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Romney: I’m Moderate and Progressive, Not a Wingnut

By: streiff (Diary)  |  December 13th, 2011 at 03:30 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

That isn’t an exact quote but it is very close.

We are constantly told by Romney‘s supporters, at least those who can still bear the humiliation of being associated with the man, that he’s conservative. Not only is he conservative but he governed Massachusetts as a conservative. Never mind the increased state support of abortion rights, Romneycare, carbon caps, and his opposition to a Traditional Marriages amendment that his wife supported. The fact that he ran to the left of Fat Teddy in 1994 is just… airbrushed or I suppose we could say they are PhotoShopped.

So how did he run for governor? In his own words he tells this particular group of voters in 2002

“I think people recognize that I am not a partisan Republican. That I’m someone who is moderate, and that my views are progressive.”

This is a man who, if elected, will throw conservatives and conservatism under the bus because he is a Northeastern liberal Republican.

COMMENTS

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  • http://wadingacross.wordpress.com logus

    We all know that what happened in the past is water under the bridge…

    ;)

    Let’s just focus on Newt’s past shall we and ignore Romney’s.

    Uh huh.

    Maybe Axlerod really meant to comment on Romney and not Gingrich vis-a-vis animals, trees and rear0ends.

    Sigh.

    • ericksontales

      Yes, lets open up Newts past if we want to open up that can of worms.

      • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

        Thanks in advance.

        • Marcus_Traianus

          Don’t you guys think that is a bit young?

          What’s next- “Nah-nah-nah-nah-nah”?

  • ericksontales

    You redstate opinion writers are all the same… Trying to scare conservatives away from Romney – the only candidate that has a serious chance against Obama.

    I seriously can’t wait to hear all your whining when Newt loses Iowa…. Who will you jump to next as your savior? You are a fickle bunch of writers…

    • sunshinek67

      to see that Mitt Romney does not stand on that stage, with a pseudo-R next to his name, and debate Obama touting right of center credentials, none of which have lasted longer than it takes to unplug the microphone after an interview~

      • ericksontales

        We are going to be so humiliated when Romney walks away with the 1150 delegates to win the nomination and crush your dreams of a brokered convention….

        lol… too funny how redstate writers throw around such broad and sweeping generalizations about Romney supporters. Can’t wait to hear Newt re-gage expectations after his Iowa loss. “well you see we were running single digits for months and just recently we have been gaining traction. We did relatively well considering the amount of money and time we invested.” lol

        • gekster

          Romney can’t break 25% in the polls.

          What’s wrong with the American people that they themselves can’t see the glory of Romney.

        • sunshinek67

          I thought you got banned for underage-multiple account violations. Well appears as though the lol troll paid for by Camp Romney has found his way to RedState. Perhaps a more coordinated effort with JennRubin would give you better talking points.

    • http://wadingacross.wordpress.com logus

      The worms are just beginning to jump out of the can.

      It’s inevitable.

      From Major Garrett, yesterday.

      This is why I’m not a joiner. I’m not a diehard anybody except in my faith. Put your faith in any man and you WILL be let down.

      This goes for all of you diehard Romney-bots, Cainiacs, Newtonians, Perry-whatevers, Paulian aliens etc.

    • Tbone

      He hardly needs anyone’s help. It called being a liberal scumbag who the MSM will turn on just as they did Romney’s idiot, ideological uncle, McCain.

      BTW, Romney doesn’t have a serious chance against Obama in that he won’t be the nominee unless he can get more that 22% of Republicans to vote for him.

      The only way Mitt ends up on a national ticket if Barry replaces Biden with him.

    • gekster

      …

      • ericksontales

        Romney is not and has not been an ultra conservative. Gingrich is not and has not been an ultra conservative. Perry is not and has not been an ultra conservative.

        As I’ve stated before that leaves ultra conservatives with crazy Bachman or Santorum – both of which have a more conservative history than any of the leading Republicans.

        If you are truly a conservative and will only vote for a historically true conservative then you are left with Bachman or Santorum. If you try to justify any other candidate as a true conservative then you are delusional.

        • APA Guy

          DOMA…the list is nearly endless of policy implementations that Newt has spearheaded.

