Remember how Mitt Romney has been hosting quite a few fundraisers for a number of Republicans around the country? Well guess who is holding a fundraiser for Mitt next Wednesday?
I guess it is true what I have been hearing about these two becoming much closer since the primaries ended.
On a side note, John McCain’s PAC has been doing quite well this year. They reported receipts of more than half a million during the first half of the year. By comparison, Palin’s PAC brought in three quarters of a million dollars (albeit for only five of the six months) and Huckabee’s PAC brought in a third of a million. So McCain isn’t doing too shabby for someone who just lost the election in 2008 and doesn’t appear to be making any moves towards trying again.
In further PAC news, Romney’s Free and Strong PAC reported $169K worth of donations last month. This compares to a donation total of $125K for the month of July. They still spent more than they took in, so they are finishing the second straight month of deficit spending. They claim that donations are always down in the Summer. We shall see how things fare next month.
September 25th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
I just find it fascinating to see that he is supporting Romney in this fashion, and that he
has not offered (that we know of) to do the same for Palin.
September 25th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
#1
Yes it IS interesting, but don’t put too much stock in it. The season is young. There is still plenty of time for him to host a fundraiser for Sarah.
September 25th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
I’ve never understood these candidates or PACs that go into debt, or regularly spend more than they get in… and then say they’ll be able to not do that if elected??
September 25th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Kasich and Portman each up by a sliver in Ohio in Rasmussen:
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_governor_elections/ohio/election_2010_ohio_governor_election
That link is to the brand new Gubernatorial poll out!
September 25th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
the FACpac spent more in july and august than it took in, but it has plenty of cash on hand from earlier in the year.
it is deficit spending only in the sense that for the 30 day calendar it spent more not for the year. if I recall correctly the FACpac has about $600,000 cash on hand at this time.
think of it this way for you and me- we have a bunch of money in the bank and we decide to buy something more than what we made in salary this month. we use that money that is ours. so in reality we spent more than we made that month, but since we hve been wise stewards with our money we are able to do what we want.
thats pretty much what FACpac has done.
September 25th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Who said Romney’s PAC is in debt???
September 25th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Jamison,
I don’t understand it either. They aren’t that good of managers outside of power, and they expect us to believe they will be good ones while being IN power.
Now Romney’s PAC is very well managed. It’s one of the better managed ones, in fact. For example, at the start of July (his first month of deficit spending) his cash reserves were $842K. At the end of Augest (his second month of deficit spending) his cash reserves were $811K. In other words, during a lean time, his cash reserves only decreased by less than 4%. During that time he was able to make $11,500 donations to other Republican candidates.
Not bad, not bad at all.
September 25th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Romney’s held a fundraiser for McDonnell the other day bringing in $100,000 to his campaign.
September 25th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
This will only be surprising to the the naive and uninformed. Seriously folks, is this really surprising to someone??
Look. McCain and Romney have known each other for a long time. While not close–there has always been mutual respect. During the campaign it quickly became clear that (without some intervening hand of God miracle) the fight was going to come down to these two. Huckabee simply became McCain’s best tool but Huckabee was never going to win in 2008. Romney was easily beating Huckabee until Romney dropped out after McCain had it wrapped up (remember that while Romney was coming in either 1st or 2nd, huckabee was usually coming in 3rd or 4th).
That means that the two were engaged in a dog-fight for the world’s top job. As a trial lawyer, trust me, things can get very testy, to say the least, even when going up against an adversary who I respect–and even like! That said, they, for the most part, went after each other aggressively ON THEIR RECORDS. Its not like either tried to take advantage of their religion–for example. For mature professionals, however, such adversaries understand the nature of such battles and can put such behind them without a need to keep making petty and vindictive comments. Romney, of course, did everything asked to help McCain.
The truth, of course, is that McCain believes Romney is the best candidate for the job. He and his staff knew Romney was the best qualified candidate for VP but, facing the popular Obama, had to take a gamble on Palin simply to get elected–and that is no knock on palin. Candidates have almost always picked the VP candidate based on who would help the ticket.
No one should be surprised either that McCain would hold a fundraiser for Romney or if he ends up endorsing Romney in the primary. Anyone surprised by this has no clue.
September 25th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
#8.lkv:“Romney’s held a fundraiser for McDonnell the other day bringing in $100,000 to his campaign.”
Yes, Mitt is one of the party’s premier fundraisers. Nobody that I am aware of spends more money than they take in for any fundraiser he speaks at.
