From the Mail Bag

pdawk

he has a point. Reagan’s 11th commandment comes to mind.

nathanalbright

…that you ought to drop dead 70 x 7. That happened to me one time. Then again, I posted that letter on the web too.

kowalski

Now they’ve gone from issuing death threats to just yelling expletives. It’s an improvement.

I, for one, don’t think you’ve been unfair to Romney. You’ve been pretty consistent in saying that he’s doing a good job particularly in the debates. I read your morning briefings every day.

From todays:

Mitt Romney gave very good answers as usual, but I remain shocked that after all this time he still cannot answer questions on the individual mandate without flubbing.

That’s a very fair and evenhanded assessment, I think.

Next93

I’m not a Republican. I consider myself a conservative, and I support Republicans insofar as they support smaller government, lower taxes, and more freedom. If any Democrat were to support those tthings, I’d have no problem voting for him/her (and then right after that I’d have to go sprinkle rock salt on the sidewalks in Hell).

The only thing I see Romney beleiving in is that Romney should be president. We already have someone like that in office, I see no sense in voting for the Republican if the only result is changing the White House stationery. I’m going to casty my vote this time for someone who’s determined to return to small government within the boundaries of the constitution. If that’s the guy/gal endorsed by the GOP, then great, but if I have to vote for the candidate for the Walking Around With Silly Hats party to find a true conservative, then so be it.

Let me put this as simply as possible: There is no way this side of perdition that I’m stupid enough to vote for the guy who wrote RomneyCare in hopes that he’ll then repeal ObamaCare. I’m hoping and praying that the majority of Americans are similarly “not that stupid”.

reggie182

To not be able to recall three major Federal Departments you would eliminate is beyond pathetic. And stop trying to tell me that debates don’t matter. They test a man’s ability to think on his feet and under pressure, which is essential for the Presidency. This is a skill that Perry apparently doesn’t have.

The “dummy” label is now superglued to Rick Perry. What happened to Dan Quayle has happened to him, and fat chance that image will be undone. He is now unelectible, in the primaries and in the general, however a core of about 5% will continue to support him no matter how much he blunders. Precisely why I can’t say.

Anyway, it’s Gingrich vs. Romney now.

reggie182

To not be able to recall three major Federal Departments you would eliminate is beyond pathetic. And stop trying to tell me that debates don’t matter. They test a man’s ability to think on his feet and under pressure, which is essential for the Presidency. This is a skill that Perry apparently doesn’t have.

The “dummy” label is now superglued to Rick Perry. What happened to Dan Quayle has happened to him, and fat chance that image will be undone. He is now unelectible, in the primaries and in the general, however a core of about 5% will continue to support him no matter how much he blunders. Precisely why I can’t say.

Anyway, it’s Gingrich vs. Romney now.

http://www.planettron.com NickDeringer

Obama is the worst POTUS in the last 100 years. The best wee can do is the circus of candidates which has yet to produce a clear frontrunner.

Polls show that there are twice as many conservatives as there are Liberals and yet how do you explane the fact that we have a Marxist as president? We nominated John McCain in 2008 even though he’s nobody’s idea of a conservatve. How is that possible? We haven’t had a conservative president since Ronald Reagan and it looks like we won’t have one anytime soon.

People don’t even know wha tthe word “conservative” means anymore.

tngal

Why is it that everyone who does not enthusiastically support Romney is a “Mormon Hater”? I don’t get that.

acat

refuse to leave when their chances vanish.

Take Pawlenty as the exception who highlights the existence of the rule.

Reagan started running in 1974, and didn’t win until 1980. 1980 is the last election I remember, by the way, where the RINOs consolidated around a candidate (Anderson) *after* the Conservatives… and that happened because Reagan never stopped campaigning. He scaled it back to op-eds and columns and speeches, but he was *there*.

The point is, we – conservatives – do not gravitate toward candidates who play this game to win as a group, we bunch up in packets behind candidates who are playing it to win as individuals… and then we’re defeated in detail.

Look at history, it’s crystal {redacted} clear.

Mew

ammy

Thanks Richard for telling Erick what he won’t hear and will still insist is not true. He refuses to consider Romney in total – it’s either Romneycare or flip-flopper but all the other candidates get a pass on pretty major stuff. Perry couldn’t win a debate against the actor who portrays him on SNL and is a major crony capitalist, Cain has one line – 9-9-9 and otherwise, can’t run an effective campaign or hire good people and now lives under a cloud of uncertainty, Gingrich has more skeletons in his closet than Ted Kennedy but Romney is Totally unacceptable to people who claim to be conservative. Really??????? How conservative is it to actively try to takedown a man about whom there has never been one whiff of scandal, who the worst that can be said is that he has changed some positions. Erick – sweetie – you have bought the left’s argument wholesale and are doing their bidding. Thanks – you call yourself a conservative but you want to give Obama four more years. Thanks but no thanks.

tailfins1959

It’s called a “cheap shot”. I’m one of those that consider Romney “good enough”. No one can deny one thing about Romney: He’s not Obama.

