It’s interesting how a primary makes enemies and a general election brings people back together. For instance, while campaigning in Florida the day before the state’s primary, McCain said this about Mitt Romney:
“The truth is, Mitt Romney was a liberal governor of Massachusetts.”
Yesterday, while the two were campaigning together, McCain had this to say of his former rival:
“He came to a very liberal state and campaigned as a conservative and governed as a conservative.”
Just making up for the sake of the party? Or preparing the stage for a future Veep pick? Only time will tell.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Romney would be a great Vice President. Romney probably isn’t the best choice to get McCain elected, though. That would be Mark Sanford, perhaps. So what to do? I think McCain goes with someone who helps him the most to get elected. Admittedly, though, the name on the bottom of the ticket doesn’t matter much to the vast majority of voters.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Both McCain and Romney sort of have some flip floping to come together. I suppose Romney’s giving McCain some lessons in it right now.
Actually I got the feeling that the bad feelings between the two was somewhat contrived. They were both in each others way. I would say their both more or less moderate conservatives. Mitt just ran to the Right and McCain ran to the center.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Politics comes with a giant post-primary reset button.
It does seem like McCain is going out of his way to heal any remaining rift, though, which does suggest they are planning something.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Does McCain still think Romney supported a date for surrender?
March 28th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
I would think Romney brings more than Sanford.
Mitt can at least add additional pull in the west and midwest, and a couple NE states. Sanford, at best, helps in the South – but that is already an area where McCain will already take every state.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
3, It seems like something might be up. Don’t get your hopes up too much though. I would hate to the Rombots get crushed hopes again.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
“Does McCain still think Romney supported a date for surrender?”
Probably not – It seems that McCain is casting off the lies he told about Romney in FL.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
I would not be surprised to see a McCain/Romney ticket or a McCain/Sanford. For Romney, it would give a HUGE advantage in 2012.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
4, Its politics Sampo, Besides I don’t know if McCain went quite that far. Anyway lets not get into that. That was a bitter part of the campaign that even I as a McCain would just as soon not relive.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
act,
McCain didnt really need to mention Iraq. Romney wanted to make the campaign be about the economy but McCain clobbered him among those who said the economy was the biggest issue. McCain trumped Romney’s ace in the hole. ouch.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
With the economy in the tank, Romney would be the “gravitas” to McCain as Cheney was to Bush in 2000 – it solidfy McCain’s self-proclaimed weakneww on economic issues.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
10, Sampo the fighting is over. We’re one party now, so start acting like it.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
#11 – weakneww = weakness
March 28th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
The numbers don’t agree with you JamesB.
FL Exit poll: Most Important Issue, Economy:
McCain- 40
Romney- 32
McCain’s margin of victory overall was 5 points in FL.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
romeny is vetted, sanford is not, romney has huge grassroot support, sanford does not, romney is an excellent speaker and debater, sandford is not, romney has a great economics resume, sanford does not, romney puts blue states in play, sanford does not.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
It seems like it would be hard to find a a candidate with a higher combination of education, and business/executive experience than McCain. I mean Harvard educated top 5% of his business class, Law Degree and MBA, that’s hard to beat for smarts. That would be a really good thing to have considereding Obama considered to be a very smart guy academically, Mitt would help balance things out a bit.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Replace McCain with Romney.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
15, I don’t see how Romney would put blue states in play. Other than that you might be right.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
McCain was right about Mitt “Planned Parenthood” Romney the first time:
McCain is just shoring up the Mormon vote for the battle out west. This leaves him to pick a VP with a positive approval rating.
Hopefully this will be the last we hear about the phony baloney fraud.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
USA Today/Gallup Poll: Romney’s approval rating was 32 percent, while 42 percent viewed him unfavorably.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Nothing sparks a divisive message board like a hint at a McCain-Romney ticket.
“Do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Mitt Romney?”
Favorable- 34
Unfavorable- 46 Forty-Six!!
(same poll)
Hillary:
Favorable- 58
Unfavorable- 40
(same poll)
McCain:
Favorable 59
Unfavorable 30
These numbers don’t lie folks. Republican caucus goers loved Romney, his support began and ended -ENDED- with them.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
sampo,
It’s interesting that while Romney (and many of his supporters) takes the high road and supports McCain, all you seem to be interested in is continuing to tear Romney down every chance you get. It’s time to get over yourself and your own little personal vendetta and let the party heal from the primary battles. Your shtick is getting really old.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
16, John Mark. You must love Al Franken because it sure sounds like you’re talking about him! It’s not too late to move up to Minnesota and send him to the Senate!
