Will Your Vote be For Romney or Against Obama?
Nathan Harden ·
October 5, 2012 at 3:50am
Have we gone from 'Anybody but Obama' to 'Romney, how we luv ya?'
After Romney's big showing at the debate last night, Romney's favorables among the base are bound to get a boost. That's good news because enthusiasm equals voter turnout. If Romney's performance last night makes a difference in this race, it will be as much about winning the confidence of the base as it will be about converting the undecided.
Conservatives are, for the first time, getting excited about the man. I've met a few who are ready to christen this guy Mitt Reagan.
Question: Are there any Ricochet readers who, after last night, suddenly feel inspired to vote for Romney, not merely against Obama?
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Comments:
Sep '10
Re: Will Your Vote be For Romney or Against Obama?
I am warming to Romney. But in all honesty, if Mitt showed up at the next debate dressed as Harpo Marx and answered all his questions by honking a horn, I would still vote for him over Obama.
Jul '11
Re: Will Your Vote be For Romney or Against Obama?
Both.
Against the biggest expansion in government since FDR - without a doubt.
But also for a man who has a record for balancing budgets. Heck, I'd vote him for just passing a budget at this point...
Gary Johnson would have been my ideal choice, but I think Romney would do just fine!
Re: Will Your Vote be For Romney or Against Obama?
While some of what Romney said last night was appealing to a libertarian such as myself, much of it wasn't. His promise to force insurance companies to keep 26-year-olds on their parents' insurance plan and to force the companies to cover pre-existing conditions -- to give just two examples of how he would not change Obamacare -- didn't make me ready to christen him Mitt Reagan.
But insofar as he accomplished what no one else has done -- taking Obama on and winning -- I liked it.
May '10
Re: Will Your Vote be For Romney or Against Obama?
He had me at "I accept your nomination."
Jul '10
Re: Will Your Vote be For Romney or Against Obama?
Romney presented himself last night as the mainstream liberal north-eastern Republican I have always pegged him to be. His business experience and VP choice give me hope that he is prepared to put the ship right, but his track record as Governor and his reach across the aisle rhetoric is troubling. I still firmly believe that the best case for voting Romney, and it is utterly and totally compelling, is Obama.
Nov '10
Re: Will Your Vote be For Romney or Against Obama?
I decided to like him when he picked Paul Ryan. (That, even though I said, just before he picked him, that Ryan wasn't my first choice--I think I just didn't dare to hope he'd pick Ryan.) As far as last night goes, I'm with Mollie. There were a number of things he said that I didn't like, for example: his enthusiasm for regulation, his affirming the role of the federal government in education, and the insurance promises Mollie cites. But I loved him because he looked like he could win and we really need to beat Obama.
Aug '12
Re: Will Your Vote be For Romney or Against Obama?
I don't know that last night was what made me want to vote for Romney, but it certainly put me over the top after the Ryan pick and the Convention. But yeah, Anyone but Obama.
Jun '10
Re: Will Your Vote be For Romney or Against Obama?
Romney had a lot of Politician Palaver, but nowhere did I hear anything about "fundamentally transforming" America.
As an actual positive, I have this sneaking suspicion that, as much of a traditional pol as he is, see seems like someone bright enough to at least listen to challenging ideas - even from Paul Ryan.
Teh One needs permission to listen to any ideas from other than Valerie.
Nov '10
Re: Will Your Vote be For Romney or Against Obama?
My enthusiasm for Mr. Romney comes from his foreign policy positions more than from his economic and strictly political positions (which I regard as too liberal). But Iwill vote with enthusiasm for him against the incumbent.
Nov '10
Re: Will Your Vote be For Romney or Against Obama?
My enthusiasm for Mr. Romney comes from his foreign policy positions more than from his economic and strictly political positions (which I regard as too liberal). But Iwill vote with enthusiasm for him against the incumbent.
May '12
Re: Will Your Vote be For Romney or Against Obama?
