With Daniels Out, GOP’s Best Bet Is …
About a year ago, I thought a Daniels-Ryan GOP ticket for the 2012 presidential race would have been ideal. Alas, Gov. Mitch Daniels is not running for the presidency. Neither is Haley Barbour, Mike Huckabee, Donald Trump, Mike Pence, John Thune, or Jim DeMint. Chris Christie, Rick Perry, and Jeb Bush probably won’t run either. Paul Ryan would still make a good VP choice, but he isn’t running for president.
Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Ron Paul, Gary Johnson, and Rick Santorum are all “dark horse” candidates. They stand little chance. Jon Huntsman is too liberal (and was in the Obama administration). Newt Gingrich’s campaign is already in trouble. Sarah Palin, I think, knows this isn’t her time.
That leaves Tim Pawlenty and Mitt Romney. Lame, I know. But Pawlenty’s lamer. Against President Obama, I will take Mitt Romney. Furthermore, Romney’s running mate should be Rep. Allen West. Romney-West 2012 would be very formidable. Let’s start with Romney.
We know Romney’s downfalls. He’s Ward Cleaver. Too clean. He’s “inauthentic,” an “establishment” politician. That’s unpopular these days. GOP primary voters want someone real, someone outside of politics; a self-made citizen reluctantly running for public office to save the day. Romney, on the other hand, has been running for president for six years. Then there is Romney’s health care bill which he passed in Massachusetts as governor. President Obama loves to thank and jibe Romney for setting the example on health care reform. It makes Obama’s awful health insurance law look moderate and undermines conservative criticism of it.
All this and more is true. But consider Romney’s strengths. He’s well known. He’s electable. He polls well against Obama. He looks and acts “presidential” (whatever that means). He’s been a governor of a state, an executive in the private sector, and he ran the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. He’s disciplined, articulate, and well-versed in domestic and foreign policy. Romney will be quick to hit Obama on jobs and the economy, on the debt and deficit. When Obama holds Osama bin Laden’s scalp in front of the cameras, Romney won’t hesitate to say, “Yes, Mr. President. Good job. Now let’s talk about how the intelligence that was used for the operation was gathered.”
With Daniels out, Romney’s the frontrunner. And yet he doesn’t seem to be preferred by much of anyone. He can fix that a number of ways. First, he ought to “go big” on foreign policy. Libya, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Israel, China –– these are the issues, yes. But the big issue is our standing in the world. Obama has made it weaker. Romney ought to go big on domestic issues, as well. Unemployment and taxes are a problem. But entitlement insolvency is the heart of the matter. Fiscal issues are a worry. But monetary issues are paramount. Will someone other than Ron Paul ever speak about monetary policy? The opening for Romney is there to seize.
On health care and other issues, he must prove to conservatives that they will be able to hold a President Romney’s feet to the fire. Romney must clarify and champion his newfound federalism. He must promise to repeal ObamaCare. Period. He must seek to win over some of the libertarian-wing of the Republican Party with a sincere defense of states’ rights. That means getting with the times and not being an obstinate idiot about the drug war. That means respecting the Tenth Amendment.
Additionally, if nominated, Romney must pick a running mate who will please conservatives. That someone is Rep. Allen West.
Sure, West is only a first-term congressman. But Americans want an outsider, a Mr. Smith-goes-to-Washington kind of guy. Allen West is just that. He’s a retired Army lieutenant colonel, an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, with as sharp of a mind as there is in Congress. He’s a conservative’s conservative; a tea-party favorite. But he cannot be smeared as a radical kook. He’s from swing state Florida — and Florida, remarkably, has never had a candidate on a national ticket. West is also black (not that it matters, but to some, it does). Far from the liberal caricature, we live in a country where that is, by far, a net gain — especially for a black conservative.
Allen West speaks with authority like nobody else in politics. Sometimes his rhetoric on his military service can be self-congratulatory, almost Pattonesque. And that’s slightly cliché in some corners of 2011 America. But it’s not insincere. One listens to him speak and it is evident that they are listening to a leader. West is a man for these times.
Most interestingly — and importantly, to me — West understands the true nature of the Islamist adversary and has not bought into the “cult of counterinsurgency” when it comes to military operations. “We have to get away from occupation, nation-building style warfare,” he said last November. Yes!
And listen to him speak on the enemy. They are not perverting their holy texts, he insists. They are heeding them. More yes! Politically incorrect, no doubt. But true, unafraid, and rooted in reality. Allen West is one of the few politicians in the country who has challenged the Council on American-Islamic Relations for its ties to terrorism. He understands the full scope and scale of the fight ahead. But with that in mind, he is nevertheless committed to avoiding attritional, unending, unwinnable wars.
Romney-West can stand toe-to-toe with Obama-Biden in the debates, on foreign and economic policy, on substance, on style, and with the general electorate. With the 24-hour news cycle and viral video exposure, vice presidential running mates matter more nowadays. They don’t come much better than Allen West. Romney, the electable-establishment candidate, and West, the tea-party war-vet rock star, complement each other very well. Together, they would be the toughest GOP ticket to beat in the 2012 election.
Ack! With columns like this it makes me NEVER wanna vote again! We had to swallow Mc Cain last time & now we’re supposed to swallow Romney? Puke! IF he gets the nod, forget it! I ain’t voting for anyone but Cain or Palin, even if I have to write ‘em in. IF Romney gets the nod, you can kiss all of the tea party people good bye & we will be looking at a 3rd party. Naturally, they would never win, but a 3rd party would effectively prevent the GOP from ever winning the prez again. Romney is one of those people that I am totally against! Another establishment GOP candidate & a demo lite. Forget it! I don’t go to war w/ an unloaded gun…
We’re supposed to be appeased by a powerless VP position. No way. If we are given another heads-they-win-tails-we-lose election, then let it be Obama again. The GOP-establishment is worse than the alternative because they pretend to be on our side while the water slowly comes to a boil.
BINGO, I couldn’t agree more. Sarah Palin is the right candidate and it is driving the RINOs crazy because the know they won’t be able to control her or smear her anymore than they already have. Screw them all. Sarah can win and will.
Palin/Toomey 2012.
Can’t you envision that debate between Toomey and Biden?
Stop saying Palin can’t win. She is fabulous on all of our issues and she is exciting.
I’m tepid on Romney, but I can’t see how Obama can beat him if things stay the way they are.
The ol’ “heightening the contradictions” strategy, eh?
I remember that about this time in 2007 a Rudy-Hillary race was a sure bet.
I’m with you. Cain or Palin, no more “professional” politicians!
Sarah Palin has been a politican longer than Mitt Romney.
I’m with Bulgaricus. A conservative can win an Electoral College victory over Ogabe and Mittens.
The GOP comes in a distant third losing CA, NY, NJ and other Blue States nominating Romney.
Move over Whigs, another weak sister joins thee in History’s dumpster.
Mitch Daniels would have been a disaster – he makes Bob Dole look like Brad Pitt. We need candidates with a little sparkle and charisma – Romney is as good as it gets right now.
In Mr. Guariglia, we see once again, a conservative pundit who takes the time to write an analytic on the efficacy of a Romney/West ticket without analyzing the most important element… that Romney is Mormon. With Daniels out, it appears more likely Romney will cruise through the Primaries to the Republican nomination with no conservative literati lifting a finger to vet his very peculiar brand of Christianity. When the General ensues, the MSM will have no such compunction… and they will have fertile, and embarrassing fields to harvest. We need to quit being so politically correct and start asking hard questions about Romney’s religion. Allen West will rightly challenge Islam if he becomes a VP candidate (and he should be considered seriously for this by any Republican nominee). Joseph Smith Jr., the founder of the LDS (Mormon) Church, was known as the American Mohammed during his time. Does anyone care to ask why? Or are we so cowed by the Lefty Elites we fear to offend?
Spot on wayne. While I despise Romney’s technocratic, left-leaning ways, he is a fantastic manager and businessman and *could* provide the leadership need to turn this thing around. However, wayne is absolutely correct. His Mormonism is his Achilles heel. It renders him unelectable. Why else would the MSM be mum on it right now? Because they know if they hold onto it and then parade it out if he wins the nomination he is over. We are a very tolerant nation but there is too much hocus-pocus and mystery surrounding LDS. Let’s be honest, it’s a little unconventional and everybody knows it.
The problem with this is that his “leadership” will be in the wrong direction.
Romney will say anything to win, and will govern as a leftist, or a centrist, or whatever else he thinks is popular at the moment.
His track record suggests one of two possibilities: He has absolutely no core convictions, OR, whatever “convictions” he has are on the left.
What we NEED is not someone who is merely “electable”. We need something more than just a person who has a big R after his name.
We need someone who is RIGHT.
Romney is WRONG.
(And his Mormonism is irrelevant. If the MSM goes after him on that basis, he’ll shred them, and they know it. They’ll drive every “moderate” straight into his camp.)
Mark v,
“(And his Mormonism is irrelevant. If the MSM goes after him on that basis, he’ll shred them, and they know it. They’ll drive every “moderate” straight into his camp.)”
What your contending could be a clever strategy for a Romney candidacy to embrace…. if it could in fact work out that way. And with most Christian religions I would agree with you. However, not so with the Mormon religion. One does not have to look too deep into it to see how aberrant the founders of this religion were. The Dems will have no compunction in digging the skeletons out of the closet…. and there are some pretty scary skeletons in there. His religion will not be irrelevant.
It’s more than a little unconventional thought_criminal. As a people, Mormons are pretty mainstream American. For the most part they are conservative, hard working, law abiding, educated, business and family oriented Americans. But they were founded by greatest flim-flam man of the 19th century, and ruled for 30 years thereafter by a murderous tyrant. If Romney gets the nomination, all this will come out… and much, much more.
1. Mormonism isn’t a “Christian religion”, any more than Christadelphianism or Christian Scientism. It uses the same words, with radically different meanings. It is antithetical to Christianity.
2. The ugliness of Mormonism isn’t exactly a deep, dark secret. There’s not much left to expose.
3. If they go after his Mormonism, he’ll frame it as religious persecution (accurately), which will alienate the mushy middle from the MSM message. He’ll WIN VOTES if they make this an issue.
4. A very small minority of Christians will refuse to vote for him because of his Mormonism.
5. A very LARGE majority of Christians will refuse to vote for him because of his track record as a flaming liberal.
6. If nominated, he’ll carry Utah overwhelmingly. Obama will probably not spend a dime campaigning in that state. (Okay, that one’s pretty obvious!
)
Personally, I could vote for a Mormon IF he were strongly, passionately pro-life, with a solid record to prove it. That is NOT the case with Mitt Romney.
In fact, when it comes to religion, I’m aligned with the sentiments of Abigail Seidman: “I would rather see a hundred pro-life atheists in the world than one pro-abortion Christian.”
I’m from Massachusetts and I can tell you that Romney is very different from the way he’s presented by the liberals and the right-wingers. The liberals are afraid of him–he ate their lunch here in Mass in the governors race–and they will continue every one of their angles to defeat him. But they will do the same, even more effectively, to less qualified candidates. The Left will slur his religion but it will backfire on them as it did here. Most of his positions were conservative to the core, and where they were “moderate” they addressed issues specific to Massachusetts. “Romney Care,” was in the end a pile of sh– thanks to the garbage the Demoncrats piled on to the original bill. Economics? He was the only governor in decades to ever deliver a surplus (2.1B) in a down economy, without raising taxes. And then Obama Lite promptly spent it, and more, and raised taxes. Oh, and by the way, Romney had to govern, which right-wing absolutists can’t understand because they never get to govern at the national level. If Romney wins the nomination he can win the general. If the right wingers can’t accept 85% and stay home or vote for guaranteed losers then we get 0% with Obama. Brilliant! But hey, the Huckabee evangelicals would be victors! They beat that liberal, inauthentic, American Mahomet Mormon.
Steve,
Just curious…. did the Mountain Meadows Massacre come up during Mitt’s elections in Massachusetts?
Mormonism makes me uncomfortable, but no more so than any other brand of mythology except for the muslims. It’s very unfortunate that so many not only believe these fairy tales but also insist on interjecting it into the politics of this country.
The ability to convince oneself that he has an imaginary “friend” looking out for him doesn’t do much to inspire confidence in dealing with reality, no matter by what name he calls his “friend”.
I’m glad to see that someone besides me recognizes the mythological nature of all religions. With that said, it has nothing to do with the repulsion I feel towards Mitt Romny. He’s as RINO as they come. Give me Sarah Palin or Herman Cain or Col. West or Michelle Bachman or any combination there of. If Mitt is the republican candidate then I’m voting libertarian.
