The GOP Gamble (Vanity)

Self | 4/10/2012 | Self

[DustyMoment]

I'm not a fan or Mitt Romney and, as the campaign has dragged on, I have become increasingly disenchnted with him. It has become more clear that Mitt Romney is NOT a viable alternative to Obama and, in fact, is more like Obama than he is different.

But, we have known from the outset that Romney was the choice of the establishment Republicans - Michael Steele and the like. As staunch conservatives who believe in the principles of government laid down by the Founding Fathers and memorialized in the Constitution, we believe in the democratic process of selecting our leaders via the state primaries, the national convention and, finally, election day. Those principles, good or bad, right or wrong, have worked successfully in this country for over 200 years.

As they have done in past election cycles, the GOP establishment put their support behind moderate Mitt Romney. Most of us weren't surprised that the establishment Republicans were behind Romney from the start, they have pushed moderate candidates before - Dole, McCain and, to an extent, Bush 43.

Despite the fact that moderate GOP candidates have, generally speaking, not fared well on the national stage, Romney is the choice of the e-GOP. WE believed that Romney could be weaned from the race early with alternative candidates like Bachmann, Santorum, Perry and Gingrich. After all, we have generally been able to find a more viable candidate with broader appeal than the e-GOP's moderate.

This year, however, the e-GOP threw a new wrinkle into the debate when they raised the issue of 'electability'. That topic got many of us thinking and too many of us thought too much. 'Electability' ultimately cost Michelle Bachmann her shot at the convention. It cost Hermain Cain his shot, and Rick Perry his just as it is affecting Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich. Too many of us went to the primaries thinking that we like Bachmann, or Santorum or Cain but Romney is more "electable" so I'll vote for him even though I don't really like what he says, we have to get Obama out of the White House in November.

Between Romney's 'war chest', his negative ads, the e-GOP's backing and the issue of 'electability', we have watched the field of candidates being whittled down. We thought it was set at 4 until today when Rick Santorum 'suspended' his campaign. That left us with a field of 3 - Romney, the e-GOP's candidate, Newt Gingrich who, so far, hasn't been able to gain any traction on Romney and Ron Paul. We know that a lot of the disingenuous, biased media (DBM) and the establishment Republicans have been trying to end the primaries and get "the campaign" in full swing before the conventions this summer so that the Obama attack machine (so-called 'Truth Teams') can begin dismantling Romney before fall and, essentially, hold the election before November.

But, the cynicism of the e-GOP has never been as obvious as it has been this year. This year, we have establishment Republican insiders revealing the strategy of "the inner sanctum". This year, several high level Republicans have made statements that "regardless who the Republican candidate is" everyone will get behind the nominee and support him. In other words, from the outset, the establishment Republicans, Michael Steele, et al, intended to cram Romney down our throats with the idea that, after he became the nominee, we would all drop our objections to him and go to the polls in November like good like robots and cast our votes for him, even though some of us my not like the guy and don't believe his platform. Like Obama, Romney, the "Etch-A-Sketch" candiate is an unknown factor who cannot be relied on to select and run a truly conservative administration. He is a former democrat and a noted RINO and he is not the candidate that many of us would choose.

But, the e-GOP is gambling on all of us dropping pur objections to Romney after the convention and "getting behind" him. But, what if we call their bluff? What if, instead of selecting Romney as our candidate on the ballot this November, we don't vote for ANYONE for president? I think it is a foregone conclusion at this point that if Romney, the 'electbility' candidate becomes the GOP nominee, Obama will see a second term in office. Perhaps that was the plan all along. We KNOW that Obama in a second term is going to thoroughly destroy what is left of this country. All Romney will do is continue what Obama has started, but he will continue the destruction of America at a slower pace.

When we go to the polls in November, rather than dance to the e-GOP's tune and cast our votes for Romney, we can send a message to the RNC that we are a force to be reckoned with and our voices will be heard. We don't have to vote for a candidate we don't like or believe. We can stand up and be counted by voting FOR America, and NOT for those who don't believe in the America our Founders created.

