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Inside the campaign: How Mitt Romney stumbled
politico.com ^
| 9-16-12
| By MIKE ALLEN and JIM VANDEHEI
Posted on 09/17/2012 2:36:13 AM PDT by rawhide
Stuart Stevens, Mitt Romneys top strategist, knew his candidates convention speech needed a memorable mix of loft and grace if he was going to bound out of Tampa with an authentic chance to win the presidency. So Stevens, bypassing the speechwriting staff at the campaigns Boston headquarters, assigned the sensitive task of drafting it to Peter Wehner, a veteran of the last three Republican White Houses and one of the partys smarter wordsmiths.
Not a word Wehner wrote was ever spoken.
Stevens junked the entire thing, setting off a chaotic, eight-day scramble that would produce an hour of prime-time problems for Romney, including Clint Eastwoods meandering monologue to an empty chair.
Romneys convention stumbles have provoked weeks of public griping and internal sniping about not only Romney but also his mercurial campaign muse, Stevens. Viewed warily by conservatives, known for his impulsiveness and described by a colleague as a tortured artist, Stevens has become the leading staff scapegoat for a campaign that suddenly is behind in a race that had been expected to stay neck and neck through Nov. 6.
This article is based on accounts from Romney aides, advisers and friends, most of whom refused to speak on the record because they were recounting private discussions and offering direct criticism of the candidate and his staff, Stevens in particular.
Stevens, in a lengthy interview Sunday afternoon, defended the campaigns performance, refused to discuss internal conversations and insisted Romney is doing far better than the pundits portray. Like all campaigns, we have good days and bad days. Im happy to take responsibility for the bad days, he said. This is a tremendously talented team.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: infighting; romney; stumbled
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To: Vaquero
“Hard to believe that FReepers are buying this”
What I buy is that the MSM got a scare in 2004 but they’ve learned from the past, they’ve studied the masters like Goebbels, and they’re all in this time.
We are really close to the edge here. It’s not a question of us “buying this”. It’s real.
41
posted on
09/17/2012 5:50:22 AM PDT
by
Jim Noble
(Diseases desperate grown are by desperate appliance relieved or not at all.)
To: rawhide
Romney aides, advisers and friends, most of whom refused to speak on the recordI'll stop reading right there. I don't trust Anything Politico publishes.
42
posted on
09/17/2012 5:51:08 AM PDT
by
radioone
( Main Stream Media. The Government built that.)
To: Jim Noble
what an appropriate name for the MSM:
they are the FIFTH COLUMNISTS
43
posted on
09/17/2012 5:58:25 AM PDT
by
Vaquero
(Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)
To: rawhide
“almost like he does not want to win”
Well, it’s fair to say that Romney and his people saw Gingrich, Santorum, and Sarah Palin as much greater threats to the republic than they see Obama.
44
posted on
09/17/2012 5:58:55 AM PDT
by
Jim Noble
(Diseases desperate grown are by desperate appliance relieved or not at all.)
To: Timber Rattler
Time to climb back aboard the Eldridge, Morris.
Your stupidity and ignorance knows no bounds. Did they forget to empty out the coffee grounds at Site R this morning?
Regards,
Mark Jessup.
45
posted on
09/17/2012 6:19:32 AM PDT
by
mkjessup
(Jimmy Carter is the Skidmark in America's panties, 0bama is the yellow stain in front!)
To: rawhide
Yes any other comments TOKYO ROSE?
46
posted on
09/17/2012 7:18:58 AM PDT
by
MrDem
(Founder: Democrats for Cheney/Palin 2012)
To: mkjessup
Nah, I think that you're Morris...
Morris K. Jessup
...so for now on, you're just plain Morris.
47
posted on
09/17/2012 7:25:09 AM PDT
by
Timber Rattler
(Just say NO! to RINOS and the GOP-E)
To: rawhide
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2932255/posts “A top strategist for Mitt Romney confirmed Sunday night that speeches go through lots of processes and editing after Politico first reported there were competing versions of Romneys Tampa, Fla., convention speech. The speech Romney ultimately delivered was criticized for failing to mention Afghanistan.”
