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The Buzz About a McCain-Romney Ticket
The New York Times ^ | July 19, 2008 | MICHAEL COOPER and MICHAEL LUO

Posted on 07/18/2008 8:24:36 PM PDT by Plutarch

It was not so long ago that the idea that Senator John McCain would even entertain tapping Mitt Romney, his bitterest primary rival, as his running mate would have seemed preposterous, rating at least 7.0 on the strange-bedfellows scale.

The McCain-Romney feud was the juiciest of the Republican primary season, featuring two men who generally just did not seem to like each other. Mr. Romney said Mr. McCain would set a “liberal Democrat course as president.” He said that one of Mr. McCain’s proudest accomplishments, his campaign finance bill, took “a whack at the First Amendment,” and told voters grappling with money woes that Mr. McCain “has said time and again that he doesn’t understand the economy.” Mr. McCain, for his part, witheringly cast Mr. Romney as a flip-flopper.

But that was then.

These days Mr. Romney, a telegenic former Massachusetts governor, is serving as a wingman extraordinaire for Mr. McCain on cable television. He has dutifully raised money for Mr. McCain. And Mr. Romney has developed a reputation as a campaign surrogate who can talk fluently about the economy, and who has roots in Michigan, an important swing state.

Now Mr. Romney is attracting perhaps more buzz than anyone else as a potential running mate for the man he once derided... [excerpt]

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: 2008veep; mccain; rinos; romney
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To: ConservativeMan55

No thanks...


221 posted on 07/19/2008 12:11:25 AM PDT by Fred (The Democrat Party is the Nadir of Nilhilism)
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To: ConservativeMan55; fieldmarshaldj
Fieldmarshalldj is right about Romney being a poor choice for the Republican ticket, albeit for the wrong reasons (I never bought into Fieldmarshaldj's alternate version of history which claims Romney "destroyed" the Republican Party in Mass., despite the fact the Mass. GOP had been a rotting corpse for years when Romney took the reigns in 2003)

However, he is spot on about Romney being a flip-flopping, pandering liberal who will say ANYTHING to get elected and brings little to the GOP ticket. Let's look at ConservativeMan's arguements here and see if there's any merit to them...

>> He brings Economic Knowledge. <<

I suppose John McCain, having served in legislative office since 1983, has no ecnomic knowledge? Isn't the point of "balencing the ticket" to ADD factors the Presidential candidate LACKS? McCain's record of working to balence the budget and fight pork barrel spending is already well known and respected. What's next, you'll suggest adding a Vietnam vet to "help" McCain with his millitary credentials?

>> He’s a proven leader. <<

...of an ultra-liberal, tiny New England state. Your point being?

>> He also has a campaign staff already in place ready to go. <<

What high ranking elected official on the short list for VP doesn't?

>> He can bring Michigan and possibly Massachusetts. <<

Really? He got a whooping 39% of Michigan Republicans to support him in the primary. (Do the math, that means 61% of Michigan Republicans voted AGAINST Mitt Romney). So lemme get this straight... he's NEVER been elected to ANY office in Michigan, a clear majority of REPUBLICANS in Michigan rejected him, but somehow he's guranteed to carry the entire state in November, right? Based on... what? His father was elected Governor of Michigan 40 years ago? I can name half a dozen Michigan Republicans who have PROVEN themselves more "electable" in that state than Mitt. Why not pick one of them if McCain is so desperate to carry Michigan for some reason?

Incidentially, freeper propaganda here kept insisting that Huckabee "destroyed" Arkansas and that Arkansas Republicans who "knew him best" couldn't stand him, but Huck won the AK GOP primary with over 60% of the vote (and Romney won the Mass. GOP primary by his bare teeth with 51% of GOP voters). Funny how reality keeps getting in the way of the anti-Huck and pro-Romney hype on FR. Seems that Huck is doing just fine in his home state, but the Republicans who "know Romney best" doesn't seem to care for him!

>> I named off every major leader in the Conservative movement and they ALL support Romney. <<

I question your list because it claims people like Rush Limbaugh are pro-Romney and I don't recall Limbaugh ever promoting Romney, let alone endosing him.

>> He saved the Olympic games. <<

Okay, you've got me there.

