Interesting how he uses the LIE about timetables that McCain used against Romney in Florida in order to wrap up the nomination. So much taken out of context. Shameful.
The man is lucky that he has a billionaire for a father. This guy is a douchebag. If this is what some Republicans want to call worthy to be a leader then follow at your own demise.
Personally I think Windsock is a better analogy than Weathervane.
Even though everyone is going to get all riled up about how they hate negative campaigning, I still think this will turn out to be an effective ad, and eventually the Romney meme of flip-flopping for political expediency will be proven true. The political harm is not due to his changing of positions; it’s due to the fact that every shift in his personal viewpoints was driven by political opportunity and his willingness to say anything to get votes. The absence of any consistent principles will be Romney’s downfall.
All I am seeing from Huntsman is negative. Doesn’t he realize that he doesn’t have a chance? No one knows him and his own state where he was a governor supports Romney over him by a HUGE margin. The bitterness and classless accusations won’t win him any points.
Romney is not to be trusted to the keys to the Conservative Movement.
Big problems, caused by Big Government, needs Big solutions which includes limited Government + Big Citizenery, led by a Movement Conservative in the man named Newt Gingrich!!!
Mount up on your Eagel Wings and fly to the sounds of the guns some where in Rockefeller Country!!!!
I see the Republican Party breaking down as follows:
Angry Tea Party: 30%
Smart managers: 20%
Pay attention the last week or two 20%
Let’s try somebody weird and see if things change 15%
Ron Paul 10%
Jaded, sarcastic, urban 5%
Huntsman’s natural constituency is that last group. If he fails to get 5%, it’s because the jaded sarcastic vote decided to sit this one out, like they normally do. They will like negative ads about other candidates, they just won’t make the huge leap of liking the guy who uses this kind of ad well enough to actually go vote.
Smack, you’ve moved into Tex territory. WHy you have been so easily swayed by web ads is beyond me. Your commentary of late is truly disappointing. You have no basis to call anyone a flip flopper with your record here.
7,
Do you think Obama is going to go easy on Mitt? These kind of attacks are the norm. No big deal.
Hunstman is crazy if he thinks he’s got any shot at this point. What, in that ad, did voters not already know about? Mitt can defend himself very well on any point in there. And Huntsman’s campaign is just dying slowly. Any bets on whether he even makes it to the voting before dropping out?
There are way too many conservative lemmings who somehow cling to the following ridiculous proposition.
Mitt Romney changed his position on abortion once, over 10 years ago. Mitt is a spineless flip-flopper; Herman Cain changed his position on abortion four times last week. Herman is a true conservative.
Taking off my Rombot glasses and attempting to be totally objective here, I think building that narrative and taking down Romney does the party no good. Likewise, it would do us no good if Huntsman were running ads about Newt’s indiscretions and attempting to damage him. One of these guys is going to be our nominee and we need all of them to be perceived as viable, solid potential presidents among the general public.
It’s one thing for those of us here to spar about who the best man is for the nomination and take a few shots at the opponents but for million dollar ad campaigns to be put out there on the airwaves designed to damage fellow Republicans is a whole different matter. The last thing we want is for Independents to take the position that Obama is bad but all the Republican options are equally bad. What we want is for the electorate to look at our candidates and conclude that they are all better than Obama.
Actually, I don’t think that these ads will be an overall negative. In fact, the opposite is likely true.
These ads will allow Romney to offer a response and demonstrate to people that the GOP candidates and Dems are really stretching on many of these alleged flip-flops.
1) Romney said he supported the efforts of Ohio Gov and GOP in streamlining government, which he further clarified included the Question 2 (which he previously expressed support for). NO FLIP FLOP
2) Romney opposed timetables that were expressed publicly (ie to enemy) yet noted that the Pres., his generals and the Afghan leaders should have their own timetables to determine the success of the mission and an opportunity to gage when US efforts could minimize. NO FLIP FLOP, simply using the same term does not equate to same issue (an amazing aspect of the English language)
3) Romney believes that man does contribute to global warming, yet the impact is minimial and not worth regulating given the extraordinary costs. Since scientists do not know the exact cause of it (ie what percentage is man-made), it is not smart to pay billions to change industry when the impact could be minimal. NO FLIP FLOP.
4) Using the Mass. healtcare legislation as a model for other states to implement their own state plans does not equate to imposing the Mass. model as a federal program that denies states the opportunity to make their own decisions. NO FLIP FLOP
5) There have been a number of stimuluses, not simply he Obama stimulus plan. Romney supported the concept of making sure the entire American financial system didnt collapse via a stimulus, although he didn’t agree with its implementation that chose winners and losers. Much of the Obama stimulus was not pushed as an attempt to save the American financial system, but an attempt to pick winners and losers. NO FLIP FLOP.
