corep,
To more fully answer your question from the last thread, I’m asserting that Huckabee’s very close 3rd place (I’d say he tied for 2nd) finish last time was due to a combination of factors, primarily lack of name ID and money.
He likely won’t have much more money in 2012, but the name Huckabee won’t be new/strange anymore. He’s expanding his base every weekend on Fox as people get to ‘know’ him. It’s more difficult to portray him as a snake handling Baptist preacher when he’s interviewing Russell Simmons.
Pat Buchanan wasn’t governor for nearly 10+ years, so I don’t think that’s a fair comparison.
I would’ve suspected that Huckabee would’ve finished higher than 6th place(and 7%). But Romney leading is not surprising. After all, many of the same ppl go to CPAC every year (and this is the 3rd straight year he’s won). But congrats to Mitt Romney! This poll means nothing though, as 2012 is three years away. George Allen and Rick Santorum were up top in 2005 I’m pretty sure. But Romney is in a stronger position, having almost national name ID from having run for the GOP nod in ’08.
I don’t think Huck’s show is winning him any new followers. It is one of the worst news shows out there and seems likely only to give Huck an ego boost, not a boost in public opinion. Just my opinion.
The job for Romney in the next three years will be rebranding his image somewhat to appeal to blue collar working class voters (the “Joe the Plumber” voter). Mitt needs sell his biography more to begin to frame the debate as Mitt, the self-made hard working business man with working class values and street cred vs. Barack Obama, the arugula eating effete Ivy league trained elitist who wants French style socialism.
Mitt needs to highlight his biography including sacrificing his career to work as a missionary, helping the world’s destitute and starting a business from the ground up.
15
We all have opinions, you have a right to yours, but if you check the ratings link that Kavon posted last night you’ll see that Huck dominated the ratings last weekend, especially Saturday night.
#18… I agree, only then will I vote for him the primary in 2012 I suspect. I’m open to voting for Mitt, cause Obama sucks so badly and is gonna destroy our economy. But until Romney becomes a trusted public servant rather than the wealthy CEO/used car salesman type of politician too many see him as, he’ll have a lot more to do to get my vote, CPAC straw poll victories notwithstanding.
He failed the country by not backing Romney or Giuliani when it could have made a difference in 2007. It was painfully obvious that McCain and Huckabee were bad candidates.
mac. You are right that his ratings are comparatively good. I just have a hard time watching it–comes off like a televangelist which is difficult for me to stomach.
Nobody has the wrapped up. However, some general analysis can be done.
Anyone who is above Ron Paul is sitting pretty. Anyone below him is in trouble. Anyone tied with him should be worried.
Anyone one who is well known but is still in single digits (Huckabee, Giuliani) is in deep doo-doo.
Romney led in the final VP straw polls held just before McCain announced Sarah Palin’s name. Now that the dust from the election is starting to settle, he continues to lead.
Romney won the 2007 straw poll with a big get-out-the-vote effort. This lead his opponents to fling charges of “buying the vote” his way. There was no such effort this time around, or at least none that I know of. He still won.
Romney won the 2007 straw poll. He only narrowly lost the nomination to McCain.
If Romney supporters stop bashing those Republicans who didn’t support him in 2008 and calling us all “anti-Mormon bigots” or saying that we aren’t real Republicans or Conservatives, then I might be willing to vote for him.
Flip, yea, it means something to WIN the straw poll THREE YEARS IN A ROW. Palin did not win. If she did, you would be a hoot’n and a hollor’n that she won. Jindal beat her out.
I wouldnt say just cause Huckabee is below Ron Paul’s levels hes done… Huckabee is more likely than Paul to run, so some votes move to Huckabee. I dont suspect Huckabee, Romney, Palin, and Jindal, and Paul will run in 2012. Maybe a couple of them, but not all of them. I’d say as of right now, Romney Palin Huck are the favs.
Johnathan, you are not all anti mormon bigots. Many are, but not all. When you have the so called leadership of the E movement sending McCain a letter saying they and their followers will not vote if a (gasp) moromn is chosen for veep, ya think that might be a tad anti moromn? I would say it surely is.
30
Knick,
To each his own, the point is that Huck’s ratings were a minimum of 4 times better than any other cable news program last Saturday and his #’s are consistently strong.
Congrats to Mitt for the CPAC W, but I think the CNN poll is a lot more important as a gauge of the average voter.
I did not say that Huckabee is done. At this stage in the game, nobody is, not even Crist, the cellar-dweller. But Crist is not well-known nationally, Huckabee is. The man even has his own TV show on the #1 new channel. He still lost to Ron Paul AND is in single digits.
That points to some serious problems for Huckabee. He’s got his work cut out for him if he wants to run in 2012.
Residual anti-Mormonism did play a role in Romney’s defeat in 2008 – that’s just a fact. However, Romney’s chances rise exponentially in 2012 as old prejudices die and the LDS grows. I have talked to many Evangelicals who have now accepted Mormonism into the “Christian” fold and who now view it as a true and respected faith tradition. These views will continue to shift, heightening Romney’s viability, plus, I believe Romney’s Mormonism to now be a strength and an advantage to exploit not a weakness in both the primary and general.
mac – the CPAC poll has no margin of error, it is simply a picture of the way 1700 conservative activists feel today. The CNN poll was 400 republicans with a sampling error of 4-5. They even said it was meaningless.
I could vote for a Mormon (though Mormonism does not fall into the tent of Christianity… I vote based on ideas and character and personal connection, not religion).
I’d say its too early to call (yes this is directed to Romney’s supporters) who will win the GOP nomination in 2012. At this stage of the game last time, no one even considered Romney a contender for the nomination, but he tied for 2nd. I think the frontrunners were George Allen and Rick Santorum. A month in politics is an eternity and nothing has really happened in the race for 2012 yet.
Yes, it does MacisBack. Mormonism is more congruent with early Christianity than other Christian faiths. But why do you need to mention your belief that Mormonism isn’t Christianity? As a Mormon, I consider myself 100% Christian. I wouldn’t ever tell you that your’re not, indeed I have no idea.
Knickers, I agree that Mitt has won the CPAC three times in a row. So what good did that do him? I don’t think CPAC reflects the grassroots of the party. I mean, Jindal was 2nd and Ron paul was 3rd!
I dont want to make this an argument about Mormonism and Christianity. I do not try to attack Mitt Romney’s faith and never have. That is not my beef with him. If John McCain were Mormon and Mitt Romney were Baptist, I still wuldve voted for McCain in the FLA primary.
