Romney Not Conservative Enough? Just Wait!
For years, John McCain was the Left’s favorite Republican. I hadn’t heard the term “maverick” used so often and so affectionately since I attended a James Garner tribute dinner. He was a thorn in the side of George W and a burr under the saddle of most conservatives. He was the co-star of The McCain-Feingold Act. He was considered by many on both sides of the aisle to be a Republican in Name Only. But a strange thing happened to Senator McCain when he became his party’s nominee for President. According to the Democrats and their media friends, the maverick was suddenly marching in lockstep with the most radical fringe of the Right. The thorn and the burr had morphed into Bush II.
I say all this not to rehash history, but to prepare us for the inevitable when (and, of course, if) Mitt Romney is nominated by the Republicans. I still haven’t made up my mind as to what would be best for the Party, but I do know—regardless of the nominee—what will be best for the nation. But sometimes I wonder whether, if the person with the (R) next to his name will always be the wild-eyed conservative, we should just go ahead and nominate one.
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Mar '11
Re: Romney Not Conservative Enough? Just Wait!
The happy thought I'll be having is "Gee, I'm glad the liquor store is still open."
Jan '11
Re: Romney Not Conservative Enough? Just Wait!
This has happened twice now. Both times, Newt did little to cause his own downfall. He was brought down by money and ads.
The entire rationale of a news media is an impartial observer of events, and yet this same media collects the dollars paid by partisan ads. I find it hard to listen to those news media pundits screaming about money in politics, because the news media has every opportunity to neuter the effect of money by giving all sides an equal voice.
The one virtue of debates is that, at least for those 3 hours, the forum is equal. Yet the media sabotages the debates with the horse-race format and gotcha questions.
The proof is not in what they say, but in what they do. They complain about money in politics, and yet they collect the money and prevent an equal political forum.
Edited on February 1, 2012 at 7:23pmJun '11
Re: Romney Not Conservative Enough? Just Wait!
Percival
The happy thought I'll be having is "Gee, I'm glad the liquor store is still open." · 12 minutes ago
Well, I never said my happy thoughts wouldn't be well lubricated...
Jun '10
Re: Romney Not Conservative Enough? Just Wait!
Snow Bird
Republicans were 'swept' into the House only. If I remember correctly, Congress consists of two chambers and one is still controlled by Democrats as is the Presidency. How exactly, under those circumstances, are Republicans going to achieve anything more than a grudging stalemate at best? Suppose they had obstructed everything. What would that do to their electability in 2012? When they control both houses and the presidency and nothing happens there are grounds for complaints. As for now, give them a break.
Americans need to get over their obsession with instant gratification and learn that positive results, in politics as anything else, require long term commitments, not just fifteen minutes of dopamine driven enthusiasm.
Edited 20 minutes ago
If I remember correctly, the Republicans did have control of both houses AND the Presidency 2003-2005. How did that go?
Apr '11
Re: Romney Not Conservative Enough? Just Wait!
Percival
The happy thought I'll be having is "Gee, I'm glad the liquor store is still open." · 22 minutes ago
Since the bars in Az. are closed while the polls are open, there's no solace there. (Always amusing how the NCO and O-Clubs on-base pick up traffic
Election Days.)
Feb '11
Re: Romney Not Conservative Enough? Just Wait!
cdor
If I remember correctly, the Republicans did have control of both houses AND the Presidency 2003-2005. How did that go? · 19 minutes ago
Not every fairy tale has a happy ending. Even at that, the 108th and 109th look pretty good compared to the 110th and 111th.
Mar '11
Re: Romney Not Conservative Enough? Just Wait!
Brian Clendinen
George Savage:
Time to write a check to Rick Santorum. · 25 minutes ago
Which is why I voted for him yesterday.
Also why I will most likely vote for him in AZ.
I suspect the Tea Party, or conservatives, will start to move towards Mr Santorum and away from Newt, but who knows?
May '10
Re: Romney Not Conservative Enough? Just Wait!
We did that in 1964, and it didn't, er, work out that well. In 1980, we nominated an abortion-bill-signing, tax-raising, union-background former Democrat governor who spent all of his campaign persuading swing voters that he wasn't a radical nut. And, indeed, his chief-of-staff was an establishment moderate and conservatives were unhappy that he didn't dismantle the Federal government. But RR had specific top priority goals: 1) re-arm and beat the USSR, 2) reduce taxes, and 3) if you can make progress, dig in your heels to keep from going backwards. And he worked toward those goals.
Snowbird has it exactly right regarding time and patience. America is process-conservative, and (unfortunately) slightly left of center regarding spending- "Cut every program except the one that benefits me!". You do not triumph by promising to dismantle the government, a decidedly "process-radical" approach.