6) Taxes are not fees. Taxes are paid by the general public and should be used for services provided to the general public. Fees are paid by specific people to receive a specific, individual service, which should not be paid by the general public (licenses, building permits, etc.). The existing fees in Mass. were not covering the costs of providing the service and taxpayer funds were being used to offer those specific, individual services. Romney increased the fees to cover the costs of those services, so the general public wasn’t paying for it. NO FLIP FLOP, and very conservative.
As with the debate attacks, Romney has generally been able to win over more people by demonstrating his knolwedge of subject, the facts and define the attackers as petty or hypocrites.
It has been interesting to watch Huntsman flip-flop from a campaign of civility to a campaign of negative attacks, and with lightening speed. Now how am I to believe anything he says?
18. That’s exactly right. If Huntsman has a positive narrative, what is it? If that isn’t selling very well in NH, why not? Will scraping a couple of percentage points off of Romney in NH help him win the Primary there? No. Huntsman has a great record as a governor in Utah, and he speaks Chinese. Apparently, if you can’t somehow connect with voters, this record and a couple of bucks will buy you a coffee in NH.
It’s an attack when one distorts another’s words to make it appear that something happened that didn’t. For instance, it is pretty well known that Romney was never for “timetables” yet McCain attempted to make that appear to be the case.
22
If you are so hollow and morally decrepid that you don’t see what’s wrong with this attack, and how innaccurate and baseless it is, then there is no use even attempting to explain it to you.
Remember yesterday when all the Perry supporters were saying the long long parts of the speech was unfair…
5 second sound bites do not a position make.
Like always, Romney is treated one way, while everyone else is given the benefit of the doubt.
Double Standard.
Huntsman is burning bridges. He is not doing anything to help him in the future. He is not an acceptable choice for any public office. In fact, I hope he doesn’t go run that Cancer institute again. I think he is really a bad person deep inside. I can’t imagine how parents like he has got a son so devoid of moral character.
My guess is his father is very unhappy with him. I wouldn’t want to be at the Huntsman’s for Thanksgiving this year.
But I’m still very annoyed that your fingers spaz every time you hit the enter button, or maybe you have a compulsive disorder that requires you to hit that button twice EVERY TIME!!!!!
25. I totally agree with that assessment. I’m a Rombot. My attitude is, “Bring it on!” Members of Lilliput, unite! There is a giant in your midst! Have at it!
20. Oh, come on now. Do you think anyone with a high school education is supposed to, much less expected to, navigate the nuances of their native language? That’s just silly!
Seriously, though. ALL of the flip-flop charges have been proven to show that Mitt is actually thoughtful and analytical about his positions on different topics. I’d rather have thoughtfulness and restraint at the big red button rather than emotional responses.
They are the type of people that will help us lose in 2012. They want to take down Romney at all costs — even if it means nominating an unelectable candidate. They offer no alternative and defend and back up that person’s position. It’s ALL about taking down Romney, even if it means nomination a Sharron Angle or a Christine O’Donnell.
Such attitudes are making me consider my membership in the Republican party when there are such brain-dead voters in the party. They do not care about winning elections and stopping DemocRATS.
Since Huntsman has no chance whatsoever at the nomination, he is merely attack boy for Obama at this point. I can’t respect that. And it seems to me that it’s a personal vendetta of his. Not too many folks are rich enough to be able to burn angry money just for the heck of it…..except that woman that hung the banner in NYC calling out her cheater boyfriend….remember that?
It appears that you lost track of which way the Romney bus is headed so I don’t think you’d even be able to find it again. But I’m willing to give a tentative seat saving clause for you if you think you could be back.
Sorry Jon, a bunch of out-of-context sound bites aren’t going to help you out. You lose… you lose big. You have burned all political bridges. No one will want you. Sorry you were never able to stay “above the fray”. Thanks for strengthening my support of Romney.
I agree that a good fight and a bit of vetting as part of the nomination process is good for us. Ultimately our candidate is made stronger and more battle ready for having had the fight but there has to be a limit to how far campaigns go and how public their attacks become or else it is becomes counter-productive for the overall cause.
I guess I would question whether this is merely a web ad or will be broadcast. If it reaches a broader audience, I think it does overall harm to Republicans. Honestly, Jon Huntsman is not going to win anything. If his only objective is to damage someone else then who benefits from that? I don’t see an upside for Republicans at all.
48. Maybe the calculation here is longer term with Jon. He was about the only Uthan in 2007/08 to jump on the McCain train. Even his father was a Romney supporter. It was pretty clear then that he had his eye on 2012. If Romney wins it in ’12, Huntsman has no shot for 8 years. If Romney loses, Huntsman doesn’t have to wait that long. Plus, will the country really put up with two Mormon presidents in a row?
