Mitt's Moving...Right
I think it's pretty clear that Romney is becoming more conservative over the arc of his political career. Is he a movement conservative? No. Does he still need to move right on some issues? Yes, but he seems to be traveling in that direction with decent speed.
Mitt governed more conservatively in MA than he campaigned (which is why his reelection prospects looked so dim). He said the experience made him more conservative. Given the nature of politics, I understand why some would view his transformation with skepticism. But I also think it's perfectly reasonable to consider that his conversion is real and ongoing.
The man clearly has the skills to be a turn around artist extraordinaire. With his apparent ideological transformation he could end up being one heck of a president.
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Sep '10
Re: Mitt's Moving...Right
But I also think it's perfectly reasonable to consider that his conversion is real and ongoing.
We'll drag him across the finish line Frozen whether he likes it or not, but we will continue the conservative beatings until morale improves.
Note: Meant tongue in cheek of course before everyone thinks I've gone all RINO squish on them. #occupyvenicebeachhouse
Edited on January 27, 2012 at 10:27pmDec '10
Re: Mitt's Moving...Right
Mitt has made some excellent progress, he's definitely gotten to the right of Teddie. If he continues to work hard and apply himself, in a couple of years he'll have John McCain squarely in his sights.
Kidding aside. There is one very important national issue that I believe he is genuinely sincere about and I feel confident that he would use good judgement and make good decisions. His emphatic statements about the importance of a strong military as it relates to our National Security are very reassuring. Most everything else ???
Sep '10
Re: Mitt's Moving...Right
As God is my witness, I typed my comment before I read this at Mark Steyn's site:
Jun '10
Re: Mitt's Moving...Right
I'm a Mitt supporter who worries about some of Mitt's prior policy statements, which is why it's so critical that Republicans stay dominant in the House, and take over the Senate. With a strong Republican Congress, Mitt will govern as a conservative.
I agree with Frozen that Mitt has been steadily moving right. There are flip-floppers and flip-floppers. When Mitt has flipped he has almost always moved right.
Feb '11
Re: Mitt's Moving...Right
You Mitt supporters can keep on telling yourselves that. I hope you are right, but I fear very much that you are badly deluded. I don't believe he can beat Barack Obama. Again, I hope I am wrong.
Sep '10
Re: Mitt's Moving...Right
So do I. (Gulp).
Aug '10
Re: Mitt's Moving...Right
I don't think he has any notion of how much right is left to his right, Right ?
Edited on January 28, 2012 at 7:04pmMar '11
Re: Mitt's Moving...Right
flown, don't do that to my head after a hard day at work. I'm seeing double now.
Feb '11
Re: Mitt's Moving...Right
Uhhh.... sure. I think...
This reminds me of what Fat Albert's friends used to say about him: "How can anyone so round be so square?"
Sep '10
Re: Mitt's Moving...Right
Ongoing, I should hope so, the guy is in a fight for his life in a Republican primary...
Nov '11
Re: Mitt's Moving...Right
I'd rather not have the nation's future depending on a candidate's ongoing ideological conversion. But I can easily imagine that Romney would turn out to be a much better President than we often think.
Aug '11
Re: Mitt's Moving...Right
Indeed. How much of his rightward movement is just an attempt to mollify the masses and how much is an actual change of position?
Jun '10
Re: Mitt's Moving...Right
I'd like him better if I didn't think this about him: He's not only running for President, but he's trying to start a political dynasty for at least three of his five sons. Three of them are basically clones of the old man. Tagg, Josh, and Matt all have MBAs from Harvard Business School. I think Mitt wanted to be more like Ted Kennedy than just have his job. I think he wants what the Kennedy family had--a dynasty.
Dec '10
Re: Mitt's Moving...Right
Amen to that. A 'turnaround artist extraordinaire' always has the potential to go in any direction he sees fit, and to do whatever it takes to get what he wants.
Isn't this one of the things that people have been wailing about with regard to Newt? That he's unreliable and his positions on issues can't be trusted?
We should 'trust' Romney now, because he's swinging to the right (which I thought is what we're always told candidates do in the primaries to get the nomination). What are we going to do when he swings back to the middle (which is what we're always told candidates do in the general election to win the Presidency?).
Dec '11
Re: Mitt's Moving...Right
Pseudodionysius
So do I. (Gulp). · 2 hours ago
Just for the heck of it, pls confirm your national citizenship, sans feline references, s'il vous plait.
Nov '11
Re: Mitt's Moving...Right
She
Amen to that. A 'turnaround artist extraordinaire' always has the potential to go in any direction he sees fit, and to do whatever it takes to get what he wants.
Isn't this one of the things that people have been wailing about with regard to Newt? That he's unreliable and his positions on issues can't be trusted?
We should 'trust' Romney now, because he's swinging to the right (which I thought is what we're always told candidates do in the primaries to get the nomination). What are we going to do when he swings back to the middle (which is what we're always told candidates do in the general election to win the Presidency?). · 2 minutes ago
To give credit where it's due, Romney has (to my knowledge) only moved to the right, and fairly consistently so. Considering his background, I don't find it implausible that he has genuinely become more conservative in recent years.
Mar '11
Re: Mitt's Moving...Right
The base has moved to the right, or at least has become more active. Do you think Romney would continue to move right if the party veered left? In other words, is his movement based on conviction or opportunity?
I want a candidate with conservative convictions, not a political opportunist. Three states into the primary season is too soon to give up on that standard. As time goes on I believe you will find that that sentiment holds for a lot of folks all across the country.
Feb '11
Re: Mitt's Moving...Right
EThompson
Pseudodionysius
So do I. (Gulp). · 2 hours ago
Just for the heck of it, pls confirm your national citizenship, sans feline references, s'il vous plait. · 25 minutes ago
I grant that I smiled when I first read your comment, so I think you are being light-hearted, but I want to emphasize that the election of the American president is a matter of importance to the whole world. I for one am always glad for Pseudodionysius' input even when I don't understand all his references. Even residents of Canuckistan are welcome to weigh in, I think.
Edited on January 28, 2012 at 3:34amFeb '11
Re: Mitt's Moving...Right
I believe Romney is "moving right" in the same way Obama has moved to the center.
That is, not at all. He is who he is, and a new debate coach won't change that.
He's simply trying to fool the Republican electorate thoroughly enough to win the nomination, with the intent to follow up by winning the presidency.
If he is successful I have no doubt he will continue the grand tradition of Republican political failure that- except for Ronald Reagan- stretches all the way back to Herbert Hoover.
We're doomed.
Jan '12
Re: Mitt's Moving...Right
I'm growing weary with the conservative purity tests. I'm with frozen: I actually believe his conversion is genuine. I wish he'd run and won once as a pro-lifer (for instance). But he did veto the embryonic stem cell legislation - in Massachusetts, kinda gutsy. That alone may have cost him a shot at running successfully again for governor.
In the end we have to decide whether we believe the guy or not. Most people think he's a good fellow. Well, good fellows don't engage in such broad ranging deception as this would have to be. He's either a fraud and a rotten guy or he's for real. I choose to believe him.
He can beat Bam-bam, though it'll be tough. Once he wins, if he signs what Ryan sends him, is tough on the Iranians, et. al., I'm okay with that.
After all that, though, Santorum is my first choice.