I Won't Vote for Mitt Romney
I haven't been a conservative that long, but I'm already disillusioned by the Republican Party. It seems more and more likely that Mitt Romney will be our nominee and, I would rather have four more years of President Obama than vote for Mitt.
What! Why?
I honestly believe a Romney presidency would poison the well for Republicans for many years to come. The 2012 election could be a real chance to forward conservative ideas, if we get behind a candidate of principle. A chance to win hearts and minds, as mine were won, though reasoned arguments and a shattering of misconceptions. How is this possible if we get behind a man who has flip-flopped on everything from the cap and trade to abortion? Do we honestly expect the same people who were fired up about Obamacare in 2010 to say, "Oh, Romneycare, that's no problem"?
Maybe Romney could win the battle. But, we'd lose the war.
I won't be a part of it.
I hope Herman Cain continues to improve, and gives me something to get excited about. But, for now, I remain disillusioned, and would rather wait for a Paul Ryan run in 2016. Honestly, I still have a secret hope Ryan could run this time. It was so unfortunate he made his decision not to run just at the height of Perry fever. Couldn't we ask him just one more time? The man said something like, "I haven't changed my mind, and so I'm not running for President". No suicide threats or "I'm not ready" statements. I understand deadlines are looming and I shouldn't be waiting for a superman. But maybe, just maybe, the landscape has changed enough for Ryan to be persuaded.
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Apr '11
Re: I Won't Vote for Mitt Romney
Don't give up yet. Four years ago, as the Republicans jockeyed for position, it was Rudy Guilliani who was leading the polls.
Romney remains strong in national polls, but we don't elect nominees nationally, it's a state-by-state basis. So far, Romney has not been able to hold as strong in individual states.
It's never a done deal, and I won't give in to despair until it's time for despair.
Apr '11
Re: I Won't Vote for Mitt Romney
Breaking: Palin not running for president
http://hotair.com/archives/2011/10/05/breaking-palin-not-running-for-president/comment-page-1/#comment-4977466
Jun '10
Re: I Won't Vote for Mitt Romney
I hope you'll reconsider. Romney, with his flaws, would be infinitely better than Obama. Four more years of "The One," and we may have crossed the point of no return.
Jun '10
Re: I Won't Vote for Mitt Romney
Sorry. Double post.
Edited on Oct 5, 2011 at 3:25pmDec '10
Re: I Won't Vote for Mitt Romney
I won't argue with you.
I will remind you that if Romney is the Republican nominee, a vote for anyone else, or no one at all, is half a vote for Obama. And after four more years of that, there may not be any way to recover.
Edited on Oct 5, 2011 at 3:28pmDec '10
Re: I Won't Vote for Mitt Romney
Katie O:
It seems more and more likely that Mitt Romney will be our nominee and, I would rather have four more years of President Obama than vote for Mitt.
What! Why?
I honestly believe a Romney presidency would poison the well for Republicans for many years to come.
You are one brave woman, Katie O. I like that.
And I agree with your concern that Romney would further tarnish the Republican Party reputation as, at best, the lesser of two evils, and at worst, crony-socialist lite. However, I'm trying to keep two things in mind and in prayer this election.
First, if Romney is elected with a strong Tea Party presence in the House and the Senate, Congress will act to limit the damage he might otherwise do.
And second, Remember the Supreme Court. The Republic simply will not withstand more Obama appointments to the court. End of story.
I won't knock on doors to get Romney elected, but I'll vote for him and you should too. And, if he is the GOP nominee, we should all work our tails off to get Tea Party candidates elected to Congress.
Dec '10
Re: I Won't Vote for Mitt Romney
Western Chauvinist
Katie O:
It seems more and more likely that Mitt Romney will be our nominee and, I would rather have four more years of President Obama than vote for Mitt.
What! Why?
I honestly believe a Romney presidency would poison the well for Republicans for many years to come.
And I agree with your concern that Romney would further tarnish the Republican
And second, Remember the Supreme Court. The Republic simply will not withstand more Obama appointments to the court. End of story.
... we should all work our tails off to get Tea Party candidates elected to Congress. · Oct 5 at 3:29pm
Katie O's analysis and reasoning is spot-on (beautiful as Peter would say) until the nasty business of Supreme Court nominees comes up. Although, if the Tea Party candidates dominate election night in 2012, the damage could be contained.
Oct '10
Re: I Won't Vote for Mitt Romney
Katie O, your sentiments echo my own on every point, and a few weeks ago I was also resistant to voting for Romney. I was pushing the view that we should focus on the senate and house races rather than waste energy supporting Romney who will probably sully the brand. But the point that Western Chauvinist and Jetstream make brought me to my senses. The fact that the Justices hold their position for generations is very sobering.
I hope that it's some comfort that you have a lot of company here on Ricochet mourning Ryan's decision.
May '10
Re: I Won't Vote for Mitt Romney
Thanks for all your thoughtful comments. I wasn't sure what to expect! WC , jetstream, severely ltd, you are right about the Supreme Court. I admit I need to do some more thinking. It's morbid business though.
Sep '10
Re: I Won't Vote for Mitt Romney
Both Thatcher and Reagan demonstrated that reversing liberalism is at best a long, hard, process. Both were able to slow it, but what little progress they made was quickly reversed; in Reagan’s case by a Republican. The damage done by “moderate” republicans can be as bad as that done by lefties. So even if Romney wins you could easily end up losing. Remember a GOP Senate would find it easier to defeat a Obama liberal for the SC than a Romney moderate. I am less enthusiastic about Ryan, Bush needed to buy votes for the 04 election and came up with Part D, it passed the house by one vote, “entitlements are the problem” Ryan voted for it. I think Ryan is a bright and sincere conservative, but he has been feeding at the DC trough for 16 years and has demonstrate he will sell his vote if enough pressure is applied.
