Is Romney Behind the Eight Ball for 2012?

I expect to take some heat for criticizing Mitt in this piece. Mitt is always amusing with the strangeness of his spins, flips and excuses; which more than once, has a left me crossed-eye and scratching my head saying, “Huh?” “What did he say?”

Mitt’s current polls aren’t looking as healthy as he apparently thinks. The other potential opponents winning the polls, are not working the GOP circuit, or have said they are not going run. I wondered, what was in Mitt’s future for 2012?

I decided to dig out a half-forgotten crystal ball, from a decade’s old PTO fund raiser, and check out Romney’s 2012 prospects. O.k., it really isn’t a crystal ball, but one of those magic eight balls when turned upside down and right again, tells your future.

The ball predicted, Mitt would be in the race for the GOP nomination for president, but would concede to another Republican candidate.

This actually is great news for Romney! It gives Mitt plenty of time to come up with a truly bazaar concession speech that would leave people puzzled for years. Romney’s last concession speech left some in laughter when he said:

"If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or (Barack) Obama would win," he said. "And in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding surrender to terror."

Mitt’s campaign was aiding terrorist? His campaign was a surrender to terror? “I don’t get it”, I thought. Then I remembered, THAT movie came out….




http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18772382

"Romney is hiding from the truth”

Mitt Romney is taking punches in the press for being unauthentic with his duplicitous stand against national health-care. Romney also found himself in an uncomfortable position as he initiated his “Prescription for Repeal”, finding his repeal effort of the health-care bill being attacked by David Frum, a leading conservative journalist. Frum wrote a damming piece on the futility of the ‘repeal and replace’ movement. David Frum finding himself the first causality of Romney’s repeal war cry, when he was fired from AEI, a conservative think-tank after his article ran.

Mitt has been dogged the past several weeks by conservatives and liberals; Romney finding he is sledding down a slippery sloop on the health-care issue. Romney continued attempts on straddling the fence between the liberal and conservative side of health-care maybe his undoing.

In Iowa, Mitt Romney showed his Jekyll and Hyde side of the health-care debate. Romney must have been hearing the words of Eric Woolson, Huckabee’s former Iowa aid, as Romney went into his question and answer session. Woolson stated he ‘believes that Romney will open himself up to new questions about his authenticity if he tries to distance himself from the Massachusetts health-care plan.


Romney embraced his health-care plan “in glowing terms”, while being pushed back to the ‘state’s rights’ argument as his last possible defense. “Overall, ours is a model that works,’’ Romney said in response to a question after a speech at Iowa State University. “We solved our problem at the state level.” “Like it or not, it was a state solution.

Romney has found himself back in front of the same drawing board he needed when Mitt attempted to put distance from his previous pro-choice stand; in the words of Mike Murphy, a former Romney adviser, Romney is "a pro-life Mormon" who had been "faking it as a pro-choice friendly" when he began his political career in liberal Massachusetts.

Mitt is “faking it”! What else is Romney “faking”? Has Mitt Romney been “faking” health-care? Romney embraced Ron Paul’s rally cry of state’s rights, for his defense in his Iowa. Is Mitt ‘faking “states rights”? Romney has flipped on mandates. Did Mitt ‘fake it’ on mandates? Is it any wonder people question, and rightfully so, Romney’s authenticity?

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Romney during a Republican presidential primary debate:
MODERATOR: "You seem to have backed away from mandates on a national basis."

ROMNEY: "No, no, I like mandates. The mandates work."
Romney also remarked to Fred Thompson, "Let me tell what kind of mandates I like, Fred." To which Thompson replied: "The ones you come up with."




References:
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2010/03/30/romney_defends_massachusetts_health_care_law/

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/mitt-romney-health-care-campaign-trail-creates-dilemma/story?id=10225657&page=2

Is Romney Getting a Bad Name?

The story loped around the world during the weekend regarding Romney backed Senator Brown and the Rachel Meadows dispute. Brown stating Maddow would be running against him for his senate seat and Maddow taking a full page news paper ad out in rebuttal. Mitt Romney may become a casualty, with Romney’s name getting pulled into the fray.

