Congratulations to Governor Mitt Romney
By matpruitt Posted in Archived — Comments (65) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
You know, it may be that Romney is outsmarting everyone. As it stands, he is winning his third state today, bringing the medal count to 3 golds and 2 silvers. He may pick up a bronze in South Carolina, but he will win more delegates today then any other candidate. Furthermore, a Jeb Bush endorsement may be coming in the run up to the Florida Primary, and I got to beleive that means more than Senator Martinez or Governor Crist.
Mitt Romney is not my preference, and I have been very adamant about that at times, maybe too much so on occasion. However, that doesn't change the fact that the Governor would make an exceptional President of the United States. Mitt may be one of the most accomplished individuals to seek the White House in the history of this country. I think those of us that have at times focused on his personality traits miss the point... this man is an accomplished executive.
When Mitt Romney took over the Utah Olympics they were headed down the gutter. Corruption, mismanagement, and a lack of leadership had doomed the Olympic Games in Utah which would have been a major embarrassment for this country and a hit on our reputation around the world. Whether he deserves all of the credit or not, things got turned around after Mitt took the reins and the Utah Olympics turned into one most rememorable Olympic experiences in recent history. Although that may have to do a lot with the fact that the USA ran away with the medal count, I also specifically remember a well organized opening ceremony with Romney, a beaming and proud general, giving an exceptional speech over the games he saved.
When some said Romney should run for Governor of Utah after the Olympics, because he could win there, he went home to the blue-est state in the union and prevailed. He was a Republican in a Democratic state. Yes, he raised a lot of fees, but I would agree with Mitt that fees and taxes are not the same thing. When you receive a service from the public you should pay a user fee, especially if you can afford it, rather than pass the burden on to all tax payers. I agree with Mitt that user fees are an appropriate way to gather revenue.
Furthermore, as Governor, Romney can claim what no other Republican can with the health care package he helped mold and then signed into law... with the right message he can take this issue away from the Democrats. He has taken the right approach so far as a candidate for President by proposing that the Federal government give states the opportunity to do what he did as Governor, instead of a blanket national mandate that would lead to lower quality and the death of the healthcare market which is responsible for the greatest system of care in the world.
Mitt has changed his mind several times, there is no doubt, and I think he has got to address this in a more effective manner if he is going to win the general election. Those who have suggested that he fire the consultants and be himself are on the right path. However, I got to defend the Governor on abortion just a little bit. Yes, his switch to the pro-life position was politically convenient for him; however, I was adamantly pro-choice until I saw my son's ultra-sound at thirteen weeks. Let's just say I can understand that some may change their view points on this issue as they gather more experience in life; furthermore, it is hard to watch Mitt's five son's campaign their butts off for him and then question his politics when it comes to family values.
The Governor has been knocked around a bit for losing New Hampshire and Iowa, but I think what has got lost in the hype is the fact that his strategy was one of the smartest to begin with. Unlike other candidates who in some way have relied on a one state or nothing approach, the Romney campaign had not one, not two, but three opportunities to win, and they did so in Michigan while still getting a major portion of the delegates in Iowa and New Hampshire.
This isn't an endorsement. I will not be voting for Mitt in the Washington State primary if John McCain or Mike Huckabee are still around, and I believe the former is going to be the nominee. That been said, Mitt Romney is a capable and accomplished man, a good man who loves his family, and who is more than ready to be the President of the United States. If he is the nominee, I will look forward to standing by the side of his supporters.
the winner of SC has won the Republican nomination for 30 years, delegates are irrelevant in this, it is about momentum and the South. Mitt could win, but claiming that this day is a watershed is just partisan bull feces.
___________________________________________________________
Molon Labe!
includes four primaries. Hardly written in stone.
As C. Krauthammer just said, if the winner of SC wins the nomination, it will be by accident.
but man, I couldn't have said it better myself!
"Go ahead, make your jokes, Mr. Jokey... Joke-maker. But let me hit you with some knowledge. Quit now". -White Goodman
"I believe in grace, because I have seen it. In peace, because I have felt it. In forgiveness, because I needed it."
