Mitt Romney 2008, RIP.
By Leon H Wolf Posted in 2008 | Mitt Romney — Comments (75) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Multiple sources, including CNN, are reporting that Mitt Romney will "suspend" his campaign today. I presume that this means that they are packing up and going home, subject to resurrection if John McCain gets struck by lightning or something. And so the race for the nomination is down to two, and with Romney out of the way, we can probably expect Huckabee to fold up shop soon as well.
This was the right move at this time for the Romney campaign, given that the delegate math has made it virtually impossible for Romney to win. Better this than a long and self-destructive protest campaign ending at the convention - a route that would certainly have torpedoed Romney's chances of ever running again.
Below the fold, I will attempt to write an obituary for the Romney campaign from my own conflicted perspective...
When this campaign first started, my involvement with the Brownback campaign meant that Mitt Romney was Republican enemy number one. After the Brownback campaign folded, I went from ambivalent about Romney, to being convinced that he was the best candidate left standing. As he drops out today, I still have that conviction, but I must bow to the reality that not enough of the rest of the party feels that way.
What went wrong with the Romney campaign? How did a guy with money, looks, intelligence, television presence, and an impressive resume fail time and again in contests that he needed to win? Some will be quick to lay the blame on Romney's Mormonism, but I think that played a very small part in Romney's ultimate demise. The basic problem with Romney was the sort of campaign he ran. And the basic problems with Romney's campaign were twofold. First, Romney's campaign apparently felt the need to always portray Romney as the perfect candidate for whatever audience he was in front of. This led to many embarrassing moments of self-contradiction and apparent self-contradiction that bred deep distrust among the Republican electorate. That distrust ultimately doomed a Romney comeback effort. Second, the Romney campaign failed to realize that in a primary, you need to run a campaign in such a way as to leave the door open for the possibility that the supporters of other candidates might want to support your guy once those other candidates leave the race. Romney's campaign appeared relentlessly negative to supporters of the other candidates, so that as a result, when the other candidates dropped out, personal bad feelings kept Romney from picking their supporters up in significant numbers. I think the WV convention was a microcosm of this phenomenon: the supporters of other candidates came to personally hate Romney, regardless of whether he lined up with their views on the issues or not.
This is not the end for Mitt Romney. He is yet relatively young for a Presidential candidate, and can make another good run in the right environment. But he needs to spend the next several years mending fences in the Republican party: showing us that he was sincere during the last 14 months about what he believes, and that he is capable of getting along personally with some of the enemies he has made during this campaign. If he can do that, and re-emerge as a candidate who doesn't appear to need to be perfect, but only honest with himself, the next campaign Mitt Romney runs may yet be successful.
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Mitt Romney 2008, RIP. 75 Comments (0 topical, 75 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
and changing his name????
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CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
Bobby.
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Two thirds of the world is covered by water,
the other third is covered by Champ Bailey.
Love the word "suspend". It says it all. Romney will be back stronger han ever.
He needs to go to Michigan and become governor and actually get some things done. Cut taxes, dont raise fees and do what you can for social conservatives.
HE already did that in Massahcusetts. Its a fact. Now his campaign's over, you can stop lying about his record.
McCain represents a redstate and his record is still mixed. How pathietic. At least Romney pushed Massachusetts right.
Thanks to Dan's RedHot you have to be a resident of the state of Michigan for 4 years to run for governor.
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Two thirds of the world is covered by water,
the other third is covered by Champ Bailey.
... if McCain loses (or wins and chooses a veep who's not an obvious heir apparent and then doesn't seek re-election), and Mitt wants to try for 2012, he really can't run for another elective office in the meantime. Nothing's open this cycle that he could put together a run for at this point, and running for an office in 2010 with the intetion of running for president in 2012 doesn't seem like a good idea to me.
The best idea I've seen suggested would be for him to head the RNC for a few years.
Raising fees lowers redistribution of wealth.
The conservative model:
Lower taxes.
Raise fees.
Lower spending.
