Here is the video of the interview. He spoke about Obamacare, it’s problems, and how it relates to MassCare. He talked terrorism and the response of the Obama Administration to the Undie-bomber. He talked about the economy and how to get it moving again.
In the last segment, he praised several Republicans by name. Sarah Palin was one of them. He mentioned the Massachusetts Senate race, and he talked a little about his future plans.
On that topic, he stated that he would have no serious discussions about running or not until after the November elections, maybe even not until next year. I believe the first part of that, but if you seriously believe he is going to wait until next year to discuss it, I’ve got some ocean-front property to sell you right here in Reno, Nevada. 
Part #1
Part #2
All in all, a good interview.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:22 am
How did you get those to embed Mark? I just tried and it didn’t work. Did you use just the regular embed code, or did you have to do something else?
January 9th, 2010 at 12:25 am
Mitt shredded the administration in this interview. Shades of things to come.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:28 am
Good interview. At this point I don’t see him taking any of the southern states or plain states. he is stronger in the west and northeast. midwest is a toss up
January 9th, 2010 at 12:28 am
Nate,
The Fox site had some code to copy. I copied it. It worked. Beyond that, I can’t say. You could always view the source of this page to examine the code if you want
January 9th, 2010 at 12:33 am
#4 Huh. I did that. I had no problem embedding it at my own blog. But I’ve had that same problem with non youtube videos here before. My guess is I don’t have permissions to embed outside flash objects. Maybe I can talk to Kavon about that.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:33 am
AK:
Well, at this point, I don’t see the Republicans losing 2012 unless we put up another Barack Obama. The people are going to want someone with substance beyond just a nice smile and a dynamite speech delivery.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:34 am
It wasn’t a bad interview, but I don’t think he made any converts which isn’t a big deal. Right now the would-be candidates just need to keep their name out there, do an interview or two and not make any mistakes.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:35 am
Pretty good interview.
But, one piece of advice, Mitt. Drop that stupid smirk in between answers while you’re listening to the question. When you say something like “Washington is the most corrupt it’s been in many, many years” you don’t end your thought with a smirk.
Bad, bad habit.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:40 am
Well, at least he can think and answer questions with nary a teleprompter in sight.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:42 am
True.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:47 am
MWS,
That is good advice. Mitt is a happy, positive person. He just is. However, smiling while describing wholesale corruption is probably not a good idea if he wants to be taken seriously.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:53 am
I also don’t remember Mitt going after “Washington corruption” as much in 2008. Was that out of deference to President Bush? Or is this a new theme that Romney will push in 2012?
January 9th, 2010 at 12:54 am
MWS,
I have noticed the smirk too, but I think that is just the look his face naturally “defaults” to when he is listening to a question and knows he is on camera so he is trying to look like (and actually IS BEING) a careful listener. Unfortunately for him (and me as a supporter) his “listening intently” face looks a bit like a pompous smirk. I actually think if he could get that under control then people would trust him more.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:55 am
I rather like the smirk.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:55 am
Thanks for all your work today, Mark. Good job.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:55 am
Both.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:57 am
Good Interview but Romney needs to stop acting like he is running in the 2012 general election against Obama. He could cut out some of the Obama bashing in my opinion. Right now he needs to come across as a likable, intelligent, competent, and experienced alternative to Barack without turning those who voted for Obama off with too much bashing of the President.
There are many people who voted for Obama but aren’t happy with him now and are already considering making a different choice for 2012. However, they are invested in Obama and still personally like him. To win them over, I believe Romney needs to go light on the Obama criticisms and try and gain as much favorable opinion as possible among moderates and independents by simply offering a clear, logical alternate vision for America and articulating why his ideas are superior. In short, he needs to sell himself and his ideas instead of trashing the President.
It was a good interview but Romney could leave the bashing to Hannity and Rush.
One bit of advice Romney offered that we should all pay attention to: Go give Scott Brown some money. If he wins in Massachusetts, the balance of power in the US Senate will begin to shift now instead of in November and it would end the fillibuster-proof majority Harry Reid & Co. currently enjoy.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:58 am
Jonathan:“I also don’t remember Mitt going after “Washington corruption” as much in 2008. Was that out of deference to President Bush? Or is this a new theme that Romney will push in 2012?”
There is always corruption. Wherever there is power and/or money, there is corruption. Having said that, Obama and the Democrats have really turned up the knob on corruption in Washington this past year. What gets to me is that they don’t really seem to care about it. At least the Republicans had the decency to look embarrassed by it all. The Democrats seem to be saying, “I’m in charge, and that is just the way it is. Deal with it”. That is not a pretty picture.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:00 am
#16:
He gets more points for the 1st one from me. In 2008 my big beef with Huckabee was that he seemed more willing than a Republican should have been, to take shots at President Bush. Kicking a man when he’s down is not only unchivalrous, but also a big turn-off.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:03 am
Oh I don’t think he was bashed Obama too much. Like for example when Greta tried to grill him on who Obama should fire. Romney refused to bite, stating quite emphatically that he doesn’t do scapegoats. If careful reviews shows that someone isn’t doing their job, then they should be re-assigned or fired if needed.
