Bravo, Ann Romney!
I don't know Ann Romney. I don't know Lee Cary, from the American Thinker, either, but I should like to buy them both dinner to thank them for making an important point yesterday, and it needs to be emphasized. Asked about some of the more counterproductive criticisms made by Republicans, Mrs. Romney replied, "Stop it. This is hard. You want to try it? Get in the ring." My thoughts exactly.
Constructive criticism is one thing, but handing ammunition to the opposition is uncalled for. Part of the problem is that I really like some of the people making these remarks, but I wonder if they understand the stratospheric stakes in this election. To observe that Governor's Romney's remarks about the 47 percent of people who pay no income taxes were inexact or haphazardly framed is one thing. But to say, as The Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol (whom I admire tremendously) did, that the Governor's comments were "stupid and arrogant," helps the cause not one bit. Instead, Twitter lit up with one liberal after another using the quote against the Republican nominee. Peggy Noonan, whose work I positively adore, picked up a rhetorical tire iron and went to work on Romney: "It's time to admit the Romney campaign is an incompetent one. It's not big, it's not brave, it's not thoughtfully tackling great issues. It's always been too small for the moment." Well, isn't that just ducky. If General Custer had been afflicted with support like this from his own side, the Indians could have taken the day off. With pay.
In his latest "G-File," the always brilliant, funny and trenchant Jonah Goldberg reminds us that it was the Tea Party and activist base of the Republican party that were most resistant to Governor Romney during the primaries, while the Republican party establishment admonished us repeatedly to please shut up and get behind the man. Now that he's the party nominee, we've rallied to him not because he's morphed into the second coming of Ronald Reagan, but because we understand that this election is for the whole enchilada. Put very simply, if Obamacare isn't repealed, if the debt isn't addressed, if America keeps sitting on her thumbs while her embassies burn, if Iran gets the bomb,…. that's all she wrote. And so the base is working its heart out to send Obama and his comrades packing,….and now the establishment types who told us to get behind Romney, are taking a tire iron to his kneecaps. "Unlike activists," writes Jonah, "it really is my job to say what I think." He immediately adds, however, that, "Still, I think the base might have the wiser take on all this. Win now, argue later." I couldn't agree more, Jonah.
Here's the thing. No candidate is perfect. Romney has areas that he could shore up, certainly. And it is not our place to sacrifice principle in support of any candidate. Encouraging him to take it to Obama in a certain fashion, or offering information that could prove useful to the campaign makes perfect sense to this observer. And if stronger admonishments are in order, perhaps utilizing private channels would be an option. But for heaven's sake, do we have to send gift-wrapped ammunition to Obama and his acolytes in the media?
Jonah is right in another respect. These people get paid to give their opinions. I get paid to move freight and operate outside the climate controlled comfort of media suites. However, I have been blessed beyond measure to offer my thoughts on Ricochet. So in the event that my opinions might coincide on some level with those of the professional punditry, here they are:
* It is my opinion that Barack Obama must be summarily thrown out of office, and that he should take every one of his little czars and minions with him.
* It is my opinion that Democrats in the House and Senate must be shown the door as well.
* It is my opinion that in all likelihood, this is our last chance to preserve America as it was intended by the Founders.
* It is my opinion that if Obamacare is not pulled up by the roots, it will sprout encroachments into the most personal aspects of our lives that will destroy every last vestige of meaningful individual liberty.
* It is my opinion that Mitt Romney is the only realistic alternative we have to the wholesale destruction of our country by an elite who disdains us, disdains our Constitution, and holds in utter contempt the moral and philosophical foundation of our country.
* It is my opinion that if we fail to defeat Obama, our grandchildren and their grandchildren will curse us and utter our names in contempt, and rightly so, because we let their liberty slip through our fingers while we nitpicked and sniped at each other.
* It is my opinion that we're better than that. It is my opinion that we are as equal to the challenge now as our parents and grandparents were in another time. Our heritage is freedom, our gift to those who follow is more of it, not less.
* It is my opinion that it is time to focus our fire on those who seek to shred the Constitution and enslave a great nation to the whims and predilections of a ruling elite.
There, does that help give the pros something to write about? Happy to help, folks. Now, if you'll kindly excuse me, I have to get back behind the wheel.
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Comments:
Mar '11
Re: Bravo, Ann Romney!
Rubicon is right. Romney wasn't my first choice. But step back and look. He's a self made billionaire who gives more to charity in a year than Harry Reid can skim in a decade. BO voted to make sure that babies that survived an abortion died. What else do you need to know? This isn't complicated.
Re: Bravo, Ann Romney!
Paul A. Rahe: For what it is worth, Dave, I would criticize Mitt Romney if I thought he or his campaign deserved it, and I do not object in principle to the criticism lodged by Bill Kristol, Peggy Noonan, and Jonah Goldberg. I just think that they are dead wrong.