March 28th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Heal?! I’m still trying to heal from the Romney’s 2002 quote:
Romney: “I’m not running as the Republican view, or a continuation of Republican values. That’s not what brings me to the race.”
source: johnmccain.com!
http://www.johnmccain.com/informing/news/PressReleases/526f640e-3607-4848-bdfa-85024fc6ead6.htm
March 28th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
#23, right… because views on the issues have nothing to do with it.
Not to mention the fact that while Romney graduated near the top of his class with a JD and an MBA, Franken graduated just cum laude with a degree in general studies.
Real comparable.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Conan O’brien graduated magna cum laude from Harvard. I’m all for a Al Franken/Conan O’brien ticket! Who’s with me?
March 28th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
“Heal?! I’m still trying to heal from the Romney’s 2002 quote:” 3 words: Get over it.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Heal this: McCain is the winner, Romney is the loser. Let’s keep that record by making this “event” their last official association.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Nope can’t heal. Sorry Romney.
Romney: McCain and Hillary = very close
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwD2cF6OkHE
March 28th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Obviously a good education isn’t everything, but its nice. And while I don’t agree with Romney on all of the issues, I figure he may come about as close as any Republian VP is to agreeing with me.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Sampo you’re like one of those soldiers who lives on some deserted Island and doesn’t get the news that the war is over. The war is over buddy. Politics is hard and dirty and if you’re going to hold grudges, well then I suggest you go into something that will be less stressful for you.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Meghan McCain: Romney didn’t keep it real.
You go girl!
March 28th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
There are lots of murdered babies (murdered for the low state-subsidized price of just $50) trying to “heal” and “get over” Romney signing pro-abortion legislation.
Placate the Mormons and get that loser off the stage.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
John Mark,
Actually that’s a misnomer. Gadao lived on Guam for decades after WW2. He know the war was over but his commanding officer told him to never surrender. I should know, I lived on Guam half my life.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Perhaps a little of both, Matt C.? McCain probably doesn’t have his mind made up yet.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
LOL, but Mitt does. Mitt has begged for the number to spot on national TV and radio.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
er, the number two spot.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Governor Rudy?
http://www.nypost.com/seven/03282008/news/regionalnews/giuliani_weighing_special_run_for_gov_103843.htm
March 28th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
#4, #7, #10, #19–
You romney haters and rombots are far more bitter about the primaries then McCain and Romney are. Be bigger than that.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
34, sorry, it’s Yoki
March 28th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
There are lots of murdered babies (murdered for the low state-subsidized price of just $50) trying to “heal†and “get over†Romney signing pro-abortion legislation.
He did? I had the impression that Romney signed legislation creating subsidized health insurance for the poor, which eithe legislature or some special commission later larded with an abortion requirement, over his objection.
I hope McCain doesn’t pick truth and fairplay as his VP, since it would make it hard for you to support him.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
34, The point is, you need to grow up and move on. So you don’t want Romney to be VP. A lot of people didn’t want McCain to be the presidential candidate. You don’t always get your way, and you need to grow up and quit acting like a baby everytime you think you might not.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
“Mitt has begged for the number to spot on national TV and radio.”
He has. It’s actually quite pathetic. I just wish this guy would go away. He might help in NV and CO but he is a net negative everywhere else.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I may sit this one out if McCain picks Romney.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I swear this is just unreal – one fundrasier and all the Rombots come out of the woodwork again.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
There’s no reason to suspect that McCain is going to pick Romney. The only people who are front-paging this stuff are Romney enthusiasts after Matt Drudge, the biggest RomAssKisser of them all decided to raise the question on his website.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
“which eithe legislature or some special commission later larded with an abortion requirement, over his objection.”
It was the Massachusetts Supreme Court that made a ruling that said something like abortions couldn’t cost more than any other regular medical procedure of this kind…so…Romney really didn’t have a choice.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
45, I’m not a Rombot btw. But I suppose you knew that. I just think Romney would do a good job of balancing the ticket in terms of ecconomic, and domestic expertise. He also has a enthusiastic fan base that would help to have on board.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Adam, I’ll see your RomAssKisser Drudge and raise you a Limbaugh.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
46,I saw the Beltway boys suggest the possibility last week. Fred Barnes and some other guy.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
I will “heal†when the Romney-Cult stops pushing the phony… when he is dead and buried.
