Romney just might be the next president

[quinnox]

and its certainly not as bad as it could be. When I think about all the republicans running, he is one of the most tolerable and least insane. My prediction is he wins the republican nomination easily, and him and Obama have a slug-fest where it will be unclear who will come out on top. Don't count Mitt out so quickly in this match-up, the guy is slick and smart and has crossover appeal. He looks the part of a chief executive, is articulate, and comes across well on TV, which is important.

Obama, though, is a formidable opponent, with many gifts, and as seen in his famous debates with Hillary Clinton, can more than hold his own when things turn nasty. This is going to be a fun contest.

A heavyweight knock out fight indeed.

[opihimoimoi]

1. Mitt is unfitt...never happon....he is too slippery

[murielm99]

4. That's what we said about Reagan. And Dubya.

Be careful.

And this time, it may be closer. They can and will steal close ones.

[Warren DeMontague]

59. No, we said Reagan and Dubya were too stupid.

I actually think that's Romney's problem.. he's too smart for the Republican Party.

[opihimoimoi]

82. For some strange reason, The GOPers seem stuck on Stupid...as in W and RRR

GOPers hate smart....

but then... Perry ain't the brightest nail in the box

[Rex]

2. Nah.

[leftstreet]

3. Why is Obama even vulnerable? n/t

[True Earthling]

6. 9% unemployment?

No president ever elected with a rate over 7.2%

[leftstreet]

7. How did that happen? Didn't he campaign on a Big Green Jobs Program?

[treestar]

19. Since when?

Must have been over that when FDR was.

[demosincebirth]

23. FDR 1936?

[Upton]

27. Should be no president since FDR

has been reelected when unemployment topped 7.2% on election day...

Nate Silver has a take on it..

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/02/business/economy/02jobs.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss

[JVS]

49. For FDR it was 9% after coming down from 18% and thus showed a marked improvement.

For Obama it has simply hovered around 9%

[demosincebirth]

86. 1936 16.9 %

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0104719.html

[JVS]

87. 1932 24.6% See the improvement?

[Upton]

14. An approval rating of 40%..

no president has ever been reelected with numbers that low..

[leftstreet]

20. But he was elected with a massive, massive mandate for change

that's just sad

[ohiosmith]

5. A Mormon? Never. Fundamentalists don't even consider them Christians.

[Autumn]

13. Yeah right, my fundamentalists fox loving Sister

and her bible group like mittens better than the others, she told me "JFK was a catholic and he didn't force his religion on the country. Romney is very much like JFK you know." So don't be so quick to say Never.:puke:

[WinkyDink]

47. And your sister voted for JFK?

[Autumn]

62. Yes she did. First time she ever voted

and then she married an adorable Sailor, a republican, was never really religious until 1987,when she met a nice friend and started going to church with her. The rest is history. Watches nothing but Fox snooze. They support the troops you know. :rofl:

[SlimJimmy]

52. Think that at your own peril. Repubs that I know say it won't be a factor in their vote if it

comes down to either him or the President.

[DCBob]

8. Any Repuke in the WH will be a fking disaster.. hard to imagine any Dem minimizing that possibility.

and there is nothing "fun" about a potential GOP takeover of this country.

[MineralMan]

9. Would that make you happy? Sometimes it seems so.

I think I'll wait and see what shakes out from the GOOPers. It's kinda hard to predict who the last clown will be to step out of that clown car.

[quinnox]

12. No, I wouldn't be happy

I would prefer Obama, a democrat, in there. But I'm a realist, and Obama might be in deep trouble of losing next year. In this case, Romney is the least objectionable candidate from the other side.

Imagine some of these other guys being the GOP president like a Rick Perry or Bachmann, and that is a nightmare.

[MineralMan]

18. But you find Romney to be "the most tolerable,"

so you might understand why I'd ask. If you'd prefer Obama to be re-elected, you might want to start supporting him now. That's how we'll win...not by looking for the least worst alternative. Just saying...

[quinnox]

28. Well, put it this way, I'm a Dodgers fan

So I support them, but I also realize that sometimes they are a really lousy team, and might lose. I'm still a fan of the team, but I also know some years they are going to just suck and won't win many games.

[MineralMan]

30. Yeah, I get it. Well, you find out who the real base is when

things aren't going as well as they might, I guess. See ya.

[frazzled]

32. Then you'd better read this

In case you need your head to spin even more:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/will-romney-really-be-better-than-perry/2011/08/25/gIQAx5byqK_blog.html#excerpt

[Life Long Dem]

40. I liked Bachmann before she opened her mouth.

Of course you can't go on looks alone. Now, I wouldn't trust her in the least. And I can't stand her whiny voice.

