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Will Romney's Combative Style Net VP Nod?
CBSNews ^ | July 15, 2008 | Staff

Posted on 07/15/2008 8:23:54 AM PDT by BarnacleCenturion

The most obvious assets that Romney would bring to the Republican ticket include his economic expertise, fundraising prowess and potential to give McCain a boost in more than one battleground state. But a less talked about plus side to a Romney vice presidential candidacy is that despite his perpetually sunny demeanor, the former Massachusetts governor is not afraid to unleash razor-sharp political attacks against the opposition.

"This is not the time for an amateur," Romney said of presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama. "This is the time for a tested, proven professional to lead our country."

Romney brims with confidence and is almost always unflappable. The McCain campaign has taken advantage of Romney's willingness to take the offensive by encouraging him to make TV appearances on the senator's behalf.

The ability to stay on message is an asset for any vice presidential prospect, but that very trait also led to criticisms during Romney's campaign that he could come across as impersonal or robotic.

Asked what his father George, who as Governor of Michigan during the 1960's was a champion of civil rights, would have made of an African-American candidate winning a major party nomination, Romney refused to go off script, even for a moment, to acknowledge Obama's historic achievement.

"I think most Americans do what the Democrats did in their primary, which is they look at the person and say who can be the right leader at a particular point in time, and they make that decision without regard to gender or race or faith," Romney said.

The kindest words of praise that Romney allowed himself to bestow upon Obama were "charming" and "well-spoken".

(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008veep; mccain; romney

1 posted on 07/15/2008 8:23:54 AM PDT by BarnacleCenturion
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To: BarnacleCenturion

McCain needs an attack dog, and he needs it now. I’m tired of hearing McCain attack Republicans when he should be attacking Obama.


2 posted on 07/15/2008 8:25:40 AM PDT by Brilliant
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To: Brilliant

That would be nice.


3 posted on 07/15/2008 8:26:38 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: BarnacleCenturion

I surely hope so. We desperately need someone with his debating and people skills and intelligence and ability to think on his feet and articulate his positions quickly and well under stress!!!!


4 posted on 07/15/2008 8:27:06 AM PDT by NordP (PROUD AMERICAN and DOG-LOVING, INFIDEL)
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To: BarnacleCenturion

Romney cannot be the nominee. That would eliminate the religious advantage against Obama. Every white democrat I know is voting for McCain because they think Obama is a Muslim. Put a Mormon on McCain’s ticket and you can kiss them buh-bye.


5 posted on 07/15/2008 8:36:53 AM PDT by montag813
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To: BarnacleCenturion

“unleash razor-sharp political attacks”

Nothing Romney was quoted as saying in this article is a ‘razor-sharp political attack.’ He is simply stating facts. Obama uses ‘razor-sharp political attacks’ and he is hailed as being above it that type of campaigning.


6 posted on 07/15/2008 8:39:58 AM PDT by imskylark
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To: BarnacleCenturion

I suspect Romney’s “combative style” is precisely what will prevent McCain from hiring him on as VP. McCain has shown a marked distaste for political combat. How did he stay a senator so long? no opposition?


7 posted on 07/15/2008 8:42:42 AM PDT by arthurus
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To: montag813
Put a Mormon on McCain’s ticket and you can kiss them buh-bye.

Which is exactly why the CommieRATs MSM propaganda branch is once again pushing Romney.

8 posted on 07/15/2008 8:43:20 AM PDT by ASA Vet
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To: montag813

So they’ll change their votes because of the religious affiliation of the VP candidate? I call BS.


9 posted on 07/15/2008 8:45:49 AM PDT by BarnacleCenturion
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To: BarnacleCenturion
"But a less talked about plus side to a Romney vice presidential candidacy is that despite his perpetually sunny demeanor, the former Massachusetts governor is not afraid to unleash razor-sharp political attacks against the opposition."

Holy Sh!t Batman! A Republican with a spine?!

This is EXACTLY, what this party needs.

The "let's all be friends / reach across the aisle" crap gets us kicked in the face every time.

The GOP planners (if there are any with brains and imagination) should play on their perceived traits, and use a "Good Cop ... Bad Cop" approach.

PhotobucketPhotobucket

10 posted on 07/15/2008 8:46:37 AM PDT by Cobra64 (www.BulletBras.net)
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To: montag813
Ignore Romney's past abdication to Democrats - check
Ignore Romney's appointment of corrupt, liberal pro-criminal judges, overlooking GOP candidates - check
Ignore Romney's ignoring Mass Constitution - check
Ignore Romney is the MSM's choice because they have files already prepared against him - check
Ignore Romney's coverup of the "Big Dig" for donations - check.
Ignore Romney's bankruptcy of Mass for his HillaryCARE=RomneyCARE - check.
Ignore Romney's targetting of other GOP candidates - check
Ignore Romney's decimation of Mass GOP and that he couldn't win Mass to Hillary -check
Ignore Romney's real impact on Massaachusetts - check

""His first budget, presented under a cloud of a $2 billion deficit, balanced the budget with some spending cuts,
but a $500 million increase in various fees was the largest component of the budget fix."
Cato Institute annual Fiscal Policy Report Card - America's Governors, 2004.
Romney was rated a "C" overall by Cato.
As U.S. real output grew 13 percent between 2002 and 2006, Massachusetts trailed at 9 percent.
* Manufacturing employment fell 7 percent nationwide those years, but sank 14 percent under Romney, placing Massachusetts 48th among the states.
* Between fall 2003 and autumn 2006, U.S. job growth averaged 5.4 percent, nearly three times Massachusetts' anemic 1.9 percent pace.
* While 8 million Americans over age 16 found work between 2002 and 2006, the number of employed Massachusetts residents actually declined by 8,500 during those years.
"Massachusetts was the only state to have failed to post any gain in its pool of employed residents," professors Sum and McLaughlin concluded.
In an April 2003 meeting with the Massachusetts congressional delegation in Washington, Romney failed to endorse President Bush's $726 billion tax-cut proposal.