bannor

Dear Dick,

I?m not going to speculate as to whether or not Erick ?has not got a clue as to what Mitt Romney is about? for me and most conservatives we know what Mitt Romney is about. Mitt Romney is about Mitt Romney. He?s held every position on every issue that?s ever come up. He?s been accurately described as a wind sock and as having no core. He?s a flip flopper and a phony. A man who comes across as plastic and artificial. Sure he?s polished he?s been running for president for 6 years and is still rejected by 70% of his own party. I?m from Florida we just got rid of Charlie Crist him and Mitt are the same guy just one has an orange chemical tan. So should we give a soulless opportunistic politician a pass because conventional wisdom says he?ll mop the floor with Obama in the general? Can he? So Mitt marches into a general election with a demoralized base. That?s a big problem, that?s just not some people not showing up to the polls or putting bumper stickers on their cars, that?s the entire GOTV operation. On the GOP side it?s all volunteer we don?t have the labor unions and their deep pockets to pay for a GOTV operation. The other sides going to drop $1billion and change. Think Romney can inspire enough people to knock on doors to make up the difference? How?s he going to attack Obama? One of the easiest issues to win is Obama care and oops Romney?s responsible for it?s very blue print, guess that?s off the table. Global warming? Dude doubled down on his belief in it until about 3 weeks ago when? he changed his mind. Ronald Reagan talked about bold colors not pale pastels Romney?s not even a pastel he?s a Xerox copy where the toner has run low. So to beat the hard left politician we need to run a center left politician? We might be doomed.

Oh and as for Mormon hate, you haven?t seen anything yet. Wait till Romney is the nominee and the MSM gets the chance to start in on Mormons. The press doesn?t like Christians to begin with, what chance do you think a quirky little Christian sect that most people don?t care for or understand is going to have?

daemonocracy

This Richard guy does not sound like a man of principle. He probably doesn’t even know why he votes Republican, all he knows that is his chosen home team he’ll support them like teen gang member.

He accuses Erickson of being a Mormon hater, a Democrat and claims Erickson “has not got a clue as to what Mitt Romney is about”.

Nobody has a clue what Romney is about other than progressing his own career. Name one key conservative issue Romney has not played both sides on and been an advocate for throughout his life? Go ahead Richard, respond right here.

If people support Romney based on electability then that is understandable, but people like Richard can’t defend Romney’s record or flip flops so they attack everyone else.

ammy

Really? Now Romney’s a communist. Romney is a wealthy man who can afford to live like a president without all the hassles. He has accomplished more than 10 people and doesn’t need the presidency for himself. Maybe, just maybe he has something to offer the country. I think Romney is trying to thread the needle, keep his head down, give the press as little ammunition as possible for the general and will go to Washington and make changes that will improve America long-term. His understanding of the private sector and business is better than anyone else’s. He has the whole package, lengthy business success and governing experience. No other candidate on the right has that. He has changed positions, but so have the other candidates. He has not, like Gingrich, changed wives multiple times. Conservatives like you and Erick will guarantee Obama 4 more years. Frankly, I don’t find that all that conservative.

daemonocracy

That magled first paragraph should have read:

This Richard guy does not sound like a man of principle. He probably doesn?t even know why he votes Republican, all he knows that they are his chosen home team and he?ll support them like a teen gang member.

curtmilr

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2011/11/cnbc_republican_debate_transcr.html

ammy

Those who say they don’t have a clue what Romney is about have bought the Erickson kool-aid and need to take another look. Look at Romney’s private life – solid – never a whiff of impropriety, his political life – he was true to conservative principles in Mass – he worked to overturn the gay marriage bill when it was passed, he pass Romneycare as a bill that the people of Mass wanted. He was the governor of a blue state – 85% of the legislature was D and he didn’t shove a bill down the throats of the voters but worked to give them the best bill they could have. Much of what he wanted was struck by the legislature and much of what is in the bill he didn’t want but he didn’t do to Mass what Obama did to the US. The voters didn’t want Obamacare yet he shoved it at us, the voters in Mass did want Romneycare and they still do. Personally, I don’t understand why so called conservatives are trying to destroy a good man, a good candidate and someone who would be a great improvement over Obama. As for Romneys, record – I disagree – I think it can and will be defended but blindly hating and spewing nonsense will not help any conservative candidate.

wilgolden

That Romney is not a Conservative?

That he has held positions on both sides of every issue?

That he authored OdumboCare? That, had he been President, he would not have glady signed the same P.O.S. Gramma Nan sent up to the other Communist? And, incidently, gotten the Republican party blamed for it?

That he is a gun grabber? He supported the Brady Bill.

That he was pro-abortion before he sais he “saw the light.”? That he ran to Ted Kennedy’s left on abortion?

But, no, it MUST be that we don’t like Mormons.

Mitt Romney was even more unacceptable 4 years ago than John McLame. Does anyone want to make the argument that he is a conservative?

—————————————————–

Mitt Romney will never be President. If he is the nominee, it is better that Odumbo be re-elected than the Conservative Movement get the blame for all the crap that Romney would cause.

