Showing posts with label Ex-Governor Mitt Romney. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ex-Governor Mitt Romney. Show all posts
Friday, January 09, 2015
Mitt Romney puts bunny ears on Scott Brown
That kooky Mitt Romney puts bunny ears up behind Scott Brown at a photo-op following the Massachusetts inauguration.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Mitt Romney Poses For Photographers After Lunch At The White House
Photo by Mona Goldwater, White House Correspondent
---o0o---
Sunday, October 21, 2012
The Salt Lake City Tribune's stunning endorsement of President Barack Obama
By Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Editor
Is this a mindf***er of all mindf***ers, or what? On October 19th, The Salt Lake City Tribune came out and endorsed Barack Obama for President. Why? They lead into their endorsement with a couple of paragraphs praising his earl good works, in particular for the state of Utah.
They go on to praise The President's domestic and foreign agendas, lavishing praise on his foreign accomplishments, as well as his shepherding of stimulus money and the courage it took, as well as his masterpiece, The Affordable Care Act (and the political capital he expended to make it the law of the land).
The Tribune damns Romney's promises and statements as both pandering, and unrealistic. The President would do well to study this editorial and quote from it liberally in next week's debate. Hats off to the Tribune for their honest and courageous editorial. Read the entire piece here.
The editorial is a worthwhile read because this is a 'paper from a state inclined to support Mitt Romney both because of his religion and conservatism, and his stewardship of their beloved Olympic Games. And now, nearly two weeks before the election, The President should quote liberally from the Tribune in his debate with the Ex-Governor next week.
Copyright (C) 2012 by All This Is That. All This Is That contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We make these materials available to advance the understanding of political, economic, literary, artistic, and social issues. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of copyrighted material as provided for by section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit for research, educational, and entertainment purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', please read and follow our Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license and attribute the work to All This Is That, along with our URL
"Obama has earned another term"
Is this a mindf***er of all mindf***ers, or what? On October 19th, The Salt Lake City Tribune came out and endorsed Barack Obama for President. Why? They lead into their endorsement with a couple of paragraphs praising his earl good works, in particular for the state of Utah.
"The Republican nominee’s political and religious pedigrees, his adeptly bipartisan governorship of a Democratic state, and his head for business and the bottom line all inspire admiration and hope in our largely Mormon, Republican, business-friendly state."And, then, they get down to business:
"In short, this is the Mitt Romney we knew, or thought we knew, as one of us."
"Sadly, it is not the only Romney, as his campaign for the White House has made abundantly clear, first in his servile courtship of the tea party in order to win the nomination, and now as the party’s shape-shifting nominee. From his embrace of the party’s radical right wing, to subsequent portrayals of himself as a moderate champion of the middle class, Romney has raised the most frequently asked question of the campaign: "Who is this guy, really, and what in the world does he truly believe?"
They go on to praise The President's domestic and foreign agendas, lavishing praise on his foreign accomplishments, as well as his shepherding of stimulus money and the courage it took, as well as his masterpiece, The Affordable Care Act (and the political capital he expended to make it the law of the land).
The Tribune damns Romney's promises and statements as both pandering, and unrealistic. The President would do well to study this editorial and quote from it liberally in next week's debate. Hats off to the Tribune for their honest and courageous editorial. Read the entire piece here.
The editorial is a worthwhile read because this is a 'paper from a state inclined to support Mitt Romney both because of his religion and conservatism, and his stewardship of their beloved Olympic Games. And now, nearly two weeks before the election, The President should quote liberally from the Tribune in his debate with the Ex-Governor next week.
Copyright (C) 2012 by All This Is That. All This Is That contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We make these materials available to advance the understanding of political, economic, literary, artistic, and social issues. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of copyrighted material as provided for by section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit for research, educational, and entertainment purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', please read and follow our Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license and attribute the work to All This Is That, along with our URL
---o0o---
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Moments and photos from Tuesday's Presidential debate
Both Governor Romney and President Obama couldn't seem to get Lorraine Osario's name straight. “Lorraina?" "Lorraine?” "Laurie?" “Lorena?” Come on guys, is it that hard?