September 25th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
#9.Brian,
I agree with most everything you said. Which is why I find this fundraiser so interesting. It’s the proof of what you say.
September 25th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
9. I wouldn’t read too much into this fundraiser. Romney did a lot for McCain during the primary. He probably will help Palin at some point. But don’t expect him to do much for the Huckster. He was a useful tool, and it ends there.
September 25th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
I wouldn’t make too much of it. I might if the fundraiser wasn’t happening in Arizona but given that it is in McCain’s home state and Romney hosted numerous events for McCain after he dropped out of the ’08 race, I would merely consider it as returning the favor. My impression was that McCain wasn’t fond of Romney during the primary but willingly accepted his help after Romney dropped out and was very appreciative of the grace he showed in defeat but even with that, McCain never fully felt comfortable with him and never gave him serious consideration as VP. I wouldn’t expect a McCain endorsement of Romney in the 2012 primary.
I think McCain appreciates his help and is grateful and willing to return the favor but they come from different worlds. Romney is a straight-laced, hyper intelligent businessman who never spent time in the military and McCain comes from a distinguished military family but was a bit of a black sheep himself known for partying, womanizing and nearly flunking out of the Naval Academy. The two couldn’t be more different and although Kennedy and Hatch apparently became true friends in spite of similar vast differences, I don’t see McCain as capable of doing that.
September 25th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
I wonder why republican were ignored their real leader Mitt last time and go with the wrong one, why now the communist is in the white house,the Obama’s student from NJ sang the song pray Obama is exactly the communist agenda pray for their leader in the communist country.The age of American people around 1-30 years don’t know and don’t heart about the poison of communist,because the communist was defeat by Reagan at the Reagan decade,but the people came from around the world communist to America for democracy knew it,damaged from it,wounded from it,survived from it,and have fought it,one more thing approved it from Mr.Van Jone the green job just left white house couple weeks ago is the real communist,when American people knew the true Obama change democrat can believe in,he can’t stick with his seat,Obama say nothing about him,because America knew the true goal of change Obama never ever let us know.Mitt said ” is time to call America strength,yes he is right but we need one more word ” is time for America unite and take back America for America in 2012″wake-up America,open our eyes bigger,look deeper,who is our true leader,who stronger,smarter,more courageous,has leadership style,look more presidential than other,who look Reagan style,that is our real leader,that person can beat Mr.Obama,Reagan won the cold war without no ballet of weapon,because his own character,his strength,his star war,only Mitt has Reagan leadership style, Reagan strength,Reagan character,Mitt can defeat Obama,Mitt will won the war on terror,because the enemies respect Mitt character,Mitt strength,Mitt intelligent,and Mitt courage.Republican don’t see Mitt leadership but American people saw his leadership now and the future,let’s to be with the real person,to be with the winner,no more with the loser again.
September 25th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Martha (in childlike tantrum after tantrum – how old are you?) is so full of herself with bitter hatred towards Mike that she doesn’t even know (or care) about uniting ALL factions of the PARTY to defeat Obama.
It will take supporters for Mitt, Mike, Tim, John, Sarah … every Republican leader we can drum up support with and for —
TO end the OBAMA MESS we’re in. Wake up, mam! You are not a child.
God Bless America UNITE!!!
September 25th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Notwithstanding my comment in #9, I would not be surprised (in fact I would expect)to see McCain hold a fundraiser for Palin too. She was, after-all, his running-mate. And it may be that for political purposes McCain does not endorse during the primary in 2012. But, no one should be surprised that McCain’s first fundraiser is for Romney. Even thought McCain and Romney are different animals, as others have pointed out, that does not mean that McCain does not recognize who would make the best POTUS.
My comment in #9 is also evidenced by the lack of endorsement or praise that many have noted (and palin supporters have taken offense to) when McCain has been asked about Palin and 2012.
Finally, yes, I would be mildly surprised to see McCain hold a real fundraiser for Huckabee. McCain, while not above taking political advantage of Huckabee, simply has disdain for religion baiters like Huck, Dobson, Bob Jones, etc.
September 25th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Ug, McCain fundraising for Romney is like Pink Floyd opening for Hanson.
September 25th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
#15: Tell you what, Huckabee/Pawlenty, when you get David Schmidt to state he will support and vote for Romney if he wins the nomination in 2012–we’ll talk. He has been asked many times but always runs and hide and will not respond and defend his positions or engage in dialoque.