Six Million Conservatives stayed home three years ago. Wanna try for 10?

swamphermit

Richard,

You didn’t say enough. Yes, Obama is a Communist, but you left out the fact that the former Massachusetts Governor – Romney – is a Socialist. Socialism is one step from Communism, in case you didn’t know.

If the Republican Party tries to pull another McCain, using the Socialist Romney (who lost to McCain last time), I am set to vote for Obama. Don’t give the “Obama will ruin the country” whilst you support the Socialist Romney.

I’m done accepting lukewarm water from politicians…

streiff

but I’m not sure that makes a strong case for his election.

gekster

He’s had every position on everything, so that you really can’t deny anything.

pttx333

..

daemonocracy

That is what you do when you can’t defend the man’s record, you just lie about it? Romney could have and should have challenged the Mass. Court’s ruling on Gay Marriage as they clearly overreached; in fact, the local media expected him to but instead he stamped it with his seal of approval. He did nothing to fight it.

He was Governor of a Blue State? Is that seriously your excuse in a day when Governors like Walker in Wisconsin, LePage in Maine and even Christie in New Jersey showing how a Republican stands by his principles and pushes through reform? What about Kasich in the Swing State of Ohio? He just got slaughtered by the unions and his reform package went down in flames, but at least he stood up for what was right and as the people of Ohio see their taxes go up while their wages go down, Republicans will be in a much better position to say “I told you so!” Romney takes no such stands.

Individual Mandates, Carbon Cap legislation, Pro-Choice, Pro Gay marriage, anti Flat Tax, no true tax code reform of his own, a critic of the Reagan Bush era and open to global Cap and Trade is NOT Conservatism.

Who cares if he is a good man? Obama looks like a good family man too, you going to vote for him? Perry is a good man, and an actual conservative. Gingrich has personal baggage, but is he not a good man? Thomas Jefferson was sleeping with one of his slaves, was he a good man?

The reason why Romney has a cap in the polls is because people do not TRUST him. Romney supporters like yourself know less of his record and past positions than his critics. I mean come seriously, your best defense is that he is a good man while dismissing or outright lying about his record? At least his critics are actually looking at his record.

ammy

Why the allowances for other candidates but not for Romney? Perry has been accused of being knee deep in crony capitalism in TX, he was Al Gores campaign manager, he pro-illegal benefits and more – but he passes the test, Gingrich is a serial philanderer, has taken money from Fanny and Freddie and has lots of baggage – but he passes, Cain – just not up to the job, but Romney is the devil himself. If you mean what you say – that 4 more years of O are better than Romney – then you are no conservative.

pttx333

at the salt mines. More fun! I’m thinking this is going to be a gaffe that brings good things. Perry is handling things beautifully this a.m. on the rounds, and he did last night also. Lots of positive support around here. Woo hoo!

Gotta go and make more rounds! Maybe I’ll crash and burn at some point … Have fun!

steve010

nt

haners

The more Cain and Perry self-destructs and the more their supporters continue to turn the blind eye to any of their faults, the less credibility this faction of the conservative party will have.

It’s becoming more a Cult of Personality with them, just like it is to the liberals. I expected more from conservatives.

Short of being charged a felony, Perry and Cain could do no wrong in these conservatives’ eyes. There’s nothing conservative about worshiping a leader to that extent.

gekster

Stop and at least get a catnap.
That’s what I do.

I just heard the ‘gaffe’ played on Frank Beckmans show.
If that’s what the big fuss is about, I gotta say there are some pretty shallow and simpleminded people out there.
But since all of those people are perfect, (at least in thier own monds) I can see where they would cal it devastating.
And to all the Perry supporters who decided to jump ship over that.
Well, you weren’t really supporters now, were you.

wilgolden

Than the death of the republican party.

He is a Manchurian Candidate. A Demoscum in Republican clothing.

He needs to come two steps to the right to only be a socialist.

No, neither Perry nor Cain is perfect. Nor is Gingrich.

But I WILL BE DAMNED before I will willingly vote for someone who can’t make up his mind which team he is playing for.

For all their faults, ALL of the other candidates, even Ron Paul, has something Mitt Romney can only aspire to. Something he will always lack and will always reqret not having.

Consistency.

Now, will all of the MittBots PLEASE do some research? The man can’t stop being on all sides of every issue. Look it up.

http://theundergroundconservative.wordpress.com pdigaudio

Mitt Romney is as much a conservative as Helen Thomas is a frontrunner to become Israel’s representative in the Miss Universe pageant.

thirstyboots

If he did, he’d know that Erick has praised Romney conservative credentials many times in the past.

Erick was just trying to help his friend Rick Perry in any way he could with those over-emotional, angry, overkilling posts. That’s what a substantial part of his readership likes and he knows that. Now that the nomination process is basically over, he’ll eventually readopt his customary pondered posture and revert to show the positives that Romney – a man who was able to balance Massachusetts budget without raising taxes and vetoed many, many diplomas produced by that extremely liberal legislature – has over Obama.

thirstyboots

I mean, Tommy Thompson governed Wisconsin as a Tea Party governor before there was a Tea Party. It’s also way more liberal than Maine – I mean, the GOP dominates both legislature houses in Main, we have the trifecta there, and there are plenty of conservatives in Maine, the Maine GOP is actually dominated by conservatives, not moderates – or New Jersey (and it’s not like Chris Christie isn’t attacked here by being a RINO).