“The CNN poll was 400 republicans with a sampling error of 4-5.”
Yes, but even with the MOE, Huck is at worst tied with Mitt, and Palin still leads. Plus the CNN poll captures ‘real’ voters not the movement/establishment types that attend CPAC.
Mitt Romney: Jack Kemp, John Thune, Bobby Jindal, Glen Beck, Jim Edgar, Orrin Hatch, Haley Barbour, Jeb Bush.
Sarah Palin: Rudy, Fred Thompson, George Allen, Newt Gingrich, Normon Podhoretz, Rush, Hannity, Levin, Laura, James Dobson, Ken Duberstein, Ken Blackwell, Joe the Plumber.
Mike Huckabee: Chuck Norris
Charlie Crist: Arnold Schwartzennegger, John Huntsman
“I don’t think CPAC reflects the grassroots of the party. I mean, Jindal was 2nd and Ron paul was 3rd!”
As someone who attended CPAC in 2007 and a day of it in 2008, I would say that CPAC is not too far off of where the grassroots base is.
But youre on to something too… the GOP nominee will need to be someone who is conservative and who can appeal to independents and moderates in the general election. Romney could be that person, but if he is what he was in 2008, he will not be IMO. Its sad that T-Paw was not given better nod at CPAC.
Gald he’s successful in his TV show gig. I’ve never seen it, and don’t intend to. My family does not watch a lot of TV anyway. I also don’t think I am missing much, from not watching most shows that come on.
“Sarah Palin: Rudy, Fred Thompson, George Allen, Newt Gingrich, Normon Podhoretz, Rush, Hannity, Levin, Laura, James Dobson, Ken Duberstein, Ken Blackwell, Joe the Plumber.”
Hannity? Please. He sucks up to all of them, esp. Romney. Laura will probably endorse Romney too. Dobson think will endorse Huckabee, who I think will get more than Chuck Norris’ endorsement.
Martha, most Christians do not any longer hold the view that Mormons are not Christian. Most Christian denominations accept Mormonism as compatible with Christian teaching and have abandoned their decades old bigotism, intolerance, persecution and prejudice toward the LDS faith. Our Party much preach ecumenicalism if we are to compete.
Pawlenty has a chance I think in IA. He can appeal to the rural voters in Iowa as the Governor of a MidWestern state. Don’t forget, Pawlenty won in 2006 in a horrible year for the GOP. I wouldn’t underestimate him.
JA – I think you were too generous to Palin. I don’t see all those people endorsing her. Rush won’t if Jindal runs, and he may not anyway. He said everyone on the bench needs to prove themselves, when questioned about Palin right after the election.
#68… I really wish Pawlenty will catch fire (he needs to win re-election in 2010 or have high approvals there). I think he combines Huckabee’s working-class populist appeal w/o the religious tint that turns off a lot of ppl and has Romney’s expertise on domestic economic issues. He needs more of Palin’s charisma I guess.
Romney and Huckabee didnt have name ID, Huckabee didnt have much money. They went far in ’08… maybe he wont win, but I’d say hes gotta be a top contender for the VP slot.
#70: “JA – I think you were too generous to Palin. I don’t see all those people endorsing her. Rush won’t if Jindal runs, and he may not anyway. He said everyone on the bench needs to prove themselves, when questioned about Palin right after the election.”
Maybe so Martha, it is quite early. I just call’ em like I see’ em.
JA, is this a new development with the other Christian churches finally stopping all the anti-mormon bigotory – not just aimed at candidates, either? As of last summer, it was all the rage in churches in the mid west and deep south. Some preachers even went as far as telling their folds that a vote for a Mormon, is a vote for Satan. A nice little ‘open’ letter signed by some who claim to be the leaders of the Evangalical movement to McCain even went so far as telling McCain that IF he were to choose Romney, they would not vote and instruct their followers to stay home. I guess the letter was taken to heart, as Romney was not pegged for veep, and one of the ‘acceptable’ choices was.
I do hope you are right about the end of the bigotory. I honestly can’t see it ending soon for some. There’s good money in producing anti-mo stuff. I would vote for anyone of any religion so long as they represented my values, morals, ethics and political views. A squeeky-clean conservative athiest is far better than a Harry Ried.
Why is it bigoted to say that Mormonism is not the same as Christianity? I dont say someone’s Mormonism disqualifies them from being an elected office holder. I like Orrin Hatch. I dont like Harry Reid.
Romney will divide the GOP if he tries again. The Washington insider big Government corporate types are what has destroyed this GOP’s character and it is time to put them at the end of the rope and put the populist pitchfork grassroots blue collar working man on top, main St.. not Wall St..
As to the polling, my first thought is did anyone monitor the poling, being as big government has the elitist have hooks everywhere, don’t they Romney. Say Gov. Romney, how is your foreign importing going? Still taking advantage of the tax structure the corporate took advantage of when free trade came into play? Seems the only one who spoke at the CPAC on the one true fis to our economy is Gov. Huckabee. Knowing the truth of the Fair Tax Plan, all those leaders who ignore it are not stupid so it must mean they are not truly conservative, hmmm!
It is outdated thinking that is similar to when the Catholic Church used to say that Jews could not get into Heaven. Thankfully, they have changed there position.
Romney is loaded $$$, with top flight ground game and solid stump skills; Huck has an uncanny ability to connect with Main Street types. Tpaw is not Huck’s equal, not even close.
Again, I’m not anti-Tpaw, would greatly prefer him over Palin or Romney. The MN/IA proximity may be more of a hinderance than a help, on that issue, to repeat my line from Richard M’s open thread:
Two words: Tommy Thompson
Regarding Tpaw in the VP slot, sorry but I don’t see it. The GOP MUST win in the south in 2012, Tpaw does nothing for the GOP in the south.
Mac,
What do you consider the political ” South”, that the GOP must win in 2012. Which of the following states are at risk in 2012 ? Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, S. Carolina.
The states we lost, that I don’t really consider politically ” southern” are Virginia and Florida. It will take a centrist Republican to win those states back. The only ” southern” state we lost was North Carolina.
So, I agree with you, but who helps the most carrying Florida and Virginia ????
The GOP isn’t going to have to work to win the South in 2012. At least not the deep south. A southerner-free ticket could easily win FL and VA, and losses in NC could be made up with gains back in the Midwest. In other words, the South shouldn’t be our biggest focus. If it is, we’ve already lost the battle.
86
Craig,
What hurt Mike in FL was lack of money and name ID. I’m in FL, outside of Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, Mike can do very well here.
