I Know I'll Catch Flak For This, But I Feel Bad For Mitt Romney

[THUNDER HANDS]

Romney is probably the most sane of all the GOP candidates running. I believe, from looking at the guy, hearing him speak, and looking at his record, that at heart, he's a moderate Republican.

That's how he should have run in the primary. As as a pro-corporate, big business, small government conservative who respects women's rights and gay rights.

If he did, I think he would have gotten a lot more support than he has gotten.

Instead, he tried to be all things to all different types of conservatives. It made him look like the ultimate flip-flopper.

He reminded me of the awkward smart kid in school who tried to dumb himself down to fit in with the cooler, but less intelligent kids.

Instead, it just made him look more awkward.

On top of that, he caught flak for his religion. Mormonism, whatever you think of it, is a recognized religion and a subset of Christianity. But with the GOP, that wasn't good enough. He wasn't "their type" of Christian. They didn't trust him because of it.

And I think that sort of discrimination has a lot of resonance for me, as an Obama supporter, because I see how he's attacked for supposedly being a non-Christian.

I don't like to see anyone get trashed just because of how they choose to believe in God, even if they're a Republican.

Some aspect of me say "well, that's what he gets for being a member of a bigoted, backwards party filled with racists and bigots." And that may be true, but this is such a big country, and since we only have two major political parties, I guess it just depresses me to think that someone can only get a fair shake if they belong to one political party, or else they'll have to fit a absurdly narrow standard to be the standard-bearer of the other party.

I think Mitt Romney was qualified to be a presidential candidate. I would never have voted for him, but I think he deserved a better shake than he got.

I know I'm probably the only one who feels this way.

[jakem]

1. if i may speak on behalf of MA-

thank freaking jeebus this man is out.

[DS1]

2. seconded, also from MA

the man is a tool. He'll be anything to anyone in order to get what he wants.

[Mass]

22. third, also from ma

[mikelgb]

3. Romney is getting chraged up over your comments:

[YDogg]

4. I do not disagree

I don't know much about his real record, but he seems to be sincere and not as much of a whack job as some of his opponents. Not that I'd ever have voted for him.

[benddem]

17. sincere?

he's the biggest phony of them all. He will say anything absolutely anything to make himself look good.
He is supercilious and sanctimonious. I'm glad I don't have to listen to or watch him anymore. But watch out there is probably a deal in the works.

[YDogg]

42. I mis-typed. I meant sincere in wanting to be pres and wanting to do a good job.

As I believe I mentioned, I know nothing much about him. I did not mean to pass judgment on his sincerety as a measure of his ability to tell the truth and stick with one position.

[YDogg]

44. And by wanting to do a good job I realize that I wouldn't agree with his politics.

But he probably imagines he could do a good job. On the other hand, I believe bush was simply propped up as a tool, and that he didn't have the internal drive as much as he had the knack for doing as he was told.

Fred Thompson had no drive. By comparison, Romney seems to sincerely believe in what he is attempting to do.

:shrug:

[grantcart]

31. sincere? sincere? sincere? your diagnostic meter needs checking nt

[YDogg]

46. Sorry. Mis-typed. See above.

:-)

[quinnox]

5. My republican friend, a big Romney supporter, is mad

at Huckabee and says Huckabee is a jerk for staying in the race just to help McCain. He said he might even vote for Hillary out of spite for McCain and how he will end up winning the nomination with Huckabees help.

[polichick]

6. Mitt just doesn't know who he is...

He only knows that he wants to be as successful as his father. (According to Republican talking heads.)

My parents and grandparents knew George Romney (and met Mitt a few times) ~ Mitt was raised strictly by a father people loved and admired, so maybe the talking heads are onto something. One thing's for sure, his lack of firmly held positions was a problem.

[LostinVA]

7. Unless you're female and/or GLBT

[Zynx]

10. Or an atheist. He says you're not an American if you are.

[Armstead]

8. I might feel bad for him if he wasn't such a phony

Mitt's problem is that he was such an opportunistic phony that whatever core values he may have had were buried under piles of contradictory positions and images he tried on.

