The Narcissism of Suffering

 

Mitt Romney cast a vote of “conscience” to convict President Trump of “abuse of power”. He said in doing so that

It is the last decision I wanted to take. The personal consequences, the political consequences that fall on me as a result of that are going to be extraordinary.

Yeah, it’s going to get very lonely. And again, the consequences are significant. … There has not been a morning since this process began that I slept beyond 4 a.m.

No doubt Mitt has spoken honestly. This is how he feels. His judgement is better than his colleagues. He has a closer walk with G-d.

Mitt anticipates suffering. He has experienced his own Golgotha. It is now his obligation to suffer. That is what happens to men (and women) of principle. Jesus Christ, St. Peter, Joan of Arc, Joseph Smith, Deitrich Boenhoffer, and now Mitt Romney. Or at least that is the company he envisions himself to keep.

Sanctimony is not a good look. Sanctimony in service to the corruption of the Constitution by the Democrats is even worse. Mitt does not see it that way, but then again why would he?

The Senate is not a priesthood. It is a political body created to check other political bodies. Mitt forgot that Jesus called him to be “as cunning as snakes….“ (Matthew 10:16) He eschews “cunning” as something less than himself.

America needs cunning men. As Patton said: “No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making some other poor dumb bastard die for his country.” We need warriors, not lambs, in the halls of Congress, because the progressives are in the fight and they are not fighting by the Marquis of Queensbury rules. Mitt is not a hero, he’s a chump.

But he can now revel in his suffering, deluded in his self-righteousness.

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  1. CarolJoy, Above Top Secret Coolidge
    CarolJoy, Above Top Secret
    @CarolJoy

    In any event, Mitt made millions if not tens of millions of dollars  off of other people’s suffering, so if he suffers now, I don’t care.

    • #1
  2. DonG (skeptic) Coolidge
    DonG (skeptic)
    @DonG

    Rodin: Mitt is not a hero, he’s a chump.

    I learned about about impeachment by doing some homework the last 2 weeks.  Why is Mitt such a dullard on this?  He is an embarrassment.  I apologize on behalf of all those born in Detroit.

    • #2
  3. Kevin Schulte Member
    Kevin Schulte
    @KevinSchulte

    A pox be upon him.

    This is how I see it.

    Mr. Pierre Delecto has some nefarious reasons to have done what he has done.

    Trump has ruined the golden goose of “free trade”. This has cost billions to his globalist friends and perhaps to himself.

    Did he try and leverage his (not guilty) vote for some goodies, but was told no ?

    Did the dems find Mr. Delecto’s price ?

    Mr. Pierre Delecto went hat in hand to Donald Trump post election ( after his NT shtick).  Asking  to be appointed Sec of State (reward for his treachery). Trump turned him away.

    Mr. Delecto lusted and positioned himself his entire life to be President. Pierre was beaten by a closet Muslim. Then, this buffoon DJT won the office. ” It should have been Mine, Mine,Mine, I tell ya !!!!! Not this uncouth baffoon.

    Nope, I do not find his position honorable.

    Looking at you Utah, to recall him.

    • #3
  4. Guruforhire Inactive
    Guruforhire
    @Guruforhire

    Kevin Schulte (View Comment):

    A pox be upon him.

    This is how I see it.

    Mr. Pierre Delecto has some nefarious reasons to have done what he has done.

    Trump has ruined the golden goose of “free trade”. This has cost billions to his globalist friends and perhaps to himself.

    Did he try and leverage his (not guilty) vote for some goodies, but was told no ?

    Did the dems find Mr. Delecto’s price ?

    Mr. Pierre Delecto went hat in hand to Donald Trump post election ( after his NT shtick). Asking to be appointed Sec of State (reward for his treachery). Trump turned him away.

    Mr. Delecto lusted and positioned himself his entire life to be President. Pierre was beaten by a closet Muslim. Then, this buffoon DJT won the office. ” It should have been Mine, Mine,Mine, I tell ya !!!!! Not this uncouth baffoon.

    Nope, I do not find his position honorable.

    Looking at you Utah, to recall him.

    His aide is on the take too.