Romney is playing the long game, and he is doing a pretty good job of it. Right now, with the post-convention bounce for Obama waning, the polls show the race to be a dead heat, and Obama's campaign manager is already telling his troops to ignore the national polls (which means that he knows something already that we will soon find out).
Moreover, as I argued in my post earlier today, today's polls are nearly all skewed towards Obama because the pollsters are operating on the premise that the electorate will look like the electorate of 2008 (and not the electorate of 2004 or 2010). Adjust their polls to this possibility, and a new reality appears. · 1 minute ago
Professor, I think your reading of the election is prescient. But at this stage, is it too much to ask our side to stop sniping at our guy?
Nov '11
Re: Bravo, Ann Romney!
All these pundits care about is words and appearances. They have no real interest in Mitt Romney's record, or any of his plans. It's all surface, which is precisely why David Brooks still fawns over Obama, because Obama presents himself as some kind of reasonable centrist (at least in the approved sources which David Brooks drinks from... he's not up at night worrying about "punish your enemies"). The results are irrelevant.
Mitt Romney isn't the best at selling himself. He sometimes appears to be on multiple sides of an issue. But ultimately, if we get past the talk, and look at his record vs Obama's, well, there's no contest.
It doesn't bother me that there are lots of people who haven't spent the time to look at Romney's record or plans (well, maybe a little). It seriously bothers me that supposed intellectuals like Brooks only care about Romney's ability to say nice things in speeches, and possibly the crease in Obama's pants. Does anyone believe that David Brooks has any understanding of conservative critiques of Obamacare? He's not interested; all he cares about is the politics of it.
Nov '11
Re: Bravo, Ann Romney!
I got all I needed of Brooks during the conventions. The man is completely insipid. The fact that large swathes of the pundit class take his political analysis seriously indicates that they, too, are insipid.
But at least he's not David Frum.
Sorry, I know Brooks isn't referenced above, but you can go read "Thurston Howell Romney" now, if you want to be enveloped in Nuance. Of course, Brooks was pushing Romney during the primaries as the only Reasonable Choice.
Predictable as the sun rising.
Dec '11
Re: Bravo, Ann Romney!
Dave Carter
* It is my opinion that if we fail to defeat Obama, our grandchildren and their grandchildren will curse us and utter our names in contempt, and rightly so, because we let their liberty slip through our fingers while we nitpicked and sniped at each other.
Sniping and nitpicking were exactly what many so-called "Republicans" were busy doing during the primary, including beaucoup members of this site. A tad late for regret, n'est-ce pas?
Unfortunately, many of those who consistently gnawed at Romney in the past year apparently won't be paying any financial consequences for the inevitable re-election of BHO. I will, however, so let me say... thanks for this kick in the butt.
Edited on September 23, 2012 at 3:56amApr '12
Re: Bravo, Ann Romney!
Well written Dave! Other items to fear in an Obama second term are one or two more supreme court justice appointments, end of coal industry, and a VAT tax that Democrats secretly want to pay for all the additional social programs and higher debt costs that are coming soon when creditors demand higher interest rates for lower quality US treasury notes, bills, and bonds. It will go ugly early.
May '10
Re: Bravo, Ann Romney!
Thanks Dave. Now see if you can have a little chat with Peter Robinson.
Re: Bravo, Ann Romney!
EThompson Sniping and nitpicking were exactly what many so-called "Republicans" were busy doing during the primary, includingbeaucoup members of this site. A tad late for regret, n'est-ce pas?
Unfortunately, many of those who consistently gnawed at Romney in the past year apparently won't be paying any financial consequences for the inevitable re-election of BHO. I will, however, so let me say... thanks for this kick in the butt. · 3 minutes ago
Edited 1 minute ago
There is a distinction between primary debates, where we ought to debate the relative merits and liabilities of the candidates, and the general election, no? Not even Mrs. Romney is tracing her irritation to the base of the party, who are now her husband's strongest supporters. Do you think the pundits would be kinder and gentler now if only the base had suspended its skepticism earlier?
And with respect, I don't share your pessimism about the "inevitability" of an Obama victory.
Jul '12
Re: Bravo, Ann Romney!
You're right about everything, save one item: if we lose, our grandchildren won't curse us because they'll never know what they lost. Obama's birthday will become a national holiday, and the national narrative will be that he's the one who saved us from the dastardly corporations, sitting in their corporation buildings making money.
Feb '12
Re: Bravo, Ann Romney!
Thanks, Dave. As usual, you've nailed it!!
Sep '10
Re: Bravo, Ann Romney!
Dave Carter
There is a distinction between primary debates, where we ought to debate the relative merits and liabilities of the candidates, and the general election, no? Not even Mrs. Romney is tracing her irritation to the base of the party, who are now her husband's strongest supporters. Do you think the pundits would be kinder and gentler now if only the base had suspended its skepticism earlier?