11 posted on 07/15/2008 8:47:17 AM PDT by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
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To: montag813
Put a Mormon on McCain’s ticket and you can kiss them buh-bye.

Huh? The last time I looked, Mormans were Christians. Or is this another one of those "the man has too much baggage" schtick.

Photobucket

12 posted on 07/15/2008 8:52:01 AM PDT by Cobra64 (www.BulletBras.net)
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To: montag813

There is a good bit of truth in what you say, whether people like it or not.

It doesn’t help that Romney has his own problems on issues changes and might negate the attack on Obama for “shifting”.


13 posted on 07/15/2008 8:53:34 AM PDT by Crimson Elephant
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To: montag813

Romney has said many times, Jesus Christ is his Lord and Savior. As a Christian, that is sufficient for me. And the claim that ‘evangelicals’ voted for McCain over Romney because of Romney’s mormonism?? They are idiots. They voted McCain in who has a seeping disdain for the Christian right. He has toned it down this election round but he was downright bitter in the past.

Romney bring way more to the ticket than McCain could find anywhere else.


14 posted on 07/15/2008 8:54:35 AM PDT by spacejunkie
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To: montag813

Hog wash.
If Americans can’t tell the difference between conservative, pro-America Mormonism and radical Marxist black theology, then they deserve Obama.


15 posted on 07/15/2008 9:20:41 AM PDT by broncobilly
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To: Cobra64
Huh? The last time I looked, Mormans were Christians. Or is this another one of those "the man has too much baggage" schtick.

I agree with you. But that is not the point. A Mormon is as good as a Muslim as far as Joe and Jane Six Pack are concerned. Put him on the ticket, and it cancels out Obama's principal weakness.

16 posted on 07/15/2008 9:21:22 AM PDT by montag813
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To: Cobra64

Good cop/ Bad cop agreed.
Romney is THE Republican with a spine and he’s a proven fighter. He is brilliant and unafraid to publicly oppose contoversy head-on. He needs to be on the ticket so that Mccain can continue to address his... FFRRiends... in his almost apologetic soft-spoken compromising approach that has endeared him to independent voters.


17 posted on 07/15/2008 9:42:54 AM PDT by Gemsbok (blood -hound tasting fresh blood on the obamination trail)
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To: montag813
That theory was in play when JFK was running with his Roman Catholic upbringing.

How can anyone equate the the throat slitting teachings in the Koran to the Bible?

18 posted on 07/15/2008 9:42:59 AM PDT by Cobra64 (www.BulletBras.net)
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To: Diogenesis

yep, I’m ignoring all of that because it’s more important to WIN the race and get “something” marginally Republican than to lose America to a rat-infested leftist regime.

But, then again it’s not ‘our choice’ at all as I assume this is the last board on earth that McCain’s strategist would look to for advice, public perception or endorsement.


19 posted on 07/15/2008 9:49:21 AM PDT by Gemsbok (blood -hound tasting fresh blood on the obamination trail)
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To: montag813

That might be true with a percentage of the population but the American Electorate tends to vote in terms of broader terms. McCain is perceived as old, tired, Washington and weak on the economy (not to mention tech). Romey is perceived as fresh, dynamic, successful, an economic wizard and super high tech. He does bring the broad stroke flourish that McCain might need to round out the ticket. The line “This is not a time for novices” is great. Now if only he were all that and a black woman to boot!!


20 posted on 07/15/2008 9:50:30 AM PDT by johnnycap
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To: BarnacleCenturion; All

So sorry but Hucklebee is it...any bets on this????


21 posted on 07/15/2008 4:25:55 PM PDT by Fred (The Democrat Party is the Nadir of Nilhilism)
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To: Fred

bttt

Hope it’s Mitt!


22 posted on 07/15/2008 9:57:39 PM PDT by ConservativeMan55
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To: ConservativeMan55

“If Americans can’t tell the difference between conservative, pro-America Mormonism and radical Marxist black theology, then they deserve Obama.” EXACTLY ! !

I AM A conservative christian conservative (catholic) and I have no issues with Mitt’s faith. At least he has christian faith compared to our Muslim friend named Hussien. Mccain needs an attack dog, fundraising and economic expert. Mitt is the guy !


23 posted on 07/16/2008 6:05:26 AM PDT by libscum (don't sit out- vote Mccain)
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To: libscum

Exactly!

I saw on the news this morning the Obama wants to put the death tax at 55 percent!


24 posted on 07/16/2008 6:07:25 AM PDT by ConservativeMan55
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