I cannot vote for such a liberal as Mitt Romney who is anti-life, anti-gun, anti-natural marriage, and anti-small government.
There is nothing in that that is any better than Obama.
Therefore, I will vote write-in (Palin) or 3rd Party (Constitution) depending on which looks like the better choice.
Ethically, I cannot support Romney. I can support trying to start a conservative party or support an existing conservative party that has nominated a real candidate.
I’ve read all of Jim’s backgrounders on Romney and I’ve seen most of what is repeatedly posted about Romney. Despite that he’s easily to the right of Obama and I don’t believe for a second that he hates America or sees his country as a global threat in need of toppling. That is I don’t accept the premise that Romney is worse than Obama.
You can follow your own conscience, but not voting for Obama is my goal in the Presidential race. All in all holding the Congress for 40 years is what it will take and where the real action is.
Newt hasn’t convinced me, yet. Newt is an idea guy and he flutters around too much, can’t control himself above or below the waist. I don’t trust Newt and suspect that all the enthusiasm behind him is simply the anti-Romney vote. Bigots simply will never vote for Romney ever, but imagine for a moment that Romney is the nominee. What can we do?
Politicians pay the piper. What if Jim R. approached Romney and said, “Look I don’t trust you a whit, now show me in writing executive decisions 100% in the President’s power that you will institute in your first 100 days? Show me why I should help you defeat Obama.”
Romney lays it out, in writing and as part of his General Election Platform and FR, preferring the defeat of Obama, supports him. Now three things can happen:
1. Romney wins honors his pledge and keeps his promises.
2. Romney wins and disregards his pledge and governs ala GHW Bush/Gerald Ford/Richard Nixon, typical GOP elite.
3. Romney loses.
Two out of three of those possible scenarios America and conservatism are better off, particularly with control of Congress. You can ascribe any percent likelihood to the above. That’s logical and that’s how I will vote. In the short term, living in IL, I have to wait until late March 20 to vote my conscience.