Don’t get me wrong… I hate Romney because he is a phony who will continue to push us deeper into socialism while calling himself a capitalist, who will kill babies and promote Planned Parenthood while calling himself pro-life, etc., etc. But, I do not wish him harm. I am sure he will do well as some hack director of more than a couple corporate boards. I only want him dead and buried politically so he cannot harm my children’s future.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
43, very good point. Romney ONLY helps in *some* mountain states. If we see Romney start to campaign in Florida, Iowa, and Ohio then he’ll know something’s up.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
51, What you need is a life.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
John,
I wasn’t talking about you. I know you’re no Rombot. But Romney will kill McCain in OH and PA. The simple fact is that the masses aren’t going to buy “economic and domestic expertise” from a priveleged, rich CEO-type that was born into privelege. Sure – McCain’s got money but he sacrificed and paid big time. In a similar fashion, Bill Clinton came from nothing and made something of himself. Reagan did too. People like that.
Romney certainly does have an enthusiastic fan base but so did Ron Paul. It doesn’t mean diddly squat. Romney is a net negative, CO and NV notwithstanding. I just wish he’d go away.
Sampo,
It’s a Druge-Romney-Limbaugh-Coulter-Ingraham love circle.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
“46,I saw the Beltway boys suggest the possibility last week. Fred Barnes and some other guy.”
Fred Barnes was also up Romney’s ass in the primary.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
#44 – Sampo – please, sit this one out.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
For all of you Romnots out there – I have a challenge for you.
Name a man (or woman) who is more qualified to be President in 2012.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Soooo many elites were pushing the masses to vote Romney. They refused their marching orders. The irony is that McCain started his career in the military and Romney is physically incapable of pimping his private sector cred. romney is a living breathing contradiction.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Adam, what you’re preaching is class warfare.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
incapable *NOT* pimping his private sector cred.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
“I wasn’t talking about you. I know you’re no Rombot. But Romney will kill McCain in OH and PA. The simple fact is that the masses aren’t going to buy “economic and domestic expertise†from a priveleged, rich CEO-type that was born into privelege. Sure – McCain’s got money but he sacrificed and paid big time. In a similar fashion, Bill Clinton came from nothing and made something of himself. Reagan did too. People like that. ”
Doesn’t that sound like something Mike Huckabee would say? He was a class warfare guy too.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Claus,
Maybe people wouldn’t have as much animosity for trust fund babies if the Bush Administration hadn’t gone out of it’s way to privatize gains and socialize losses.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
54, The thing is a VPs positives are likely to to have a bigger effect than their nagatives. I mean a good VP that someone really likes is going to influence one to donate to the candidate. If someone doesn’t like a VP its unlikely to channge their vote. Romney has a big group of people that really like – hence his caucus wins. That’s a good quality in a VP. Romney might tick off some people like Sampo and Charles, but I think the number of people that will vote against McCain because of the VP is quite small. What’s important to look at is the people that really like the VP and those that really dislike a candidate. Romney has quite a bit of both, but I think the really like may be stronger.
There are other picks that I’d be fine with. A Sanford pick would mean less of an increase in enthusiastic support, but it would also mean less opposition. No candidate is perfect. I just think Romney may be as good as any other candidate electorally, and better experience wise.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Sampo is on to something. Class warfare is certainly more prevalent when the economy is not as good. I just dislike jealous people though. Sometimes you can be really jealous of someone and then when you find out what their life is really like, you would not want to be in their shoes at all.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Clarence,
“Adam, what you’re preaching is class warfare”
Not even close! What I am preaching is that whether Republicans like it or not, and whether Republicans think the electorate’s rationale is sound or not, the reality is that OH and PA will not elect someone like Romney – and Romney will only hurt McCain in OH and PA. All polling has borne this out. And the Rombots want McCain to pick Romney? I don’t care if Romney was Jesus Christ. He still is a net drag in states like OH and PA. McCain has a fighting chance in both. Why piss it away to placate the Rombots and the talk radio blabosphere?
