Is This Man the G.O.P.’s Best Bet for 2012? (NYT's David Brooks pretty sold on Romney at this time)

New York Times ^ | 09/29/2011 | By DAVID BROOKS AND GAIL COLLINS

[SeekAndFind]

Gail Collins: David, are you reconciled to the fact that Mitt Romney is going to be the Republican presidential nominee?

David Brooks: Oh, I went through that phase a few weeks ago after the debate at the Reagan library. That’s the night I noticed Romney was the best candidate in the field. Since then I’ve noticed that he has given three debate performances that are better than any Barack Obama has given in his life. (Obama’s a better speechmaker, but Romney’s a better debater.) So now I’m settling into the idea that Romney might well be president. This will be interesting because he has a tendency to hire people who look vaguely like him, so I’m picturing a White House filled with tall, well-groomed brunettes.

Gail Collins: Romney is both intelligent and sane, which I guess is saying quite a lot this year. But the man would change his position on the rotation of the earth around the sun if he thought it would get him a win in South Carolina.

David Brooks: That’s why you should love the guy. Let me put it this way: Would you rather have someone who authentically agrees with Michele Bachmann or someone who is just faking it? It seems to me that from your point of view you should be praying for inauthenticity. The more, the better.

I spend a lot of time looking at whom the candidates are choosing as their advisers. Romney clearly has the best group. He’s harvested some of the best brains in the G.O.P. He released an economic plan the other week that was a pretty serious document, at least by the standards of politics these days.

[JoenTX]

No Rudy here...........but there is a Mitt.

Just because you effed-up the last national election gives you no reason or right to eff up the latest one.

If you want to be stupid, there’s an entire Crat Party to help you with that.

[M-cubed]

This is about the least surprising development of this young election season.<<

Don't know about you....

But I'm shocked.......... and this is “unexpected"......

[ReformationFan]

Didn’t David Brooks write that John McCain was the GOP’s best bet in 2008?

[M-cubed]

I know it’s hard...but hold your fire till we see the whites of “her” eyes....*W*

[M-cubed]

Palin is not running. At all. Stop the fairy tales and return to what the rest of us call “reality.” <<

LMAO...after reading your past posts son...”reality” is the least of your concerns...professional help?..You Make the Call!

[SECURE AMERICA]

Romney or Obama?
Why bother to vote!!!
If Romney is the GOP candidate they FAIL!

[Antoninus]

So Brooks and Frum are Romney-bots. Raise your hand if you're in the least bit surprised.

All the more reason why Romney must be utterly defeated, or barring that, marginalized by a muscular third party bid in the general election.

Nothing would destroy this country faster than having a liberal as the standard-bearer for the Republican party.

[Antoninus]

Mitt Romney could beat Obama. If Mitt Romney is the nominee I’ll vote for him. But a Mitt Romney presidency would set the conservative side of the GOP back farther than either Bush I or II.

I'll do you one better. A Romney presidency would mean the death of the GOP as a viable party for conservatives. It would force us to form a third party and perhaps be out in the wilderness for a generation.

In my opinion, it is more important that Romney be defeated than that Obama be defeated.

[Prokopton]

Just because you effed-up the last national election gives you no reason or right to eff up the latest one.

If you want to be stupid, there’s an entire Crat Party to help you with that.

Wow, I didn't know I was personally responsible. I thought it was "effed up" by the weak, effete, Republican elite who wanted McCain and who now want Romney. You know, the type of Republican that thinks Crybaby Boehner is effective. I know there are Republicans like this, but what are you doing on FR, a conservative site?

[BobL]

“Only if enough of us work our butts off. “

Agree (and thanks, there are still tons of Perrybots to deal with out there).