-George W. Bush
"I believe in grace, because I have seen it. In peace, because I have felt it. In forgiveness, because I needed it."
-George W. Bush
When Mitt Romney took over the Utah Olympics they were headed down the gutter. Corruption, mismanagement, and a lack of leadership had doomed the Olympic Games in Utah which would have been a major embarrassment for this country and a hit on our reputation around the world. Whether he deserves all of the credit or not, things got turned around after Mitt took the reins and the Utah Olympics turned into one most rememorable Olympic experiences in recent history. Although that may have to do a lot with the fact that the USA ran away with the medal count, I also specifically remember a well organized opening ceremony with Romney, a beaming and proud general, giving an exceptional speech over the games he saved.
As far as I can tell, he could not have accomplished the same thing if the Winter Olympics had been in trouble in Stowe or Denver. He had a lot of help, and it is not help that will exist in Washington. Cleaning up the Olympics was done with a ton of pressure brought to bear by a group that dominates the socio economic system of the area and has vast resources and frankly I am proud of the work they did there. The problem for Mitt and all the touting he does of that, is they cannot help him with the morass in DC because the people who are the problem in DC do not answer to them.
I think Romney will carry a lot of experience over to Washington but as you say it's an open question as to how receptive people there will be to him. It's an even more open queston as to how much help and support he'll receive from his own party if that occurs. If you look at RedState, the most prominent blogger here who was responsible for maintaining law and order for a long time called his campaign a "cult".
So I don't know whether he'll have any support from these parts if he gets nominated and elected. He's certainly not the choice of the magazine that owns this blog, and that doesn't bode very well for the ability of the people who run the place to support him. I expect them to be opposing him if he wins.
And if he does win, and they continue to do that without licking their Fred Thompson wounds (which I think are pretty much at this point insuperable) they're going to be some very bitter folks for the next four years. In which case I'll just pack my bags, because I'm frankly not interested in carrying on that way.
Seriously. We all want the same thing. Give us our time in this early primary season to pimp our guys. And don't judge whether we will or will not support the nominee before we even have it down to two. You are better than that.
"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." ~Professor Dumbledore
For Romney has been unmatched by anything they have done for Thompson. Mark Kilmer hates Romney so badly I think he'd like to see him burst into flames spontaneously. Streiff and Jeff Emanuel both despise him, and Erick dropped off the Romney bandwagon many, many moons ago. Adam C. is a McCainiac, AcademicElephant is a GiulianiBot, and as far as I know Dan McLaughlin would take the food out of Romney's children's mouths if he could.
So I don't expect much support for a Romney administration here on RedState if he wins, particularly because they're going to hold grudges.
It may be that anyone who has had any support for Mitt Romney all this time should just think about packing up their bags and leaving right now if that's what happens. I know I won't stick around.
Remember Alex, you left Romney too. Because he doesn't want you to have assault weapons or some such. I guess Crank will need to get the bunny ready.
"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." ~Professor Dumbledore
And if Romney wins anyone who had any support for the guy is going to be a lowlife. I'm not interested in being a lowlife for Jeff, Adam, Mark, Victoria, Dan, Erick, et. al. I still like Romney and if he wins the nomination I'll be happy. I'd be even happier if Fred won but that looks increasingly like a false hope, built on a house of cards. And I know that if Romney does win this will no longer be a place I feel welcome. It's going to be an anti-Romney snipefest, at least as far as I can tell from the vitriol that's been expressed against him so far.
Dan McLaughlin wrote nearly 15,000 words explaining why Mitt Romney was Persona Non Grata for the True Republicans on this blog and I don't intend to stick around here if he wins the nomination. I'm not interested in rebutting these people when they're proven wrong and angry about being proven wrong.
right now. Since when has this blog existed to make you feel welcome only? Take your sabbatical and chill for a while. You are obviously making this way too personal.