How this site can have a FPP who will not support Romney if he wins the 2012 republican nomination is beyond me. They are giving recognition to someone who, if Romney wins, will be seeking to defeat the GOP in 2012.
September 25th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Glenn Beck denounces both Romney, Huckabee as “Big Government”
http://www.examiner.com/x-23963-Salt-Lake-City-Independent-Examiner~y2009m9d24-Glenn-Beck-denounces-Huckabee-Romney-as-Big-Government
September 25th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
I’m not taking any “kumbaya” crap from a huckabee supporter. Something about cleaning up your own house??
Its huckster David Schmidt who, after the discussion at hucksarmy about the need to attack fellow republican Romney, creates a blog for the sole purpose of attacking a fellow republican.
Its Huckabee himself that continually made snide comments about Romney and others after the primary and election.
Go tell it to hucksarmy and ask Schmidt to take down his website–then come back and talk. I almost want Huckabee to win just so I can hear him try and get us to all hold hands.
September 25th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Beck will get behind Romney if the nominee. He just doesn’t want to look like an automatic endorsement for fellow Mormon Romney. Huckabee? I doubt it.
September 25th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Well, in 2008 Glenn Beck loved Mitt Romney. In 2009 he isn’t so hot on him. Who knows what Glenn will think of Mitt by the time 2012 rolls around.
September 25th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
21. Agreed. If Romney was not Mormon he would probably more bullish on him as a candidate. Weird huh?
September 25th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
I 100% support Mitt if he should receive our nomination!!! As a matter of fact, he IS my 3rd choice.
Wake up or get out of the PARTY
If you can’t support it!
There is ONLY one way to WIN
That’s if WE UNITE !!! All: Mitt”s, Mike’s, Tim’s, Rudi’s, Sarah’s, McCain & Bush folks, too.
September 25th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
DAVID SCHMIDT and hucksarmy: #24 is for you!!!
September 25th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Brian, we must unite to defeat Obama. It’s numbers, my friend. Simple math. Please get over yourself. You think that Mitt would approve of your bitter hatred towards Mike and his millions of supporters? Not the Mitt Romney that I know and love. AND you know that’s true. Mitt is an honorable gentleman and so is Mike, as well as the other R leaders we speak of here. Do the right thing or be a loser.
Your choice, Brian. Reality is staring you in the face.
Look in the mirror and repeat 100 times – “We WIN the White House back -together!”
September 25th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
26. Honorable is not a word I would jump right to in speaking of Huck.
You need to do your homework on your guy.
September 25th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
By July of last year, Beck had already abandoned Romney for Rudy.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0807/02/gb.01.html
September 25th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
#13 “McCain never fully felt comfortable with him and never gave him serious consideration as VP”
How do you know McCain’s feelings?? What Romney did for him, and the country, has the power to heal those wounds, which is why Mitt did it. Mitt was an exceedingly valiant adult about the whole thing.
McCain recognizes that, as he stated very appreciatively during the general election cycle. I don’t know where the substance of your statement comes from. You are saying that McCain is vindictive and cannot do what is right for the country because he holds a grudge toward the man who gave him the best help after being defeated by him?
September 25th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
#15
Whoa! it is obvious that you have ill feelings toward Martha. There is nothing hateful coming out of her mouth, just plain facts and opinion.
You are only saying what you are saying because the guy she discounted is YOUR guy! I suggest taking an honest non-biased approach in your dialogue.
September 25th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
McCain staffers, after the election, stated that Romney was on the short list for VP. Huckabee was not. All irrelevant, of course, to 2012.
September 25th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
#19
I have been very concerned with the influence Glenn Beck has in this country. We ridicule Obama for having done Cocain, but Beck has done hardcore drugs and was a severe alcoholic. The drugs must have permanently done some brain damage cause the guy just isn’t right all the time!
He loved Mitt Romney in the primary and he was well aware of his positions. So is Glenn Beck flip flopping?
September 25th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
I just hope Glenn is not ripping the Republican candidate or the obvious candidate when that time comes.
He’s a mad man.
September 25th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Don’t worry about Beck. Except for Huckabee
there is room for redemption. I think Beck will be on our side when the time comes.
September 25th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
I would say that Mitt’s and McCain’s relationship goes beyond just McCain begrudgingly recognizing Mitt’s help during the campaign. I have read from several different sources (not just Romney sources) that McCain regularly calls up Mitt for policy advice. They have been seen eating meals together a number of times.