That is a position that I wholeheartedly agree with. Romney knows that if your people fear you, it isolates you from being the effective leader you need to be.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:06 am
Here’s one pose Mitt could strike if he doesn’t want to smirk about corruption, job losses, and terrorism.
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/savings-and-loans-3.jpg
January 9th, 2010 at 1:08 am
or this:
http://cache1.asset-cache.net/xc/51065963.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1939847EC77F5F8D1CEFF76CAFAB13F81FE39F71A9C9BC19C35
January 9th, 2010 at 1:09 am
MWS,
The link on #22 didn’t work.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:10 am
Clinton was a master of facial expression. Some were a bit overboard, but he certainly got people believing that not only did he feel their pain, but that he was one of them. I think he probably practiced them regularly in front of a mirror.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:11 am
marK,
Try this:
http://www.life.com/image/51065963
January 9th, 2010 at 1:13 am
17. The problem with not going after Obama is that when he doesn’t, he gets criticized for being too soft.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:13 am
Here’s how you listen to a question….
http://www.life.com/image/2633998
January 9th, 2010 at 1:14 am
MWS,
Ah the good old days! Except then we didn’t know they were the good old days.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:15 am
In case you missed it, Ron Paul was on CNN with Anderson Cooper today also talking Palin, CPAC, and the Tea Party.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:17 am
MWS,
I think my favorite political look of all time was during one of the debates between Ford and Carter clear back in 1976. Carter made the airy assertion that had been making the rounds among liberal pundits that Ford had issued more vetoes than any other President. Ford shot back with facts and figures of several other Presidents who had issued more, and then he brought up the fact that “Governor Carter had issued more vetoes than me while serving as chief executive of the State of Georgia.” The look that Carter gave him at that point was absolutely classic. He for sure wasn’t thinking very many Christian thoughts at that precise moment.
You should see if you could dig up a copy. THAT one I’d like to see again.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:17 am
Martha,
It’s like the old prayer on Wall Street….
“Please God, just one more bubble!”
January 9th, 2010 at 1:19 am
marK,
This?
http://blogs.lancasteronline.com/flashbacklancaster/files/2008/10/debate-6.jpg
January 9th, 2010 at 1:20 am
marK,
I may have found it, but the comment didn’t post. Am I caught in the spam filter for too many links?
January 9th, 2010 at 1:20 am
17. I agree with you but those criticisms come from Republicans. I have moderate/independent-voter friends who like Romney and respect him for his intelligence and experience (unlike Palin whom they consider dumb) but he looses them when he says nasty things about Barack. Although they are increasingly unhappy with Obama, they still defend him and detest his critics. Romney doesn’t need to be seen as an Obama critic but simply as an alternative that over time will start to make more and more sense to them.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:26 am
34. I see your point.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:27 am
MWS,
I fixed it for you. It was in the SPAM filter.
I don’t think so. The look I am thinking of was on network TV. It was a closeup of Carter’s face. Hoo-boy. If looks could kill…
January 9th, 2010 at 1:29 am
34. So your friends say Palin is dumb?
Listen up Buster and listen up good -
Time for smarter friends!
January 9th, 2010 at 1:50 am
Since Ci2Eye sounds nice, I’ll hold off on my usual screed about anecdotes (e.g. I talked to these friends of mine and thus, what these friends say is representative of how people who share a similar political philosophy to my friends think).
January 9th, 2010 at 1:58 am
#37
Sorry but yes, they think she’s dumb and would never, ever vote for her. They talk of an anti-intellectualism among the Republican Party and of discrediting education. She and Huckabee are not respected because of their lack of relevant formal education and populist approach to issues. Romney, on the other hand, they do respect. He has impeccable credentials and I could convince them to like him and maybe even to vote for him UNTIL he trashes Obama whom they worked tirelessly for and still like although they now view him as a poor leader. Romney looses them though when he sounds too much like Limbaugh and Hannity.
January 9th, 2010 at 2:01 am
#38, TB,
Thanks for the latitude.
January 9th, 2010 at 2:14 am
39, my friend,
Tell your moderate friends that we all don’t graduate Ivy League like the bums that have got us into this mess. (Bush, Obama, Wall Street geniuses and certain members in the leadership of Congress, etc. etc. etc.)
BTW, Mike Huckabee graduated magna cum laude from Ouachita Baptist University, completing his bachelor’s degree in Religion in 2½ years before attending Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
AND, Sarah Palin graduated from the University of Idaho where she received her Bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in journalism.
Lincoln and Reagan did just fine without Obama’s schooling, as well.
January 9th, 2010 at 2:21 am
Palin’s Sarahpac numbers are going to be out soon. Expect huge numbers from small donations. she raised 400,000 in july, and a lot during her book tour.