I think Jon is playing for ’16. He’s paying his dues, getting his name recognized, and pulling down at nearly every opportunity the one guy on the national stage whose background is too close to his own.
If there was really anything of substance to attack Mitt Romney on, his opponents should and would use that.
When they resort to purposeful and knowing misrepresentations it says 2 things to me:
1) They’re acknowledging they can’t win with truth;
2) They have no principles.
Sadly, these things DO work. And, it has stuck with Mitt.
Those of us who support Romney really need to get the facts copied in an easy to reach text document and get out there where these lies are being retold and believed and try to set the record straight.
We won’t change the minds of those who are knowingly lying, but we will probably reach others who are looking for the truth — hopefully in time to keep them from falling for the lies.
Very astute observation. I couldn’t see how Huntsman’s attack on the frontrunner benenfits the party in the long run but if one looks even further out, as you state, perhaps it does benefit Huntsman and there is a definite downside to a Mitt Romney presidency for Jon Huntsman persoanlly.
50. I don’t think that many people get swayed one way or the other by comments left on blogs. This is a place where a person can sort through their own thinking by blogging away. Change the next guy’s?
Not so much.
And facts tend to be multiple choice tests with no wrong answer. Did Romney conveniently convert to pro-life, or did he experience a real change of heart once he was in a political position and theory morphed into reality and he was on the hot seat?
No matter how well you argue for one or the other of those positions, it is perception that matters, and what drives perception? Lots of things, but usually not blogs.
Typical dishonest crap that we hear from Huntsman and other RomNots. He is pulling out stuff that was completely debunked in 2008 now too (the timetable crap). I have no respect for this kind of character attack at all.
1 – So much for claiming you don’t lie about Romney, Smack. Celebrating these dishonest character attacks is disgusting. Shameful for someone like you who claims to be “reasonable”. Not surprising to those that know your true colors though.
I am seriously disgusted by this kind of stuff. Go ask anyone that has any kind of relationship with Mitt Romney about his character. It is absolutely appalling to me that this meme that he is somehow a dishonest man that can’t be trusted has been allowed to stand. It is character assassination at its worse, and is completely untrue. Huntsman and those who engage in it can go to hell.
And for those who say that it is alright to let Huntsman do it, because Obama is going to do it, I just have to ask you who you think this character assassination is helping right now. Huntsman is dishonestly smearing a man of good character, and the only one it is helping is Obama.
I continue to be a strong supporter of Not-Mitt. I appreciate the comments of smack and So. Truth in balancing the Romniacs. As of right now, my personal view of the contenders for my Not-Mitt vote are:
Gary Johnson — he’s been my favored candidate from the beginning, but I am also realistic. After he drops out after NH, my support will be up for grabs among:
Paul
Cain
Huntsman
Newt
in that order, as of right now. [Bachmann, Perry and Santorum are not under consideration for me.] Who knows, maybe smack can convince me to move Newt up between now and March.
I have no problem with negative ads that go after someone’s record. I have a HUGE problem with dishonest character assassination, which is what this ad is. No respect for that at all.
Jax: relax my brother. Romney left himself open to this criticism. The fact that he is the target is the best news ever if you’re a fan of his. If they ignored him, he wouldn’t be the frontrunner. How many negative ads against Huntsman is anyone going to bother to produce?
“Lies” is a strong word. If a political ad distorts the facts to lead to conclusions the real facts would not sustain, the American people usually see right through it. If, on the other hand, these ads really bite a candidate hard, it is in that candidate’s best interest to go through all of that in the Primaries and be ready for the general where the gloves do come off and nothing is off limits.
60 – When did he leave himself open to distortion of the truth in order to attack his character? Go watch each the clips Huntsman included in their entirety. They are completely dishonestly edited.
60 – That is so naive. Do you honestly think this type of character assassination has no impact? Do you honestly think these “lies” (that is what the are) are something that can just be brushed aside and ignored? Ignoring this stuff is what got Romney into this mess in the first place.
Huntsman is an Obama plant. He leaves UT high and dry and acquiesces to Obama’s request to go to China. (There was another Republican that said NO to a request from Obama.) He goes for 1.5-2 years and then comes back to run for president. Pretty much he spends his time BASHING Romney. Talk about a vendetta by Huntsman……and even Huntsman, Sr. Sad.
By the way SMACK, your “these attacks will help Romney against Obama” meme might be wrong if they succeed in deceiving GOP voters into believing a false narrative about Romney and then not supporting him, or not enthusiastically supporting him in the general.
