In the controversal NY-23 race, Mitt Romney has not endorsed anyone. That has left people wondering where he stood. Today in Virginia while stumping for McDonnell, he clarified his position
“I have chosen not to endorse the Republican candidate in New York’s 23rd District, “Romney said, “and that should speak a certain amount of volume. I can’t endorse our candidate in that race.
Another report has Romney’s spokesman expounding upon his statement:
Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom provided a few more details regarding Romney’s thinking: “Mitt Romney is a Republican and he tends to support the Republican candidate in races and when he can’t because there are too many differences on the issues, he stays out of the race altogether and that’s the course he’s following in the New York special election. He doesn’t plan to make any endorsement at all.”
So there you have it. Mitt expects his non-endorsements to speak with “a certain amount of volume”. We should then not consider it an accident that Mitt has steadfastly refused to endorse the “establishment” candidate (Crist) in Florida.
October 28th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
That’s a simpler call since it’s a fight among GOP members in a GOP primary. I’d say it’s safe to wager that Mitt will endorse the party’s nominee, even if the loser attempts a third-party insurgent campaign.
October 28th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Romney: Massachusetts plan did not cut health care costs
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is acknowleding that the health care plan he famously implemented as governor did nothing to address costs.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/28/romney-massachusetts-not-the-model-for-cutting-health-care-costs/
October 28th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Mitt Moves Goal Posts on RomneyCare
http://spectator.org/blog/2009/10/28/mitt-moves-goal-posts-on-romne/print
October 28th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Steele standing behind Scozzafava
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/28/steele-standing-behind-scozzafava/
October 28th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Ex-GOP presidential hopeful Romney stumps for McDonnell
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/10/exgop-presidential-hopeful-romney-stumps-mcdonnell
October 28th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Both Romney’s statement and Fehrnstrom’s explanation, make just about the most sense that I’ve heard since this whole thing started.
October 28th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
NY-23. What a stupid litmus test for a candidate.
October 28th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Conservatives Run Ad Praising ‘Progressive’ Scozzafava
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/conservatives-run-ad-praising-progressive-scozzafava.php
Dirty tricks in NY-23
http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/1009/Republican_dirty_tricks_in_NY_23.html?showall#at
October 28th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Mitt’s doing the right thing……Both Candidates are on the ballot, now let the voters of NY23 choose their Representative.
This shows that Romney will not bow to pressure, now lets see the awful things that will be written about him on the far right wing blogs.
October 28th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Mitt is acting like a grownup here. Unlike Legs.
October 28th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
“…that should speak a certain amount of volume…”
Sorry, egomaniac. You chose to endorse Will Armstrong over Mike Coffman in Colorado’s 6th congressional district and Armstrong got destroyed.
October 28th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
#8: LOL! Hilarious ad.
“Dirty trick”? Are Politico’s progressives cheesed off at having a Republican unceremoniously dropped into their playpen?
October 28th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
AP sources: Obama eyes smaller Afghan troop option
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iqyaFh_efr-brDq0rMLF1hkop0tgD9BKCEDO3
October 28th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
“Romney said, “and that should speak a certain amount of volume. I can’t endorse our candidate in that race.”
He is a brain child, and Romney there are many people who cannot endorse Mitt Romney. Romney is not acting like an adult. Adults speak up.
October 28th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Zingales on Pro-Market Populism
http://spectator.org/blog/2009/10/28/zingales-on-pro-market-populis
October 28th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Gov Romney’s stand is one I can respect. Good for him!
“Mitt is acting like a grownup here. Unlike Legs.”
Or Adam, for that matter. Gov Palin strays from the “Endorse anything with an ‘R’ after it’s name,” and that makes it fair game to attack her personally? As I’ve said ad nauseum to Martha, you have plenty of substantive criticisms of Gov Palin (and endorsing non-Republicans is certainly one of them) that are fair game that you just look petty when you make such attacks.
October 28th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
#10: Mitt is being bold in his moderation.
It’s a safe call, but making it formal shows there’s a conscious choice involved.
Taking sides here means spending one’s own political capital in a low-stakes fight with at best short-term return on the investment. The whole race will be ancient history in a year’s time — unless someone foolishly stakes his reputation on the outcome.
Here I think Newt has gone out on a limb the farthest, talking to anyone who’ll turn on a live mic. I give Palin and T-Paw a pass since they’re not jumping in front of every live camera to push Hoffman’s candidacy: They made a simple (if eyebrow-raising) endorsement, and that was that. All three can be made to look foolish and trigger-happy later on if Owens wins.
October 28th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Graham floats climate compromise tying in offshore drilling
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/65227-graham-floats-climate-compromise-tying-in-offshore-drilling
October 28th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Mitt Romney won’t get the nominee in 2012. He is not conservative. Romney is another Rino’s like Huckabee, Gingrich, John McCain, Snowe, Collins, Lindsey Graham, Kay Hutchison of Texas and some members of the House of Representive. We need to get rid of these Rino’s. The Rino’s are liberal Democrats. Michael Steele need to be replace as the Chairman of the National Republican Party. It is in such a mess. Hope Mr. Hoffman will win next Tuesday night and hope it will help to send the message to the Republican Party.
October 28th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Romney’s taking the appropriate stance here.
Reagan’s 11th commandment was not to speak ill of a fellow Republican. Scozzafava is a fellow Republican whether one agrees with her positions or not.
While many of us may disagree with her postions on issues, I suspect we don’t live in her district. As much as I’d like to insist on conservative idelogical purity amoung all Republican candidates, I know that a hard-core conservative simply could never get elected in some parts of the country. Apparently party leaders in this district of New York felt she had the right positions that would find appeal among their pool of voters. We’ll see if they were right. Nationally I don’t think her positions line up with Republicans but she’s not seeking national office, she’s seeking a position to represent just those folks who live in NY-23.
As a Republican, Romney could either oppose his own party by backing Hoffman or violate his own principles by endorsing Scozzafava or simply be quiet and do neither. The last option seems right to me.
