. And he’s one of the three or four freepers I’d trust the most.

[bubbacluck]

I remember Governor Perry bringing up the 10th during the debates. But that was then, this is now. After watching his acceptance speech and the debate last week, I feel better about voting for Romney. Heck, I’m even considering a yard sign.

[muawiyah]

So who was it read the 10th? You had several members of the House running as candidates ~ did one of them do it? Can’t rule that out without knowing who did it. Bachmann could have read it, or Ron Paul even.

[Lazamataz]

So, Laz, how many chickens are we gonna get out of these eggfs?

See my #34. If I am wrong, no eggs. If I am right... and the factors I cited are promising.... then we will have many eggs.