          Now, kindly name Romney’s…

          • papabear

            Is trolling that tiresome that you can’t answer APA Guy?

        • APA Guy

          DOMA…the list is nearly endless of policy implementations that Newt has spearheaded.

          Now, kindly name Romney’s…

          • ericksontales

            - Ethics violation totaling an unprecedented $300,000
            - The only Speaker disciplined in the House 208 year history for ethics violations
            - Earned 1.6 Million as a lobbyist for Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac
            - $37 million Gingrich took from health care groups
            - Supports amnesty for illegals
            - Commercial with Pelosi on taking action on global warming
            - Supported a NATIONAL Health Insurance Mandate

            Sorry, you are right the list is endless when it comes to the life of Gingrich….

          • APA Guy

            Oh wait…

            Are you serious with that BS list? If that’s the best you have you’d best take that free t-shirt and head home there, Wilbur…

          • APA Guy

            Oh wait…

            Are you serious with that BS list? If that’s the best you have you’d best take that free t-shirt and head home there, Wilbur…

          • ericksontales

            Gingrich cheats in all aspects of his life… not just with his wives…

            Also, you should probably educate yourself on the health insurance mandate. Romney’s was at a state level that affected 9%. Newts was at a national level that would have affected over 300 million Americans… lol too funny that you can’t see the difference.

          • APA Guy

            I’m dying to see this…

            Remember, the ACTUAL LAW…and not Obamacare, which Newt did not vote for or help get passed and signed. Give us the actual law that requires ME to buy health insurance because thus far, I have been breaking the law…haven’t had health insurance in over a decade.

          • ericksontales

            There are multiple video clips of Newt (take your pick) supporting a national health care mandate. Just one of the many flip flops by Newt.

          • Scope

            the right scoop that is knocking Newt big time? Just curious.

          • APA Guy

            I’m a big fan of Gingrich…was when he was Speaker, will be when he is our candidate. I like the combination of conservative and intellectual…it makes for a great president, IMHO :)

          • APA Guy

            I’m a big fan of Gingrich…was when he was Speaker, will be when he is our candidate. I like the combination of conservative and intellectual…it makes for a great president, IMHO :)

          • JSobieski

            It is exactly this blatant failure to compare apples to apples that makes the discussions around here so pointless.

            For Mitt, you cite the % who didn’t have insurance in the first place. For Newt, you cite the population of the country.

            This is your attempt to persuade?

            You post a comment of a couple of sentences, and two of them are obvious bunk.

          • http://theconservativehand.com Brookhaven

            The question was “now list some of Romney’s accomplishments” and you replied by attacking Gingrich.

            Both Romney and Gingrich have a long list of shortcommings from a conservative standpoint.

            But…

            Gingrich also has a list of conservative accomplishments to counter-balance his shortcommings.

            Romney has none–he’s 100% shortcomming & 0% conservative accomplishment.

            Therein lies the difference between Gingrich and Romney.

            To put it bluntly, everytime Gingrich is attacked as unaccpetable for his conservative shortcommings, it just reinforces the fact that Romney is even more unacceptable than Gingrich.

          • sethellis

            I’m not going to argue that he has the best conservative history around, but it is not accurate to say that he had no conservative accomplishments. He created a budget surplus in the state, and vetoed large portions of the liberal agenda in his state. Successes that show he is adept at tracking the types of problems facing the nation today. Let’s not chery pick records here. There is good and bad.

            The reason this attack is getting so much pushback is because it’s already been discounted. We are all well aware of how Romney ran for office in Massachusetts. The ABR crowd would do themselves better if they focused on selling their alternative to us rather than this constant Romney bashing. It would also help if their alternative didn’t have all the same issues and more that they berate Romney for.

          • clowngirl

            You supplied none and went negative on Gingrich. It’s hardly news that Newt has baggage – everyone acknowledges that. But Newt also has significant conservative achievements. Perhaps you can shine a light on some conservative achievements from Romney that the rest of us have overlooked. Provide a little balance…

        • gekster

          but it is much better than being stupid, and you can’t fix stupid.

          • ericksontales

            Please tell us and stop hiding… Still don’t understand why you are so afraid to take a stand. How much more information do you need about these candidates. Iowans are making their choice in a few weeks. Will you make yours? Are you still waiting for the most popular candidate to emerge?