October 28th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
anonymous, can you learn to write “nomination”?
October 28th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
“NY-23. What a stupid litmus test for a candidate.” Ah no, if he one does not have the character to stand up for the democrat process, one is unfit and has no character. While Mr. Romney has shown that he does not quite have the character that P & P both have. At least he did not go off the cliff like that nutter Gingrich and endorse Queen Dede. Mr. Romney can be forgiven for TARP and MAcare, but it is almost impossible to forgive Mr. Gingrich for his underhand undemocratic shenanigans. Mr. Gingrich has declared war on Conservatives and the people and as such he is unfit to lead us.
“All three can be made to look foolish and trigger-happy later on if Owens wins.” Once again you miss the whole point. Only Mr. Gingrich is the fool. Mrs. Palin and Mr. Pawlenty did the correct thing and you are disgrace to the Romney camp and it is this type of arrogant attitude of yours that make the American people want to punish the GOP elite. You are acting no better than our party chairman acted this afternoon on the Sean Hannity Show.
October 28th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Romney has been very cautious lately. Not endorsing someone in this race (or a number of races, like Florida) and not forcefully defending ‘RomneyCare’ (although that’s a lose-lose for him).
Is he having a mini-holiday, preparing for the sprint that lasts 2 years? Or is he a frontrunner who doesn’t need to do things to make news (like T-Paw needs to do).
October 28th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
#23:
The way I see it, Romney is keeping his powder dry. The NY-23 race has exposed some rather hard and bitter feelings amongst the GOP. Romney probably feels that he shoudl try and unite the Republican Party and appear above the strife. Delving into the NY-23 race for either Scozzafava or Hoffman will tick off a decent number of people. Best to leave well enough alone.
October 28th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
22. Some no-name candidate who will be forgotten by next summer except by the Ego Maniacs who try to run the conservative blogosphere? Give me a break.
I got an email from an operations manager for a gubernatorial candidate asking for tips reaching out to the blogging community. My response? “Prepare to kiss a lot of dumb peoples asses.” That pretty much sums up Redstate and Michelle Malkin, and this whole NY-23 circus. It’s a fabricated game to help people with waning power grab some.
October 28th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
“Delving into the NY-23 race for either Scozzafava or Hoffman will tick off a decent number of people.” That is probably true in Mr. Romney’s case. There are a lot of rational Conservatives in the Romney camp, but his camp also has a bunch of out of control TARP loving elitist who want to stick to it to the Conservative people and he has to be careful not to alienate the wacko wing of his camp.
October 28th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Jonathan, I agree that he’s keeping the powder dry.
I guess the problem the likes of Huck & TPaw will face is that although they’ve made a lot of endorsements, not all of them will win. If Hoffman wins but Rubio doesn’t, say, then Sen Crist will be much less inclined to endorse them a week before the crucial Florida primary.
But risk leads to reward, and if you help a guy to win, he’ll be in your debt and that is a big help. E.g. Newsom backed Hillary in 2008, now Bill is fundraising for him and keeping him relevent in a very tough fight against Brown. Chits are collected at some point, and Romney isn’t making them.
October 28th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Sarah Palin is REALLY tired of Levi Johnston
http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/2009/10/28/sarah-palin-is-really-tired-of-levi-johnston/
First Palin suggests Letterman is a pedophile…now she insinuates her grandson’s father is a prostitute? Stay classy, Sarah…
Miss California Topless — Oops, She Did It Again
http://www.tmz.com/2009/05/13/miss-california-carrie-prejean-topless-photos/
http://thedirty.com/2009/06/10/exclusive-image-miss-california-carrie-prejean-exposed/
Palin: Prejean a “Victim of Malicious Attacks”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shannyn-moore/palin-prejean-a-victim-of_b_210018.html
I’m A Runner: Sarah Palin
http://www.runnersworld.com/photo/sarahpalin/slide2.html
http://www.runnersworld.com/photo/sarahpalin/slide7.html
October 28th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
JayPe,
Romney is choosing his battles carefully, avoiding over-exposure, and positioning himself for the future.
On the surface, it might be labeled as ‘principled’ and ‘courageous’ to endorse Hoffman. After all, he is apparently a true-blue conservative. But upon further analysis, is it smart long-term to oppose one’s own party and the local party leaders that selected their candidate when no endorsement is necessary. A wise man knows when to speak and when to be quiet and this seems to me to be a moment for silence.
October 28th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
#27:
Romney probably doesn’t feel that Hoffman will be particularly vital to his future plans. Out of the current crop of Presidential nominees, Romney would win the New York primary with relative ease. There will be tons of other conservatives to rally around between now and 2012 not in primary fights (Rob Portman and John Kasich in Ohio, Bill McCollum in Florida, Roy Blunt in Missouri). Having one chit from a guy in upstate New York probably just seems less important than getting one from the next OH or FL Governor.
October 28th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Aron, isn’t she referring to Levi’s playgirl shoot?
The whole Levi vs Palin fight is pretty ugly. One wonders where the lies stop and the truth starts.
October 28th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
“22. Some no-name candidate who will be forgotten by next summer except by the Ego Maniacs who try to run the conservative blogosphere? Give me a break.” No I will not give you a break, it is your wacko wing of the Romney camp that is giving him a big name and people like you that are dividing American Conservatives. In short you are inviting Conservatives to vote for a third party in 2012 should Mr. Romney become our nominee. Keep burning bridges with you pro-ACORN antics and we might just take you up on you offer. You are illustrate that their is not enough room in the party for both factions. Sooner or later either you guys are going to have to go and start your own party or we will. In the meantime, bring on the civil war because you have repeatedly failed to learn your lesson.
October 28th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
I wonder if staying out of the Florida senate primary doesn’t give Mitt a certain extra glee considering Crist’s last minute McCain endorsement in Florida’s ’08 primary!
October 28th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Uh. Unless I missed it – I am pretty sure Jason didn’t say anything even remotely divisive.
