5-Minute Debate Take-Away
At this point, like it or not, doesn't Romney seem sort of inevitable?
| Here's my hope: that he surprises us with bold free-market conservative solutions. I don't see how he loses, though. Whether he should win, or deserves to win, is another matter. But after tonight, his closest viable opponent, Perry, doesn't seem to be in the fight. Mike Murphy tweeted that Perry's got $15 million waiting around, ready to launch some negative ads on television. So maybe that's the only thing that can stop the Romney juggernaut? But if you look at the South Carolina poll numbers today -- Cain and Romney are clustered at the top, Perry is way behind. That's weird and significant for South Carolina, which is a values-voter state. And Romney and Cain aren't identified in that category. They shouldn't be so high. But they are. If I was running the Perry campaign, I'd start drawing real distinctions between Perry as a cultural and social conservative and Romney and Cain. That's what I'd spend my money on. |
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Aug '10
Re: 5-Minute Debate Take-Away
Like 'em or hate 'em, Romney's not going to beat himself and his challengers all have significant issues;
You can't beat someone with no one...
Jul '10
Re: 5-Minute Debate Take-Away
If I was running the Perry campaign, I'd start drawing real distinctions between Perry as a cultural and social conservative and Romney and Cain. That's what I'd spend my money on.
I think that is exactly right Rob. There are some voters available for him since Bachmann and Santorum won't make it to SC. He has at least 2-3 extra points right there. I know that reads like sarcasm, but it isn't.
He has raised a chunk of change, if he can outlast Cain... it's still a massive longshot.
Also, he should probably stop calling Americans "untrustworthy."
Jul '10
Re: 5-Minute Debate Take-Away
My takeaway: if these are the best candidates we can muster against a vulnerable incumbent, we're screwed.
Dec '10
Re: 5-Minute Debate Take-Away
Rob, Perry must face his one issue problem. He was the Governer of the state which has had the greatest problem of illegal immigration. He allowed himself to be tarred with the entitlement of illegals. From an economic standpoint, a philisophical standpoint, and an emotional standpoint this is not something that can be brushed off this year. I guarantee you that 70% of Americans in their heart, including latino Americans, do not like what Obama and Holder are doing. The furor over "Fast and Furious" shows just how "Fed Up" Americans are. Rick Perry needs get past this issue and get on the "Right" side of it.
The longer he does nothing on this the worse it gets.
Edited on Oct 11, 2011 at 7:57pmMay '10
Re: 5-Minute Debate Take-Away
Cain is not a cultural and social conservative? I've never seen article of evidence #1 to suggest that.
Signing a paper from the FRC or CWA does not make one culturally conservative- it only means you are too smart to get wrapped up by that particular single issue group that is easily parodied. If I were a candidate, I'd sign a tax and spending pledge that I'd worded myself, not one from one of these groups.
May '10
Re: 5-Minute Debate Take-Away
Peter had a line in the podcast following Perry's first debate that could apply to every Perry utterance -- something like, "You know, Perry is actually standing on much firmer ground than he was able to explain."
That does him and us not one bit of good. Perry is a trainwreck. He needs to drop out while he still has some dignity. Prediction: He uses his back surgery as a face-saving excuse and does just that.
May '10
Re: 5-Minute Debate Take-Away
Rob Long: At this point, like it or not, doesn't Romney seem sort of inevitable?
Isn't that Romney's strategy? To position himself as the inevitable candidate, so you might as well give up resistance and join the bandwagon now?
It's not over until it's over, and I just hope people in the early primary states really pay attention and converge on Perry (or Cain-- but pick just ONE now, hear? so you don't split your vote).
Jul '10
Re: 5-Minute Debate Take-Away
Why even have this conversation?
The Establishment has chosen their candidate. The leftists don't take a swipe at him at this point because they understand his vulnerabilities and will dispose of him in the general election. He's the ultimate stupid Republican error. Pick the guy next in line with the important hair with no real principles.Bob Dole, anyone?
Fact is, most liberals don't hate George W. Bush for his policies. They only wish a Democrat did what he did in the expansion of Federal power. Their anger lies in the credit for which the policies were due. Consider: imagine what a true conservative (practically any one on this site 6 to 12 months ago - not so much now it's now the DLC on the right) would have done with a GOP Congress.
The fact of the matter is that Obama will cast Romney as Obama-lite and voters will not see the stark contrast that is desperately needed at this point in American history.
