Yes there is a lot of crow to go around among us Romney-doubters. The good thing is that served with the right mix of spices crow can be quite tasty!

Agreed, but I think we will really like the way the political landscape looks the day after Election Day.

good post; I also wonder if any of Romney’s points from his USA Today editorial in 2009 might be useful toward reaching some centrist voters:

‘…And the president is rushing changes that dwarf what any business I know has faced.

Republicans are not the party of “no” when it comes to health care reform. This Republican is proud to be the first governor to insure all his state’s citizens. Other Republicans such as Rep. Paul Ryan and Sens. Bob Bennett and John McCain, among others, have proposed their own plans. **Republicans will join with the Democrats if the president abandons his government insurance plan, if he endeavors to craft a plan that does not burden the nation with greater debt, if he broadens his scope to reduce health costs for all Americans, and if he is willing to devote the rigorous effort, requisite time and bipartisan process that health care reform deserves.’**

**my emphasis

http://mittromneycentral.com/op-eds/2009-op-eds/mr-president-whats-the-rush/

All true conservatives need to rewatch this debate. Yes, Romney hedged in places, in non-meaningful ways (batting down the strawman that Republicans are for ‘no regulations’ for example), but highlighting what is correct about conservative principles in other ways.

“The Party of Lincoln, for the first time since Ronald Reagan, has an
articulate advocate for conservatism running against a liberal Democrat
with a failed record.”

Correct, so we have hope than 2012 will be the change election just like 1980 was.

I think as a nation we have been so blessed to have the right leaders come forward in our hour of need.

It happened at the Founding in spades, from George Washington refusing to hold onto power (twice), to the brilliance of Jefferson laying forth our Declaration, and onto Hamilton, Jay, and Madison as they framed the Constitution and argued for it in their Federalist Papers.

It happened when the horrible blight from our founding, slavery, had finally torn us asunder and Abraham Lincoln stepped forth.

Despite how terrible he did as President during the Depression, FDR was a strong leader during WWII who had enough conviction to move forward with the Lend-Lease program to keep Britain afloat until America could join the fight against darkness.

It happened once more in 1980 as the nation stagnated and belief in itself teetered when Reagan inspired us and led us. I was a kid then, but he always struck me as my third grandfather. That day in January of 1986 when I was 7 and the Challenger went up in flames in front of our eyes on the TV as all of us were watching Christie McAuliffe be the first teacher in space is one I will never forget. I had no idea what it meant and how to respond, but President Reagan comforted me and gave me hope in the midst of tragedy.

And, yes, it happened when George W. Bush stood in the rubble of the WTC and lifted the nation up. I can never see Gore being able or willing to do what W did. There are a lot of things he did I disagree with one the domestic side of things, but he had the courage of his convictions.

But there was still a debt and deficit. There was still future insolvency. There were many challenges.

In 2007, I read Hugh Hewitt’s A Mormon In The White House? and was astonished at how incredible Romney seemed. He was too good to be true. He had moral conviction, he was willing to work with others, and he had a history of finding solutions.

I realize now that 2008 was too early for Romney, but that conviction still stands. I believe that Romney is the man for these times. His career has prepared him for the heavy lifting he will have to do. And we saw last night that he is a leader. From reading about him, I also know he is a delegator who is more interested in getting a job done right than getting credit. That sounds an awful lot like Reagan.

Like Reagan, I think he can sell his vision across the aisle. Reagan accomplished much with a Democratic Congress (mostly). Romney won’t have the same constraints, but I think he can make our tone much more civil. The media won’t report it, but so much comes from the far left anger at Bush that they could never get over (really dating back to the 2000 election that they still insist was stolen) and Obama brought that baggage with him. He caused it to be worse.

Romney may be the best qualified person to ever seek the office. He didn’t get that way by doing easy things. Remember, his career was built on going into bleak territory, finding the light, and amplifying it.

It is my hope that in 20 years we will look back and speak Romney’s name alongside Reagan’s as we, our children, and our grandchildren enjoy a renewed America built on rock solid conservative principles of limited government and personal responsibility. It takes a person of courage to lead us there because going up against the Chicago machine is no easy task. I’m not sure that anyone but Romney could do it right now. He is the right man at the right time.

Hi-Yah!
“Remember those conservatives during the Republican presidential primaries that thought Romneycare would prevent Mitt from being able to take on Obamacare? I do. I was one of them. We were wrong.”
Yep. I thought the issue was off the table. Brilliant act of political jujitsu or should I say karate?
One Star