    • #4
  5. Guruforhire Inactive
    Guruforhire
    @Guruforhire

    Rodin: The Senate is not a priesthood. It is a political body created to check other political bodies. Mitt forgot that Jesus called him to be “as cunning as snakes….“ (Matthew 10:16) He eschews “cunning” as something less than himself.

    If we are talking matthew

     

    • #5
  6. CarolJoy, Above Top Secret Coolidge
    CarolJoy, Above Top Secret
    @CarolJoy

    Kevin Schulte (View Comment):

    A pox be upon him.

    This is how I see it.

    Mr. Pierre Delecto has some nefarious reasons to have done what he has done.

    Trump has ruined the golden goose of “free trade”. This has cost billions to his globalist friends and perhaps to himself.

    Did he try and leverage his (not guilty) vote for some goodies, but was told no ?

    Did the dems find Mr. Delecto’s price ?

    Mr. Pierre Delecto went hat in hand to Donald Trump post election ( after his NT shtick). Asking to be appointed Sec of State (reward for his treachery). Trump turned him away.

    Mr. Delecto lusted and positioned himself his entire life to be President. Pierre was beaten by a closet Muslim. Then, this buffoon DJT won the office. ” It should have been Mine, Mine,Mine, I tell ya !!!!! Not this uncouth baffoon.

    Nope, I do not find his position honorable.

    Looking at you Utah, to recall him.

    You make Mitt, er, Mr Delecto, sounds  a lot like Gollum. (Which doesn’t bother me at all.)

    • #6
  7. Ray Gunner Coolidge
    Ray Gunner
    @RayGunner

    It is the last decision I wanted to take. The personal consequences, the political consequences that fall on me as a result of that are going to be extraordinary. 

         Extraordinary indeed.  You have got to be dreading spending the next nine months being the MSM’s sole Republican-With-A-Sudden-Strange-New-Respect.    Hang in there, Mitt!! 

    Yeah, it’s going to get very lonely. And again, the consequences are significant. … There has not been a morning since this process began that I slept beyond 4 a.m.

        I believe it, Mitt.  Those early morning spots for the Today Show and GMA are killers.

    • #7
  8. James Gawron Inactive
    James Gawron
    @JamesGawron

    Rodin,

    It’s obvious that Romney learned to triangulate to the left in Massachusetts. This somewhat dubious strategy may have been mildly successful in this very blue state but ultimately it was simply corrupt. Romney can’t help himself. He is addicted to running back over his own base and pandering to the left. He really is pathetic as the abuse of power charge is as trivial as the other charge.

    Romney will not be reelected. He will be forgotten.

    Regards,

    Jim

    • #8
  9. Rodin Member
    Rodin
    @Rodin

    James Gawron (View Comment):

    Rodin,

    It’s obvious that Romney learned to triangulate to the left in Massachusetts. This somewhat dubious strategy may have been mildly successful in this very blue state but ultimately it was simply corrupt. Romney can’t help himself. He is addicted to running back over his own base and pandering to the left. He really is pathetic as the abuse of power charge is as trivial as the other charge.

    Romney will not be reelected. He will be forgotten.

    Regards,

    Jim

    Very good point, Jim. When a regional manager for Romney during the primaries contacted me for money/support in 2012 I raised the concern for how Romney could be an effective candidate given his record in Massachusetts with health care. Never got a good answer and ultimately he could not articulate a strong case against Obamacare. In fairness, Obamacare was so backloaded that the pain was set to really kick in after 2012. So the case really to be made at the time was the improper way in which it was imposed, and the lack of transparency as to what was going to happen (who was to benefit? who was to be harmed?). Similar to the impeachment process. Romney was not able to articulate the case then about the unconstitutional process and the harm it causes our civic society. He still, apparently, doesn’t understand it. That makes him very shallow, possibly hollow, except for his self-regard. (And his family seemed so nice.) Sad.

    • #9
  10. CarolJoy, Above Top Secret Coolidge
    CarolJoy, Above Top Secret
    @CarolJoy

    I am hearing that Trump is now getting it together to oust Mitt from the Republican Party… Can he do that? And exactly what protocols go into his doing that if it is a possibility?

    • #10
  11. Sweezle Inactive
    Sweezle
    @Sweezle

    Mitt was voting based on personal anger against a man he envies (Trump). It was  for petty, nasty, personal reasons.