What is this “Wacko Wing of the Romney Camp” of which you speak?
October 28th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Of course she is, but when you refer to someone ‘selling their body for money’, it’s generally understood that they’re engaging in prostitution. Furthermore, it’s incredibly hypocritical for her to take a jab at Levi over his Playgirl shoot, in which he says he won’t be nude, when Palin jumped to the defense of Miss California, who did pose nude.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
From what I have learned about campaigns, they may have endorsements lined up, but announce them on specific days to get more bang for the buck.
This has nothing to do with NY-23, but it does have a lot to do with 2010. So even though the top four may not have come out and endorsed someone for 2010, it could be in the pipeline and they are waiting until the 2009 events are over with.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
” Uh. Unless I missed it – I am pretty sure Jason didn’t say anything even remotely divisive.
What is this “Wacko Wing of the Romney Camp” of which you speak?”
Hello, the same wing that is jumping up and down promoting a Socialism, ACORN, fiscal irresponsibly and then turning around and waving the FiCON flag. It is bad enough to chose a candidate in a smoke filled room, but to give national party fund to this clown while there is a special election in California is lunacy. It proves once again that this wing is out of touch with reality and has no clue.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
“Furthermore, it’s incredibly hypocritical for her to take a jab at Levi over his Playgirl shoot, in which he says he won’t be nude, when Palin jumped to the defense of Miss California, who did pose nude.” Really, but it is not hypocritical to demand that Mr. Hoffman show his birth certificate, but not Mr. Obama. Further, anyone who believe Levi is even more gullible than those who believe Queen Dede. I guess the moderate wing of the party is good for something: entertainment. In some respect, I have had the time of my life watching the Dede camp do intellectual summer-salts these past few days.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
… except that neither Jason nor Romney made any mention of support of Scozzafava …
October 28th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
Martha,
“Both Romney’s statement and Fehrnstrom’s explanation, make just about the most sense that I’ve heard since this whole thing started.”
Of course you think that. Mitt said it. Now if Huck had said the exact same thing, your comment would have been:
“Huckabee’s statement makes
just about the mostabsolutely no sense. (oh, and Palin’s a bimbo…..)October 28th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Martha,
BTW, weren’t you railing against endorsements of Hoffman until about an hour and a half ago?
October 28th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
40. MWS, w
Will you kindly stop putting words in my mouth, and picking senseless fights with me?
You’re just mad that your guy caved to pressure and now looks rather foolish.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
MWS,
Mitt didn’t endorse Hoffman.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
MarkG,
“Mitt is being bold in his moderation.”
LOL!!!!!! That’s the post of the thread!!!!!
October 28th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Adam,
“Mitt didn’t endorse Hoffman.”
He spoke a certain amount of volume………
October 28th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Martha,
“You’re just mad that your guy caved to pressure and now looks rather foolish.”
That makes no sense. How does Pawlenty look foolish?
By endorsing the conservative who’s going to trounce the liberal?
oooooooooh, such foolishness!!!!! If only he had spoken a certain volume, he’d be a genius!
October 28th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
41. No, I wasn’t. I think the only thing I’ve said about this is that it was blown out of proportion unnecessarily, and that Hoffman should have simply waited until the primary next year.
I’ve never railed against endorsements of Hoffman. I said Palin caved to pressure to endorse, people even going so far as to have prayer circles.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
MWS,
Actually he played it perfectly. He doesn’t endorse Dede Scozzafava because he doesn’t support her stances, presumably on gay marriage and abortion. So instead of jumping ship and actively working against our candidate – he just stayed out of it.
Seems principled to me.
You could make the argument that if Hoffman wasn’t even a candidate and it was just a two-way race, Mitt would have withheld an endorsement.
I don’t read this as an endorsement for Hoffman.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
46. Pawlenty can’t help but look like a follower. He fell for Erickson’s deadline. He should have jsut ignored it.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
OJ, I’m flattered that you count me as a Romney shill. It makes me feel that I am keeping enough skeptical distance for now. Just yesterday I got lumped with the mindless, anonymous Palindrones (thanks Adam).
Based on what little I know, I’d probably support Hoffman in NY-23, and thus the Palin-T-Paw endorsements. But that’s entirely immaterial. All I was trying to do was weigh the potential costs and benefits of the endorsing/non-endorsing tactics.
What difference could any of this make a year from now? Endorsing the loser could look foolhardy, while remaining “above the fray” will probably be uncontroversial. Having endorsed the ultimate winner might seem fantastic a month or two from now, it will not be that valuable on a national stage by the time the IA caucuses roll around.
I’d prefer Hoffman to win. But the stakes are too low for a possible presidential candidacy to hinge upon.
Mitt made the choice that is safest for the medium-to-long term, even if it appears weak in the short term.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
MWS, I’d rather any more stupid fights with you. You always lose, and I’m beginning to feel a little sorry for you.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
OJ,
Yyou are going off the deep end lately. Where did the old Joe go?
October 28th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
So if Owens wins and Hoffman comes 2nd, who gets to say I told you so?
a) Hoffman backers like TPaw & Palin
b) Dede backers like Newt & Steele
c) those who stayed out of it, like Mitt.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Martha,
” Pawlenty can’t help but look like a follower. He fell for Erickson’s deadline. He should have jsut ignored it.”
Don’t be foolish. You believe everything Pruce writes? Erickson no more made Pawlenty endorse than I made the sun come up today.
BTW, when was the deadline? Wasn’t it today?
I guess Mitt HAD to split the baby then, otherwise he’d be a follower, of Gingrich, or Palin and Pawlenty. So you’re saying that Mitt did the juvenile thing and based his decision on protecting an image?
Dang, I give Mitt more credit than that. I think he’s merely scared to offend someone.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Aron’s #35 is a good point.
You wonder if Levi could cope if Palin ran in 2012. The war of words would be even fiercer than it is now, which is saying something.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
53,
I’d go with B and C. With Scozzafava pulling in 20 percent of Democrats in initial polling it’s pretty clear that she would have won a two-person race.
