Romney vs. Romney (are you sure this guy is a Republican?)

Boston Globe ^ | 19 Jan. 2007 | Scot Lehigh

[RKV]

LADIES AND gentlemen, welcome to the first virtual debate of the new political season, a mock matchup to help take the true measure of two men locked in ideological conflict.

Our first candidate is Mitt Romney.

Candidate number two? Why, that's Mitt Romney as well. ...

A note on the proceedings: While our forum is fanciful, the words in quotation marks are real.

Let's begin.

...

Please give us your views on gun control.

MM: I supported the Brady Bill, which instituted a five-day waiting period before you could buy a handgun, and a ban on assault weapons. As I said in 1994, "That's not going to make me the hero of the NRA." But then, "I don't line up with the NRA." As I said in my gubernatorial campaign, "We do have tough gun laws in Massachusetts. I support them. I won't chip away at them."

Romney2008: "I have a gun of my own. I go hunting myself. I'm a member of the NRA and believe firmly in the right to bear arms. In our state . . . there are a series of laws restricting gun ownership in various ways. Over the past four years, I've worked very closely with the Gun Owners' Action League here, which is an affiliate of the NRA, and we've made some changes which I think they feel have been positive steps. And so you are going to see that, I think, hopefully, in other states as well, as they make progress, perhaps further than Massachusetts has."

MM: Ah, excuse me, but isn't that son Josh's gun?

...

Alas, we've run out of time. But I hope our forum has revealed something important about the positions, character, and convictions of these two very different politicians.

[ichabod1]

Of course he's a Rebublican. A check-pants country club republican just like the rest of the Romneys and the Bush's.

[Registered]

Why are you hammering a viable Republican candidate? Aren't you doing exactly what the left is? You actually SOUND like some of the articles I have read regarding the things the Left dislikes about Romney. Hmmm. Seems you want us NOT to win by acting like you are Super Conservative Man. I wonder if that's your mission here? To try to stir up dissention and create doubt in people's minds about a Romney Presidency. Very interesting.

[nowandlater]

"Another little item:

Mitt Romney has been a disaster for the MA GOP. He's left it in ruins. There is every reason to believe that he would have the same effect on the national party, given the opportunity."

Nah, the Democrats own that state. He just pissed off the liberals because he was so effective in get conservative policies inacted. Trust me, the Governor seat will swing back to the Republicans after Patrick Deval refuses to enforce fiscal discipline.

[Registered]

When it comes to Republicans and Ruins you wrote the book.

[nowandlater]

"Romney Rewards one of the State’s Leading Anti-Marriage Attorneys by Making him a Judge"

He made him a traffic court judge -- big freakin' deal!!!

Also, remember that the Governor's nominations must be approved by the Governor Council which is stacked by the legislature by hyper-liberals. It is a miracle he got anyone with a conservative flavor through. That should be encouraging for us social conservatives. It will be actually easier for him getting judges through the U.S. Senate!

[Antoninus]

When it comes to Republicans and Ruins you wrote the book.

What do Mitt Romney, Christie Whitmann, Tom Ridge, and George Pataki have in common?

Answer: They got elected by Republicans, governed like liberals, and left the GOP in their states in shambles without a prayer of ever fielding another conservative Republican candidate. Arnold Schwartzenegger is following that playbook to the letter as well.

There's the plan for you, guy. I'm amazed that some of you STILL don't understand that the ultimate goal is to take that plan national.

[EternalVigilance]

I'll be back later to see if you answered my question. But here it is again in case you missed it the first time:

Are you on Romney's payroll, a vendor, or part of his campaign organization?

[EternalVigilance]

because he was so effective in get conservative policies inacted

The evidence is heavily to the contrary.

[Registered]

Are you on Romney's payroll, a vendor, or part of his campaign organization?

Hey, according to your unethical standards it doesn't matter what the answer is to that question does it "Super Conservative Man"?

[zbigreddogz]

He also went out with under 50% approval ratings, and Governed much more right wing then he campaigned.

Part of the reason he didn't run again was because he knew he had governed well to the right of Massachusetts, and his reelection would have been VERY difficult, and he might have lost.

I'd say he has less then a 25% chance of carrying Massachusetts in a national election. That said, I think he'd win a national election against Hillary and Edwards, and would have a fighting chance against Obama.

[Radix]

Until I saw your post, I did not realize that this was a Boston Globe article. (I only read the excerpt because really I just wanted to see what people are saying about Romney's campaign today.)

