Time: 10 Things Mitt Romney Could Have Done Differently (dog on car roof is not on their list)

[Amerigo Vespucci]

HALPERIN’S TAKE: TEN THINGS MITT ROMNEY COULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY

http://thepage.time.com/2008/02/05/halperin%e2%80%99s-take-ten-things-mitt-romney-could-have-done-differently/



1. Could have run less as a social conservative and more as a can-do technocrat.

2. Could have delivered his religion and faith speech earlier in his campaign.

3. Could have run negative ads against McCain (backlash and ire be darned).

4. Could have recognized that his biggest problem was a perceived lack of humanity, and addressed it with humor, purpose, and authenticity.

5. Could have put his wife and sons more front and center in the campaign. (just kidding)

6. Could have taken a risk and separated himself more from President Bush.

7. Could have identified Huckabee as a genuine threat before it was too late to stop the Arkansan’s momentum — in Iowa and beyond.

8. Could have consistently presented his own personality—disciplined, ambitious, take-charge, impersonal, passionate about his family and his religion—rather than tried to fit himself into a series of established Republican templates.

9. Could have insisted his warring advisers either make peace with each other or quit the campaign.

10. Could have regularly addressed one or two policy issues and/or themes that he really believed in — like change, anti-Washington, the economy.

Bonus eleventh thing Mitt could have done differently:

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part4_main/



Before beginning the drive, Mitt Romney put Seamus, the family's hulking Irish setter, in a dog carrier and attached it to the station wagon's roof rack. He'd built a windshield for the carrier, to make the ride more comfortable for the dog.

Then Romney put his boys on notice: He would be making predetermined stops for gas, and that was it.

The ride was largely what you'd expect with five brothers, ages 13 and under, packed into a wagon they called the ''white whale.' As the oldest son, Tagg Romney commandeered the way-back of the wagon, keeping his eyes fixed out the rear window, where he glimpsed the first sign of trouble. ''Dad!'' he yelled. ''Gross!'' A brown liquid was dripping down the back window, payback from an Irish setter who'd been riding on the roof in the wind for hours. As the rest of the boys joined in the howls of disgust, Romney coolly pulled off the highway and into a service station. There, he borrowed a hose, washed down Seamus and the car, then hopped back onto the highway. It was a tiny preview of a trait he would grow famous for in business: emotion-free crisis management.

And it offered his sons a rare unplanned stop.

''Think about it,'' Tagg says, ''a 12-hour drive and the only time we stop is to get gas. When we stop, you can buy your food and go to the bathroom, but that's the only time we're stopping, so you'd better get it all done at once.'' Yet there was one exception to Mitt's nonstop policy. ''As soon as my mom says, 'I think I need to go to the bathroom,' he pulls over instantly, and doesn't complain. 'Anything for you, Ann.'.''

Never mind the dog...who the fuck names their kid "Tagg?"

:silly:

[AlCzervik]

1. i don't think any of that would have helped, he's an ass and people just do not like him.

thats all, he's just totally and completely unlikable.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

7. Time's "his own personality" list...

1). "disciplined"...repressed

2). "ambitious"...never turn your back on him

3). "take-charge"...knows how to delegate to drones

4). "impersonal"...euphemism for "prick"

5). "passionate about his family"...good for him. That makes one of him

6). "and his religion"...that's his personal preference. I'm passionate about mine, too, but it's not on my resume.

[AlCzervik]

8. in others words "Huge douchebag"

[DrDan]

9. well I certainly agree with your assessment . . .

but I think most people right now want to see some competence in the WH. He did not display that, short of implying that he made a lot of money.

He should not have relied on his conservative values - he should have offered some solutions.

I just don't like him either. But we really need to get over selecting people we like or would like to have a beer with, and get some competence in place.

[THUNDER HANDS]

2. i like his long-hair look better

he looks more human.

[MADem]

3. Seamus was the DOG that started off WAGGING that ass!!!

That Goofy Romney name shit started LONG before "Tagg." Who names their kid WILLARD, and then turns around and calls him MITT?

Hell, WILL would have been the "Don't Make Fun Of Me" and more logical choice!!

If the guy was WILL ROMNEY, and not Mittsy, Mittens, Shitsy, Shitt, he might still be in the race!!!

[eleny]

4. Practise debating skills

[Maddy McCall]

5. Maybe he should have let Seamus go potty when Ann did.

That's cold-hearted, to strap a dog to the roof of a car.

Jeez, what is it about Republicans and dogs?

Bush dropped his.
Huck's kid killed one.

They don't seem very animal friendly.

[Nite Owl]

6. Number 10

seems to be his biggest problem

"Could have regularly addressed one or two policy issues and/or themes that he really believed in — like change, anti-Washington, the economy."

What was it he really believed? His beliefs went with the wind. Change? He was another Bush, that isn't change. Economy? He didn't have a clue what it felt like to not be able to pay a bill.