Sarahpac will be at around 1.2 million in this half.
January 9th, 2010 at 2:23 am
I hate to admit it, but I’ve got lots of moderate Democrats in the extended family and some of them campaigned actively for Obama.
And yes, they are starting to feel sorry about The One but aren’t ready to throw him under the bus yet.
But they are starting to look at the Republicans and Romney and some other are starting to look good to them……but they really dislike Sarah Palin and they really dislike Obama bashing unless their side is doing it. Some of them also kind of like Huckabee, but they don’t know much about him except his show.
FYI
January 9th, 2010 at 2:25 am
#42…..I’m not a Palin supporter but I expect she did better than that for the entire 6-month period.
January 9th, 2010 at 2:28 am
Scott Brown swearing-in would be stalled to pass health-care reform
http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1224249&format=text
January 9th, 2010 at 2:30 am
my mother is the only liberal in my family.
overall I am a hardcore libertarian, free markets free minds. I live in Eugene Oregon (lots of libs), but the other side of my familly lives up in fairbanks AK (I go there every summer). met Sarah twice, both times in fairbanks before her resignation speech.
January 9th, 2010 at 2:30 am
U.S. Job Losses in December Dim Hopes for Quick Upswing
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/09/business/economy/09jobs.html?pagewanted=print
Obama Tries to Turn Focus to Jobs, if Other Events Allow
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/09/business/economy/09assess.html?pagewanted=print
January 9th, 2010 at 2:34 am
Should Palin skip CPAC?
by Allahpundit
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/01/08/should-palin-skip-cpac/
January 9th, 2010 at 2:37 am
There are ways to indict Obama and the Democrats without coming out looking like you are attacking their integrity, which most non-conservative partisans would recoil at.
Attack the problems, not the people
January 9th, 2010 at 2:45 am
#41,
That’s just it…Huckabee has degrees in Religion but if one believes most religion consists of made-up fairy tales (for the record, I don’t) then such a degree carries no respect. Likewise, Palin’s degree was in Journalism and took her something like six years and five different schools to get which isn’t exactly impreesive. Thus, neither have respectable, relevant education and they really loose these folks when they don’t “respect science” which basically means they discount the work of Charles Darwin.
Romney doesn’t loose them though. They’ll listen to him and consider him but like Jerald said above, only they are allowed to criticize Obama. They are starting to do that but when a Republican does it, they get linked to Hannity, Beck, and Limbaugh and, frankly, they become the enemy. That’s why I’d advise Romney to cool the anti-Obama rhetoric and simply try to sound like a smart, articulate guy who has the experience to lead where Obama increasingly looks in over his head and like a guy who is all talk.
January 9th, 2010 at 2:50 am
Ci2eye,
Since you threw in the statement about Darwin, I’m obliged to cite to this non-Rasmussen poll.
On Darwin’s Birthday, Only 4 in 10 Believe in Evolution
http://www.gallup.com/poll/114544/darwin-birthday-believe-evolution.aspx
January 9th, 2010 at 3:01 am
#51, TB,
Okay, I checked it out. The numbers are 39 percent believe, 25 percent do not, and 36 percent had no opinion. I don’t want to start an evolution debate but the believers are still the largest group and Republicans can’t win if our candidate alienates nearly 40 percent of the electorate.
Also, since earlier you referenced my use of anecdotal statements, there is polling out there that shows Romney’s favorability declining over the last six months or so and I would argue that it occured because of his increased attacks on the President.
January 9th, 2010 at 3:06 am
If Brown wins can we stop the HCR legislation? When will he take the oath if he wins??
January 9th, 2010 at 3:07 am
Oh AKR has answered me thanks. Bloody democrats.
January 9th, 2010 at 3:14 am
Sen. Fred Thompson Says Obama is Treating Terrorists as if they “Robbed a Liquor Store”
http://www.freedomslighthouse.com/2010/01/sen-fred-thompson-says-obama-is.html
Obama Takes a New Route to Opposing Parts of Laws
The Obama administration is lowering the volume in a long-running argument between Congress and the executive branch over when, if ever, a president has the power to bypass federal statutes he has signed into law.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/09/us/politics/09signing.html?ref=us&pagewanted=print
Senate candidates clash in second-to-last debate
Democrat Martha Coakley and Republican Scott Brown used their sharpest terms yet Friday as the two Massachusetts politicians clashed in the second-to-last debate of the campaign to succeed the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/01/08/would_be_kennedy_successors_clash_in_wmass_debate/
Martha Coakley, Scott Brown face off in ‘feisty’ debate
http://bostonherald.com/news/politics/view/20100108would-be_kennedy_successors_clash_in_springfield_debate/srvc=home&position=3
January 9th, 2010 at 3:23 am
C2i,
Another poll:
Evolution, Creationism, Intelligent Design
http://www.gallup.com/poll/21814/Evolution-Creationism-Intelligent-Design.aspx
January 9th, 2010 at 3:35 am
#52 Perhaps that’s the reason though there has been absolutely no significant improvement to his favorable rating among Republicans (in fact, some polling suggests a significant decline) in the polling over the last six months. I’m skeptical of your theory because you would think if it were true, then he’d see an improvement to his favorable rating among Republicans.