I don’t see how spreading lies free of charge on our side for the Democrats is good strategy…
The American public in today’s world is dramatically in need of serious debate, and I don’t think they feel there’s a lot of bandwidth left for personal attacks.
73 – and it wouldn’t factor into his decision to go negative if he did. Only a well-lubricated weather vane can take new information into account when making decisions.
October 31st, 2011 at 2:27 pm
Beautiful Jon!
Keep them coming!
Attack!
Attack!
Attack!
Bad cops: Huntsman-Santorum-Perry-Cain
All attacking Mitt Kerry!!
Good Cop:
Newt Gingrich!
YEEEAASSSS!!!!
October 31st, 2011 at 2:31 pm
Interesting how he uses the LIE about timetables that McCain used against Romney in Florida in order to wrap up the nomination. So much taken out of context. Shameful.
October 31st, 2011 at 2:32 pm
Sad that even GOP candidates have to misrepresent and not provide full statements on these positions.
Especially when many of these candidates complain that the 1 minutee debate answers are not sufficient to explain difficult issues.
What leadership has Huntsman shown on any of those issues? Anyone? (Can MWS even answer?)
October 31st, 2011 at 2:32 pm
The man is lucky that he has a billionaire for a father. This guy is a douchebag. If this is what some Republicans want to call worthy to be a leader then follow at your own demise.
October 31st, 2011 at 2:39 pm
1
Newt tried to attack Romney at the last debate about mandates. HUGE fail!
Cain’s TOP TWO attack dogs, Perry & Huntsman are much more effective, imo.
And Hunts is back at work, I see in this brutal ad
October 31st, 2011 at 2:48 pm
Too bad Jon Huntsman’s six non-blood-relative fans will be the only ones to watch this all the way through.
Wait no, that’s a good thing. We’ve already entertained his lies too much.
October 31st, 2011 at 2:49 pm
I can’t believe there are still some Romney supporters out there who think we should just allow Huntsman to do or say whatever he wants.
October 31st, 2011 at 2:49 pm
Personally I think Windsock is a better analogy than Weathervane.
Even though everyone is going to get all riled up about how they hate negative campaigning, I still think this will turn out to be an effective ad, and eventually the Romney meme of flip-flopping for political expediency will be proven true. The political harm is not due to his changing of positions; it’s due to the fact that every shift in his personal viewpoints was driven by political opportunity and his willingness to say anything to get votes. The absence of any consistent principles will be Romney’s downfall.
October 31st, 2011 at 2:51 pm
All I am seeing from Huntsman is negative. Doesn’t he realize that he doesn’t have a chance? No one knows him and his own state where he was a governor supports Romney over him by a HUGE margin. The bitterness and classless accusations won’t win him any points.
October 31st, 2011 at 2:53 pm
Build that narrative.
Build that narrative.
Build that narrative.
Romney is not to be trusted to the keys to the Conservative Movement.
Big problems, caused by Big Government, needs Big solutions which includes limited Government + Big Citizenery, led by a Movement Conservative in the man named Newt Gingrich!!!
Mount up on your Eagel Wings and fly to the sounds of the guns some where in Rockefeller Country!!!!
All ROMNOTS join forces behind our leader Newt!!!
October 31st, 2011 at 2:58 pm
How’s that positive campaign working out for you Jon?
You are a piece of garbage who stabbed your former employer in the back. How’s that for a flip flop?
October 31st, 2011 at 2:59 pm
I see the Republican Party breaking down as follows:
Angry Tea Party: 30%
Smart managers: 20%
Pay attention the last week or two 20%
Let’s try somebody weird and see if things change 15%
Ron Paul 10%
Jaded, sarcastic, urban 5%
Huntsman’s natural constituency is that last group. If he fails to get 5%, it’s because the jaded sarcastic vote decided to sit this one out, like they normally do. They will like negative ads about other candidates, they just won’t make the huge leap of liking the guy who uses this kind of ad well enough to actually go vote.
October 31st, 2011 at 2:59 pm
“Newt Gingrich!!!”
Yes, and his….how many wives has he had?
October 31st, 2011 at 2:59 pm
Smack, you’ve moved into Tex territory. WHy you have been so easily swayed by web ads is beyond me. Your commentary of late is truly disappointing. You have no basis to call anyone a flip flopper with your record here.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:02 pm
7,
Do you think Obama is going to go easy on Mitt? These kind of attacks are the norm. No big deal.
Hunstman is crazy if he thinks he’s got any shot at this point. What, in that ad, did voters not already know about? Mitt can defend himself very well on any point in there. And Huntsman’s campaign is just dying slowly. Any bets on whether he even makes it to the voting before dropping out?