The media will paint this as “more Republican infighting” and the conservative insurgency will have failed.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Adam,
“I don’t read this as an endorsement for Hoffman.”
Well, that’s part of the problem with this “perfect” play. We’re left to guess what Mitt thinks, parsing his words, and those of his spokesman.
Too bad he didn’t have the nads to just come out with it…….
October 28th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
The far right will scream “moral victory” in that case but a moral victory is still a loss.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Two scenarios for Mitt.
1) Hoffman wins. Palin and T-Paw ask Mitt why he didn’t take a stance. Mitt says, “I thought it should be up to the local voters in the district, not national party bigwigs or wannabes or other attention-seekers.” Can either P or T contradict that?
2) Owens wins. Palin and T-Paw are coy about their past endorsements. Mitt suffers no criticism for standing clear of the fight. If he takes an aggressive tack, Mitt can claim that the Palin/T-Paw endorsements caused Owen to win by splitting the conservative vote.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Yes, but if Hoffman finishes AHEAD of Dede, doesn’t that imply that he would have been the better choice of the GOP? That’s an argument the likes of TPaw could argue…
October 28th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
57,
I don’t think that’s being fair at all. Mitt actually was being a team player AND being ideologically conservative. You could make the argument that both Palin and Newt were only 1 for 2 on that score.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
#50:
This race is just unnecessarily tearing the party apart. Those of us who haven’t gone all tea-partyish have been called RINO’s, pawns of party bosses, and worse. People in our party should just agree to disagree on this race.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Adam,
How does Dede get to say I told you so if she’s third?
If you lose to the #1 contender, you don’t get to say, “it shoulda been me” when the #1 contender loses to the champ.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
60,
Probably so. But that’s not the argument. The rules were the rules and the 11 county chairs of Upstate New York made the decision. Not any of the national GOP contenders.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
63,
Because she could have EASILY won with 20 percent Democrats if the right had nowhere else to go.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
MarkG,
“What difference could any of this make a year from now?”
Not much. It’s just a fun diversion. It’s sport.
This will not make or break any Presidential candidate, no matter what they do. This will not tear the party apart, create a 3rd, 4th, or 5th party, or push the Earth off its axis. 6 months from now, hardly anyone will be talking about it. Other than we-who-need-to-be-institutionalized, nobody even gives a rip now.
What does this race mean past a year? About as close to zilch as you can get.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
“if the right had nowhere else to go”
Doesn’t that reveal an inherant flaw of the two party system? Vote for X because a vote for anyone else is wasted…
October 28th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Adam,
“if the right had nowhere else to go.”
They always have somewhere to stay on election day.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
I understand – and agree with – Romney on this one. Scozzafava is a leftist – no question. Yet Hoffman is basically telling his party to go to hell, because of very special circumstances. He doesn’t live in the district, and apparently entered this race after offering his sportsman-like congrats to the actual nominee.
Its a race between three relatively (or completely) undesirables – and while Palin and Pawlenty might stick their noses in it to gain attention, its probably wiser to let the local party and voters sort out what, in the end, will likely be a temporary and effectless House Race.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
67,
Sure it does. But it is what it is. The two party system has too much inherent advantage to ever be broken. Third party candidates are almost always just protest votes. We’ll see if that tradition holds on Tuesday.
I don’t buy the obscure conservative polling that we’ve seen over the past couple of days.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
If I learned anything from watching the 2008 primary it was that McCain had alliances with key politicians around the country and at pivitol moments, he used them and for all those undecided voters, a sudden endorsement from one’s Senator or Governor was enough to make up their minds and collectively it was enough to change the race. For anyone supporting Romney, it was unforgetable how Crist’s endorsement of McCain changed the race in Florida in one weekend.
As I see it, Romney is building alliances now and it would be foolish to alienate all the local Republican politicans in New York by endorsing someone other than their candidate of choice when silence is an option too.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
I’d vote for Levi before I’d vote for Palin.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
#72, Levi or Palin? What a horrible contest that would be. Third party, anyone?
October 28th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Absolutely. But the left is even less energized to come out. Some part of the GOP would show up simply to vote Republican (any Republican) over Obama. Couple that with a good chunk of the Democrat vote and Scozzafava was in the lead. If Erickson and Beck and some of the other grenade throwers didn’t raise the volume – then the race would look like it did in the initial poll – with Scozzafava leading by seven.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Here’s how I see the NY 23rd:
You’ve got a traitor to the party facing a traitor to the Conservative movement facing a Democrat. There is no good choice. Now this seat doesn’t have anything riding on it – its up for re-election in a year, and Democrats have such a big margin in the House that nothing is going to come close to having this as the deciding vote.
I say we let whats going to happen happen, then start over in 2010.
October 28th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
I’ll make one further point on Romney’s behalf.
Mitt’s choice here is studiously mature. How so? Let’s contrast his official non-endorsement with recent events.
We have Palin shooting from the hip at an emotional level at her ex-son-in-law-to-be when she probably shouldn’t have. With her response, she dignified his attention-seeking behavior. She has elevated Levi’s profile by bathing him in her (understandable) rage.
We have a president who made a mountain out of a mole-hill by chiming in on the Henry Louis Gates affair by shooting from the hip. The same guy has also taken sides in advocating an NCAA football playoff and an NCAA basketball “best bet.” He has also tackled Rush Limbaugh and Fox News, squandering his own potential for sweet-talking audiences of both.
Mitt is decidedly minding his own business here, and not taking sides where he has not been asked. Or do you think voters in NY-23 have lost sleep wondering what Palin, T-Paw, Romney, Steele, or Huckabee think they should do?
The 20 to 30 percent who turn out to vote in this election will remember Romney’s non-endorsement less than they will resent the endorsements that offended them.
October 28th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Adam,
“Absolutely. But the left is even less energized to come out. Some part of the GOP would show up simply to vote Republican (any Republican) over Obama…….. Scozzafava leading by seven.”