"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." ~Professor Dumbledore
This blog has *never* treated Romney fairly, or even with a modicum of enthusiasm, beginning from the day that Erick said that Romney lost him "on the flip."
From that moment forward this place has been nothing but an anti-Romney cavalcade. I don't care whether or not the place ever changes: it's not my blog. On the other hand, I don't have to stay, and I won't -- because my reasonable guess is that if Romney wins the nomination you're going to see a lot of disgruntled editors here with longstanding grudges and I won't support it.
Your continual whining is not going to make your case. And yes, you are whining. If you aren't happy, then leave. But blame no one other than yourself.
For the most part, we are all reasonable people that share similar goals and values. In the end, we will come together and support our nominee. Some more vigorously than others. That is what a community does.
H*ll, even GC is going to write something positive about McCain if he wins SC. And even though he won't like it, ten bucks to RS 3.0 says Becker will even vote for him.
"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." ~Professor Dumbledore
There are plenty of Romney supporters on this site. He is my #2. He gets hammered here, but so do all of the candidates. Take a step back, gain perspective, and keep fighting for your guy! :)
I like the guy, he's my #2. I just don't know if I can trust him.
Go Fred!
------------
Conservatism is about empowering people to do the work, not the government!
not always, but too often. Now, if HWSNBN wins the nomination, this will certainly be an unfriendly place. I do believe that we will rally around the nomination here at RS -- grudgingly in some cases -- but united just the same.
Fred Thompson was an imaginary candidate before he became a disappointing *real* candidate and now he's finally getting around to being an *actual* candidate.
Even though on the merits he probably has the best platform his weirdo strategy of starting out with tremendous aspirations and then dashing them and then trying to build them back up was *stupid*. I've tried very hard in the past week to get people to think of Fred Thompson as a viable Presidential candidate and I can tell you that personally I'm getting absolutely nowhere, people just laugh at me when I bring him up.
most of them could kick my butt anyway.
"No compromise with the main purpose, no peace till victory, no pact with unrepentant wrong." - Winston Churchill
Now money though....
Children with super-rich parents face many risks. Thus, I feel compelled to take some of their moolah and reduce those risks. After all, it's for the children.
And I promise to make a worthy donation to the Ikslawok-Kowalski Foundation for the Relief of Political Angst.
here on RedState if he walks the walk on his conservative talk.
The negative stuff is the result of a lack of confidence. Romney does have a credibility issue, although it could be fixed by a great Presidency.
Also, I think that a Fred Veep would make for 16 years of great presidency. OK, Fred would be pretty old by them, but if he still had his health I think he'd do it anyway!
America stands for bold colors!
Tim Schieferecke
means a lot of people on this site, including me, will have been proven wrong. I can't speak for them, but for me it certainly wouldn't be the first time. Numerically, it would be far beyond the biblical 70 X 7. (thought I'd throw a bone to Huck supporters here :>)
I will support Romney for president and hope he wins it. I have much greater reservations about him as a candidate than I do as president. Any new president is a crap shoot.
Finally, one of the great advantages of being a fossil as opposed to the energized 20/30 somethings who are so prevalent on sites like this one is a certain detachment. Sometimes things don't go the way we think they should. After 50 + years, you get kind of used to it!
hopefull you have been keeping track of recent zestful skewerings of McCain, Huck and Rudy. It will make you feel better! :>)
I do not "hate" Mitt Romney. I do not want Mitt Romney to receive my party's Presidential nomination.
And unless Leon's been kidnapped and I don't know it, there's no pressure on him for continuing to back Romney, either.
Mitt Romney is not your guy, you admit to be a McCain supporter, but you can give the former Governor credit where it was due. This is exactly what we need...honest politicking.
Contrast this post with another one that was just posted, "Forgive them Father...yatta yatta yatta" In that post, the blogger, unable to find something supportive of his own man, decided to attack Mitt Romney instead.
Matt's post is the kind we need. The attack post, unfortunately is what we mostly get.
For the record, Gov Romney is my second choice, with Sen McCain in fourth. I am sick and tired of attacks on both.