Is there a ‘hint’, in a news article which ran in Thailand, that Maddow mentioning Romney in her ad is a hint that Mitt, or his people are behind the rumored Maddow vs. Brown for the Mass. Senate seat? Would Mitt’s people stoop so low to be behind a false story in a bid to collect campaign funds from out of state conservatives, which could ruin the creditability of conservative candidates?

Quote from Thindian News:

“Rachel Maddow has also mentioned that she had never been asked by the Democrats to go up against Senator Scott Brown in the elections. She had also gone ahead to recall and take sharp hints in mentioning the name of Mitt Romney when he had ran for the President. Rachel Maddow reminds people how Mitt Romney as a governor had called Massachusetts to be a disgusting state. She feels it was just a way of gaining the most out of people to support him.”

Maddow’s video rebuttal

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

It will be interesting to see if this story unfolds further in the next few years, or this turns out to be rumor which is put to rest as a bad idea for raising campaign funds.


Reference article:
More at : Rachel Maddow’s Full Page Ad Criticizes Senator Scott Brown http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/rachel-maddows-full-page-ad-criticizes-senator-scott-brown_100340480.html#ixzz0jUZLPF1C

Mitt Romney’s "power alley" — the economy and his business background.”

Glen Johnson article yesterday noted a “rare moment” for Mitt. Johnson is the journalist who, during Romney’s last presidential race, won broad applause when he challenged Romney.

Romney Caught in Lie by Glen Johnson


Johnson in his article wrote:

“Republican Mitt Romney, in a rare moment of reflection about his losing 2008 presidential campaign, said Wednesday he would have been better served by keeping the focus on his "power alley" — the economy and his business background.”

After giving serious reflection to Romney’s “power alley”, it was not difficult to conjure up Mitt’s business background, but it was a stretch to see where Romney has an economic background – but then maybe it is only me who is unaware of Mitt’s vast expertise in economics and the economy.

Reflecting on Romney’s business background -

Romney did well at Bain, amassing a fortune for himself and his Bain partners. Mitt Romney typically, purchased companies thorough leveraged buyouts, often at the peril of other people’s jobs and companies. Mitt would sell off companies, pocketing a large profit, or shut companies’ doors after mortgaging the business to the hilt.

On the human side, not to make Mitt Romney out as a complete Scrooge, Romney’s business experience threw Mitt into suffering internal conflict, putting Romney in the throws of moral dilemmas. Jonathan Darman and Lisa Miller in their article for Newsweek relate one of Romney's conflicts.

“Romney struggled internally. R-rated movies are frowned upon in the Mormon faith, but the deal looked good for Bain. Romney's solution: make the deal happen, but skip his usual practice of putting some of his own money into it as well.”

Alas! Mitt found a loophole around the issue of moral conscience and the greed making a dollar. Romney’s perspective, by not “putting his own money in” he made money for Bain, not for himself. But wait! Romney would have made money. Romney certainly drew a salary at both Bain and Bain Capital, or did Mitt through the wizardry of accounting; deduct the tainted profits from his pay-check?

According to David D. Kirkpatrick 2006 article: “Mitt Romney owes his nearly $350 million fortune and his political career to a delicate negotiation with his boss (at Bain) in the summer of 1983.”

As for Mitt Romney’s internal struggles, Romney had voted as a board member of Marriott Corp., to offer porn in the hotel chain. Marriott is Mormon and an early fore-runner in introducing porn into the hotel industry.

Mitt the business private equity man -

“The amounts of money are so vast that it is truly a matter of time before the taxation of private equity is front and center of the public agenda,” said James E. Post, a Boston University professor who teaches business-government relations. “Increasingly, this world of private equity looks like a world of robber barons, and Romney comes out of that world.”

Romney’s type of business background was causing some issues in Washington:

“In Washington, Congress is considering ending a legal quirk that lets fund managers escape much of the income tax on their earnings.”

Searching for Romney’s economic background came up with few examples, except for excessive campaign spending. Whitman, a former Bain partner, is not to be undone by Romney on pouring in dollars into her campaign in California. Meg and Romney must feel unbridled spending during campaigns strengthens the nations economy.