As Brian said clear back in #9, McCain and Romney are two professionals. Sure they went after each other during the primaries, but that is water under the bridge. If people held grudges for every little slight, nothing would get accomplished in this world.
September 25th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Martha, Are you 12 years old? Or just a bitter person? Thank God, your candidate is NOTHING like u. I prasy that you are not around any chilren. Such hatred that you spew is quite unhealthy. AND, Mitt would be so ashamed of your actions. Please, seek help. But, most of all – stay away from young minds.
September 25th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Martha, Are you 12 years old? Or just a bitter person? Thank God, your candidate is NOTHING like u. I pray that you are not around any chilren. Such hatred that you spew is quite unhealthy. AND, Mitt would be so ashamed of your actions. Please, seek help. But, most of all – stay away from young minds.
Competent Conservative – LOL LOL LOL
September 25th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
c h i l d r e n, oops
September 25th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Im so sick of people using the term flip-flopping. *News FLASH* Humans can change their opinion given different circumstances. That is why we were blessed with a brain!
September 25th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Aron, you’re the pro finder of things. Do you recall the article last year, probably around July/August showing how the McCain’s especially the women had become very good friends?
I remember it saying that the women had become very close and loved each others company.
September 25th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Competent Conservative – Is your name ironic?
September 25th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
This isn’t the article I referred to. The other was a lot more chummy and dealt more with the wives.
http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/2008/07/14/mccain-and-romney-now-good-friends/
September 25th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
#36.H/P or P/H
I’m surprised at you. Don’t you know you never ask a lady her age?
September 25th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Does anyone else get the delicious irony of Huckabee/Pawlenty engaging in personal insults and attacks on Romney supporters for not “uniting” according to his perceptions.
If only HP understood it.
September 25th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Thats because they don’t even understand what it means to be a conservative. They think Huckabee is conservative, which he is not (except for being pro-life and being a baptist minister).
September 25th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
The 2008 primary must have been the first for many of you guys and gals…..What makes you all think that McCain and Romney hate each other. They were both running for the nomination….
If your saying that because of the political ads Romney ran then you have to realize that political ads are made to make the other guy look as bad as possible, they aren’t going be saying what a great President their opponent would make, political ads show their opponents weaknesses.
Huckabee complained and whined about the ads used against him, but it was part of his strategy to make Romney look as bad as he could, and it worked, it was a very effective tactic..You all remember the press conference Huckabee called to show the media an anti Romney ad, only to say he wasn’t gonna run it, only after he showed it to the press. But really it happens in every campaign. That’s why running for office isn’t for the weak and sensitive.
If McCain and Huckabee had ad money during the campaign, they would have ran the same kind of negative ads against Romney. But in the end they unite again as friends.
September 25th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Beck like many others are ignorant about Romney care. Why don’t these people do their homework? Anyone?
September 25th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
I will say this in HP’s defense.
Other Romney supporters have, correctly I think, pointed out that, as in this thread, too often things deteriorate to attacks on the other side. This happens so easily (and naturally) because many Romney supporters simply loathe Huckabee. No way around it. The hatred for that man is palpable. BUT, to the degree we can, it does help our candidate to stay focused on the issues as much as we can.
September 25th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
47: Hard to battle perception–especially when there is really not a campaign right now. And, of course, health care, the Mass. plan, etc. are all legitimate topics for debate. The question, i think, is whether, given our society and all of the numerous factors that impact health care costs and regulations, it is time (or a wise choice) for states to mandate health insurance like they do car insurance. I really don’t have a problem with requiring health insurance in order to ensure everyone is paying for their health care.
September 25th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Neither do I Brian, nor do I see why any conservative would. I understand freedom to make choices, but not at the expense of everybody else paying for freeloaders.
September 25th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Absolutely correct, that’s what happens when someone attacks your religion in attempt to get the nomination. I have never loathed another Republican as much as I do Huckabee.
September 25th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
It’s an open secret that McCain knows that Palin is clueless. And if anyone would know he would. He won’t pick a dog but if he did the dog won’t be Palin (if she runs). Or Huckabee who he simply used.
Mitt prays every day (as do I) that the freak of nature Beck doesn’t support him.
September 25th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
marK,
” I have read from several different sources (not just Romney sources) that McCain regularly calls up Mitt for policy advice. They have been seen eating meals together a number of times.”