President Obama: "The day after the [Libya] attack, Governor, I stood in the Rose Garden, and I told the American people and the world that we are going to find out exactly what happened, that this was an act of terror. ... And the suggestion that anybody in my team, whether the secretary of state, our U.N. ambassador, anybody on my team would play politics or mislead when we've lost four of our own, Governor, is offensive. That's not what we do. That's not what I do as president. That's not what I do as commander in chief."
Mitt Romney: "I think it's interesting the president just said something which is that on the day after the attack, he went in the Rose Garden and said that this was an act of terror. You said in the Rose Garden the day after the attack it was an act of terror. It was not a spontaneous demonstration. ... I want to make sure we get that for the record, because it took the president 14 days before he called the attack in Benghazi an act of terror."
President Obama: "Get the transcript."
CNN'S Candy Crowley, the moderator: "He did, in fact, sir."
President Obama: "Can you say that a little louder, Candy?" (Laughter, applause.)
Candy Crowley: "He did call it an act of terror. ... It did, as well, take two weeks or so for the whole idea of there being a riot out there about this tape to come out. You are correct about that."
A compilation of the interactions between the candidates and the moderator:
President Obama: ”When I hear Governor Romney say he’s a big coal guy — and keep in mind when — Governor, when you were governor of Massachusetts, you stood in front of a coal plant and pointed at it and said, ‘This plant kills,’ and took great pride in shutting it down. And now suddenly you’re a big champion of coal.”
Mitt Romney: "[An] important topic and one which I learned a great deal about, particularly as I was serving as governor of my state, because I had the chance to pull together a Cabinet ... I went to my staff, and I said, 'How come all the [candidates] for these jobs ... are all men?' They said, 'Well, these are the people that have the qualifications.' And I said, 'Well, gosh, can't ... we find ... some women that are also qualified?' ... I went to a number of women's groups and said, 'Can you help us find folks?' And I brought us whole binders full of women."
President Obama: “Look, the cost of lowering rates for everybody across the board by 20 percent, along with what he also wants with eliminating the estate tax, along with what he wants to do with corporate changes in the tax code, it costs about $5 trillion. Governor Romney then also wants to spend about $2 trillion on additional military programs even though the military is not asking for them. That is $7 trillion. He also wants to continue the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthiest Americans; that’s another trillion dollars. That’s $8 trillion. Now, what he says is that he is going to make sure this doesn’t add to the deficit and he’s going to cut middle class taxes but when he is asked, ‘How are you going to do it? Which deductions, which loopholes are you going to close?’ He can’t tell you."
Mitt Romney: "Your rate comes down, and the burden also comes down on you for one more reason, and that is every middle-income taxpayer no longer will pay any tax on interest, dividends or capital gains. No tax on your savings. That makes life a lot easier."
President Obama: “Look, the cost of lowering rates for everybody across the board by 20 percent, along with what he also wants with eliminating the estate tax, along with what he wants to do with corporate changes in the tax code, it costs about $5 trillion. Governor Romney then also wants to spend about $2 trillion on additional military programs even though the military is not asking for them. That is $7 trillion. He also wants to continue the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthiest Americans; that’s another trillion dollars. That’s $8 trillion. Now, what he says is that he is going to make sure this doesn’t add to the deficit and he’s going to cut middle class taxes but when he is asked, ‘How are you going to do it? Which deductions, which loopholes are you going to close?’ He can’t tell you."
President Obama: "The suggestion that anybody in my team, whether the Secretary of State, our U.N. Ambassador, anybody on my team would play politics or mislead when we’ve lost four of our own, governor, is offensive. That’s not what we do. That’s not what I do as president, that’s not what I do as Commander in Chief."
Mitt Romney: [To President Obama] "You'll get your chance in a moment." Disrespecting the office?
President Obama: "When folks mess with Americans, we go after them."
President Obama: "We haven’t heard from the governor any specifics, beyond Big Bird and eliminating funding for Planned Parenthood, in terms of how he pays for that.”
---o0o---
Tuesday, October 09, 2012
Ex-Governor Romney backs down, weasels, retrenches, stonewalls, bobs and weaves, and dissembles
By Pablo Fanque, ATIT National Affairs Editor
Illustrations by Jack Brummet
OK. The Ex-Governor came out on top in a couple of polls today. But he did not get there by standing fast or holding his ground. He arrived there by weaseling, backing down, retrenching, and dissembling.