Romney believes in keeping money among friends and family. Romney’s former Bain buddy, Meg Whitman has received strong criticism for her over the top spending, during her Romney backed, run for Governor in California. Whitman is spending a reported, $358,439.00 a day, $14,935.00 an hour, $249.00 a minute as reported by Michael Rothfeld and Jack Dolan of the L.A. Times.

According to Dan Morain of the Sacramento Bee, Meg is enjoying –

“ACM Aviation, which boasts on its Web site that it "has been offering white-glove, on-demand, premium jet charter services for more then 28 years”, spending $371,125.00 for air travel."

Meg has also:

“… paid $96,000 last year to Solamere Capital, a Massachusetts-based firm who’s Web site says it "was founded to serve as a multifamily office focusing on superior private equity opportunities."

“Solamere's principals include Romney's son Tagg Romney and Spencer J. Zwick, who was prominent in Mitt Romney's presidential campaign. Zwick is her finance chair; she has paid his firm, SJZ Inc., $842,000.”

What the article failed to mention, Meg’s son Griff's listed in his LinkenIn profile the private equity firm of Solamere. Clink on the reference link ‘gawker.com below, for a read on Meg’s sons. It is not understood what Solamere has done for the Whitman campaign.

The only economic experience Romney appears to have is improving his families and former Bain partners’ lavish life-style, and an attempt at political control.

References:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hvWSdl8-sh9izAmBN1Z8vtDUQGfgD9ELCL1O0
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/04/us/politics/04bain.html
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/03/24/2629104/meg-whitman-flies-far-above-the.html#ixzz0j5nx9GNV
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-money24-2010mar24,0,7372116.story
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/04/us/politics/04bain.html
http://gawker.com/5429465/it-gets-worse-meg-whitmans-sons-racism-and-entitlement-

Romney is Incongruent on Health-care

The point of this blog piece is not to take sides on the health-care issue, but to draw attention to Romney’s denial and blame game. After viewing Romney for several years on the political stage, I finally arrived at the conclusion; [in my opinion] Romney is a bully.

Romney appears to adhere to the philosophy of the “survival of the meanest”. Mitt has done everything from playing the ‘martyr’, while attacking others with outrageous allegations of behavior Romney is involved in himself. All the while, giving himself endless flattery, with exaggerated and aggrandizing statements. Romney’s behavior is not only incongruent, but also brutish. The passage of the health-care plan raised Romney ire and also raised people’s eyebrows at Romney’s dissonance on the issue.



Dissonance on the health-care issue started earlier this month when Romney stated:

Romney Called The Individual Mandate “The Ultimate Conservative Plan.” Romney said, “Let me tell you, there's a big difference between what we did and what President Obama is doing. What we did, I think, is the ultimate conservative plan. We said people have to take responsibility for getting insurance, if they can afford it, or paying their own way. No more free- riders.” [Fox News, 3/7/10]

And

Bob Bennett Sponsored Republican Alternative “Comes Even Closer To The Democratic Plans By Including An Individual Mandate To Buy Coverage…And Employer Requirements.”

Bob Bennett of Utah’s Health Plan, Mitt Romney


Mitt wasted no time in attacking the newly passed heath-care plan, which is similar to the Romney-care plan. It wasn’t long after Romney’s statements on the bill, journalist on the right and the left, began to write about Mitts puzzling and questionable remarks.

Huffington Post blogger Bart Motes, called Romney’s op-ed piece on National Review Online “bizarre”. Further taking Mitt to task for Romney saying, “President Obama has betrayed his oath to the nation”

Bart Motes called Romney on his statement writing:

“This is a strange and dangerous claim. If Obama has betrayed his oath, the only constitutional remedy is impeachment. Is Romney calling for impeachment? Every interview he conducts from now on should start with this question. If Romney believes that Obama betrayed his oath but impeachment is not called for, then he is unsuitable for office”

Romney’s statement leads one to ask, if Mitt betrayed his oath of office, when he signed into law the Mass. health-care bill into law? Or, is Mitt showing his continual lack of culpability, which has become a Romney trademark, in Romney’s attempt to negate any negative consequences, or responsibility for his previous and often conflicting positions.