Mike can single-handedly bring NC back to the GOP and he can do very well in non-DC metro VA.
I’ve proposed, repeatedly, a Mitt & Mike unification. Nip Palin and Bobby in the bud for 2012. Mike is uniquely qualified to do well in places where Mitt is weak and vice versa.
mac, do you really believe after 4 years of the last 30 days that any GOP nominee is going to have any problems in the south?
I grant you Huck makes it very safe but that could also be made safe with a southern governor as VP. Assuming that Huck isnt offered the chance, or isnt the one picking the VP
90
corep,
Of course we’ll have to see how all this plays out over the next few years with the economy, etc. But to answer your question, yes, wasn’t NC a wake-up call for you?
Don’t you think a formerly pro choice, pro gay rights multi-millionaire gov of Mass (even without the religion issue) might have a bit of trouble in GA, etc?
corep,
Again, dude, the overconfidence you and many others display for Romney is stunning.
The GOP constellations graph was a perfect illustration of what I’m trying to say. If Romney is the nominee, Mike is the perfect man to shore up Mitt’s flank.
Anybody who claims that the Huckabigot has a chance is delusional. The Huckabigot governed to the left of Bill Clinton in Arkansas. The Huckabigot’s pathetic weekend show has decent ratings for the time slot, but is nothing compared to weekday prime-time shows, like Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, and Bill O’Reilly have. The Huckabigot’s show is pathetic, and I turn the channel whenever that sleazy, beady-eyed, slick politician-turned-commentator pretends to be a conservative.
As for Mitt Romney, he’s the most conservative of the list, with Jindal & Palin right there with him. Newt, Mark, Charlie, Tim, & Rudy are never gonna happen. Newt’s candidacy hopes just had a chain padlocked tightly around its waist, weighed down by a ten-ton weight. Rush Limbaugh destroyed any chance that Newt ever had. Newt likes to talk, but he isn’t principles-based. He’s a policy wonk, and not bound to principles. Newt has said far too many “moderate” things to be seriously considered.
Romney/Petraeus would be my personal preference, if Petraeus is a solid conservative, which I haven’t established as of yet, but I’m hopeful.
Jon Huntsman, Jr. shouldn’t even be on there, since he’s a younger, richer, less intelligent version of John McCain: he is so intellectually challenged, he bought into the Global Warming hoax, just like John McCain, the failed candidate, did, despite coming from a state that overwhelmingly rejected it. Jon Huntsman, Jr. came out in FAVOR of homosexual sodomy-based “civil unions,” which will ensure that religious conservatives will reject him. Jon Huntsman is Harry Reid & John McCain combined. Sure, he claims to be LDS, but he does many things that oppose the LDS, as well as every other major Christian religions, including his pro-homosexual sodomy stance, which is diametrically opposed to Utah’s voters, Utah’s values, and if he had come out with the crap he has come out with in 2009 during the election, he would have lost the Utah Gubernatorial election to his Lt. Governor on a write-in campaign. Jon Huntsman is an intellectually-inferior, business-unsavvy (global warming hoax buy-in, plus he inherited all of his cash from his daddy, who was, himself, a good, solid conservative who lived his religion, unlike his pathetic son) disgrace to his family name. Republicans will soundly reject Jon Huntsman in 2011, and through into 2012.
Charlie is also a leftist Republican, and has no chance of winning. You can write off Charlie Crist right now. He’s a loser.
Sarah Palin really needs a reputation-rescue. She doesn’t have much of a chance if she doesn’t do some major image building. I’d love to see her succeed, but she should have told McCain advisers where to shove it when they insisted she do Katie Couric. She said she wasn’t going to ask for the Media’s approval, then she did just that. I really would love for her to be in the VP slot if she could salvage her reputation, but I think she’s a 2016/2020 prospect, not a 2012 one.
The Huckabigot is a miserable failure; his only contribution to the Republican Party was ensuring that McCain was the nominee instead of Mitt Romney.
Mitt Romney would have been a brilliant President, the perfect man for these economically-depressed times, the perfect many to stand up to the Washington insider establishment, as a true outsider who had all of his previous success outside of government as a hugely successful, self-made businessman who didn’t inherit his hundreds of millions like Jon Huntsman, Jr. did. Romney was smart enough to git-r-done all by himself.
Mitt is a solid, pro-family, pro-life, pro-limited government, pro-strong national defense, financial genius who would give America real Hope that America could actually believe in, both before his policies were implemented, and much more so after they had 4 years to take effect. If Mitt Romney won, he’s guaranteed to be a two-term President, since he would fix the economy and prove once and for all that REPUBLICANS are the party that is strong on the economy. Romney would provide, once and for all, the ultimate counterbalance, the ultimate contrast to the sleazy, corrupt, leftist administration of the userper, Barack Hussein Obama.
If one only reads Willard Mitt Romney’s speech at CPAC 2009, it is clear who the Reagan candidate will be to the Carter/Obama failure who initiated the misery index once again, with stagflation and economic decline and impotence the world hasn’t seen since the 1970′s:
Fast forward to the 12:00 mark to get the intro & speech by Mitt Romney.
Mitt Romney made the case that Bush SHOULD HAVE MADE with respect to the free market system. Mitt Romney made clear that we WILL oppose BHO when he’s wrong. That we want AMERICA to succeed. That we need lean, efficient regulations, instead of letting the left use the crisis THEY CREATED to make things even worse, spending trillions! Romney makes it clear that the model of huge, unrestrained, bloated, universal government has never worked anywhere in the world. That America is great because we’re free and the power of government is limited by the Constitution!
Romney went into the fact that the left whined and moaned that it cost $700 Billion to wage the war in Iraq, but then pointed out that they spent over that amount in less than 30 days!
Romney talks about how if the world loses confidence in our economy it will devastate us. He points out that the massive Obama deficits that BHO has as a goal (“only” $600 Billion/year by 2012) are unacceptable! Romney makes the case for free choice, for paring back government spending, for a conservative plan based upon free choice, personal responsibility, etc. for health care.
Romney talks about limiting entitlements, including a free-market reform for Medicare. Romney warns of tax rates 50% higher than we suffer today, and calls such tax & spend actions “morally wrong.” Romney makes the case for conservative reform of our failing public education system. That we should put America’s children first, and leave teacher union bosses behind.
Romney warns against the Cap & Trade system/global warming hoax that McCain, Huntsman, Obama, and Gore promote, and calls for energy independence.