[jaydee770]

>>...we can send a message to the RNC that we are a force to be reckoned with and our voices will be heard...<<

Good luck. However, a protest-vote, write-in, sit-out, whatever is not going to teach the GOP-e anything. I doubt they would be bothered, much less give a rat’s patoot what we do. There are far too many “republican” voters who will dutifully line-up and vote the way the GOP-e/MSM tells them to vote. We are seeing that in action right now as Romney becomes the presumptive nominee.

So, if anyone has any ideas how to change it, they should start providing the nitty-gritty details so we can get it underway for 2016.

As for me, this fall I’m voting for the GOP nominee, whoever that may be. Obama must go before he can make any more liberal *lifetime* SCOTUS appointments. At this point, that should be one of our primary motivators. The hell with the GOP. I don’t care if they think my voting for their nominee is because I’m loyal to them. They’ll never see another penny from me. I’m voting to get rid of Obama. That is all that matters to me at this point.

We have the next four years to figure out how to gut the GOP-e and nominate an actual *LEADER* who can inspire, motivate, persuade and bloody well *LEAD* the country.

My principles direct me to vote for my preferred candidate in the primary, but in the general, I *MUST* do everything I can to unseat Obama. I’d vote for the town drunk if he were running against Obama. If it comes to it, Romney will be an easy vote for me to cast. I don’t care for him personally, but it’s not about *me*; it’s about what’s best for the country. If my choices are limited to Romney or Obama — it will be Romney. Anything else would border on emotion-driven retaliation agaisnt the GOP-e, rather than logic & reason.

[grumpygresh]

I disagree with you assessment that Romney is evil. True he is not good and possibly bad, but evil implies a person committing a truly immoral act. Would Romney order the execution of his opponents, probably not. Would Romney attempt to become a dictator, no. Would, Obama, if given the chance, and given the immunity from prosecution, commit an evil act against his opponent? Yes. Any analysis of his childhood and radical ideological indoctrination reveals that Obama harbors deep seated grudges against those that espouse traditional Western values.
Yes, Obama has a lazy streak. So did Nero, Caligula, Henry VIII, Ivan the Terrible. Obama would think nothing of destroying the republic and assuming dictatorial control, just like Hitler did to his Weimar republic.

[Soul of the South]

My last vote “FOR” a presidential candidate in the general election was Ronald Reagan. Unfortunately since then I’ve marked my ballot to vote against leftist candidate. In 2008 the choice was tough and this year it is shaping up to be even tougher. Perhaps by 2016 both parties will nominate the same progressive and save us from having to choose.

[DustyMoment]

The Green Party . . . . . . . you want me to vote for Roseanne Barr.

And people here think I’m nuts for not wanting to dance to the e-GOP’s tune!

[DustyMoment]

If zero is re-elected, this country will never recover.

If Romney is the candidate, Obama will be re-elected. Romney just doesn't resonate with most voters.

In all candor, I expect to see an "American Spring" this summer or Civil War the Sequel to begin early next year.

Take your pick.

[DustyMoment]

Welcome to the club.

[DustyMoment]

So, I will not sit home hoping for the best, and I will not sit home in protest of what the GOP gave us, and I will not wait till 2016 to try to rescue this country.

You don't have to sit home. You can still cast a vote - just not for president. The choice between Obama and Etch-a-sketch is no choice at all.

We used to complain about having a choice between the lesser of the two evils. Now, we have no choice at all!

[DustyMoment]

No one (at least not me) is seeking a perfect candidate. It would be great if that was one of our choices, but it isn’t.

A choice between Obama and Etch-a-Sketch os no choice at all. IOW, it’s a choice between Obama, or Obama-lite!

I’ll pass!

[Mozilla]

I’m voting Constitution party. All 6 candidates have peaked my interest for the nomination.

[wjcsux]

If I can’t vote FOR someone (and it looks like I can’t in this Presidential cycle). . . I vote AGAINST someone. This year I will vote against Obama. Not a difficult decision for me.
I agree 100%. I hope everyone else here sees that we don't have any other choice.