.jpg)
In a handful of key zones, Mitt Romney has begun to position himself as a centrist. He doesn't have to worry about the Tea Party anymore. They are going to hold their collective noses and vote for him. But as for the rest of us:
1) He now says he won't deport young illegal immigrants given a chance to stay in the United States by Obama...kind of weaseling in sideways to The Dream Act..
2) Mr. Romney is also playing catch-up on the Affordable Health Care Act; far from his earlier stance of running as rapidly and far away from it as he could, he is now playing up the health care program a/k/a RomneyCare (with its individual mandate) that was his biggest accomplishment as governor of Massachusetts.
3) Rhetorically, he's backed down from his own tax plan. In the first debate, it was hard to analyze the difference between his and BHO's tax plan. Honestly, it's hard to tell just what his plan is now, but it's a fine one, he says. "Trust me."
4) He even admitted in the debate that government regulation “is essential.” "I mean, you have to have regulations so that you can have an economy work,” he told us. The way he stated it in the debate implied, "Oh you silly people, this is what I had in mind all along." And,
5) After all the bobbing, weaving, and stonewalling over the last couple of weeks, the contrite Ex-Governor told Fox News last Thursday that his comment about the “47 percent” of the electorate he wrote off as moochers, freeloaders, and just flat-ass lazy, when he met with campaign donors, was “completely wrong.” You said a mouthful Governor.
---o0o---
Thursday, October 04, 2012
President Obama and Governor Romney fail to show up for first Presidential Debate
By Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Editor
One of the few things I liked about BHO's performance tonight was that he consistently took the high road, even when Gov. Romney left himself open for a hook. No zingers, but unfortunately no pyrotechnics.
A friend wrote tonight—and I'm crossing my fingers it's true—"My money is on Obama playing chess. He's sacrificing his pawn now, because it's Checkmate in two more moves."
I thought BHO was seriously off his game, but scored over and over on Mitt's lack of specificity. I thought Mitt was the most on his game he's been in a long time. He was peppy, smiling, and irritating. All that debate prep obviously helped, but he relied far too much on "trust me."
Governor Romney on the other hand, rolled out his transformation to a centrist, almost Democratic position on the economy and taxes. Now that the tea party wing of the GOP is only focused on getting BHO out of office, they don't seem to much care what he says.
Post-debate, the team at MSNBC ranged from disappointed to livid. For my part, the one thing BHO most pointedly did not do was take a leaf from WJC's masterful speech at the Democratic convention: folksy, passionate, fairly wonky, but real clear, and really forceful without being overbearing or lecturing.
The two guys I really wanted to see show up for the debate tonight. Unfortunately, neither of them was able to make it.
One of the few things I liked about BHO's performance tonight was that he consistently took the high road, even when Gov. Romney left himself open for a hook. No zingers, but unfortunately no pyrotechnics.
A friend wrote tonight—and I'm crossing my fingers it's true—"My money is on Obama playing chess. He's sacrificing his pawn now, because it's Checkmate in two more moves."
I thought BHO was seriously off his game, but scored over and over on Mitt's lack of specificity. I thought Mitt was the most on his game he's been in a long time. He was peppy, smiling, and irritating. All that debate prep obviously helped, but he relied far too much on "trust me."
Governor Romney on the other hand, rolled out his transformation to a centrist, almost Democratic position on the economy and taxes. Now that the tea party wing of the GOP is only focused on getting BHO out of office, they don't seem to much care what he says.
Post-debate, the team at MSNBC ranged from disappointed to livid. For my part, the one thing BHO most pointedly did not do was take a leaf from WJC's masterful speech at the Democratic convention: folksy, passionate, fairly wonky, but real clear, and really forceful without being overbearing or lecturing.
Next week we'll see crazy Joe mix it up with the slippery Paul Ryan. VP Biden is a great debater. BHO has two weeks to get his act together. I also believe that the decideds are softer than is commonly believed...at last a small percentage of them. And a small percentage in the right battleground state is all it takes to upset the applecart. I'm pretty sure BHO will come alive. But, hey, POTUS, there's no time like the present. People are voting. I vote in two weeks.