March 28th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
It’s cute though how you tried to tie me to Huckabee. I don’t like economic populism any more than you but if you think you can honestly say with a straight face that Romney will help in OH and PA – and somehow help McCain rack up those 41 electoral votes I’d love to hear it. Otherwise knock it off with the class warfare charge.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Adam,
Agreed. “Economic experience” isn’t going to count for diddly squat in this election. It never does during recessions. Remember the last guy who won an election during recessionary fears? “It’s economy stupid” Bill Clinton; I feel your pain Bill Clinton; good-ole boy Bill Clinton; Bill Clinton of the career politician fame. People do not elect candidates based on experience during troubling economic times; and they’re certainly not more inclined to vote for “experienced” men worth 250 million. They want folks they can relate to. That’s not Romney. And frankly, if I’d have expected us to be this near to a recession, I wouldn’t have been backing Mitt for just these reasons. Economic wizards can find success during moderately troubling economic times, in wealthy areas of the country. It’s just not a good fit.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Adam,
They do think he can help in Ohio in Pennsylvania, because they’re under the delusion that lower income voters look for experience in troubling economic times. All the electoral evidence in the world contradicts this. Heck, just look to Michigan. They re-elected Jennifer Granholm during a perpetual recession, despite despising her, over a savvy, smart businessman. She won by a country-mile. Voters are stupid, but we’re no better if we ignore this stupidity, and expect them to start voting in ways contrary to the history of recorded elections.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
You guys might not believe me but I saw this recession coming a long time ago.
That’s primarily why I choose Huckabee over Romney. I didn’t like it when Huckabee allowed his religion to become a goofy selling point but I didn’t see anyone else preparing for an election where voters demanded class warfare and wouldn’t tolerate a big business candidate.
March 28th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Matt,
Thanks for backing me up. I never was big fan of Romney but I would have reluctantly backed him had he won the primary. I wish these Romney fans would realize that I’m not just spewing off hate here.
Romney fans,
Trust me. I know Pennsylvania. I spent the first 23 years of my life there. McCain has at least a 50/50 chance of carrying it against Obama but those odds go way down if Romney is in the Veep slot. Santorum was only able to hold on for as long as he did by turning into a big-government Republican. Outside of the southeast, Huckabee would have resonated here. Mitt would not have. I wish the entire country was fiscally conservative and socially moderate but you go into a presidential election with the country 9and the states) you have…
March 28th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
It’s good to see McCain & Romeny getting along for the good of the party. I’m not sure if that would have happened if Romney would have stayed in, especially to the convention. Maybe it will take longer for Huckabee & McCain to cozy up since his staying in only delayed McAin’ ability to launcha national campaign aganist the Democrats but who knows?
March 28th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Doug,
You might not believe me, but despite despising Huckabee, I always contended that he was potentially electable. In this climate, I’d say he’d certainly be a very interesting general election candidate. Obama utterly lacks the “I feel your pain” aspect of charisma, or charm. That’s why Hillary Clinton of the “I’m stunningly unappealing” fame has managed to become the populist in the Democratic race. I think Barack Obama would have had a fairly difficult time beating Huckabee as we’re staring at a recession. If the Huckster had selected a good Catholic to be his running mate, he would have been fairly formidable.
March 28th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Adam,
Pennsylvania was one of the blue states I felt Huck would have had a good chance of carrying in a general election; until I started looking at his abysmal performance with Catholics. But, my whole family’s from Pennsylvania, so I know the state a bit too, and Huck would have been a good fit if he’d toned down the Evangelical vibes he sent off. They seemed to send Catholics scurrying for the hills.
March 28th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
#73 I can attest to that sentiment. I’m a new resident to PA (about 2 years) and my Catholic neighbors do not like Huckabee at all. But that’s the problem with catering to a particular group or sentiment( in this case econmic anxiety), is you start to lose sight of what’s good for the country, for the economy. The most important consideration, in my opinion should be whether the VP is prepared to take over at a moment’s notice to lead the global was on terror and our economy. If people want emphatic storyteller, they’re going to vote Democrat anyway. We need to build our own base of informed, intelligent & patriotic citizens.
March 28th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Candidate A: “For the past fifteen years, I have been an investment banker and venture capitalist.”
Candidate B: “For the past 15 years, I’ve been in jail serving time for child molesting.”
This year, Candidate B would win.
March 28th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Taylor,
Thoroughgoing Catholics are decidedly different, as a group, from thoroughgoing Protestants (especially the evangelical sects of Protestantism). They may share similar social values, but they’re considerably more private about their faith, and less receptive to appeals FROM faith. This is one of the reasons I favor Tim Pawlenty for VP. He was raised in a blue-collar, Catholic household. He speaks the language of the many of the voters McCain needs to woo fluently. He’s culturally Catholic as it were. And this is not just fantasy mumbo-jumbo, concocted to justify the selection of a politician I admittedly like; it’s backed by data. In 2006, Pawlenty did meaningfully better with Catholics then a generic Protestant would both relatively and absolutely. Nationally, Republicans won Protestants 54-44 in 2006. They lost Catholics 55-44. A 21 point swing. Pawlenty won Protestants 53-39. He won Catholics 49-42. A 7 point swing. That’s not to say that Pawlenty’s the only Protestant Republican with unusual strength with Catholics, but it’s still a point in his favor.