In fact, Romney pissed off even the MA GOP as a governor because he was so “radical” and would veto so much. His only reliable ally in the legislature in the final 2 years of his term was… the now famous Scott Brown. Who’s very probably the most conservative person MA has ever elected statewide.

The people who support Romney now weren’t supporting him 4 years ago. The staunchest supporters of Romney 4 years ago were people like DeMint or Mark Levin. This suggests to me his cap is overstated. Romney can put together his votes of 4 years ago + the votes McCain got. Once the field starts shrinking, you’ll see that happening.

pttx333

duplicate messages all night for most things I’ve posted and have been trying to come up with different first words in the title line to by-pass the stupid system. Didn’t figure “howdy” would bother ya! Oh, and Mom – that’s one of the best things I’ve ever been called – thank you very much (like Elvis would say it!). As you might guess, I’m on this caffeine high (coffee and cokes all night long) and will surely crash at some point. If you don’t see me around it will be because I’m in a coma.

No, that stupid gaffe was nothing! There are a bunch of posts here where people are talking about their own gaffes – hilarious! I suggested someone do a diary so the gaffes could be posted there and then the whole thing to Team Perry. Wouldn’t that be a hoot to end all hoots?

You are correctamundo about the so-called supporters jumping ship. Romney’s camp is the perfect place for them to go – they are serial windsocks just like him, in my view, and that is where they belong. I think this is going to be great, actually. I prefer to look at it as the wind for the sails to take Perry and Anita to 1600. How’s that work out?

You okay today? Hope so. I’m fine, even finerest than fine. Later … good talking to you, gek! Stay in touch.

defendtherepublic

We were told Bush was the guy against Reagan by the establishment…you know, the Voodoo Economics. Was Bush a conservative for that?

The idea that conservatives should not attack Romney where attacks are merited on substance is absurd. I mean, we’ve only been told Romney is the nominee since 2009. But we’re not supposed to point out why we feel he should not be the nominee. We should just accept it and find ways to support his positions that say he is the opposite of the way currently he tries to speak.

Is it:

?Romney supports a
federal health care plan option that includes abortion services, would vote for a law codifying the 1972 Roe v.
Wade decision that legalized abortion and backs federal funding for abortions as long as states can decide if they
want the money, [a spokesman] said.? (Ed Hayward, ?Anti-Abortion Group Endorses Romney Bid,? Boston Herald, 9/8/94)

?Gov. Mitt Romney expressed
support ? for an immigration program that places large numbers of illegal residents on the path toward
citizenship ? Romney said illegal immigrants should have a chance to obtain citizenship.? (Evan Lehmann, ?Romney
Supports Immigration Program, But Not Granting ?Amnesty?,? The Lowell Sun, 3/30/06)

?I was an independent during the time of Reagan-Bush. I?m not trying to return to Reagan-
Bush.? (Joe Battenfeld, ?Conservative Group Yanks Its Support For Mitt,? Boston Herald, 10/27/94)

Or is it:

?I am firmly pro-life ? I was always for life.? (Jim
Davenport, ?Romney Affirms Abortion Opposition During Stop In SC,? The Associated Press, 2/8/07)

?[I] think I?m best off to
describe my own positions. And my positions, I think I?ve just described for you ? secure the border, employment
verification and no special pathway to citizenship. I feel that?s the course we ought to take.? (CNN?s ?The Situation
Room,? 5/22/07)

??Ronald Reagan is one of my heroes,? Romney said as he
praised Reagan?s strategy for winning the Cold War: ?We win; they lose.?? (Michael Levenson, ?Romney Links Gay Marriage,
US Prestige,? The Boston Globe, 2/26/05)

These are just a few (guns, health care, DADT, taxes) . You won’t need an October surprise when every week the opposition can put Romney on the right side of an issue or show him to agree with Obama’s position on the issue. Now, I don’t support Obama against any of the GOP nominees, but the primary is the time where conservatives battle the establishment to put forth the most conservative candidate. Otherwise, you get big government republicans who argue for tax cuts but abandon the free market in order to save it.

Feel free to point out the negatives (on conservative credentials) of the other candidates. But don’t deny the light being shined on Romney.

Sorry for the long post, but think back to the FL debate. Is social security a ponzi scheme as Perry said? Or is it as Romney said… “My own view is that we have to make it very, very clear that Social Security is a responsibility of the federal government, not the state governments, that we’re going to have one plan, and we’re going to make sure that it’s fiscally sound and stable. And I’m absolutely committed to keeping Social Security working.”