And with respect, I don't share your pessimism about the "inevitability" of an Obama victory. · 15 minutes ago
I agree completely with you, Dave, and Dr. Rahe. The primary was the time for the battling and sniping, and I think I stand by every snarky comment I made. Romney got stronger during the primaries and outlasted his challengers. He won the nomination.
(I remind everyone of the infamous EJ Hill/Pseudodionysius "Piano of Doom" Graphic Novella in the comment section.)
It is poetic justice if now the Bodacious Beltway Beauties go wobbly while the rabble rousing base stands firm.
Dec '11
Re: Bravo, Ann Romney!
Dave Carter
EThompson Sniping and nitpicking were exactly what many so-called "Republicans" were busy doing during the primary, includingbeaucoup members of this site. A tad late for regret, n'est-ce pas?
Unfortunately, many of those who consistently gnawed at Romney in the past year apparently won't be paying any financial consequences for the inevitable re-election of BHO. I will, however, so let me say... thanks for this kick in the butt.
Do you think the pundits would be kinder and gentler now if only the base had suspended its skepticism earlier?
And with respect, I don't share your pessimism about the "inevitability" of an Obama victory.
1. No, but I do think if we'd circled the wagons earlier, it would have allowed Romney to spend more time focusing upon a defense against the Dems, instead of his own party.
2. I most certainly hope that you are right; I'd never be more happy to be wrong in my life!
3. On a more important note, congrats on your Tigers tonight; it wasn't pretty, but a win is a win. I am a Les Miles fan, indeed. ;)
Re: Bravo, Ann Romney!
That was an ugly win! A troublesome win! But I'll take it. We have much work to do, though... Thanks!
Apr '12
Re: Bravo, Ann Romney!
Dave Carter
There is a distinction between primary debates, where we ought to debate the relative merits and liabilities of the candidates, and the general election, no? Not even Mrs. Romney is tracing her irritation to the base of the party, who are now her husband's strongest supporters.
There was more than a bit of truth to the joke about a Romney campaign sign: "MITT ROMNEY: OH, ALRIGHT, IF YOU INSIST."
We had the fight to find the guy who was least objectionable to the largest group, Mitt's it, so alright, we'll support him. (Barring obvious disqualifications.)
Sep '10
Re: Bravo, Ann Romney!
Dave Carter
That was an ugly win! A troublesome win! But I'll take it. We have much work to do, though... Thanks! · 6 minutes ago
And I'd like to also request someone to give Dave Carter an honorary doctorate so we can begin calling him Doctor Dave. Perhaps a Doctor Dave and Doctor Jay podcast someday.
Re: Bravo, Ann Romney!
Pseudodionysius
Dave Carter
That was an ugly win! A troublesome win! But I'll take it. We have much work to do, though... Thanks! · 6 minutes ago
And I'd like to also request someone to give Dave Carter an honorary doctorate so we can begin calling him Doctor Dave. Perhaps a Doctor Dave and Doctor Jay podcast someday. · 0 minutes ago
Sounds like a rap act....
Dec '11
Re: Bravo, Ann Romney!
Dave Carter
Pseudodionysius
Dave Carter
That was an ugly win! A troublesome win! But I'll take it. We have much work to do, though... Thanks!
And I'd like to also request someone to give Dave Carter an honorary doctorate so we can begin calling him Doctor Dave. Perhaps a Doctor Dave and Doctor Jay podcast someday.
Sounds like a rap act....
Ruh-roh. That sounds like all kinda trouble; I'm in!
Sep '10
Re: Bravo, Ann Romney!
Dave Carter
Pseudodionysius
Dave Carter
That was an ugly win! A troublesome win! But I'll take it. We have much work to do, though... Thanks! · 6 minutes ago
And I'd like to also request someone to give Dave Carter an honorary doctorate so we can begin calling him Doctor Dave. Perhaps a Doctor Dave and Doctor Jay podcast someday. · 0 minutes ago
Sounds like a rap act.... · 15 minutes ago
Scrimp My Ride. On the Roof with Dave and Jay. Etc.
Re: Bravo, Ann Romney!
Pseudodionysius
Dave Carter
Pseudodionysius
Dave Carter
That was an ugly win! A troublesome win! But I'll take it. We have much work to do, though... Thanks! · 6 minutes ago
And I'd like to also request someone to give Dave Carter an honorary doctorate so we can begin calling him Doctor Dave. Perhaps a Doctor Dave and Doctor Jay podcast someday. · 0 minutes ago
Sounds like a rap act.... · 15 minutes ago
Scrimp My Ride. On the Roof with Dave and Jay. Etc. · 8 minutes ago
This has all the earmarks of trouble....
May '10
Re: Bravo, Ann Romney!
This is rich, coming from the Romneys.
A lot of people did get in the ring, and got kneecapped by Romney. Now they want to complain about getting kneecapped?
It is ironic that the establishment types are the ones doing this. They are sell-outs, and Romney is their man.