Romney is the winner in Kansas, if not D.C.

MSNBC ^ | May 4, 2007 | Joe Scarborough

[Unmarked Package]

America is not purple. It is very red and it is very blue.

For those of us who have been arguing that there is little difference between Republicans and Democrats, last night was a reminder of the stark differences that still divide our country. The GOP contenders were so much more conservative in tone and content than last week’s Democratic pack that we should all expect another divisive general election.

Republicans were so much more hawkish on matters of war and peace. Last week, Hillary Clinton got praised from pundits for promising “retaliation” against any power that nukes two American cities. Last night, John McCain promised to follow Osama bin Laden to the “gates of Hell” while Mitt Romney simply said, “He will die.”

That’s a far cry from Obama’s promise to face terrorist attacks by focusing on first responders and studying the lessons of Hurricane relief.

Republicans also struck a tougher tone against illegal immigrants, abortion and foreign types running for president. The Democratic field all defended the practice of partial birth abortion, while Republicans were overwhelmingly pro-life. That may be why Rudy Giuliani’s worst moment for Republican voters was when he said overturning Roe v. Wade would be “okay.”

Okay? Good Lord, man. Get yourself a pithy two minute abortion answer and repeat it in front of the mirror a hundred times.

[neverhillorat]

We are decided who is going to be responsible for running the country for the next four years. That person will be in charge of our foreign policy, the military, and the war plus

all of the Federal Government. Now, you are concerned about rabbits?

[George W. Bush]

Try to find the Rodent Hunter video on YouTube. It's pretty funny.

You know, we aren't picking the nominee tomorrow. If you don't keep a sense of humor, you'll go bats by next spring, let alone November '08. It's a very long election season.

[lonevoice]

bookmark

[napscoordinator]

The Bush machine, both W. and Jeb, are quietly lining up behind Romney.

I am not necessarily disputing this, but just wondering where you get this from? I have not noticed any evidence of this. I find it interesting and smart and surprising.

[George W. Bush]

A while back, Jeb was caught advocating for Romney with his fellow-governors. Some of Jeb's people were reported going to work for Romney, though that might just be finding a new political job. Some of W.'s big fundraisers also got on board with Romney early.

Naturally, our president will not take sides publicly. It would be resented and, beyond that, being the man that he is, he would know that Romney doesn't need that kind of help from him and that winning the office is that much sweeter if you do it standing on your own two legs. A president doesn't want to issue too many IOUs on the way to the Oval Office. Any of these old political families know this.

Beyond that, while the media rarely mentions it and focuses on how Bush attended Andover and Yale, Bush is himself a Harvard MBA, just like Romney. Romney is also Harvard JD. Near the top of his class in both, dual simultaneous degree. Now, at Harvard, guys like Romney who can excel in two difficult majors at once, are the smartest guys in the room. Bush knows plenty of these folks.

One of the Romney advantages is Ha-a-aava'd. I think the Harvard alumni might be hungry to notch their presidential scorecard in '08. And that is something that represents tens of billions in cash in corporate America and in the old money families.

If it's Yalie Hillary vs. Harvard Mitt, who do you think a Harvard man is going to back? These people are cynical about parties anyway but they are Harvard alumni.

Given Romney's excellent speeches on the WOT and his raw intelligence and his clear family values that are so much like Bush's, who else would W. want to have there to finish the job in Iraq? Giuliani, the hothead prima donna? McStain, the decaying maverick? And Fred Thompson, if he runs, would make sound choices but I think Bush might conclude Fred's health isn't up to the sixteen hour days because that's one reason why Dick Cheney can't run either.

Romney's not inevitable. But he's playing a game no one can ignore. He's the guy to watch.

[Unmarked Package]

I can add some details to what FReeper George W. Bush has already provided.

While President George W. Bush and Laura will not publicly endorse any candidate, Laura has made some supportive comments in a filmed interview about Romney's qualifications and their friendship with Mitt and Ann and statements about Romney's religion not being an issue for them. Similar statements from Barbara Bush and former President George H.W. Bush were made in a recent filmed interview I've seen.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has steered several of his allies and former staff members to Mitt Romney. Another of the president's brothers, Neil, and his sister, Dorothy, have helped Romney raise money.

The Romney campaign gained the support of the influential Lindner family in Ohio. For the past 20 years, the Lindners have helped fund the campaigns of President George H.W. Bush and President George W. Bush. The head of the family, Carl H. Lindner Jr., will serve as the honorary co-chairman of the Ohio finance committee and the co-chairman of the national finance committee. S. Craig Lindner is co-chairman of Romney's Ohio fund-raising effort.

The Texas Statewide Finance Committee for Romney includes the following people among several others:

Five Bush Pioneers • raised more than $100,000 each for Bush-Cheney
Louis Beecherl, Jr. • North Texas Finance Chair for Bush-Cheney 2004
David Jones • Member of the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation Advisory Council
Logan Walters • Former Assistant to George W. Bush
Jim McGrath • staff writer and editor for the White House in the Executive Office of President George H. W. Bush, Deputy Press Secretary for George W. Bush’s re-election campaign for Governor of Texas in 1998 and current speechwriter for George H. W. Bush

[Democratshavenobrains]

Even though people don’t like to admit it, the more attractive candidate has the best chance of winning in the general.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Why aren`t you supporting Mitt?

Because I don't trust him.

If he gets the nomination, will you vote for him?

If that happens neither party will have provided me with a candidate who can represent me. So I will still vote, but for president I will write in Judge Roy Moore just for the sake of making a statement. I don't care what anybody thinks of that. It's my vote. I don't trust Romney any more than I trust the Democrats. It really won't matter to me which side wins in that case. No, I would really rather have the Democrats win with a liberal than have the Republicans win with a liberal or an opportunist. I won't help them do it, but neither will I try to stop it. It's not my fault none of the top contenders support the Republican platform, or have supported it prior to becoming a presidential candidate. I want a Republican who has a history of supporting the party platform.

[neverhillorat]

iT IS A LONG WAY TO THE ELECTION, YOU ARE RIGHT.......JUST DON`T MAKE A HABIT OF BEING RIGHT............WE WILL BE WATCHING YOU

[George W. Bush]

Heh-heh. I’m not in much danger of forming a nasty habit of being right.

[George W. Bush]

Interestingly, the only person who seems to have given Hunter any praise outside of FR has been....Romney.

That is intriguing. You should post about it on a Hunter thread.

I posted a vignette transcript of the Perp Walk (candidate entrance) at the Reagan Library. Romney and Hunter were walking together, obviously talking seriously, with that twit Giuliani trying to horn in, still trying to pretend he was a Republican.

When asked who else he thought had done well, Romney said he thought Hunter had spoken very well on some key issues.

And Romney and Hunter were judged by FR members to have won the debate. I'm still supporting Ron Paul and he did a decent #3 showing in the FR member poll at only half of Duncan's number (even though the non-member Paul supporters skewed the results badly).