I can just see ObamaCare not being repealed. In 2020, the Republican candidate from that point on saying, “Health Care is a responsibility of the federal government, not the state governments, that we’re going to have one plan, and we’re going to make sure that it’s fiscally sound and stable. And I’m absolutely committed to keeping Government Health Care working. How dare my (conservative primary) opponent talk about privatizing health care.”

blooch

HI-

The article, _____________________________, is pure Bull S**t!

Is________________a _____________ hiding in____________ clothes? I read the article and this idiot has not got a clue as to what ____________ is about. It?s very obvious that he is a __________ hater. And no I am not a ___________ as I know that is running around in the back of your head.

How in the hell do you expect US ___________ to beat _________ when all we do is stab each other in the back with Bull S**t like this. This __________ should spend his time writing about ______________ and his________ and the like.

Enough said

tailfins1959

You don’t factor in New Hampshire’s role. I see a mentality around here that if you do well, move to New Hampshire, when you economically crash go back to Massachusetts. There is a desire to maintain NH as a low tax state and MA as a high benefit state. Romney is a businessman that works to deliver what his customers (or voters) want. Expect to apply the kind of pressure that was applied on Bush’s amnesty on a regular basis. He will undo Obama’s damage if that’s what he is pressured into doing.

streiff

and I was a voter under Reagan.

Are you saying you don’t like primaries? How do you propose choosing candidates, like you do a homecoming king?

jakeofalltrades

Acat, I think you are laboring under the poor translation “the exception proves the rule.” The latin word being translated there – with the “prob” root – actually means “test” in the “put on trial” sense.

Exceptions test rules or put them on trial. The idea being that correctly-stated rules should not have exceptions.

Sorry – that’s a pet peeve misconception that I’m trying to correct.

The most direct translation of that axiom would be “The exception probes the rule.”

In this case, I disagree with you that conservatives always hang on past the point of no return (cf almost all the conservative primary candidates who have ever dropped out).

streiff

is whether 4 more years of Obama can hurt the GOP and conservatism more than 4 years of Romney.

In my view, having a GOP president who detests conservatives — coupled with an almost certain change in control of the Senate — poses challenges at least on par with another Obama administration.

The central issue is how Romney will deal with regulatory agencies. As his some of his Massachusetts appointees are now part of the Obama administration one has little hope that he will change their job killing behavior.

jakeofalltrades

is to defeat Mitt Romney. Which no doubt incites his supporters, but is an absolutely critical position for any site to take if said site wants to claim the Conservative moniker.

onionman

that EE was guilty of “overkill” when he said he saw a path to the White House for everyone but Romney. Maybe it was exaggeration, maybe not, but he seems pretty firmly ABR and I don’t think it is appropriate to talk as though Romney already has the nomination locked up.

Ann_W

I’m so sick of people acting like Romney would be the end of the world.

thirstyboots

I don’t see how is it possible for you to claim Romney hates conservatives. All those men have attested Romney’s conservative bona fides.

You don’t like the guy; me neither, so I understand that. But that over-the-top rhetoric doesn’t even help your cause.

iidvbii

Romney doesn’t represent his values, I agree. To us its not about beating Obama as seems to be the mantra. It’s about saving our country, restoring our liberties and passing our values and our way of life onto the next generation.

If you believe Romney meets your vision then vote for him, god bless.

For myself, I dont find him impressive. He is a single term liberal governor from a liberal state. He provided the blue print for socialized medicine in our country the largest government over reach in modern history. He implemented cap and trade in his state and now his advisors work for the very man you claim to want to defeat so passionately in his efforts to again take Romney’s blue print national. His credibility ? Well surely you have seen the videos, there everywhere. Finaly he is the epitome of the wall street insider.

With exception of the silver spoon at birth and the rusty R behind his name. Looks,talks and walks just like Obama to me.

jakeofalltrades

to be the GOP nominee for Massachusetts governor, but you make no argument for him to be President of the United States.

jakeofalltrades

n/t

acat

You’re laboring under two misconceptions, Jake.

The more important of the two is that I’m wrong – go look at historical primary campaigns, starting with 1976, in which there’s no clear GOP nominee. Pay attention to which candidates dropped out when, and whether you’d call them conservative or not.

Just holding up 2008 as an example, either Huckabee and Romney aren’t conservatives, or they follow the rule rather nicely.

The second assumption is that I meant to say “exception that proves the rule”. I intended what I said, that is, to highlight that Pawlenty’s rapid departure after Ames stands in high contrast due to the rarity of historical parallels….

Go and look at the record for yourself.

Mew

streiff

1. You don’t know Erick. I do. So don’t presume to tell me what he thinks. It simply marks you as an idiot.

2. DeMint is not endorsing Romney this year and he did it in 2008 because the alternative was McCain.

I don’t make my decisions based on what talk show hosts think. That really, really, really, really, really applies in the case of Levin. You want to listen to him that is your decision. Just don’t confuse quoting him with an actual argument.

So don’t pretend to lecture me. I don’t like it when it comes from people who really don’t know anything.

acat

In 2009 and 2010, I was hearing tea party quite a lot; several contacts were on the mall in D.C. and reported it a very congenial experience.