---o0o---
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
.jpeg)
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Mitt Romney's greatest enemy is in his mirror
By Pablo Fanque
National Affairs Editor
This headline/front page keeps reappearing on blogs and websites, reminding us daily that while the GOP-Tea Party has not mounted a respectable candidate since--probably--Dwight D,. Eisenhower, they have rarely put together such a pathetic assemblage. . .well, except maybe, last time around.
Copyright (C) 2012 by All This Is That. All This Is That contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We make these materials available to advance the understanding of political, economic, literary, artistic, and social issues. In some cases we satirize, parody, or lampoon materials from other sources. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of copyrighted material as provided for by section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit for research, educational, and entertainment purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', please read and follow our Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license and attribute the work to All This Is That, along with our URL (http://jackbrummet.blogspot.com).
National Affairs Editor
This headline/front page keeps reappearing on blogs and websites, reminding us daily that while the GOP-Tea Party has not mounted a respectable candidate since--probably--Dwight D,. Eisenhower, they have rarely put together such a pathetic assemblage. . .well, except maybe, last time around.
Copyright (C) 2012 by All This Is That. All This Is That contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We make these materials available to advance the understanding of political, economic, literary, artistic, and social issues. In some cases we satirize, parody, or lampoon materials from other sources. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of copyrighted material as provided for by section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit for research, educational, and entertainment purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', please read and follow our Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license and attribute the work to All This Is That, along with our URL (http://jackbrummet.blogspot.com).
---o0o---
Mitt Romney endorses Affordable Care Act
By Pablo Fanque
National Affairs Editor
Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul, responding to a brutal new super PAC ad (the one showing a man who blames Bain Capital for his uninsured wife’s death), broke new ground for the campaign by praising Romney’s health insurance mandate. Saul brought up her candidate's greatest legislative achievement--an almost explicit endorsement of the Affordable Care Act.
This is looking to be one of the most colossal Romney eff-ups yet in a campaign now increasingly littered with them. No one on the left has a problem with this, but "the base," or, Ex-Governor Romney's core supporters, are outraged. And this is on top of several other howlers this week. Governor, all we can say is "keep on keepin' on."
National Affairs Editor
Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul, responding to a brutal new super PAC ad (the one showing a man who blames Bain Capital for his uninsured wife’s death), broke new ground for the campaign by praising Romney’s health insurance mandate. Saul brought up her candidate's greatest legislative achievement--an almost explicit endorsement of the Affordable Care Act.
This is looking to be one of the most colossal Romney eff-ups yet in a campaign now increasingly littered with them. No one on the left has a problem with this, but "the base," or, Ex-Governor Romney's core supporters, are outraged. And this is on top of several other howlers this week. Governor, all we can say is "keep on keepin' on."
---o0o---
Monday, September 10, 2012
Larry Flynt's latest $1 million reward: Send me Mitt Romney's tax returns
By Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Editor
Thanks to Jeff Clinton for the NewsTip!
Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt, and self-described free speech activist, is offering $1 million for anyone who will provide him with Mitt Romney's financial records. In the past he has offered $1 million for various celebrities to pose naked, for evidence refuting the Warren Commission report, for evidence that Presidential candidate Rick Perry was guilty of infidelity, and during the Clinton impeachment trial, for evidence any of the committee members had been guilty of similar transgressions.
Thanks to Jeff Clinton for the NewsTip!
Flynt, 69, purchased full-page ads in Sunday's Washington Post and the Tuesday, September 11, issue of USA Today. "What is he hiding?" the ad text reads. "Maybe, now, we'll find out." The ad also includes a phone number and email address where anyone with information can contact Flynt (at http://larryflynt.com/).
---o0o---
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Mitt Romney goes full retard, joins the birther movement
By Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Editor
The Obama campaign didn't waste any time getting out this 15 second spot. I love hardball and I love mudslinging. But with this, Mitt Romney finally breached the line of decency. He's now playing to the wacko fringe, and shedding groups of supporters and undecideds in the middle every inch of the way.
People laughed at me saying this today, but I really thought better of Romney. But even 'though I had sworn off campaign donations this time around in my disgust at post Citizens-United campaign funding, tonight I am transmitting e-cash to the Obama campaign.
Mitt Romney is one sick biscuit. Enough of this neck and neck in the polls BS. It's time to take out the Romney-Ryan brain trust. This is war. And it doesn't need to be fought on November 6th. When you have the sickness, you don't wait--you bomb it with antibiotics or excise the infection. Mitt Romney is now a diseased part that needs to be chopped away. "Fell deeds, await. Now for wrath. Now for ruin, and the red dawn!"