Plus, I think he was somewhat arrogent to assume that he could simply buy the election.

[Zynx]

9. I think at heart he is a moderate, but I think he is an evil man.

I think he would be willing to commit genocide if it was the politically advisable thing to do. I also believe that at heart he is an authoritarian. He has demonstrated this time and time again. The guy has no principles, morals, ethics, and borders on sociopathic.

[Occam Bandage]

11. You would probably find this Economist article from last August very interesting.

http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9645810

It is hard to remember a time when there was a bigger contrast between what the average voter wants and what hard-core activists desire. Most voters want executive competence after the appalling cack-handedness of the Bush years. But Iowa caucus-goers, who are disproportionately activist, are fixated on a narrow range of ideological tests. Mr Romney's problem is that he is competence on steroids. He turned Bain Capital into a financial juggernaut and made himself $250m. He saved the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. As governor of Massachusetts, he introduced one of the country's most ambitious health-care reforms. But he cannot dwell upon his real strengths until he first wins over the guys with the “Jesus is cool” T-shirts and the monkeys in nappies. A cruel business, politics.

[THUNDER HANDS]

14. that is interesting

He is, in a lot of ways, the anti-Bush Republican.

It must have been really hard for him to try to pander so much. I'm sure he's both angry and relieved that it's over now.

[ursi]

12. I do too, at least he believed in science

[HopeforChange]

13. I do too

I think what happened to Romney illustrates how powerful the system is and how it can and will control any outcome. The statistics absolutely do not support Huckabee's rise and I don't like what McCain and Huckabee did to him in WV. I do not support him as a candidate but as someone who tried for what he believed in he did not get a fair shake.

[angie_love]

15. I feel bad for him too

The way everyone treated him, his religion, and Huckabee staying in the race just to help McCain, I did feel bad for the guy. Huckabee was a big asshole to Romney.

[THUNDER HANDS]

16. Huckabee is a likeable jerk

if that makes sense.

Romney is more like an unlikeable tool.

A tool being not quite as bad as a jerk.

[TwilightGardener]

18. I agree--I saw him as fairly benign, despite his "double Gitmo" trash talk.

I think he said all sorts of things to appeal to hawks and social conservatives that he probably didn't really believe, and that lack of authenticity showed, but at least he didn't buy his own bullshit either. He was fun to make fun of--a big dweeb, and would have made a lousy President--but I felt bad about the Mormon prejudice, since I have lived in Utah and have had Mormon acquaintances in other states--and they were all fine people.

[TwilightGardener]

23. Forgot to add: The media HATED him--that hurt him the most.

[Zynx]

34. Romney is a bad man. He used race baiting, gay bashing, war-mongering, and

a bunch of other dispicable traits to further his candidacy.

[TwilightGardener]

41. Yes, I know you think so--we've debated this! :)

[Catherine Vincent]

19. He should have known better.

Doesn't he have, like five sons that are able to enlist?

[THUNDER HANDS]

20. his speech right now is actually quite good

I think this is one of the best one's I've seen him give, not that I've seen him give a lot.

[Zynx]

28. Listen to the content, not the delivery. It's scary shit.

[THUNDER HANDS]

30. he's a republican

and he's also gunning to either be VP or to make a run in 2012.

[kestrel91316]

21. I'm not gonna feel sorry for him. I'm gonna feel very happy for America.

True-believing Mormons, at least in UT, have a very unsavory record of leaning heavily toward theocracy. I wouldn't trust Mittens as president any more than I would trust R.J.Rushdoony. But that's just me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominionism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Reconstructionism

I firmly believe one should know, and NEVER underestimate, one's enemies.

[eleny]

24. I don't....

He thought he could spin on a dime, change his spots and Republicans would flock to his latest message.

I don't blame him for his ambitions. But the way he went about it - his candidacy was doomed and deserved that.