Romney calls for workers’ rights against coercion and intimidation, and the preservation of the secret ballot. He warns against the Democrats’ paying back union bosses with favors.
Romney points out that America didn’t vote for massive new government spending. He points out that conservative principles are absolutely essential to keeping America prosperous, strong, and free.
Romney points out that Iran is still a threat, that our troops are coming home victorious IN SPITE OF BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA, not because of BHO. That was a HUGE applause line.
Romney makes clear that while leftist commentators celebrate him, that BHO’s decision to relax policy vs. Islamofascists is a great threat to America, and that jihadists are still at war with America, and that we must remain vigilant.
Willard Mitt Romney made clear that a strong national defense is essential, and that Obama was misguided when he claimed that America used to “dicated” to the world. Romney mentioned the fact that America doesn’t dictate, but that we FREE people from the TYRANNY of Dictators! That no country has ever had the power that the US has and used it for freedom like America has.
Romney pointed out how incredibly important Missile Defense is, and how Obama’s gesture that communicated a lack of resolve only emboldens America’s adversaries. And with Iran seeking Nukes, N. Korea already nuclear, and selling tech to Syria, it’s essential to finish construction of the NMD NOW!
Romney also touched on how America can meet the challenges we now face, he painted a picture of real hope and real restoration of conservative principles. I could go on and on, but the speech was amazing. It was rousing. It was the next best thing to the Rush Limbaugh speech that came the following day. The crowd was chanting U-S-A! over and over near the end. It was great. Watch the video. It was a great close to CPAC for the day.
Don’t let the Romney-haters misrepresent Willard Mitt Romney, not even beady-eyed, two-bit bigots with a pathetic weekend show that is truly embarrassing.
Oh, yeah, and make sure you listen to Rush, Sean, and Glenn. They are all tearing it up right now!
And I don’t think Reagan ever would have won in 1980 had he been cheapened by an air of superiority and contempt for such large chunks of the party given him by his devout followers.
There are plenty of people waiting to like Mitt Romney and who readily acknowledge his potential for greatness, were it not for his cultlike fan base that manages to give everyone else something bad to see in him all at the same time. The moderates you disparage would readily accept him, moreso now than ever given their lack of a champion, if they didn’t feel like they were getting kicked around by ideologues which is what Romney’s camp has done to anyone it feels is less-than-conservative.
I try to like him in spite of them.
I’m going to go out on a limb and say that for Romney to really get the energy he needs behind him, he needs to extend his heavy support from beyond his Mormon fanbase, who are way too fanatical in their support. Romney deserves some good, level-headed advocacy.
MPC – none of the high-profile people who endorsed Romney are Mormon. I doubt very many people at CPAC who voted for him are Mormon. He won the conservative vote in the primary, and that includes only a small minority of Mormons. You’re statement that his fan base is all Mormon just doesn’t wash.
February 28th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Big whoop.
This means nothing.
February 28th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Nice hat trick for Mitt at CPAC.
February 28th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
This reflects what I think – Jindal has always seemed to me to be Romney’s competition.
February 28th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
bad news for Huckabee and Palin. Good news for Romney and Jindal
February 28th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Prediction: Romney/Jindal 2012
Set it in stone.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Gov – hope so. If Jindal runs, Rush will drop Palin like a hot potato. Say what you want about Rush, folks, he still matters.
I think a debate with Jindal, Palin, Huck and Romney would be pretty fun to see, and very revealing.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
How often do we hear that this is an anti-Romney site?
February 28th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
mac–i think that idea comes from the fact that there are several Anti-Romney front pagers.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Never enough for some.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
If I were Mitt I would pray (or whatever he does) every day that Rush supports an opponent.
He’s even subtlely dissing Rush already (Rush is no doubt too dumb to have picked it up).
February 28th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
This means absolutely nothing. Most people have no idea what CPAC even is.
And Jindal in second place? Are they nuts?
February 28th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
corep,
To more fully answer your question from the last thread, I’m asserting that Huckabee’s very close 3rd place (I’d say he tied for 2nd) finish last time was due to a combination of factors, primarily lack of name ID and money.
He likely won’t have much more money in 2012, but the name Huckabee won’t be new/strange anymore. He’s expanding his base every weekend on Fox as people get to ‘know’ him. It’s more difficult to portray him as a snake handling Baptist preacher when he’s interviewing Russell Simmons.
Pat Buchanan wasn’t governor for nearly 10+ years, so I don’t think that’s a fair comparison.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
I would’ve suspected that Huckabee would’ve finished higher than 6th place(and 7%). But Romney leading is not surprising. After all, many of the same ppl go to CPAC every year (and this is the 3rd straight year he’s won). But congrats to Mitt Romney! This poll means nothing though, as 2012 is three years away. George Allen and Rick Santorum were up top in 2005 I’m pretty sure. But Romney is in a stronger position, having almost national name ID from having run for the GOP nod in ’08.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Heath, I don’t think Romney dissed Rush at all. I also think Rush in your corner is a good thing.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
I don’t think Huck’s show is winning him any new followers. It is one of the worst news shows out there and seems likely only to give Huck an ego boost, not a boost in public opinion. Just my opinion.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Woot! Back-to-back-to-back
February 28th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
I just got back.
I voted for Rudy.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
The job for Romney in the next three years will be rebranding his image somewhat to appeal to blue collar working class voters (the “Joe the Plumber” voter). Mitt needs sell his biography more to begin to frame the debate as Mitt, the self-made hard working business man with working class values and street cred vs. Barack Obama, the arugula eating effete Ivy league trained elitist who wants French style socialism.
Mitt needs to highlight his biography including sacrificing his career to work as a missionary, helping the world’s destitute and starting a business from the ground up.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Yeah I feel for ya Alex K, having “voted” in the R4’12 CPAC poll for Huckabee, who finished in 6th place.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
I agree Martha. I have no idea in what way Heath thinks Mitt subtley dissed Rush. It wouldn’t be a good idea, and I’m sure Mitt knows that.
Even thought its not a great show, its beating his competition, so lets be honest in our appraisals, ok?