October 31st, 2011 at 3:05 pm
Wow – what a lame ad. This brings taking things out of context to a new level.
Hunstman and even Santorum need to actually try going positive for once if they want to actually get more than a few votes in January.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:05 pm
There are way too many conservative lemmings who somehow cling to the following ridiculous proposition.
Mitt Romney changed his position on abortion once, over 10 years ago. Mitt is a spineless flip-flopper; Herman Cain changed his position on abortion four times last week. Herman is a true conservative.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:05 pm
#10 Smack,
Taking off my Rombot glasses and attempting to be totally objective here, I think building that narrative and taking down Romney does the party no good. Likewise, it would do us no good if Huntsman were running ads about Newt’s indiscretions and attempting to damage him. One of these guys is going to be our nominee and we need all of them to be perceived as viable, solid potential presidents among the general public.
It’s one thing for those of us here to spar about who the best man is for the nomination and take a few shots at the opponents but for million dollar ad campaigns to be put out there on the airwaves designed to damage fellow Republicans is a whole different matter. The last thing we want is for Independents to take the position that Obama is bad but all the Republican options are equally bad. What we want is for the electorate to look at our candidates and conclude that they are all better than Obama.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:06 pm
I do admit I have flip flopped on Mitt. I just couldn’t get assimulated into the ROMBORG.
I plead guilty.
Unlike Mitt and his ROMBOTS…..who actually believes he does not flip flop on many issues.
—————————————————
“I want to Fly like an Eagle to the Sea…I want to fly like an Eagle until my spirit carries me.”
“Mitt keeps on flipping flipping flipping into the future!!!”
…sing with me boys…
Keep attacking Jon…Beautiful!!
October 31st, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Actually, I don’t think that these ads will be an overall negative. In fact, the opposite is likely true.
These ads will allow Romney to offer a response and demonstrate to people that the GOP candidates and Dems are really stretching on many of these alleged flip-flops.
1) Romney said he supported the efforts of Ohio Gov and GOP in streamlining government, which he further clarified included the Question 2 (which he previously expressed support for). NO FLIP FLOP
2) Romney opposed timetables that were expressed publicly (ie to enemy) yet noted that the Pres., his generals and the Afghan leaders should have their own timetables to determine the success of the mission and an opportunity to gage when US efforts could minimize. NO FLIP FLOP, simply using the same term does not equate to same issue (an amazing aspect of the English language)
3) Romney believes that man does contribute to global warming, yet the impact is minimial and not worth regulating given the extraordinary costs. Since scientists do not know the exact cause of it (ie what percentage is man-made), it is not smart to pay billions to change industry when the impact could be minimal. NO FLIP FLOP.
4) Using the Mass. healtcare legislation as a model for other states to implement their own state plans does not equate to imposing the Mass. model as a federal program that denies states the opportunity to make their own decisions. NO FLIP FLOP
5) There have been a number of stimuluses, not simply he Obama stimulus plan. Romney supported the concept of making sure the entire American financial system didnt collapse via a stimulus, although he didn’t agree with its implementation that chose winners and losers. Much of the Obama stimulus was not pushed as an attempt to save the American financial system, but an attempt to pick winners and losers. NO FLIP FLOP.
6) Taxes are not fees. Taxes are paid by the general public and should be used for services provided to the general public. Fees are paid by specific people to receive a specific, individual service, which should not be paid by the general public (licenses, building permits, etc.). The existing fees in Mass. were not covering the costs of providing the service and taxpayer funds were being used to offer those specific, individual services. Romney increased the fees to cover the costs of those services, so the general public wasn’t paying for it. NO FLIP FLOP, and very conservative.
As with the debate attacks, Romney has generally been able to win over more people by demonstrating his knolwedge of subject, the facts and define the attackers as petty or hypocrites.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:08 pm
It has been interesting to watch Huntsman flip-flop from a campaign of civility to a campaign of negative attacks, and with lightening speed. Now how am I to believe anything he says?
October 31st, 2011 at 3:09 pm
Someone tell me…please!
How is playing someone’s own words an “attack?”
October 31st, 2011 at 3:11 pm
Smack,
I really did miss you when you left for a while.
But
now
I
remember
why
I
was
often
annoyed
at
the
way
you
post.
KNOCK IT OFF!! Post like a sane person, just once!
October 31st, 2011 at 3:12 pm
18. That’s exactly right. If Huntsman has a positive narrative, what is it? If that isn’t selling very well in NH, why not? Will scraping a couple of percentage points off of Romney in NH help him win the Primary there? No. Huntsman has a great record as a governor in Utah, and he speaks Chinese. Apparently, if you can’t somehow connect with voters, this record and a couple of bucks will buy you a coffee in NH.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:12 pm
Ci2Eye,
That is a perfect comment from a man who supports the frontrunner.