Absolutely Wayne, I would encourage anyone on the right to do a little research into the Mormon church and consider what would transpire should Mitt win the nomination. A republican in Massachusetts is a democrat anywhere else. If the Republican party nominates him I say we deserve Obama one more time.
4 reasons Romney will not be supported by actual Republicans in an election:
1. RomneyCare (has the state of Massachusetts on the brink of bankruptcy because of the costs incurred and was THE blueprint for ObamaCare. This alone should make him ineligible for president, as he is just as stupid as the individual we have now).
2. Pro-abortion (social issues are inextricable from economic issues for most conservatives and this doesn’t cut it, even if he states that he’s changed his mind at some point).
3. Pro-homosexual marriage (see above).
4. Mormon (if you’ve ever done any investigation into the bizarre stuff these people believe, I think you could easily come the same conclusion I’ve drawn—this is a pseudo-Christian cult. I could never, EVER vote for Mitt Romney for any reason. Allen West I would vote for in a second. I think West is the best candidate of the bunch and I wish HE would get the Republican nod, if not Paul Ryan).
Mitt is almost as much a RINO as Collins or Snowe or Spector or Chaffee and should be forgotten.
Listen, Wayne, there is nothing in the religion of Mitt Romney that is scary. To everyone else that replied to wayne’s post – Did you ever actually talk with someone of the same belief? Have you talked with missionaries or members of that church? Or are you basing all your judgements off of the internet? You should talk with real, live “Mormons” – or Members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Find out that they are no cult. They are some of the most earnest, hardworking, God-fearing and Christ-loving you will ever find.
Don’t be sheep, people. Be educated with your opinions.
I am extremely educated in LDS theology, and it IS a cult.
Do your own friggin’ homework before ou take those that know a whole lot more than you do.
Do you read and study the Mormon’s information and education…..or just the anti-Mormon?
Just how do you KNOW that you know SO much more than I do?! You know nothing about my life, nor my history or education in the LDS church. Just because we have differing viewpoints does not mean one of us knows more than the other.
bean,
I do not refer to the Mormon Church as a cult and I don’t say they are not Christian. Others can engage in that debate…. it’s not important to me. In general I like the Mormon’s I know…. for all the reasons I’ve stated. But I know a good deal about this religion… in particular it’s history and founding. The Book of Mormon is more like the Koran than the Bible. It is an “Old Testament Style” piece of literature… and I’m being kind when I say literature. Because this was a violent ideology in its founding, many people were murdered….. just like the Islamists are doing today. Though it’s no longer occurring in the LDS Church, the fact that it did occur will be a great embarrassment to any political aspirant competing on a National stage.
Have you read the Book of Mormon? It reads NOTHING like the Old Testament or the Koran, for that matter. It is ridiculous to compare the bloodbath of the early Islamist Caliphate years with the persecution that the Mormons faced in THEIR early years. One was doing the killing (Muslims) and the other was being killed (Mormons.) See the difference?
bean,
Yes I have read the Book of Mormon and I suspect you haven’t. Or you would recognize it’s a ripoff of the Old Testament and the Spaulding Manuscript all combined into one. It’s better written than the Koran… but not much…. and that’s not saying much anyway. Have you bothered to read the Koran? I wouldn’t blame you if you hadn’t. It’s a miserable read. I don’t know why I punished myself by reading them both… but I did read every miserable word of each. As for the killings I was referring to in my Anonomous posting…it was killing by Mormons of Gentiles and Apostate Mormons…. much for the same reasons the Muslims are killing Infidels and Apostates today. Are you a Mormon? Do you know Mormon history? I suspect not.
You sir you are a bigot! It’s people like you who give the Republican party and conservatives a bad name.
Fras,
Who sir…. are you calling a bigot? And what specifically has offended you so that you resort to such name calling?
“the most important element… that Romney is Mormon” Please come to my family home evening and to my Church on Sunday to see how bad we Mormons really are. You’ll find that me like all Mormon’s (except Harry Reid) and I might add most American’s are deeply worried about this country and what this president is doing to it. Romeny being Mormon is probally the best thing about him. If you would take the time to understand him, his family and how much he to loves this country, you might just understand why he is running. Maybe you if could look past being a bigoted and hateful so called “follower” of the nicene creed Christ. But I doubt that either one of these is going to happen…
I have just one question for everyone, what would Jesus Christ do?
I’ve heard from enough Utah Catholics that I’m not comfortable with a Mormon president; dhimmitude isn’t fun whether it’s Islamic-based or Latter-Day-Saints-based.
I’m not sure what impact a candidate’s religion has anymore. Obama was elected and he attended the Reverend Wright’s church for 20 years – yikes!
Mr. Derp,
You help make my point. However, the preaching that goes on in the LDS Church these days is far superior to what the Rev. J. Wright likes to spew. It’s the LDS past, and founding, that I find most disturbing about the Mormon faith.
Mr. Derp,
The Progressive Left would defend a cannibal’s religious right to eat people…. and attack Christians all day long. I would hope our conservative standards are a bit higher and less hypocritical than theirs.
my ideal system is a bipartisan one, but not the Gop against the Dems but Libertarians against Conservatives, that’s the way this should be; with the Gop and Dems gone with the wind.
First to aclay1 Bob Dole really does look a lot like an older Brad Pitt. Both physically before the WWII and politically, so what?
I am in full agreement with you on Mitt Romney. I have to wonder where N.M. Guariglia lives. I have lived in the in eastern Connecticut for the last twenty-five years and Romney was about average for a leftist Democrat Governor. Ed King was much better. Romney did not deliver one drop of moderate and despite the whole state rising up to vote down homosexual marriage at the poles, he went along with that being imposed on the people too. He did not drag the judges involved to the State House for impeachment proceedings; he did not even request hearings on the actions of the judges.
What he did do is cry “Bring out your boys” and imposed the worst healthcare plan in the United States. Surgery in next door states has gone from a thirty day wait to about 50 days from the spillover.
Romney for President? Hell No! Hang the liberal bastard if he will not admit when he was wrong and is killing children. There must be fifty million better men than Romney.
From the other side of the Pawcatuck River it looked just as ridiculous watching Romney pretent to be a conservative. You are 100% correct.
Dole says
First to aclay1 Bob Dole really does look like an older Brad Pitt. Both physically before the WWII and politically, so what are you casting a movie? Pitt is a better actor than Dole is a leader.
I am in full agreement with Bulgaricus on Mitt Romney. I have to wonder where N.M. Guariglia lives. it can’t be near Massachusetts I have lived in eastern Connecticut for the last twenty-five years and Romney was about average for a leftist Democrat Governor. Ed King was much better.
Romney did not deliver one drop of moderate and despite the whole state rising up to vote down homosexual marriage at the polls, he went along with that being imposed on the people too. He did not drag the judges involved to the State House for impeachment proceedings; he did not even request hearings on the actions of the judges.
What he did do is cry “Bring out your boys” and imposed the worst healthcare plan in the United States. Surgery in this a next door state has gone from a 30 day wait to about 50 days from the spillover.
Romney for President? Hell No! Hang the liberal bastard if he will not admit when he was wrong and is killing children. There must be fifty million better men in the country than Mitt Romney.
Mitt Romney will never, ever be president of these United States — and that’s a very good thing.
As a power-wordhipping, massively interventionist, Dukakis-style technocrat, a President Romney would ruin the Republican brand for all time. I think that not only do Americans of Republican sentiment know that, but the GOP’s kingmakers know it as well. So Romney is highly unlikely to get the nomination.
This “go to war with the candidate you have” nonsense is merely a smokescreen for a prior affiliation with a particular candidate. Conservatives should know better, after the Dole and McCain debacles.
The Dole and McCain debacles were no greater than the Bush and Bush debacles. Not a one of the 4 were in any way conservative, nor attentive to their oaths of office. None of them paid a lick of attention to the constitution.
This “go to war with the candidate you have” nonsense is best left for after the convention when you are trying to keep Conservatives from voting 3rd Party.
Remember, in 1860, the Republican Party Nominee, Abraham Lincoln, was leading a 3rd Party into the White House!
Mitt Romney is the only Republican who can beat Obama, the only one. They’ve already started smearing him.
sheryl,
It’s far too early to make such a contention.
The author is looking into a crystal ball which is reflecting only his own hallucinations.
How do you know that Sarah Palin knows that it is not her time? Have you spoken to her using your enchanced telepathic abilities?
Or you are simply binging on your own delusions?
One has to laugh constantly over the “establishment’s” as desperate as self-destructing search for the “dark horse” that would fulfil the members of the “republikan” clique’s wet dreams about Palin not taking part in the incoming elections.
However, all the signs on the Sky and Earth point on the inevitability of Palin entering the fray at her own pleasure and timing that is suitable to her.
It also looks like some superior force is controlling the process leading to the nomination as Sarah’s subsequent prospective and actual oponents and detractors are commiting their political suicides one after another.
There is no doubt that Palin who is a woman of a steely determination and super-human courage is preparing herself to the battle of her life with the unprecedented intensity.
Her latest TV appearances are showing how fast and in what spectacular fashion she is improwing her performance that is undoubtedly the result of her acquiring the vast knowledge necessary to shine among her rivals.
However, it is only the harbinger of the things to come because she shall be FATNTASTICALLY prepared to the nomination process and the final battle for the Presidency.
Her self-craping oponents and haters are surely scared to death hence their never ending attempt to belittle, dismiss or ignore her.
P.S: Looks like Mr (or Mrs) Gauriglia has replaced another infamous Palin dismisser Myra Adams. Perhaps we can expect some more intense attacks from that author on Palin in the not so distant future.
What Glass said! Palin / West – 2012
“Have you spoken to her using your enchanced telepathic abilities?
Or you are simply binging on your own delusions?”
It’s called ‘wish-casting’ Bog…and this author is doing it big time.
PHHHT on filthy articles like this…at this pre-natal stage!
I hope Romney crashes and burns…while this author is forced to live under a bridge.
Oh that’s funny! How many kids these days know the tales of the billy goats gruff?
I think Allen West is the only guy who can go at Professor O’Barry straight on and call him out on his lies and poisonous policies. Cain is already putting his foot in his mouth and sinking his own campaign. If we have a Romney/West ticket we are in the position of voting for the VP instead of the top of the ticket the way we did in 2008.
Exactly what I was trying to say later in this thread but better put. Hear hear!
No! We had exactly that choice in McCain/Palin. Look how that turned out.
West is not McCain. I know what you mean about Sarah “only” being the VP nominee, but the media has already (maliciously and incorrectly) prejudiced so many against her that I truly am hesitant even though I think she would be a wonderful President, my 1st choice. The lame scream media would really be scratching its head trying to figure out how to villify a GOP Black candidate. In a sane universe, I would be euphoric over Palin-West 2012 and West-Someone else in 2020! Paradise.
If you think Palin would be best, then work towards getting her elected if she runs.
As for savaging a black GOP candidate, ask Clarence Thomas how hard the left finds it to savage black conservatives. Ask Condi Rice.
I think this is a great suggestion. We MUST be realistic and understand that we might be stuck with Romney…if so, what better way to position us for the future?? I’d dearly love to see a West/Biden debate…AWESOME!
I’m not a Romney guy – he’s far too “moderate” and tends to go along with statist policies all too easily, in the manner of the corporate exec who isn’t so much concerned with the details of the government regulation as to how stable he can count on it being.
But he made his reputation and substantial fortune as a corporate “turnaround artist.” He gathered investors who bought controlling interests in failing companies. Then he went in and reorganized them, redefined their missions, streamlined their processes, slashed their expenses to the bone, and made them hugely profitable. This is why he has no trouble raising big bucks to run for President: there are many people out there who got rich because of his efforts. To prove he wasn’t a one-trick pony, he did the same thing with the 2002 Winter Olympics, taking over a corrupt and bankrupt operation headed for spectacular failure and turning in not only into a successful Games, but even a profitable one.
If there is one thing this country needs in a President at this moment in history, it is a turnaround artist. If Romney wins the nomination, I will have no problem supporting him in the general. We could do a lot worse.
Where do people get this silly idea that a good BUSINESSMAN will automatically make a good President?
Our economic problems are NOT the result of bad business decisions. They are the result of BAD POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY, which is exactly where Mitt Romney fails the test. His ACTIONS prove his political philosophy is very, very bad.
His record qualifies him to run a business, but for President.
Romney believes in State’s Rights which lead to the healthcare that the PEOPLE of the state were in BIG favor of. Are you against state’s rights? If people in MA don’t like the healthcare they have BIG support for……they can move. It would promote better ideas among states. MA TRIED an idea. If they don’t like they can repeal much easier than a FEDERAL cram down our throat bill!