As Mark Steyn (the only conservative left on this site) said: Do you want to speed over the cliff or just coast over it...
Do you want to lose? Pick Romney.
Re: 5-Minute Debate Take-Away
Anyone think President Romney will increase taxes, empower the EPA to create more anti-job regulations, cut the military, and assume the fetal position in international affairs?
Anyone think a second term Obama would cut taxes, reign in the EPA, increase the size of the Navy and start waving a big stick around the world?
Mar '11
Re: 5-Minute Debate Take-Away
Rob Long: At this point, like it or not, doesn't Romney seem sort of inevitable?
In the end, failure is always a choice.
May '10
Re: 5-Minute Debate Take-Away
James Lileks: Anyone think President Romney will increase taxes, empower the EPA to create more anti-job regulations, cut the military, and assume the fetal position in international affairs?
Anyone think a second term Obama would cut taxes, reign in the EPA, increase the size of the Navy and start waving a big stick around the world? · Oct 11 at 8:29pm
Thank you.
Aug '11
Re: 5-Minute Debate Take-Away
I don't know about Romney, but Herman Cain brought the house down at the Value Voters Summit last week, resulting in a multi-page discussion here. I think Herman Cain has the cred (though he's not brazen about it).
Jun '10
Re: 5-Minute Debate Take-Away
In 2008, after Obama won, I saw an Obama supporter dressed in a chicken suit hitting a giant bell in our township plaza with a baseball bat.
Anyone going to dress up like a chicken and hit a bell out of uncontrollable joy for President Romney?...
Dec '10
Re: 5-Minute Debate Take-Away
I thought Santorum made one of the more important points in the debate: if we truly wish to reduce the size of government, there has to be a non-government institution capable of taking on the responsibilities that would get pushed back on the private sector. Families have crumbled and it's not clear they can any longer bear the weight of the burdens we've have come to expect government to carry. If conservatives ever succeed in scaling back government in any meaningful way, it seems there will have to be an accompanying cultural revolution to make it work. I think individuals, families, churches, and communities would rise to the occasion and make a come back, but it wouldn't be without some pain and struggle.
Aug '11
Re: 5-Minute Debate Take-Away
Okay, but what sorts of things are we talking about? If we dump the EPA, for example, do we need to replace them with privately funded Green Police? We already have state and local education agencies, so shutting down the Federal Department of Education probably wouldn't even be noticeable.
It seems that a lot of things at the federal level could be ended and wouldn't need replacing at local levels.
Dec '10
Re: 5-Minute Debate Take-Away
DrewInWisconsin
Okay, but what sorts of things are we talking about? If we dump the EPA, for example, do we need to replace them with privately funded Green Police? We already have state and local education agencies, so shutting down the Federal Department of Education probably wouldn't even be noticeable.
It seems that a lot of things at the federal level could be ended and wouldn't need replacing at local levels. · Oct 11 at 8:48pm
Agreed. I think it's mostly the welfare state stuff, which tend to be the big ticket items, that Santorum has in mind.
Re: 5-Minute Debate Take-Away
Samwise: "Anyone going to dress up like a chicken and hit a bell out of uncontrollable joy for President Romney?..."
No, and that's a good thing. Better the satisfaction of knowing a mortal occupies the office than a speculative premise elevated to the status of Messiah.
Jun '10
Re: 5-Minute Debate Take-Away
Just once, I want to be that guy in the chicken suit. Hats off to the Democrats though. The used the unpopularity of GWB to get Obama and a slew of progressives into office.
Here we sit with 9.1% unemployment, a very unpopular president whose only accomplishment (Obamacare) more than 60% of people hate, and we just shuffle along like we're on the way to happy hour at a Chinese buffet. But that's the thing about Chinese buffets, you know what you're getting, you don't feel very satisfied after you eat it and you'll probably go back there next week anyway because you like those powdered doughnuts they have and you hate Arby's anyway.
I lost my train of thought...
May '10
Re: 5-Minute Debate Take-Away
The most interesting thing about this is why I can look at Romney and see most of what those who don't want Romney do want in another actual, or fantasy candidate.
Apr '11
Re: 5-Minute Debate Take-Away
Well, luckily Romney's environmental people from his Massachusetts administration are presently working in the Obama administration. They will have plenty of federal experience under their belts when they go back to work for Romney in 2012.