First of all, the Boston Globe is pure garbage and whenever I see people reading it my first instinct is to not trust them. I can't help it after all of these years.

Second, Scott Lehigh is a dimwit who's columns I could never even finish when I actually did use to read that rag from time to time.

Third, it is incredibly the Boston Herald which has been leading the charge against Mitt Romney in these parts. The animosity over there against Romney is absolutely astonishing.

Fourth, Romney has been playing politics for a long while now, and he takes chances that a lot of the professional hacks won't take under any circumstances.

Lastly, Romney has been pretending to be more liberal, and that is what aggravated so many around here when he actually pulled it off and won the State House a while back.


The truth is Romney is not really a professional politician, but he is playing on their field these days, and so the legitimate criticisms of him have to be expected.

So far he is the best man out there who is already running. Show me a better candidate that is actually trying to get the job and I'll support him.

[Radix]

"And, again, Romney's plan is nothing like socialized medicine. We now have conservative stalwarts like Jim Demint calling it an acceptable plan."

Acceptable to Who?

It is a blueprint for destroying small businesses in this state.

[RKV]

I have accurate information (quotes) that indicate Romney is wrong on the Bill of Rights. Clearly he doesn't support the 2nd Amendment. Not even close. One failure of that magnitude is enough for me to say NO WAY.

[sitetest]

Dear LtdGovt,

Human rights/life issues are first and foremost, and abortion is, of course, No. #1 in that group, in that more folks die from abortion annually in the US than any other cause. Thus, the leading cause of death in the US is the human rights abuse of abortion.

Mr. Romney gets a 0%.

So, he fails that entire section of the exam.

In that he's all over the map on the pro-homosexual agenda, he gets a 0% there, too. First he was for ENDA, then he's against. He's against "homosexual marriage," but seems okay with identical civil unions.

Not happy he wouldn't sign a no tax increase pledge when running for governor, although to his credit, he has signed one now. For what that's worth.

He hasn't covered himself in glory on gun rights, although that's certainly further down my own personal list.

However, even before any of these is the fundamental character issue. I know a lot of folks think he's a great guy. He looks like a phony to me.

And if he's a phony, then it doesn't really matter WHERE he says he agrees with the positions on issues with which I agree. As far as I can tell, if he figures out that doing a 180 on an issue will get him this or that many more votes, he's likely to change.

So, I don't really trust him no matter what he says. Now he signs a no tax increase pledge. I'm sure he'll make up some story in mid-2010, or mid-2014 why he has to reverse course on it.

I don't think he's a trustworthy person at all. I don't think I can believe him no matter what he says his views on any given issue might be.

Heck, you admit it yourself:

"I don't believe his consersion, quite frankly (and neither do I Romney's, but he might have been pro-life from the beginning)."

And thus, on the most fundamental issue of all - Can I trust him to stick by his word? - he scores a 0%.

As far as I can tell, I don't think he's a conservative. I'm not sure he's really a liberal. But I AM persuaded that he is, above all, an opportunist.


sitetest

[RKV]

"I will never again hold my nose and vote for someone who doesn't completely and fully support my (and your) right to keep and bear arms. This also goes for border security, immigration reform, maintaining American soverignty, not granting special rights (such as marriage and adoption) to homosexuals, etc."

Yep.

[Little Ray]

No. I wouldn't agree.

The sad fact is that more cr@p legislation is slipped in under a Republican Administration than a Democrat, because we don't cut the Democrat any slack. When Republican presidents partner with the likes of Kennedy to produce legislation, it doesn't get much worse.

[Ms. AntiFeminazi]

Romney responds to 1994 debate with Kennedy (video)

Governor Mitt Romney on his 1994 Debate with Senator Ted Kennedy (text)

[wku man]

So when are you departing the People's Republik of Kommiefornia for our beautiful, conservative Idaho? I see from your profile page that you're the type we need in the Gem State, not the commie, liberal, wacko virus spreaders from Kalifornia we've been getting. We need your type to dilute their type!

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[nowandlater]

I fundamentally disagree.

I think we would strongly push the pro-life agenda, traditional marriage, 2nd ammendment rights, and conservative judges.

Frankly, if he will push forward our causes, it doesn't matter to me what others or you may think of him. He is a politician like every other candidate, but I do trust him when he says he will be our advocate.

[RKV]

Thanks for the invite. I LOVE Idaho. My family and I vacationed there two summers ago. Wyoming is also a possible. And yes, I promise if I come I won't "californicate" Idaho. I guess I am something of a dinosaur. Oh well, I ain't going to change.