I can only dream of a Jeb Bush endorsement. If Jeb bush does give an endorsement, that would be huge in Florida. He is extremely popular here. In fact, he is far and away the most popular Republican here.
But, here could just as easily give the endorsement to Thompson.
I agree re: Jeb. (Crist is a bust, along with his crappy property tax "reform.").
Where in FL are you? Orlando (Apopka) here.
-- digitalhap
As for Crist, I wouldn't call him a bust, and while the tax reform isn't the best, but its better than nothing. Crist isn't what I call popular, neither would I say he is unpopular. Of course Crist hasn't been in office very long either.
If Fred should drop out or does not compete in Florida there is a chance. For two reasons. First he has two sons working on campaigns (1 for Fred and 1 for Romney), Secon, Romney and Jeb Bush have a close relationship. But on the other hand, he may want to keep his powder dry. Time will tell.
This is not the Olympics. Nevada and Wyoming are not marquee match-ups. In the primaries, a much better analogy would be Golf's tournament season. Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan, and South Carolina are the big prizes - the major championships - if you will, that all the candidates have been focusing on. They are looked at that way because of the number of delegates awarded, and because each race is seen as an indication of how the candidates will perform in major regions of the United States. Thus, a candidate who wins Iowa can be seen as running strong in the Mid-West. A candidate who wins Michigan is running strong in the Great Lakes / Rust Belt region. A candidate who wins New Hampshire is also a good bet in New England / the Northeast.
To his credit, Romney has won one of those four, but he will almost certainly lose SC today (finishing no better than 3rd, and probably 4th). South Carolina is the bell-weather race for the South, which is also the most important region in the nation for Republican electoral prospects. That's why it has picked the eventual winner in several consecutive primary seasons. That's not to say it will happen that way this year, but a candidate who can't compete in the South will be looked at as very weak by the remaining undecided voters in the GOP base.
Hang all traitors and secessionists! Hang them high!
- Me
All votes and voters count equally so what this means is you are Wrong. Now that may be novel, but trust me, this is a different animal and if you can't play everywhere you will lose. Romney is playing everywhere. "Don't hate the player, hate the game" -Some Rapper.
"Go ahead, make your jokes, Mr. Jokey... Joke-maker. But let me hit you with some knowledge. Quit now". -White Goodman
... count the same, whether they're won in Nevada or South Carolina. Just like the money won at the Mercedes Open is the same as the money won at the Masters, or the U.S. Open. But you're kind of missing the point.
The Masters matters more than the Mercedes Open, just like South Carolina matters more than Nevada (sorry, no offense to Nevadans, but it's true). And going into Super Tuesday, which is where the race really is won or lost, it's going to matter who the GOP base perceives as the front runner. Sorry, I don't make the rules, but that's what they are.
Hang all traitors and secessionists! Hang them high!
- Me
I hope Fred does something in SC today as well.
Freedom of Religion not Freedom from Religion
Conservatives are going to lose in November. That much is clear. If history is correct and if a republican who doesn't win SC gets the nomination, then a democrat wins the White House. If the winner of SC (either McCain or Huckabee) wins the nomination, conservatives lose. Either way, it looks like Thompson is going to be done after today and I just don't see any other candidate (other than Hunter, who has 0 chance) is a true conservative. Romney is the next best and I would try to help him win if he gets nominated, but I wouldn't be very excited about him.
I know that SC is not finalized yet but exit polls seem to show that Fred will finish 3rd or 4th. I just want to make it clear, that while I am often intentionally obnoxious about Fred - I like Fred! If Fred drops out, while Huck and McCain continue to gain steam, I think that is a travesty.
There are many of the veteran RedState posters here that support Fred. They have done this for a reason - because they are intelligent, true conservatives that saw a great man for what he is. I have great respect for these posters and for Fred. I feel bad that they MAY be losing their preferred candidate.