          • gekster

            I guess Madison would be my third choice.

            And I ain’t hiding nothing.
            I’ve stated my reasons, and if you would quit spewing long enough to actually read, you might know why.

          • ericksontales

            Maybe you can dumb it down for me… speak slowly and explain to me why you won’t say who you support.

          • gekster

            I got it from a Jack Parr show when he had Jackie Gleason on and asked who he supported in the 1960 election.
            That’s all you get.

            And if it keeps you busy for at least a half hour looking it up,
            then the intellegence of this site goes up for at least a half hour.

          • ericksontales

            Just as old Newt said… I’m not going to play your Mickey Mouse games… if you could put together a logical reason behind your waffling then speak up otherwise we all will know that you are just trying to hide something…

          • gekster

            It seams I hit on something you are not good at, besides politics, that is.

            And Mickey Mouse games are just fine for a Willard the Rat supporter.

    • purposedriven

      I know there will be those who jump all over this, but I’ve decided if Romney is the Republican Candidate I will not be able to vote Republican this year. No way could I vote Democrat.

      People say, “You’re wasting your vote.” Nope. Next time these Republican elites will think twice before they decide someone is too conservative to be electable. I will not send money, volunteer time, donate any longer to the Republican Party, or vote for a Mitt Romney ticket no matter who they put on the other side of it this time.

      • tomatin

        but Romney better hope for good weather near me to get me out to vote.

  • usedtobelib

    is perfectly appropriate. He’s not shown conservatism in many of his political stances. That is fair criticism.

    However, Newt is no conservative and what’s worse, he’s a power monger, ego-centric sob who can’t get along with anyone for an extended period.

    What I’d like is for you or Eric, mostly, to tell us what they know about Newt’s m.o. when he was on the Hill. I have two contacts, neither of which can be considered anything more than lower-level Hill workers, who told me lots of things about Newt’s personality, the most disturbing, from the perspective of hiring a President, concern his inability to work with people who wanted him to be successful and wanted the GOP to be successful. They weren’t enemies, IOW.

    These two are as ffar from establishment types” as one can get—they are worker bees in the maze of employees, both women, both not even interested in philosophical discussions of anything political, yet both more loyal to any GOP candidate than to a Democratic one. Both say, “Hell, no, I can’t possibly vote for Gingrich and don’t you either. He will always have us in a state of chaos.”

    What say you, Erick?

    • seanl

      DOMA, balanced budget, welfare reform, tax payer relief act of ’97 etc. etc.

      What has Romney done for conservatives? Pretty much zip. If anything he has gotten more done for libs (i.e. Romneycare).

      So its fine to criticize Gingrich for some of his past mistakes, but to draw an equivalency where one does not exist is either dishonest or just being willfully ignorant of Newt’s well established track record.

      • tomatin

        It’s really nonsense politics of today where every word is dissected. Newt has a great conservative record when he was making laws which is far better than Romney. All Romney did was veto a couple of very liberal bills big whoop. The agenda he did pass was liberal too.

        Excellent point about the sick equivalency argument. Romney cannot even come close to Newt’s conservative record.

        • Common_Cents

          And cannot look at actual results achieved vs. BS.

  • seanl

    that he has identified himself as a conservative. For most of his life apart from some economic issues he has held mostly liberal positions.

    Honestly, Democrats like Ben Nelson and Mary Landreiu have a demonstrably more conservative track record than Romney. You can’t deny that fact. So it is bizarre that some people in the Republican party would want someone decidedly to the left of many Democrats to be our nominee.

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

    “I’m not gonna go back to Reagan/Bush.” – Willard Mitt Romney.

    • APA Guy

      Oh wait…

      http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/12/13/swing-state-poll-shows-obamas-narrow-options/

    • APA Guy

      Oh wait…

      http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/12/13/swing-state-poll-shows-obamas-narrow-options/

      • ericksontales

        Yep… he’s likely to win in the national Primary.

        Wait a minute isn’t this the guy that took 1.6 million from the biggest banking scandal and housing meltdown of our time? Yep.

        Newt, Newt, Newt, Newt, Newt… I can hear Obama cheering from the White House!