Not one vote has been cast
The fight for the Nomintion is not over.
Romney is the huge favorite…but we don’t elect on polls, nor do we elect on how much money a candidate has in the till.
We did not move our democracy from out of smoke filled rooms into some “Data Managemen Center” to make our decsions for us.
Romney is a flawed candidate as all candidates are.
Let’s see if he can survive the attacks….because surly Obama is ready to fire off as well.
INternal fights do not weaken our Party Bearer, they actually make hi or her stronger.
Did the internal fight that Obama had with Hillary make him weaker?
No.
The ROMBOTS have a battle on thier hands.
Get used to it.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:13 pm
#22 Tele,
It’s an attack when one distorts another’s words to make it appear that something happened that didn’t. For instance, it is pretty well known that Romney was never for “timetables” yet McCain attempted to make that appear to be the case.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:13 pm
22
If you are so hollow and morally decrepid that you don’t see what’s wrong with this attack, and how innaccurate and baseless it is, then there is no use even attempting to explain it to you.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:13 pm
Remember yesterday when all the Perry supporters were saying the long long parts of the speech was unfair…
5 second sound bites do not a position make.
Like always, Romney is treated one way, while everyone else is given the benefit of the doubt.
Double Standard.
Huntsman is burning bridges. He is not doing anything to help him in the future. He is not an acceptable choice for any public office. In fact, I hope he doesn’t go run that Cancer institute again. I think he is really a bad person deep inside. I can’t imagine how parents like he has got a son so devoid of moral character.
My guess is his father is very unhappy with him. I wouldn’t want to be at the Huntsman’s for Thanksgiving this year.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:13 pm
22 teledude: The Katie Couric interview. That’s how. You know what I’m talking about.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:14 pm
23#
Hey, I actually noticed your post this time.
Good job Mark Pa.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:15 pm
25
I agree.
But I’m still very annoyed that your fingers spaz every time you hit the enter button, or maybe you have a compulsive disorder that requires you to hit that button twice EVERY TIME!!!!!
October 31st, 2011 at 3:15 pm
25. I totally agree with that assessment. I’m a Rombot. My attitude is, “Bring it on!” Members of Lilliput, unite! There is a giant in your midst! Have at it!
October 31st, 2011 at 3:16 pm
22 Telly,
Your own words in 22:
SOMEONE…ATTACK!!!!!!
Those are your own words, you are a warmonger!!!!
October 31st, 2011 at 3:17 pm
22. By taking them out of context and editing out key points it makes it look like the person is saying something he’s not.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:17 pm
AHhhhhhhhh!!!!!
Tele & Smackdaddy is going to put some balance back into this place.
RACE42012 is going to be a very interesting place to be this Winter.
Stay close!
Stay alert!
The Palinistas and the 3paws are going to be in a post near you!!
October 31st, 2011 at 3:18 pm
33. LOL. I was looking for a way to put his own words out of context but came up short. Nice.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:18 pm
30
You know I luv ya, Smack. ;o)
October 31st, 2011 at 3:19 pm
30
I do it too. I hate long paragraphs, because I like to skim quickly over what someone is saying and long paragraphs take too much concentration…
Sorry Mark, but I am likely to continue with lots of white space.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:21 pm
Great article on Romney’s “Core Convictions”:
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/29/the-shaping-of-mitt-romney-a-look-at-his-faith-journey-2/
October 31st, 2011 at 3:21 pm
Mark in Pa,
I love ya to brother.
This Newt fighter has to go now, I need to make my wife a salad and I’m not sure if I have fresh lettuce.
It looks like I’m going to be in trouble tonight.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:22 pm
20. Oh, come on now. Do you think anyone with a high school education is supposed to, much less expected to, navigate the nuances of their native language? That’s just silly!
Seriously, though. ALL of the flip-flop charges have been proven to show that Mitt is actually thoughtful and analytical about his positions on different topics. I’d rather have thoughtfulness and restraint at the big red button rather than emotional responses.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:22 pm
ROMNEY/Sheriff CHUCK WRIGHT from South Carolina. Beautiful.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:24 pm
You know why people like Smack piss me off?
They are the type of people that will help us lose in 2012. They want to take down Romney at all costs — even if it means nominating an unelectable candidate. They offer no alternative and defend and back up that person’s position. It’s ALL about taking down Romney, even if it means nomination a Sharron Angle or a Christine O’Donnell.