Remember though, that this is not just an off year election, this is an ODD year election, and there will be hardly anything (if anything) on the ballot in NY. The only people who would vote are old people (who ALWAYS vote, no matter what) and the VERY motivated. I think Dede’s lead would have evaporated as more of the very motivated people (those who are listening to Beck and Palin) started to learn more about Dede’s positions. They simply would not have turned out to vote for a “RINO” in their view.
October 28th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Bottom line though, this thing is a tempest in a teapot. Nobody’s really going to care what Mitt, Tim, Sarah, Newt, or Huck did or didn’t do here. There are about 1,890,633,782 issues that will be elevated about this just in the next 6 months, never mind the next 2 years.
October 28th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
With health care about to explode back on the scene, with debates and votes in Congress about to start, this will be yesterday’s news on Nov. 4th.
October 28th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
77,
We have lots of local elections going on up here. City comptroller, school budget, etc. Oneida County legislature is split 15-14 in favor of the GOP – so there’s a chance that turnout would be higher than your typical “off year” election.
And there are just plain a lot of liberal Yankee Republicans. That’s how a district with an 11-point GOP registration edge can become a “swing” district when your presidential nominee is from Texas or Arizona. Scozzafava is just a natural fit for the 23rd.
October 28th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
It’s not going to matter in two weeks. You’re right about that.
October 28th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
I overall agree with what the Romney folks are saying. He did the right thing by sitting out that whole fight.
October 28th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
#78.MWS:“Bottom line though, this thing is a tempest in a teapot.”
Exactly. Which is why Mitt is wise to stay out of it.
You stated earlier in the thread that Mitt is unreadable here. Actually, I find him very readable.
(1) Mitt will support the Republican candidate in a race unless principles get in the way.
(2) If principles get in the way, Mitt will decline to endorse the Republican candidate.
(3) He won’t endorse the opponent of the Republican.
That seems pretty straight forward to me. What do you find confusing?
I think I smell a study of the candidates that Mitt is endorsing in order to see where he is willing to put his money.
October 28th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Just an aside, I am glad I stated a day or two ago that I really don’t have a dog in this fight. My only thoughts were Dede played that reporter dustup stupidly and likely lost the race because of it. Also, the local GOP leaders needed to do some heavy navel-gazing if their lady loses.
With my man showing his hand at last, I have nothing to regret.
October 28th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
******* I have an apology for Martha *********
Martha,
Earlier in this thread, I accused you of opposing the endorsement of Hoffman until Mitt spoke and gave his did he/didn’t he endorsement/non-endorsement. I accused you of adjusting your position to fit what Mitt is currently saying. When you wrote, “Both Romney’s statement and Fehrnstrom’s explanation, make just about the most sense that I’ve heard since this whole thing started,” I basically accused you of flipping your position to continue shilling for Romney. Well, I was wrong about something. You didn’t attack those who endorsed Hoffman. You wrote this:
“I agree 100%, Benjamin. The whole party establishment needs to get behind Hoffman in a united front.”
http://race42008.com/2009/10/23/pressure-builds-for-nrcc-rnc-to-support-doug-hoffman-over-dede-scozzafava/#comment-611158
But I do have a question, Martha. Is Mitt uniting with Pawlenty and Palin to get behind Hoffman like you wanted????
October 28th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
marK,
“What do you find confusing?”
Well, when I first read the post, it seemed Mitt’s comment that his non-endorsement “should speak a certain amount of volume” was an implicit endorsement of Hoffman. I mean, really, speak a certain volume about what, exactly? The question was who we should vote for, he said “not her” basically, and said “that should speak a certain amount of volume” which leaves us with whom, exactly?
October 28th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Even though this one election isn’t going to matter in a few weeks I’m kind of irked that Palin is touted as this amazing person by Limbaugh and Beck (AGAIN) even though she actively worked against the GOP.
Again – one election – and three flawed candidates. Big deal. It won’t matter soon enough.
But…
If this move pushes other third party challengers to actively work against Republicans in other races this will be seen as a tipping point and a really bad thing. You know, at least it will be perceived as such by everyone that isn’t drunk off of the Populist Palin Punch.
October 28th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
MWS.
Mitt is stating that he doesn’t not approve of the Republican in the race, but he is not going to give aid or comfort her opponent. It is no more an implicit endorsement of Hoffman than it is an implicit endorsement of the Democrat.
October 28th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
#57 MWS:
Well, at least Romney kept his nads out of the locked box, unlike Pawleny.
October 28th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Ohio Joe,
I have said nothing about any of things you are flying off the handle about. All I am saying is the NY-23 race has been hijacked by ego maniac bloggers in an attempt drive their own career goals. When Redstate says this is a “hill to die on” I think they are referring to _their own_ relevancy, not that of the conservative wing or the GOP in general.
October 28th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
MWS, you are stalking me. That’s creepy, but whatever.
Yes, I did say that a day or 2 ago – in haste, but upon further reflection and reading a little more later that morning, I quickly realized that I was wrong. If you’ll notice, none of my other comments since then reflect that view.
So, good for you, MWS, you get the prize.
October 28th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
lkv,
“Well, at least Romney kept his nads out of the locked box, unlike Pawleny.”
Totally didn’t follow you there……
October 28th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
I always new Mitt wouldn’t endorse in this race, but by calling attention to his NONendorsement of Dede in the way he did, he made his criticism of the nomination of her explicit without bolting the party. Classy as always, finding just the right nuance for any occasion.
October 28th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Martha,
“MWS, you are stalking me.”
HA! Don’t flatter yourself. I can’t stand shilling and intellectual dishonesty (it drives me up a wall). So I took about 3 minutes to double check what your pre-Mitt-press-conference opinion was.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
94. I said that 5 days ago. None of my comments since then reflect that view, but just the opposite. I had no idea what Romney would do today.
Did you bother to read all of my other comments since that first one? Talk about intellectual dishonesty.