        • APA Guy

          …let alone trying to beat him in a general election.

        • APA Guy

          …let alone trying to beat him in a general election.

          • ericksontales

            Obama has a billion dollars to attack the long and extensive record of Newts problems. Obama can limit it to 1-2 debates if he wants and still walk away with another 4 years… This is going to be about a campaign when it comes to the general not so much debates…

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

            ..

          • APA Guy

            …and Obama’s war chest won’t mean squat after Newt destroys him on the national stage THREE TIMES (not 1-2 unless he wants to be known as a coward…and justifiably so…even Bush debated 3 times)…bank on it.

          • renl57

            The media which controls the debates will keep Gingrich on the defensive.

            The GOP doesn’t get to choose the questions. The media does.

            I’m positive that most of the questions to Gingrich will be about his own political and personal history: His adultery. His being ousted as Speaker. Freddie Mac. Gingrich will be on the defensive for most of the debate time.

            Gingrich has a very long track record and in the debates as elsewhere, the media will make sure that the public knows all about it.

            Gingrich’s lashing out at the media in retaliation appeals to his fellow Republicans who are rightly sick of the media’s double standards and partisanship. But Independent voters won’t be watching to see Gingrich bash the media. That takes time away from discussing issues.

          • APA Guy

            …and Obama’s war chest won’t mean squat after Newt destroys him on the national stage THREE TIMES (not 1-2 unless he wants to be known as a coward…and justifiably so…even Bush debated 3 times)…bank on it.

        • Common_Cents

          bringing that up won’t go over too well.

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

          Face it: Your man is a fraud.

  • jgge

    no matter how much him and his supporters scream and shout. It is over for him. It is either Perry or Gingrich.

    • ericksontales

      This is going to come down to a two man race and Perry will indeed be one of those men… Unfortunately for Newt the other man in the race is Romney.

      The latest pew research poll in Iowa shows Gingrich – 22%, Romney – 17%, and Perry – 13%.

      Newt is already losing his footing and it will continue to slide. This will soon be about whether Perry or Romney gives the Iowa victory speech.

      • ericksontales

        Romney may come in second in Iowa again… One thing is certain… Newt will do no better than third when this all shakes out… You Perry supporters should have stayed loyal to Perry from the beginning. He is the only republican candidate that has the potential to beat Romney for the nomination.

        • izoneguy

          Just because someone is thinking a different direction does not mean they cannot make the right decision in the end. People are getting a real taste of the real Mitt and Newt and they don’t like it. The polling may not reflect the real sentiment until the voting is over. With Obama running the lame stream media I would not trust any poll – from any source.

  • izoneguy

    I?m Moderate and Progressive, Not a Wingnut

    Thanks Mitt – Now tell us something we don’t already know.

  • Locke

    would have to come from Congress and the states. That might not be bad. Even those we would consider rinos or squishes in the minority may be effective conservatives when that is the path of least resistence. I am thinking of Orrin Hatch, Bob Dole, and many others. I don’t think Romney would fight conservative initiatives or even drag his feet.

    If he is the nominee, voters. on a variant of the divided government theme, might be more inclined to elect tea party types in other races.

    With solidly conservative Senate, House and statehouses, I would most like to see Gingrich as President, but Romney might do about as well. Paul is the only one I can see siding with Democrats (on foreign policy and defense issues, of course).

    I still prefer Gingrich, but I might well change if I saw good evidence of something I suspect, that Romney would be significantly better for the election of conservatives in other races.

  • Whacker77

    Mitt’s changed positions on too many things. That’s why I’m switching to Newt. He takes a position and sticks to it.

    • renl57

      In 1993-94, Gingrich endorsed a health care plan with a mandate.

      Now he says that he only advocated that to head off HillaryCare, he never really had any intention of advocating it after that.

      Which begs the question of how many things he’s advocating today just to head off Romney, things he has no intention of advocating after that.

      And as for cap-and-trade:

      “I think if you have mandatory carbon caps combined with a trading system, much like we did with sulfur, and if you have a tax-incentive program for investing in the solutions, that there?s a package there that?s very, very good. And frankly, it?s something I would strongly support.?
      ? Newt Gingrich, February 2, 2007

      That was less than 5 years ago.