Mitt is the catalyst for the “repeal and remove” moment -

David Frum, a former economic speechwriter for President George W. Bush, wrote in his piece: Repeal and Replace:

“It took 24 hours, but Republican party leaders have acknowledged the fantasy of “repeal.” New slogan is, “repeal and replace.” A big improvement. But it raises the question: Replace with what?”

And

“That would be a welcome development, but please note: the two Republicans who have produced such a coherent plan, Mitt Romney and Sen. Bob Bennett of Utah, have both come under intense attack from the party’s activist base. Bennett faces a very serious primary challenge; Romney has run away from his own handiwork. Who wants to share their fate?”

“So the question should be pressed as Republicans speak of “replacement” : who is in charge of the process of drafting this replacement? What’s the deadline for completion? My guess is that there won’t be answers to those questions, that “replacement” will remain a more or less empty slogan through the 2010 elections.”

Maybe, Mitt feels he will leave the public in a dizzying spin, making them unable to see through his current deception. However, Romney might find his earlier statement this month, is an unintended self-fulfilling prophesy, when he stated: “in the words of an ancient maxim, “what starts twisted, ends twisted.”

References:
http://www.frumforum.com/repeal-and-replacehttp://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0310/Defending_the_mandate.html?showallhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/bart-motes/mitt-romney-loses-it_b_509710.html
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NzgyMzA1NWUwNjA5OTg2ZTUzMTliYzQyOTM1ZmIzNTI

Romney’s Cognitive Dissonance on Health-care and Gay Rights

Romney was in San Diego yesterday stopping at Desert Book Store, which is owned by the Latter-day Saints Church, to promote his book. Romney was met outside the bookstore with a protest from the Gay and Lesbian Community, denouncing Romney's flip and his churches stand against the gay community.

It is hard to find greatness in Romney, who blandly insults the intelligence of both the Christian and Gay community. Romney ran on a pro-gay rights platform, during his 2002 race for governor in Mass., as reported by Bay Windows. During “Pride Week”, Romney’s campaign was out in force handing out fliers promoting rights for the gay community and soliciting their votes.


"During his 2002 gubernatorial run his campaign distributed bright pink flyers during Pride weekend that declared 'Mitt and Kerry [running mate Kerry Healey] wish you a great Pride weekend! All citizens deserve equal rights, regardless of their sexual preference.' Romney also argued that he would not only support gay friendly policies but would fight on behalf of the gay community to secure benefits such as domestic partner benefits and hospital visitation rights for same-sex couples."
- Bay Windows 3/3/2005

Romney had a change of heart when he no longer was enamored with the Governorship of Mass., deciding to run for the bigger brass ring of president. Mitt flipped, taking stands against the gay community, in an effort to win over the Republican conservative vote.

While a clamor raged outside the Deseret Book Store, Romney took the opportunity to take swipes at Obama and the passage of the Health-care bill. In true self-righteous and bombastic Romney style, Mitt proclaimed Obama’s defeat in 2012 over the passage of the Health-care bill.

If You’re Angry Blame Mitt



Andrew Romano article titled, “Absurdly Premature 2012 Watch, Vol. 12: Romney's Ridiculous Response to Obamacare” for Newsweek, points out Romney’s incongruent behavior when he wrote:

“First, launching a divisive, impractical, PR-driven campaign to repeal health-care reform at the same time you're calling for "a new kind of politics" is just a little bit contradictory, so it only reinforces the perception that Romney is a soulless automaton willing to say anything to get elected. And second, what Romney is actually saying—what he's actually accusing Obama of—doesn't make any sense”

None should forget, Romney declaring the health-care Mitt passed in Mass, which is essentially the Obamacare plan, as "the ultimate conservative plan" --- Romney’s statement is a bit bellicose.

The flips, twist, spins, denial, and projection Romney is involved in, are a ‘red flag’ and the American people should be taking note. Until Romney is able to exorcise the demons which posses him, people should be warier of being drawn into Mitts cognitive dissonance.

References:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iiJr0VsEeAzB2c1-nokFzCOoXYqgD9EK3TG03
http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thegaggle/archive/2010/03/22/absurdly-premature-2012-watch-vol-12-romney-s-ineffective-response-to-obamacare.aspx
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iiJr0VsEeAzB2c1-nokFzCOoXYqgD9EK3TG03
http://www.delmartimes.net/news/267379-romneys-la-jolla-appearance-likely-to-attract-protesters

Intellectually And Emotionally Secure Human Being -- You Don't Say?

Articles by Mort Kondrake and Former Sen. Jim Talent were interesting to read this week. Both articles were supportive of Romney, and Mitt’s new book “No Apology”. Mort Kondrake, in 2006 was an avid supporter of Romney and from his current articles still appears to be strongly in Romney’s corner. In Kondrake’s 2006 article, on Real Clear Politics, he comes out swinging for Mitt writing:

“Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) has one very impressive thing going for him as a 2008 presidential prospect: the right policy priorities for the country.”

Kondrake’s most recent article on Romney, was quickly picked up by blogger Steve St. Clair, who describes himself as: “I am a Latter-day Saint Director of Interfaith Relations for Orange County, California, and work with conservative Christian churches, organizations and universities.”

From a cursory look at the blog, he is a Mitt supporter. I was amused at St. Clair’s reference to Robert Millet and Millet’s book “Getting at the Truth”, the irony of the title brought on an instant chuckle. Awhile back a video was sent to me, of Robert Millet instructing LDS missionaries at the Mission Training Center for the LDS Church. Millet instructs the future missionaries on how to avoid answering questions given to them, while avoiding telling the truth to people.

The clip had been banned. Someone looks as if they took umbrage at the banning and put the clip back up, with a sense of humor added to the piece.



Wonder if Romney got training from Millet? Sounds like some of the tap dancing Mitt does when trying to avoid questions!

Former Sen. Jim Talent was the other article circling the net, on the Daily Caller he wrote:

“Gov. Romney wrote the book himself. To be sure, he solicited suggestions, advice, and edits from a range of advisors and friends (“No Apology” has two pages of acknowledgments) but the book says what Romney wanted to say in the way he wanted to say it.”

And

“will see the motives that make Romney “tick”: the entrepreneur’s desire to fix what is broken, the lawyer’s passion for organizing information and arguing ideas…”

Two pages of acknowledgments! The amount of opinions and advice needed by Romney as well as, Mitt’s “passion for organizing data”. Jim Talent certainly confirms what “Game Change" Authors described about Romney as needing contestant data from his campaign advisers, to the point Romney could not make decisions. Romney’s need for endless data lead him to indecisiveness of even making a decision on a campaign slogan. Doesn’t sound like strong executive ability.

For those who have not viewed the “Game Change” interview click the link on the side bar title: “Romney "Totally Indecisive", or scroll down the blog to find the interview.

Another quote by Jim Talent was also interesting:

“He’s also an intellectually and emotionally secure human being.”

Why the need to state Romney is “emotionally secure”?

Could it be there has been an under tow with Romney’s flare up on the plane from Canada to California, where Romney quickly went on the offensive in the press, releasing his version on the incident? Gordy, relative of Motown fame, remained quite for days, before telling his side of the story, of Romney grabbing him in a ‘condor grip”

A single incident might be one thing, but Romney has had several ‘incidents’ in the past--

Romney has an arrest record, as reported on Romneyfacts.com:

WAYLAND, MASS. (1981) -- ARREST- DISORDERLY CONDUCT.In June 1981, ROMNEY attempted to launch family motorboat at Cochituate State Park despite park ranger advising that he was prohibited from doing so because his boat did not display proper registration. ROMNEY was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. ROMNEY handcuffed and transported in bathing suit to Natick police station, where released on own recognizance.5 Disposition: Charges were dropped when ROMNEY threatened to sue the state for false arrest; case dismissed at Natick District Court in February 1982. ROMNEY successfully petitioned that the files be sealed.6



Later during the 2002 Olympics Romney went out of control again- HUNTSVILLE, UTAH February 10, 2002, -- USE OF PROFANITY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, not to mention Romney’s statements of wanting to throw things at his plasma TV., over statement he heard by other candidates.

