Posted on 01/27/2008 7:52:45 AM PST by jdm
Over a year ago and many times since, I wrote that I could give no endorsement, because I had honestly not made up my mind about which candidate to support. I also told the CapQ community that if I did make a decision, I would announce it as soon as I made it so that they knew where I stood. The deadline for that decision rapidly approaches, since Minnesota caucuses on February 5th, and I have decided to caucus for Mitt Romney.
This decision did not come easily. Some have complained about the choices available to the Republicans, but I have seen the field as a collection of highly accomplished, experienced candidates, almost all of whom I could support -- enthusiastically -- in a general election. That made the decision as hard as it was, and it forced me to analyze what I want to see in a nominee.
First, I want to have someone who supports conservative values. In this, we have no perfect candidates. Fred Thompson came closest, but he quit, and I'm not going to cast my vote for someone who has already dropped out. Romney, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, and John McCain all have some claim to a portion of the conservative mandate based on their accomplishments. Of the four, I trust Romney and Giuliani most to continue supporting conservative principles in the face of opposition -- and in fact I'd probably trust Giuliani a little more.
Second, and very importantly, the Republican should have demonstrated success in executive management in both private and public sectors. This eliminates everyone except Romney and Rudy. John McCain wants to make the case that his experience as squadron leader qualifies, and it does demonstrate leadership, but not executive experience. Both Rudy and Romney have led entire organizations in both the public and private sectors, with Romney getting the best in this area. They have had the buck stop at their desk. Both Rudy and Romney have transformed failing entities (New York City and the Salt Lake City Olympics). McCain led 400 men, but he answered to commanders above him at several levels while doing so, and I have yet to see an argument for transformation under McCain's leadership.
Why is this important? The Democrats have no one who can match that experience. Putting McCain or especially Fred Thompson against the Democratic nominee, whether that is Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton, effectively cedes the inexperience argument. It argues that Republicans consider resumes to be irrelevant, and that will have us fighting with one hand tied behind our backs.
Third, we face a tough election if the economy turns south, even mildly. We saw this in 1992 and lost when Bill Clinton successfully convinced people that he had the best ideas for a turnaround. We have one candidate who has undeniable success in the global markets, who understands them and the players that run them. Romney gives us an advantage as the nominee that none of the others can match in this regard.
Over the last two weeks, my focus has come down to Rudy and Romney. Both would make good Presidents. Mitt, however, has shown that he will fight in every state, while Rudy played a bit of rope-a-dope -- and has apparently lost the gamble. Until the debate, I thought Rudy might have had the right idea, but Rudy still hasn't come out of the gate in any effective manner.
Romney is not a perfect candidate. We don't have any perfect candidates. In fact, I could still support Rudy, McCain, or Mike Huckabee without reservation in a general election against either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton. I think, though, that Romney has the most staying power, the better argument, and the best resume of the remaining Republican candidates. I will enthusiastically caucus for Mitt Romney on February 5th.
Addendum: I have thoroughly enjoyed interviewing the candidates in this race, and I believe I have given all of them a fair shake. Part of that "fair shake" includes being honest about my decision. It also means giving you a fair shake as well.
Yesterday's interview with Mitt Romney helped me firm up my choice. Be sure to listen to it on tomorrow's Heading Right Radio show at 3 pm ET.
I agree with Cap’n Ed: Romney is an excellent candidate. The idea that there was a perfect conservative “candidate” out there was a myth. Duncan Hunter was simply not a legitimate candidate, and then he goes and endorses Huckabee. Fred has supported McCain and free-speech restricting campaign finance reform in the past. In almost all respects, Romney is a better candidate than GHWB & Bob Dole. In many respects he’s better than GWB. I appreciate conservatives like Rush, Ann Coulter, and Captain Ed for stepping in and providing much needed perspective for the GOP on our candidates.
I’ve settled on Romney, but I’m not enthusiastic about him. I was a Fred guy too.
For all of McCain’s virtues...military hero, steadfast on the war...I just can’t take his positions on immigration or government meddling.
He’s too old and frail. Put him up against Obama and it’ll be like the Kennedy vs. Nixon debate all over again.
I respect Ed Morrissey greatly, and over time I have grown to depend on him for the best analysis of many situations.
He just outlined what I have been throwing around in my head.
That last sentence of yours is tagline material!
McCain is at the top with McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy, and lately McCain-Leiberman.
Rudy-tooty is next with suing gun manufacturers and distributors and backing groups like Handgun Control.
Huckabee, while he hasn’t caused harm outside of Arkasas that I know of seems to be a clever talker without much depth. His talk is a mile wide and an inch deep. Things like Saddam having hid his WMD in Jordan are genuinely scary.
Then there is Mitt Romney, immaculate resume, intelligent, and on the right side of issues that matter most to me. He is better on the issues than the other candidates and infinitely better on the issues than the Democrats. The only real negative is that he’s not as inspiring or likable as a Reagan or an Obama. He’ll have to make up for that with a rational command of the issues. Overall, I think we are blessed to have a candidate like Romney.
White males in the South will not support Mitt?
Who will they vote for? Hillary? Obama?
I’ve been a lukewarm Romney supporter for a while now. My main gripe is that he can be prickly and defensive. This could be a big problem if the Dems run the instantly likeable Obama. However, the Dem candidate is more likely to be Hillary, and in that matchup I think her prickliness will easily swamp Romney’s.
Are there any Republicans you actually DO like? Or maybe you’d just like to come on and post negative crap about every Republican like some sort of DU Rat? Negative lameness every damn day out of you.
Republicans are awesome, GWB was a far better President than Billy Bob Clinton (btw, it was hella awesome that Al Gore LOST in 2000 - I still laugh about it), and it’s GOP in 2008. How you like them apples?
BTW, I’d just like to say that Obama is a vapid idiot, Edwards is an ambulance chasing fraud, and that Hillary Clinton is an ice queen political whore. That doesn’t make you mad, does it troll?
Go back to DU.
“the Republican should have demonstrated success in executive management in both private and public sectors. This eliminates everyone except Romney and Rudy.”
Exactly...
We certainly don’t need a Washington insider who knows nothing about business and who sounds like Hillary II
“And his plastic demeanor will be a negative in states like CA as well.”
To which California do you refer? The one with Hollywood?
Say hi to Juan Hernandez on your way to the ballot box (if you don’t know who he is; you’d better fight out pdq). If your guy wins, Florida will drown when millions of Mexicans are given free access to your state - all thanks to Seniors McCain and Hernandez.
Despite their love for pretty boy movie stars, they will consider Romney too much like a republican Ken doll.
I voted early in TN and, without our native son in the race, here is what I did:
I voted for Romney (along with my grandma and mom) for the sole purpose of knocking out McCain. It was painful, but that is what had to happen. However, as a true FredHead, I gave all of the delegate votes to sworn Thompson people. I hope that if our convention is brokered, that those people will endorse Thompson once again. Maybe it was foolish, but I just couldn’t give delegates to anyone else.
The rats are running Obama and Shillary! together and they will certainly not be beaten by the likes of MYTH WILLARD.
Your subterfuge ain’t gonna work here, pal. Why are you pushing McCain and dissing Romney? The same can be asked of the NY Slimes and the rest of the liberal MSM. Why are they pushing McCain and dissing Romney? Anyone who has the ability to think critically can figure it out quite easily.
Ditto, Cap’n Ed.
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