In today’s economic situation……….a BUSINESS president that has actually had a REAL job and CREATED jobs…….could help a LOT of people in our country! Don’t you think THAT would be good??
herman cain and/or michelle bachman, with no raise in the debt limit between now and november.
we need clear, principled distinctions. all else, is just obama-lite.
I support Herman Cain, have met him, and agree with his policies. Some on this thread feel he is either not a serious candidate, or has somehow injured his chances.
Why?
I don’t recall an incident where he stuck his foot in his mouth (unlike newt) and perhaps not having a professional community organizer who only votes present during his brief senatorial term isn’t the qualifications we need.
Herman Cain is the closest to Tea Party values, he’s black, and he has worked hard and been successful and created jobs his entire life. He also ran huge organizations (including the national restaurant association). Talk about politics!
In other words, Herman Cain is a perfect example and role model not only for black Americans who want OFF the Democrat vote plantation on which LBJ put them over forty years ago, but for ALL Americans.
Herman Cain 2012! =^[.]^=
Guariglia has his dream ticket distorted.
Romney would be a continuation of every Obam policy now in place. Raised taxes in MA as well as his ill advised healthcare.
THE TICKET FOR 2012 IS; MICHELE BACHMAN-ALLEN WEST. BEST 2 PEOPLE TO PUT IN THE WHITEHOUSE FOR THE NEXT 16 YEARS. BACHMAN 2 TERMS, WEST 2 TERMS.
YIPPEEE!!!!!!!!
Romney did not raise taxes in MA……….they charged fees (for users). This was done to balance their budget! People need to research themselves…….there are websites in support of Mitt but NOT connected to Mitt IF you are interested in researching yourself.
Seriously, people!!
If Romney actually picked Jim DeMint as a running mate, he would instantly get the Tea Party support AND he would show that he was serious about actually cutting spending in Washington. It would be a great pick and DeMint would also be a big help in the Southern states, a place where Romney probably isn’t seen as very conservative.
There are very few men I would rather see leading this country than Allen West. I would do anything for the guy. But he just got to Congress and, again, has not really accomplished mush since he’s been there. West will be able to run for president in his own right after he serves at least one or two terms in Congress. After that, he’ll be a great candidate and probably a president. But, like Chris Christie, a person should know that it’s hard to want to be president when you haven’t accomplished much in government (unless you’re a Democrat like Obama). But once West has some experience under his belt, he’ll be a formidable presidential candidate.
I agree on West.
On Romney and DeMint, no. There needs to be someone on the ticket to show experience in foreign affairs.
That would be Cain/West.
The “fact” that Republicans are concerned this early in the race for President that they cannot get a good competitor against Obama tells me a couple of things.One,anyone on the red state side should be able to give him a struggle at least from my point of view.What has this guy done right[Osama]?That alone does not get a person re-elected.Then there is the media “bias” which I must say is hard to swallow anymore.With Fox and the right-wing radio talk shows,I see that about even.So…either the Republicans are pathetic[this opinion is based on right-wing airwaves]or the Dems are smarter politicians in all ways.I honestly would like to see a leader like Petraeus run,then tag on Cain and there you have a ticket![or West].Unless Obama does something more then he has already done,I think it is the Republicans to lose next year.Those are the couple of things,but another option for another Obama victory is simple.The country is going to hell!
Cain Can. And Will! 2012.
In 2008, no one thought Obama could win, either. Boy, were we all wrong.
Herman Cain 2012!
I agree with this article completely, Romney and west get elected and then Romney dies suddenly and West is made president. HEY wait a minute why not just elect West and have Sarah Palin as his running mate. NOW THATS AN IDEA THAT I REALLY LIKE!!
Me too but I don’t think Palin would go for VP twice in a row. Never know though.
Romney is the white Obama, in many ways.
Romney’s picture is in the dictionary under RINO.
That he is even considered, says much; and suggests why we’re not going to pull out of this.
What a bunch of hogwash in the column and sadly in too many of the comments.
Romney is an excellent candidate. Some of the comments about him are despicable. It is the Pundits and the ideologically tight-assed who keep denigrating Romney. If he doesn’t win, these same people will say they told us so, after years of undercutting him.
Pawlenty is not unknown by people who pay attention. He certainly is not as unknown as Obama was; and he can point to an actual record of governance. He may be unknown to the ignorant, who only come on forums to blast whoever is the most serious candidate, and hype those on the margin.
Cliches are cliches for a reason. GOP politics closely follows the football cliche about everyone loving the #2 quarterback. In Politics everyone seems to love the candidate who doesn’t have a prayer.
Either Romney or Pawlenty will be the candidate. Get used to it, and shut up with the trash talk. Or would you rather see Obama for four more years.
Romneycare is the only justification necessary to not vote for Mitt Romney.
I might think otherwise if he would own up to it and say “You know, I really screwed the pooch on that one”. But no, he keeps dissembling when he is asked about it.
Mitt may be a Republican, but he is no conservative. Oh, he might look conservative when compared to any Democrat, but that ain’t saying much.
I have news for your oldflyer, just because you say it doesn’t make it so. Romney and some guy named Pawlenty have absolutely no chance of either getting the nomination or being elected. And as far as telling others to “shut up” that is a little out of bounds on a comment thread isn’t it?
YES, as a point of fact four more years of Obammy is better than Romney or any other old style Rockefeller RINOs. Better an open socialist than a closeted one. If you get another RINO elected where will a real conservative come from. . . the democrats???? But, if Obammy gets in again we will get a conservative on the ticket in ’16, although, by then, the GOP will be an insignificant 3rd party for running Romney in ’12.
Hear Hear!!
Id take Obama over him.
Both GOP and DEMS are about tax and spend, dont let the GOP fool you, they love it as well. The GOP just dosnt do it as fast or as much but take there time. The GOP needs and wants to spend, but just on there types of programs that will ensure votes.
So…the GOP better watch out those of us who are tea party minded,as we are tired of it and will either sit it out or vote third party, instead of Romney or some other “insider”. It seems the GOP king makers (morris, rove, Krauthammer) do NOT GET THIS…the playing field has changed and they have not grasped this…
The thing is the Tea party was partly formed by people like myself who are fiscal conservative but are sick of the GOP but didnt know where to turn. Now we know there are others out there like us and wont just vote for lesser of 2 losers anymore. It should scare the GOP silly and if they dont wise up they MUST play ball with us then they are doomed.
Everyone seems to forget that it’s T.E.A. – Taxed Enough Already. Romny will tax us if he gets in office… In more ways than one.
steve4libertyinsc,
I appreciate your sentiments on this…. but I would hope we could agree that the most important vote we can cast in 2012 would be a vote AGAINST Obama. I for one would vote for Porky Pig over him.
Sure…there’s plenty of time, isn’t there? 4 more years of marxism, 8, whatever; the debt will never be called in, spending will never reach the tipping point, government pensions will always be fair, the Dept of Racial Justice is doing good work, the Supreme Court will always be on the side of the people, National seurity and National defense will be fine.
When you get right down to it, there isn’t even a problem.
Why worry.
Absolutely astonishing. Four more years will get a majority of socialists on the Supreme Court–then let’s see how wise it was to prefer a socialist over a moderate.
Oldflyer,
Justified criticism of policy is valid. I know less about Pawlenty than Romney and am trying to learn more about him. I know what Romney is as I have studied him in detail. I stand by my previous comment that he is a progressive. His healthcare policy has been a disaster in MA. He reflexively chose a socialist approach to healthcare, rather than a free market solution. He continues to defend it, despite the evidence that it is a failed attempt.
We have a long way to go before Iowa, NH, and SC. Pawlenty may be the nominee and myself and others may decide that he is acceptable. Romney is not someone I can get behind. The progressives have bankrupted us and shredded the Constitution, that includes the progressives from the GOP. I, and millions of other conservatives, am done with them. If the GOP embraces Romney, they will do so without me. The GOP had best think long and hard about the conservatives, we are damn fed up with the John McCains and Bob Doles you ask us to hold hands with every damn election. No more.
Obama and the progressives are tearing the country apart. I will only accept a Constitutional conservative as a nominee to pull us back and begin the long job of putting the country back together. I am done compromising with people who are constantly requiring me to accept yet another person who will continue to ignore Article 1 Section 8 and the 9th and 10th Amendments.
Progressivism and Marxist doctrine have brought us to the brink of ruin. The Europeans are belatedly realizing the immense damage these economics defying policies have caused. Spain tossed out the Socialists yesterday.
Republican and Democrat have become distinctions without a difference. It’s progressive vs conservative that counts. Romney might as well be a Democrat, for in my mind he is. He will just bleed us to death more slowly. Cain or Bachman will change the way the game is played. Cain is getting my support.
All done playing by the old rules, Oldflyer. There are millions of us. If you want to embrace the destroyers, you will do it without me.
Please tell us: What is there in Mitt Romney’s track record as governor that even HINTS he would be a good President?
Please tell us one thing he’s ever done while on the public payroll that has NOT been hard left wing.
Name one thing.
You know that is an excellent point.
I can’t speak to judicial appointments, but I am not aware of any major accomplishments, except the disaster of Romney care, that he was responsible for. That is in contrast to Pawlenty, no question. Pawlenty rode herd on liberals in MN and imposed his legislative agenda on taxes and the budget. He shut government down in a liberal state and lived to tell the tale. Romney did no such thing. He hung with the progressives and socialized healthcare.
And he claims he is proud of that.
And there are “conservatives” opining here that he should be our next President.
And they think that we TEA party people are part of the problem.
Yeah, good luck with that. I hope you can live with your corrupt sense of national interest.
You probably don’t even understand that you should be ashamed of yourself.
It just may be that we are at a weird crossroads in our history where we MUST run a conservative America-loving Black candidate against a liberal America-hating Black incumbent to neutralize the race card the current powers-that-be and their lapdog media will hurl at the Repub candidate. Imagine that–totally neutralize their highest card. Not a factor. It would pull in fencepost-sitting independents, moderate liberals who feel uncomfortable not supporting a Black President, and thinking Black voters who aren’t pleased with being a part of “the Black vote” but who struggle with resisting the allure of their understandable pride in the magnificent opportunities finally available to all Americans.
The predicted negative campaign expected would suddenly be about issues and the substance of the two men.
I think we must strongly consider the emotional atmosphere in our country above other considerations normally in play. West’s lack of Washington experience is a plus for many, and many of us admire the quiet strength, plain speaking common sense, and commanding presence that he possesses.
Cain scares me. He seems a manipulative southern minister to me, whipping up a crowd. I do not trust his emotionally charged style of rhetoric. I suspect he would not want to be in the same room with West.
Cain scares you?
How do you manage to walk out of your door in the morning? Does your breakfast cereal terrify you? Do you find yourself in vapors at the thought using the wrong fork with your salad?
Sheesh!
Stupid comment. Too many conservatives will be turned off by his Bible thumpin’ rhetoric, and he’ll end up detracting votes from more viable candidates. I am not convinced he’ll be a good candidate. Cain scares me because he might make it more likely we’ll have 4 more years of what we have now. Duh.
You’re projecting your insecurities.
Time to man up. The rest of us aren’t afraid of our shadows.
You’re being taken in.
Just how Christian is Cain anyway?
i agree somewhat
there is something hard to peg about cain that is unnerving
something to do with the “populist ‘conservatism’” angle that he seems to exploit
throw him in the pool of candidates and ask them proper questions; time will tell
Ok,that is just silly. I’m an atheist and I’m supporting Cain. Kinda puts your fears into perspective doesn’t it?
Amen! =^[.]^=
Anyone running against Obama needs to ask the American people one question over and over:
“ARE YOU BETTER OFF NOW THAN YOU WERE 3-4 YEARS AGO?”
Reagan used that to spank Jimmy Carters Ass,
and any Republican-Independent can use it to get rid of this clown.
No. Not Romney. Anyone who could continue to support RomneyCare in the face of its obvious failure in Massachusetts is either too stupid or too authoritarian to be president. In either case. Just NO.
That’s probably why they call it Taxxachusetts.
“All this and more is true. But consider McCain’s strengths. He’s well known. He’s electable”
There, fixed that for you. And it still makes no damn sense.
Romney is the candidate that Obama and the democrats want to see nominated. They have no doubt that they can defeat him, and he will go down graciously like McCain did. Sarah Palin is the one person who has been consistantly right on the conservative message and is not afraid to fight the democrats. She is the best hope for the GOP.
Exactly right.