Such attitudes are making me consider my membership in the Republican party when there are such brain-dead voters in the party. They do not care about winning elections and stopping DemocRATS.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:25 pm
29. Let me touch that hand of yours… Ooh! That’s burnin’ hot! Ouch.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:26 pm
Since Huntsman has no chance whatsoever at the nomination, he is merely attack boy for Obama at this point. I can’t respect that. And it seems to me that it’s a personal vendetta of his. Not too many folks are rich enough to be able to burn angry money just for the heck of it…..except that woman that hung the banner in NYC calling out her cheater boyfriend….remember that?
October 31st, 2011 at 3:26 pm
Smack –
Should I give away your seat now?
It appears that you lost track of which way the Romney bus is headed so I don’t think you’d even be able to find it again. But I’m willing to give a tentative seat saving clause for you if you think you could be back.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:28 pm
Sorry Jon, a bunch of out-of-context sound bites aren’t going to help you out. You lose… you lose big. You have burned all political bridges. No one will want you. Sorry you were never able to stay “above the fray”. Thanks for strengthening my support of Romney.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:35 pm
#25 Smack,
I agree that a good fight and a bit of vetting as part of the nomination process is good for us. Ultimately our candidate is made stronger and more battle ready for having had the fight but there has to be a limit to how far campaigns go and how public their attacks become or else it is becomes counter-productive for the overall cause.
I guess I would question whether this is merely a web ad or will be broadcast. If it reaches a broader audience, I think it does overall harm to Republicans. Honestly, Jon Huntsman is not going to win anything. If his only objective is to damage someone else then who benefits from that? I don’t see an upside for Republicans at all.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:42 pm
48. Maybe the calculation here is longer term with Jon. He was about the only Uthan in 2007/08 to jump on the McCain train. Even his father was a Romney supporter. It was pretty clear then that he had his eye on 2012. If Romney wins it in ’12, Huntsman has no shot for 8 years. If Romney loses, Huntsman doesn’t have to wait that long. Plus, will the country really put up with two Mormon presidents in a row?
I think Jon is playing for ’16. He’s paying his dues, getting his name recognized, and pulling down at nearly every opportunity the one guy on the national stage whose background is too close to his own.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:50 pm
If there was really anything of substance to attack Mitt Romney on, his opponents should and would use that.
When they resort to purposeful and knowing misrepresentations it says 2 things to me:
1) They’re acknowledging they can’t win with truth;
2) They have no principles.
Sadly, these things DO work. And, it has stuck with Mitt.
Those of us who support Romney really need to get the facts copied in an easy to reach text document and get out there where these lies are being retold and believed and try to set the record straight.
We won’t change the minds of those who are knowingly lying, but we will probably reach others who are looking for the truth — hopefully in time to keep them from falling for the lies.
October 31st, 2011 at 4:04 pm
#49 Watchinitall,
Very astute observation. I couldn’t see how Huntsman’s attack on the frontrunner benenfits the party in the long run but if one looks even further out, as you state, perhaps it does benefit Huntsman and there is a definite downside to a Mitt Romney presidency for Jon Huntsman persoanlly.
October 31st, 2011 at 4:08 pm
50. I don’t think that many people get swayed one way or the other by comments left on blogs. This is a place where a person can sort through their own thinking by blogging away. Change the next guy’s?
Not so much.
And facts tend to be multiple choice tests with no wrong answer. Did Romney conveniently convert to pro-life, or did he experience a real change of heart once he was in a political position and theory morphed into reality and he was on the hot seat?
No matter how well you argue for one or the other of those positions, it is perception that matters, and what drives perception? Lots of things, but usually not blogs.
October 31st, 2011 at 4:08 pm
Typical dishonest crap that we hear from Huntsman and other RomNots. He is pulling out stuff that was completely debunked in 2008 now too (the timetable crap). I have no respect for this kind of character attack at all.
October 31st, 2011 at 4:09 pm
1 – So much for claiming you don’t lie about Romney, Smack. Celebrating these dishonest character attacks is disgusting. Shameful for someone like you who claims to be “reasonable”. Not surprising to those that know your true colors though.
October 31st, 2011 at 4:13 pm
I am seriously disgusted by this kind of stuff. Go ask anyone that has any kind of relationship with Mitt Romney about his character. It is absolutely appalling to me that this meme that he is somehow a dishonest man that can’t be trusted has been allowed to stand. It is character assassination at its worse, and is completely untrue. Huntsman and those who engage in it can go to hell.
October 31st, 2011 at 4:15 pm
And for those who say that it is alright to let Huntsman do it, because Obama is going to do it, I just have to ask you who you think this character assassination is helping right now. Huntsman is dishonestly smearing a man of good character, and the only one it is helping is Obama.