February 28th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Mark my words, Rush is itching to play “Kingmaker (or Queenmaker)” in 2012 and WILL do so, early.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
15
We all have opinions, you have a right to yours, but if you check the ratings link that Kavon posted last night you’ll see that Huck dominated the ratings last weekend, especially Saturday night.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Thank God Palin and Huckabee aren’t among the top two.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
#18… I agree, only then will I vote for him the primary in 2012 I suspect. I’m open to voting for Mitt, cause Obama sucks so badly and is gonna destroy our economy. But until Romney becomes a trusted public servant rather than the wealthy CEO/used car salesman type of politician too many see him as, he’ll have a lot more to do to get my vote, CPAC straw poll victories notwithstanding.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
21:
He failed the country by not backing Romney or Giuliani when it could have made a difference in 2007. It was painfully obvious that McCain and Huckabee were bad candidates.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
mac. You are right that his ratings are comparatively good. I just have a hard time watching it–comes off like a televangelist which is difficult for me to stomach.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
My thoughts, for what they are worth:
Nobody has the wrapped up. However, some general analysis can be done.
Anyone who is above Ron Paul is sitting pretty. Anyone below him is in trouble. Anyone tied with him should be worried.
Anyone one who is well known but is still in single digits (Huckabee, Giuliani) is in deep doo-doo.
Romney led in the final VP straw polls held just before McCain announced Sarah Palin’s name. Now that the dust from the election is starting to settle, he continues to lead.
Romney won the 2007 straw poll with a big get-out-the-vote effort. This lead his opponents to fling charges of “buying the vote” his way. There was no such effort this time around, or at least none that I know of. He still won.
Romney won the 2007 straw poll. He only narrowly lost the nomination to McCain.
It is a very long road to 2012.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
25,
Wasnt it Rush that said McCain and Huckabee would destroy the Republican Party?
February 28th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Martha, where do I buy a ticket to that debate? I’ll bring the popcorn!
February 28th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Mac. Last Saturday night? I was at a movie with my family. Much more entertaining than Huck.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
If Romney supporters stop bashing those Republicans who didn’t support him in 2008 and calling us all “anti-Mormon bigots” or saying that we aren’t real Republicans or Conservatives, then I might be willing to vote for him.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Flip, yea, it means something to WIN the straw poll THREE YEARS IN A ROW. Palin did not win. If she did, you would be a hoot’n and a hollor’n that she won. Jindal beat her out.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
I wouldnt say just cause Huckabee is below Ron Paul’s levels hes done… Huckabee is more likely than Paul to run, so some votes move to Huckabee. I dont suspect Huckabee, Romney, Palin, and Jindal, and Paul will run in 2012. Maybe a couple of them, but not all of them. I’d say as of right now, Romney Palin Huck are the favs.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
McCain never won the straw poll, he won the nomination.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Johnathan, you are not all anti mormon bigots. Many are, but not all. When you have the so called leadership of the E movement sending McCain a letter saying they and their followers will not vote if a (gasp) moromn is chosen for veep, ya think that might be a tad anti moromn? I would say it surely is.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
30
Knick,
To each his own, the point is that Huck’s ratings were a minimum of 4 times better than any other cable news program last Saturday and his #’s are consistently strong.
Congrats to Mitt for the CPAC W, but I think the CNN poll is a lot more important as a gauge of the average voter.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Knickers 29, it’s not coming soon enough, is it? In the mean time, I sure hope we pull out some victories in 2010.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Mac.#33.
I did not say that Huckabee is done. At this stage in the game, nobody is, not even Crist, the cellar-dweller. But Crist is not well-known nationally, Huckabee is. The man even has his own TV show on the #1 new channel. He still lost to Ron Paul AND is in single digits.
That points to some serious problems for Huckabee. He’s got his work cut out for him if he wants to run in 2012.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
#31,
Residual anti-Mormonism did play a role in Romney’s defeat in 2008 – that’s just a fact. However, Romney’s chances rise exponentially in 2012 as old prejudices die and the LDS grows. I have talked to many Evangelicals who have now accepted Mormonism into the “Christian” fold and who now view it as a true and respected faith tradition. These views will continue to shift, heightening Romney’s viability, plus, I believe Romney’s Mormonism to now be a strength and an advantage to exploit not a weakness in both the primary and general.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Lets just hope for no more of this…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H8Nq7BglIg
February 28th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
mac – the CPAC poll has no margin of error, it is simply a picture of the way 1700 conservative activists feel today. The CNN poll was 400 republicans with a sampling error of 4-5. They even said it was meaningless.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
I can’t help but think that Huck’s chickens are coming home. His actions during and since the election haven’t helped him.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
I could vote for a Mormon (though Mormonism does not fall into the tent of Christianity… I vote based on ideas and character and personal connection, not religion).
February 28th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
MacisBack – you’re mean.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
MacisBack
February 28th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
MAcisBack – my comments were directed to #40, not 43! That video is too too embarrassing.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Mac,
Would you vote for a Pentacostal, a Scientologist, a Hindu, or a Wiccan? I could, given the right candidate.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
I’d say its too early to call (yes this is directed to Romney’s supporters) who will win the GOP nomination in 2012. At this stage of the game last time, no one even considered Romney a contender for the nomination, but he tied for 2nd. I think the frontrunners were George Allen and Rick Santorum. A month in politics is an eternity and nothing has really happened in the race for 2012 yet.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Why am I mean??
February 28th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
“…Barack Obama, the arugula eating effete Ivy league trained elitist who wants French style socialism.”
Hey now, don’t turn this into an anti-arugula site.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Yes, it does MacisBack. Mormonism is more congruent with early Christianity than other Christian faiths. But why do you need to mention your belief that Mormonism isn’t Christianity? As a Mormon, I consider myself 100% Christian. I wouldn’t ever tell you that your’re not, indeed I have no idea.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Its why voters rejected Rombey in 2008… he came across as too much of a panderer.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
49 – I was kidding about the excruciating video of Romney.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
#31, exactly.
Knickers, I agree that Mitt has won the CPAC three times in a row. So what good did that do him? I don’t think CPAC reflects the grassroots of the party. I mean, Jindal was 2nd and Ron paul was 3rd!
February 28th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Lol, he won this poll in 2007, too…
February 28th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Ah you guys. Laugh at Romney all the way to 2012. We’ll see.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
I dont want to make this an argument about Mormonism and Christianity. I do not try to attack Mitt Romney’s faith and never have. That is not my beef with him. If John McCain were Mormon and Mitt Romney were Baptist, I still wuldve voted for McCain in the FLA primary.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
“The CNN poll was 400 republicans with a sampling error of 4-5.”
Yes, but even with the MOE, Huck is at worst tied with Mitt, and Palin still leads. Plus the CNN poll captures ‘real’ voters not the movement/establishment types that attend CPAC.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Endorsement Watch 2012 – Prediction Edition:
Mitt Romney: Jack Kemp, John Thune, Bobby Jindal, Glen Beck, Jim Edgar, Orrin Hatch, Haley Barbour, Jeb Bush.
