It's the problem I have, too. Romney wasn't my first choice (or second or third) but in the end he impressed the hell out of me. All this talk about Romney the terrible candidate -- hello, first debate! What other likely Republican candidate could have done that? Romney was brilliant. What other likely Republican candidate could have avoided the tiny gaffes that the MSM so capably inflates into major campaign issues? Yes, there was the 47% stuff, but Romney was just stating an obvious fact, and I can't believe it hurt him much. He gave the MSM almost no ammunition to use against him. He had baggage, but every candidate has baggage.
In 2016 Republicans will once again have to run a campaign AGAINST the MSM that has to pass THROUGH the MSM. It is almost impossible to win that game. I doubt that any of the current crop of likely 2016 (R) candidates can compete in that game at Romney's level. Most of them can't even come close.
I think we somehow have to out-communicate the MSM if we are ever going to win without a stellar candidate. If the gifted Romney wasn't good enough to win, we need to be playing a different game.
Whomever you are - I agree with you completely.