October 31st, 2011 at 4:18 pm
I continue to be a strong supporter of Not-Mitt. I appreciate the comments of smack and So. Truth in balancing the Romniacs. As of right now, my personal view of the contenders for my Not-Mitt vote are:
Gary Johnson — he’s been my favored candidate from the beginning, but I am also realistic. After he drops out after NH, my support will be up for grabs among:
Paul
Cain
Huntsman
Newt
in that order, as of right now. [Bachmann, Perry and Santorum are not under consideration for me.] Who knows, maybe smack can convince me to move Newt up between now and March.
October 31st, 2011 at 4:21 pm
I have no problem with negative ads that go after someone’s record. I have a HUGE problem with dishonest character assassination, which is what this ad is. No respect for that at all.
October 31st, 2011 at 4:22 pm
Perry/Huntsman 2012 ?????
October 31st, 2011 at 4:32 pm
Jax: relax my brother. Romney left himself open to this criticism. The fact that he is the target is the best news ever if you’re a fan of his. If they ignored him, he wouldn’t be the frontrunner. How many negative ads against Huntsman is anyone going to bother to produce?
“Lies” is a strong word. If a political ad distorts the facts to lead to conclusions the real facts would not sustain, the American people usually see right through it. If, on the other hand, these ads really bite a candidate hard, it is in that candidate’s best interest to go through all of that in the Primaries and be ready for the general where the gloves do come off and nothing is off limits.
October 31st, 2011 at 4:45 pm
57. By “balance” you must mean an equal amount of lies to balance the amount of truth on Romney’s side?
October 31st, 2011 at 4:48 pm
60 – When did he leave himself open to distortion of the truth in order to attack his character? Go watch each the clips Huntsman included in their entirety. They are completely dishonestly edited.
October 31st, 2011 at 4:50 pm
60 – That is so naive. Do you honestly think this type of character assassination has no impact? Do you honestly think these “lies” (that is what the are) are something that can just be brushed aside and ignored? Ignoring this stuff is what got Romney into this mess in the first place.
October 31st, 2011 at 5:34 pm
Huntsman is an Obama plant. He leaves UT high and dry and acquiesces to Obama’s request to go to China. (There was another Republican that said NO to a request from Obama.) He goes for 1.5-2 years and then comes back to run for president. Pretty much he spends his time BASHING Romney. Talk about a vendetta by Huntsman……and even Huntsman, Sr. Sad.
October 31st, 2011 at 5:38 pm
Wow…Huntsman has lowered himself to Rick Perry’s level!
All these lies, half-truth, and out-of-context snipets to spin a false scenario.
Huntsman’s career and reputation in Utah are toast!
If he wants to stay in politics, he better move to Illinois.
At least we know he has one supporter there…
October 31st, 2011 at 5:44 pm
#19…SMACK the New TEX
You’re acting like a crow in a garbage dump, not an eagle…
October 31st, 2011 at 5:47 pm
#22…Telly
Been drinking too much with SMACK lately?
Go back to your posts about how Sarah Palin’s words, etc., were twisted by the press and the “Establishment”.
There you will find you have answered your own question…
October 31st, 2011 at 5:55 pm
By the way SMACK, your “these attacks will help Romney against Obama” meme might be wrong if they succeed in deceiving GOP voters into believing a false narrative about Romney and then not supporting him, or not enthusiastically supporting him in the general.
I don’t see how spreading lies free of charge on our side for the Democrats is good strategy…
October 31st, 2011 at 7:11 pm
Hmmm….which is better? Huntsman’s attacks on Romney (loved it, btw…), OR is it Rombot-nation circling the wagons?
October 31st, 2011 at 7:22 pm
The American public in today’s world is dramatically in need of serious debate, and I don’t think they feel there’s a lot of bandwidth left for personal attacks.
October 31st, 2011 at 7:23 pm
Oops, forgot to credit the source of that quote. Huntsman in his announcement speech.
October 31st, 2011 at 7:39 pm
69.
Good question.
About equal?
October 31st, 2011 at 7:41 pm
Obviously Huntsman has not read 90% of the comments on this site.
October 31st, 2011 at 8:11 pm
73 – and it wouldn’t factor into his decision to go negative if he did. Only a well-lubricated weather vane can take new information into account when making decisions.
October 31st, 2011 at 8:14 pm
#74…Good point
The “stuck in place rusty gate” candidates are not going to be able to beat Obama, let alone clean up after him…
October 31st, 2011 at 8:18 pm
Not impressed. Cheap hack job.
October 31st, 2011 at 9:37 pm
“Only a well-lubricated weather vane can take new information into account when making decisions.”
Exactly why he will not get the conservative vote. He stands for nothing…and everybody knows it. Well, except Rombot nation.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:30 pm
77 – great parody.