Why are you obsessed with me?
October 28th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
There is nothing good that can come out of this. I wonder if Pawlenty would be hurt within the party as far as donors and fundraisers are concerned if the vote is split and Owens wins.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
lkv,
We don’t have any reliable polling to go by, but it’s a pretty good bet that Owens wins this thing—unless the GOP has expanded its base monumentally in the last year or so. It’s a 3 into 2 doesn’t go situation.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Martha,
” I said that 5 days ago.”
Yes, to a dedicated Rombot, a day is like a thousand years when it comes to switching positions…..
(Martha)”Why are you obsessed with me?”
I’m not. I have discussions with all kinds of people here, Matthew, Tommy, Aron, Dave, marK, Adam, Richard, BobH, etc…. etc…… I even met “Molly” today and we had quite the exchange! It might seem like I’m “obsessed” with you if so few others are bothering to engage your thoughts.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
he also did not endorse Hoffman. Again, speaking volumes.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
MWS:92
Well, I know it wasn’t a nice thing to say, but don’t you ever listen to Rush Limbaugh?
October 28th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
#19,you can endorse Mr.Jone Van for presidential campaign in Cuba,because he is unemployment now, and he is the right man for you.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
lkv,
Sometimes. I’m not in the car a whole lot, and that’s the only time I listen to the radio. The Rush reference vaguely rings a bell, but I still can’t place it. Sorry to ruin the quip.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
98. MWS,
IG is right about you. You are hateful. Lighten up a little.
Why do you care that I was wrong in one single comment made in haste about Hoffman?
However you get your jollies, I guess.
The reason people respond to you is because you throw out intellectually dishonest zingers all the time. It’s hard to resist that.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
#102 MWS:
Google Rush Limbaugh/locked box…
October 28th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
MWS, Did you get any takers the other day when you called yourself an ass, and wondered if anyone cared to disagree?
October 28th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
once again mitt makes the pragmatic choice, has sided with newt, who knows a thing or two about forming a winning coalition.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
lkv,
gotcha.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Martha,
“Did you get any takers the other day when you called yourself an ass, and wondered if anyone cared to disagree?”
Well, marK said he wouldn’t dream of disagreeing, but I think he was just trying to be nice.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
#97 Dave:
I don’t understand why Pawlenty endorsed Hoffman, he didn’t need to, he should have stayed out of it, especially since he’s just getting things going and is in much need of state party support. But then again, it may be seen as a sign of bravery no matter what happens.
October 28th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
O ye of maximum projection..
October 28th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
He also did not endorse Scozzafava. Again, speaking volumes.
He also did not endorse Owen. Again, speaking volumes.
October 28th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
lkv,
For Pawlenty, it was a winning play. He’s low enough in the polls that he’s not risking much, and gains some traction with the Right that is all fired up about this obscure race in upstate New York.
For Mitt, it would have cost him bigtime to endorse either side, since he’s holding more than 20% of the vote, and from a variety of factions. Mitt did what he did here to not lose support on either side. It was the right move.
October 28th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Dave,
You’re probably right about Pawlenty and possibly right about Romney, but his non-endorsement does reinforce an image problem (among some) that the guy is too calculating. At any rate, I don’t think it’ll amount to much for anybody, except the person who actually wins the seat (for the next year).
October 28th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
Dave: #112
and if this new movement is only the beginning there will be more endorsements, so in a sense Pawlenty will never get away from them. Look what they did to Gingrich while knowing all along he endorsed the State GOP’s pick, it has taken it’s toll on his reputation….Palin knew what she would cause with an endorsement.
October 28th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
MWS,
Anytime you have somebody always doing things right he will be criticized for being too calculating. But that’s better than being criticized for blundering.
October 28th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
lkv,
Gingrich could afford to do what he did because he’s not going to run in 2012, and I sincerely doubt Sarah will either.
October 28th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
I applaud both Huckabee and Romney for staying out of this race. They are making the most sense. They can’t support Dede and Hoffman is pulling a Specter just on a different side of the aisle so rather than being hypocrites they are staying out of it. Smart on both their parts.
October 28th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
# 77,Beck is the high value Fox show host,he got best news and information from the Obama’s radical and communist friends in the white house,we must thanks for him and support him to go ahead,keep up the good work Beck,search for all radical and communist in the white house,to stop the change from Obama that America never know what his goal is? when we saw the communist Van Jone,Mrs. pro Mao,and other in the white house with his ‘s word “spray the wealth”,that is the right target change from Obama’s secret goal that Obama never let’s America people know,but Beck may be wrong on some thing else as he support Sarah and anti Mitt.He is free for support any one he love but if she can’t lead this great nation as Obama,so how can American people have to wait 4 or 8 more years of same fail policy,same inexperience.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:30 am
Assuming all of the potential 2012 GOP candidates are on the same team (which they should be if we want to oust Obama), this is just about exactly the way we would want NY-23 to be shaping up (minus Newt although he may have other ambitions besides being president). The two front-runners (Huck and Mitt) for the nomination get to look the most presidential and wise, but their wishes are made well-known by their own statements and the grassroots gets their voice heard loud and clear.
Palin and Pawlently get to do something that will hurt them politically, but help the party in the long-run. They kind of provide a shield for Mitt and Huck kind of like how Rudy and Fred were a shield for McCain in 2008.
P.S. I think Hoffman is going to win and that will be a very good thing. Hopefully the RNC and NRCC will learn some important lessons here and we can all move forward. If we can win NY-23 and both VA and NY Govs, were going to see a lot more GOPers throw their hats in the ring for 2010 and we must choose the best of them to lead the conservative comeback.
October 29th, 2009 at 1:01 am
I think Mitt is being very smart here. Plus, it’s probably the right thing anyways. I’d prefer an endorsement of the more conservative candidate, if they are electable…but in this case, it looks like you have to swallow a pill with Hoffman. He’s conservative, but doesn’t know jack. An endorsement could end up being a bad move, so Romney…and Huckabee are both smart on this(huckabee essentially said the same thing).