[whistle]

25. Magic Rat, you must have eaten some poisoned cheese...go vomit

:puke:

[OzarkDem]

26. I'm a Democrat, I don't feel sorry for him

n/t

[Thrill]

27. He spent 60 mill of his own money. OUCH

[SOS]

29. Just minutes ago he was introduced by Laura Ingraham.

Selecting her to deliver a deranged anti-Democratic rant, bashing everyone from Sean Penn to Oliver Stone, should erase any sympathy for this loser.

He's on TV now bashing welfare as "poison". Also railing against single parent black families, while the crypto-fascists in the audience cheer.

He is now, subtly, blaming Clinton for 9/11.

America is lucky to be rid of this phony creep.

[bullwinkle428]

32. ALL of the fundies say that Mormonism is NOT "real Christianity"!

I would never refuse to vote for anyone on the basis of their religion - it's always their policy positions that define them and determine my vote.

[faithfulcitizen]

33. There is a reason all the other candidates didn't like him- he seems like an insincere a-hole.nt

[lurky]

35. He didn't get his new toy.

Poor Mittens... :(

[Bluerthanblue]

36. I feel sorry for him as a person- and I wish he had been the nom-

because I don't think he could ever win-

But I sure am glad he will never be president- especially listening to his suspension speech- yikes! :shrug:



He's one strange guy.

(a personal aside- My youngest brother had a really funny friend named Dan, this was back in the early 70's when they were adolescents. Dan could crack anyone up with very little effort. He had absolutely no fear of what people thought of him if he could make people laugh.

He would go into a store and talk in a pretend accent, making a scene about some item or another- he was hillarious. One persona he had was what we called the "Sears underwear model"- He'd stop mid stride, freeze all movement and hold a pose with a half smile, one hand on a hip, the other sort of pointing at something that wasn't there- just like a model in the Sears catalog. He'd do this anywhere- In school, church, at a gas station- and we'd be dying of laughter- Well, Mitt, for whatever reason- reminds me of Dan, and his "Sears Underwear Model" persona, and every time I see him, I have to fight the urge to laugh.- silly - this if probably one of those things where- you had to be there, but if you look at some of his poses, you might see a similarity? :P )

peace~

[robbedvoter]

37. Hey, lotsa money doesn't buy what it used to - Bloomberg caveat!

A mayoralty - maybe - if people don't show up to vote - but a national election - not so much.

[mtnsnake]

38. McCain's warmongering talk aside, Mitt Romney is far worse than McCain. Mitt is a grade-A dipshit

and he knows how to suck up to Bush with the best of them.

Only problem is that he would have been far easier for Obama to beat in a general election if it was Romney vs Obama.

Thank goodness, though, that the number one asshole, Rudy Gullini, and the number two asshole, Mitt Romeny, are out of the running for president. Hopefully, McCain won't ask either one of those two asswipes to run with him for VP.

[snooper2]

39. I agree 100%

FYI

[mentalsolstice]

40. I feel sorry for Chip, Biff, Skip, Spud and Bing!

Oh the horror. What are they going to now, that they're no longer performing a great national service by campaigning for their pop?

[K Gardner]

43. No you're not the only one. I feel bad for him too. Most of it his fault for trying too hard and not

being himself, whatever that is.. but he's a damned sight better than Huck. Mainly, I feel bad because he got the ROYAL SHAFT from the media, and that really is what killed him. He got the Edwards treatment after it looked like he MIGHT Be a threat. I'd much rather have our candidate running against him than McCain.

[undeterred]

45. He would have been so much fun to make fun of.

I don't like making fun of John McCain.

[Faygo Kid]

47. I feel bad for his late parents, who were decent people yet raised such a wingnut.

George and Lenore Romney were old school Republicans, back when decent folks like Ike or Ford or Rockefeller or Howard Baker were Republicans. You know the kind.

Dead Republicans. None exist any more. They raised one hell of a shithead son, that's for sure.