    • #11
  12. Ontheleftcoast Inactive
    Ontheleftcoast
    @Ontheleftcoast

    Rodin (View Comment):

    James Gawron (View Comment):

    Rodin,

    It’s obvious that Romney learned to triangulate to the left in Massachusetts. This somewhat dubious strategy may have been mildly successful in this very blue state but ultimately it was simply corrupt. Romney can’t help himself. He is addicted to running back over his own base and pandering to the left. He really is pathetic as the abuse of power charge is as trivial as the other charge.

    Romney will not be reelected. He will be forgotten.

    Regards,

    Jim

    Very good point, Jim. When a regional manager for Romney during the primaries contacted me for money/support in 2012 I raised the concern for how Romney could be an effective candidate given his record in Massachusetts with health care. Never got a good answer and ultimately he could not articulate a strong case against Obamacare. In fairness, Obamacare was so backloaded that the pain was set to really kick in after 2012. So the case really to be made at the time was the improper way in which it was imposed, and the lack of transparency as to what was going to happen (who was to benefit? who was to be harmed?). Similar to the impeachment process. Romney was not able to articulate the case then about the unconstitutional process and the harm it causes our civic society. He still, apparently, doesn’t understand it. That makes him very shallow, possibly hollow, except for his self-regard. (And his family seemed so nice.) Sad.

    You forgot his painful journey on abortion.

    • #12
  13. Roderic Coolidge
    Roderic
    @rhfabian

    Personal convictions based on falsehoods are ignorant, not noble.

    • #13
  14. Clifford A. Brown Member
    Clifford A. Brown
    @CliffordBrown

    CarolJoy, Above Top Secret (View Comment):

    I am hearing that Trump is now getting it together to oust Mitt from the Republican Party… Can he do that? And exactly what protocols go into his doing that if it is a possibility?

    It is in the hands of the Senate Republicans, who can strip him of every committee assignment and put him in a legislative corner until he leaves, declaring himself independent or Democrat (the truth), caucusing with the Dems. But Mitch and the old crew still dream of hamstringing and breaking Trump to their masters’ ends, so they will not exercise party discipline, unlike Chuck Schumer, who ordered every Democrat to vote for conviction on the first article and then let a couple at risk Democrats vote no on the second article. Mitch had the exact same power. Do not buy the lie that he and his caucus somehow do not have the same power as the Senate Democrats.

    • #14
  15. Clifford A. Brown Member
    Clifford A. Brown
    @CliffordBrown

    Sweezle (View Comment):

    Mitt was voting based on personal anger against a man he envies (Trump). It was for petty, nasty, personal reasons.

    Enabled by Mitch and the boys.

    • #15
  16. Clifford A. Brown Member
    Clifford A. Brown
    @CliffordBrown

    Kevin Schulte (View Comment):

    A pox be upon him.

    This is how I see it.

    Mr. Pierre Delecto has some nefarious reasons to have done what he has done.

    Trump has ruined the golden goose of “free trade”. This has cost billions to his globalist friends and perhaps to himself.

    Did he try and leverage his (not guilty) vote for some goodies, but was told no ?

    Did the dems find Mr. Delecto’s price ?

    Mr. Pierre Delecto went hat in hand to Donald Trump post election ( after his NT shtick). Asking to be appointed Sec of State (reward for his treachery). Trump turned him away.

    Mr. Delecto lusted and positioned himself his entire life to be President. Pierre was beaten by a closet Muslim. Then, this buffoon DJT won the office. ” It should have been Mine, Mine,Mine, I tell ya !!!!! Not this uncouth baffoon.

    Nope, I do not find his position honorable.

    Looking at you Utah, to recall him.

    There is no such thing, under the U.S. Constitution, which was terribly deformed by the 17th Amendment, stripping states of their power to control Senators.

    • #16
  17. Clifford A. Brown Member
    Clifford A. Brown
    @CliffordBrown

    DonG (skeptic) (View Comment):

    Rodin: Mitt is not a hero, he’s a chump.

    I learned about about impeachment by doing some homework the last 2 weeks. Why is Mitt such a dullard on this? He is an embarrassment. I apologize on behalf of all those born in Detroit.

    A friend who never paid attention to politics before 2016 watched every minute of this circus on C-SPAN. He is disgusted by the Democrats and not much impressed by Republican Senators.