March 28th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
You would know better than I about what Catholics want in their politicians I guess. But it’s so Democrat-ish to separate people into groups for micro targeting. I just don’t recall these things being an issue before. I mean, what religion is Cheney? And who cares? He’s completely qualified to sit in the #2 if something were ever to happen to the president. If McCain can’t unite the party on his own, that’s a problem he’s going to have to work out. I don’t believe it’s the job of the VP to placate a certain group of people, but to provide the country with a stable backup to the #1 slot. Way too much is being put into this selction process in terms of demographies, personality & popularity. I agree the VP sholdn’t be offensive to the base of the party, but we nominated McCain becasue we trusted his judgement. I’m sure he’ll pick someone he thinks would be good for the country. Otherwise, McCain will lose the one virtue that is undeniable, which is unwavering committment to the safety & prosperity of this nation.
March 28th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Charles,
I asked you this before, but you didn’t answer. Who was your original candidate?
March 28th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
When I say Romney would be good as far as ecconomic qualifications, I’m not so much talking about electability as I’m actual qualifications. We certainly shouldn’t ignore electability, but it shouldn’t be the sole factor. For one thing not many people vote based on VP. For another we want to actually have a qualified president. I believe the VP should be picked on who would make a good president. If the decision is made on that basis, I think the public will reward us. Romney has his electoral weakenesses – high unfavorable rating, trouble with indys, and his strong points, does well among high income people, does well among the activists. Overall I think the positives may outweigh the nagatives. I think Romney may be as electable as the next guy. Also I think there’s a good chance he’s the most qualified.
March 28th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Mitt Romney is hinting that he would be honored if chosen as VP, but i do hope that McCain
chooses Rudy Giuliani instead, because he trusts Rudy , and he would be Qualified to take
over the presidency at a moments notice, he is ready. Romney is eyeing 2012, hence he is
definitely an opportunist.
March 28th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Linda:
My original candidate was Thompson — before lobbying for abortionists was “private life”.
So you see, if a candidate does not walk the walk as well as talk the talk, he is a phony. It’s not just a “I hate Romney” thing…. which I do…. but a “I hate all phony politicians” thing.
Romney just happened to be the most transparently phony politician (supposedly conservative) to come along in awhile.
March 28th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Mr. Giuliani would do well in PA and NJ, but not in the Midwest. While Mr. Pawlenty would be better than Mr. Romney in most Midwest states. Mr. Romney might be better than Mr. Guiliani in most of the states around here. I fear Mr. Guiliani would be trouble for us in the Midwest.
March 28th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
On Giuliani plans http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/Rudy_New_York_Governor/2008/03/28/83756.html
March 28th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Charles who is your VP pick since Thompson has gone back to TV?
Huckabee?
March 28th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Charles,
I guess I just vehemently disagree with your characterization of Mitt. I have not found Most Thompson supporters to have such hateful opinions of Mitt.
March 28th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Giuliani is a non-starter as a VP candidate, I believe. His major strengths (war-time leader, tough on crime) tend to match McCain’s. What McCain needs as a running mate is someone who doesn’t piss off the country, someone who brings along some rabid fans, someone who has been vetted, someone well-loved in a part of the country McCain isn’t well-loved in.
On another note, since when did “shoring up the Mormon vote” matter? Why would anyone waste time doing that? Everyone and their dog knows Utah (and the majority of all Mormons everywhere) are voting Republican in this and ever election in the forseeable future. Two main reasons for this: At the National level, Democrats have aligned themselves with abortion rights and Democrats are pursuing the nanny-state; both issues fundamentally conflict with LDS theology. But I digress…
I think McCain’s spending time with Romney to try to pick up some money (Romney outraised every other Republican, remember) and to evaluate him as a potential running mate. The money issue is probably the more important one.
March 28th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
We Desperately need someone who can speak about the economy with some authority – precisely because this race could happen in the middle of a recession.
Either way, the Democrats are going to be calling for all kind of new taxes, new regulation, new environmental restrictions, new social programs, and so on. The only way we are going to be able to combat that is to have someone who is an unquestionable authority on these issues, someone who can say “the Democrats plans won’t work, here’s why, and here’s what will work”
Thats Romney.