The Romney campaign apparatchiks managed to make me loathe Mitt Romney and they did it early. Between the antics of jbonham and his band of merry rombots on this list and the sheer odiousness of Steve "This Is Not For Attribution" Smith dishing dirt on every other candidate I'd decided by April that I would not support Romney. I sat out 1992 with a lot less provocation.
And Katherine Jean Lopez. What mention of the Romney campaign could be complete without mention of the pathetic, intellectually dishonest drivel that has made a laughingstock of National Review.
Oh my gosh, how could I forget Hugh Hewitt. I hope he has plenty of tartar sauce in his fridge.
We can be sure, however, if Romney is back in 4 years he will not be a "conservative's conservative."
"A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition." -- Rudyard Kipling
to be referred to as a rombot by someone who absolutely hates and despises anyone and everyone who has had anything nice to say about Mitt Romney. It just seems a little ironic.
Believe it or not, rational people really did like the man.
Pfft, go figure.
to encounter any. Mitt may very well have been a good candidate. His boosters were merely better groomed Paulistas.
"A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition." -- Rudyard Kipling
I can see myself getting behind McCain until I come hear and read the vitriol of all you so-called Republicans. Whatever you're selling I want no part of it.
But if you've read what I've written on McCain over the past 3 1/2 years you'd realize how silly you comment makes you sound.
"A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition." -- Rudyard Kipling
You took the time to mention me by name. Unfortunately you take both yourself and myself all to seriously.
I give him props for doing the right thing at the right time for the party. He could have continued. He could have fought on, but it is obvious that our nominee is going to be John McCain.
Staying in the race would have meant a continuation of the John McCain bashing. Our party needs to come together now if we are to have any chance of winning in November.
Let's hope John McCain will find many similarly helpful ways to unify the party.
Good for Mitt, he bowed out gracefully. I think wherever he serves next will be lucky to have him.
*Tagg Romney 2036!*
today.
Lots of disgusting titles around here but this one is particularly distasteful.
Republicans used to be a party full of gracious and classy people.
How about an "RIP" for the end of that?
The name of the campaign is "Mitt Romney 2008." If you can't differentiate that from an Obit line for a person, then that is largely your problem.
The Mitt Romney 2008 campaign died today, and RIP is a *respectful* thing to say concerning the dead. So basically I have no idea what the heck your problem is, unless it's lack of a basic knowledge of American culture and/or political terminology, which you think would have been cured by reading political blogs for almost a year.
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The Red Sox Republican: Burkeanism, Baseball, and Sundries.
and I'm as loyal to the republican party as McCain is.
"Where I stand does not depend on where I'm standing." Fred D. Thompson
I first heard of Mitt Romney in 1994. My sister was living in Mass at the time, and I had her send me down a bumper sticker to put on my vehicle. I always liked him, though I had some problems with the way he ran his most recent campaign. I think he's a good guy, a great American and I hope to see more of him in the future.
I can't believe nobody understands this. I can't believe the pundits are so dense that they don't realize this. I can't believe the media... ok I can believe the media is too stupid to get it.
Huckabee's support came from the Fair tax, and only the Fair tax. Maybe it's because I live in Atlanta and listen to all of the people calling WSB begging for a Fair Tax candidate to rally behind, but it's been clear to me for day 1.
If Mitt Romney would have come out in support of the Fair Tax from the beginning, he would have won the nomination, period. Huckabee would have had little to no support if it wasn't for the Fair Tax, and all the talk about "evangelicals" is just silly. Talking about the evangelical vote is just buying into the MSM's portrayal of all republicans as a bunch of bible thumping morons.
I'm pissed right now beyond belief, because it was obvious to me that Romney was the best candidate of them all. I just wish he would have personally investigated the Fair Tax rather than just relying on his advisors and their misinformation.
way to go. It's not as if the Fair Tax is somehow universally accepted by those in the know in the world of fiscal, economic, and tax policy. It's simply not as simple as Huckabee would like us to think it is, and reasonable minds on both sides can disagree on it.
and if you had read the act, or the book, you'd know that.