October 29th, 2009 at 1:47 am
American Enterprise Institute: Should Israel Attack Iran?
Law, Policy and Foundations for the Debate
John Bolton, John Yoo, Michael Rubin, Gregory Maggs, Edwin Williamson, Eric Posner, Danielle Pletka, Martin Indyk
http://app2.capitalreach.com/esp1204/servlet/tc?cn=aei&c=10162&s=20271&e=10825&&espmt=2
October 29th, 2009 at 2:04 am
Yeah,
I agree with Huckabee and Romney here. While i would probably support Hoffman in a primary I think our path to relevancy lies within the part. If Owens wins I blame outside attention getters, Hoffman, and of course the gop candidate for incompetence.
Also, OJ you have seriously left the reservation. You used to be slightly more sane so what happened?
October 29th, 2009 at 3:55 am
This is a good move by Mitt, if, that is a big if, Hoffman loses and Dede trails badly. Nobody wants to tarred with the brush of backing a loser. Pawlenty would definitely be a loser here. Even Palin might lose a little support.
But if Hoffman wins, Palin will shoot ahead leaving Mitt in the dust and Pawlenty will get some juice from the endorsement as well.
Mitt is not wrong not to endorse anybody in this race, as Gingrich is not wrong either by endorsing Scozzafava.
Decisions or indecision often tip the balance in the course of history. Tuesday we will learn more of the lay of the land in 2010.
October 29th, 2009 at 4:44 am
“Also, OJ you have seriously left the reservation. You used to be slightly more sane so what happened?” First of all, I never claimed to be more sane than the rest of you, but, yeah it is safe to say that I am more P#$$ off than usual. In short, what I like best about The United States, is that I have religious freedom, economic freedom and political freedom. The rest of you are perfectly free to agree or disagree on why you love America. To be clear, I do not know what makes Dede’s mind tick so I do not touch the issue of her motives. However, unless I am missing something, she stands for nothing that I do and I think that the way she was chosen by the party bosses must be stopped in its tracks.
Why do I care about some little part of the country that I never lived in (but have visited?) Because I do not want this undemocratic cancer to spread to my state. And politically, it would be one thing to say to me ‘hold your nose, ignore her on social issue because she is a capitalist Pro Defense.’ She is an outright Tax and spend Liberal. There is nothing even moderate about her. After a year of the party elite & party boss thumbing their nose at capitalism, Conservatism and now the democratic process, I am reaching my breaking point. The party is going backwards, not forwards and it is wasting money on this non-sense. Yes I have said some nasty things to many of you over the last few day and yes very few of you are outright liberals. However, I fail to understand why so many of you promote this ACORN trouble maker. I simply do not believe the American people (even in NY-23) want such non-sense, but the party does not care what we think.
I will promote Conservatism the best I can no matter how crazy people think because I for one think that things need to be turned around. I have given money the the party and helped local GOP candidates for years. And I will continue to help local Republicans and give them money, I think my days of giving to the national party are finished.
October 29th, 2009 at 7:17 am
All and all I respect Gov. Romney…If you can’t whole heartedly endorse with conviction then don’t lead others astray to follow the crowd..I think without an endorsement speaks volumes. Smart move and not promoting 3rd Party division. I don’t know about you, but I am loyal. Maybe, I would not endorse Crist either…I remember the time line lies surrounding Florida and 2008…and besides he might really prefer Rubio..however, not being a hypocrite and going with the tide..again speaks volumes..Sometimes less is better….Romney 2012…Excuse me, Mitt is an ADULT!!!
October 29th, 2009 at 7:47 am
Paulee,
“Excuse me, Mitt is an ADULT!!!”
No argument there. But are you implying that endorsing candidates is childish?
October 29th, 2009 at 8:02 am
That was my point, mark. He did the ADULT thing and did not endorse anyone. Why spend poltical capital at the candy store? Wait for the big blow out.
October 29th, 2009 at 8:33 am
#127.Knickers:“That was my point, mark.”
“I have not the pleasure of understanding you. Of what are you talking?”
October 29th, 2009 at 8:44 am
“No argument there. But are you implying that endorsing candidates is childish?” Yes all things being equal Mr. Romney is an adult (and a good person to boot.) However, if we are going to label people childish for making an endorsement than maybe it is childish to make a policy endorsement, but that is another can of worms.
October 29th, 2009 at 9:04 am
Sorry. thought it was you about the non endorsement of Mitt speaking volumes on ANY candidate in NY-23.
October 29th, 2009 at 10:32 am
129 – earlier you were talking about people in Mitt’s camp supporting ACORN. Who??
October 29th, 2009 at 11:00 am
By the way, Kos is going to show Owens leading Hoffman 33-32 with Dede at 21%. Last week, Kos showed Hoffman at 21% with Owens at 35% and Dede at 30%.
October 29th, 2009 at 11:01 am
“129 – earlier you were talking about people in Mitt’s camp supporting ACORN. Who??” With respect GetReal, I will give you the short version without naming names. While Mr. Romney himself has essentially stayed out of NY-23, I do not think it is a secret that at least a segment of his camp were (still are) rather enthusiastic for Ms. Scozzafava. While these people do not probably understand the seriousness of ACORN’s problem, they have for what ever reason chosen to support an ACORN backed candidate. Yes, they can try to wash their hands by say that she is a Republican despite the fact that this woman chosen in a smoke filled room does not believe in any Rebupican principle accept for the Right to bear Arms, that is all. Among other thing, I am particularly fed up with the party elite (not all are in the Romney camp) who told us at the begining of this year ‘oh do not worry, ACORN is no big deal.’ So fool me once (or twice) shame on you (not you, but the party elite) and now I am supposed to trust them again. So while the party elite may not back ACORN directly, they do not oppose them in a serious matter obviously.