March 28th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Let the Democrats call for taxes and regulations, we the American people are not stupid socialists.
March 28th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Guys,
A single one-day campaign trip does not a ticket make. One trip most definitely can bust a ticket, but it is highly unlikely it will make one. As much as I like Romney and would love to see him on the ticket, McCain would be a fool if he picked a running mate on the basis of one lousy trip. McCain is many things (which I won’t go into at this moment. I *AM* trying to be a loyal Republican, after all), but being a fool is not one of them.
Picking his running mate will be McCain’s first major Presidential decision. He has a lot to think about. He cannot be hasty.
I do agree with the poster I saw somewhere who said that the picture of McCain and Romney laughing and chumming it up in the airplane must really frost Huckabee’s buns. I would have loved to seen Huckabee’s reaction. “All that kissy-kissy I did during the campaign, and he hangs out with ROMNEY!?!”
March 28th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
mark, I think you have it backwards. People aren’t saying that McCain will pick Romney because of the trip, but rather that the trip happened because Romney is on the shortlist, and McCain is testing out his working relationship with potential VPs.
Do you honestly think they were talking about baseball on that plane?
March 28th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
grandma:
Look at Arkansas:
Clinton: 51%
McCain: 36%
If Hillary is the nominee, McCain will need to look at Huckabee hard. Other than that, I do not think it is likely that McCain would pick Huckabee.
Chris Cox or someone new and exciting to conservatives as well as the general public would be better than all the “safe” governor type picks. Along that line, Romney’s negatives are too high to be counted.
March 28th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Charles has the most intelligent posts – Mitt is a loser.
Too many reasons to list here-you know them all.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
It’s the economy, stupid, and the name Romney means Mr. Fix-it. Do a little experiment. Make out a list of candidates and possible nominees. Take it your family, friends, co-workers, whomever. You be fair, and ask them to be fair. Ask them to put a check mark next to the name they associate most with the economy. The name Romney will be checked a lot. That name is going to be voter gold. What did I hear on CNN again tonight? McCain, not so good with economics, and admits it himself. Romney, great with economics, making him a plus for McCain. And the Mormon thing? If you are suffering economically like the American people are going to be more and more,the Mormon thing is not going to be so important. It will be, “So? I don’t care what his religion is if he can fix the economy.” That’s the real American voter. Someone with a mortgage to pay and a family to feed. Here in Indiana we need jobs. It doesn’t matter if you work in a hospital, law office, wherever. Someone you know is without a job right now. Truckers are spending $1,000.00 to fill their rigs up. What reader here is paying $40-$50 or more to fill their cars up? $4.00 per gallon is right around the corner. How much will it cost to fill your car/truck up then? Good luck with that rent, too. The name Mitt Romney is going to help get McCain elected if he chooses right. McCain/Romney ’08
March 28th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
I should have said, ask them to put a check mark next to the name they associate most with being good with economics.
March 28th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Sorry, I have nothing to add… I just wanted to bask in the glory for a moment.
Thanks GoMcCain.
Oh… Robin… true conservatives/capitalists do not look to the government to “fix” the economy. It is about time conservative ideology started driving our discussions and evaluations, not the looking glass of the left.
March 28th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
McCain is a leader. Romney is a manager. Maybe McCain can give him a job… but the VP should be a leader too.
March 28th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Chill! Romney has the money McCain needs. McCain -Romney ’08…..
March 28th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Managers keep things running that someone else started. Since Romney kicked off Bain Capital (and made it successful), that makes him NOT a manager. Now, obviously, he had an entire group of people working with him, for him, etc. that made things happen, too. Leaders take risks and get things started. That’s Romney.
Obviously, McCain has some leadership qualities as well. Just because McCain said Romney is a “manager” doesn’t make it so, though.
March 28th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Old age. This isn’t the first time McCain can’t remember what side he took or what he said from one day to another. Need I get specific?
March 29th, 2008 at 2:20 am
Charles,
Your comments and fifty cents are still not going to get us enough gas to get to the end of the block. I am talking about votes, Charles. Votes. Go tell my conservative republican friends who have lost their jobs that true conservative/capitalists don’t look to the government to fix the economy. They’ll look at you as if you’d lost your marbles right in front of them. These people aren’t involved in political commentary or blogging. They want to be able to live, Charles. Are you eating fine, Charles? Do you have children? My friends have had to cut back on the groceries they can buy their families. I’m talking about a having to cut their food bill in half. Anybody in your household having to go without their medication? How about my friend with high blood pressure who has to go without her medication? What’s next Charles? Let them eat cake? Good grief, wake up.