Against Obama. All the press kudos for last night's debate amount to the press's sudden discovery that Romney is civil, decent, and moderate. I never doubted any of that, and civil and decent I can live with. But "moderate" which translated into 21st century english means "willing tax collector for the welfare state" I could do without. His performance last night was for the "sensible" middle -- those who don't really want to stray too far from the status quo. It wasn't for honest to god constitution lovin' libertarians like me. I will vote for Romney. I even wrote him a check a week ago. But his only real redeeming qualities are that: 1) he's not Obama; and 2) at least he's not promising to EXPAND the welfare state. It's a little like supporting the cyborg from hell who says (Ahnold like) "I like you, I will kill you last" -- some comfort, but not much.
Dec '10
Re: Will Your Vote be For Romney or Against Obama?
Conservatism is still not his native tongue, but he has been practicing his pronunciation and grammar.
May '12
Re: Will Your Vote be For Romney or Against Obama?
Vote against Obama. Romney will expand the government at a slower pace than Obama, not exactly a hard bar to get under, but he will expand the federal government, add to the national debt, and not balance the budget. Hopefully the bond market will force us to discipline before going full meltdown.
Romney is a good man and leader, but not the solution, he just slows the decay long enough that we may avoid borrowing ourselves to oblivion.
Sep '11
Re: Will Your Vote be For Romney or Against Obama?
I have always been about equal parts for Romney and against Obama. My most honest reaction is that both parts were intensified by last night's proceedings. Romney looks, sounds and acts like a President, and a good one. Obama looks like a confused, petulant, small man. I'm happy to correct Romney when he's wrong, but last night wasn't an occasion for me to quibble.
Nov '11
Re: Will Your Vote be For Romney or Against Obama?
I would vote for Hillary Clinton before I voted for Obama so I can check the "against Obama" box.
I am also voting for Romney. I know Romney is not nearly as far to the right as I am but I still think he will be a very successful President. I took a hard look at the others in the Primary but I just couldn't find one that really set me on fire.
Re: Will Your Vote be For Romney or Against Obama?
I thought my radio was malfunctioning when Romney sang "regulations, regulations, regulations, gotta have regulations" like he was the baritone singer in a quartet of duwoping bureaucrats.
Nov '11
Re: Will Your Vote be For Romney or Against Obama?
For Romney. I don't see him as "one of us" in the sense that I imagine that he will act consistently with my principles on every issue. But he will be an ally in the White House, rather than an opponent, and possibly an important and effective ally He wants to govern successfully, and he is proving himself open to conservative persuasion on policy issues. He has not "moved to the center" on substantial issues in the general election, though he has altered his rhetoric. He took on a serious and dangerous debate on Medicare, and last night he did not back down an inch.
It's way too early to assume victory (I'm swinging between optimism and pessimism like Rob), but between his choice of Ryan and his performance last night, I think he has justified my somewhat reluctant primary vote.
Edited on October 5, 2012 at 4:52amJul '10
Re: Will Your Vote be For Romney or Against Obama?
I got a FEVER and the only cure is MORE ROMNEY! I don't have time to hate Obama, we got a nation to save. The same Romney that was too liberal in 2008 is now too conservative in 2012. He was never that liberal, and he isn't that conservative. He believes in markets and he knows a police state can't do anything as well as free people.
There is plenty wrong with Obama, don't get me wrong, but once he is gone we will not be allowed to refer to any of his idiotic decisions by the muddle stream media, they will immediately pretend that W was the President for 12 years, so Romney only has four years to make some major improvements. He knows it. He is going for it any way. That is bold, brave and undaunted.
I would pity Obama if he didn't do so much damage to the nation, and I do believe if he is not re-elected he will deliberately drive the nation over the fiscal cliff, but I admire the real audacity of Romney in daring to repair the damage of Obama.
Nov '10
Re: Will Your Vote be For Romney or Against Obama?
I'm agin' all the right folks sonny, and thet's all ye needs to know.
Aug '12
Re: Will Your Vote be For Romney or Against Obama?
Agreed. And against Obama. I don't quite put myself in the libertarian camp but my political attitude can be summed by one of two (paraphrased) quotes:
1. The debate I'm most comfortable with is between the Republicans and the Libertarians. - Jim DeMint
2. There are only two legitimate political parties: the Republicans and the Libertarians. - my friend at work
That said, I still hold out hope that Mitt can be influenced by Paul Ryan and a Republican Congress. If he will employ his clearly excellent executive skills to implement a Republican legislature's policies I believe he may still be able to reverse, not just slow, our democracy's drift (h/t Dr. Rahe).