So? McCain regularly calls me for advice- though mostly about marriage and football picks. He sometimes comes over and eats all my salsa. But he’s never had a fundraiser for me.
September 25th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
15. I will support anyone EXCEPT huckabee and palin. Neither are qualfied to be president for very different reasons.
September 25th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Well, Ann, there are supporters of other candidates that loathe Huckabee too. His petulant, petty anti-Mitt crusade that went on for months after Romney left the race turned a considerable number of people of all camps against him. And then no matter what Huck did or said, Mitt just ignored it. He refused to engage Huck at his level. The result was respect for Mitt Romney’s maturity and temperament went up as Huck’s went down. In many ways, Huckabee helped made Mitt’s current reputation of being the adult in the room.
Now THAT is irony.
September 25th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
#53.MWS,
Well hide all the salsa next time.
September 25th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Illinois: Public opinion has, for the moment, swung against what they did in Mass. This is due to the fact that Obama and the Dems are trying to impose public health care. the result, as often happens, is that the pendulum swings back completely to the other side.
People forget that MASS AND MOST OTHER STATES were/are struggling to deal with skyrocketing health care costs. Before Obama care, people were concerned about the costs, being dropped from your insurance, pre-conditions, etc. In Mass they simply tried to use the money they were paying for health care and use the money more productively.
By 2012, we will have to see where the pendulum is but, either way, I am not worried much about Mass Care because when Mitt reminds people what the situation was and what they did–people say “Oh, Okay. That makes sense. Mass has the right to try that and, when you understand all the issues, requiring health insurance may not really be a bad idea given the nature of our health care world.”
September 25th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Now I’ve knock Huckabee, but in fairness I have to point out that since January he has pretty much kept his nose clean. Not one slam at Romney that could be construed as outside of standard, acceptable political fare.
Perhaps he has learned his lesson. I certainly hope so.
September 25th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
McCain fell to pressure from the far right. some ‘evangalical’ leaders wrote McCain saying they would take their flocks and not vote, should McCain pick Romney. Then there’s a that guy who was fired by McCain. He pushed Palin. I dare say, that if mccain would have picked Mitt, they might be president and vice president today. The econ was tanking, and Mitt would have helped out a lot, making it more comfty to vote for McCain.
September 25th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
58: I think history as shown that Huckabee simply can’t stop himself. really.
September 25th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
If he hadn’t, his running mate would have been Joe Lieberman; not Romney.
September 25th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Connecticut company unveils Michele Bachmann action figure
http://www.herobuilders.com/08.htm
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/09/25/bachmann-action-figure/
September 25th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Contrast Romney and Huckabee as general election candidates;
Huckabee: Baptist preacher who wants to amend the constitution to follow God’s law as interpreted by huck; would refuse to enforce Supreme Court opinions he strongly disgareed with; Top 10 corrupt politician who used his office to benefit himself and protect his family; HORRENDOUS RECORD OF PARDONING CRIMINALS leading to rape and murder–especially if you were a friend or financial contributor; and just wait for people to look at the “Fair Tax” and understand that, when the economy picks up and you go to buy your new home for about $299,000.00 (not that expensive in many areas)–huckabee is going to tax you $90,000.00 on that home if he is elected!!!
Romney: Without imposing government health care Mass requires everyone to have health insurance–thus making health care affordable and availabale to all citizens. Wow. run with it obama. Oh. and he was previously pro-choice.
September 25th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Aron is right actually in #61. While Romney was on the short list–and Huckabee was not–McCain would probably have picked Joe if he could.
September 25th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Right. Mitt would have swung a dozen or so states, just like VP candidates always do.
I really need to join the Rombots, so I can get some of the stuff they smoke at their secret meetings.
September 25th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Heath, I’m pretty confident in saying that you don’t have the foggiest idea what Mitt’s prayers are like relative to Beck. Glenn has been doing a fantastic job in many ways with ACORN and the rest of Obama’s buddies, but for some reason, he’s kinda been off his rocker lately. Does he get enough sleep?
September 25th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
“If he hadn’t, his running mate would have been Joe Lieberman; not Romney.”
Very true.
September 25th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
This was the reported short list (in alphabetical order):
Bloomberg, Crist, Lieberman, Palin, Pawlenty, Romney
Ridge was also considered.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/02/AR2009080202046_pf.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/08/03/DI2009080301877.html
September 25th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
“Bloomberg, Crist, Lieberman,”
Yowzers. For all her faults, I’d take Palin over those three, and I think she added more to the ticket than either of those three would have.