      • renl57

        “I think is that the evidence is sufficient that we should move towards the most effective possible steps to reduce carbon-loading of the atmosphere.”
        ? Newt Gingrich, April 10, 2007

      • http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

        Goose….gander….you get the idea.

        • Scope

          Newt has been an environmentalist since the 1970′s when he taught at and instituted a program at a Georgia Univ. called Environmental studies. Newt has remained until this day to be on the side of the environmental activists. Not long ago he reaffirmed his current position on still be an environmental activist in saying that we still don’t have enough facts to determine if Global Warming is man caused, though he has been parsing his positions since deciding to run for the presidency. It follows the same Newt long term pattern with him supporting an individual mandate, even though he makes it appear that you have options with buy insurance, post a bond, or utilize federal government vouchers to purchase health insurance, it’s all still the government telling you that you must have health coverage. Remember Newt did work for health companies, health insurers, and pharmaceutical companies. Of course Newt wants to guarantee them business, which was also a part of the Health Insurers goal with Obamacare.

          Gov. Perry mandated the Gardisil vaccine, with an OPT-OUT, meaning if you don’t want to participate at all you don’t have to, unlike Newt pick your poison stance. He has apologized for how he went about that, and if I’m not mistaken he did so long ago, long before getting into the race. Newt has never ever walked back his liberal positions, he just got out his thesaurus and changed the words he uses in explaining his current positions.

          • http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

            Not one single person was forced to buy insurance (or post a bond, etc.) due to a bill that Newt proposed, passed, or voted for while in the House.

            Not one single person was forced to take a vaccination they didn’t want by an executive order by Perry.

            It’s exactly the same. Goose meet gander.

          • Scope

            to ignore, or chose to not consider Newt’s mandate’s position as important. So go vote for your guy.

          • http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

            I’m still undecided. I’m just calling them like I see them. Kinda funny too. A lot of Perry supporters are complaining about Newt’s character, yet they’re often dishonest in doing so.

            Once again….goose…gander.

      • streiff

        when he said that?

  • wbb1950

    Suggested by logic, illustrated by examples and confirmed by experience is the fact the political system is controlled by the elites, they use big media as their henchman and those elites would rather lose an election than lose control of their party. In the democrat primary, Hillary’s argument to the superdelegates was if you elect Obama you will lose the election, and the response of the radical left which supported Obama that is fine as long as we can take control of the party. Thanks to the timing of the financial crisis they got both.

    Romney is an easy target for the Obama Machine to destroy, and I find it distressing that many people fail to see this. He is the epitome of a country club Republican, and that is not a winning brand in a depression. He claims to be a business man, but he made his money by taking apart companies and he grew rich in the process. He is like Obama in that sense–Obama threw his constituents to the wolves–to Rezko and later to major corporations and Romney would do the same. And, contrary to the meme that he is a good debater–the truth is he is a sub standard debater and Obama will best him with the help of big media. In fact, what this is McCain redux wherein big media gets him the nomination so they can destroy him in the general election.

    Romney cannot beat Obama. It is just that simple. The best hope we have to defeat Obama is Gingrich. Unfortunately, people who think they are smart are induced by big media into throwing brickbats. They are behaving stupidly saying if he gets the nomination they will stay home. That is a losers strategy.

    • wbb1950

      Leadership is about the bottom line. Gingrich delivered a balanced budget. Romney delivered Romneycare.

      • Scope

        and man you couldn’t talk all of his supporters to consider the issues not just how likable he was. Nope wasn’t gonna happen. Obama is tanking in the polls, and on the issues the Republicans win on most if not all of the issues, but his likability factor is still very high. I agree a candidate doesn’t have to win the Mr/Ms Congeniality prize, but Newt, described by some who know him best, and have worked with him, have more than once used “obnoxious” in describing him. And that was from when he was in a leadership position. The first thing that will strike people will be Newt reverting to type and becoming the very unlikable person he has always been.

        • Tbone

          Oh, you said “likability” I read as ‘likesalittle”. Sorry.

        • rkcurtin

          I think Obama’s likability is overstated in the MSM. I work in a union environment, and when you get these guys alone, away from the crowd, they will tell you of their disgust for Obama. Many didn’t vote for him the first time, and definitely won’t in the upcoming election.