I think the author got it precisely backwards. If these are the proper two people to run in 2012, I’d run West for President, and Romney as VP.
Never forget, Charlie Crist was the MAN, future senator for the Sunshine State! He was the absolute shoo in according to the RNC machine. They did everything except paint his name on the office door. But then we had something here we call an election! That’s where the candidates actually have to go out and talk to people who will honest and for true decide who they will cast their votes for! And you know what? Smilin’ Charlie got smoked by a “DARK HORSE” candidate named Marco Rubio! Mitt Romney is Smilin Charlie, who will be Romney’s Rubio? Herman Cain has a very powerful narrative, and I believe he has the brass reproductive organs to go toe to toe with Pres Obama. The only question remains is if he has the discipline to run a campaign. If he does, this could be very interesting.
-Burger
Romney’s too “slick.” Tim Pawlenty is solid. But we are not in normal times. Whoever debates with Obama next year will have to attack without fear. Soldiers know how to do that.
Mitt Romny’s first name might as well be Ken (aka barbies boyfriend). He appears just as plastic and fake. Maybe we should call him “Plastic Man”…
Dear Lord,,,,,,,Can’t we all just get along?
I would vote for Zooey my neighbors dog if it will get the most incompetent, marxist president in history out of the white house.
Just put a name up, I’m voting republican, that’s it. Curse me, call me names, tell me I’m stupid,……I DON’T CARE.
P.S. Yes, the republican establishment sucks, Yes I get it. It’s Romney’s turn, I get it. I DON’T CARE. The Marxist Democrat establishment is still far worse and much more destructive.
So the choice is shit sandwich or shit salad.
Doesn’t seem to be much on the menu and nothing that is appealing.
You make a good point Larsky. This discussion is just part of the process of choosing the best candidate to throw up against O’Bamma that gives us the best chance to get rid of the Marxist. It appears we’re all conservatives here. I’m sure I’ll vote against O’Bamma. But I don’t want to have to hold my nose when I do it.
Guiliani-West would be workable and winable.
Oh, please. Stop “SETTLING” and just wait for the right candidate. If you’re wanting to get married do you get engaged w/the first person who comes along? Americans need to be patient! Did I not see any mention of Herman Cain? Grief! You all act like the election is tomorrow! Grow up and stop “SETTLING” on any candidate (Romney is as good as it gets….to that I say B_ _ _ _S _ _ _! If true conservatives keep that kind of thinking around we WILL end up w/BHO to finish what he started and that means the end of America as we know it! BE PATIENT!
Heh Heh… Wanting to get married in the worst way ends up being the worst way.
Many good comments above about this piece. Romney is a troubleing choice. He lacks principal, just look at his record on abortion. His instinct on healthcare in MA was to go socialist. Newt suffers from the same lack of faith in free markets. Romney is not a fool, but he is a progressive like Gingrich. Progressives have been destroying our Constitution for over 100 years now.
To quote Mike Church, I am done with the Yankees vs Red Sox mentality, it has gotten us where we are today, on the edge of financial ruin with a decayed morality. No progressive is acceptable to me. The Repubs need to understand that I will not support a progressive ever again. If you serve up Romney, McCain, Gingrich, I am all done. They are no different than Obama in the long run, you just bleed to death a little slower. I am done with progressives.
I will support Herman Cain. I love Allen West, but he is not running right now. I want the Federal government deeply slashed and I am interested in the Fair tax. Cain will do the cutting and he will ardently support the change to the tax code we desperately need. I have contributed to his campaign 4 times in the past 3 months.
If the Republicans offer me Romney via their F’d up open primaries, like they gave me McCain, I will work to destroy the Republican party after this election. Its romance with progressives that started with Teddy Roosevelt must end, there is no room in my tent for Marxists or statists.
I want my country back. No more Yankees vs Red Sox.
Well said, well said indeed.
ME TOO! ME TOO!!!
I’m on your side. The current republicans did everything they could think of to screw up every candidate we picked who wasn’t on their list of “approved” candidates. They did it to Joe in Alaska, they did it to Christine, they did it to Sarah even though they made it even more difficult, if not impossible, for McCain to win. The only reason he had any chance at all was Sarah Palin. They did all but donate to the campaigns of these people’s opponents.
oops. Left out the word “leadership”. This: “The current republicans did everything…” Should have read like this: “The current republican leadership…”.
I wish all the candidates were still in it. That is, if they were willing to aim their fire at Spike instead of each other.
Nothing could be better than having 20 people from widely different perspectives doing a gattling number on the most dangerous man on earth.
Charles Manson would be better than obama. Then, at least, we would have someone with the ability to recognize reality as he twists it. And I can’t see Charley disingenuously throwing Israel to the wolves. Charley wouldn’t bother to pretend to be a statesman as he would be stiking the knife in the victim.
No Romney.
I don’t know much about Pawlenty – but being from MA, I know plenty about Mittens. A RINO was the best we were going to get there. We can do much better for President.
I was hoping Bobby Jindal would run. Without him, I may get on the Herman Cain bandwagon.
No Romney.
Why not Bobby Jindal paired with Nikki Haley? Riding in on an elephant in Tampa!!!
Jindal is ineligible – he is not a natural-born citizen (like 0). (Pity – I like him.)
Jindal’s parents emmigrated while his mother was pregnant with Bobby. He is a natural born US citizen and eligable under Article II Section I to be President of the United States. He is a very interesting man. I hope is President in the future.
If both parents are not US citizens, can a person born within the precincts of the US be “Natural Born”?
If so, there are plenty of “anchor babies” out there who can run for POTUS. =’[.]‘=
After reading articles like this I want to puke. We have been there and done that too many times to be lulled into trying it again. Go for the jugular! Put the pit bull in the pit with Obama and see where it goes. Palin the pit bull! What if she bits his nuts off? What if she makes him look exactly like what he is? A left wing commie? Why take a chance and maybe elect Romney and end up with Obama lite? This guy is supposed to be so smart. Why can’t he see what he did in Ma. is a disaster? Is it his ego? Who do we know who has a tremendous ego and can’t get beyond anything that pierces his thin skin? Everyone talks about Romney’s business skills. What about his military and foreign relations skills? This guy is a techno junkie who will get a f**king focus group on everything he does because he doesn’t have any personal ideas on ANYTHING. If anyone thinks that Palin can’t raise the money for this they are crazy. She has more appeal than Obama and Romney combined!
Great point. Sarah Palin is probably one of the few candidates if not the only candidate who won’t have to sell her soul to the special interests to raise the money. There are 50 million voters out there who will sell the used car to help her get elected. None of these other milk toast patriots could raise any real money from the public, they all are lapdogs for the special interest that have been feeding the RINOs for decades.
Sarah will rip the Obamameister in half in round one.
Palin is my real 1st choice, I just worry about the negative media and the race card, but I’m ready to throw in with vigor. Palin-West would be awesome.
As usual the Republicans will select a bland, feckless, candidate by default such as was the case with McCain. Trump was not a realistic case although conveyed a “style” that should have been learned by the wanna-bes. That is being blunt, assertive, clear, unafraid, in-your-face and very unlike Mr. milktoast Pawlenty. For the love of god find a non politician, non attorny who can actually represent the American voter. Short of this we will have 4 more years of Obama on steroids. The current Republican runners are sure losers.
KRC,
Very well said.
Palin – West. What a breath of fresh air these two would be. No connection to the beltway elites and their entitlement mind set, out of touch with the power brokers, both with experience and a proven track record and both out of control of the establishment. What the hell more could you ask for if you really want change?
Between Palin and West they would pick this street corner hustler apart at the seems and show him for what he really is, an inexperienced nothing.
Even the press couldn’t protect him against these two.
Are you crazy? Palin maybe too easy for the left to attack and she maybe incorrectly portrayed in the media, but she is at a disadvantage because of that. As much as I like Palin and her style she would have two many strikes against her to win even though she would be a tremendous improvement over zero and his misguided minions. Cain has so far said the right things and brings the right things to the race to be a winner. To have a citizen with the goal of being a patriot in the white house would be fantastic. As a vp West would be great. Then adding Palin in to the cabinet or as a spending Czar to help cut the waste generated by the dimocrats would allow us to keep Ryan in congress riding on the backs of those spending idiots and maybe keeping them in check.
We don’t need a version of left wing light or RINO in the white house. We would be better off if we dug up Ronald Reagan and put his corpse in the office than we would with what we have now. Bonzo would be better than half of the tools we have trying for the top office now.
If it is a choice between Obama’s certain to destroy the United States of America quickly and a Republican willing to destroy America a bit slower, I will vote for the sure bet and actually stab myself fifty times and bite down hard as I pull the lever for Obama.
I am sick and tired of false choices. In fact, I am sick and tired of all of our choices. Why is it every 4 years we have the choice between an absolute United States of America hater and a panderer to the United States of America hater?
John McCain and Barack Obama. Al Gore and George W Bush. Bill Clinton and Bob Dole. George Herbert Walker Bush and Bill Clinton. I mean seriously. Since Ronald Reagan we have not had a single quality presidential candidate on the ballot.
George Bush was not horrible, yet even he instituted socialist programs on the American people.
As a Mass citizen, I will not vote for Romney!
Gov. Romney is the worst choice, not the best. He is not too clean, he is soiled by Romneycare. Nominating him is akin to saying, Mr Obama, you were right.
I would still prefer a Cain/West ticket. I think Cain now stands a very good chance, especially considering that Romney is really the only one standing in his way now that all of the other front runners have decided not to run.
As a side note, you guys keep saying “milk toast.” It’s “milquetoast,” not “milk toast.” Just sayin’.
Chalk it up to the lack of a decent education being provided these days. It’s been so bad for so long that I’m sickened by it. So many people have no idea where their sayings came from or how to use the words we have. For example, how many people get mixed up about “to”, “too”, and “two”? Or “their”, there, and “they’re”? I see it all the time. How about we elect Cain and Palin. The two of them would be too good to be true. Their qualities and qualifications show that they’re what we need there in the White House.
When I was a kid and got sick my mother used to make me milquetoast. Maybe that explains it. That or all the milk mush!
Anybody else here remember milk mush? Served with butter, sugar and cinnamon in our house. Almost but not quite the consistency of Dr. Seuss’s creation in “Bartholomew (sp?) and the Oobleck.” Yummmm…!!!
We need to look at OTHER DEMOCRAT CANDIDATES!
I think Bill Maher would be their best bet. He knows how to send the right message with all the body language to back it up.
Then there’s Debbie Wasserman-Schultz that can get the Jewish vote.
Pelosi has the pervert coalition firmly in hand; Pun intended. But Barney Frank is jealous.
Harry Reid can get the dead voters in Nevada.
Blagojavich can bring Chicago politics to Washington with a fresh face, and probably bring Rahm Emmanuel back with him.
How can we get these perps nominated?
register as a “d” and campaign for them
we should also try to have closet conservatives run as “D’s”; adopt the language but legislate the other way– DINOS (dems in name only)
[I can't believe anybody could think I was serious. But, there could be someone else nominated by the Democrat Party to run against Obama is they wanted.]
Any sign I carry will say;
“Let me apologize for our pathetic President.”
Until Barracky boy is removed.
Eewww. We might end up with Ms Clinton in the white house.
I think Herman Cain will become more prominent in the next months, now that he has declared his candicacy. I think he is fantastic! Don’t believe the pundits who say that he is not a contender. He is very strong.
What we really need to do is get out and support the candidates our our choice and work and spend money to get them elected. Get out there and do it!
Please don’t discount Sarah Palin!! She has a steel backbone, real stature and moral compass and she is the only one that will fiercely attack obama for his nation-destroying policies. She will be relentless with a powerful “retail campaign”, steam-rolling over the left-wing media’s attempt to discredit her.
Cain has more American Foreign Policy than Obama, whose foreign policy experience amounted to eating 57 varieties of ethnic cuisine during his campaign.
Any candidate going up Obama, that is serious, has to feel some pity for him, since he is so totally lacking in experience and horse sense. And then there is his “bigger brother” the CMA (Communist Media of America) that they will have to combat.