Mort Kondrake and Former Sen. Jim Talent might be in Mitt’s corner; however, it is up to the citizens of this nation to decide if Mitt is fit.

Don't forget to look at the Extra Friday Edition posted below on Romney and Bennett, posted just before midnight..
References:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/Commentary/com-3_3_06_MK.html
http://ldsfocuschrist.blogspot.com/2010/03/2010-romneys-new-book-gives-him-head.html
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700017656/Did-Bennetts-son-urge-deception.html
http://dailycaller.com/2010/03/18/the-non-review-romneys-no-apologies/#ixzz0iYjj8HYz
http://romneyfacts.com/issue_rap.php

Words Make the Man

It is always amusing to read comments from Romneybots, and I suspect some are from Romney staffers, maybe even a few Romney family members. The comments are found on various comment sections affixed to articles and blogs regarding Romney.

Popping up all over internet are comments posted which proclaim various political tickets, which Romney’s name is always prominently displayed as president, and what ever candidate is receiving rave reviews at the moment in the press, displayed as vice president on a Romney ticket. The posts appear to be an act of desperation on part of Romney supporters, to attach Mitt to someone who could bring in the votes Romney knew he could not sway over; reinforcing the view Romney is an opportunist, pander.

Is there a pattern developing here?

“Haley could be a great running mate for Romney in two years!”

“SCOTT BROWN INTRODUCED MITT ROMNEY AT CPAC. SO WILL IT BE VP SCOTT BROWN OR MARCO RUBIO 2012?”

"Romney/Palin"
"Romney/Brown"
"Romney/Jindal"
"Romney/Pawlenty"

In 2008

"Romney/McCain"
"Romney/Huckabee"
"Romney/Thompson"

Then there was Romney for V.P. The highly touted M & M ticket began to appear on many blog comments, after Romney dropped out of the President race on Super Tuesday.

“Mitt Romney is the man! Now here's a guy that will bring excitement and money to the GOP ticket. There is simply no one that ran or is running that has the "proven" experience and accomplishments as Mitt. Selecting Mitt will also please the "conservatives" in this great country. But most important is that by John adding Mitt to the ticket the following sates go "RED" on the night of November 4th.............. New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada, Michigan, and New Hampshire. Mitt as veep would also put "major" pressure on Obama in Californina, Oregon, and Washington state, as well as Mid-west states of Minnesota, Winsconsin, and Iowa. Our mostly "corrupt liberal press" hates Mitt Romney so we can expect them to poo poo this pick......................An M & M ticket is unbeatable.........................write it” --- From Politico comment section

And:

“I bet it would be McCain and Romney. McCain brings heft, the military, good old fashioned macho guy, strength, Romney brings movie star good looks, reasonable ability to compromise on social issues which shows brains and reason, good economic talent and would guarantee Michigan for Republicans. McCain will easilty get Florida. It's certain Pennsyl and Ohio will go for Top Gun and the Movie Star. I'm diggin this combo. It's a winner. Game Set Match.” --- From Politico comment section”

Romney confuses arrogance with confidence, being a bully for self-confidence -
And repeated reversals on stands and position with staying true to whom one is.



As we all know, Romney was passed over for V.P and Palin was selected.

Comments currently being posted regarding Romney and Romneycare:

“Massachusetts health reform plan he signed into law in 2006 is "the ultimate conservative plan."

“This guy may not be perfect, but he effectively ran a company as well as a state (one with healthcare I might add)”

“To lay the entire fault of Mass Card at Romney’s feet is untruthful….”

Then there are comments regarding Mitt himself:

“Mitt Romney is authentic and smart. We need more candidates/officials like him!”

“Mitt and Ann Romney for president and first lady!”

“America needs Mitt Romney 2012!”

“Mitt Romney shined, he stood out” --- Ahhh, that's right, Romney’s movie star looks.