          The Fast and Furious scheme to work against second amendment rights will work against the Democrats – as it should – in 2012. The guys see Obama as the snake he is – no likability at all.

          As for Newt, in the ABC/Yahoo debate I saw a juvenile on stage (albeit and intelligent one), the facial expressions (winking, laughing when it wasn’t time to laugh, and the other assorted body language) was not that of a responsible adult who recognizes the seriousness of the times we are in.

          I don’t know about anyone else here, but I’m already tired of Newt….

  • Massachusetts_Transplant

    I think what some folks object to is that basic fairness on this site is lacking in that trashing Romney from every whcih way (even if taken out of context or an attack from the Left) is tolerated and promoted, without the same standard being applied to everyone else.

    Yesterday’s hit piece was siding against Romney for being successful in the private sector, which would seem to fly in the place of the supposed free market conservatives here.

    Today its a silly video, Romney is running in the state of Massachusetts – where about 13% of the voters are registered Republicans. At the end of the day, winning is what matters – sorry but Sharon Angle and Christine O’Donnell aren’t doing anything for the conservative cause after first embarassing us with their awful, inept campaigns (yeah but they were conservative on paper, right) and secondly for enabling weak, liberal Democrats to survive (including Harry Reid – most awful of all) and continue to wreck havoc in the U.S. Senate.

    However, fairness would be for us to debate Newt’s idea for Puerto Rican Statehood or harken back to the days when he made Republicans look awful by carrying on an afair during Clinton’s impeachment – not sure which is worse, that or bringing wife to his bed-ridden cancer stricken first wife. What is it that social conservatives want – someone who has actually lived a good, clean, life (Romney, Perry) or some preachy do as I say, not as I do “conservative”?

    Again – I think its fair to criticize Romney for Romneycare or for his Roe v Wade stance at one point, but the daily bashing and gothc videos doesn’t do a lot to elevate conservatism. Let me ask the front page moderators, where has the intelligent debates about tax plans, entitlement reforms, and foreign policy on Iran/Israel/Russia gone? Is this what RedState is now a site that doesn’t debate these issues, but instead debates a 9 year old clip of Romney campaigning in Massachusetts and not proclaiming himself a right-winger?

    I guess I’ll head over to National Review – they still do policy over there. :)

    • tailfins1959

      If Romney is a viable candidate, Red State is serving as a wonderful sparring partner. If Romney has a glass jaw, it’s better that blogs like this one and debates expose it now and not ten months from now. It’s a win-win. If it matters to you, I still haven’t ruled out Willard. Stay tuned, this race isn’t settled and information is still coming out.

      • wbb1950

        I am betting on the glass jaw. He gets testy when he is pressed. We saw it with Bret Baird. We saw it with Rick Perry.

      • sethellis

        It’s perfectly fair to vet candidates. I just think that sometimes we are going far beyond vetting. There is a problem when we start to throw conservative values out the window just to defeat one candidate. When we abandon core principles like free market capitalism or family values, we are no better than the dems. We should be calling out all candidates on these types of issues, but for the past 6 weeks this standard has only been applied to Romney.

        • gekster

          That or just selectively reading.

    • wbb1950

      I think it is a matter of fundamentals and questions which beg for answers. Questions such as: Why does Romney choose to distance himself from the base? Why is he unable to hold a position longer than a nano second? Why has he been running for president for 6 years and still cannot seal the deal? Doesn’t the video tell the story? Can you not see a connection between the Occupy Wall Street movement and the take down of Romney? Do you think it was wise for Romney to bet Perry $10,000? Do you think it was prudent for him to duck out of debates and serious questions? Other than Hennis Youngman one liners what exactly does he bring to the party? To my way of thinking, he is an agent of the status quo and he will perpetuate it at a time when the status quo is not working for the majority of Americans.

      • wbb1950

        It is the same mistake repeated over and over. A candidate favored by the elites who cannot connect with the people: In 1948 it was Dewey, In 1994 it was Dole. In 1994 it was Dole. They never learn.

        • wbb1950

          in re the above

      • Massachusetts_Transplant

        to drill down into your last sentence where you say Romney is the “agent of the status quo”.