Sarah Palin: Rudy, Fred Thompson, George Allen, Newt Gingrich, Normon Podhoretz, Rush, Hannity, Levin, Laura, James Dobson, Ken Duberstein, Ken Blackwell, Joe the Plumber.
Mike Huckabee: Chuck Norris
Charlie Crist: Arnold Schwartzennegger, John Huntsman
Tim Pawlenty: Mary Anderson Pawlenty
Lindsey Graham: John McCain, Joe Lieberman.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
I pretty much rely upon grassroots voters, not the elitists and establishment-wonks who attend CPAC.
Not too surprising that CPAC supported Romney, since he reeks of the establishment.
When Romney finally ventures outside the beltway, and talks to regular people, he’s going to face a very unpleasant surprise, I think.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
“I don’t think CPAC reflects the grassroots of the party. I mean, Jindal was 2nd and Ron paul was 3rd!”
As someone who attended CPAC in 2007 and a day of it in 2008, I would say that CPAC is not too far off of where the grassroots base is.
But youre on to something too… the GOP nominee will need to be someone who is conservative and who can appeal to independents and moderates in the general election. Romney could be that person, but if he is what he was in 2008, he will not be IMO. Its sad that T-Paw was not given better nod at CPAC.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
#59, I think Pawlenty’s kids will endorse him also. Maybe.
I actually like Pawlenty very much, but I just don’t see how he can win anything.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Gald he’s successful in his TV show gig. I’ve never seen it, and don’t intend to. My family does not watch a lot of TV anyway. I also don’t think I am missing much, from not watching most shows that come on.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
“Sarah Palin: Rudy, Fred Thompson, George Allen, Newt Gingrich, Normon Podhoretz, Rush, Hannity, Levin, Laura, James Dobson, Ken Duberstein, Ken Blackwell, Joe the Plumber.”
Hannity? Please. He sucks up to all of them, esp. Romney. Laura will probably endorse Romney too. Dobson think will endorse Huckabee, who I think will get more than Chuck Norris’ endorsement.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Romney does get out amoung the common folks. He does a lot more in the real world than most of the current crop of politicans.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
#51:
Martha, most Christians do not any longer hold the view that Mormons are not Christian. Most Christian denominations accept Mormonism as compatible with Christian teaching and have abandoned their decades old bigotism, intolerance, persecution and prejudice toward the LDS faith. Our Party much preach ecumenicalism if we are to compete.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
#64,
I forgot also that K-Lo will endorse Romney.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
#62:
Pawlenty has a chance I think in IA. He can appeal to the rural voters in Iowa as the Governor of a MidWestern state. Don’t forget, Pawlenty won in 2006 in a horrible year for the GOP. I wouldn’t underestimate him.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Thank you JA. Hope so.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
JA – I think you were too generous to Palin. I don’t see all those people endorsing her. Rush won’t if Jindal runs, and he may not anyway. He said everyone on the bench needs to prove themselves, when questioned about Palin right after the election.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
68
I like Tpaw a lot more than Palin or Romney, but he doesn’t have a chance in Iowa, or anywhere but the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
Romney wins his center left, Palin/Huck his center right. He has no name ID, no money and the worst stump skills of the bunch. Tpaw is DOA in Iowa.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
LOL! JA PRUCE THINKS NORMAN PODHORETZ WILL ENDORSE SARAH PALIN! HAHAHAHAHA.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
“I don’t think CPAC reflects the grassroots of the party. I mean, Jindal was 2nd and Ron paul was 3rd!”
Disregard the Paulites; they come to every conservative gathering.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
#68… I really wish Pawlenty will catch fire (he needs to win re-election in 2010 or have high approvals there). I think he combines Huckabee’s working-class populist appeal w/o the religious tint that turns off a lot of ppl and has Romney’s expertise on domestic economic issues. He needs more of Palin’s charisma I guess.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
“He has no name ID, no money”
Romney and Huckabee didnt have name ID, Huckabee didnt have much money. They went far in ’08… maybe he wont win, but I’d say hes gotta be a top contender for the VP slot.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Flip Dixon:
60% of CPAC this year comprised of people ages 18-25. And you’re calling them the “elitists and establishment-wonks who attend CPAC”?
February 28th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
#70: “JA – I think you were too generous to Palin. I don’t see all those people endorsing her. Rush won’t if Jindal runs, and he may not anyway. He said everyone on the bench needs to prove themselves, when questioned about Palin right after the election.”
Maybe so Martha, it is quite early. I just call’ em like I see’ em.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
JA, is this a new development with the other Christian churches finally stopping all the anti-mormon bigotory – not just aimed at candidates, either? As of last summer, it was all the rage in churches in the mid west and deep south. Some preachers even went as far as telling their folds that a vote for a Mormon, is a vote for Satan. A nice little ‘open’ letter signed by some who claim to be the leaders of the Evangalical movement to McCain even went so far as telling McCain that IF he were to choose Romney, they would not vote and instruct their followers to stay home. I guess the letter was taken to heart, as Romney was not pegged for veep, and one of the ‘acceptable’ choices was.
I do hope you are right about the end of the bigotory. I honestly can’t see it ending soon for some. There’s good money in producing anti-mo stuff. I would vote for anyone of any religion so long as they represented my values, morals, ethics and political views. A squeeky-clean conservative athiest is far better than a Harry Ried.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
#78:
This distresses me, we need to come together and shed our doctrinal differences in ecumenical unity.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Why is it bigoted to say that Mormonism is not the same as Christianity? I dont say someone’s Mormonism disqualifies them from being an elected office holder. I like Orrin Hatch. I dont like Harry Reid.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
#73:
Why do you find that funny Alex?
February 28th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Romney will divide the GOP if he tries again. The Washington insider big Government corporate types are what has destroyed this GOP’s character and it is time to put them at the end of the rope and put the populist pitchfork grassroots blue collar working man on top, main St.. not Wall St..
As to the polling, my first thought is did anyone monitor the poling, being as big government has the elitist have hooks everywhere, don’t they Romney. Say Gov. Romney, how is your foreign importing going? Still taking advantage of the tax structure the corporate took advantage of when free trade came into play? Seems the only one who spoke at the CPAC on the one true fis to our economy is Gov. Huckabee. Knowing the truth of the Fair Tax Plan, all those leaders who ignore it are not stupid so it must mean they are not truly conservative, hmmm!
