Romney is Toast? Hardly!
I just finished listening to the latest Ricochet Podcast and am a bit teed off. Normally I love those guys but Peter Robinson’s assertion that, regardless of what the polls may say, Mitt Romney is toast is extremely arrogant. There are many people out there (enough to donate in excess of $10 million in eight hours) that, despite Romney’s defects, think he’d make a great president. I’m one of them. It’s a little reminiscent of the liberal aristocracy’s “we know best attitude” toward the little people. It reminds me of Obama’s statement about the troglodytes clinging to god, guns and religion. I’m sorry but the people who will decide who the nominee is are the primary voters and there is a large segment out there that will vote for Mitt Romney. He’s absolutely going to need to make more converts and the debates will be the proving ground for that project but if he’s toast then he’s toast with a little butter and jam because he still tastes a heck of a lot better than Obama.
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Mar '11
Re: Romney is Toast? Hardly!
One thing I'd add to my post: I don't know if at the end of the nomination process Romney will be my favorite candidate. I'm willing to let the process play out and see who rises to the top. I wish the punditry class would do the same. Why the rush to embrace or disqualify any candidate?
Apr '11
Re: Romney is Toast? Hardly!
If Romney is the candidate we put up against Obama, of course I'm voting Romney.
But it's hard to deny that he has some major problems. The primary one, at this stage, is Romneycare. Many on the Right (myself included) believe that the A-number-1, Red Alert issue in 2012 is the repeal of Obamacare. Romney's refusal to walk back support of his Massachusetts program makes him unsuitable to pursue that goal, and that means I can't give him my support in the primaries.
Aside from that, I don't think he can beat Obama, and that's obviously a serious problem as well. But there's plenty of room for disagreement on that point.
Your point about the punditocracy is also worth replying to: no one makes a living saying, "Well, let's wait and see what happens..." Pundits want to do two things: predict the future successfully and influence the future. Robinson is doing a little of both here, and that's his job.
Mar '11
Re: Romney is Toast? Hardly!
James Jones:
Your point about the punditocracy is also worth replying to: no one makes a living saying, "Well, let's wait and see what happens..." Pundits want to do two things: predict the future successfully and influence the future. Robinson is doing a little of both here, and that's his job. · May 20 at 3:27pm
I suppose you are right. Alligators are made to bite and pundits to prophesy. Still, a little humility or at the least an admission of bias would be nice. Peter Robinson has a man crush on Mitch Daniels (whom I would be happy to support were he nominated) and refuses to meaningfully acknowledge his demerits, e.g. downplaying his perceived lack of charisma while exaggerating the importance of Romney's perceived lack of authenticity.
Oct '10
Re: Romney is Toast? Hardly!
I don't see Romney as toast so much as white bread. Toast isn't nearly so doughy, as in conveniently malleable.
Jun '10
Re: Romney is Toast? Hardly!
Well, what drives me nuts even more than this (and you are so right about all the piling on and group-think) is this stupid wish and wish and wish for the oh so perfect person who we just know is waiting in the wings. Where is this guy? Oh, he will be so perfect. That is until he has a record or says one thing we don't like.
I'm in a similar situation as you only with Newt. It's over, it's over, it's over they say. Well, I just want Newt to have his day (or two) in the sun. Now, what did Newt do that made him so over? He didn't even talk about pubic hairs on coke cans. This obvious desire to destroy Newt early on is universal in the punditocracy -- not just here at Ricochet. I hope Newt just hangs on anyway. He seems to have a similar effect to Palin. I love that Palin drives these people nuts -- and I don't mean just the liberals.
Don't you love the fact that Breitbart talks about all the women who are running the Tea Party? Who will control them?
Nov '10
Re: Romney is Toast? Hardly!
Hear! Hear!
Might I add the cliched ... The perfect is the enemy of the good.
Dec '10
Re: Romney is Toast? Hardly!
Totally disagree. Can you provide a couple issues on which Romney can beat obama. He can't win the healthcare debate. Obamacare vs the obamacare was a good idea but I can do it better plan cannot win. The left will defend it to the end and Romney will not have our support.
I don't believe he is pro-life. Will he secure the border? I don’t know, but doubt it.
Americans are absolutely sick of crony capitalism. Across the board deregulation and lower taxes vs. obama's redistribution is a fight we can win. Yeah Romney was a good businessman. But does that have anything to do with being president? No. Romney will be great at carving out new regulations to help the “to big to fails” but that is all.
Actually, I'll be happy to learn about a couple issues where he doesn't agree with obama to some extent.
Nov '10
Re: Romney is Toast? Hardly!
Not toast, perhaps, but milquetoast.