        I would argue that the “status quo” is what we have now, which is total gridlock and therefore nothing getting done. In that vain, I believe the Presidency doesn’t need a revolutionary drawing more lines in the sand, but rather someone that can actually get something positive done for the country – or else we are in big, big trouble. As it is now, gridlock not only means all the Bush tax cuts will expire next year at 12/31/2012, but also means no real, meaningful cuts in spending or entitlement reform.

        Between Bowles-Simpson, Gang of Six, the Ryan plan, and the Supercommittee there are obtainable deals on the table to implement tax reform coupled with entitlement reform. If we don’t do both, the country will continue to slide the way of Greece. We just need a leader. Realistically the GOP is going to have nothing more than a slim majority in the Senate after 2012 – so its going to be up to a Republican President to actually LEAD us out of this problem. However, just as President Bush got 10 Democrats to sign onto his first tax cuts in 2001, a new Republican President is going to need to get the votes of 7 – 9 Democrats like Max Baucus, Mark Warner, Mark Pryor, Landrieu etc. to not only move something forward but to give it (Medicare cuts etc) some bipartisan cover – if he doesn’t get those votes, then it will just be more gridlock and we are several years closer to the reckoning. A deal is going to require a little give and take and is going to require some actual leadership, not just bomb throwing from the back benches.

        Sorry – but that is reality. Sure we can all sit back and hold out for the 2016 election – hoping that we win the Presidency with a Jim DeMint-Rand Paul ticket, having (incredibly) run the table in 4 straight elections and thus have 60 votes in the Senate for the first ever. But that isn’t likely to happen, and I don’t think we as a country have that long to get our fiscal situation in order.

        So for me the choice is leadership with Romney – where we actually make progress with a Republican House and a Senate that while Republican can still have everything filibustered by the Dems.

        I know this doesn’t neccessarily fit with the mood of the times – which is fight, kill, destroy, no compromise, and 100% my way or the highway. But that is just never going to happen, so we are going to need the intellectual muscle to come from Congress – Paul Ryan/Pat Toomey coupled with a President that can be seen as an honest dealer and get stuff done. I believe that person is Romney.

    • streiff

      because you’re going to see one of these every day from now until Romney ties his dog to the car roof and drives off towards Massachusetts or Michigan or Utah or wherever he’s from.

    • rkcurtin

      for ‘policy’?

      Romney for President?

      Hi I’m Mitt Romney and I stand for ________ (fill in the blank), and I’m here because ________ (fill in the blank), and there’s not enough _______ (fill in the blank), and too much _________ (fill in the blank), and my dreams of playing in this professional sport _______ (fill in the blank) were broken by an injury in this spot ______ (fill in the blank) but please vote for me because I’m all about…..MITT ROMNEY (no need to fill in the blank).

  • zachv

    Perry’s a wreck. Cain’s gone. Bachmann’s flailing. Huntsman or Paul? What?

    It seems as if right now there’s only Newt or Romney. They are one in the same. Newt’s a top-down, Cap & Trade, Mr. Ethanol, big government and nationalized health care supporter! Do we have that short of a memory?

    You just can’t win.

    • zachv

      …

      Yeah, I definitely can’t win.

  • bzip

    So tell me who is more “progressive, Romney or Newt”?

    Newt: FDR the greatest President – in his own words:

    • bzip

      Lets try this again – I find this scarey.

      http://www.theblaze.com/stories/gingrich-flashback-progressive-fdr-was-greatest-president-of-the-20th-century-plus-seius-andy-stern-is-visionary-union-leader/

      http://www.theblaze.com/stories/gingrich-flashback-progressive-fdr-was-greatest-president-of-the-20th-century-plus-seius-andy-stern-is-visionary-union-leader/#ooid=M5Ym40MzoHl7iiX9QcxHsPG9Rlo0C4Hi

      • bzip

        The third time works:

        Newt Gingrich is NOT a Conservative [Episode 678] – He Loves FDR
        http://youtu.be/LjVfEesPNwc

    • streiff

      on his jihad against the word “progressive.” It is silly, though after his investigation of the FEMA concentration camps even opening Al Capone’s safe makes you look serious.