I cannot understand this column’s self flagellation. IT’S OBAMA WHO’S WEAK, people!!! Wake up. Haven’t you noticed? the MSM, lefties, libs, rads, kooks, et al are “CIRCLING THE WAGONS” around the “anointed one.” WE THE PEOPLE are united and strong! Dammit wake up. Democrats are doing everything in the play book (and out) to insure “O’s” re-election. How? One asks? His feckless handling of the economy (just like Jimmy Carter), his bungling of foreign affairs (just like Jimmy Carter), his massacre of national legislation (just like Jimmy Carter). People, the MSM is in FEAR of a repeat performance of Jimmy Carter. That’s why they’re sponsoring S.679 and “chucky” Schumer’s (billionaire Joe Golisano) proposal to have “guaranteeing an Electoral College majority to the popular vote winner.” And these Congressional types take Oath’s to defend and protect our US Constitution!!!Geez. This proposal would shred our Electoral Process. FEAR, folks! That’s why “O” is off looking Presidential in Europe, while looking for his “Irish” roots in Erin. Psssst! MSM, they’re in Kenya.FEAR, trust me!!!!Just don’t let the RNC shove another dumbo down our throats…that’s all and we’ll be just fine.Vote, dammit.
In the recent Presidential debate Tim Pawlenty came across as an individual who’d recently taken a course in the art of the debate and public speaking and was practicing facial expressions and hand gestures no doubt designed to convey a sense of knowledge, authority, wisdom and statesmanship. On today’s (5/23/2011) Rush Limbaugh radio show in a brief few minutes of answering Rush’s questions, he came across as someone to be taken much more seriously as a Presidential candidate.
Romney is well known and well respected but does have some serious skeletons in his political closet that will no doubt be difficult to overcome. Pawlenty is less well known and perhaps that’s why his name doesn’t appear here as a viable candidate; i.e., one who can go toe to toe with Obama and kick his butt. Pawlenty needs more time and more exposure, exposure he will now get as a declared Presidential candidate for 2012 as of today.
Regarding Allen West he is definitely one of my favorites for all the reasons mentioned and don’t rule out Herman Cain. The campaign is ramping up. Let’s not be making definitive choices until all the guys and gals still in the wings, join the fray.
That said I still like Cain and West but Pawlenty is back on my radar; at least as of this moment.
I heard Pawlenty on Rush today and I agree: he has substance and a good record. I just hope that he isn’t still on the “global warming” bandwagon. Romney is left-wing even by Northeast standards: Romneycare, contributed to Planned Parenthood, said he’d be more for gay rights than Ted Kennedy.
Geppetto,
I like Pawlenty… but it irks me that he can’t bring himself to answer ANY question with a concise response.
Love these columns that bring out the wingnuts in full force. Cain and Palin – I could only wish the Republicans would be that dumb.
Fool you once, shame on them. Fool you twice, shame on you.
But, then there are fools that like being fools.
Lotsa lock with that.
Gauriglia proves himself a true lightweight here. The people he names as dark horse candidates are hardly that, especially Herman Cain. Very likely this same writer would have written off Barack Obama back when he announced. His reasoning sucks, too. Romney, for example, is not too clean. He’s a Morman, man, wise up, and beyond that, signed that awful bill in Massachusetts. Standout candidates who could whip the snot out of wimpy Obama are Palin, Bachmann, Cain, and Pawlenty. More will show up.
Whipping Obama’s butt isn’t the task people think it is; That’s the easy part.
The relentless, constant whipping any candidate (and their family) will have to endure, that’s against Obama for the next 6 years, (if they get elected) will come from the CMA (Communist Media of America).
If it weren’t for the CMA, Obama would have the same possibility at succeeding his presidency as a piece of toilet paper in a tsunami.
To be politically correct, shouldn’t we label as racist, someone who calls Cain a dark horse candidate?
Look, I’m an evangelical Christian (reformed, by His grace
but why do we propogate this nonsense that because Mitt is a mormon, that disqualifies him? We Christians have more in common morally with Mormons than Obama’s black liberation theology had. And why at the same time do we feel we must equate the two religions to vote for the guy? Let’s be honest: Mormonism is not the same as orthodox christianity. So what? Are we voting for our pastor or our president? We Christians voted one of our own and look what Jimmy Carter gave us. Don’t vote theology, vote character. Mitt Romney has that in spades – don’t believe me, look at his wife, his kids, their families. He is clearly one of us.
Conservatives have to avoid some of these “purity tests”. Whether it’s Mitt Romney’s religion or Cain position at the Fed, we need to think reasonably and logically. Learn about the candidate. Don’t cast them into the wilderness because some pundit told you to. “Divide and conquer” has been the motto of liberals, not conservatives. We need to be very clear-headed and not make decisions based on how a candidate makes us feel.
MikeZ,
You make some good points. For me, this discussion is about debating which Republican is best suited to defeat O’Bama. Romney may be it. However, his religion will come front and center in the General election. This is especially so if his religion is not thoroughly vetted in the Primaries. I also think a persons religious beliefs matter… how devout and fantastic those beliefs are. So far, Romney has done an inadequate job of clarifying his beliefs. Makes me think he’s hiding something.
A lot of these comments remind me of why Obama is President. McCain wasn’t a perfect candidate–I didn’t vote for him in the primaries–but can anybody seriously argue that he would have done worse than Obama? I don’t like having wishy-washy semi-conservative Presidents (like both Presidents Bush) but I’ll choose them any day over a Johnson, a Carter, a Clinton, and an Obama.
So an imperfect candidate means stay home and don’t vote? Sheesh might as well join the Socialists and wait for Utopia to come around. Since when is it conservative to damn the good because it’s not perfect enough? I’ve always said Libertarians are just socialists with a slightly different economic program, and it’s still true. They just switch out markets for government controls but have the same infantile faith in magic marketeers to make everything perfect by osmosis, but they still believe in the innate goodness of human nature and take the romanticist view just like every leftist from the Jacobins to the present-day ‘progressives.’
So Mormonism is an insuperable barrier? Best not to listen to what paid preachers say about a religion that is against paid clergy. I’m a Mormon, and I’ve heard lots of specious stories about us, many of them by paid preachers–my favorite is the girl who escaped the orgy in the upper room of the Salt Lake Temple by jumping down into the Great Salt Lake. Quite a jump–as you’d have to fly across the shoulder of a mountain first and make at least nine miles.
If you actually want to know about Mormons you have but to ask a pair of missionaries–they’re all over the place. They’ll even give you a free copy of the Book of Mormon so you can read it for yourself. And while you’re at it ask a protestant pastor where in the Bible it says: ‘go ye therefore to state college and get a divinity degree, and then shalt hang out a shingle and be paid by thy flock to be their pastor (i.e. bishop).’ What the Bible actually says is ‘let no man take this honor unto himself.’ But never mind. Why argue with bigotry? It can’t be reasoned into reason.
There are lots of good men who are pastors in various protestant churches. They don’t need to preach against other Christians because they’re not trying to drum up extra business–they’re sincere and peaceable followers of Christ. If your pastor is telling you how Mormons worship a Sun/fertility-god and think God had sex with Mary, then start wondering why he’s so keen to be like Saul instead of Paul.
Renaissance Nerd,
Don’t be so quick to cry bigotry. We’re having a discussion here. Why should your, and Romney’s, religion be off limits?
Allow me to ask you this….. If you were President, would you consult Thomas L. Monson, the current prophet of the Mormon Church, on any issue involving National Security? What do you think Romney would do?
Presidents have consulted everything from their own pastors to astrologers to Billy Graham on national security issues. Why should Pres. Monson be off limits? The only real question is the same one that dogged Pres. Kennedy–would Romney take orders from Pres. Monson as it was suggested Kennedy would from the Pope.
The answer is no, of course; first because Pres. Monson doesn’t give orders, and second because if he did, and threatened excommunication if they weren’t followed, Romney would be within his rights to refuse according to long-standing doctrine. We each must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling; as far as I’m concerned, Christ suffered for my sins alone. Everyone else is irrelevant, it’s between me and Him without any intercession from anyone. The same goes for every Mormon who has the faintest idea of how our religion works. The Prophet has no need of giving orders; ‘For behold it is not meet that I should command in all things.’ And ‘…men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will…’ (D&C 58:26-27) We believe in free will to a greater degree than any other people, cause, political movement or religion in all of history. It’s the entire purpose of our existence, to learn how to be free agents and choose to follow Christ. It’s the reason you can have a Harry Reid, Mitt Romney, and Glen Beck all from the same church.
As for crying bigotry, I admit that the pastors who preach the ridiculous lies about us are not bigots; they’re money-grubbing con men. Their congregations are often bigots due to ignorance and being mislead by their ‘spiritual’ leaders. Bigotry is normal for the human condition, and it usually takes some kind of shock to get one to see past one’s prejudices. I have several friends who attend ‘Bible Churches’ and who hear lurid tales of Mormon naughtiness, and can’t reconcile them with what they know about me personally. Some of them have changed churches, others ignore the cognitive dissonance and assume I’m just an exception. I don’t cry bigotry because I enjoy it, but because I’ve experienced it many times. Here in AZ when Matt Salmon was running for Governor, a 3rd party guy ran just so supposed conservatives who couldn’t vote for a Mormon would have somebody to vote for, giving us Governor Napolitano instead. That’s what the anti-Mormon crowd are rooting for in the event Romney gets the nomination; four more years of Obama. Better to elect an anti-American anti-Semitic petite-fascist than vote for a Mormon mushy moderate. Incidentally he’s not my first pick, I’m hoping Palin will get in it. But there’s no way I’m doing a ‘United We Stand’ Perot spoiler vote, and anyone who does warrants no respect.
Renaissance Nerd,
You just did a better job of explaining how Romney would make decisions relative to his faith than Romney ever has. And I appreciate it. I was wondering how Napolitano wound up getting The Arizona statehouse. Now I know. Romney’s not my first choice either….. but I dislike O’Bama so much I will vote for whomever wins the Republican nomination. Hell, if Harry Reid switched parties, I’d even vote for him. What a repugnant thought.
What angers me the most about this insipid article is that the author is already closing up shop and saying, “we gotta go now, bye!” Prematurely, he thinks it’s time to “go to war with the candidate you have.” BITE ME!
Well, NO. It hasn’t even officially begun, moron. Make that ARROGANT moron.
Now is NOT the time to “settle.” Romney is the worst of those declared.
Many more are yet to declare. Let’s see where we are AFTER the primaries.
Then, hopefully, we can assess how badly Romney lost to OUR choice.
My ninth-grade English teacher taught me that to write an effective essay, you need to seriously consider the arguments of the other side, and have an answer for them. This columnist could have used the advice. First, after eliminating all other candidates but Palin, Pawlenty, and Romney, he dismisses any and all case for either Palin or Pawlenty without discussion:
“Sarah Palin, I think, knows this isn’t her time.”
“Lame, I know. But Pawlenty’s lamer.”
He then completely misrepresents the arguments against Romney. The main arguments against Romney are that he’s a liar (pro-abortion or anti-abortion depending on what audience he’s talking to), that he’s a liberal (he enacted socialized medicine and gay marriage in Massachusetts), that he has a track record of incompetence (his “experience” is bankrupting a state), and that he’s a poll-following faker instead of a leader (how many times in 2010 did we see him endorse a candidate AFTER they won their primary?).
Mr. Guariglia, on the other hand, characterizes the primary anti-Romney argument as: “He’s Ward Cleaver. Too clean.” He does mention the Romneycare disaster, but only in terms of its political inconvenience, as if it says nothing about Romney’s so-called experience, management skills, or conservative leadership position.
Finally, Guariglia offers no serious argument FOR his preferred candidate. We’re reminded: “He’s well known. He’s electable. He polls well against Obama. He looks and acts “presidential” (whatever that means).” If that’s how you would have us vote, N.M., it would be wisest to ignore your advice.
I will vote republican for ANYONE to get the ONE out on his ears… and if West is on the ticket, I’d be tickled to vote for him.. he’s a man’s man and I’m sure woman’s man.. I think if West was on the ticket the vice president position would be more powerful than ever… the people would look to him for answers to the islamist problem.. I’d hold my nose for Romney and dance to the polls for West….
If Mitt Romney is the GOP nominee, for the first time I will withhold financial support, and I will certainly not volunteer. On the contrary, I will go on a personal crusade to persuade every Republican and conservative I know to vote for the Constitution Party or Libertarian Party candidate. I have held my nose to vote Republican many times (Bush 41, Dole, Bush 42, McCain), but Mitt Romney is a bridge too far. “Better than the Dem” isn’t good enough for me anymore.
Thanks for screwing your country, patriot.
No, thank YOU, MikeZ, for screwing this country to the point where the GOP still thinks it can get away with Dem-lite at this point in history.
Thank the Repubublican Party for screwing our country. And thank YOU for enabling them to do it – by mindlessly voting for whatever Dem-Lite they toss out there.
You’re a tool, and if Romney got into the White House, you’ll be feeling betrayed in relatively short order. Just do the rest of us patriots a favor and don’t act surprised, bewildered, or enraged by it.