March 29th, 2008 at 2:32 am
And grow up, too. Just because one person on here seems to adore your ability to share your opinion doesn’t mean what you say has any merit It just means that person agrees with you. That type of pride angers me, because I am talking about real people with problems, and you sound like you like to hear your own ideas.
March 29th, 2008 at 5:12 am
Robin from Indiana:
I am sorry about your Conservative friends losing their jobs. I pray that they find jobs soon. I lost my job last summer and with the help of GOD, I found a slightly better job. I realize that not everybody in this country is in the middle class. I thus give to charity so that some of the poor in our country and world can eat. Conservatives care about the poor too. We just prefer that it is private charity as much as possible that is in the charity business, not the government. I am not saying that the economy is an unimportant issue, but you scare me a bit when to say you want somebody in government to “manage” the economy. Management! belongs in the Private sector. We need to put more faith in GOD and less faith in the government to solve the economy.
March 29th, 2008 at 7:00 am
I think it is very much appropriate for the Government to look out for the interest of America’s economy by modifying such things as trade agreements, tax incentives, capital investment encouragement, and tariffs to make these things fair for Americans. What we have now was put in place by Government, so its not like we’re asking that they meddle in the economy more than they already have, its just saying lets adjust some of them so that free trade can also be ‘fair’ trade.
For McCain to have ever said the Romney was only a manager was nothing short of idiotic. Mitt Romney is a leader. He has been throughout his life. Also, there has been commentary on here about how Romney came from a privileged family, and thus people won’t look to him to help them with their economic woes. I feel this is not true at all. First of all, within two generations, Mitt’s family came from dirt floors to where they are now, through application of the gifts God gave them and hard work. I think people admire that. Its easy to make the case because it is completely true that the Bain capital created hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs, in spite of the current problems we have with trade being unfair. If they had been working in a fair environment, they probably could have saved all of the companies without outsourcing, etc. Some of you I believe are just making arguments for the sake of winning the commentary argument. Mitt Romney is an economic genius, is amazingly intelligent, and will bring a ton of strength to this ticket.
The polls are showing that even with all Obama’s recent troubles, and Hillary putting out another big lie, that they still are hanging tough against McCain, some showing him behind. If McCain doesn’t put a fully vetted economic genius on the ticket to motivate the conservatives, HE WILL LOSE. I don’t want that, but no other candidate can wake up and invigorate the conservative electorate like Mitt Romney. Wake up people. You may not like him, be jealous of him, or whatever, but that’s what it will take for a McCain victory.
March 29th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Just because I think that there are other candidate at least as good as Mr. Romney does not mean that I do not like him. Yes, he is a good manager, but I think it would be better if he and his supporters promoted his leadership because our country needs that more.
March 29th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Robin:
When I have occasionally been out of work in my carrier, instead of looking to the government, I have started a business. Through boom and bust I have always tried to make myself more valuable to my employer, client, or perspective employer. I have never been “laid off”, been on “unemployment”, and have never taken government handouts. (I did take a VA home loan once, which I feel was contractually obligated to me based upon my service in the military.)
I have been upper middle class, worked directly under CEO’s of large corporations, and I have been statistically poor as I am now.
My wife has never worked since we married; instead she is actually raising our six children. Two years ago I took a 40% pay cut and moved 2,500 miles away to more affordable housing so I could work from home and help homeschool my children (you see it’s not even the government’s job to teach my children).
We buy all of our clothing, toys, and household items from garage sales and thrift stores (the only exception being my limited business attire). We do not buy products made in communist China.
At least ten percent of our income goes to tithing, including direct support to an unwed mother.
Compassion forced by the government is not compassion, it is slavery.
I am a conservative. I have true compassion for the poor.
And, I understand the impossibility of a rich man entering into the kingdom of heaven — so I have compassion for him too.
But, when you rob the rich to give to the poor, you are really taking away the road to salvation of both.
Robin, Conservative ideology holds more truth in it than you can appreciate. It has deep roots in schools of thought that can liberate men from the chains of slavery. We just need to stop obsessing about the politics of elections and start studying history and philosophy. For example, I would never say “let them eat cake” because I do not believe in that type of government regulation trying to “fix” or “manage” an economy:
March 29th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
I predict it’s going to be McCain- Giuliani. You are all going to get a big.big surprise!