Unfortunately, if Mitt would have read either of those two things, maybe he would have had a chance.
as one envisioned by the fairtax are most surely not simple, and difficult to accurately project. And the administration of the Fair Tax, in order to accomplish its primary goal of "fairness," would similarly not be simple.
And frankly, your condescension does little to convince.
You have got to be kidding.
SoCons are the core of Huck's support.
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Disclaimer: I am a member of a state-wide executive committee that is affiliated with Governor Mike Huckabee's campaign for the GOP presidential nomination
The Hucksters support came almost entirely from evangelicals because of identity politics. He never spent enough time on the fair tax or mabey he could have broken out of his box a little bit. Instead he spent too much time as McCain's nasty attack dog against Romney and talk radio.
That's just BS to say Huckabee was McCain's attack dog. Time and time again, Romney went negative on the other candidates. He did it to Brownback, then Huckabee, then McCain, etc. He has no one else to blame but himself when these candidates hit back.
Loved Romney's speech at CPAC, but I get one chance to vote for a conservative in thing to s Presidential race and I'm going to vote for Huckabee. ANYONE BUT MCCAIN!
I can't believe I'm using that word, but I am. There are 21 states (including mine) that haven't even voted yet and now it doesn't matter. Our candidate has been chosen for us and we have absolutely no say in the matter.
I know I've said this before but it needs to be said again. Texas, the second most populated state in the nation, deserves to have a voice in the primary.
I am but just a flea. A blue-collar working stiff with no money but my own to support my family. In other words, I am powerless. But I will be happy to join with anyone who's willing to put a stop to this nonsense!
Meanwhile, someone said something about plan B: voting in the Dem. primary for Hillary. I'll have to ponder that one very carefully. As "The Great One" (Mark Levin) said yesterday, "I do not vote for Marxists". I may have to swallow my pride and do just that (in the primary only, of course). May God help us all.
I live in NC. I think our primary is just slightly after the swearing-in.
But your suffrage is not revoked. You'll have the opportunity to vote in November. The primaries are a selection not an election.
absentee
I was as excited about the chance to vote for Romney as I was to vote for Ronald Reagan. The outcome wasn't as good, but it was satisfying to vote for a candidate about whom I was so excited.
I'm sorry that whoever you planned to vote for is out before you get the chance.
My guy lost, but at least I got to vote.
I'm glad I got to vote. Romney got 60% in Colorado. I will go to the state assembly as a Romney delegate in May. It was and is fun to be part of this process, even though it was a bit painful too.
I would think about voting for Hillary, but then there's a public record of you voting for a Democrat (which primary you vote in is a public record in Texas and you can look it up on PublicData.com). I'm not sure I want there to be any association between me and Hillary that someone could find in the future.
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Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock.
He lied. He pandered. He was scandalous. He tried to underestimate the intelligence of the American public. And failed miserably. The media, for the first time ever, did it's job and uncovered the truth behind the charade. Don't even get me started on the annoying five brothers.
The good news about all this is that it restored my faith in the intelligence of the American people. They didn't fall for this fraud. Gives me hope. Sure does.
The following people shilled for him or were in his payroll;
Matt Drudge/ Drudgereport
Hugh Hewitt
Laura Ingram
National Review and the annoying K-LO
Rush Limbaugh
Sean Hannity
Ann Coulter
And the American people were not fooled. People are thinking for themselves. The angry right is dying.
I will forever be grateful to Huckabee for winning Iowa. That was the beginning of the end for Romney.
We owe Huckabee.
Welcome to the Rational right.
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We're all in the same boat, fellas.
But our shenanigans are cheeky and fun.
His shenanigans are cruel and tragic.
Which wouldn't make them shenanigans, at all, really.
-Evil shenanigans!
About as scandalous as Ward Cleaver. Pray tell, what scandal are you referring to?
I hope you're enjoying yourself. You have proven me wrong by making it past two weeks but in the words of Maximus, "The time for honoring yourself will soon be at an end."
That's going to become my new sig.