Since late-2010, not so much.

The anger that fueled the Tea Party is still there, but the logo itself seems – from my point of view – to be played out.

The first candidate to articulate issues that resonate will immediately gain support by the Tea Partiers .. although the “party” itself, I think, is finished.

Mew

jakeofalltrades

Gotcha.

thirstyboots

1. Here’s what Erick Erickson wrote about Romney:

?So if the Presidential Preference Primary in Georgia were tomorrow, I?d vote for Mitt. Sure, he has waffled on social issues ? but I think that highlights his pragmatic approach to politics. He was never going to get elected as a pro-life candidate in Massachusetts and he knew it. I won?t fault him. I think, if he gets elected based on conservative support, he won?t betray that support in office.?

???????????????

?Giluiani had leadership. Romney had conservatism. Make no mistake about that.

The people who want a conservative have found their man, it seems. Mitt Romney was pitch perfect and willing to talk social issues ? something totally missing from Giuliani?s speech. And people noticed.

I have to say that it was a tremendous speech. I actually could not listen to all of Rudy?s, but Mitt?s was great.?

?????????????????

?Mitt was followed by Ann Coulter who put the red meat conservative seal of approval on him. It was an excellent speech that should resolve all fears conservatives have about Romney.

The race is on ? it?s now between Rudy and Mitt. McCain is a non-starter.?

2. DeMint endorsed Romney in 2008 very early in the cycle – when the field wasn’t even clear. Guys like Fred Thompson, Sam Brownback and Tommy Thompson ran in 2008. Plus, I have never seen DeMint questioning Romney’s conservatives credentials. That’s the point, not the endorsement.

DeMint didn’t endorse Romney saying “okay, he’s better than McCain”. He was an early supporter who was very enthusiastic about him.

I don’t care a bit about Levin. But he’s certainly another conservative personality. I could have named Rush or many others.

I don’t see why Romney hates conservatives. I can accept that some conservatives have some sort of deep hatred towards Romney – as I said, I don’t like Romney myself, I never supported him in 2008 – but I don’t see the point of trying to sound so over-the-top. Burke, the father of modern conservatism, had many words of caution about being that sort of vitriol to the political arena; and Reagan, as a good conservative, followed his steps with the Eleventh Commandment.

kowalski

I think Redstate has to be anti-Romney by definition. Having been here for a long time I don’t see how they could maintain their self-consistency not to mention their current ownership by Human Events without being opposed to Romney. That’s their prerogative and frankly I don’t contest it any more.

They let me stick around and I have some dissenting voice to theirs coming soon.

thirstyboots

It’s not something I’d enjoy doing. I’ll do it often and forcefully once he is the nominee.

Mind you, just 4 years ago there were 6 guys running I’d support over Romney: both Thompsons, Brownback, Hunter, McCain, Giuliani.

Just because now the field is so weak Romney is the better candidate – and the only one electable in a GE – doesn’t mean I became a fan of him.

I simply don’t work that way.

thirstyboots

How often do you see candidates in a republican primary mentioning it? Or even here in RedState, how often is mentioned in FP articles compared to 1 year ago?

The Tea Party brand became associated with a handful of fanatics during the debt ceiling debate. The numbers took a nosedive from that moment and never recovered. After the hit from being associated with candidates like Christine O’Donnell and such, it was too much.

kowalski

But I don’t think Redstate could EVER be Pro Romney and still be Redstate, even if he soars in the polls and becomes the presumptive nominee. I’m still undecided on Romney in this election cycle. I think he’s taken some unfair hits, and there are others that he deserves. Living in Massachusetts I know a little more intimately than a lot of people what he was dealing with as the Governor here. I don’t think he could have stopped Universal Coverage in Massachusetts even if he had opposed it with everything he had. He could have vetoed it and the Legislature here would have rammed it through. They would have overridden his veto and they also would have made sure after that that he got NOTHING done.

It’s strange but I actually wish he was still the Governor of Massachusetts. He left for larger ballparks but he left us with Deval Patrick, for Pete’s sake.

acat

Show me where Pawlenty’s exit was not exceptional.

Mew

gekster

Your a shill for Romney.
Don’t walk it back now.
And if your going for electability.
That gave us McCain.
You’re just like Romney, no core principles.
That’s what moderates do.
Makes it easier to go with the flow.
And that is something dead fish also do.

kowalski

I should actually question the whole premise of him coming to Massachusetts as a Republican. Or whether there is anything that exists as a “Massachusetts Republican.”

Someone should ask him that question point blank and make him stop the dithering. I think he’s being coddled on that question.

streiff

read something recent

http://www.redstate.com/erick/2011/10/17/jim-demint-is-not-endorsing-mitt-romney/

http://www.redstate.com/erick/2011/11/08/mitt-romney-as-the-nominee-conservatism-dies-and-barack-obama-wins/

Appeal to authority is a logical fallacy. Anyone who has looked at Romney’s record and 1) thinks he is even vaguely conservative and 2) doesn’t hold conservatives in contempt is either a knave or poltroon. Or both.