I’m VERY conservative, always have been, gravely concerned about the financial situation of this country not to mention our safety from those without (and within) that want to destroy us. I WILL vote for Romney over BHO with NO DOUBT about it!!
I will NOT cut off my nose to spite my face!! It is foolish to think we can afford another 4 years of BHO!!!!!!!! He will totally destry America!! He is currently sympathetic to the Palestinians over Israel the only democracy in the Middle East (I know Israel is not perfect…neither are we!) The Obamas are NOT PROUD to be Americans!! How can ANYONE conservative…or even moderate…..support BHO??? Only because they do NOT KNOW WHAT he is DOING to our country!!
Oh, YES! I’d vote for Romney ANYTIME over BHO!! Shame on ANY Republican who will, BY NOT VOTING if Romney is the candidate, help re-elect BHO!!!
I’d like to see a Cain-West ticket. Then we could label as racist all the Democrats who don’t vote for them!
Lesson learned:
Many people are paid directly or indirectly by George Soros.
Many people believe the propagandists on the Fox News Network.
Fox News Talking Heads will never complete their assignment of creating new potential candidates to slay Obama.
The ends do indeed justify the means.
Mormons are cultists but catholics and followers of islam are not.
Repeat lies often enough and at least some people will come to believe them.
Talking down to people will help them to come to agree with your point of view.
If either Pawlenty, Gingrich, Jeb Bush, Guliani, Christie, Cain or Huntsman is the republican nominee, it’s game over.
Romney more than like would defeat the Marxist but in the best of all worlds, it’s time for you to go for it Sarah, crank ‘er up, get ‘er movin’. Vote for the winner of that duel and get off the bigotry and other foolish stuff on display in this comment section.
Bigotry?
Nobody gives a damn that Romney is a mormon.
I could vote for him if it wasn’t for things like “Romneycare” and his vacillating position on abortion, first he was for it and now he is against it. Then he was for gay marriage and now he opposes it and supports civil unions for gays. He was also for gun control and now is a card carrying NRA member.
How much slippery can this guy get?
I can’t fathom any conservative-of ANY stripe-voting for the man who brought Ronmeycare into being. It’s bankrupting the state. It’s worse than Obamacare, and we’re supposed to believe he’ll repeal Obamacare? I’ll write in Cain if I have to. I. Am. Done. Helping. Our. Bankrupters. Of any party.
I had to look twice to make sure I was on Pajamasmedia. Usually the responders are much more intelligent than the crap I see above! It’s OK to have a president who sat in a church for 20 years, who heard sermons about hating the US and the white people and who now goes to the church of golf, who bows low to muslims and hates the Jews, but heaven forbid – a Mormon!
Maybe you need to talk to a few and realize they love this country, love their God and Jesus Christ, and their families. I don’t know of another religion that tries to live such a Christ centered life, and teach their children to do the same. One of their strange beliefs is that they believe the family goes on forever. My, isn’t that just so evil!
Talk about being a bigot, thy name is___________above!
Sorry Goldi, but the vast majority (if not all? I had to skim) of posts above say nothing ill of Mr. Romney due to his faith. Why raise a strawman?
Ed Wallis:
I believe there are 59 previous comments. I would suggest you go back and start at the beginning. But reading and understanding are hard, no? Much easier to be a one note Johnny and keep repeating it over and over and……
Goldi,
The extent Romney’s religious beliefs are important to him is, or should be, important to all Americans ….. because he is asking to be their President. If there’s nothing to hide…. what’s the problem?
Put West at the top of the ticket. What a great American and patriot.
“You go to war with the candidate you have.”
…and who would that be? Mot Romney.
If so I’ll sit this one out or vote third party
You’re effectively stealing a vote from the candidate you agree with maybe 60% of the time to give to the candidate you agree with 10% of the time. How can you live with yourself?
Tolbert
Bigotry?
Nobody gives a damn that Romney is a mormon.
Maybe you didn’t read the beginning of the comments.
If you did, then I guess you don’t know what a bigot is!
Goldi,
If you’re going to accuse someone of being a bigot, have the courtesy to be specific.
Though sharp, productive, business sensed and well spoken, Romney is a flip-flopper on many issues.
Myself, I’ll likely pull for the Herminator unless John Bolton gets past the tease he tossed us back around 1st of year and actually steps up to the plate.
I still deciding on Romney but I have been doing “research” on Romney to see clearly issues of concern. I’m not going to take the talking heads labels or someone else’s opinion on sites like this. I have been out trying to look at the glass from a couple of sides.
I believe Mitt stood up for life and marriage when Gov in MA.
I believe he respects STATE’s rights. The MA healthcare (I decline to use the label by “enemies” to define.) was WANTED by the people in that state. It’s not MY conservative state……..it was LIBERAL MA and the PEOPLE wanted it! HE did NOT CRAM it down their throats as has been done to use by the FEDERAL gov’t!! He has said he will repeal Obamacare (YES I will use THAT label!! HE crammed that thing down our throats!!! We, the people, did NOT want!!) He truly believes in state’s rights. If the people of MA don’t want that healthcare……….let THEM get it repealed!! I think Repubs need to do a BETTER job with some research and thinking themselves! Do we like the Constituation or not?? State’s right to decide is an important part!
Oh, to cut off your nose to spite your face!! I will get behind ANYONE that the GOP comes up with!!!!!!! We have NO choice!! Our liberties canNOT take another 4 years of Chicago thuggery/George Soros influenced policies!
You fools on here need to learn to think for your selves and not just repeat the crap and lies that are told about Mr. Romney. He is more conservative than Ronald Reagen was, he may have flipped on an idea but he has never flip flopped on anything!
Funniest post of the day. Romney isn’t even as conservative as George W. Bush, and he’s certainly no Ronald Reagan. If Republicans are stupid enough to nominate Romney, I’m done with the party for good. And what’s more, our republic is likely all but lost – because if so many Republicans don’t get what kind of shape our country is in, we’re totally hosed.
Can you imagine Romney whipping those gutless wonders in the House and Senate into line? I can’t. Obama may have greased the skids to financial collapse, and a President Romney would only “manage” our way down the tracks. He sure as hell won’t stop the train.
Au contraire DRayRaven… Romney is probably the most fiscally conservative candidate we have seen in years. you need to read more… http://www.whyromney.com and http://www.mittromneycentral.com… you can read his own words and understand him better…. He is a good man that deserves to be understood correctly and not widely and wildly misunderstood…
I would like to comment on a few of the Dark Horses Herman Cain and Rick Santorum. Don’t count out Herman Cain you look at what he has done in the business world. He has turned around and help turn around a number of companies He ran National restaurant Association. Board of Director and Chairman of the Federal Reserves Bank in Kansas City. His degree is in mathematics. You could look at a Cain / Santorum team. Obama would not want to debate Cain. Look at his speech on Sat in Atlanta. No teleprompter. He could help build jobs and the economy a great deal. Yes it is early but keep a watch on Cain don’t count him out.
One other person that would be a great person to get into the GOP race. Gov Rick Perry. He would be very formidable person running against Obama. He would be better then Mitt Romney or Newt ( please leave the race before any primaries)
Gov Rick Perry please run
“We know Romney’s downfalls. He’s Ward Cleaver. Too clean.”
Since when does the party of family values look down on “cleanliness” and personal character? Are we now looking down on personal success, hard work, traditional values? On EXCELLENCE? He’s been a stellar student with 2 degrees from Harvard. He was a missionary to France for years. He took what his father did in business to the next level. Mitt’s been married to his high school sweetheart for scores of years, has 5 grown adult boys, and 15 grandkids. What’s not to like?
“GOP primary voters want someone real [authentic], someone outside of politics; a self-made citizen reluctantly running for public office to save the day.”
Um, Romney has spent near THE LEAST time in politics than ANY of the first, second, and even third tier contenders (except Cain); instead he spent his career in business turning troubled enterprises around. He turned around the Olympics which was in great peril and facing a more ominous security threat in the wake of 9/11. And who wants someone running for president who doesn’t really want it?How can we criticize someone for not having “fire in the belly” and then criticize them for wanting it too bad?
“Romney, on the other hand, has been running for president for six years.”
Such a cynical statement. In the process of his “running for president for six years” he has raised and donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to getting republicans elected across the country. Christie? Haley? McDonnell? sound familiar? You’re welcome. Plus look at his poll numbers and recognition. It takes a long time to become a little known governor to a credible national figure, and his time in the spotlight (and out of it, working hard) to get to the point he has today. Republicans typically elect the seasoned veteran of presidential politics. Are we now going to start criticizing every other Republican candidate in recent memory (including Reagan, who ran for president longer than Mitt has)?
All these criticisms are shallow talking points in my view that distract from what we actually have: an uber-qualified, tested, experienced, COMPETENT choice to run for president. An accomplished, honorable, intelligent, classy, competent candidate who has the exact strengths that our country needs at this time, which coincidentally happens to be our current president’s greatest weakness. Mitt is a proven leader, and his whole life demonstrates that.
CCR is right. God help us who are determined to vote for party purity against winning this election. I think if you unplug your brain from the hotair rss feed and read a little of Mitt’s book and watch his speeches, you’ll probably come away more than a little impressed.
Excellent post, MikeZ!!! Amen!!!
I hope there are others out there looking for an honest perspective and not a label, or talking point, an ax to grind (against someone who happened to be born to a father who lived the American dream by working himself out of poverty to a life where he could take of themselves AND give to others!), OR bigotry towards a religion. (I did read a post earlier on here. Shame on you! Would you take BHO’s “religion” in hate-filled churches OVER Mitt’s?? Perhaps you need to do some critical thinking and not prejudiced pronouncements!)
excellent post!!
I do not hold his clean appearances against him.
Romney is an insider, his penchant for forced health care mandates demonstrates this. He is a big believer in big government.
He failed last time, he will fail this time, even if I have to vote for Obama.
Romney is not a fiscal conservative, he is a big government big spender, in your closet fiscal progressive.
Romney is not a social conservative, he is pro abortion forked tongue ideologue who will say what is needed but take actions in the opposite direction when it comes to social issues.
Romney has no record at all on foreign policy. I seriously doubt he would have the fortitude required to fight any war at all.
No, Romney is not a candidate on my side. He is just simply a candidate on the other side willing to take us all to hell, just using a slower train.
Why you are so filled with hatred that you would willingly hand Obama the reigns to the country for another 4 years is beyond me, but good luck with that.
Why are YOU so slavishly blind, MikeZ, that you can accept YET ANOTHER Dem-lite Republican who will continue the socialist trend in America…and you call yourself a patriot? Bravado.
Because if Romney runs we will get Obama–whether his name is actually Obama or Romney. As has been said, the best we can hope for with Romney is that he won’t move us leftward as fast as Obama.
But, if we can’t get a conservative candidate in 2012–if we have to accept GOP machinations landing us with Bob Do—John McCa—Mitt Romney, then it is better to have Obama win–so that the national hatred for the left will be that much greater in 2016.
Ok Mike and alot of others,
You are taking a short view of history when you plead for us to compromise and vote for a person who has employed and promoted socialism so we can supposedly win. And if we compromise our principals and elect Romney that is a win. Not any more.
We have supported socialists like Dole, Bush, McCain, Nixon and look where we are. We are morally and fiscally bankrupt. The Constitution’s Article I Section 8 has been destroyed by a federal government that has run over its banks. And you think us fools who have had an epiphany and will no longer support people who create these choices?
Let me get to the point. We will pursue the “Sampson Option”. That means we are done compromising and are willing to let the temple fall apart. We will survive and maybe out of the aftermath we can build a better society, more in line with the limited government the Founders created and compromisers like you have destroyed.
The McCains and Nixons and Teddy Roosevelts joined hands with the FDR’s, Wilsons and Obamas and destroyed the country. We conservatives want a Constitutional small r republic again. We are done with compromise. We have been F’d over too many times. Romney is just another Nixon or Bush.
Let it come apart. The Progressives will suffer the fate of lemmings going over a Newfoundland cliff. Many of us have decided we are done with the likes of you compromisers.
You need us, we don’t need you. You can vote for my candidate and join the march back. I won’t vote for yours, I have done it enough to see it doesn’t work and provides no path out of our problems.
Have a nice time destroying what remains of our country. I am through helping you. When your done, I and others like me will be ready to deal with the aftermath.
“Romney’s Mormon!”
Yeah, and you were born yesterday, if you missed the entire big, mysterious vetting of the LDS Church back in ’07. It’s been done. Everybody knows. Just because some of you can’t be bothered to open your eyes to old news doesn’t mean the rest of us have to put up with another embarrassing religious attack this election.
