Mitt Romney Boldly Defends Right Not to be Bold About Anything
I've tried, desperately at times, to find narrow grounds on which I can cope with Mitt Romney should he become the GOP nominee next year. And now, my friends, I've about had it. From Politico:
In a visit to Ohio today, Mitt Romney declined to state his position on a high-profile referendum there on the new state law that curtails the bargaining rights of public employee unions. But earlier this year, Romney indicated support for the reforms signed by Gov. John Kasich.
What makes this whole situation even more bizarre: Romney was at a GOP phone bank where volunteers were making calls about the collective bargaining measures when he refused his support. His typically milquetoast statement: "I am not speaking about the particular ballot issues. Those are up to the people of Ohio." Then don't go there for a photo-op, Mitt.
I've had my fill of Romney the "decline to state" candidate. I don't need him to tell me that Massachusetts is free to design its own unique health care reform; I need him to tell me why he signed it. I don't need him to tell me that it's Ohio voters who get the final say on state referendums; I need him to tell me whether he believes those referendums are worthwhile. In essence, I need him to run for president, not for junior high civics teacher. At the moment, I'm not sure he has the core convictions that either position requires.
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May '11
Re: Mitt Romney Boldly Defends Right Not to be Bold About Anything
This type of weaselness is going to destroy Romney's aura of inevitabilty. I'm thinking maybe Mark Block needs to be running.
Edited on Oct 25, 2011 at 2:22pmMar '11
Re: Mitt Romney Boldly Defends Right Not to be Bold About Anything
If these head fakes towards the concept of Federalism were genuine I would be much less inclined to find Romney so distasteful but it is impossible to conclude given his track record, unfortunately for him he has one, that they are simply aught but his latest artful dodge at not letting himself be burdened down by anything so droll as a firm position or consistent principles.
Edited on Oct 25, 2011 at 4:09pmMay '10
Re: Mitt Romney Boldly Defends Right Not to be Bold About Anything
Troy Senik
I don't need him to tell me that Massachusetts is free to design its own unique health care reform; I need him to tell me why he signed it. I don't need him to tell me that it's Ohio voters who get the final say on state referendums; I need him to tell me whether he believes those referendums are worthwhile. In essence, I need him to run for president, not for junior high civics teacher. At the moment, I'm not sure he has the core convictions that either position requires.
Nailed it, Troy. This is similar to when you ask a Democrat if they will repudiate a 9-11 Truther slogan uttered by their favored candidate, and they say "I believe that person has the same right to free speech you do."
Dec '10
Re: Mitt Romney Boldly Defends Right Not to be Bold About Anything
Perry and Paul have both come out for the propositions. Mitt put himself in the dunking booth on this one and gave the other candidates a free pass to the carnival.
Dec '10
Re: Mitt Romney Boldly Defends Right Not to be Bold About Anything
Wha...wha? Don't like 5 of his "59 Policy Proposals" address this exact issue? Why is this a hard question exactly?
Re: Mitt Romney Boldly Defends Right Not to be Bold About Anything
Scott Reusser, Frozen Chosen, James of England, and all other Ricochetians who have risen repeatedly and gallantly to the defense of the former governor of the Bay State, please note that the author of this post is not Peter Robinson but Troy Senik.
That's "Senik," S-E-N-I-K.
Apr '11
Re: Mitt Romney Boldly Defends Right Not to be Bold About Anything
Chauncey Gardiner for President!
Sep '10
Re: Mitt Romney Boldly Defends Right Not to be Bold About Anything
Just to defend Romney, weasels have this strange tendency to go into a killing frenzy and just slaughter prey regardless of whether or not they can actually eat it. I don't think he's a weasel. Plus, weasels are vertebrates. Romney is a lot of things, but he's not a weasel.
Aug '11
Re: Mitt Romney Boldly Defends Right Not to be Bold About Anything
K T Cat:
Plus, weasels are vertebrates.
That was awesome.
Dec '10
Re: Mitt Romney Boldly Defends Right Not to be Bold About Anything
This is why all of the jokes about Romney's exterior plastic appearance ring true - his exterior plastic persona is just a reflection of his inner plastic core. Nothing about Romney is clever or Machiavellian, he's an empty suit.