[The Straight Story]

10. Hunstman will sneak up and get the nod

The rest will implode.

Obama will win it though :)

[Warren DeMontague]

37. You're kidding, right?

Huntsman isn't nearly nuts enough for today's GOP.

[The Straight Story]

53. And that is why he will take it

The gop voters that are more 'independent' and not loud and crazy will get first dibs in voting.

McCain was no where near a front runner - then suddenly he was.

Tea party and others are loud and vocal, but in the end the voters that are moderate will make the choices.

Which is why Hunstman is not playing to them.

[Warren DeMontague]

57. I'll make a bet with you

if huntsman's the nominee, I'll never post in one of your smoking ban threads, ever again.

:hi:

[The Straight Story]

65. Meh, I never read your replies anyway

:rofl: - I was right about Reagan when I was a teen, about Clinton, and the day Obama was elected to the senate I told my boss he would be the next president.

Who do you think is going to get it? I pegged Hunstman before he officially quit and even entered the race, and if huntsman gets it I am gonna laugh all day at the tea baggers on FB I deal with all the time (there are probably a lot of independents who don't hate Obama but want someone else, and they are not going to swing to some crazy loons).

[Warren DeMontague]

66. Touche, sir.

Well played.

I think it's going to be Perry.

[The Straight Story]

81. Ya know

I was watching the video of the gay soldier being booed and noticed something in the pan shot of the audience.

Most of them sat there seeming a little stunned at the booing.

Those loud people get all the press and reactions, but in the end they are not in a majority.

My grandfather was a republican mayor, his son a democrat mayor (both here in Ohio). Neither would take the tea party seriously, and grandpa sure would not have voted for a republican that was anything like most on that stage.

My dad and sister are both about as far right as you can get (and my sister teaches classes on creationism) and even they cannot understand why someone who is gay (and they both like and know my best friend who is gay) shouldn't be able to serve.

Just like there are many moderate dems out there, there are many moderate republicans, they are not shouting, booing, going to tea party rallies - but they always vote.

I give Perry and Romney until April at the latest, and Perry will fall before Romney does IMHO.

[Warren DeMontague]

94. I hope you're right

I think you're wrong.

[coalition_unwilling]

76. Are you discounting the Iowa Caucus? It comes before the NH

primary. At any rate, Romney would win NH as a 'favorite son' anyway.

The crazies are always a force to reckon with in Iowa as Caucus states reward the most dedicated who GOTV.

[devils chaplain]

71. If Hunstman gets the nod...

I will eat my LCD monitor without ketchup. There is zero chance of that happening. I'm afraid your winning streak is going to end.

By the way -- Huntsman is at 4.5% on Intrade. Put your money down and make a fortune! :P

[customerserviceguy]

91. Nope, Huntsman's got way too much going against him

For starters, there's that stint as US ambassador to China in the Obama administration.

And why have Mitt Romney lite when you can vote for the real thing? Fundies will never, ever vote for either of them.

[Denninmi]

11. Honestly, don't underestimate how bad he could be.

Snyder ran here as the non-politician, "I'm not crazy, I'm not mean" candidate. He turned out to be just slightly less mean and crazy than the most Palin/Bachmann/Perry-esque teabagger.

I also agree that it will be hard for him to win the nomination. He is far too "liberal" for the far right, and as others have pointed out, the fundies label him "not a 'real' Christian".

[Motown_Johnny]

15. I think Huntsman is there to torpedo Romney. If Huntsman brings his faith into the debate

Romney will be dragged into a discussion he doesn't want to have.


I don't think the Fundies will support someone who's faith is strange to them and that removes quite a bit of support from Mitt.

[GentryDixon]

16. I have lived under Mormon legislative control

most of my life. I will tell you for a fact the last thing we need is the "Church" working behind the scenes calling the shots. Just ask anyone in Utah about the "Zion Curtain".

The problem I see with Mittens being the nominee is these so called "Christians" voting for a President whom they have always considered to be unchristian, and in fact see as belonging to a cult. So will they vote with their beliefs, or will they hold their collective noses and vote for the party?

The thought is beyond frightening.

[customerserviceguy]

92. They will not hold their noses

They will vote for a "principled" third party religious whacko candidate before they'd vote for Romney.