“Romney did health-care!”
Yeah, and that’s why so many primary-state voters (NH) trust him much more than others on the issue. He gave MA their mandate — a very good business decision when coupled with other cost-control measures (see his Michigan speech) — and insisted all the while that states need to make those choices because they’re closer to the people.
“Romney changed his position!”
Flip on the light-switch here. Romney was RUNNING IN MASSACHUSETTS on a fiscal platform to help fix that state’s debt; he wasn’t planning to swoop in and decapitate every liberal there and make the state ultra-conservative. He was a state representative => he representated his state. You don’t try to lead a people while warring against their social views. Anything else would have been suicide, and we’d be looking at a barren Republican field today.
“Romney…”
…What? Nothing else to complain about?
“Romney’s boring/suspicious/too nice/too intelligent!”
Uh… go home, children. We’re not playing Barbies here. Come back when you’re old enough to vote.
Oh yeah…
“If it’s Romney, I’ll vote Libertarian!”
Translated: If it’s Romney, you’ll vote Obama. Whatever, dude. Showed your true colours there, didn’t you? Romney’s significantly more Libertarian than Obama is.
LIKE!! Thanks!
I agree don’t even start with the LDS & Mitt. Don’t use that about him being President Or holding High offices. Because If you do that Harry Reid is also a member of the LDS church what a shock. Who yes double standard with the LDS Church and Democrat but is OK but Republican and LDS is not good. Wake you a LDS member can be President just like JFK was the first Catholic.
Hill Cumorah is quite a production. And those that would vote for Obama…I have no respect for them…they don’t think past what they are told. (and I have friends that still endorse him, it’s almost hypnotic). Nuff said.
Agkcrbs,
You make some good points. But I take issue with your contention that the vetting process regarding Romney’s religion has already been done. From what I recall of 07, and from what I’m seeing on blogs like this, adequate vetting was NOT done and is NOT being done. And Romney’s JFK version of “I won’t take orders from the Prophet” speech back then was less than stellar. Romney has not yet won the Republican nomination, either time, and has NOT YET faced the Progressive “witch hunt” that will be thrown at him…. and his religion. Remember that most Progressives hate Christians and Conservatives and they have no compunction about engaging in truly bigoted attacks on either. If Conservatives can’t respond to my meager comments gracefully, how will they respond to what the Lefties say. Beware of those throwing the “Political Correctness Card”. They’re probably trying to hide something.
Wayne, you don’t like the mormon church, we get it. Find another topic. There are political reasons to dislike a Romney candidacy, so stop ‘worrying’ that the mormons are gonna get ‘exposed’ if Romney runs.
Azahoth,
My liking or disliking the Mormon Church is irrelevant. And I’m not the least bit worried that Mormons will get exposed if Romney runs. There are plenty of others on this blog discussing political reasons to like or dislike a Romney candidacy. If you don’t like this topic spend your time replying to their posts. May I ask why you find it so annoying?
Tim Pawlenty lost in a debate with 2nd tier candidates… he’ll get creamed by Obama. Mitt Romney on the other hand will run circles around Obama.
Sarah Palin would equal a media circus, plus she’s too thin skinned for a presidential race. She’d be better off running for the second biggest job in the country (Oprah’s).
Romney will be an excellent candidate BECAUSE of what he did in MA. All these naysayers on this website DO NOT GET IT. We already have a federal mandate for health insurance signed in by Ronald Reagan in 1986. It’s called the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act.
Tea Party/Purity Police people ‘you wanna start repealing that one….good luck with that.’
Geez get educated people. Obamacare is bad NOT because of the mandate but because it will lead to a single payer system.
Mitt Romney is the only GOP candidate who has intelligently said how he’d start down the path of repeal…..waivers for all 50 states…it’s brilliant and Obama can’t say one word against it.
And Mitt Romney is the only GOP candidate who can speak about repealing….heck even Obama has practically branded him an authority on the subject. Every other Republican in the field, Obama can smear as just a critic and he’d be right. Well he can’t with Romney.
Romney knows how to repeal this law and he’ll do it. And he’ll do it in the most humane, thoughtful way, not just because an angry Tea Party/Purity Police crowd told him to do it.
Thanks, Sheryl!
It’s good to see some rational comments on Romney! I haven’t decided to support him but when I see all of these distortions, slams, and sometimes lies about Romney, I come to his defense! I have done my homework on him, but still looking at Cain, West, Santorum.
I totally appreciate the Tea Party but I do not in any way promote or look for a “perfect” candidate!! Reagan had been a Dem!!! Would some of you vote for a guy like that today???
Let’s be fair, folks! We GOTTA get this election RIGHT!!
Oh, my!!! Are you SERIOUS?@? You would vote for BHO over Romney????
You have NOT done any homework on WHO BHO is then!! Who he associates with!! Who “has his ear”!! They are people who want to DESTROY America!! BHO promised to “fundamentally transform” our country and he is working fast and furiously to do so! I suggest you get out more and see WHO BHO is!!
I cannot believe any conservative or Republican would vote for BHO over Romney. YOU do NOT love America in my opinion!
This is a pretty good article. I’ve liked Mitt since early 2007 so I don’t really have a problem with him being the nominee. The fact that President Obama is more scared to face Mitt than anyone else and that Mitt seems to get under Obama’s skin makes me like Mitt even more.
http://mittromneycentral.com/2011/05/19/what-happens-when-president-obama-doesnt-get-his-way/
As a Republican who likes both Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty, I disagree with your characterization of the choice between them as “lame.” Both of them are great candidates. I like Mr. Romney a bit more, but I like Mr. Pawlenty enough that Mr. Romney is better in my eyes for having some competition.
Let’s take a little trip down memory lane. Twelve years ago, our choices were George W. Bush, John McCain, Elizabeth Dole, Lamar Alexander, Pat Buchanan, Alan Keyes, Steve Forbes, Dan Qualye, Orrin Hatch, and John Kasich. Of that group, George W. Bush had the best mix of experience outside of government (fighter pilot, oil man, baseball executive) and executive experience in government (six years as Texas governor). That’s good experience, but people had some questions about him. He was portrayed as a spoiled brat from a rich, prominent family. He had gotten over a drinking problem, but some people claimed that certain videos suggested that he had been drunk a few times after he claimed to have stopped. Do we really want to say that Mitt Romney’s being “too clean,” or “inauthentic,” or “establishment,” is worse than being a spoiled rich boy who had kicked a drinking problem? Governor Bush’s record on spending in Texas wasn’t great, and he had a better legislature than Mitt Romney had. His experience in oil and baseball was valid, but he didn’t have near the business acumen that Mitt Romney has shown. At the time, his National Guard service was disparaged, but most of us now see that he served well. In terms of experience, that was the only thing he had over Mitt Romney.
Most of us have problems with some of the choices that George W. Bush made as president. Most of those problems are related to domestic issues, but in hindsight, he could have made a few better choices on other issues. Even so, most of us remember him fondly as president. He brought a class and dignity to the office that had been missing for eight ugly years. As we look at the man he seemed to be in 1999 and the man he became as president, we don’t regret choosing President Bush, and Mitt Romney easily looks as good now as Governor Bush did then.
Even Tim Pawlenty does okay in that comparison. He doesn’t have a great business background. He wasn’t in the oil industry as George W. Bush was or in all kinds of companies as Mitt Romney was. On the other hand, both of them were born into rich, prominent families. Tim Pawlenty comes from a genuine working class background. He worked a couple of years as an executive for some kind of internet company, but he doesn’t have a big business background. What he does have is the ability to connect with voters because he bagged groceries to help his truck driver father support the family rather than because his rich father wanted him to experience that part of the work world. He has eight years as a successful governor bringing financial discipline to a liberal state. Again, he had a less friendly legislature than George W. Bush had, but he brought about real spending cuts. Comparing what he brings to the job right now with what George W. Bush seemed to bring to the job in 1999, we have every reason to believe that he’d do a great job as president.
Having established that either Tim Pawlenty or Mitt Romney would do a good job as president and would certainly be better than Obama, we can have difference of opinion about which of the two is better. Personally, I prefer Mitt Romney’s overall experience. Mr. Pawlenty talks about taking trips overseas for trade missions and to see conditions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other places, but Mitt Romney has a bit more international experience. He lived in France for several years on a Mormon missions trip. While the Olympics are only a sporting event, the international nature of the Olympics means that the president of the committee has to deal with international relations of a sort. As a consultant to so many businesses, Mr. Romney would have dealt with all kinds of international issues.
The next question is whether one or the other would be more likely to win. Polls already show Mitt Romney ahead in Michigan by six points. He’s ahead in Pennsylvania by a point in one poll that shows Obama’s approval in Pennsylvania to be 42%. Mitt Romney would certainly swing Nevada back to the GOP. The 1967 borders comment should cost Obama Florida already. The GOP needs to retake Virginia and North Carolina and preferably both. Mr. Romney has a good a chance as either candidate to take back those states. We’ll need to swing Missouri back to the GOP, and I don’t know who would do better at winning Missouri. We’ll need Ohio, and I don’t know who would be better in Ohio. We should win Indiana regardless of the nominee. We will want to swing Iowa back to the GOP, and that’s the one state where Mr. Pawlenty might have a better chance. Mr. Romney won’t win Massachusetts. Mr. Pawlenty might win Minnesota. Given these data, Mr. Romney appears to be the stronger candidate.
The great thing about primaries is that we get a chance to see how other people might do in some of these states. If Mr. Pawlenty or Rick Santorum were to do very well in one of the swing states, either would be a good choice for a running mate. I prefer Mr. Pawlenty for his executive experience and ability to step into the presidency immediately if necessary. If he just doesn’t perform well in the states where we need votes, then we should look elsewhere.
We have good choices. We need to stop letting the media tell us that we have only bad choices. We can win in 2012, and we need to be confident in the candidates already in the race.
Well thought out comments, I might not agree with all of your comments but you are making a lot of sense and I do not have to agree with your every idea for you to still be right on the money, thanks.
Thanks to you who have brought some sanity to the conversation. All this hate above is terrible. I would like to vote for Rubio/West, but I won’t be able to. I worked on the Olympics and know how he brought that out of a corrupt mess and made it into a money winning instead of money loosing enterprise. I will vote for him if he comes through the premaries.
Just look at what the supremes did today and see if you want obama to have another appointment to the supreme court. In fact I’m not sure our country will survive another obama term. Just think when he has no one to check him what he will do for georgie soros and his communist buddies.
We will not survive another communist term regardless who wins the office. Normalization is in full swing, up is down left is right. We still have to get thru 2011.
Mitt Romney will never get my vote until he renounces Romneycare as a mistake.
If you can’t admit your mistakes, why shouldn’t I believe that, given the chance, you would pass Romneycare again today? And if that’s the case, he’s just another RINO who won’t do what it takes to keep the train from going over the cliff.
Why should West be relegated to the proverbial back seat? Honestly, it is always offensive when a pundit suggests that the GOP should pick a VP who will “appease” the conservatives. I’m a conservative. I don’t like panderers nor appeasers.
OUT: Paulbots 2008
IN: Romney Trolls 2012
agreed, quite a curious phenomenon
So, Ed Wallis, if you present support for Romney and even suggest checking out the truth on MA healthcare, on a site where everyone is slamming Romney, you are a “troll”?
I guess some Republicans/conservatives are just as much a sheeple as many Dems/libs.
Umm…it would be too easy to say, “HELL YES!,” so I’ll just suggest you look at the similarity of the slavishly blind worshipping here as for “St. Paul” a few years back.
“The truth”?! Oh puh-lease! Red flag on aisle 78!
Oh, boy! Have it your way!
Mitt Romney all the way… I am tired of the corrupt, immoral leaders we have had to deal with. I would love a leader who is morally clean and not spiritually bankrupt. I talk to people in MA and they like their healthcare. Why should Romney apologize for something that is not his fault… ??? Mitt sends Obama on the run in a big way…and I like that! Don’t let your hate of things you don’t understand get in the way of doing what is right…
Mitt Romney 2012!!!
I’M will Governor Romney all the way… Mitt 2012
I am one of those Southern Baptist that the experts continue to say “will not support Romney” They might just be wrong.. Mitt 2012..