Of course, another possible explanation may be that he’s a trapped man, meaning that he’s been “Blanche Lincolned.” Under this explanation, your theory about moderates/indies not liking him because of his attacks decreases his rating among these folks while Republicans/conservatives won’t give him credit for these attacks anyway and thus, you see no improvement to his favorable rating among Republicans.
You could be right (I hope you aren’t
) but I would cite the improvement to Palin’s favorable rating among independents as strong evidence against your initial theory with Romney.
http://www.resurgentrepublic.com/system/assets/137/original/Battleground-38-Analysis.pdf
January 9th, 2010 at 3:39 am
50, Didn’t Huck many times say GOD created us and
HE may have created evolution, as well…
Since we don’t know exactly how he created the world. ???
But Mike does NOT believe SOLELY in evolution. He believes in GOD and whatever wondrous processes HE decided to use to create EVERYTHING.
January 9th, 2010 at 3:40 am
#54,
I’d say we’d have to see how that plays out. The Dems would have to refuse to allow the duly-elected freshman Senator from Massachusetts from being seated and participating and as the article states, there is a precedent in Massachusetts where a House member was seated three days after the election.
Consider the irony. Health care reform was Ted Kennedy’s signature issue. He fought for it all his life. He also fought for Massachusetts law to be changed so then Governor Mitt Romney couldn’t appoint a Republican successor to replace Senator John Kerry in 2004 when it appeared he might defeat Bush. The law was changed as Kennedy wanted. Then Kennedy flip-flopped. When he was near death and the Commonwealth was then run by Democrat Duval Patrick, Kennedy thought the Governor be able to appoint a temporary successor. The law was changed again and a temporary successsor was named. At the time, Democrats cited the need to get another Democrat vote into the health care debate immediately. But the obvious sleeziness of the whole affair has turned off many voters to the Democrats. Now, a Republican could win the seat before the health care debate resumes and a vote is held. His vote, if allowed, could impact the outcome and have a very poetic irony.
January 9th, 2010 at 3:46 am
56. Tommy, THANK YOU
That poll sums up my #58 post.
Thanks, again
January 9th, 2010 at 3:58 am
#57,
Perhaps I am overly simplistic but I think the attention focused on the Massachusetts health care program hurt Romney with Republicans and the bashing hurt him with Democrats. I think Palin simply benefitted from all the media attention she received as part of her book tour and because in most interviews, she exceeded expectations and was very likable.
January 9th, 2010 at 4:11 am
Ci2Eye,
Could you do me a favor? I normally don’t harp on spelling since I am such a lousy speller. I am hardly faultless in the matter. However, could you please use “loss”, “lose”, and “loose” correctly? It’s difficult to credit a post about the importance of an education when the poster misuses these words.
“Loss” rhymes with boss. Sentence: “My loss, your gain.”
“Lose” rhymes with whose. Sentence: “Did you lose something?”
“Loose” rhymes with noose. Sentence: “The dog is loose.”
Thanks.
January 9th, 2010 at 4:12 am
Ci2Eye – I mostly agree with what you posted about Obama bashing, Moderates current options, etc. Gotta tell you, I have been following Romney for sometime now. In this interview, for the first time I think, I got the impression he was “smoldering” a bit. One of the first things Gov. Romney talked about was the possible refusal to set Brown if elected. Mitt’s track record indicates he not going to bring it up if “its” not being talked about. Did I mention that it was one of the first things he talked about?..:) It was on he’s mind and he was pissed. In addition, he answered questions even MORE direct than usual. Its always been my option Romney fights the PC/idiot factor of the audience/interviewer’s. Tonight, for the first time I saw some edge’s peel back just abit to reveal a pissed and worried Mitt Romney. Just my observations but I have been observing for some time now….hope that helps with you friends. They sound like intelligent ppl.
January 9th, 2010 at 4:42 am
Since the subject has been brooched on the blog string concerning academic credentials by our friend “Nnromneycare, NoObamacare” allow me to make the comparision between Romney, Huck, Palin..
Mike Huckabee
Undergraduate
Graduated magna cum laude from Ouachita Baptist University, completing his bachelor’s degree in Religion in 2½ years before attending Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
Sarah Palin
Undergraduate
University of Idaho – where she received her Bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in journalism.(6 years or so to complete Not knocking, just saying to be fair to Huck)
Mitt Romney
Undergraduate
Brigham Young University – Valedictorian
Graduate School
Harvard – both Law Degree and MBA…. AT THE SAME TIME!!
He graduated Cum Laude from the law school and was named a Baker Scholar for graduating in the top five percent of his business school class.