But, as Romney cannot get the nomination without the bible thumpers easing up on him at least a little bit, we're never going to have to face that scenario. Romney may win New Hampshire, but that will be his high point, other than a few delegate-poor Western states. He'll come in second in a few other places, and third in most. While that might give him a good number of delegates to take to the Rethug convention, he cannot achieve a first ballot victory.

And the snake handlers simply will not compromise on him, period.

By the way, I lived in Utah for six months, and I know exactly what you're talking about.

[undeterred]

17. He drove hundreds of miles with his dog on top of the car.

That is unforgiveable.

[treestar]

21. Very bad judgment

He doesn't know how to treat a dog - how can he know how to treat America? I can see it now! :rofl:

[undeterred]

33. That's worse than cheating on your wife with Reille Hunter.

Or Monica Lewinsky...A lot worse.

[Autumn]

35. Republicans will over look anything like that

:shrug: If one of them ate a live kitten on stage the pukes would still vote for them.

[DearAbby]

83. Why hasn't anyone super=glued a Stuffed SCOOBY DOO

on the top of his bus? aka mystery machine.

[get the red out]

22. So how does he get past Perry?

I don't see him getting close.

[quinnox]

24. the GOP establishment is behind Romney

Its the tradition in their party that since he got second place last time, he gets the nod.

Rick Perry is being taken apart behind the scenes I think by these guys, by the time they are done with him, he will be in single digits support. Perry is fighting against the GOP power brokers in my opinion.

[HughBeaumont]

25. Let me get this straight . . .

So, in order to stick it to their ever-hated Democrats, the American people will vote for, as the guy to cure an economy ruined by predatory Wall Street capitalist scumbags . . . a $250 million dollars-rich predatory Wall Street capitalist scumbag. And see no problem whatsoever with that.



At Bain Capital, he took over companies and gutted payrolls. "Corporations are people too, my friends". Is that a popular position and a great former job to have when you're campaigning in an economy this bad?

[shraby]

26. Go back to yer drawing board. Mitt stutters too much trying

to make shit up as he goes along.

[Politicalboi]

29. Just remember

"Corporations ARE People"

[Douglas Carpenter]

31. given that when the economy is perceived to be in a state of malaise - incumbents almost always lose

reelection. And given that there is a reasonable possibility that Romney might become the GOP nominee and he will certainly be harder to label as a crazy and an extremist than almost any other likely Republican candidate - yes it is quite possible that Romney could be the next president. I don't think that would be a good thing. I have trouble seeing a silver lining to such a dark cloud other than he would not be as bad as Perry - but yes it is all together possible that Romney could be the next president.

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Douglas Carpenter]

43. well, I won't go that far and I do think Obama might still win in spite of the economy

Obama is doing pretty much what I expected - following the standard Democratic Leadership Council kind of approach - right of center on economics and very friendly to Wall Street interest - Right of Center on military and foreign policy - not a neocon by any means but the standard Pax Americana worldview and moderately left of center on social issues. This has pretty much been the Democratic Party way of doing things for most of the past thirty years or so. I cannot think of any other Democratic President or party nominee or contender for the nomination who really did have a chance of winning during the past thirty years who was fundamentally different than Obama.

Unfortunately the alternative to a Clinton or Obama or anyone else with a snowballs chance in hell of becoming the Democratic Party nominee is a party and political movement dominating by absolutely crazy right-wing extremist who are just as dangerous and just as irresponsible as the lunatics on Fox News and right-wing hate radio.

But the reality is - regardless what policies a president pursues, left, right or center - when economy is doing well they tend to become popular and win reelections - when the economy is doing poorly they tend to become unpopular and lose reelection.

[MineralMan]

44. Nice...

:shrug:

[Warren DeMontague]

36. If Romney beats a gay soldier with a crucifix & puts a woman to death for taking birth control pills

on live tv, he might still have a chance at the GOP nomination.


As it is, though, he hasn't convinced the wackadoo godbags that he's one of them, enough.

[quinnox]

38. Its a prediction and I could be wrong

I freely acknowledge things could turn out differently.

[Zen Democrat]

39. That's what some people said about George W. Bush in 2000. He was such a "tolerant" guy.

Willard doesn't have a chance.

[PragmaticLiberal]

41. I don't like Romney but I do think he's sane...

and that's more than I can say for the rest of the GOP field...besides Huntsman of course.



And fwiw, I actually believe that Mitt Romney is more liberal than he's portraying.



But with that being said, I still want President Obama to destroy him.

[quinnox]

42. I agree with you

I definitely wouldn't be celebrating a Romney win, just being prepared for the grim possibility.

