There are a number of specific topics about Mitt Romney running around, but perhaps a general topic would suffice from here out. We've already focused on Mitt as a Mormon, a homophobe, and a poor imitation of JFK, but what about the real Mitt Romney? Er ... okay, what about the campaign in general? So here we go ....
Bullsh@t in S.C.; Romney has worse things to worry about An interesting juxtaposition via RSS this morning, as the Seattle Times posted consecutive articles about Mitt Romney. One covers an apparently-fraudulent holiday greeting card attempting to stir religious sentiments against the former Massachusetts governor in South Carolina. The other looks at a more genuine problem facing the Republican candidate as we head into 2008 and, later this week, the Iowa caucuses, the "candor gap". First up, the AP's Jim Davenport brings us word of a bogus holiday greeting "that cites some controversial passages of the Book of Mormon". It is, indeed, unfortunate, especially in the eyes of many people who believe Romney can be defeated on issues and politics. Such deception, while it might stir sentiments against the Church itself, only builds sympathy for the candidate. After all—and setting jokes about the South aside—what rational voter could believe that a presidential candidate would send out a holiday greeting card stressing the polygamy and racism in his church's history? Should we start a pool on who's behind this? An unknown Clinton "volunteer"? A zealous Huckabigot? The Columbia chapter of Transvestites for Rudy? Some random anti-Mormon activist? Two Jews who walked into a bar? Better yet, how about a Romney supporter playing for the sympathy vote? Wouldn't that be twisted? Or should we just expect that investigations will turn up no leads? Meanwhile, among more substantive issues, Glen Johnson reports for AP on credibility issues dogging Romney: To run down the list briefly: • Romney lied about negative ads this week. • Romney started the year lying about how he intended to finance his campaign (see below). • Romney lied about his hunting past. • Romney has shifted positions on illegal immigration. Perhaps the Romney campaign should send Mr. Johnson some flowers and a note of thanks for not mentioning the whole MLK debacle. Taken together, these two stories suggest an interesting possibility. As one of our neighbors explained in giving her early prediction for the 2008 election, "I think Romney but I could be wrong. His Mormonism is hurting him." It may be that his religion isn't actually what's hurting him. It well could be that his religion, in fact, is being exploited as a smokescreen. If we continue to focus on what his religion means in terms of the office he seeks, we may well tend to overlook more substantial issues. For Romney, too, is endowed with the "political savvy" that so haunts Hillary Clinton and, at the same time, is failing to help a beleaguered Giuliani campaign. For instance, in praising Romney, our neighbor also described Romney as "the most presidential". Certainly, as Johnson's article suggests, and the MLK episode clearly reminds, Romney can tell 'em with the best of 'em. Strangely, though, barring a miracle "comeback codger" performance by Sen. John McCain, though, Romney might actually be the strongest candidate of the GOP bunch. Giuliani is nearly irrelevant, Thompson never really arrived, and Huckabee, the current Iowa front runner, is freaking insane. On the one hand, sending Romney to the Show would make it harder for the GOP to beat Hillary over the head with character issues. Good news, I suppose for Democrats. On the downside, that would suggest a Romney-Clinton contest in November. Frankly, I think the Dems can do better, but that's for another time. ______________________ Notes: Davenport, Jim. "S.C. Republicans Get Bogus Romney Card". SeattleTimes.com. December 30, 2007. See http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004099831_apromneycard30.html Johnson, Glen. "Analysis: Romney and the Candor Gap". SeattleTimes.com. December 30, 2007. See http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004099881_apromneycandor30.html
Again, there are no really good, ideal candidates like W was. ALL of them suck. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
New Romney ad. LOVE it! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! http://hotair.com/archives/2008/01/...roundhouse-kick-to-huckabee-via-chuck-norris/ Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Yeah, he's been so good for the country! He willingly went along with the Republicans while they continued to mortgage away the future, accelerated the pissing-away of the national reputation, tried (and failed, but it's the thought that counts) to legalized 30 million illegal immigrants, and don't forget Iraq! ~String
You could write a dozen books on the corruption within this Administration.... Wait, there has been over a dozen books on the corruption of this Administration. Only a fool would still continue to support these criminals.
It would ? How would the character of any Republican candidate for any office suddenly begin to have anything to do with beating up a Clinton on "character issues" ?
I support the war. I will support it even if it costs 100 trillion dollars. The cost of our freedom from terrorists is priceless. I don't care about our reputation. The terror-supporting countries will never support us. Who cares? Not me. Not ever.Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! I agree on the shamnesty bill. Thank God the Republicans killed it.
I thought Romney didn't want his faith to matter? This from Politico: "And don’t forget, on the Republican side, Mitt Romney is working hard to turn out the 22,000 Mormons in Iowa."
He didn't but it does. Christians don't want a Mormon in the White House. It's too big/important of a job to give to someone who's not born-again. That's how most of us CCRs want our POTUS candidates: born-again and on fire for Jesus. Kind of like how W used to be before he got so PC. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
In plain English, there is not a complete moron candidate who let's his handlers do everything for him and he is just going to represent them? I think that is a good think!
A cook? Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! And I don't think he's a "satanist" either. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
What, it's no big deal? I think The Stranger's Erica C. Barnett puts it aptly: And what, pray tell, is she referring to? Marc Santora and Adam Nagourney reported from Michigan yesterday, for the New York Times: What? That's it? Where are the accusations, the wild hypothesizing? Wheere are the jokes and unforgiving theories about how his evil campaign planned the moment? Where are the editorial cartoons dragging out the point days after the fact? Two sentences? Oh, let me guess ... everyone who piled on Hillary Clinton magically learned their lesson, just in time to give the man a pass on that count. Convenient how it always works out that way. _____________________ Notes: Barnett, Erica C. "OMG Mitt Romney Choked Up On the Campaign Trail!" Slog. January 10, 2008. See http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/omg_mitt_romney_choked_up_on_the_campaig Santora, Marc and Adam Nagourney. "Michigan Next, G.O.P. Rivals Turn to the Economy". NYTimes.com. January 10, 2008. See http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/us/politics/10campaign.html
Didn't you know that it's ok to cry, but not for women politicians? They're supposed to be these stoic pillars. I don't care who cries if it's sincere. Hillary has the sincerity of a snake.