January 9th, 2010 at 4:48 am
#61
I don’t disagree though I wonder how important it is that he’s been “hurt” with Democrats considering that at most 15% of Democrats will vote for the Republican candidate and the types of Democrats that you describe are the types that polling suggest stil overwhelmingly disapprove of Obama. The types of Democrats moving away from Obama are not moderate/liberal Democrats but rather conservative Democrats who have a cultural antipathy towards our party.
I’m not really following the first point that people often make about media coverage. How does getting media coverage alone help one’s favorable rating? Obama has gotten more media coverage than anyone (because he’s the president of course) but his approval and favorable rating have dropped dramatically in the course of a year. So I’m not a believer in the argument that if you give someone media coverage, that person’s favorable ratings will improve.
January 9th, 2010 at 4:56 am
“suggest stil overwhelmingly disapprove of Obama” should read “suggests still overwhelminly approve of Obama.”
January 9th, 2010 at 5:22 am
The BEST QUESTION for Romney:
How does it feel that 10% of Americans are unemplyoed while you have your multi-millions with you?
His most probable answer: I’m not sitting around. I’ve been campaigning to become the most powerful person since 2007. I will not stop even if it takes spendiong a little of my millions until I get my ambition. The poor Americans, damned them! The elitist insiders are all on my side now.
January 9th, 2010 at 5:31 am
Really? This blog string was going great, good points on both sides, civil and intellectual debate of differing view points and then you appear. Here’s an Idea you would like. Let everyone that has more that $10,000 in the bank give it to the government. That way everyone can live off of the work and ambitions of others until there is no work or ambition…GRRRR I hate BS evny and it shames me, as an American…Im just going to stop now, there is no point and Im taking the bait I suppose.
January 9th, 2010 at 5:39 am
Huckabee doesn’t believe in evolution, period. That’s a good litmus if there ever was one.
Sure educational experience is overrated, but just listen to Palin speak. You are in the tank for her and kidding yourself if for one second you think she sounds intelligent. It’s not even a matter of articulation; she can’t explain a single non-social policy beyond talking points. See her India-Pakistan response in the Greta interview. She sounded comparable to Ms. South Carolina 2008, like a total moron with no idea what she’s talking about.
Look, Obama may be over-reliant on his teleprompter and poor on the stump. His positions are completely impractical and ideological way out in left field, but at least he explains them to a point where he conveys at least a basic understanding of the foundational concepts of those issues. His conclusions clearly suck, but he’s a moron for subscribing to a stupid ideology, not for any lack of intelligence, like Palin.
January 9th, 2010 at 5:41 am
StephenJacksonville Says:
January 9th, 2010 at 5:31 am
Really? This blog string was going great, good points on both sides, civil and intellectual debate of differing view points and then you appear. Here’s an Idea you would like. Let everyone that has more that $10,000 in the bank give it to the government. That way everyone can live off of the work and ambitions of others until there is no work or ambition…GRRRR I hate BS evny and it shames me, as an American…Im just going to stop now, there is no point and Im taking the bait I suppose.
Elitist!
January 9th, 2010 at 5:52 am
Nate,
Good points but I do think its important to remember that McCain went to her for VP. That’s were all of this started. Not knocking McCain (he took a swing for the fences) nor Palin, can’t blame her for all of the attention and excitement. My hope is, in the end, she puts her country first and not her “Celebrity”…I’m fairly confident she will.
January 9th, 2010 at 6:02 am
“Scott Brown swearing-in would be stalled to pass health-care reform”
So we are wasting our money if we donate to him?
The quality of the video was fading in and out so I did not watch the whaole thing. To Mr. Romney’s credit, for the first time since his CPAC speech, he actually stood up for the people and he promoted the TEA Party for once. Perhaps his inner circle is finally allowing him to see reality. It will be interesting to see if the elite wing of his camp get angry at him promoting the Tea Party movement. In short I am glad that he is finally standing up to part of his own camp and perhaps he has a pair after all.
January 9th, 2010 at 6:08 am
Morning Joe!
Althougth this is not the first time he has talked about the Tea Party movement, he sure is alot more these days. I have been a observer of Romney’s for some time now but this is the first time I’ve seen him, well, angry!
January 9th, 2010 at 6:41 am
Good early morning to you too Stephen:
By the sounds of it, you have probably observed Mr. Romney a bit better than I, as you figured out, I belong to a different camp. Despite being a Palinite, I do follow the other camp. Among other things, I have been rather angry over the past months. Frankly, I think many grass roots Conservatives have been angry in 2009 for various reasons (some should be obvious.) I realize that all things being equal, it is not good for politicians to be angry. I further realize that becase of their persona and the make up of their camp and other factors, it can actually be quite damaging for certain politicians. However, all politicians must show at least a bit of passion and charisma. Frankly, Mr. Romney has to work on this. Several months back I heard Mr. Romney being interviewed by Mr. Hannity and I was impressed by the way he explained himself (although I did not agree 100%) and he used just the right amount of emotion. He showed he was there without over doing it. But back to the issue at hand, I am glad that Mr. Romney is promoting Tea Partyism to a degree. I appresiate the fact that certain elements in his camp won’t allow him to get too deep into the movement, but if he does not at least show respect to the movement, he will have trouble building trust among many Conservatives.