Whether we like it or not, the JonStewart media is the ever giving charitable advertising arm of the D-n-C. This so called confirmation by a top strategist for Romney about the complaint lodged means this story is not going away. Maybe the focus ought to be on the crybabies that went bellyaching to the JonStewart media in the first place.
48
posted on
09/17/2012 7:29:10 AM PDT
by
Just mythoughts
(Please help Todd Akin defeat Claire and the GOP-e send money!!!!!)
To: rawhide
I'm most certain this article is totally unbiased and has no agenda.
Polutico would never lead us astray or try to dispirit the right.......
Never.
49
posted on
09/17/2012 7:33:44 AM PDT
by
Lakeshark
(I don't care for Mitt; the alternative is unthinkable)
To: Timber Rattler; Virginia Ridgerunner; onyx
Nah, I think that you're Morris...
Morris K. Jessup
...so for now on, you're just plain Morris.
You can think what you want, but I've had the same screen name since March 2003, UNLIKE YOU, Virginia.
So man up (if it's possible Ginny) and just c'mon and tell us WHY you dropped your old screen name in favor of this toothless snake you're seeking to emulate?
50
posted on
09/17/2012 8:15:08 AM PDT
by
mkjessup
(Jimmy Carter is the Skidmark in America's panties, 0bama is the yellow stain in front!)
To: arasina; mkjessup
” IT’S EMPTY CHAIR MONDAY! “
B U M P
51
posted on
09/17/2012 8:28:03 AM PDT
by
stephenjohnbanker
(God, family, country, mom, apple pie, the girl next door and a Ford F250 to pull my boat.)
To: Timber Rattler; mkjessup; onyx
What name will you post under next ?
: )
52
posted on
09/17/2012 8:29:31 AM PDT
by
stephenjohnbanker
(God, family, country, mom, apple pie, the girl next door and a Ford F250 to pull my boat.)
To: stephenjohnbanker; onyx; Timber Rattler
53
posted on
09/17/2012 8:38:23 AM PDT
by
mkjessup
(Jimmy Carter is the Skidmark in America's panties, 0bama is the yellow stain in front!)
To: mkjessup
We're a protected species...didn't you know that, Morris?
54
posted on
09/17/2012 8:38:23 AM PDT
by
Timber Rattler
(Just say NO! to RINOS and the GOP-E)
To: Timber Rattler; stephenjohnbanker; onyx
Another reptilian bites the dust. Memorize that, it will most likely be your epitaph, lol
55
posted on
09/17/2012 8:42:16 AM PDT
by
mkjessup
(Jimmy Carter is the Skidmark in America's panties, 0bama is the yellow stain in front!)
To: rawhide
Romney does need to keep energeized, but this article is only meant to undermine him. Its also a anti-conservative narrative.
To: mkjessup
Break the law at your own peril, Morris. I ain’t going anywhere.
57
posted on
09/17/2012 8:46:15 AM PDT
by
Timber Rattler
(Just say NO! to RINOS and the GOP-E)
To: mkjessup; Timber Rattler; stephenjohnbanker; onyx
LOL....Morris.........
When did you change your name, Mark ? : )
58
posted on
09/17/2012 8:46:26 AM PDT
by
stephenjohnbanker
(God, family, country, mom, apple pie, the girl next door and a Ford F250 to pull my boat.)
To: stephenjohnbanker
59
posted on
09/17/2012 8:48:17 AM PDT
by
Timber Rattler
(Just say NO! to RINOS and the GOP-E)
To: stephenjohnbanker
LOL....Morris.........
When did you change your name, Mark ? : )
I suppose inside the head of that stupid snake, where I'm living rent free, LOL
60
posted on
09/17/2012 8:49:41 AM PDT
by
mkjessup
(Jimmy Carter is the Skidmark in America's panties, 0bama is the yellow stain in front!)
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