Burke died in the 18th century. Keep that in mind. Oh, I forgot, appeal to authority.

thirstyboots

Are you saying that when those guys looked at Romney 4 years ago and praised his conservative bona fides they were being knaves or poltroons?

Plus, I suspect they’ll get back to their original stance once Romney is the nominee. Not that DeMint has changed that much anyway.

Why should I keep in mind when Burke died? Does that make what he wrote less valuable? The Constitution was wrote in the 18th century too.

thirstyboots

You seem to take these things personally and in an over-emotional way.

As I said, Romney was my 7th preferred candidate 4 years ago; he’s the least bad now. It doesn’t mean I like him, And I was for Pawlenty and I was for many guys who never entered the race (notably Daniels and Christie).

I’m not a shill for anyone.

You really need to deal with that tendency to make ad hominem attacks.

gekster

I see you for the maroon you are.
Like I said, keep up with the misinformation.
There are enough out there who don’t think for themselves that they might believe you.
Carry on.
And I don’t take anything personal, where would it get me.

notpropagandized

Nice to get the Mass. perspective and it lines up with logic. Mitt from the get-go should have divulged his vision in being MassGov and then described his governance according to the clear political demands of his statewide constituents. It’s obvious that if elected GovOfTexas he would have governed differently, so just say it. And now that he contemplates USpresidency that he will use his talents to be a center-right leader.

Sure, there are problems with that, but the idea that he tries to cast himself as consistent from day 1, adding in some very profound conservative changes just in time to run for Prez is not honest.

And so even incompletely informed voters can see he’s not being honest. And it’s not an effective way to go very far beyond 25% of conservative/independent voters.

It’s an integrity issue.

notpropagandized

As far as voting for a conservative Democrat: Even if one existed, he/she should not get a conservative’s vote.

ANY vote for a Democrat at any level empowers all Democrats all the way up to and through Pelosi Reid Durbin Shumer Obama and the whole lot.

DemocratParty was taken over by socialists long before the BerlinWall came down and they have been getting bolder and bolder along the way. And when that wall came down, the US became the socialist leader of the world.

Our current leader is pure evidence. Even HugoChavez expressed wonderment as Obama took over banks and GM/Chrysler.

Before you launch into parsing this notion with irrelevant details, simply view it all as a(n) historian, looking at the whole package and what the results are and the Obama extrapolation if re-elected.

The Democratic party needs to be 1) replaced with civilized and responsible, traditional liberals and, 2) snuffed out. They are a dangerous lot. Only then can we reacquire an equilibrium of effective, orderly governance where libs ably serve to remind our conscience to avoid the harsh consequences of sustained and giddy success.

thirstyboots

I hope you’re just confused and that you’re not trying to use what could be seen as a racial slur (maroons were the runaway slaves). Not by me, but some folks are crazy these days so I’d just avoid going there.

Maroon is also a color, but I fail to see how that fits.

Anyway, I’m not really into name-calling or personal comments. As a Christian, I hold no grudges or resentments towards you, quite the opposite. I apologize for making you feel that way and I sincerely hope you can focus your posts more on the issues and less on your opinions of what those who are debating with you are, regardless of what you think it’s the truth or not.

Aaron Gardner

Dolt.

streiff

who has ever said Romney is a conservative is either delusional or lying.

Without. Exception.

The constitution is a document that has been amended and subjected to millions of pages of court decisions. It also represented the collective wisdom of a lot of people. Burke not so much.

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

Doc.

federalfarmer1

I don’t understand this exchange at all.

Aaron Gardner

federalfarmer1

Are you saying you won’t vote for romney if he’s nominated because it would be better for Obama to be elected? You do know how important the supreme court is, right? Are you prolife? Arent you a moderator here, and isn’t it a rule to support the gop?

CincoSolas_del_Bronx

but I am quite relieved to know that you are much more sensible #702000s.

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

.

ammy

Four years ago Romney was conservative enough and acceptable to Rush, Mark Levin and other conservative leaders, much more so than McCain. What changed? None of his positions have changed since 2007. You don’t know what you’re talking about.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Jacobson get2djnow

nt

Filibuster Keaton

I’d make one (and only one) exception: Zell Miller. I voted desperately for Mack Mattingly, fully expecting Miller to vote the same in the Senate as any other Democrat. Credit where due: I think he did Republicans a world of good; his endorsement of Bush was the only reason my father finally came around to Republicans. But yes, Miller was a pariah in Washington.

As for Romney, I’ve spent the past three years praying I never have to defend him. He’s the only one I don’t think I could.

ghostship

I am a registered Republican and I completely understand your frustration.

I’m tired of having to hold my nose and vote for the lesser evil. I want to vote for something instead of always having to vote against something.

I’m tired of being told that Conservative candidates can’t win in blue states so we shouldn’t even try to run any. Must blue states be forever blue? Yes, most candidates will lose but we will never change those states if we don’t challenge the Left’s ideology. This is short term thinking that produces long term defeat.

I’m tired of watching the Democrats succeed in pushing their Leftist agenda little by little and yet the Republican Party never seems to find a hill worth dying for.