March 29th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Robin from Indiana, you sound very angry and unhappy with the problems (setbacks?)
in your life.
I do agree with Charles, and guess what Robin??
My opinions are just as full of merit as you imagine that yours are!
Do you Romney supporters forget how shamelessly Mitt tried to BUY the
nomination, and STILL he lost every important primary and state
that mattered?
WHAT is going to change for him in 20012?
NOTHING.
And BTW, McCain is NOT going to want to find JOBS for the 5 Romney brothers !
March 29th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
I think GoMcCain is the very angry and unhappy Charles posting under a different name.
March 29th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Linda’s ASSumption: No. But thanks for adding to the discussion with a truly irrelevant and obnoxious post. That’s about the last time I waste spilling my heart out to you folks concerning conservative ideology. It’s back to the simple “Romney is a phony” lines for me.
March 29th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Some day I will learn how people become so angry on the internet.
March 29th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Charles, if you truly were a compassionate person you could not have that much hatred for Mitt Romney. Mitt is a God-fearing man with tremendous talent and accomplishments. I would be interested in know what religion you are, because it seems to me that your hatred of Mitt is probably because you hate his religion, at least in part. You may truly believe that Mitt is a ‘phony’ as you keep saying, but have you ever stopped to think that of the hundreds of people on here that are not Mitt fans, very few see him as a ‘phony’. They are looking at the same set of facts as you, so just perhaps it is saying more about you than it is about Mitt Romney.
I know you said you were originally a Thompson fan…..but did you ever admit that you later became a Huckabee man? It would be interesting to know your religion! Do they teach hate your church the way Obama’s church does? I doubt it, but somehow you sure have more than your share of Mitt Romney. He is a good and decent man and deserves your respect and admiration, and he just gets your hatred!
March 29th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Charles,
You show your true colors, but I can not be offended by you, nor can I take you seriously because of your vitriol.
March 29th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Illinoisguy: I don’t hate Romney because he is a Mormon. Abortion, Gun Control, Gay Rights, Health Care, his sons’ “service”, his dad’s “walks” with MLKJ, his “weeping” at the LDS accepting blacks, his wife’s donations to Planned Parenthood, etc., etc… phony.
I just don’t see a “good and decent” man in Romney. If I were Mormon, I don’t think I would even consider him a good Mormon. I certainly do not consider him a good conservative.
In opposing Romney I believe my compassion is well placed, compassion for my children’s children who will have a fighting chance with a conservative party that has not been spoiled by a liberal Massachusetts governor.
March 29th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Linda: I was being an ass myself, I apologize.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Well, it’s another day, so unfortunately Charles may not see this. Charles, I apologize. I do call Mitt Mr. Fix-it, because he has been able to effect drastic and positive changes in negative economic situations. In order to take charge of things ourselves, we can’t afford to have things in Washington mishandled. I think you misunderstand what it is that I have been saying. I have been trying to tell you that in order to get elected McCain would do well to put on his ticket someone who’s name is associated with knowing how economics run. People who are worried about the economy will pay attention when the press talks about someone who understands economics. The name Mitt Romney rings a bell in those cases. So people who do not understand the ins and outs of politics will still know there is someone named Romney who is supposed to be pretty good at economics, and he’s running with McCain. That puts McCain at an advantage. I’m not having financial trouble, other than trying to commute to school with gas at such ridiculous prices. I have just finished doing my clinicals for school and was hired by a hospital Wednesday. My husband is a teacher. We have five children, one leaving for a mission this summer, another one starting BYU in the fall. That doesn’t prevent me from seeing what is happening around me. In this part of the country the automotive industry employs a lot of people. Factories have been laying people off, and there is a domino effect that is occurring where the great loss of jobs in one area is affecting other jobs. Anyway, I do apologize. I was very much in the wrong for attacking you the way I did.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
The comment about not having financial troubles wasn’t pointed at anyone in particular, although I did want to point that out since someone had suggested earlier that my “anger” was because of financial troubles. Again, Charles, I really am sorry.
March 30th, 2008 at 10:03 am
I wish I could believe you Charles…but I’m having trouble doing so. Don’t you find it strange that others don’t see it the same as you….not even the Romnots. I still believe you belong to a church that considers The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to be a cult. Isn’t that true? Everyone of the things you have been thoroughly discussed on here, and Mitt has been fully exonerated, but not by you…..I still think it says more about you than he. Have a good Sunday.
March 31st, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Charles,
Apology accepted.