January 9th, 2010 at 7:18 am
Angry sure did Dr Dean the world of good.
January 9th, 2010 at 7:20 am
72 – Ohio Joe – We are not wasting our money if we donate to Scott Brown. Could you imagine the even worse political ramifications for the Dems if the refuse to certify the election so they can get through Health Care? The outcry would be enormous…and the Dems would suffer big time…
January 9th, 2010 at 8:34 am
72. OJ,
You are making the same old charges, when you know they are not true. Romney has always supported the Tea Party movement. I’ve heard him asked many times. He actually “stands up for the people” all the time! You know this. You are making up a meme about him that you know is false, simply to have something to bash him with.
“Finally standing up to his own camp”? What the heck does that mean OJ? It’s really weird how you think you know Romney’s “camp”. You make all sorts of assumptions that are off base.
I’m pretty sure Romney knows what he’s doing OJ. You sound as if Romney can’t think for himself, and is being handled by advisors. If you’ve learned anything about him after all these years, you ought to know he’s a man who can think for himself.
As a grassroots conservative, I’ll tell you what makes me angry. People who try to divide the party for their own personal benefit. Get the picture?
January 9th, 2010 at 9:18 am
62. Mark, that was harsh for such a nice guy as yourself.
January 9th, 2010 at 9:36 am
“You sound as if Romney can’t think for himself, and is being handled by advisors. If you’ve learned anything about him after all these years, you ought to know he’s a man who can think for himself.” I am sure he can think for himself on the one hand. On the other, a man of that stature usually has some underlings that advise him. I was not born yesterday. As for standing up for the people, perhaps, he might do that in 434 of the 435 districts, but hey. Well Martha, as for my camp assumptions being way off base, I guess I will continue to wait patiently until I am proven wrong.
January 9th, 2010 at 10:51 am
AK. Why not? He’ll win… when it comes to choosing a president THIS TIME, we won’t go for a rock star, or someone who can fill a staduim with sound bites and cutsie quips. Were going for the Gold. Mitt will get the ‘plain’ states, and he will also get the South. He got VA – until a backroom deal denied Mitt of his win.
January 9th, 2010 at 10:55 am
Johathan, Actually, the words “Change is coming to Washington” from first from Mitt Romney, NOT from Obama. He often talked about corruption in Washington. But maybe it was on a day you were clapping hands somewhere else?
January 9th, 2010 at 11:03 am
41. You need to check your facts. Huckabee droped out of school when offered a TV preacher gig. Did he go back and finish? During the campaign, he had to admit that he did not hold that fancy degree, that he dropped out when offered the gig.
And, if a letter from Harvard came to my home, accepting my son or daughter to their school, I’m doing the Happy Dance. I have raised my sons and daughters with high standards of integrity and behavior. It’s not the school that makes a person. It’s what you DO with that schooling. Stop the dumbing down of America, and stop dogging those that go to univeristies and work their butts off. Romney did a double major, and graduated at the top of his class in both. Label him an elite, if it makes you feel smarter. But I would give my eye teeth to have a son or daughter half as committed as Romney and a fourth successful.
January 9th, 2010 at 11:08 am
41. Were there Ivy League schools around when Linclon was president?
January 9th, 2010 at 11:14 am
58. We don’t know how He created the world? Read Gen. in the OT. My family read it at the begining of the week in our daily morning scipture reading, and my 5 yr old understood how the world was created.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
70. Communist!
January 9th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
#62,
Oh come on Mark. All you needed to do is ask that he speck check, not give him a kindergarted lesson on how to spell the words.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
#62
Mart, you realy nead to liten up when it comes to misspelings
January 9th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
#63
I agree. I think this actually helps with Mitt because he doesn’t come off as robotic.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
MWS, I love that “stupid smirk”. It shows me that in spite of his commendable self-control, this administration drives him crazy too. I make all kinds of faces when these questions about Obama’s competence are posed.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
#86 & #87
LOL at the misspellings (on purpose)…
January 9th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
CC,
How would a spell-checker catch the use of the word “loose” for “lose”?
January 9th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
#62 MarK,
I’ll work on it. No offense taken.
I never claimed to be a scholar myself but one thing I share with my moderate to left-leaning friends is that I expect my President to be one. My President should be smarter than me; much smarter in fact.
The notion that we should elect a “common man” as President is one that makes no sense to me. He or she shouldn’t necessarily be born into wealth and privilege and can have an ordinary background but their intelligence, education, and experience should be extraordinary.
