With the economy staggering on the edge of a cliff, our foreign policy collapsing, our empire crumbling, and our embassies under attack the big question is why isn’t Romney up by 25 points in the polls?

The Republican side of the Washington-based perpetually re-elected party of power has a habit of nominating candidates whose main qualification is that “It’s my turn.”  Look at Dole, McCain,  and now Romney.  These three may have slugged it out in the trenches and proven themselves to be reliable workhorses and adequate fund raisers, but they don’t inspire anyone.

The most memorable speech Dole gave was in a Viagra commercial.  McCain spends more time reaching across the aisle to his Progressive comrades then he does trying to do anything even vaguely conservative.  The best move he made was to nominate Sarah Palin, and then his team spent all their time trying to put a muzzle on a momma bear intent on going rogue.  The most memorable event in his campaign was when he theatrically suspended his campaign to fly to Washington to deal with the financial collapse.  Once there he blended into the background and whispered a meek, “Me too.”

Now along comes Romney.

By nominating him the Republicans threw away one of the most potent differences they had between themselves and Mr. Obama: Obamacare.  During the rough and tumble of the primaries and immediately thereafter Governor Romney proclaimed he would end Obamacare on Day One.  Now he says he likes parts of it and will only get rid of the parts he disagrees with.  Coming from the man who passed and not only defends, but also says he’s proud of the mandatory program known as Romneycare, how will he credibly attack Obamacare in the debates when all his opponent has to say is your plan was the template for mine?

In the primaries the former governor from Massachusetts who has been running for President since he was elected Governor in 2003 was relentless in his negative attacks against his more conservative rivals.  In the general election against the hard hitting Chicago machine bent on doing whatever it takes to retain power Mr. Romney seems to have lost his edge.  It’s like watching a boxer with oversized gloves constrained by the Marquis of Queensberry Rules fighting a gang banger from the South side in a cage match.

With the Corporations Once Known as the Mainstream Media solidly in the Obama camp and using every opportunity to boost one side to the detriment of the other, Romney has to depend solely on paid advertising to counteract ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, and MSNBC.  Everyday every network except FOX masquerades as news outlets as they work tirelessly to re-elect their Fearless Leader.  The thrill running up and down their leg energizes them enough to advance their agenda day and night turning the worst debacle in American Foreign policy since the hostage crisis into Romney’s gaff or Obama raiding Social Security for hundreds of Billions into Romney wants to throw Grandma off the cliff and starve her dog.

This is like watching a slow motion train wreck.  Wake up Mr. Romney!  If you want to win this thing you are going to have to win this thing.  They may be starting to vote in many places but in Chicago they’re already counting the pre-marked ballots.  The Republicans are starting out with the cards stacked against them, and if Romney doesn’t come out swinging in the debates he may join the ranks of also rans even if he has been running for ten years.

A little free advice.  Instead of running away from your 47% comment embrace it.  You were correct. You don’t have a chance to gain the vote of those who are dependent on government.  However, unless this express to the poorhouse is turned around soon this might be the last election before the dependent class becomes the majority.  And if that ever happens, the Democrats will never lose a presidential election again.   Mr. Romney don’t equivocate about your wealth and your personal success. Hold it up as something anyone has a chance to achieve in a free society.  Lead the way back to capitalism before we totter over the entitlement cliff into a nanny state nightmare of cradle-to-grave regulations guaranteeing a mediocre future.

Come on!  You fought like a brawler to get this opportunity don’t through it away because you’re afraid of being called a racist, a vulture capitalist, or a tool of the elite.  You’re being called those things anyway.  In that first debate you had better punch Mr. Obama’s ticket back to Chi-Town or this train is going to leave the station and you’ll miss the boat.

If Mr. Obama is re-elected on his platform of using executive orders to take everything from the producers and give it to the non-producers everyone who votes for him should remember elections have consequences and every once in a while you get what you vote for.  And as sweet as the “I told you so” might be it doesn’t have to happen.  Anyone who will stand up and offer to lead America back to America should be able to beat the worst president in living memory.  Don’t equivocate. Don’t pander. Make a straight forward case for limited government, personal freedom, and economic opportunity.

This may be the last chance we have to turn this thing around before we hit the dustbin of History.  The 47% are going to vote for “Give me more!” no matter what you say, so you might as well say what might motivate the undecided to finally decide and vote for freedom.

Mr. Romney could say that after spending trillions of dollars to revive the economy, recession is the new normal.  He could point out that after years of apologizing and bowing to others, Mr. Obama has succeeded in changing us from the world’s sole superpower to the world’s punching bag.  His campaign spots could remind everyone the workforce is shrinking, the lines for food stamps, welfare and disability are growing, and all the opposition offers is more of the same.

Since anyone who has lived in the Obama nation knows all these things, what should be the most effective campaign slogan Mr. Romney could use is “I’m not Obama.”  He’s already using that; however, to win he needs to appeal to the hearts and the minds of those whose votes haven’t been put on layaway by the federal benefits machine.  This election will be won or lost in the debates.  If Mitt Romney will stand up and say what he means and mean what he says, and if he will make a case for returning to Constitutional government he will win. If he soft pedals for fear of making a mistake or offending someone he will deliver the Republic to the fate of all past republics: financial collapse and ruin.

Mr. Romney you need to show the people of this country that you are in it to win it.  Show some passion and fight the good fight for truth, justice and the American way.  And whatever you do, don’t surrender without a fight!

Dr. Owens teaches History, Political Science, and Religion.  He is the Historian of the Future @ http://drrobertowens.com © 2012 Robert R. Owens drrobertowens@hotmail.com  Follow Dr. Robert Owens on Facebook or Twitter @ Drrobertowens