At what point do we say no more?

One can’t win victory unless one risks defeat. The Republican Party needs to stop being the Party that always reacts and instead go on the offensive. We need to seek sente not gote even if it means we lose some battles.

Sometimes a short term loss is for the best.

The Battle of Thermopylae and the Alamo were both defeats that later led to victories.

It’s often said that we needed a Carter to get a Reagan. I disagree with this sentiment. We needed the defeat of a Goldwater to get a Reagan victory.

I want a Party and candidate worth voting for instead of the same old Democrat-Lite.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Jacobson get2djnow

Seems like any Republican is likely to make better SCOTUS picks than Obummer.

There was some tough reading in this thread: It was said that Romney is as bad as Ooops, Pawlenty was praised for leaving early, thereby not probing a rule nor it’s exception (meow-too bad!), EE was defended and slighted, and darn near everyone’s motives were impugned. There’s clearly a couple of establishment types making comments here (I suppose since I’m still allowed others should be also, darn it!), and putting up straw men for Romney. What a bunch of maroons!

Romney is not as bad as Oblather, but he’s not a Conservative either. When we’re down to two, and it’s increasingly looking like Newt to me (Sorry ammy, but I don’t think Plouffe’s sock puppet stands a chance against Newt in a real debate.), then we’ll see if Conservatives, as opposed to the party apparatchik, will get behind Rove’s sock puppet.

Next93

Mea Culpa

Next93

From what I’ve seen, McCain is another candidate who couldn’t figure out which side he was on. Except during election years, then he’s a solid conservative.

nathanalbright

…I think that fill in the blank letter should be a handy form letter for dealing with unfair bashers of any candidates. xD We all have our moments on both sides of that discussion.

RichmondG30

I’ve stated this many many times. I am NOT a Romney fan. I would strongly prefer a real conservative.

HOWEVER, today is November 10, 2011 and we are less than a year from potentially Barack Obama’s REELECTION. Did you hear me? Barack Obama’s REELECTION. Let that sink in for a moment.

With 12 months remaining, there are exactly ZERO real conservative candidates with any chance of defeating him.

Erick wants to slay Mitt Romney. Then what, Erick? What’s your plan then? Explain to me how the election is going to play out, please.

I for one, will not stand by while Obama, that evil S.O.B. destroys what is left of the country my teenage kids will inherit.

Erick (and the rest of you people who hate the mainstream GOP more than you hate what Obama is doing to this country) will make my job a lot more difficult. That, however, is your right. I could not disagree more with your decision, but it is your right nonetheless.

buddyp

I realize I may be asking a question the answer to which is or seems obvious to most here, but as a newcomer I ask someone here to educate me:

When folks assert that Romney is clearly not a conservative, is that based just on his current policy positions, expressed general ideology and other statements, or is it partly or wholly based on the premise that he is insincere and unreliable in those positions and statements?

If the former, what is the case that Romney is clearly not a conservative based only on his current positions and statements?

ammy

All I can conclude is that Rush, Mark and others are flip-floppers and as all true conservatives know – there is no greater evil. I hope you and others on here will vow to never listen to any of them again. After all, what credibility can they have. They have contradicted former statements and positions and changed their minds. No more needs to be said. They are all RINOS and deserve death at dawn. End of story. Oh and of course, 4 more years of Obama. How awesome – yes, let’s teach these RINOS a lesson. We’ll all meet at lunch at the Gulag.

ammy

I can understand Cain supporters refusing to accept wholesale these unsubstantiated allegations. Perry supporters are harder to get. He can’t debate for his life and if nominated will guarantee 4 more years of O. I don’t get their loyalty – he’s not up to the job. Haven’t we had enough of that?

ammy

Yes, definitely go for four more years of Obama. Brilliant.

gekster

he got elected three times as governor.
He can’t do anything right.
At least for some he can’t.

iidvbii

#1 Economy in the United States
#1 In Job creation in the United Stated since 2007 (you may remember that as the year ya’ll started losing them)
#1 Location for business relocation in the United States
#1 Location for families relocating in the United States

Balanced Budget Every Year
No income Tax
Year over year median income growth
Housing market still strong (People aren’t loosing the value of their homes)
Low cost of living index
Excellent Schools (25% of the top fifteen high schools)
Excellent Health care (low insurance rates and some of the best medical facilities and schools in the country)
No sanctuary Cities

I could go on all night…… But it boils down to opportunity and the liberty to pursue your happiness.

We Texans know Rick Perry has been a large part of shielding our state and economy from the issues facing so much of the rest of the country. That is why we are so loyal.
The country is in trouble, we have to make some tough decisions and get our house in order. I hear the others talk, but I have seen Rick Perry act. What tells you more about a person, what they say or what they do?
Take an honest look at what governor Perry has accomplished and then maybe you will understand why a bad debate means little to nothing to us.

swamphermit

How the Democrats stick their 2nd and 3rd choices into the Republican Party, and Republicans actually go for it with the likes of McCain, Romney and Huntsman.

RS

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