As a voter, I see my role as that of a member of a Board of Directors hiring a CEO. First off, I determine the necessary skills and abilities then go through an exhaustive selection process and ultimately hire the most qualified individual. An effective corporate Board wouldn’t hire the guy they liked best who clearly wouldn’t know how to handle the job. Yet, Americans did just that in 2008. Obama was the guy we (or at least the majority) liked best and he got the job but he had zero experience and is now running the enterprise into the ground because of it.
As a voter, I don’t want a common man; I want an uncommon man to be my President. I want the best, the brightest and the most talented. An Ivy League education is a plus to me, not a sign of elitism. The reality is that I am never going to meet my President, I am never going to sit down for a beer with him so frankly it doesn’t matter how much we have in common. But I will be impacted if my President is clueless, lost, and runs my country into the ground.
Romney is a bit stiff, he doesn’t have the most engaging personality out there. He isn’t as likable as Palin or as entertaining as Huckabee. His speeches don’t have the soaring quality that Obama’s can possess but he is well qualified to be President, has a proven track record and my opinion is that he could run America as effectively as anyone out there.
The American people right now are mad. They are protesting at Tea Party events and Town Hall meetings and on sites like this. They are disheartened and asking what happened to America and all its promise. Yet, truthfully we have no one to blame but ourselves. We elected a clueless celebrity for President. We might as well have sent Paris Hilton to the Oval Office. And now some Republicans are chasing their own celebrity for President in Palin who is also shockingly unqualified. We should be seeking brilliance, competence, experience, and impeccable morals.
If Republicans take the nominating process seriously in 2012 and select someone highly qualified, I believe my moderate to left leaning friends will be compelled to vote for them. Even they know America depends on it.
Our founders entrusted this great land to us. They gave us the reigns. In a unique arrangement, they placed all the power in the hands of the people and their collective wisdom. Like a good Board of Directors, we owe it to America to find the best possible leader out there.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
92. Ci2Eye – very, very well said.
January 9th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Can any Republican win without wooing moderates and “conservative Democrats”? I don’t think so, which is why Romney should get the nomination in 2012. I hope Palin doesn’t run in 2012. Romney should pick her for VP–it would be dynamite.
January 9th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
#80 — it was WV that Mitt lost b/c of a backroom deal. Huck continues to shamelessly brag how he “won” there.
January 9th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
John Mccain stacked the deck for Huck that is why and the only reason Huck won in W.V…….J. M. no fool…Knew that would perpetuate Mitt to the top of the heap!!!!!!So promote Huck…J.M. had no chance to win there….Then the lies in Florida to follow…I remember it all too well….
January 9th, 2010 at 5:16 pm
#3, AKReport,
“Good interview. At this point I don’t see him taking any of the southern states or plain states. he is stronger in the west and northeast. midwest is a toss up”
That is why Romney will choose his pal, Jim DeMint as his Running mate. He will help him in the South, with The Evangelicans, and Tea Party members.
As to Mitt’s ‘SMIRK’, A smirk never hurt GW.
January 9th, 2010 at 5:23 pm
Calm down, Rombots
It’s going to be a loooong year.
January 9th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
Must
get
this
January 9th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
thread
to
100
so
Martha
can
boast
THERE!
January 9th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
I still have my Romney for president yard signs waiting patiently.
January 9th, 2010 at 11:18 pm
Martha Says:
January 9th, 2010 at 8:34 am
“As a grassroots conservative, I’ll tell you what makes me angry. People who try to divide the party for their own personal benefit. Get the picture?”
-Pigshit! Real Pigshit! Why would a genuine conservative support TARP (Romney)??!??
Why would a conservative support enlargement of government( Romney/Obama-Care)??!??
Hypocrite! You elitists really have a world of your own.
Talking of dividing the party, the GOP is composed of almost 70% conservative. You CINOs are the dividers. You Martha Romb*tch is a the real divider. Shame on you!!!! Shame on you!!! You are a toast!!! You should be buried “six feet under”!!! CINO!! CINO!!!
January 9th, 2010 at 11:23 pm
# Ci2Eye Says:
January 9th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
“The American people right now are mad.”
-Very true!!!! We are mad. You elitists are not. Romney is not mad because his TARP and his RomneyCare are headlines today.
The American people will always remember Romney’s support for failed TARP. I wonder how that stand makes you think he is still a conservative in any logical sense. Perhaps, you are under his payroll and that you are a talking and money earning political MACHINE.
January 9th, 2010 at 11:28 pm
102 and 103… True!! Strongly agree!! We’ll make sure our conservative votes count for true conservatives who works with us and not that GUY who laid us OFF. Damn him! Damn his support for TARP! Damn his liberal ambitions!
January 9th, 2010 at 11:29 pm
Damn the liberal people here who don’t care about us!
January 9th, 2010 at 11:48 pm
Hey Poor American,
What is a Conservative to you? What’s the litmus test? Name the issues.