Sep '10
Re: Romney Not Conservative Enough? Just Wait!
The Democrats will indeed try to paint any Republican as a wild-eyed conservative: that does not mean it will work the same no matter who our candidate is. Romney simply will not look as threatening to many people as Gingrich or Santorum will, and in a national election, that matters. The very traits that cause conservatives to distrust Romney will allow him across the threshold for many swing voters.
I wish there was a nominee out there who combined principled conservatism with a soothing demeanor. There isn't, not at present. I won't argue that the only possible choice then is to go with the smoothie... I'm just saying that it is incorrect to pretend that demeanor doesn't make a difference to electability.
Dec '10
Re: Romney Not Conservative Enough? Just Wait!
I think you're right, but this approach has failed us time and time again (win or lose).
We need to stop nominating candidates that appeal to the middle and start nominating candidates who can extol the virtues of federalism to a 12-year old in two minutes or less.
May '10
Re: Romney Not Conservative Enough? Just Wait!
Freeven
I think you're right, but this approach has failed us time and time again (win or lose).
We need to stop nominating candidates that appeal to the middle and start nominating candidates who can extol the virtues of federalism to a 12-year old in two minutes or less. · 29 minutes ago
And if the swing voters aren't interested in "Federalism", just in getting a job? We don't get to pick our audience.
May '10
Re: Romney Not Conservative Enough? Just Wait!
I'm inclined to wonder if the reason that we so often get hammered in recent elections is precisely BECAUSE we throw up these mild-mannered people who really aren't all that different from the alternative. It might be that, given the choice between a Dole or a Bush 43 or a McCain, voters think, "They don't even believe in Conservatism enough to give us a real choice. At least the Democrats will offer us a real Liberal. They really believe in their prescription. the Republicans obviously do not because they aren't offering us that choice. So we might as well go with the party that at least believes in what they're selling."
Who knows? It certainly is high time to give the alternative a chance. Can't do any worse.
Dec '10
Re: Romney Not Conservative Enough? Just Wait!
Duane Oyen
Freeven
I think you're right, but this approach has failed us time and time again (win or lose).
We need to stop nominating candidates that appeal to the middle and start nominating candidates who can extol the virtues of federalism to a 12-year old in two minutes or less. · 29 minutes ago
And if the swing voters aren't interested in "Federalism", just in getting a job? We don't get to pick our audience. · 9 minutes ago
Right. It's not the federalism, but the "12-year old in two minutes" test that's essential.
All of us, but especially our candidates, need to practice conveying important ideas in simple, concise language. This was Reagan's genius and it's an ability that can be honed. We either learn to do it or we lose our country.
Dec '10
Re: Romney Not Conservative Enough? Just Wait!
George, how about this for a plan? Let's get on down to Costa Rica, buy a couple of old DC-3's, start a little freight biz, fly coffee and grapefruits around the Caribbean a couple of days a week, the rest of the time scuba and do the beach. We don't even need a business plan, just find a runway and hangar close to the beach and we're in business.
There's no good reason to work 80 hour weeks and struggle with the problems and challenges of a startup or small business. Obama and his pals in the regulatory agencies aren't going to allow anyone to earn a profit. If the regulators slip up and you make some money, well, Obama is going to make you give most of it to Warren Buffet.
Have you ever flown a DC-3?, piece of cake. In 2016 when President West is elected, we can cash out and come back to the real America.
Aug '11
Re: Romney Not Conservative Enough? Just Wait!
Yesterday, in a special election here in Oregon, Rob Cornilles lost the race to replace David Wu in Congress. Rob ran a solid campaign based on his strong bi-partisan credentials. He ran as a RINO. The Democratic opposition candidate was weak. Nevertheless, Cornilles lost very badly. The base did not come out to vote for him and without a strong base no Republican stands a chance of winning in this state -- or nationally.
I worry that Romney will not be able to convince his base to work for him. Whatever one thinks of the grassroots organizations, they are the only people who go out and walk the streets for Republican candidates. If you don't have them, you don't have a chance.
Why does the Republican establishment continue to believe that a bland candidate who has a record of losing elections, will suddenly begin to inspire the electorate?
Jan '11
Re: Romney Not Conservative Enough? Just Wait!
Chris Deleon
In a national election, with the news media on Obama's side, he won't be able to deploy this weapon so indiscriminately. He'll get called out and shamed by the media, and rightly so, if he uses the same kind of dishonest ads he's used against Newt, starting in Iowa and continuing non-stop until now.
The media will, of course, go bananas anyway, but there's plenty of room for negative ads against Obama that are totally honest.