[wjcsux]

We are stuck with the hand we were dealt. Sitting this one out or voting 3rd Party this Election cycle is a non-starter. If Zero gets another term, there will be nothing left to save in 2016.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

I don't want you to vote for Roseanne Barr specifically.

I want you to vote for whatever slimeball's name is attached to the Green Party ticket.

Over the past few months we were cajoled, harangued, verbally assaulted, pleaded, pretty-pleased, and admonished NOT to vote for Romney.

Over the next few months we are going to be cajoled, harangued, verbally assaulted, pleaded, pretty-pleased, and admonished TO vote for Romney.

All of the arguments will be merely utilitarian, i.e. however pathetic Romney is Obama is even moreso.

Well damn it. If I'm supposed to vote, not on principle, but on purely utilitarian grounds then I must vote for the Green Party. Romney has zero chance to win in California. A vote for Romney in California is truly a wasted vote. The only way that I can marginally improve the situation is to vote for whatever rotting, maggot-infested, foul-smelling mass that crawls out from under the Green Party rock in hopes that enough people do likewise to turn them into a thorn in the Democrats' side.

I'm currently registered with the Silly Party (Constitutional Party), but this year my vote is going to the Very Silly Party!

[kingu]

The only way to absolutely guarantee a second Obama term is to nominate Romney. Short of Obama being caught in his daughter's bed (and I don't even know if THAT would be enough), Obama has already won a second term, and we're just playing out the scene until his victory.

Vote for Newt, put Romney to rest. Flip Rick's delegates, and Ron Paul's as well if you have to. Otherwise, kiss the White House goodbye.

[Sherman Logan]

Oddly enough, that’s what a bunch of people around here said before the last election.

It is just possible conservatives sitting it out may have made the difference in one or more battleground states.

Does anyone really think Obama is no worse than McCain would have been?

Given the difficulty Obama had getting Obamacare through, does anybody seriously think the same law would have passed with McCain as president?

I’m coming to the conclusion that the perfect is not only the enemy of the good, it is the most deadly enemy of the good.

Western civilization and a free market economy objectively provide more prosperity AND more freedom to a much greater percentage of their populations than any system in history. Yet massive numbers of people in our society insist both systems must be destroyed because neither system is perfect.

[DustyMoment]

I don't want you to vote for Roseanne Barr specifically. I want you to vote for whatever slimeball's name is attached to the Green Party ticket.

And, that would be Roseanne Barr. The Green Party has a history of being a thin veneer for the communist Party and, on philosophical grounds alone, I won't touch it.

I'm not saying that I won't vote for ANY Republican, I just won't vote for Romney and I won't bother to write in Mickey Mouse or any other absurd name I can come up with.

What I will do is hold my nose and vote Republican for the House and Senate with the knowledge that I am sending the same people back to Congress that have made the bad situation we have in America today worse!! Obama and Romney are bad enough choices but, if we can claim control of both houses of Congress, we have a shot at stopping the excesses of either one. Not a GOOD shot, but a shot.

[DustyMoment]

We are stuck with the hand we were dealt.

I agree. Many people here have made the point that conservatives are to blame for the field we have and I concur with that perspective to a point. We have been routinely betrayed by the e-GOP for the last several election cycles and we have failed to make our voices heard. That means we have one of three choices: 1) cave to their cynicism and taking us for granted and vote for Romney, 2) sit out the election, or 3) particpate in the election but don't vote for Etch-A-Sketch.

Sitting this one out or voting 3rd Party this Election cycle is a non-starter.

I agree. I'm not saying that I will sit out the election, I just won't do #1 above. I will hold my nose and vote to return as many spineless Republican wusses to the Congress as I can, knowing that these are the people who helped make a bad situation worse but, maybe . . . . . just MAYBE, if we can claim enough seats in BOTH houses, we may be able to control the excesses of whomever is elected.