If Romney were in the military, he would be in charge of laying out the Latrines and keeping the O clubs stocked with booze. As a combat leader his failures would only be bounded by the size of his command, his core competency would be combat disasters.
Edited on Oct 25, 2011 at 3:27pmDec '10
Re: Mitt Romney Boldly Defends Right Not to be Bold About Anything
DrewInWisconsin
K T Cat:
Plus, weasels are vertebrates.
That was awesome. · Oct 25 at 3:14pm
Agreed!
Not to pile on Romney again, but I just can't get over his handling of RomneyCare as an issue. If one wants to be forgiven a transgression, it is best first to repent, and then ask for forgiveness in my experience. His approach seems to be, "Meh. Nothing to see here. Move along, people."
Mar '11
Re: Mitt Romney Boldly Defends Right Not to be Bold About Anything
I read Mitt's economic plan. It had 59 points, and I can't recall one of them.
We can't afford four more years of blithering incompetence. We'd be much better off with four years of well-managed, carefully reasoned, politically astute mush.
Our Champion, Captain Tapioca.
Edited on Oct 25, 2011 at 3:43pmJan '11
Re: Mitt Romney Boldly Defends Right Not to be Bold About Anything
It's like a bad Star Trek episode when the character accidentally reveals that he's just a machine because he can't escape his programming.
Have you wondered why all of the more compelling GOP candidates won't run? What do they know that we don't? Maybe Romney is secretly a joint enterprise of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, and the VRWC has pre-programmed Mitt to carry out the agenda of the elite club.
OK, maybe he's just a stiff, but I like my explanation better.
Oct '11
Re: Mitt Romney Boldly Defends Right Not to be Bold About Anything
As someone who is leaning toward voting for Romney in the primary, I must say this is disappointing. I won't make excuses for this excessive timidity, but considering the faults of the other candidates ( do I need to catalog them) Romney is still on top in my book. It's just this kind of thing that keeps many conservatives from trusting him.
May '10
Re: Mitt Romney Boldly Defends Right Not to be Bold About Anything
I'm with you, Tom Wilson.
Today I'm hoping Perry will pull out a comeback.
Aug '10
Re: Mitt Romney Boldly Defends Right Not to be Bold About Anything
Romney is clearly focused on the general election and wants to avoid offending potential voters in Ohio as it is a swing state and he believes he will need at least some of those union voters.
I can certainly understand why this strategy would turn off many conservatives. However, while some of the positions Cain, Perry, etc are taking may help them in the primaries, they will also put a bullseye on their back in the general election.
Cain and Perry are saying whatever they need to win the primary - Mitt is angling for the general election already. Different strategies but both are political strategies made by politicians.
There's a word for people who run for POTUS who aren't politicians - Losers!
Edited on Oct 25, 2011 at 4:30pmDec '10
Re: Mitt Romney Boldly Defends Right Not to be Bold About Anything
Tom Wilson:
... I must say this is disappointing. ... Romney is still on top in my book. It's just this kind of thing that keeps many conservatives from trusting him. · Oct 25 at 3:50pm
Disappointing? Romney refuses to support minimum changes to Ohio's governing policies, all necessary to prevent Ohio from descending into a dysfunctional collapse and bankruptcy. And that only rises to the level of disappointing?
Romney betrays Ohio's efforts to regain control of the state budget and to begin limiting the power of the progressive tsunami destroying not just Ohio but all of America, and, you still support Romney? Why wouldn't "every conservative" stop trusting Romney and work to ensure his failure at the ballot box?
Edited on Oct 25, 2011 at 4:40pmMay '10
Re: Mitt Romney Boldly Defends Right Not to be Bold About Anything
maybe Romney noticed that Obama got elected by not clarifying his position on a myriad of issues and Romney really wants to get elected.
Aug '10
Re: Mitt Romney Boldly Defends Right Not to be Bold About Anything
Bingo!
May '10
Re: Mitt Romney Boldly Defends Right Not to be Bold About Anything
Oh, I see Romney is busy upping his "ew" factor. Go on Mr. R!