September 25th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Thunder :#51
I know that Romney made plenty of mistakes in 2008, and he would probably be the first to admit it, that said, I think Huckabee’s strategy all along was to use tactics, that were so unconventional it made it almost impossible for Romney to effectively run a traditional campaign, there were things going on by people behind the scenes who left no fingerprints.
Romney knew what was going on, but how do you catch shadows. Huckabee used the media to his advantage and used dirty pool tactics which blindsighted Romney’s campaign and it made it hard for him to get back on his feet and dust himself off.
What Huckabee did was dirty politics, but was very legal and all part of the political game, and Romney learned some valuable lessons in return,
September 25th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
“69 She really added alot to the ticket—-they lost. Main reason being Palin couldn’t bring in independents for obvious reasons, whereas Romney would have and Repubs would have won.
September 25th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Len,
You seriously think Palin is the reason McCain lost? That you can hang it all on her? That she was the top issue on voters’ minds? That the incumbent President with 25% approval, a financial collapse, (then) record deficits, an unpopular war, and a Republican Party riddled with scandal had nothing to do with it?
Honestly, it’s a miracle McCain did as well as he did. And I think net-net, Palin helped marginally.
September 25th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Bob Hovic.#65
Yes, you really should. And the secret decoder rings make a great fashion statement, as well.
Seriously, Bob, they might have. In favor of that particular outcome, there is the fact that the economy tanked. That would have played perfectly into Mitt Romney’s strengths. He had far more credibility vis a vie the economy than all of the four people we had running combined. But since we cannot rewind history and try over again with a different set of parameters, we will never know, will we?
September 25th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
marK,
Okay, you write some good stuff here, but #73 ain’t one of ‘em. 97% of people do not vote the bottom of the ticket. I seriously don’t think that enough people would say “Gosh, with the economy in turmoil, we need Vice President Mitt to save us!” to add 100 electoral votes to McCain’s column. For one, you severely overestimate Romney’s reputation as an economics god (part of that is the echo chamber here), and secondly, you are misguided about who people turn to to “save” the economy. It ain’t the Vice President.
September 25th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Len; #71
If Palin runs for President as a grassroot movement candidate that she seems to be calling for, it will divide the Republican party like it did in 2008, maybe with 3 candidates going into super tuesday, if that happens, the winner of the primary will go into the general as a weak candidate like McCain did.
I think that unless she has a real chance of winning the nomination, she should stay out….. I say that about all candidates.
September 25th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
MSW: #74
Who would you rather have calling the shots Romney or Geitner……..
September 25th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Competent Conservative,
#29
Obviously a bit of what I say is impression steming from personal observations of McCain but my comment is also based on insight provided by Dan Balz and Haynes Johnson’s book entitled The Battle For America 2008. The picture they paint was that Romney was considered as VP but was not among McCain’s sentimental choices and contrary to media reports at the time, Romney never made it to the top tier of consideration. McCain actually wanted his friend Joe Lieberman.
My conclusion is that in the summer of ’08, McCain hadn’t entirely warmed to Romney and given the vast differences in their backgrounds/personalities, I wouldn’t expect Romney to ever make it to McCain’s inner circle. I’ve seen many John McCain interviews where he is asked whom he might support in 2012 and he rattles off a list of ‘good republicans’ but Romney’s name is always absent from his list. One would think that given how graceful Romney was in defeat and how helpful Romeny was to McCain in the general election, that he would rate at the top of the list. Instead I recall John Huntsman being frequently mentioned. To me that signals that McCain may still hold a bit of a grudge just like I believe he retains a grudge against Bush over his campaign antics in South Carolina during the 2000 race.
Perhaps I am wrong but I see McCain as deeply loyal to his friends but unable to entirely forgive the percieved wrongs of his enemies. Romney’s only sin was being another privledged, well-financed non-military man who, like George W. Bush in 2000, attacked him (with negative ads) and sought to steal his chance to have the honor of being Commander-in-Chief of the nation he so dearly loves.
September 25th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
The Alien Space Monkeys from the Planet Zenon might invade Earth soon.
I noted the word “might” — but decided to ignore it, as the thrust of the comment was that there was a realistic possibility that Romney would have swung the election.
No way. I’d bet on the Space Monkeys first.