Sometimes I get the feeling that the party elite actually knows the trouble they cause, but they take sick plesure in rising our blood pressure by ignoring the will of the American people. Either way, I no longer trust them. Fortunately there are decent people in the Romney camp (I know a few of them personally.) A Romneyite friend of mine sat in between a Palinite Congressial candidate and I at a recent local fund-raiser. He even saw right through the arrogance of our State party Chairman who pretended not to know about what was going on in NY-23. Fortunately it is these kind of decent people in the Romney camp that indirectly helped Mr. Romney from endorsing Ms. Scozzafava. However, there still are too many people in his camp that frankly either enjoy sticking to the American people or have no clue of what the people want and frankly this concerns me. I just pray that the decent people within the Romney camp win the day and that in the end they are able to influence him more than the other wing of his camp.
October 29th, 2009 at 11:03 am
“By the way, Kos is going to show Owens leading Hoffman 33-32 with Dede at 21%” Well it is a two man race after all.
October 29th, 2009 at 11:16 am
#133,
So the shortest version is some Romney people support Scozzafava, and ACORN supports Scozzafava. Therefore some Romney people support ACORN?
Have you never heard the expression, “Politics make strange bed-fellows”?
October 29th, 2009 at 11:19 am
BTW, does anyone know how good of a track record the Kos poll has? I would hate to be guilty of dismissing it simply because I don’t like their politics.
October 29th, 2009 at 11:27 am
MarK,
The pollster that Kos commissions, Research 2K, is pretty good for state-by-state polling. But the fact is undeniable at this point: it’s a two-person race and in that two-person race, Hoffman has all the momentum.
I’d say Hoffman has the lead given what Kos showed in the crosstabs last time. The sample was a little too favorable to the Democrat.
October 29th, 2009 at 11:27 am
“Have you never heard the expression, “Politics make strange bed-fellows”?” Yes I have and yes this is more true on the local level. I can cut some of these people some slack, but frankly I do not trust all of them. If this was the first time they chose such bed fellows, I might not be so excited, but when one sleeps with strange bed-fellow after 3 or 4 times, let’s just say, I sit up.
October 29th, 2009 at 11:30 am
“I’d say Hoffman has the lead given what Kos showed in the crosstabs last time. The sample was a little too favorable to the Democrat.” From what little I know, I’d say that is not a bad analysis Tommy Boy.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
OJ, you are off the deep end again.
“While Mr. Romney himself has essentially stayed out of NY-23, I do not think it is a secret that at least a segment of his camp were (still are) rather enthusiastic for Ms. Scozzafava.”
As far as I see, NO ONE is “rather enthusiastic” for Scozzofava! That’s just completely unfounded to say that Romney supporters are. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that some – some Romney supporters as well as people in all camps, are not in favor of a third party conservative splitting the vote and giving the seat to the democrat, but that’s a far cry from being enthusiastic for Dede.
And, I don’t know anyone – in the party elite or not, who said don’t worry about ACORN. Especially Romney people.
But all that is small potatoes compared to you next ‘analysis’:
“Fortunately it is these kind of decent people in the Romney camp that indirectly helped Mr. Romney from endorsing Ms. Scozzafava. However, there still are too many people in his camp that frankly either enjoy sticking to the American people or have no clue of what the people want and frankly this concerns me. I just pray that the decent people within the Romney camp win the day and that in the end they are able to influence him more than the other wing of his camp.”
That is just so convoluted, and false, that I don’t really know where to begin. You are starting to spend a lot more time in LA LA land these days, OJ.
1. You think people ‘helped’ Romney from endorsing Scozzafova? So you don’t think Romney has a mind of his own and knows where he wants to go – even though he has a great track record of endorsments. Right . . .
2. You think people in the Romney camp enjoy sticking it to the American people just for kicks. Right . . .
3. You think Romney is easily swayed by every drifting wind within his “camp”. If so, you don’t understand Romney very well, and you severely underestimate him.
Like I said yesterday. Where did the old Joe go?
October 29th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
I’m hoping Hoffman tanks, and tanks big time. I don’t want third parties diluting the votes ala perot. This chap could not even be bothered to show up for a debate. He’s using that knee jerk play book that the press is ‘biased’, and I want him going down and out. If he can’t stand up to the press, how can he stand up to peolsi? Just wait a few months and run in the primary against Dede.
If the GOP in NY-23 wanted him, they would have chosen him. He’s not conservative. He’s just a carpetbagger imo.
October 29th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Look, this whole episode actually does speak volumes. Romney, ever the Republican, is a sought after endorsement. Candidates want both his name and his PAC funds which he generously gives to candidates he supports. So what this says in volume to be heard throughout the party is be on the right side of the issues if you want his support. If you can be a conservative Republican, you will earn his support. It will encourage more McDonnells and Christies and fewer Scozzafavas in the long run. It strengthens the party when one encourages candidates to return to conservative party principles or rather discourages liberal principles and practices.
October 29th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Knickers and Lori, well said.
October 29th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
It’s ALWAYS best to step up and STRONGLY endorse the better candidate. Be bold with your core principles and quit the petty politics or lose.
It’s simple. Yet, some will never ever ever ever learn and that’s why they’re called flip-floppers and lag behind in every poll WITHOUT gaining ground.
The public perceptions are correct. Wakeup, unite and take back the White House, my friends. It’s going our way… WE WILL WIN IN 2012!
October 29th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
“I don’t want third parties diluting the votes ala perot. ” That is what you did in 2008.
October 29th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
145. What? Knickers did not vote third party in 08.
October 29th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
#144 — We will NOT win with either Huckabee or Palin at the top of the ticket. Mark my words.
October 29th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Romney is smart to avoid the circular firing squad forming in the NY-23 race.
If the Democrat wins, will these Romney detractors blame him?
Romney once again shows he has brains..
October 30th, 2009 at 11:51 am
[...] who made a point of publicly NOT endorsing Scozzafava in the contentious NY-23 race (see my post Romney shows hand, but doesn’t play it ), Mike Huckabee is playing his cards close to his chest. This is causing some consternation [...]