[WinkyDink]

45. A Mormon "R" will never get elected President. And that would be because he would not get nominated.

Wasn't there a memo titled "Christian Fundamentalists Run the GOP"?

[JVS]

56. There is a memo about money talking and shit walking too

Unless one of the fundy candidates is able to convince Wall st. that they are capable of conducting the business end of things to their liking, they will not be able to campaign.

[durablend]

72. Uh huh...just like they said an actor would never be elected

And look how that turned out!

[Name removed]

46. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dennis4868]

48. Problem is...

NBODY KNOWS WHERE ROMNEY REALLY STANDS ON THE ISSUES...it seems like he is for privatizing SS, letting Israel run foreign affairs, and never helping those without a job with unemployment insurance...this is scary!

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[joeybee12]

51. The odds are good that he'll be the Repuke nominee...the MSM has collectively

started to air its doubts about Perry...amazing how they do all this on cue...they're freaking sheep.

[INdemo]

54. So then it would be ok with you if Mitt wins and it sounds like you

could voter for him? Right?

[quinnox]

58. No, I wouldn't be jumping up and down

if he won, but I am prepared for the grim possibility of this happening. Considering the other options on the republican side, Mitt is the best of a bad bunch.

[spin]

55. I could accept Mitt Romney ...

although I still hold some hope that the economy will finally start to show improvement in time for Obama to win reelection.

The cowboy scares the hell out of me and I don't see anyone else who can win the Republican nomination at this time. Sarah Palin might try to win the nomination at the last minute but I personally feel (and hope) that she would fail.

I do predict a major change in Congress as many people are extremely fed up with the childish politics that they see being played on a regular basis. We face major problems in our nation and when the two parties are totally unable to work together to solve problems the next election may result in a lot of representatives and senators being handed a pink slip. This could work out to benefit the Democratic Party.

One thing that could really hurt Rhomney is his being a member of the Mormon Church. This doesn't bother me as my parents converted to the Mormon religion. Their efforts to convert me failed because I like coffee too much. However, the Mormons that I have met seemed more rational than many of the Fundamentalist Christians that I have encountered. Many of these Christians view Mormonism as a cult and many refuse to vote for any member of that religion. They might choose to vote for Hopalong Perry during the primary.

[Worship Money]

60. I could NOT accept Mitt Romney

I'm sorry people, but the fact that he has no spine and is an utter political opportunist does not equivocate to "moderation" or sanity.

The man is a loon, first of all. Second, as the guy the establishment seems to be going to choose, don't you realize that this means he will do their bidding?

Let's see. A candidate who has no real principles and has demonstrated a willingness and ability to shift politically to whatever is necessary, and who is backed by an establishment who without fail shift their candidates to the EXTREME RIGHT.

Listen to what Mitt Romney is saying now that he's a (the) frontrunner. It's batshit crazy, Zionist corporatist babble. He would destroy this country as Perry would.

[spin]

77. I remember voting for a very liberal candidate who promised change ...

and I plan to vote for him again. However, I have to admit that I have been somewhat disappointed so far. But I believe that the Republicans knew they had little or no chance of putting another Republican in office after the eight sad years of George W. Bush. They knew that if they ran the county into the ground, the Democrat who followed Bush would be unable to correct the situation in four years. When the next Republican ran against Obama, he would win and benefit from the eventual recovery and consequently would enjoy two terms in office.

I personally believe the Republicans expected Hillary to run and win in the last election. They probably viewed Obama's win as a gift.

Obama will have a hard time winning reelection if the economy doesn't show significant improvement. With Europe going down the drain we are facing a world wide recession or depression. Many companies are going to be very hesitant to employ more workers in such an environment. Also many home owners are finding themselves "under water" on their mortgages as foreclosed homes are selling at bargain prices and holding the prices of existing homes down. People are extremely worried about their jobs and many are saving their money rather than spending it on new purchases. Americans see little to be confident in the economic situation and until they do many will only purchases necessities.

But Obama is a great campaigner. Perhaps he can once again spark hope for change. He faces a difficult road but I refuse to underestimate him.

I agree that with your opinions on Mitt Romney but as I look at the rest of the Republican field he is, in my opinion, the least extreme. Of course he may also be the toughest candidate for Obama to defeat.

It would be nice that if for once we had a choice of two excellent candidates to vote for.

[Worship Money]

89. Obama will do just fine

Or at least that's what I'm telling myself.

He's on the better part of learning curve at this point. When you consider what he's learned about the political situation in Washington/the country as a whole with his own formidable abilities, I feel he has the ability to annihilate the Republican candidate.