February 28th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
#80,
It is outdated thinking that is similar to when the Catholic Church used to say that Jews could not get into Heaven. Thankfully, they have changed there position.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
75
Macisback,
Romney is loaded $$$, with top flight ground game and solid stump skills; Huck has an uncanny ability to connect with Main Street types. Tpaw is not Huck’s equal, not even close.
Again, I’m not anti-Tpaw, would greatly prefer him over Palin or Romney. The MN/IA proximity may be more of a hinderance than a help, on that issue, to repeat my line from Richard M’s open thread:
Two words: Tommy Thompson
Regarding Tpaw in the VP slot, sorry but I don’t see it. The GOP MUST win in the south in 2012, Tpaw does nothing for the GOP in the south.
February 28th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Mitt has said no-one should hope that Obama fails. Everyone knew (or should have known) who he was talking about.
February 28th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Mac,
What do you consider the political ” South”, that the GOP must win in 2012. Which of the following states are at risk in 2012 ? Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, S. Carolina.
The states we lost, that I don’t really consider politically ” southern” are Virginia and Florida. It will take a centrist Republican to win those states back. The only ” southern” state we lost was North Carolina.
So, I agree with you, but who helps the most carrying Florida and Virginia ????
February 28th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
#84 mac,
The GOP isn’t going to have to work to win the South in 2012. At least not the deep south. A southerner-free ticket could easily win FL and VA, and losses in NC could be made up with gains back in the Midwest. In other words, the South shouldn’t be our biggest focus. If it is, we’ve already lost the battle.
February 28th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
86
Craig,
What hurt Mike in FL was lack of money and name ID. I’m in FL, outside of Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, Mike can do very well here.
Mike can single-handedly bring NC back to the GOP and he can do very well in non-DC metro VA.
I’ve proposed, repeatedly, a Mitt & Mike unification. Nip Palin and Bobby in the bud for 2012. Mike is uniquely qualified to do well in places where Mitt is weak and vice versa.
February 28th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
87
Robbie,
See 88.
Mike can do very well in central and northern FL and central/western VA, place where Mitt might have trouble.
Mitt & Jindal, or Palin and whomever could have trouble in the south. Mike ensures that the south is not in play.
February 28th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
mac, do you really believe after 4 years of the last 30 days that any GOP nominee is going to have any problems in the south?
I grant you Huck makes it very safe but that could also be made safe with a southern governor as VP. Assuming that Huck isnt offered the chance, or isnt the one picking the VP
March 1st, 2009 at 12:09 am
90
corep,
Of course we’ll have to see how all this plays out over the next few years with the economy, etc. But to answer your question, yes, wasn’t NC a wake-up call for you?
Don’t you think a formerly pro choice, pro gay rights multi-millionaire gov of Mass (even without the religion issue) might have a bit of trouble in GA, etc?
March 1st, 2009 at 12:16 am
corep,
Again, dude, the overconfidence you and many others display for Romney is stunning.
The GOP constellations graph was a perfect illustration of what I’m trying to say. If Romney is the nominee, Mike is the perfect man to shore up Mitt’s flank.
March 1st, 2009 at 1:14 am
Romney and Huckabee hate each other and have absolutely no chemistry. No chance they will share the same ticket.
March 1st, 2009 at 9:33 am
Anybody who claims that the Huckabigot has a chance is delusional. The Huckabigot governed to the left of Bill Clinton in Arkansas. The Huckabigot’s pathetic weekend show has decent ratings for the time slot, but is nothing compared to weekday prime-time shows, like Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, and Bill O’Reilly have. The Huckabigot’s show is pathetic, and I turn the channel whenever that sleazy, beady-eyed, slick politician-turned-commentator pretends to be a conservative.
As for Mitt Romney, he’s the most conservative of the list, with Jindal & Palin right there with him. Newt, Mark, Charlie, Tim, & Rudy are never gonna happen. Newt’s candidacy hopes just had a chain padlocked tightly around its waist, weighed down by a ten-ton weight. Rush Limbaugh destroyed any chance that Newt ever had. Newt likes to talk, but he isn’t principles-based. He’s a policy wonk, and not bound to principles. Newt has said far too many “moderate” things to be seriously considered.
Romney/Petraeus would be my personal preference, if Petraeus is a solid conservative, which I haven’t established as of yet, but I’m hopeful.
Jon Huntsman, Jr. shouldn’t even be on there, since he’s a younger, richer, less intelligent version of John McCain: he is so intellectually challenged, he bought into the Global Warming hoax, just like John McCain, the failed candidate, did, despite coming from a state that overwhelmingly rejected it. Jon Huntsman, Jr. came out in FAVOR of homosexual sodomy-based “civil unions,” which will ensure that religious conservatives will reject him. Jon Huntsman is Harry Reid & John McCain combined. Sure, he claims to be LDS, but he does many things that oppose the LDS, as well as every other major Christian religions, including his pro-homosexual sodomy stance, which is diametrically opposed to Utah’s voters, Utah’s values, and if he had come out with the crap he has come out with in 2009 during the election, he would have lost the Utah Gubernatorial election to his Lt. Governor on a write-in campaign. Jon Huntsman is an intellectually-inferior, business-unsavvy (global warming hoax buy-in, plus he inherited all of his cash from his daddy, who was, himself, a good, solid conservative who lived his religion, unlike his pathetic son) disgrace to his family name. Republicans will soundly reject Jon Huntsman in 2011, and through into 2012.
Charlie is also a leftist Republican, and has no chance of winning. You can write off Charlie Crist right now. He’s a loser.
Sarah Palin really needs a reputation-rescue. She doesn’t have much of a chance if she doesn’t do some major image building. I’d love to see her succeed, but she should have told McCain advisers where to shove it when they insisted she do Katie Couric. She said she wasn’t going to ask for the Media’s approval, then she did just that. I really would love for her to be in the VP slot if she could salvage her reputation, but I think she’s a 2016/2020 prospect, not a 2012 one.
The Huckabigot is a miserable failure; his only contribution to the Republican Party was ensuring that McCain was the nominee instead of Mitt Romney.
Mitt Romney would have been a brilliant President, the perfect man for these economically-depressed times, the perfect many to stand up to the Washington insider establishment, as a true outsider who had all of his previous success outside of government as a hugely successful, self-made businessman who didn’t inherit his hundreds of millions like Jon Huntsman, Jr. did. Romney was smart enough to git-r-done all by himself.