EDIT: Not milquetoast either, really. (This is why I'm not a writer.) What's the word for someone who seems desperate to please, but isn't a slimeball?
Edited on May 21, 2011 at 1:55pmMar '11
Re: Romney is Toast? Hardly!
If you are sincerely interested in learning where Romney is on the issues (and the tone of your post suggests otherwise) you can go to this website:
http://www.issues2000.org/default.htm
It is an objective listing of the positions and voting records of all the leading political figures. I think you'll find Romney's record and his stated positions are diametrically opposed to Obama on many issues important to conservatives. Has he changed positions on some things? Yes. But when it comes to the 2010 campaign, Obama's own record of of flip-flopping will mute any attack on that front.
Mar '11
Re: Romney is Toast? Hardly!
That last link I posted goes to the general site. For information on Romney's positions go to this site:
http://www.ontheissues.org/mitt_romney.htm
Nov '10
Re: Romney is Toast? Hardly!
Richard Young: That last link I posted goes to the general site. For information on Romney's positions go to this site:
http://www.ontheissues.org/mitt_romney.htm · May 21 at 3:27am
...You should read through that link of yours. He has flip-flopped on (literally) most issues.
May '11
Re: Romney is Toast? Hardly!
I don't believe any of the Republicans who have announced or are likely to announce have a chance. Sorry. As for Mitt Romney specifically, I don't believe the American people are ready for a Mormon president.
Mar '11
Re: Romney is Toast? Hardly!
You may be right but that's a pretty sad commentary on the electorate if you are.
Jun '10
Re: Romney is Toast? Hardly!
And all this time I thought Romney was perfect...I think it must have been the hair.
Hardly groupthink if there are those in the Ricochet group still rooting for the ole' Mitt-ster.
Mar '11
Re: Romney is Toast? Hardly!
Our esteemed leader, Rob, has a masterful piece on Romney, and all the other candidates, including Ricochet's favorite balding midget.
Unfortunately, he forgets to mention a Republican candidate who can, for sure, beat Mr Obama - if there was one, I am sure we would all agree.
There is one, of course - Paul Ryan...
Jun '10
Re: Romney is Toast? Hardly!
I'm not waiting for Mr. or Ms. Perfect. But certainly not waiting for Romney...or Newt...or Huntsman. There are plenty of other candidates I would prefer - West, Cain, Daniels, Bachmann, Ryan...that would come before the casting my lot with the squishy, establishment technocrats.
Edited on May 21, 2011 at 2:04pmJun '10
Re: Romney is Toast? Hardly!
David Williamson: Our esteemed leader, Rob, has a masterful piece on Romney, and all the other candidates, including Ricochet's favorite balding midget.
Unfortunately, he forgets to mention a Republican candidate who can, for sure, beat Mr Obama - if there was one, I am sure we would all agree.
There is one, of course - Paul Ryan... · May 21 at 2:00pm
Yep.
Nov '10
Re: Romney is Toast? Hardly!
Richard Young
You may be right but that's a pretty sad commentary on the electorate if you are.
Pls explain why we were "ready" for a Catholic president in 1960 and a biracial president in 2008, but apparently, not for a ...horrors... Mormon president in 2012. Have you watched too many episodes of that ridiculous show Big Love?
Jun '10
Re: Romney is Toast? Hardly!
Deal killers:
Romney - Romneycare
Huntsman - Cap & Trade; beholden to Obama who he thinks is a "remarkable" leader
Newt - Still cozy with Cap & Trade:
As reported on the Blaze.com:
In a conference call with conservative bloggers...One Washington Times reporter asked Gingrich about reports that he’s changed his position on several issues, including Libya and cap & trade. In reply, Gingrich insisted he’s always opposed cap & trade “in its current form..."
In its current form?! What the heck does that mean? He doesn't oppose cap & trade outright, in total? He believes that carbon dioxide generated by human beings is causing climate change? Are you kidding me?
Mar '11
Re: Romney is Toast? Hardly!
By the time my state had its primary in '08, my choice was between McCain, Huckabee, and Romney. McCain had spent most of the previous eight years being the New York Times favorite Republican. That is not a qualification in my eyes, it is an indictment. Huckabee was (and is, IMHO) a populist and an economic bubblehead. That left me with Romney, and I voted for him without any confidence whatsoever, but I believed that he could win.
I do not want to be in a similar position this time. Obama's accomplishments so far are: kissing up to our enemies, dumping on our allies, spending more money than we have, driving the economy into the ditch, one competent call on taking out OBL, and Obamacare. The last would seem to be problematic for him, but unfortunately, it is almost as problematic for Romney, who will have to spend at least as much time defending his health care plan to the public (the MSM will insist).
This election is too important to let the nomination fall to The Next Guy.