Romney builds image as front-runner

The St. Petersburg Times ^ | August 18, 2007 | By ADAM C. SMITH

[LexBaird]

And who is your candidate? That would help us to see where you are coming from and make some comparisons.

I believe EV has stated he is for Alan Keyes. As a write in, I suppose, as Mr. Keyes is not running to my knowlege.

[EternalVigilance]

Write-in campaigns are not my thing.

[Plutarch]

In the first place, I’d never heard of InTrade until 10 minutes ago, and still have never been to the site.

Well, maybe it would be better to learn up a bit first, and then opine.

[Plutarch]

I don’t have a candidate yet. It’s still early.

Waiting for EV to say who he is for, while he (all with the best conservative intentions), heaps calumny on all viable Republican candidates.

[County Agent Hank Kimball]

In the first place, I’d never heard of InTrade until 10 minutes ago, and still have never been to the site.

“Well, maybe it would be better to learn up a bit first, and then opine.”

Not necessary.

All I need to know is that 4.8% of the people there believe Ron Paul is going be the GOP Presidential nominee. That’s enough to tell me that whatever it is, approximately 4.8% of its members offering an opinion on the GOP nomination are:

A) delusional;
B) profoundly ill-informed; or
C) relatives of Ron Paul

[LexBaird]

Then, why the recent support for Keyes? Is he planning on a declaration? Or is Keyes just your yardstick for the current batch?

[EternalVigilance]

We’ll see.

[EternalVigilance]

My “yardstick” is core conservative principle. The inalienable rights to life, liberty and private property. A record of consistent defense of the innocent unborn and opposition to the culture of death in all its forms. Seriousness about, and a proven track record in support of, fundamental tax reform. Opposition to the judicial activists/supremacists and a complete understanding of our founding documents and the principles that make them up. Recognition of the inviolable sovereignty of our borders and our territory. Unflinching commitment to the independence and security of America in the world. An understanding of the Second Amendment and an unwillingness to encroach on it in any way, shape or form. Etc.

[Plutarch]

All I need to know is that 4.8% of the people there believe Ron Paul is going be the GOP Presidential nominee.

Intrade is a futures market, not a poll. 4.8% represents the Intrade market's determination of the probability of Ron Paul winning the nomination. Go to the site, and check it out. It is quite interesting and informative.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

He’s an arrogant Constitution hating freak. That’s his message.

[freeplancer]

Wow, a humble family man is “arrogant” and because he is misinformed about guns, he is “Constitution hating freak”. Need I say more?!

[tiger-one]

Romney has a vision, translation; words from my consultant's. What Romney doesn't have is a message. Yes he has many messages, no plans to implement them.

[tiger-one]

RE; Hunter’s message

I’ll give you the same answer the Mitt fans give me go look at his websites.

[tiger-one]

You ignored Duncan Hunter. Not to put words in your head, but, I suspect you'll come back with, he can't win, or he is in the lower percentage etc.

Saving your brain from replying to my post, the answer to your question, Romney's message is more conservative than Hunter's, no.

[tiger-one]

Romney in a nut shell, from the article, The one-term governor selling change does have a track record: a Republican who has won over liberals in deep blue Massachusetts;

Truth; Romney did not win over the Massachusetts Liberals, he is a Massachusetts Liberal

[tiger-one]

Tactics trump policy every time. Mitt does not have a tactics, he has words written by consultants. Example, he has stated, I will increase the active military by 100,000 personnel, and never says how.

When listening or reading what Mitt has said, remember these words, What, When, Where, Why, Who and How. Mitt never satisfies the How

[tiger-one]

You said, Romney’s vision is very clear in my estimation, and that is to make America competitive into the next century. He has addressed the need to lower our corporate taxation rates, which are some of the highest in the world. To bring about tort reform and reverse the trend that now has American corporations spending more money fighting lawsuits than in Research & Development. To reform our immigration system to bring in the best and the brightest—not the uneducated and the illiterate. He has spoken of lowering the capital gains tax to encourage middle class America to invest and save in their future (because social security isn’t going to be around). His energy policy is one of nuclear energy and new methods of refining to reduce dependence on the Middle East, Venezuela, and Mexico. Of controlling spending and ending this nonsense budget shortfall we’ve been running.

Pick anyone of these visions and tell me what Mitt has said HOW he will make the vision, reality? IE What is the plan?

[johnthebaptistmoore]

I’m still waiting to hear what Senator John Kerry’s “plan” was when he ran for President in ‘04! Senator Kerry would keep saying, “I’ve got a plan!”, and that’s it!

[tabsternager]

“What is Fred’s message?
Federalism. Return to basic Constitutional principles.
Or Duncan’s?
Illegal immigration, the emerging China threat, fair trade, war on terror”

That’s interesting — those are Romney’s messages too. The only difference is Romney’s more articulate and has a much more presidential presence.

[Lovebloggers]

“As when he named Battlefield Earth, by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, as his favorite book. Or in Virginia when, for reasons unclear, he answered a question about nuclear power by noting that Adolf Hitler had pioneered liquefied coal.”

I am not going to lie, these two things concern me and I am going to have to look into this a bit more.