There’s a long history of VP candidates, and none of them (with the possible exception of LBJ in 1960) have swung a state other than their own. As MWS noted, people don’t vote for VP.
Can you name states with 98 electoral votes that were close enough for a VP choice to swing them? The only states within five points (which would be an incredibly huge swing, but just barely imaginable) were FL, IN, NC, and OH. They total 73. Where do the other 25EVs come from?
September 25th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
lkv,
“Who would you rather have calling the shots Romney or Geitner……..”
Greater competence than Geitner is like better football than the Bengals.
It hardly makes one a god.
September 25th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Bob,
LBJ would be the only meaningful one in the last 90 years, at least. Kennedy won by the skin of his teeth (and perhaps fraudulently in Chicago), and that probably would not have been possible without a strong Southerner on the ticket. Outside of southern Louisiana, not a great many parts of the South took kindly to the notion of a Catholic President in 1960. LBJ helped reassure them that Pope John XXIII would not be calling the shots.
September 25th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
You know, it’s kind of funny in retrospect that anyone thought that a Kennedy would listen to the Church.
September 25th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
MWS:79
Come on….I just read that you supported Pat Buchanan in 96′…….I did too….. He should have been our nominee instead of Dole.
And I don’t think Romney is a god!
September 25th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
I am reminded of an old former RAF general talking to a group of students. One of them asked, “But General, if Hitler had of concentrated on bombing the channel ports, or bombing the RAF out of existence, he would have won, correct?”
The General looked at him for a second or two and replied, “Yes, and if your Uncle had been plumbed a little bit differently, he would have been your Aunt, right?”
We could argue what-ifs until the day we die. 2008 is over. It is gone. We will never know nor can we know if choosing Mitt or Lieberman or Pawlenty or Mark Harmon from NCIS would have saved McCain’s campaign. Any one of these (and dozens of others) might have worked, but the question is entirely moot.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Ci2Eye.#77:“I’ve seen many John McCain interviews where he is asked whom he might support in 2012 and he rattles off a list of ‘good republicans’ but Romney’s name is always absent from his list.”
How could you forget this one? It created quite a stir at the time, if you recall.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Right now, I’m pretty happy that McCain did not choose Romney, though at the time I thought he was crazy. But I do firmly believe that Romney would have done more for the ticket.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Yes, I’ve heard McCain mention Romney plenty of times. BTW – Who cares. He’s over.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
Michigan will go red in 2012 if Mitt is on the top of the ticket. That’s where I’ve lived my entire life and that’s what I know the best. Mitt is the most popular politician in the entire state and he hasn’t lived here in 40 years. People are very sick of Granholm and then dems in Michigan and I see a lot of parallels between the way Bush was able to beat Kerry and the way Granholm was about to beat Devos in Michigan. Granholm was very unpopular then, but Devos was not a very good candidate. Granholm’s popularity has gone so low, the republican primary is stacked with good candidates because the primary is essentially the race for governor. After a republican wins the governorship in 2010, Michigan will be ripe for a Romney victory in 2012.
http://michiganredneck.wordpress.com/2009/08/26/mitt-romney-to-be-featured-speaker-at-mackinac-republican-leadership-conference/
September 25th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
McCain and Pawleny are friends, but an endorsement from McCain might not be the best thing, but if Romney gets the nomination he probably will get his endorsement.
BTW; If I was Romney, I wouldn’t want Beck’s endorsement, and all candidates should stay away from him, his endorsement would be a killer. Just think of how they would be put on the spot by having to comment on Beck when he said that Obama didn’t like white people, or some of the other over the top things he’s said.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
I fully expect that McCain and Kyl will both endorse Mitt and endorse him fairly early in the Primary. That would be consistent with what I’ve been seeing and reading for some time now. This fundraiser helps confirm those suspicions.
I’ve read a biography of McCain and he has a long history of forgiving people who he thinks have slighted him, or have been adversaries in some way—especially if he thinks he has wronged them in any way. It didn’t take very long into the presidential campaign for him to welcome Mitt into the fold, and Mitt did everything the campaign asked him to. Look for more evidence of this in the future.
September 26th, 2009 at 12:25 am
Beck needs to get a clue! It is huck and palin who were Big Government.
http://www.arkansasleader.com/2008/09/editorial-lot-in-commonpalin-and-huck.html
A lot in common: Palin and Huck
The more we find out about Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, John McCain’s running mate, the more comfortable we are with her.