And of course, the new and improved Mitt Romney. Old Romney of 2008 out, new Romney for 2012 in.

From Media Matters: “Did you know there's a "new" (read: improved) Romney? It's true, it says so right in this Politico headline: CPAC embraces the new Mitt Romney”

“How, exactly, does Politico know there's a "new" Romney? Surprise! Romney "aides" says so. (Brilliant!)”

“And how do we know CPAC has embraced the "new" Romney? Because people at CPAC applauded when Romney spoke, even though, yeah, they pretty much clap for everyone.”

Romney and military service cannot be forgotten:

“One of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping me get elected because they think I'd be a great president.”

“Romney conflated selfishness with selflessness” ---- A comment on Romney’s statement from Perrespectives.com, regarding his sons lack of military service, couldn’t be stated a better way.

http://www.perrspectives.com/blog/archives/000709.h

“I'm so happy that America has a 2nd chance to elect Mitt Romney. We haven't had a legitimate chance to elect a president as supremely talented and intelligent as Mitt Romney in a generation. I'm proud Mitt Romney is willing to go to Afghanistan to say thanks in person to our brave men and women, and I hope he comes back safely.”

Oh, really we haven’t had a chance to elect... in this generation? What was the 2008 race?

And ‘we hope he comes back safely”? What politician hasn’t?!

As for Romney’s supreme sacrifice and ‘willingness’ to visit troops in Afghanistan? Is there really anything to say, a sacrifice away from the beaches and ski runs, deserves the Purple Heart. – Pure juvenile silliness pours from Romney’s campaign!

Mitt confuses arrogance with confidence, being a bully for self-confidence -
And repeated reversals on stands and position, with staying true to who one is. Romney confuses “selfishness with selflessness”.

References:
Comments from comments sections, taken from Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Politico,
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/11435.html#commentsform
http://mediamatters.org/blog/201002190008

Ghost of Romney's Past

Boston Globe ran an article by Michael Levenson, regarding Baker, who is running for Massachusetts Governor, distancing himself from the ‘ghost’ of Romney. Romney appears to be next to the Bubonic plague in popularity in Massachusetts. The reported exchange with Baker when questioned regarding his similarity to Mitt:

“GOP gubernatorial candidate Charles D. Baker visibly grimaced and recoiled this week when Jaclyn Cashman of WWLP-TV in Springfield said during an on-air interview, "Some would say your career has mirrored Mitt Romney’s in some ways. Would you agree?" "Really?" Baker said, sounding surprised. "That’s interesting. No. I don’t think so.”

Baker’s avoidance of Romney is not much different than Brown avoided being seen with Mitt during his run for Kennedy’s senatorial seat. A surprising act' since Brown was using Romney “entire political team to help the then-unknown Brown”. Romney closest of advisers was on Brown’s campaign team Eric Fehrnstrom, Beth Myers, and Peter Flaherty -- were and continue to be Romney people.

Politico reported on the fact that “Romney himself has been conspicuously absent”. Writing the absence was a “reflection of Romney’s diminished political standing in Massachusetts” Further quoting: “There’s no added advantage in having Romney with Brown, and there’s potentially some disadvantage,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston. “I don’t think there’s an upside here at all.”

Romney walked out from behind the curtain, where he was hiding, during Browns victory celebration to announce Browns victory win. Romney’s appearance was a surprise to many of people not linked to the political arena in Mass. Romney not to be undone by the Mass. victory of Brown and Brown's surging popularity among the conservatives, brought Brown as a surprise package to CPAC, where Brown introduced Romney to the crowd. Unfortunately, for Romney, Browns rousing endorsement didn’t help Romney win CPAC’s vote, Romney lost, Ron Paul won to the Romney crowd dismay.

There are some interesting things about CPAC; I was reminded of them, as I was closet cleaning, and thinking about Mitts recent loss at CPAC, especially after Mitt winning the vote for several years. Romney in 2007, blogged a thank-you to Keene for backing Mitt for President, titled “Wham! Bam! Thank you David Keene”, stating: “Long courted by Romney, Keene agreed to formalize his endorsement of the former governor during a face to face meeting in Florida on Tuesday, according to knowledgeable sources.” “Of Keene, Romney said he was “proud”.