I hope that as this goes forward and if Fred drops out, that many FredHeads will consider supporting Romney. I know much of the knocks against Romney are that they just can't risk whether he means what he says. My plea is that you take the risk (which I think is valid) and support Romney. If he follows through with what he has ran on, he will be a great president. One that would make Fred Thompson and true conservatives proud. If he is more moderate, then at worst he will be like we know McCain or Huckabee to already be.
Please consider supporting Romney. I could gloat, or be obnoxious about Fred's failure to win SC. I've been obnoxious in the past but today is different. I will not do that. I feel for FredHeads. I feel for conservatives. I'm asking that you reconsider Romney and ignore the obnoxiousness of some and join together with the rest of us.
Fred for VP! (Praying for a last second surge).
"I guess the lesson learned here is that it doesn't matter where everyone is from as long as we're all the same religion." - Peter Griffin (Family Guy)
As a conservative evangelical
Joanie
RV Wanna-be
Maddie the Wonderdog
"apackof2, coming to a town near you!"
It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
Lamentations 3:22
care to elaborate? I doubt it and I think I have a good idea why.
"I guess the lesson learned here is that it doesn't matter where everyone is from as long as we're all the same religion." - Peter Griffin (Family Guy)
David knows how to win gracefully. A lot of the rest of you jerks could learn a lot from him.
I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful 100 percent.
I agree with David. It will be interesting to see what Fred decides in the next week or so. I wish him and his ill mother the best. As for anyone looking to swing to another candidate, Horton and all his friends are welcome in our pool. Come on in, the water's warm... no I didn't pee in it. :P
Intentionally, just like he did to McCain in Michigan. He can try to explain it like he did with "lifelong hunter" or "endorsed by the NRA" but the lies are growing more than thin...I do not like Huckabee or McCain, but Romney is below Ron Paul now on my list. I have also been talking to friends who before tonight liked Fred and Romney. They do not feel that way now.
No he didn't. I've been watching Fox and MSNBC back and forth. There was no Romney speech during Fred's. Fred's speech got interrupted on Fox due to problems with the microphone. It had nothing to do with Romney.
"I guess the lesson learned here is that it doesn't matter where everyone is from as long as we're all the same religion." - Peter Griffin (Family Guy)
and I also would vote for Romney as a backup - not nearly with the same enthusiasm, but at least would vote for him.
Formally known as Deagle... "Golf is a way of life..."
If Fred does indeed drop out I will be looking for the next best thing so I welcome your invitation.
I would like to believe that I stick to the issues and though I may disagree with some on the issues, to try and keep it from becoming personal. The snarkiness and gloating glee of some of McCain's and Huckabee's supporters on here speaks poorly of their candidate.
It is invitations such as this, and the class with which Romneybots like BlackRepublican dialogue that would have me looking at Mitt if my guy goes.
So, thank you Dave for showing some class in victory. May others on the site follow your lead.
(Now, if you could just do something about Hugh's incessant shilling for Romney.... :-)
"All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
David, you're a good man. Romney's been my second for awhile. I don't know exactly what I'm going to do, but I'm leaning his way. At least he shows signs of having read the Constitution. Still, nobody jazzes me like Fred.
Regardless of anything, I'm voting Fred in Texas. Nothing changes that. I will not cast a primary vote for any of that rather lackluster bunch.
And petty and vindictive though it is, tonight I'm remembering who is who. There are classy people and then there are those who stand over the mighty but fallen warrior and talk trash, as if they themselves vanquished him.
There will be other days, other fallen warriors, and other loyal fans who talked trash today. And brother, what goes around, REALLY goes around.
Kill the terrorists
Protect the borders
Punch the hippies -- Frank J
My feelings precisely, David. And said better than I could have.
Bravo.
-------------
Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock.
I will never use "Gold," "Silver," or "Bronze" ever again - not that I ever did, because it's stupid.
"will not be voting for Mitt in the Washington State primary if John McCain or Mike Huckabee are still around"
Dude, that is one highly questionable declaration. You have to live with your own conscience on that one, but I never could.
Plus, he's got everyone using the terms Gold, Silvers and Bronzes. See how persuasive he is already!