With every disclosure she sounds more and more like our own governor for 10 years, Mike Huckabee, who got passed over for the vice presidential nomination despite his having five times her executive experience.
First, there is the rare political skill of campaigning as a conservative and governing as a liberal. Huckabee campaigned for governor and for president as a fiscal hardliner who slashed taxes and shrank government. In fact, he had raised more taxes than any governor in the state’s history, ran up more debt than all the previous governors combined, grew state employees by 19 percent and greatly enlarged government welfare programs.
Now we learn that Palin raised taxes as mayor of the little town of Wasilla and in eight years raised total spending by 63 percent and office furniture and equipment by 117 percent and ran the city’s long-term debt from nothing to $18.6 million.
Campaigning for governor, she condemned the governor’s plan to raise taxes on oil and gas companies by tying the severance tax to their windfall profits, and also opposed his plan to authorize a natural gas pipeline from Alaska’s North Slope across Canada to the lower 48 states. Once elected, she embraced and signed the windfall profits tax on the oil companies and promoted the pipeline project, pledging $500 million from Alaska taxpayers to help a Canadian energy company build it.
Now from the Washington Post we learn that Gov. Palin billed the taxpayers for 312 days of lodging and expenses for living in her own home and for the travel of family members in her first 18 months as governor.
For a couple of years, until the state Ethics Committee stopped him, Gov. Huckabee paid for his family’s personal expenses in their government-provided home from a state account, claimed furniture gifts to the Mansion as his own and solicited going-away gifts when he finally left the Mansion. But it seems never to have occurred to him to claim per-diem expenses for the days he actually spent working for the people as Palin did. So give her credit for being a little shrewder than our boy.
In still another way he was more frugal than she. Huckabee’s final salary as Arkansas governor was $74,000, which was $51,000 less than Palin’s in a state of fewer than 700,000 souls, about a fourth of Arkansas’ population.
Yes, we’re beginning to feel like we know Sarah Palin very well.
—Ernie Dumas
September 26th, 2009 at 1:56 am
The mittbots are in full force today. May the power of the flip flopper be with you!
September 26th, 2009 at 2:56 am
IG – I know you won’t believe this as a fellow mormon, but Glenn Beck is a known substance abuser. But the crazy talk just comes with being crazy. Crazy + power = scary (see Akmanjinidad and Gadaffi).
September 26th, 2009 at 2:59 am
May you finally learn that the cheapshot says far more about the shooter than his target.
September 26th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Glenn Beck is a libertarian – he believes that there should be no government intervention in our lives. That is his problem with Mitt Romney. He disagrees with the government mandate in Massachusetts that all who can afford it should buy healthcare. I respect Glenn Beck and for the most part I agree with him. That being said I have no problem with this type of government intervention. We are forced to buy car insurance, why not health insurance? I have health insurance and am fortunate that my company picks up the tab. I also have two children – as a single parent there are other things I would like to buy and could if I did not pay for the health insurance of my children. As far as I’m concerned it would be irresponsible of me not to pay for their coverage. Too many people refuse to “do without” luxury items such as cell phones, ipods, boats, vacations, etc. and don’t buy health insurance as a result. It’s unfortunate that government would have to force people to be responsible but it is a fact of life. There are many who cannot afford coverage and those people shoulc be helped. I think I’ve heard Romney say that healthcare reform should be left to the states – I could be wrong.
As far as Mike Huckabee – count me among those who loathe him. I can’t remember him slamming anyone but Mitt Romney during the primary season. He didn’t like Romney’s wealth, his success as a businessman and he definitely doesn’t like Mormons. Many Evangelicals saw through him but unfortunately more couldn’t bring themselves to see that their Christian leader was behaving in a very UNChristianlike manner. Huckabee used the pulpit for politics and Mitt Romney did not. Mitt Romney understands that religion is personal to all of us. Mitt Romney behaved like a stateman, he showed a lot of class by not getting in the dirt with Huckabee. By the way – ads that show the difference in political views ARE NOT negative ads.
I didn’t like McCain as a candidate but voted for him because I believe he loves his country. Maybe it’s his love for country that has caused him to make the decision to help Romney, maybe it’s a payback – the only person that really knows is John McCain.
September 30th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
[...] Mitt will be in Phoenix where his former rival, John McCain is holding a fundraiser for him. by Mark B. Lowe @ 5:48 pm. [...]