The Obama campaign didn't waste any time getting out this 15 second spot. I love hardball and I love mudslinging. But with this, Mitt Romney finally breached the line of decency. He's now playing to the wacko fringe, and shedding groups of supporters and undecideds in the middle every inch of the way.
People laughed at me saying this today, but I really thought better of Romney. But even 'though I had sworn off campaign donations this time around in my disgust at post Citizens-United campaign funding, tonight I am transmitting e-cash to the Obama campaign.
Mitt Romney is one sick biscuit. Enough of this neck and neck in the polls BS. It's time to take out the Romney-Ryan brain trust. This is war. And it doesn't need to be fought on November 6th. When you have the sickness, you don't wait--you bomb it with antibiotics or excise the infection. Mitt Romney is now a diseased part that needs to be chopped away. "Fell deeds, await. Now for wrath. Now for ruin, and the red dawn!"
---o0o---
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Paul Ryan—the man on horseback—rides in to save a moribund and faltering Romney campaign
By Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Editor
Mitt Romney introduced Paul Ryan this morning as the "next President of the United States." He later corrected himself, but, who knows?— he may have been right the first time.
I'm good with this choice. He's great for "the base" and ensures there will be exactly zero bleedthrough from the Democratic middle. Isn't it funny that we don't have a good term for more conservative democrats? Blue Dog Democrat probably comes closest. The phrase "Moderate Republican" used to actually mean something.
Moderate Republicans unfortunately became extinct sometime around the time of the Millennium. I now believe the Democrats can and will win this election (up to, and including, The Senate). The GOP/Tea Party, and especially their candidate, keep lobbing incredibly sweet cream-puffs at the Dems. Sadly, I don't think any Veep candidate can much help the Ex-Governor's chances of taking the White House. . .unless they seal the candidate's mouth with duct tape until November 6th.
Mitt Romney has cashed his check. The time of the Democrats has come. Virtually every Romney supporter I've met is not really so much for Romney as they are against Obama. BHO needs to get his message out there: the auto companies are booming and repaying the money he loaned them, with interest; Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are profitable again; the TARP money has mostly proven to be a very good investment. A little bit of health care reform went down on his watch too, on top of winding down wars on two fronts, ending Don't Ask/Don't tell, and (finally!) coming out in favor of same-sex marriage. This could be a rout.
Mitt Romney introduced Paul Ryan this morning as the "next President of the United States." He later corrected himself, but, who knows?— he may have been right the first time.
I'm good with this choice. He's great for "the base" and ensures there will be exactly zero bleedthrough from the Democratic middle. Isn't it funny that we don't have a good term for more conservative democrats? Blue Dog Democrat probably comes closest. The phrase "Moderate Republican" used to actually mean something.
Moderate Republicans unfortunately became extinct sometime around the time of the Millennium. I now believe the Democrats can and will win this election (up to, and including, The Senate). The GOP/Tea Party, and especially their candidate, keep lobbing incredibly sweet cream-puffs at the Dems. Sadly, I don't think any Veep candidate can much help the Ex-Governor's chances of taking the White House. . .unless they seal the candidate's mouth with duct tape until November 6th.
Mitt Romney has cashed his check. The time of the Democrats has come. Virtually every Romney supporter I've met is not really so much for Romney as they are against Obama. BHO needs to get his message out there: the auto companies are booming and repaying the money he loaned them, with interest; Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are profitable again; the TARP money has mostly proven to be a very good investment. A little bit of health care reform went down on his watch too, on top of winding down wars on two fronts, ending Don't Ask/Don't tell, and (finally!) coming out in favor of same-sex marriage. This could be a rout.
---o0o---
Friday, August 10, 2012
Notes on Ex-Governor Mitt Romney banging his head against the wall
By Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Editor
-1-
I suspect this is mild compared to what we will see in September and October. It really feels like the longer he bobs and weaves around the issue of his tax returns, the more steamed up the opposition becomes.
Let's face it, even The Republican-Tea Party members are cringing and having second thoughts as the Democrats declare open season.