Are you aware that JPMorgan Chase & Co., Morgan Stanley, American Express Co., Goldman Sachs Group Inc., U.S. Bancorp, Capital One Financial Corp., Bank of New York Mellon Corp., State Street Corp., BB&T Corp, and Bank of America have all already repaid their TARP monies. It’s difficult to know what would have happened without the program but if the Treasury gets its money back and the banks didn’t fold, why would you characterize TARP as “failed”?
I would agree that it wasn’t demonstrative of pure capitalism but calling it a failure is a different matter.
January 10th, 2010 at 12:59 am
#103, 104, 105…..You guys sound like social conservatives wanting a handout just like poor liberals do.
Just what is your view of utopia anyway?
Or are you just Huck’s Amry trolls on some mission?
January 10th, 2010 at 1:12 am
You so-called “conservatives” who are foaming at the mouth at the idea of getting smart, talented, and gifted conservatives to lead this country are not real conservatives. You are whiny socialists-in-waiting fighting a vendetta based on your own envy.
You know how a real conservative thinks? I’ll give you a hint…
On the Uncommon Man
Remarks by Herbert Hoover by Telephone from New York City to Wilmington College, Wilmington, Ohio
November 11, 1948
I am glad to speak even for a few moments in the encouragement to Wilmington College. Wilmington is not soliciting funds. The reason is that the faculty and students are earning their own keep and building their own buildings with their own hands. Although they ask for no money, the good they are doing deserves help from anyone who has any money to give. The country needs the encouragement of people so distinguished in their reliance on self-help. Those who help themselves ought to be helped.
I believe in the mass production of education of our great universities because I see no other way to meet the enormous demand of two and one-half million youth seeking higher education. But our small colleges do a special job in building morals and character. And character is the most precious asset of our country.
We have heard much in these months about the common man. It is dinned into us that this is the century of the Common Man. The idea seems to be that the common man has come into his own at last.
Thus we have developed a cult of the common man. I have not been able to find any definition of who this common man is. Most American men, and especially women, will fight if called common. Likewise in humility we refer to ourselves as made from common clay, but we get mad when anyone says our feet are made of clay.
However, whoever this political common man is, I want him to have all of the unique benefits of the American way of life, including a full opportunity to rise to leadership. And we must have this uncommon sort of men and women, if we are to have leadership in government, in science, in education, in the professions, and in the home.
Let us remember that the great human advances have not been brought about by mediocre men and women. They were brought about by distinctly uncommon men and women with vital sparks of leadership. Many of these great leaders were, it is true, of humble origin, but that was not their greatness.
It is a curious fact that when we get sick, we want an uncommon doctor; if we have a construction job, we want an uncommon engineer; when we get into war, we dreadfully want an uncommon admiral and an uncommon general. Only when we get into politics are we content with the common man.
Whatever these forces may be, you are striving to become uncommon men and women. And the future of America will be in your hands. Our full hope of recovery in the moral and spiritual world is a wealth of uncommon men and women among our people. It is our educational institutions that must promote and train them.
Therefore, I am for Wilmington College. And I want to congratulate its president, its faculty, and its students on three counts. The first is its revolutionary idea of self-help; the second is that it is a small college; and the third, that from it will flow uncommon men and women-and the nation needs them.
January 10th, 2010 at 1:23 am
Jerald, thanks for posting that.
January 10th, 2010 at 1:48 am
Excellent interview. Without question Romney has my vote.
January 10th, 2010 at 2:37 am
# 108, Jerald,
Thanks for the post. Those are my sentiments exactly as I had stated earlier but I’d never heard Hoover’s articulation.
For President, I don’t want the common man but rather an uncommon one. One who may have come from among us but has clearly risen above us.
The notion among some Republicans today that an intelligent, well-educated man is an elitist to be feared makes no sense to me. As Hoover states, who would want an ordinary doctor? Nobody. When we are seriously ill, we seek the very best to heal us. Make no mistake, this great land is very much like a sick patient in need of urgent treatment and it is incumbent on her people to find the brightest, most talented individual to fix what ales our Nation.
January 10th, 2010 at 3:16 am
111. I agree.
Elect Palin or Huckabee!!
January 10th, 2010 at 10:20 am
112. Good comedic timing.
January 11th, 2010 at 7:42 am
[...] has been doing a lot of media in the last week. Race 4 2012 carries the video of his Greata Van Susteren appearance Friday night. (We could not get our video widget to work on this one and linking directly to Fox, it’ll [...]
January 12th, 2010 at 7:31 am
” neither have respectable, relevant education and they really loose these folks ”
They may even LOSE some, too. Those with relevant education like yours.
January 12th, 2010 at 7:39 am
“I never claimed to be a scholar myself but one thing I share with my moderate to left-leaning friends is that I expect my President to be one. My President should be smarter than me; much smarter in fact. ”
And that is why moderates and left-leaners along with liberals are helping destroy the country. They don’t want to think for themselves, they want someone to think for them. And Oh! the Marxist thoughts they think!