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My Vote (Captain Ed Endorses Romney)
Captain's Quarters ^ | Jan. 27, 2008 | Ed Morrissey

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.


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: captained; elections; huckabee; mccain; romney; rudy
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To: indylindy

MAYBE someone saw “former Thompson advisor, Liz Cheney endorses Romney”...???


61 posted on 01/27/2008 11:05:06 AM PST by SE Mom (Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet)
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To: SE Mom

That may be what they saw. I wouldn’t get my hopes up until it was official. Remember, people around here were salivating over the idea Fred would endorse Mc Shame.


62 posted on 01/27/2008 11:07:08 AM PST by dforest (Don't even ask me to vote for McCain, Rudy, or Huckster.)
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To: holdonnow

ping


63 posted on 01/27/2008 11:08:50 AM PST by SE Mom (Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet)
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To: HD1200

I don’t understand why McCain brought Juan Hernandez on at this particular time. I think that was a bizarre tactical move. I think that McCain, even now, just really doesn’t understand how much Americans, and especially conservatives, are concerned about the illegal alien problem.

Being in Washington has a tendency to insulate people from reality, I’m afraid.


64 posted on 01/27/2008 11:09:40 AM PST by B Knotts
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To: 6ppc

The economy of today is so complex. We need a President that gets it or will be a second rate economy and will lose dominance.

My husband works for a global company with offices throughout Europe, South Africa and the U.S.. He has to deal with this highly complex structure on a daily basis and not many people could do that without experience.

Romney understands the global economy and like it or not, understands the importance of creating jobs. That is who we need now not some loser who married a beer heiress and the only job he has ever created is his own.


65 posted on 01/27/2008 11:10:54 AM PST by lone star annie
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To: claudiustg

All we have to do is figure out how Captain Ed is a RINO, sold out, or senile, and we can dismiss this endorsement too!


66 posted on 01/27/2008 11:11:12 AM PST by tantiboh
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To: jdm

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1959865/posts?page=51#51


67 posted on 01/27/2008 11:13:41 AM PST by Matchett-PI (Algore - there's not a more priggish, sanctimonious moral scold of a church lady anywhere.)
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To: tantiboh

Of ALL the endorsements this season the one that continues to baffle me is Tom Coburn for McCain. I just don’t get it.


68 posted on 01/27/2008 11:14:44 AM PST by SE Mom (Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet)
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To: pissant

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1959865/posts?page=51#51


69 posted on 01/27/2008 11:14:48 AM PST by Matchett-PI (Algore - there's not a more priggish, sanctimonious moral scold of a church lady anywhere.)
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To: HD1200

I initially was for Mitt....then I decided I would vote for Rudy....but in the last couple of days I’ve been so disappointed in Rudy’s effort to get the nomination that I’ve decided I’ll be voting for Mitt this coming Wednesday in the Alabama Primary. It’s going to kill me to remove my Rudy bumper sticker but I feel I’m making the right decision for me. Now since all of my family has been calling wanting to know who they should vote for I’ll have to call them again before Wednesday and ask them to pull the lever for Mitt.


70 posted on 01/27/2008 11:15:04 AM PST by BamaDi (Saban's here - never fear.....Bama - #2 recruiting class in the nation!)
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To: Rome2000
"Larry the Cable Guy and NASCAR fans will not vote for WILLARD"

No of course not they will flock to the polls in droves to vote for Hillary or Obama. Oh, that's right they will stay home since their perfect candidate, whoever that may be since he/she apparantly wasn't running, isn't the nominee and let Hillary win by default just to prove a point.

71 posted on 01/27/2008 11:17:35 AM PST by marlon
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To: DesScorp

“I’ve settled on Romney, but I’m not enthusiastic about him. I was a Fred guy too.” ~ DesScorp

This should make you feel better:

11/10/2005 Mitt Romney addresses the Federalist Society
http://www2.nationalreview.com/corner/romneyaddress.pdf

Re: The Federalist Society:

“...the Federalist Society, the expanding network of conservative lawyers who over the past quarter-century have played a leading role in reshaping the nation’s judiciary and setting high-level Republican administration policy. ..

[...]