>> He’s a brilliant debater. <<

Actually, I would say Huckabee far outshined Romney in the debates. Romney was more "polished", but Huck was more of a geninue human being. Perhaps that explains why Romney outspent Huck 10-to-1 and struggled to keep up with him.

>> He brings youth and experience. <<

Age 61 is "youthful" and having a whooping total of FOUR years in office his entire life is "experienced"?! What are you smoking? Do you also think Robert Byrd is youthful and Obama is a elder statesman of the U.S. Senate?

>> All the people who voted for him in the primary will work for him in the general. <<

Oh wow, he won a majority of Republicans in such noteable states as North Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Thank goodness we can get them excited and not those silly Republicans in states that rejected Romney like Texas, Ohio, Florida, Pennsyvania, Iowa, Oregon, Georgia, Missouri... you know, those folks out in the vast majority of the country needed to win an election.

222 posted on 07/19/2008 12:40:56 AM PDT by BillyBoy (Support Operation Chaos!)
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To: Saundra Duffy
>> It makes sense to have Mitt on the ticket. <<

Actually, the more you whine about demanding we put Mitt on the ticket, the less favorable I am to having him on there. I've never seen anyone so arrogant as to demand THEIR personal choice gets selected for veep or they will sit home. Not one of the freepers who supported Fred Thompson, Duncan Hunter, Mike Huckabee, etc., has expressed such sentiment that THEIR guy is the ONLY acceptable choice on the planet. Such arrogance is the height of vaniety. Thank goodness people like you weren't around when Ronald Reagan picked George H. Bush. We probably would have gotten four more years of Carter.

223 posted on 07/19/2008 12:44:31 AM PDT by BillyBoy (Support Operation Chaos!)
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To: fieldmarshaldj; Jim Robinson
>> The Twilight Zone, baby. <<

I often feel this place is like the twilight zone when I see stuff like this:

FR in 2007: ANYONE but Rudy McRomney! It's a nightmare! Stop Mitt & McCain now!!!

FR in 2008: NO ONE but Rudy McRomney! It's the perfect choice! Let's team up Mitt & McCain now!!!

224 posted on 07/19/2008 12:50:55 AM PDT by BillyBoy (Support Operation Chaos!)
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To: ConservativeMan55

Glenn Beck


225 posted on 07/19/2008 2:10:13 AM PDT by Happy Rain ("Obama--Immanentize The Eschaton Unplugged.")
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To: ConservativeMan55

Unelectable?

I guess that explains why McCain and Huckabee had to work together in order to beat him.


226 posted on 07/19/2008 2:41:37 AM PDT by Happy Rain ("Obama--Immanentize The Eschaton Unplugged.")
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To: Lancey Howard

Le'ts let Romney do for American's who have an ounce of trust left for the GOP
do exactly what he did for the Massachusetts GOP. [/s]

227 posted on 07/19/2008 3:28:10 AM PDT by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
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To: doc1019; ConservativeMan55; Salvation; P-Marlowe

I think there are excellent reasons to choose Romney. First, you must understand, and you can check my posting history, that I did NOT support Romney for president. Never did. I did say, however, that I was glad for his conversion to conservatism, but I thought it too recent for him to be president.

1. Mitt Romney has claimed he is a born-again conservative. Many doubted that claim. Being in the VP slot gives him time to grow into his newfound conservatism. At the same time, it is a position with litle real political power (except when the Senate ties, and that’s almost unheard of.) I’m willing to allow him that time to grow. If he doesn’t, then there’s no law that says he must be elected when he ever runs again.

2. Romney has great advantages that he brings to the McCain campaign. First, he’s rich and he has a list of donors that would make any campaign envious. Second, he has an organization with extensions in nearly every state of the union. McCain is a lousy organizer, and he needs Romney’s organization. The only way to offset Obama’s huge money advantage is through a huge ground game. Romney can organize that. McCain can’t.

3. Romney has extremely strong ties in Michigan. If McCain takes BOTH Michigan and Ohio, McCain wins. Romney also loosens up Massachusetts and surrounding states a bit. Dems will have to spend money in those places, because Romney could spell unforeseen upset.

4. Romney is an excellent debater and he is thoughtful and intelligent as a speaker. He will be a problem for any dem VP pick to deal with in a VP debate.