If Zero gets another term, there will be nothing left to save in 2016.

Again, I agree. But, the problem is that Mr. "Electability" is also Mr. Very Beatable. We have a no-win situation regardless of which way we vote. With Romney as the likely nominee, Obama wins. Why do you think the DBM has been pushing Romney as hard as the e-GOP?? They KNOW that he will lose because, as soon as he is officially crowned the Republican nominee, the 10 bazillion Obama press secretaries in the DBM will come out with more negative material about Romney than we have EVER seen about Obama. We know it and so do they. The DBM is merely collecting all the damaging information they can and waiting for him to be the official nominee.

In all candor, I think we could well see an "American Spring" this summer with all the dissatisfaction we are seeing being expresed about the current state of our political process. It's broken and pretending it isn't is just living under a rock.

If we don't see an "American Spring", then I think we could well see a Civil War - the Sequel by sometime early next year. America has been splintered by political rhetoric that pits the "poor" against the "rich", "minotities" against whites, etc. In essence, we have become a house divided against itself and, IMO, something is going to break relatively soon.

[DustyMoment]

However, a protest-vote, write-in, sit-out, whatever is not going to teach the GOP-e anything. I doubt they would be bothered, much less give a rat’s patoot what we do.

Possibly that's true. However, I have received three letters from the RNC this year soliciting donations using the guise of an opinion poll. Each time, I have filled it out giving my opinion (often not the one they expect) and not sending them a penny! Three solicittions in a year is a new record. The RNC is in deep doo-doo and they know it. Conservatives like me are expressing our opinions more openly than ever before and voting . . . . . by NOT opening our wallets and giving them funds. This is a message they ARE getting and I know that I'm not alone. Fund-raising by the RNC is way off from previous elections and they are discovering just how out of touch they are with the rest of America in "flyover" country!!

Maybe I'm wrong but, I think they are getting a message they don't like, don't want and don't expect. If enough of us refuse to support THEIR moderate in this election cycle, they just might hear us!!

[adorno]

You can still cast a vote - just not for president.

Sorry, but, that's equivalent to voting for Obama, or voting for the wrong president.

When a republican doesn't vote, it makes the votes by democrats doubly as powerful, because, you won't be offsetting a vote from the other side.

If the number of voters for a democrat were to be 10, and the number of voters for republicans were to be 10, and all the democrats voted for Obama, and only 9 voted for Romney, you will have essentially, given the election to Obama, which is the same as having voted him back in. I'm pretty sure you know that, but, not voting is the same as helping the other side, and the other side is counting on people like you.

[llandres]

Your posts state the truth. Socialism is not the worst threat BHO is enacting, we’ve been on that path for years. It’s the other things you state - literal threats to our survival, as a country and individually.

BHO hates America and us. It’s awful that more people don’t grasp this because they dare not think the unthinkable. But it’s true - this deep hatred drives a purposeful agenda with BHO - something not one of our candidates even comes close to.

[DustyMoment]

I understand the math. I am philosophically opposed to the political philosophies of both likely candidates and I am tired of having a choice between the “lesser of the two evils”. That’s like asking a condemned prisoner if he wants a firing squad or a rope - either way, he’s still going to die!! This is the position that the liars and frauds in BOTH the DNC AND RNC have put us in.

We can argue this seventeen ways from Sunday and no matter what you say, I am NOT going to cast an unearned vote for someone I don’t believe has the qualifications to run a taco truck on the side of the road, much LESS serve as POTUS.

I would rather cast my votes to try to get enough Republicans/Tea Partiers/conservatives in the Congress to stop zero from doing anymore damage to the country. The spineless ‘Pubbies won’t vote to impeach in the House right now because they know that the result will be the same as the Clinton impeachment in the Senate - there will be NO conviction by the leftists in control of the Senate!!

If we cannot get a conservative majority in both houses of Congress, then shame on us. Get the majorities and we can stop the excesses of zero OR Etch-A-Sketch and, possibly, begin to right our beloved ship of state!!