*Tagg Romney 2036!*
We are all trying to swallow some Pepto Bismol and vote for your guy like good party monkeys. So don't be a jerk..because I think you underestimate the numbe rof us that are thiiis close to voting for Hillary. Don't push it-Romney's gone, leave the man be. Althought I can understand how it would make you upset since now you might actually have to write something for your guy instead of popping in against everyone else's. Go on-write just one diary about why we should support McCain. I'm a Romney guy and I've written 3 so ti is in fact possible to say something nice without being a jerk.
"Do not yield. Do not flinch. Stand up. Stand up with our President and fight. We're Americans. We're Americans, and we'll never surrender. They will."-John McCain
Mitthead for McCain/Rudy or insert conservative not named Huckabee here in 08
We endured 3 weeks of diary after diary of constant McCain-bashing. Day after day we suffered the same stories. That McCain was not a conservative. That McCain was not fit to be president. That McCain did not fight for conservative values. That McCain was Bipartisan. HEAR THAT??????? THIS, FROM SUPPORTERS OF A GUY WHO HAD NOT EVEN BEEN A CONSERVATIVE AS RECENTLY AS A YEAR AGO! Call me bitter. Call me ungracious. But I will not be silenced with threats of blackmail of withholding your vote for McCain. You may choose to vote for McCain or you may not. He will win in November. There is a God. Prudence. Who would have predicted his resurrection. Who would have predicted a Huckabee win in Iowa. Who would have predicted a Rudy implosion followed by Romney implosion. And who would have predicted a broke Hillary campaign. McCain will be president. It's destiny.
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We're all in the same boat, fellas.
But our shenanigans are cheeky and fun.
His shenanigans are cruel and tragic.
Which wouldn't make them shenanigans, at all, really.
-Evil shenanigans!
"Do not yield. Do not flinch. Stand up. Stand up with our President and fight. We're Americans. We're Americans, and we'll never surrender. They will."-John McCain
Mitthead for McCain/Rudy or insert conservative not named Huckabee here in 08
There should be no gloating from people who support McCain (which has been me for the last month or so). When you win, you don't have to rub it in. You shake the other guy's hand, pat him on the back and say, "good fight, let's work together now on our common areas." You don't spike the ball in his face and say, "neener neener, we won, you lost, you loser!!!!"
These are the exact same people McCain is going to need to vote for him, work for his election and donate money to his campaign.
Shorter version: GROW UP.
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Two thirds of the world is covered by water,
the other third is covered by Champ Bailey.
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The Red Sox Republican: Burkeanism, Baseball, and Sundries.
Makes the top of google's image search for that text.
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
responding to a classy act by Mitt Romney and all I can hear is Ian Anderson singing,
...to be thick as a brick
Mitt is a patriot! For the good of the Republican party he is suspending his campaign so we can pull together and go after Hillary or Obama. Since McCain now in the leader role, I will support him. Let's go get some Democrats, Big Mac!
Thank god for Rush Limbaugh....
"Hey vasquez,you ever been mistaken for a man? -- No, have you?" - Aliens
He was my Governor; I didn't always agree with him, but he was a presence in overwhelmingly Democratic Massachsuetts. He worked hard; he took $1 for wages annually, as did his Lt. Governor; I do wish he spent more time here before taking on a national campaign for President, it would have helped him. He chose otherwise. Having said that, Mitt Romney was:
Honest;
Decent;
Generous;
Intelligent;
Family oriented;
Committed to the Conservative principles, but not perfect;
Strong role model;
Willing to commit his how resources before asking of others.
If McCain falters, he's the man to get behind in 2012.
The Bad - You've laid out the reasons why Governor Romney wasn't able to capture the nomination, I won't rehash 'em.
The Good - Most of the Republican party didn't want anything to do with Senator John McCain for the last 8 years, resurrecting him just in time for him to win the nomination. Which means Mitt Romney has the chance to mend those fences that he needs to, work for conservatism and build for 4-8 years from now. He will be in a great position then.
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Two thirds of the world is covered by water,
the other third is covered by Champ Bailey.