May '11
Re: I Won't Vote for Mitt Romney
I might vote for Romney but I won't put a sign in my yard or contribute money to his campaign. My efforts will be spent on local and state races.
Oct '10
Re: I Won't Vote for Mitt Romney
Katie O:
Maybe Romney could win the battle. But, we'd lose the war. I won't be a part of it.
Katie, I share and respect your discomfort with Romney, but you can only lose so many battles before you do, inevitably, lose the war.
I agree with some of the previous posters that we don't have a lot of time left and even a tactical win (by almost any GOP candidate) would be better then a probable strategic defeat (by Obama).
I think of Lincoln's imperfect generals like McClellan and Meade. They weren't capable of delivering strategic victory but their tactical victories bought time until Grant and Sherman showed up.
Please reconsider.
Feb '11
Re: I Won't Vote for Mitt Romney
Southern Pessimist: I might vote for Romney but I won't put a sign in my yard or contribute money to his campaign. My efforts will be spent on local and state races. · Oct 5 at 6:21pm
Nothing wrong with that. The Congressional races are critical. As Romney showed in MA, he will follow the tone of the legislature. He has few if any strong core beliefs. A conservative Congress will draw no vetoes from Romney. On the other hand, Obama will stonewall to the bitter end while wreaking havoc via administrative fiat. The key this year, with a raft of less than ideal candidates, is to get an R, any R, in the White House while dramatically shifting the power base to the right in Congress.
May '11
Re: I Won't Vote for Mitt Romney
I assured Ralph Reed twice in the past year I would actively support his Faith and Freedom initiative in the Low Country of SC in the next election because I think he has figured out how to identify the voters who are likely to vote Republican but might need a phone call or visit to seal the deal. If Romney is the nominee I cannot do that in good conscience. And this conversation has made me realize that I need to share it with Jim DeMint. I have supported him in the past but I don't want him endorsing Mitt.
Edited on Oct 5, 2011 at 9:44pmAug '10
Re: I Won't Vote for Mitt Romney
Katie O: I haven't been a conservative that long, but I'm already disillusioned by the Republican Party. It seems more and more likely that Mitt Romney will be our nominee and, I would rather have four more years of President Obama than vote for Mitt.
What! Why?
I honestly believe a Romney presidency would poison the well for Republicans for many years to come.
If you inserted McCain for Romney in the sentences above, you've defined how I felt three years ago and how I feel today about Romney - especially how they would poison the well.
But - Dennis Prager disabused me of my notion and convinced me that the best I ought to do is the best I can do at each decision. If it is Obama vs a Syphilitic Camel - get on the bio containment gear, learn to spit, make snorting noises and pull the lever for the Dromedary.
At least with Mitt I'll get better hair.
Aug '10
Re: I Won't Vote for Mitt Romney
I appreciate your feelings, Katie, but I'm afraid our country simply will not survive another 4 years of Obama. Don't get me wrong, I don't expect the USofA to disappear but it will become a very different place with little hope of returning to its former greatness.
Obama and his administration are doing tremendous damage to our country every day through executive orders and his radical cabinet heads. Forget the supreme court and congress, the EPA, HHS, Justice, etc are all silently squeezing the life out of our country through strangling new regulations and "interpretations" of existing legislation which have an agressively anti-business bent.
As Liberal Jim has noted, it is very hard to reverse these regulations once they are in place. If Obama gets reelected it will not matter who the GOP nominates in 2016, they will not be able to reverse the damage to any significant extent.
I am confident that Romney will not be anywhere near as bad as some people on this site fear. He is an honest man and will do his best to get this country back on track economically. He will go along with Republican House and Senate initiatives.
Edited on Oct 6, 2011 at 6:36amMar '11
Re: I Won't Vote for Mitt Romney
Western Chauvinist
And second, Remember the Supreme Court. The Republic simply will not withstand more Obama appointments to the court. End of story.
Well, just to nitpick a little, you should remember that Souter was a republican court pick, as was O'Connor, Blackmun, and Stevens - all either squishies or turncoats.
Romney is not guaranteed to pick well.
If he would at least disavow Romneycare I think we could all be more in favor of the guy.
In the mean time, speaking of picking, where did I leave those McCain "Hold your nose and vote" noseclips...
May '10
Re: I Won't Vote for Mitt Romney
This is key for me Frozen Chosen. What makes you sure he is an honest man? If I felt that way I would certainly be able to vote for him. But, as I see it, his ever "evolving" flip flops are a clear sign of opportunism, not honesty.
How can I be so harsh? Especially, since I've told you I was once a liberal? Well, I don't have an problem with people changing their minds. After all, how could a person like me, who was raised in a Democratic household, educated at public school, and indoctrinated through their major at college know better?
Invincible ignorance is one thing I just can't grant Mitt Romney.
Tell me why I should.
Jan '11
Re: I Won't Vote for Mitt Romney
I'm with Katie O; I will not vote for Romney.
The storm will come sooner or later, who ever is in office will suffer the blame and if a Republican is in the White House I do not want it to be Romney.
If Obama remains beyond 2012 the changes to the republic will overwhelm the influence of a few more wise latinas.
Dec '10
Re: I Won't Vote for Mitt Romney
I've struggled a bit with this as well. I could never pull the lever for Obama regardless of who the R in the race is. When it comes to a choice between damaging the brand or damaging the nation via the Supreme Court/regulatory regime I'm afraid the brand will have to take one for the team. I don't trust Romney, but "The One" in antithetical to our national character and principles.