-2-
In 2004, Mitt Romney had this to say about John Kerry’s tendency to change his mind. He starts off telling the audience that it's "standard operating procedure" in campaigns to "look at your opponent's record, you find someplace where he or she has changed positions and you say they're a flip-flopper." He goes on:
-3-
His numbers are sucking:
a) A recent Fox news poll (click on this link to see very detailed analysis of the poll) lists Obama pulling 49% of the vote and Romney 40%. If the election were held today. Obama's lead in that poll comes from an 11% lead among independent voters.
b) Cnn:
Romney said on Friday that both campaigns would benefit if they agreed that “attacks based upon business or family or taxes or things of that nature — that this is just — this is diversion.” Instead, he said in an interview with NBC News, he would prefer a setting where he and BHO could talk about issues and differences in their positions. Really? This wouldn't seem so disingenuous had Mittens not spent the last year trumpeting his success at Bain, and how he planned to implement the Bain model nationally. And as for the tax mess--both his proposed taxing schemes, and his own shadowy personal tax record--the less Mitt talks about taxes, the better he will be. By not releasing his own tax information, The Ex-Governor has almost given up the right to talk about taxes at all.
Mitt Romney is still allowing "members" of his team like Donald Trump to hammer away on the birther and Muslim non-issues, continuing to imply that the President is not an actual U.S. citizen, and that even if he is, he is really a Muslim who will implement Sharia Law as soon the instant he is sworn in for his second term.
As Republican strategist David Gergen said recently: "I think the Obama campaign is outmaneuvering the Romney campaign. They've kept him on the defensive on his taxes and on Bain, which is a key foundation for his campaign," Gergen said. "This rat-a-tat of advertising, this avalanche of advertising has taken a toll."
Finally, Gergen said "It's now clear that Romney can't win this election by default. It's not an apple that's going to fall into his lap because the economy is weak. He's got to take it away from (Obama)."
-5-
Paul Ryan
Ex-Governor Mitt Romney was pretty much forced into selecting Paul Ryan has a running mate. Paul Ryan will appeal to the "base" and even to the Tea-Party/Birther fringe. But as to grabbing voters in the middle, or chiseling a few Dems into a Democrats For Romney movement? Stillborn. His choice for Vice President nets him nothing. Nothing at all. No votes, no momentum (a/k/a "The Big Mo"), and no gravitas. Romney's selection nets him zero votes--no one from the middle, and no one from the left. And, as for the right/the base? It leaves Mitt with a VP that most of his base would prefer was on top of the ticket
-1-
I suspect this is mild compared to what we will see in September and October. It really feels like the longer he bobs and weaves around the issue of his tax returns, the more steamed up the opposition becomes.
Let's face it, even The Republican-Tea Party members are cringing and having second thoughts as the Democrats declare open season.
-2-
In 2004, Mitt Romney had this to say about John Kerry’s tendency to change his mind. He starts off telling the audience that it's "standard operating procedure" in campaigns to "look at your opponent's record, you find someplace where he or she has changed positions and you say they're a flip-flopper." He goes on:
"For those who don’t understand how he can be so vacillating, it stems from the fact that he is very conflicted, that he is drawn in two different directions very powerfully. If he’s with an audience, he wants to identify with and satisfy that audience, and will say what he thinks they want to hear. And if that audience, for instance, is on one side of an issue he’ll follow that, on another, he’ll follow another."
-3-
His numbers are sucking:
a) A recent Fox news poll (click on this link to see very detailed analysis of the poll) lists Obama pulling 49% of the vote and Romney 40%. If the election were held today. Obama's lead in that poll comes from an 11% lead among independent voters.
b) Cnn:
-4-
The Ex-Governor is running scared.
While his band of surrogates keep hectoring BHO, Mitt himself sounds like he'd just like us to just drop it. He doesn't want to talk about his record anymore. Early in the campaign, he brought up Bain in every single speech and appearance. But he would now prefer to not discuss his time with Bain
Romney said on Friday that both campaigns would benefit if they agreed that “attacks based upon business or family or taxes or things of that nature — that this is just — this is diversion.” Instead, he said in an interview with NBC News, he would prefer a setting where he and BHO could talk about issues and differences in their positions. Really? This wouldn't seem so disingenuous had Mittens not spent the last year trumpeting his success at Bain, and how he planned to implement the Bain model nationally. And as for the tax mess--both his proposed taxing schemes, and his own shadowy personal tax record--the less Mitt talks about taxes, the better he will be. By not releasing his own tax information, The Ex-Governor has almost given up the right to talk about taxes at all.