However, questions linger on the integrity of CPAC and ACU regarding their endorsements. I stumbled across a You Tube a few years back, done by John Ziegler questioning how things were being done by David Keene, who is chairman of the American Conservative Union, which runs CPAC.

The concerns are regarding the leaderships expecting pay-off for endorsements and opt-end pieces. Ziegler takes umbrage on how Keene has ‘talked’ about Palin. There was plenty of talk during the McCain/ Palin race that Romney’s people who had joined McCain’s staff were behind the attacks.

On the Conservative side -

David Keene Threatens to Punch John Ziegler at WCPAC



A liberal view of FedEx and payments on support and op-end pieces -

The Young Turks



It is going to be interesting to see if the NRA gives Mitt the endorsement this next time around in 2012, since David Keene will be heading not only ACU, but also goes on to take the reigns of the National Rifle Association.

Referenced articles:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/03/baker_im_no_mit.html
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2010/02/romney-takes-ownership-of-brown-victory.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31602.html#ixzz0htlQXBwk

Say That Again, Didn't Quite Catch That

This is a favorite You-Tube. It highlights a few of Romney's flip and flops, or maybe it is indecision, but serving Mitt in his campaign is equal to military service?

Romney "Totally Indecisive"

Romney was one of many in a hotly contested run to grab the Oval Office, stepping down after his Super Tuesday loss. The public, unable to catch it’s breath from the 2008 Presidential run, as soon as the election returns were in, Romney was been back on the campaign trail with almost non-stop criss-crossing the nation. Mitt is now, attempting to put his political allies into state and national offices. However, Romney leaves the question begging, "Who is the Real Mitt Romney?"

Romney has worn different political suits; his first suit was tailored for liberal leaning Mass.,in his bid for the Mass. Senatorial seat. Mitt was no buttoned-down conservative, but a progressive, pro-gay, abortion rights candidate against the Lion of the Kennedy den. Losing to Kennedy, Mitts focus was the Governor’s mansion, where he quickly upped the ante for the Oval Office desk, earning him the title of one of the states most absent Governor. The liberal suited Romney changed suits and donned a pin-stripped, button-downed shirt, becoming a wing-tipped conservative in his attempt to win the hearts of the Republicans soul. Romney became a gun totting, pro-life, and anti-gay candidate, landing Romney the reputation of a man of ‘no moral compass’ and flip flopping by both Republicans and Democrats.


Romney No Moral Compass Republicans and Dems agree



Romney staked out a slot as a high powered, decisive corporate executive needed at the reins of power at the White House, touting his executive abilities. According to the authors of “Game Change”, Romney is far from a decisive decisions maker, needing endless amounts of data, and constant input from advisers, leaving Romney paralyzed in making even the simpler decisions required by a candidate. “Romney was ‘totally’ indecisive”.

How did Romney get along with the other candidates? About as well as Romney got along with Sky Blu.

“Romney's relationship with the other was horrible”
Romney “would not have debates, would not have his make-up done in the same room”

Game Change co-authors on Mitt Romney



In mentioning Sky Blu, Romney while in Palm Beach on March 8, 2010, giving a speech, Romney discounted Blu’s claim he used a Vulcan grip on the rapper stating “I think that’s more of a mind projection,” Romney said of the Vulcan grip accusation. “But I grant Sky Blu poetic license.” Mind projection? Couldn’t Romney some up with something better than that?

Mark Foley attended Romney's Palm Beach speaking luncheon, making his return debut back into to politics from the sex scandal which rocked Washington D.C., reported by George Bennett from the Palm Beach Post, Post on Politics. Romney also drew Kevin McCarty, a one time bond underwriter and GOP activist, who was recently released from federal prison “for failing to report wife Mary McCarty’s honest services fraud as a Palm Beach County commissioner. She’s serving a three-and-a-half-year sentence. Kevin McCarty declined to comment” according to Bennett.