Mitt Romney's 2012 Chances Look Good (twisting the knife with a smile)

Policy Mic ^ | October 9, 2011 | Next Generation News and Politics

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Mitt Romney began his presidential campaign in an enviable position. Amid a weak field of other Republican candidates, Romney enjoyed consistently high polling numbers while being figured by the media as one of the only “serious” contenders for nomination. With the continuing litany of gaffes from Texas Gov. Rick Perry seeming to doom his potential “white knight” bid, and with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie announcing that he has no intention of pursuing the presidency, Romney has endured.

Romney’s eligibility has never been in serious doubt. He has held all the right offices. He enjoys national name recognition, courtesy, for the most part, of a failed presidential run in 2008. To the GOP base, he is a reliable, safe conservative, but not outrageously conservative ala Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn). To the moneyed king-makers, Romney represents a business-friendly choice. To the rest of us, at least he looks “presidential.” Amid a relatively weak field, Romney represents an ideal choice.

In light of the weak competition, this is damning him with faint praise. Perry was supposed to be the Texan Romney, promising both conservative ideals and corporate appeal, but he squandered much of his initial support due to some inexplicably callous missteps. The likes of Tim Pawlenty, Rick Santorum, and Jon Huntsman did little to distinguish themselves either through campaign incompetence or public skepticism. Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich may be enjoying a post-Florida bump but it is likely that the Florida poll was a fluke (and who believes straw polls anyway?). Bachmann’s campaign has all but collapsed.

The field is clear for Romney and he knows it.

At times, it seems that Romney has not even begun to campaign. He did not really seem intent on wasting his time, energy, and money on campaigning at this early stage until Perry appeared. But now that his greatest competitor is fading, Romney can continue his masterly inactivity and conserve his strength for the real fight against President Barack Obama.

There still is, however, a chance for Romney to stumble. His close ties to big business and implementation of Massachusetts’s statewide health insurance were initially seen as potential stumbling blocks. They still could be. His competitors have, thus far, preferred to snipe away at each other rather than gun for Romney. Should he ever be confronted on either, blithering and indecision could be disastrous. Best, for now, to sit tight and read from the carefully crafted script.

But perhaps his greatest challenge will come from his greatest initial asset — political fame. A recent Pew survey has shown that the public’s trust in government has sunk to one of its lowest levels in half a century. Romney has always been a member of the establishment, with widespread ties to the increasingly stratified elite. While populism has been a marginal, if vocal, movement in this country’s contemporary politics, it threatens, with the right catalyst, to explode into a viable, coherent movement.

Should that happen, he of the slick hair and corporate-friendly attitude may find himself quite adrift.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Writer on Perry: Perry was supposed to be the Texan Romney, promising both conservative ideals and corporate appeal, but he squandered much of his initial support due to some inexplicably callous missteps.

This comes to mind: “Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.” -- Sherlock Holmes.

Writer on Romney: The field is clear for Romney and he knows it.

This comes to mind: "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy." -- Jabberwocky

And then it concludes: "[Romney] of the slick hair and corporate-friendly attitude may find himself quite adrift."

Which brings to mind:

4 MORE YEARS

[fieldmarshaldj]

Cincy & The Perrywinkles...

“Vote for La Raza Rick... or ELSE !”

[Yorlik803]

Isnt it time that the GOP stops putting up people who makes the conservatives hold their noses to vote for?
I dont like Mitt, just like I didnt like McCain but still ended up voting for him even though it felt like I needed a long hot shower with bleach afterwards.
The GOP must want four more years of Obama.Otherwise they wouldnt keep saddling us with these plaid pants conservatives.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

You seem to be tagging along beside me this morning. How’s life treating you?

[RonDog]

We are **so** screwed. :(

[sushiman]

” The GOP must want four more years of Obama.Otherwise they wouldnt keep saddling us with these plaid pants conservatives “

Two party one card monte ...You got it .

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Isnt it time that the GOP stops putting up people who makes the conservatives hold their noses to vote for?

We have one. The guy the MSM is trying so hard to "Bork" and "Quayle."

[JDW11235]

What do you expect from the “American Idol” mentality? She doesn’t care that Perry’s a liberal, he has great hair! He’ll be voted off of National Politics Island soon enough. :-) He shoulda sticked to Texas where there’s no competition. (And said he would, but he’s a flip flopper, meh).

[fieldmarshaldj]

It’s the party establishment that remains an impediment to change. They like big government and they like pro-big government pols. Frankly, too many are far more comfortable with Democrats than with small-government Conservatives. Look at Karl Rove, very typical of that mindset.

We ought to have the cream of the crop running for President, those who cut government, cut spending, cut the red tape and ENFORCE our borders, but what we end up with is a bunch of big government prima donnas that the media and the establishment pimps and insist we MUST (!) support. People like Slick Willard, Newt, La Raza Rick, Huntsman, et al, have a real nerve even thinking about getting into the race when they’ve done next to nothing for the Conservative cause (beyond insulting our intelligence).

[fieldmarshaldj]

Yup. Herman Cain. Too bad you don’t like him because he’s... y’know... Conservative.

[JDW11235]

(”Sticked” was intentional, as Perry is a bumbling moron).

[driftdiver]

Obviously there are only two choices for the nomination right. Once again they are trying to dictate the candidate.

Never mind the other candidates who have tossed their hat in the ring.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2789594/posts?page=102#102

[fieldmarshaldj]

Perry is the poster-boy for Gubernatorial term limits. Nobody should serve what will be over 14 years without interruption come the end of his current term. He shoulda been voted off “Austin Island” back in 2006.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

If you feel you have to explain your “joke” you’ve failed.

[behzinlea]

Romney has always been a member of the establishment, with widespread ties to the increasingly stratified elite. While populism has been a marginal, if vocal, movement in this country’s contemporary politics, it threatens, with the right catalyst, to explode into a viable, coherent movement.

There's no question Obama will attempt to overwhelm Romney by whipping up an anti-Wall Street populist wave of class warfare anger and resentment. Romney has set himself up for it through a few particularly dumb statements such as "corporations are people." Also, Obama will exploit Romney's capitalist venture experience in which he got quite wealthy off some companies that later failed. I'm sure his handlers are working overtime to come up with an effective narrative and defense, but that might be an impossible sale to make.

Unfortunately, the other candidates would have even greater weaknesses in a general election. The more beloved they are by core conservatives and evangelical conservatives in particular, the more disliked they will be by the mush brained swing voters who decide elections.

[506Lake]

Romney opposed the two most successful conservative policy efforts of the last 30 years... the Reagan policies of the 1980`s and the Contract With America of the 1990`s.

A Essay on Mitt Romney. Its damning.

[JDW11235]

“you’ve failed.”

Kinda like you spamming FR trying to get us to coronate Rico Perry. I’m glad you love him so much, he’ll be staying in Texas.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Once again they are trying to dictate the candidate.

The MSM isn't trying to help Gov. Perry one bit. In fact they're working overtime to get Mitt.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

We’ll see.