Most organized, pulling in most money=support….has worked diligently for all Republicans last fall…and donated to them, as well…supported with his presence..Ran Mass. well..Is a private sector businessman with a nose for success and turnaround…I think would be most respectful in debates to P. Obama BUT would point the major weaknesses he has created for America…and Honestly showed leadership and innovation using states rights as stated in the Constitution to get freeloaders off the healthcare system in Mass…Romney 2012 proven success… http://whyromney.com
Once again the media is telling us who will be our candidate. It is still to early to jump in so the media can beat you up for a year and a half. Pay no attention to the ones who say Sara can’t win. The establishment would love to have Romney at the top so they can say he is no different from the idiot that is in the WH now. Romney, the businessman who bought companies and sold them in pieces and put people out of work, so he could make a lot of money. A McCain look-a-like. Folks, we can do a lot better than this. Don’t let the lame stream media do your thinking. Let them get all worked up and then the right person will step in. Someone they can’t bash anymore. Palin/West 2012
This article is pathetically poor journalistic pandering. The time to “go to war with the candidate you have” is at the end of the primaries, NOT before they have even begun. I do NOT support Romney, and wish first to wait to see all of the candidates in the running.
I will vote for any GOP candidate left standing to defeat Obama. Anyone here who doesn’t vote GOP against Obama, is a vote FOR another four years of extreme leftist tyranny!!
I despise our so-called president and everything he stands for. I am tired of having my country’s underbelly exposed to every global predator possible by the very person who is sworn to preserve, protect, and defend us.
That being said, I want a strong candidate who can actually beat him; who will give him and his trillion dollar war chest a real run for the money; who wants to win the Presidency enough to actually fight for it, and political correctness be damned; whose loyalty and allegiance to the United States and our Constitution is without question; who can run circles around Obozo in any policy area, domestic or foreign; whose background and training includes the practical as well as the academic; whose life has encompassed the private as well as the public sector; who values individual liberty above the collective but is not without compassion; and who utterly rejects Sharia law.
Now if that means a Mormon, I really don’t care. I would sooner trust an avowed Mormon than a closet Muslim whose mouth claims to be Christian but whose every action proves him a follower of Mohammed trying to sell us down the river.
Further, it is counter-productive at this time for anyone who seriously wants to defeat Obozo to be engaging in character assassination of any of the contenders for the GOP nomination; all conservatives, tea party types, and libertarians, whether candidates or supporters, should be focused on ripping Obozo for what he’s done, what he hasn’t done, and for what he is almost certain to do given another term.
It is likewise counter-productive for any conservative who is serious about winning the White House in 2012 to be supporting non-electable, albeit exciting, personages such as Sarah Palin or Michele Bachmann, and/or threatening to either stay home on election day or vote for Obozo. That is the “thinking” that got us Obozo in the first place, in protest of McMealymouth, with and without Sarah; it is the “thinking” that returned Harry Reid to office and handed a can’t lose GOP win of a Senate seat in Delaware to the Democratic party in 2010. It is the “thinking” that handed Bill Clinton the Presidency in 1992 when the spoiler Perot took a big chunk of the vote, and it is the “thinking” that encourages defeated primary candidates to run as third-party contenders -spoilers – whose motivations are more egotistic than stemming from a genuine interest in serving the public in an elected office. And while Allen West is no doubt as refreshing as reported, I doubt that he is electable as the presidential candidate simply because he is both conservative and black. The 85% of black voters who still support Obozo are not interested in someone who doesn’t promise bread and circuses, regardless of his race, and I’m not sure the white-guilt crowd feels the need for more therapy by voting for another African-American. ( He would be an exciting Veep candidate, though.)
I think we need to keep our eyes on the ball here, and our minds focused on what we really are trying to accomplish: the removal of Barack Obama from the White House, and the salvation of our country. Focusing on which flavor of Christian teaching a candidate lives by, or even highlighting failures rather than focusing on successes, is not the way to achieve that, nor is splintering off into arguments about who is a Tea Party candidate versus who is a RINO; all it does is weaken the entire field while strengthening the opposition, which, in case no one has noticed, not only has its war chest, but also the US Treasury at its disposal for electioneering, as evidenced by the new dirt-mongering position at the White House. Not to mention giving the MSM fodder for chortling about a house divided against itself.
elephant4life,
Very compelling post. I agree with most of what you say…… with one exception. Any attacks coming from blog-postings HERE are very unlikely to weaken any of the aspirants for the Republican nomination. Quite the contrary. This discussion is one among fairly conservative participants. If those of us on this site can’t muster, and defend, aggressive criticisms, the MSM will have no problem catching our chosen one flat footed and unprepared.
I voted for McCain and I am sorry I did. I should have stayed home. Unless I get a real candidate to vote for, I plan to not vote.
The stupid game that is being played by party leadership and the media is destroying our republic. The people who stay home are voting NO. That is how I plan to vote unless I see someone I don’t object to voting for.
yaakov,
And have you found that perfect candidate you agree with 100%. It sounds like that’s what it’s going to take. Good luck waiting for that one to come along.
The war hasn’t started yet! There is plenty of time to get a better candidate. We shouldn’t go with the most ambitious politician that just can’t wait to throw his hat into the ring (McCain, Romney). Someone said that a presidential candidate should “Already Be the Base”, I think that means that this time the candidate must unquestionably be TEA Party. I wouldn’t have voted for McCain if he hadn’t chosen Palin as his running mate. I for one am not going to vote for anyone who isn’t TEA Party, and not just a wanna be either.
I think it’s funny that we all say we resent our candidates being chosen by the “party leadership” – and then go on the attack against Romney. Anyone with eyes to see can see that the “establishment” is busy looking for someone-anyone else besides Mitt Romney – the highest polling Republican against Obama. Jeb-no. Thune-no. Daniels-no. Perry-no. The list goes on. So anyone trying to use “establishment” in a derogatory way to you and attach it to Romney is just not informed or deceptive.
It’s frightening to read some of the above comments, and to think of how radical some on this site are to wish for the country to burn so that a select few, surely inflicted with delusions of grandeur, can rebuild society into their image. As if this is the only hope. It seems to me they are in the sad position of believing everyone except Sarah Palin and West are closet communists. To seriously espouse this view and not be a radio talk show host is to remove all credibility from oneself.
It’s rare to have a choice of someone so competent and so intelligent, someone with such a compelling track record in his academic life, relationship life, family life, religious life, business experience, non-profit experience, and political experience all in one person. Someone with a record of turning around companies, the world’s largest international sporting event, a state, and to have an admirable personal and family life. Unlike some of my friends on the same side of the aisle here, I will vote for the man with whom I agree 70% of the time who actually stands a good chance of winning, rather than stay home, or incredibly as some have said here, actually vote for the man with whom I disagree with 70% of the time.
However, if you’re looking for that perfect person to actually fix all of our government problems, might I suggest Christ the coming King? Rev 21:1-4.
Mitt Romney our best chance in 2012.
Why do I think Mitt Romney would be the best candidate for President to run against Obama in 2012? First I think he would absolutely clean Obama’s clock in all the debates they would have. Gov. Romney is a Washington outsider and that is why he got skewered by the lamestream media when he ran for president. Mitt Romney is actually very conservative no less than Ronald Reagan, he graduated from BYU one of if not the most conservative Universities in the United States, and is one of the most if not the most competent leaders in the United States.
For the mess that Obama has made out of our country Mitt Romney would be by far the best person on Earth that I know of who could do the most to fix the problems of our country if that is even possible Mitt would do it as that is what he does and always has been about is fixing problems.
Some of the things Mitt has proven beyond amazing to accomplish, like taking command of the Salt Lake Winter Olympics that were headed for disaster for a one (1) dollar salary and turning them around to becoming the most successful Winter Olympics in history. Romney literally saved those 2002 Olympics from economic doom and under his tremendous leadership turned it from deep in the red into the black.
What about RomneyCare? RomneyCare, signed into law by Romney in 2006, is a state-based healthcare plan , unlike ObamaCare, RomneyCare did not raise taxes and the people overwhelmingly wanted it. If the Democratic run state would have left it the way Romney had it there would not be all the problems that have happened with it. But the bigger and more important difference is that RomneyCare was a state program and not a federal one. If states’ rights and federalism are truly important to you, you would readily recognize this distinction. And on top of all this, Romney has consistently voiced his support for the repeal of ObamaCare, this the same Romney that saved Mass. from demise caused by the Democrats? Not once but twice? The ones that fattened up said health care bill.
Romney saved dozens of companies from closing down & thereby saving thousands of jobs? As a highly successful leader in business, he made money by turning around financially struggling companies like Monsanto, Staples, Office Depot, Dominos Pizza, Burlington, Corning, among many others, saving thousands of jobs.
Later he ran a venture capital firm which provided money to numerous startup companies such as Staples Office Supplies, enabling them to expand and create thousands of more jobs. During the 14 years he headed the company, Bain Capital’s average Annual rate of return on investments was 113 percent. One time one of his employees’ daughter came up missing in New York City and was feared kidnapped. Mitt said to his partners the reason we are in business is for the welfare of our families and shut down the company and organized a search party and they headed for New York. He diligently and quickly divided up the search party and sent them out searching sector by sector with detailed instructions as to how to proceed and the daughter was found. If I recall correctly she was just being a rebellious teenager and had went off and was hanging out with some friends having a good time not realizing what panic and grief she was causing her parents.
At the age of 19 Mitt put his Stanford education on hold and went on a 2 1/2 year mission for the Mormon Church and was sent to France. He lived a life of poverty while there and had to make due on less than $100 allowance a month staying in small apartments with several other missionaries. Many of these apartments he stayed at did not have private bathrooms but one bathroom for all the residence on the floor. As a missionary the lived a very disciplined and rigorous life, waking up at 6am and after extended Scripture study and prayers left for they day, knocking on doors from 9am to 9pm everyday for the entire 2 1/2 years sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was there during the 1960s when Americans were very unpopular because of the Vietnam War with the French. Often a Frenchmen would answer the doors and say “you’re from America, get out of Vietnam” and slam the door. He really grew up from a privileged lighthearted carefree youth to a very responsible serious adult during those 2 1/2 years. He was called to be an Assistant to the Mission President the highest leadership position a missionary can go. Once when driving a car carrying the other assistant, the mission president and the mission president’s wife they were involved in an automobile accident where a drunk driver crossed into their lane and collided head on. Mitt was mistakenly pronounced dead, the mission presidents wife was killed and the mission president was injured. Mitt recovered quickly and had to take charge of the entire mission for six months while the mission president was back in the U.S. recovering from his injuries. He really took charge and fired up the entire mission and carried out all the duties of the mission president doing a remarkable job amist the entire country breaking out with violent student riots and being an American not the safest climate.
Soon after his mission he married his wife Ann and transferred to BYU where she was attending. He ended up graduating #1 in his class and went on to Harvard Business School where he graduated in the top 5% of his class and cum laude from Harvard Law School. He became a father of 5 boys during his college and early business years.
As the 70th Governor of MA, he worked to turn around the state’s economy from a 3 billion dollar deficit to a surplus, balancing their budget in less than 4 yrs. And never accepted a salary while in office.
What is wrong with America not wanting the best possible leader we have available? It’s the economy, stupid! Mitt Romney is one of the greatest leaders this country has, after what you have experienced with Obama you should easily recognize this.
Romney also showed great character when he did not press charges and remained calm when a drugged-out rapper tried to start a fight with him on an airplane ready to take off .. the same rapper now calls him his homeboy.
From his own lips, “We do have tough gun laws in Massachusetts; I
support them,” he said. “I won’t chip away at them;
I believe they protect us and provide for our safety.”
But Romneycare is AOK because most the people wanted it. I suppose free cars and condos on the taxpayer would be AOK if most of the people wanted them, right Bruce?
News flash Bruce, the Constitution isn’t about religion, it isn’t about money, it isn’t about popularity, it’s about limited government and liberty. As you’ve pointed out, Romney’s all about the religion, the money and the popularity. . . limited government, liberty and the Constitution. . . not so much.
Bruce,
Thank you for your informative post. I think what I don’t like about Romney is that it appears he has been grooming for the US Presidency all his life. He comes from a very political family, and from a very political Church. He is not the first high ranking Mormon to run for President. The Founder of the LDS Church was himself a presidential candidate when he was lynched back in the 1840′s. And then of course there’s George Romney’s run in the past century. I can see he’s been very successful where business is concerned… and I admire that about him. But it’s also obvious that he’s been a very obedient Mormon throughout his life. That concerns me. I tend to be more put off by a candidate the more devout he is, with respect to his religion. Smacks of fundamentalism.
I too would support Romney if he is the candidate but he doesn’t get my feet dancing. I was surprised that no one mentioned Governor Perry of Texas. Texas has created more jobs since the recession than all other states combined. I don’t know enough about him yet but think he would be a good addition to the line-up. http://www.rickperry.org/about