      FDR was a great president. I’ll not apologize for saying it. TR was a hugely significant presdient. I’ll not apologize for that either.

      Beyond that I’ll not let some guy who sells gold and survival seeds lecture me on American history.

  • zachv

    Perry’s a wreck. Cain’s gone. Bachmann’s flailing. Huntsman or Paul? What?

    Neither Perry, Romney nor Perry has been a ‘tried and true’ conservative. Newt’s a top-down, Cap & Trade, Mr. Ethanol, nationalized health care, big government type! Do we have that short of a memory?

    The only thing I can say about Romney is that he’s a successful businessman. And at the bare minimum Romney is running on the Ryan plan. I can’t find a better choice. :/ … Just can’t win.

  • tnguy

    Or astounding that conservatives now have a choice in the republican primaries between a northeastern liberal and a big-government, cap and trade, pro-gov’t health care bureaucrat.

    Republicans en masse rejected conservatism in this primary. Can’t blame moderates and RINO’s, it was all of you. Most of you anyways.

    I weep for the future.

    How did it come to this?

  • pcscipio

    Christine O’Donnell endorsed him.

  • http://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com nathanalbright

    …it’s just not safe to admit this in 2011 to the Republican base, who knows this and can’t trust his ‘conversion.’

  • williamjameson

    Ladies and Gentleman, time to stop the Romney pledge of support if he wins the nomination because this story is a candidacy killer and we all know most RS members will support the nominee even if the DIME STORE REPUBLICAN ROMNEY WINS. Romney wears the GOP label as cheaply as a pimp wears a Zoot Suit!!!

    No need to say I’ll support Romney anymore because there’s no fear to fear except the end of conservatism itself. Romney will turn the party for the worst and he won’t give a damn what you think.

    More to read at CBS. Good post Streiff the video speaks for itself. Moderates must fail for conservatism to succeed.

    Clearly Romney is too partisan and out to fight liberal like fights because he’s a weak candidate.

    http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57342286-503544/romney-in-2002-called-his-views-progressive/

    “I think the old standby definitions of who votes for which party have been blown away in this campaign,” Romney says on camera. “I think people recognize that I’m not a partisan Republican, that I’m someone who is moderate, and that my views are progressive.”

    As liberal journalist David Corn points out, Romney decried progressivism in his 2010 book “No Apology: The Case for American Greatness.” Romney writes, “progressives…rejected the notion of universal truths, objective judgments, and, ironically, progress itself.”

    • center77

      I’m wondering if Newts goal is to still move the party to the left.

      • avagreen

        Sounds interesting.

        • williamjameson

          Probably another propaganda piece chocked full of obvious nonsense.

      • williamjameson

        Most of the accusations of Newt leaning left happened while out of office. Romney did his t get elected and in office and while running for potus.

        Romney will move the party left because he’s not a conservative and I denounce him as such to stand with other RS members who have painted him a moderate with no conservative ideals.

  • radicalrighty

    “This is a man who, if elected, will throw conservatives and conservatism under the bus …”
    *************************************
    Yet, when I made a casual “prediction,” you wrote this:

    “well, since you have a crystal ball”
    streiff (Diary) Thursday, December 1st at 4:22PM EST (link)
    “don?t keep us in suspense…”

  • center77

    I can’t post he link because I’m on my Droid and I’m lazy. But its Berry tellingand if you read it make sure you read the whole thing. The whole thing was unknown to me but it really shows that Newt was very progressive in some important areas like the social safety. Net and moderate on others. I feel that the majority of the voters yet to know a lot about him. I can see why Beck feels the Tea Party is portraying. Their beliefs by supporting him. Now I’m no O’Donnell there’s no way Romney is anti establishment. I think she is trying to get in good with the establishment. After her loss she had to do something. Now that Perry is on the rise they will go after him because if he ever goes into the lead again he will be hard to beat.

    • avagreen

      http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=5A708A5A-96D7-4FE9-95B5-500E8992C7DB

      I’m no fan of Newt, but I’m not one of HufPo, either, much.

      • avagreen

        In fact, as has been said before, the left (orchestrated by the WH) will attempt to slaughter the rep of anyone on the right. I don’t want to fall for their trap(s).