Mitt Romney is still allowing "members" of his team like Donald Trump to hammer away on the birther and Muslim non-issues, continuing to imply that the President is not an actual U.S. citizen, and that even if he is, he is really a Muslim who will implement Sharia Law as soon the instant he is sworn in for his second term.
As Republican strategist David Gergen said recently: "I think the Obama campaign is outmaneuvering the Romney campaign. They've kept him on the defensive on his taxes and on Bain, which is a key foundation for his campaign," Gergen said. "This rat-a-tat of advertising, this avalanche of advertising has taken a toll."
Finally, Gergen said "It's now clear that Romney can't win this election by default. It's not an apple that's going to fall into his lap because the economy is weak. He's got to take it away from (Obama)."
-5-
Paul Ryan
Ex-Governor Mitt Romney was pretty much forced into selecting Paul Ryan has a running mate. Paul Ryan will appeal to the "base" and even to the Tea-Party/Birther fringe. But as to grabbing voters in the middle, or chiseling a few Dems into a Democrats For Romney movement? Stillborn. His choice for Vice President nets him nothing. Nothing at all. No votes, no momentum (a/k/a "The Big Mo"), and no gravitas. Romney's selection nets him zero votes--no one from the middle, and no one from the left. And, as for the right/the base? It leaves Mitt with a VP that most of his base would prefer was on top of the ticket
---o0o--
Thursday, August 09, 2012
Mitt Romney's Wimp Factor
By Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Editor
Newsweek has really been on a roll this year. Earlier, one of its covers proclaimed President Obama the first gay president, for the repeal of don't ask/don't tell, and coming out for same sex marriage. And now, they've come out with a cover that labels Mitt Romney a "wimp," or maybe just too insecure to be President.
Michael Tomasky, wrote about Romney: "He keeps saying these . . . things, these incredibly off-key things. Then he apologizes immediately — with all the sincerity of a hostage. Or maybe he doesn’t: sometimes he whines about the subsequent attacks on him. But the one thing he never does? Man up, double down, take his lumps."
Mitt's spokespeople, of course, dismissed the article. “If I worried about what the media said I wouldn’t get much sleep,” said Romney. “And I'm able to sleep pretty well.”
Suddenly, the wimp label is starting to stick. People were very disappointed that Mitt didn't get behind the Chick-fil-a President Dan Cathy, an issue conservatives peg to freedom of speech rather than about gay marriage. As Newsweek reported, Romney s"aid the issue was not part of the campaign, leaving many to wonder if he was waiting for poll results before deciding which side to support."
Newsweek has really been on a roll this year. Earlier, one of its covers proclaimed President Obama the first gay president, for the repeal of don't ask/don't tell, and coming out for same sex marriage. And now, they've come out with a cover that labels Mitt Romney a "wimp," or maybe just too insecure to be President.
Mitt's spokespeople, of course, dismissed the article. “If I worried about what the media said I wouldn’t get much sleep,” said Romney. “And I'm able to sleep pretty well.”
Suddenly, the wimp label is starting to stick. People were very disappointed that Mitt didn't get behind the Chick-fil-a President Dan Cathy, an issue conservatives peg to freedom of speech rather than about gay marriage. As Newsweek reported, Romney s"aid the issue was not part of the campaign, leaving many to wonder if he was waiting for poll results before deciding which side to support."
---o0o---
Tuesday, August 07, 2012
The return of Governor Chris Christie (he actually never left)
By Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Editor
[illustration by Jack Brummet]
The Drudge Report reported today that President Barack Obama told a top fundraiser that Romney wants to choose Gen. David Petraeus for the vice presidential slot. That would be interesting. But it also appeared in The Drudge Report, so the veracity of that rumor is immediately called into question.
[illustration by Jack Brummet]
The Drudge Report reported today that President Barack Obama told a top fundraiser that Romney wants to choose Gen. David Petraeus for the vice presidential slot. That would be interesting. But it also appeared in The Drudge Report, so the veracity of that rumor is immediately called into question.