[quinnox]

61. Yes, I think you are right about the changes in congress

There could be huge turn-over for those guys, because the general public mood is they are angry at them, and with good reason.

[spin]

78. In my opinion, the Tea Baggers are shooting the Republican party in the foot ...

but there is a lot of anger toward all current members of Congress.

There is also a possibility that the voters will chose to vote for members of the same party as the presidential candidate they vote for.

This is going to be a very interesting election.

[JoePhilly]

63. "Romney just might be the next president ... and its certainly not as bad as it could be.

Is this a serious post on DU?

Romney might be ok?

If Democrats start taking the view that Romney might be ok, this country is screwed.

[quinnox]

64. Well, when I consider the options of Bachmann, Perry, or Palin

then Romney all of a sudden looks golden compared to those folks!

I'm not saying I want Romney, just that he is the best of a bad bunch. Obama is in some trouble in my opinion, maybe I'm just feeling pessimistic about his re-election chances, but its not looking good.

[JoePhilly]

67. I guess you are right. If its Romney versus Obama, we can stay home.

Very little difference.

After all ... Obama is "in trouble" ... and Romney is just slightly less NUTS than Perry. And regardless of which of them wins, it will be all basically the same.

The entire GOP bunch is bad. They are all nuts. And if we on the left don't get that, then, well, a war with Iran seems like a fun way to energize the economy.

[marmar]

68. "and its certainly not as bad as it could be"

Bull. Mitt is the MOST beholden to Corporate America. Watch him privatize everthing he can.

[Worship Money]

70. +1

More like + 1 million. Thank you.

I'm so goddamned tired, but moreso confused that people think of this guy as the "not bad" candidate.

LISTEN to what he babbles on about, and realize that it's extremely right wing, nonsensical, and evil stuff. Fuck Mitt Romney.

[Divine Discontent]

Agree, he may be the least insane of the lot, however, he is a corporate man!

http://www.zazzle.com/republicans_2012_keeping_millions_out_of_work_bumper_sticker-128002960205017719

[provis99]

69. Romney and Huntsman are assholes. the rest are double assholes.

That's about it.

[seabeyond]

73. can't wait to watch the fox news watching fundies in my area vote for mormom healthcare proponent.

i really dont hold much out for repugs this go around, except for theft, as always or since 2004

[coalition_unwilling]

74. What right-thinking Repuke (npi) would vote for Romney in a

caucus or primary? (Aside from the Mormon contingent, that is)

The evangelical kooks in the Repuke party view Romney as a cult member for his Mormon religion.

If Romney or any Repuke wins in 2012, get ready to say 'hello' to 25% unemployment. Except very few people now know how to grow their own food so the suffering will be more pronounced.

[brettdale]

75. Im guessing the winner in 2012 its going to depend

On the state of the economy, if iit can recover, Obama wins if it doesnt, Obama loses.

[spin]

79. The big problem is that Europe is going through an economic crisis ...

and that is going to have a negative impact on our recovery. Companies are going to be reluctant to hire new workers in an uncertain environment. Of course, if the EU can get its act together we may see an improvement in our economy. If not we probably face, at the best, a long global recession. Hopefully nations like Italy will not default.

Time is beginning to run short. The recovery will not occur until American confidence returns.

[JNelson6563]

80. lolz "heavyweight"

Sorry but anyone who uses "heavyweight" in anyway referenced to Romney just doesn't deserve to be taken seriously.

Julie

[Pisces]

84. Unrec

[TheKentuckian]

85. Romney is far from tolerable. He is a younger but more phony Reagan and will be a disaster.

but he is somewhat less batshit than most present day TeaPubliKlans.

[FrenchieCat]

88. Romney is bought and paid for,

probably at a lower price than a Perry.
Glad you find him tolerable, considering
what you've been saying for the past 2.8 months.
There is a heavyweight in the ring, but it ain't Plastic Willard,
that's for sure.

[customerserviceguy]

90. While I acknowledge that Romney is comforting to some independents

He's anathema to bible-thumping, snake-handling fundies. They will vote third party rather than vote for someone who would give an LDS missionary another talking point in somebody's doorway.

But it won't get to that, since fundies represent a major part of the GOP base. Romney will never get the majority of delegates he needs before the Repuke convention, and on ballot after ballot, the thumpers will never compromise on him. Period.

[Nye Bevan]

93. I agree that he is by no means the worst of the candidates.

Anyone who has actually pushed for and enacted a universal health care plan has *something* going for them.