     

    • #17
  18. Clifford A. Brown Member
    Clifford A. Brown
    @CliffordBrown

    Rodin: No doubt Mitt has spoken honestly. This is how he feels.

    You are far too generous. Mitt is a stone-cold liar. He is an immoral fraud, entirely a creature of self-serving ego. He is a rank stranger to the truth.

    • #18
  19. CarolJoy, Above Top Secret Coolidge
    CarolJoy, Above Top Secret
    @CarolJoy

    Interesting graphic off my Facebook Feed:

    • #19
  20. Fake John/Jane Galt Coolidge
    Fake John/Jane Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    Rodin:

    No doubt Mitt has spoken honestly. This is how he feels. His judgement is better than his colleagues. He has a closer walk with G-d. 

     

    What a joke.  There was no decision.  Everybody with enough intelligence to breath knew how Mitt was going to vote back when the Democrats was still trying to get the electors to be unfaithful.  

    • #20
  21. cdor Member
    cdor
    @cdor

    CarolJoy, Above Top Secret (View Comment):

    I am hearing that Trump is now getting it together to oust Mitt from the Republican Party… Can he do that? And exactly what protocols go into his doing that if it is a possibility?

    I do not think that is a wise move. Romney is a snake with a vendetta. He has released his venom in a meaningless bite and is pretty much harmless at this point. McConnell has played this pretty well. There are upcoming votes that he can get from Romney that very well may be useful. Romney is in office for another four years. I say use him and then lose him. In four year there will be a solid potential replacement.

    • #21
  22. Valiuth Member
    Valiuth
    @Valiuth

    And Mitt Romeny’s predictions all seem to come true. Here in this post we see what he was anticipating from the frothing at the mouth Republicans. Who takes oaths before God that they cunningly do not mean to keep. Who shut their eyes to the naked truth standing before them and when offered the kingdoms of the Earth by the Devil in the desert jump on the chance because that is how you win. Mitt Romney’s shred of conviction must seem so disproportional to everyone who has abandoned all Christian decency for the sake of Donald Trump. How it gnaws at you all so. So you invent lies and conspiracies about him to sooth yourselves into thinking he is secretly as corrupt as you all have turned out to be. 

    We live in an indecent age where all things are inverted in the service of falls idols and morally bankrupt ideologies. Mitt Romney a most imperfect man now stands a part from it even if not as boldly and righteously as he should (he is but a man after all and so he is weak). Still, that makes him 10 time better than every other sorry excuse for a mammal that now call themselves Republican Senators.

    Mitt Romney speaks the truth and like all the righteous before him he is met with scorn and derision for it. Down right Biblical.   

    • #22
  23. Ralphie Inactive
    Ralphie
    @Ralphie

    The biggest thing he risks is being a Senator. The world doesn’t end for him. He still will have his money, family and friends. And he has potential as a news contributor, future cabinet member, etc. There are people who take bigger risks in the name of itegrity everyday.   The news is full of stories these days by people who lost their jobs and livelihoods from the simple public statement that men are not really women. 

    The founders did risk all they had, and some of them did lose a lot.

    • #23
  24. Rodin Member
    Rodin
    @Rodin

    Valiuth (View Comment):
    Still, that makes him 10 time better than every other sorry excuse for a mammal that now call themselves Republican Senators.

    I guess Mitt is not as alone as he thought.

    • #24
  25. Dad Dog Member
    Dad Dog
    @DadDog

    Walking gingerly, as an apparent outlier on this issue.

    I can’t gainsay any allegations that Romney is calculating and/or dissembling.

    But, there does seem to be, in this thread, what appears to be an assumption from get-go that Romney’s pangs of conscience and/or faith, and his resulting actions, are entirely insincere.

    I think it would behoove us to remember that there are many people of faith who (1) did and still support Mr. Trump’s policies (and re-election), but (2) are troubled by many of his words, attitudes, behavior and actions, including this whole Ukraine episode, but (3) are afraid to say so . . . precisely because of this kind of backlash from the right (the kind of internal backlash for which we rightly criticize the Dems, progressives and SJWs).

    One true test of faith — perhaps the truest? — is whether we are willing to do what we believe God calls us to do . . . even if it costs us culturally, politically, socially, economically . . . or worse.