Politico today reported that
Tim Pawlenty, Rob Portman, Marco Rubio, Kelly Ayotte, Bob McDonnell, Paul Ryan and Bobby Jindal were out of the running, since they have all been assigned speaking slots at the Republican convention in three weeks. I still think that Rubio and Ryan are in it, but I have nothing rational or factual to back that up. Jeb Bush must have bigger plans for 2016 (assuming Romney survives his income tax problems and remains on the ticket). The Condoleezza Rice VP-ship was always just a GOP opium pipe-dream.
What's also interesting is that, after being more or less out of the running the last couple of months, Chris Christie is either being considered as a possible VP, or his name is being conspicuously tossed around just to keep things interesting (anything to get people to quit talking about Mitt Romney's taxes, and his disastrous European Leadership Tour). His loud, brash, blunt style would be an interesting, and most likely extremely-awkward, adjunct to Mitt Romney's near-total absence of charisma, charm, and, as we have seen the last few months, political intelligence, and a crippling inability to connect on any sort of retail level with the voters. Christie on the ticket wouldn't be an actual personality transplant for Ex-Governor Romney, but it might not hurt.
No one is voting for Mitt Romney; they're voting against The President. Mitt's big dilemma now is to figure out how to make people like him. And that, friendos, is a Sysiphean rock to push up the hill.
---o0o---
Sunday, August 05, 2012
Ed Rendell: "I'm for Michele Bachmann for Vice President"
By Jack Brummet, ATIT Presidential Historian
Ex-Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell--one of my favorite yellow dog Democrats--weighed in with a big smile on Mitt Romney's Veepstakes on CBS's "Face The Nation," and even drew a chuckle from the show's host Bob Schieffer.
Ex-Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell--one of my favorite yellow dog Democrats--weighed in with a big smile on Mitt Romney's Veepstakes on CBS's "Face The Nation," and even drew a chuckle from the show's host Bob Schieffer.
“I just want to go on record," Rendell said. "I’m for Michele Bachmann for Vice President. I want everyone to be clear about that." Here's Rendell in a brief video clip:
---o0o---
Wednesday, August 01, 2012
Mitt Romney's tax problem leads Jeb Bush to clear his calendar for the next four years
By Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Editor
Mitt Romney's mounting tax return problem have led to many calls to Jeb Bush this week. "Jeb? Do you have any plans for the next four years? We think we may need to go with a designated hitter. . ."
Mitt Romney's mounting tax return problem have led to many calls to Jeb Bush this week. "Jeb? Do you have any plans for the next four years? We think we may need to go with a designated hitter. . ."
---o0o---
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Mitt Romney takes one more courageous stand
By Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Editor
(Reuters) -"Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney chose Veterans Day to proclaim to the American people his conviction that the world is a dangerous place, and the United States must remain its most formidable military power." OK. And how is this different from every other Presidential candidate of any party in the last fifty years? Except for a few random dingbats and Ron Paul, Dick Gregory, and The Greens, this is what every single politician says, and, except for a few extreme cynics, actually believes.
I have to say it again--I think Mitt Romney is probably the most charmless Republican candidate I remember in my lifetime, and in recent memory, only Steve Forbes comes close. And that list includes Dick Nixon, 41 and 43, David Duke, and a whole raft of other cretins, pinheads, charlatans, and mountebanks.
(Reuters) -"Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney chose Veterans Day to proclaim to the American people his conviction that the world is a dangerous place, and the United States must remain its most formidable military power." OK. And how is this different from every other Presidential candidate of any party in the last fifty years? Except for a few random dingbats and Ron Paul, Dick Gregory, and The Greens, this is what every single politician says, and, except for a few extreme cynics, actually believes.
I have to say it again--I think Mitt Romney is probably the most charmless Republican candidate I remember in my lifetime, and in recent memory, only Steve Forbes comes close. And that list includes Dick Nixon, 41 and 43, David Duke, and a whole raft of other cretins, pinheads, charlatans, and mountebanks.
---o0o---
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Mitt Romney: "I'm not familiar precisely with exactly what I said, but I stand by what I said, whatever it was. And with regards to. . .I'll go back and take a look at what was said there. . ."
Mitttens, defending something he said somewhere sometime to somebody. This must have been one of his famous unscripted moments where he made sense? /jack
---o0o---
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)