Mitt is a solid, pro-family, pro-life, pro-limited government, pro-strong national defense, financial genius who would give America real Hope that America could actually believe in, both before his policies were implemented, and much more so after they had 4 years to take effect. If Mitt Romney won, he’s guaranteed to be a two-term President, since he would fix the economy and prove once and for all that REPUBLICANS are the party that is strong on the economy. Romney would provide, once and for all, the ultimate counterbalance, the ultimate contrast to the sleazy, corrupt, leftist administration of the userper, Barack Hussein Obama.
If one only reads Willard Mitt Romney’s speech at CPAC 2009, it is clear who the Reagan candidate will be to the Carter/Obama failure who initiated the misery index once again, with stagflation and economic decline and impotence the world hasn’t seen since the 1970′s:
http://www.mymanmitt.com/mitt-romney/2009/02/romneys-speech-at-cpac-2009.asp
Better yet, watch the speech:
http://www.mofopolitics.com/2009/02/27/video-mitt-romney-cpac-speech-22709/
Fast forward to the 12:00 mark to get the intro & speech by Mitt Romney.
Mitt Romney made the case that Bush SHOULD HAVE MADE with respect to the free market system. Mitt Romney made clear that we WILL oppose BHO when he’s wrong. That we want AMERICA to succeed. That we need lean, efficient regulations, instead of letting the left use the crisis THEY CREATED to make things even worse, spending trillions! Romney makes it clear that the model of huge, unrestrained, bloated, universal government has never worked anywhere in the world. That America is great because we’re free and the power of government is limited by the Constitution!
Romney went into the fact that the left whined and moaned that it cost $700 Billion to wage the war in Iraq, but then pointed out that they spent over that amount in less than 30 days!
Romney talks about how if the world loses confidence in our economy it will devastate us. He points out that the massive Obama deficits that BHO has as a goal (“only” $600 Billion/year by 2012) are unacceptable! Romney makes the case for free choice, for paring back government spending, for a conservative plan based upon free choice, personal responsibility, etc. for health care.
Romney talks about limiting entitlements, including a free-market reform for Medicare. Romney warns of tax rates 50% higher than we suffer today, and calls such tax & spend actions “morally wrong.” Romney makes the case for conservative reform of our failing public education system. That we should put America’s children first, and leave teacher union bosses behind.
Romney warns against the Cap & Trade system/global warming hoax that McCain, Huntsman, Obama, and Gore promote, and calls for energy independence.
Romney calls for workers’ rights against coercion and intimidation, and the preservation of the secret ballot. He warns against the Democrats’ paying back union bosses with favors.
Romney points out that America didn’t vote for massive new government spending. He points out that conservative principles are absolutely essential to keeping America prosperous, strong, and free.
Romney points out that Iran is still a threat, that our troops are coming home victorious IN SPITE OF BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA, not because of BHO. That was a HUGE applause line.
Romney makes clear that while leftist commentators celebrate him, that BHO’s decision to relax policy vs. Islamofascists is a great threat to America, and that jihadists are still at war with America, and that we must remain vigilant.
Willard Mitt Romney made clear that a strong national defense is essential, and that Obama was misguided when he claimed that America used to “dicated” to the world. Romney mentioned the fact that America doesn’t dictate, but that we FREE people from the TYRANNY of Dictators! That no country has ever had the power that the US has and used it for freedom like America has.
Romney pointed out how incredibly important Missile Defense is, and how Obama’s gesture that communicated a lack of resolve only emboldens America’s adversaries. And with Iran seeking Nukes, N. Korea already nuclear, and selling tech to Syria, it’s essential to finish construction of the NMD NOW!
Romney also touched on how America can meet the challenges we now face, he painted a picture of real hope and real restoration of conservative principles. I could go on and on, but the speech was amazing. It was rousing. It was the next best thing to the Rush Limbaugh speech that came the following day. The crowd was chanting U-S-A! over and over near the end. It was great. Watch the video. It was a great close to CPAC for the day.
Don’t let the Romney-haters misrepresent Willard Mitt Romney, not even beady-eyed, two-bit bigots with a pathetic weekend show that is truly embarrassing.
Oh, yeah, and make sure you listen to Rush, Sean, and Glenn. They are all tearing it up right now!
March 1st, 2009 at 10:01 am
I don’t think Mitt hates Huckabee. He just thinks he stood in his way of the nomination last time, but its true that Huckabee appears to hate Mitt.
March 1st, 2009 at 2:35 pm
#94, that was a brilliant satire of Romney’s clueless supporters. Keep up the good work!
March 1st, 2009 at 3:03 pm
#94,
And I don’t think Reagan ever would have won in 1980 had he been cheapened by an air of superiority and contempt for such large chunks of the party given him by his devout followers.
There are plenty of people waiting to like Mitt Romney and who readily acknowledge his potential for greatness, were it not for his cultlike fan base that manages to give everyone else something bad to see in him all at the same time. The moderates you disparage would readily accept him, moreso now than ever given their lack of a champion, if they didn’t feel like they were getting kicked around by ideologues which is what Romney’s camp has done to anyone it feels is less-than-conservative.
I try to like him in spite of them.
I’m going to go out on a limb and say that for Romney to really get the energy he needs behind him, he needs to extend his heavy support from beyond his Mormon fanbase, who are way too fanatical in their support. Romney deserves some good, level-headed advocacy.
March 1st, 2009 at 3:31 pm
97 – I’m not Mormon and I support Romney pretty strongly.
March 1st, 2009 at 6:01 pm
MPC – none of the high-profile people who endorsed Romney are Mormon. I doubt very many people at CPAC who voted for him are Mormon. He won the conservative vote in the primary, and that includes only a small minority of Mormons. You’re statement that his fan base is all Mormon just doesn’t wash.
March 1st, 2009 at 9:03 pm
[...] screaming that Paul beat Palin at CPAC. This must be based on these numbers posted on the 28th at Race2012 for the CPAC [...]
March 2nd, 2009 at 2:25 am
Martha,
Of the most devout and most charged supporters of Romney on this site, whom you are well familiar with, how many are Mormon?
Romney does have some solid support outside, obviously, but his huge Mormon base is easily the most fanatically devoted.
March 2nd, 2009 at 2:17 pm
101 – Some of Romney’s biggest critics are also Mormons. He just seems to be a touchy subject either way with them.
March 2nd, 2009 at 9:54 pm
We conservatives would do well to remember this:
http://artlaction.com/release/20080825/romney-exit-transform-pro-life-endorsements
And this
http://anncoulterapology.com/
March 3rd, 2009 at 12:43 pm
JamesC, are you related to the guy who’s always on here talking about Obama’s birth certificate?