5. Romney is a “white guy” and many think McCain needs to pick a minority. At this point, there is no cutting into Obama’s 99% deathgrip on the black vote. Colin Powell could be on the ticket, and it simply wouldn’t matter. Obama’s getting 99% of the black vote, even black “so-called conservatives.” So, get over it.

6. Romney has outstanding leadership and executive credentials. He is someone able to step in if the balloon goes up. He’s led businesses, Olympic committees, and been the governor of a state. Basically, he has a lifetime more experience than does Obama.

7. Mormonism - I think that is more than balanced by Obama’s Muslim/Jeremiah Wright background. In fact, the Islamo-Wrightism-communism part of Obama’s history is far more troubling than the worst thing Romney EVER could have done.


228 posted on 07/19/2008 4:19:36 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain -- Those denying the War was Necessary Do NOT Support the Troops!)
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To: All

FM,

Romney the Anti-Christ???? Are you serious? That is truly nutty. Ok, so I can’t blame you for your incessant over the top Romney bashing; it’s just a logical product of a deranged mind.


229 posted on 07/19/2008 4:28:51 AM PDT by nowandlater
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To: ConservativeMan55
I'm convinced that the best way to convince McCain to pick Romney as VP is to spew invectives and bark like a raving moonbat about his religion. Then McCain will do it just to show them he's a Maverick.

Unfortunately, I can't bring myself to repeat even some of the idiotic charges leveled against Mormons. Much less make up anything original on my own.

From what I've seen of the voting behavior of Mormons, the country would be far better off if they were 20% of the population, rather than 2%.

230 posted on 07/19/2008 5:05:01 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (Are there any men left in Washington? Or, are there only cowards? Ahmad Shah Massoud)
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To: ConservativeMan55

Go Mitt Go...

He is just so wonderful...


231 posted on 07/19/2008 6:11:44 AM PDT by ejonesie22 (Haley Barbour 2012, Because he has experience in Disaster Recovery.)
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To: kingu

Well said.

And something for traditional conservatives to keep in mind while the bar gets lowered on what a conservative is to let Romney slip on in.


232 posted on 07/19/2008 6:12:54 AM PDT by ejonesie22 (Haley Barbour 2012, Because he has experience in Disaster Recovery.)
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To: ConservativeMan55

You mean Duncan Hunter is being considered?


233 posted on 07/19/2008 6:13:59 AM PDT by ejonesie22 (Haley Barbour 2012, Because he has experience in Disaster Recovery.)
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To: Plutarch; Utah Binger
The Buzz About a McCain-Romney Ticket

Only in SLC.

Wait! How can they even GET a buzz with no coffee or caffine??

234 posted on 07/19/2008 6:14:20 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Graybeard58

I love the classics...


235 posted on 07/19/2008 6:14:24 AM PDT by ejonesie22 (Haley Barbour 2012, Because he has experience in Disaster Recovery.)
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Comment #236 Removed by Moderator

To: Syncro

You are too gracious to them...


237 posted on 07/19/2008 6:18:20 AM PDT by ejonesie22 (Haley Barbour 2012, Because he has experience in Disaster Recovery.)
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To: ConservativeMan55
Romney can attack ..

The great thing about Romney is that he can attack and slam someone, yet he does it in such an articulate and affable way that he doesn't seem mean or vindictive.

He has a sharp wit, and usually goes right to the point.

McCain desperately needs Romney to liven up the GOP ticket.

238 posted on 07/19/2008 6:20:08 AM PDT by Edit35 (.)
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To: BillyBoy

It is a bit strange isn’t it.

I think the Team Romney folks stand out more now because Conservatives no long have a horse in this race, so they are the only ones talking politics. They were bad enough during the primary.

I take comfort in knowing that during the race. while real conservatives were in the hunt, Mitt never scored much above 15% support here. That says a lot.


239 posted on 07/19/2008 6:25:06 AM PDT by ejonesie22 (Haley Barbour 2012, Because he has experience in Disaster Recovery.)
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To: sevenbak
His posts are all the same, he needs new material.

He doesn't have any because there isn't any... except perhaps in his own mind.

240 posted on 07/19/2008 6:26:11 AM PDT by Edit35 (.)
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