    As a “person of faith” myself, I would have voted to acquit on both counts.

    Nevertheless,would you be willing to consider that, for all his faults, Romney was perhaps sincere?

    • #25
  26. Rodin Member
    Rodin
    @Rodin

    Dad Dog (View Comment):
    Nevertheless,would you be willing to consider that, for all his faults, Romney was perhaps sincere?

    Can’t speak for the commenters but my post does assume he was sincere. But that makes it all the worse (in my view). Let me do the full quote from Matthew 10:16

    GOD’S WORD® Translation
    “I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as snakes but as innocent as doves.”

    It was obvious who the wolves were. That Mitt did not see them and understand that the broader obligation was to mitigate the slaughter of the lambs. Mitt’s vote focused on his judgement of one man, and not (in my opinion) to the broader impact on the Constitution. It is the Constitution, and not the man, that protects us. Damaging the Constitution does greater harm that suffering through the term of a man whose behavior you disdain. 

     

    • #26
  27. Dad Dog Member
    Dad Dog
    @DadDog

    Rodin (View Comment):

    Can’t speak for the commenters but my post does assume he was sincere.

    True that.  My apologies.

    • #27
  28. Kevin Schulte Member
    Kevin Schulte
    @KevinSchulte

    Dad Dog (View Comment):

    Walking gingerly, as an apparent outlier on this issue.

    I can’t gainsay any allegations that Romney is calculating and/or dissembling.

    But, there does seem to be, in this thread, what appears to be an assumption from get-go that Romney’s pangs of conscience and/or faith, and his resulting actions, are entirely insincere.

    I think it would behoove us to remember that there are many people of faith who (1) did and still support Mr. Trump’s policies (and re-election), but (2) are troubled by many of his words, attitudes, behavior and actions, including this whole Ukraine episode, but (3) are afraid to say so . . . precisely because of this kind of backlash from the right (the kind of internal backlash for which we rightly criticize the Dems, progressives and SJWs).

    One true test of faith — perhaps the truest? — is whether we are willing to do what we believe God calls us to do . . . even if it costs us culturally, politically, socially, economically . . . or worse.

    As a “person of faith” myself, I would have voted to acquit on both counts.

    Nevertheless,would you be willing to consider that, for all his faults, Romney was perhaps sincere?

    I would ask you to listen to Byron York’s latest podcast. He list’s the various issues (including abortion) that Pierre has been on when it suited his electoral prospects. To claim virtue and God after all that opportunism rings hallow with me. 

    Is there a chance that Pierre was acting out of a pure heart ? Well, you be the judge. I think not.  

    • #28
  29. Dad Dog Member
    Dad Dog
    @DadDog

    An update: having learned — subsequent to my original comment above — the extent to which Romney intensively orchestrated and chest-pounded about his decision and vote, I must — mea culpa — attribute his motives less to sincere faith and conscience, and more to cynical virtue-signaling.

    • #29
  30. CarolJoy, Above Top Secret Coolidge
    CarolJoy, Above Top Secret
    @CarolJoy

    Valiuth (View Comment):

    And Mitt Romeny’s predictions all seem to come true. Here in this post we see what he was anticipating from the frothing at the mouth Republicans. Who takes oaths before God that they cunningly do not mean to keep. Who shut their eyes to the naked truth standing before them and when offered the kingdoms of the Earth by the Devil in the desert jump on the chance because that is how you win. Mitt Romney’s shred of conviction must seem so disproportional to everyone who has abandoned all Christian decency for the sake of Donald Trump. How it gnaws at you all so. So you invent lies and conspiracies about him to sooth yourselves into thinking he is secretly as corrupt as you all have turned out to be.

    We live in an indecent age where all things are inverted in the service of falls idols and morally bankrupt ideologies. Mitt Romney a most imperfect man now stands a part from it even if not as boldly and righteously as he should (he is but a man after all and so he is weak). Still, that makes him 10 time better than every other sorry excuse for a mammal that now call themselves Republican Senators.

    Mitt Romney speaks the truth and like all the righteous before him he is met with scorn and derision for it. Down right Biblical.

    Are you being sarcastic and satirical, or do you mean this?

    • #30
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