“..One of the group’s founding fathers was Edwin Meese, who would soon become attorney general under President Ronald Reagan. Olson was part of that Justice Department, and so was Giuliani, who served as its third-highest official. The plan was to sow talented conservatives at every level of the federal judiciary and ultimately gain a foothold at the Supreme Court. “That was very much on our minds,” Olson said.

It appears to be working as planned. When he took office in 2001, Bush leaned heavily on Federalists to create a legal power structure to continue the work of seeding the judiciary. Roberts, along with fellow conservatives Alito, Scalia and Thomas, now form a formidable bloc on the Supreme Court.

[...]

Split among GOP camps

But as the Federalists have grown, they haven’t been immune to internal fissures. Federalists have key figures in both the Romney and Thompson campaigns who believe their candidate is a more worthy vessel for their legal philosophies. And they say they haven’t had to make the sort of compromise that Giuliani’s conservative supporters have.

David McIntosh, a former Indiana GOP congressman and gubernatorial candidate, is vice chairman of the Federalist Society, and he’s a domestic policy adviser to Thompson. Douglas Kmiec, another high-ranking official in the Reagan Justice Department, has gone with Romney, whom he calls “authentic.”

More: http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2007/09/giuliani_burnishes_conservativ.html

*

Governor Mitt Romney Announces The Advisory Committee On The Constitution And The Courts
http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Constitution_Courts

*

The _real_ McCain record: http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YjUzOGY0ODA1YzBmNjFhOWE5NWU0OTY5NTZiOGNhOGQ=


72 posted on 01/27/2008 11:19:31 AM PST by Matchett-PI (Algore - there's not a more priggish, sanctimonious moral scold of a church lady anywhere.)
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To: what's up
And his plastic demeanor will be a negative in states like CA as well.

I live in Santa Barbara County, a very liberal part of my native state, and I can tell you Romney is gaining momentum here in leaps and bounds. His good looks, genteel manners and his history of leadership and success play very well here.

73 posted on 01/27/2008 11:24:44 AM PST by Zevonismymuse
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To: Zevonismymuse
Among conservatives...but among independents?

We shall see.

74 posted on 01/27/2008 11:26:01 AM PST by what's up
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To: Rome2000
Quite possibly, but MYTH will get killed worse.

Mitt Romney is much better than McCain, he'll at least bring out the GOP base. He'll neutralize the women vote against Hillary too. And I'm someone who hates Romney.

You're a fool for backing McCain.

75 posted on 01/27/2008 11:29:03 AM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (The Constitution does not give me the authority to run your life - Ron Paul)
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To: jdm
Unlike the spin that has passed for analysis these past few months here, Fred is far more likely to endorse Romney than McCain.

From Fred's point of view, at least Romney purports to stand for conservatism.

76 posted on 01/27/2008 11:29:12 AM PST by Petronski (I didn't leave the GOP. The GOP left me.)
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To: what's up
CA independents won't vote for Romney.

CA is a closed primary anyway.

77 posted on 01/27/2008 11:31:38 AM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (The Constitution does not give me the authority to run your life - Ron Paul)
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To: Petronski; Extremely Extreme Extremist

A momentous day! Mildly conciliatory statements regarding Romney from both of you.

I need to get more of this stuff I’m drinking.


78 posted on 01/27/2008 11:31:56 AM PST by tantiboh
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To: what's up
Among conservatives...but among independents? We shall see.

He has already picked up an endorsement here from Santa Barbara County Supervisor and former CA State Assemblyman Brooks Firestone. The Firestone family is known for their successful wine business, beer business and celebrity bachelor son Andrew. This family is widely popular and Brooks could never get elected in Santa Barbara without broad support.

If Freerepublic is any indication, it seems like it is the extreme right that opposes Romney. Those within the reach of reason seem to like Romney.

79 posted on 01/27/2008 11:35:11 AM PST by Zevonismymuse
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To: jdm

I don’t watch tv and did a quick search of a few blogs. No one else is reporting this.


80 posted on 01/27/2008 11:51:55 AM PST by jellybean (I brought the popcorn for the Battle of The Rinos - Proud Ann-droid and a Steyn-aholic)
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