Political gurus Stan Greenberg (left) and James Carville weigh the pros and cons of various GOP vice-presidential prospects. They spoke Wednesday at a Monitor-sponsored luncheon in Denver. (Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff)
Romney as GOP veep? Carville smiling.
The Democratic analyst and pollster Stan Greenberg said Wednesday they would welcome a Romney pick.
By Linda Feldmann | Staff writer/ August 27, 2008 edition
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Stan Greenberg and James Carville at Wednesday's Monitor Lunch
( Washington Bureau Chief David Cook )
Denver – Now that Joe Biden is firmly ensconced on the Democratic ticket alongside Barack Obama, politics-watchers are handicapping the Republican pick, expected as early as Friday. Maybe, given Senator Biden’s long experience as a skilled debater, John McCain needs a known national figure who has proven himself as an energetic surrogate for the presumed Republican nominee – say, Mitt Romney?
“You think someone who’s in finance, merging businesses and losing American jobs, is the best answer to Biden?” asked Stan Greenberg, a Democratic pollster, at a Monitor-sponsored luncheon Wednesday. “I hope we get Romney, I pray for Romney.”
But Mr. Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, is the son of George Romney, governor of Michigan in the 1960s – which gives the younger Romney an important tie to a key swing state. Mitt Romney, the argument also goes, could perhaps help Senator McCain in another battleground state, Nevada, which has a large Mormon population. The Romneys are devout Mormons.
Mr. Greenberg is again dismissive, factoring in how the younger Romney did in his own presidential run.
“Nationally, in our data and also nationally in the public data, the more voters saw Romney, the less they liked him,” he says. “And I don’t see any evidence that his father’s position in Michigan has some enduring quality that shifts even a half a percent in Michigan. I want Romney.”
James Carville, Greenberg’s longtime political partner (the two were central to Bill Clinton’s improbable victory in the 1992 presidential campaign), has a more colorful way of assessing vice-presidential picks. Does the candidate “make the opposing campaign manager throw up”?
“I don’t think if they pick Romney, David Axelrod will reach for the trash can,” says Mr. Carville, referring to Senator Obama’s chief strategist.
So who do these guys fear? Greenberg goes with Tom Ridge, the former governor of Pennsylvania and former secretary of Homeland Security. Picking Mr. Ridge could tip swing state Pennsylvania to McCain’s side, a “big change to the landscape.”
But Ridge favors abortion rights, which could harm McCain with social conservatives – a key element of the Republican base. Greenberg acknowledges the risk, but also sees a potential upside. It would help McCain woo voters in the middle, for whom social issues tend not to be a primary concern.
“He’s pro-choice, but it’s been a long time since that was central,” says Greenberg. “There’s homeland security. He’s not very provocative on social issues.”
Carville doesn’t name names, but he predicts McCain will surprise us. “McCain and I share something in common,” says the Ragin’ Cajun. “We’re both craps shooters. And just by nature, craps shooters always want to put their stack in the middle of the table.”
It is widely believed that Biden was chosen for the Democratic ticket because of his long experience in foreign policy, a gap that Obama needed to fill in his own portfolio. Biden is also not shy about going on the attack. But there could be a downside to Biden: his mouth.
Carville agrees that Biden has a “zesty” personality. “He’s a very aggressive guy,” he says. “But I think he knows the stakes. He can also be very articulate, he can be very funny, he can be very charming.”
The most important thing Biden can do in the race, Carville says, is to frame the case against McCain. The operative phrase should be that McCain is President Bush’s “sidekick,” not a maverick, he says.
Comments
2. Jed | 08.27.08
Gain Pennsylvania (maybe), lose Florida (definitely)… That’s what a McCain/Ridge ticket would do.
Pawlenty is also out. The AFA did a poll that found Pawlenty, an Evangelical, getting only 1/30th of the support Romney got for the same office from the conservative crowd.
McCain must pick Romney if he wants to win, and you know it.
Carville’s games… Yawn.
3. Bill Mitchell | 08.27.08
When the left says they WANT Romney, you can be assured of one thing - they DON’T want Romney. The DNC by far ran more negative ads about Romney during the primaries than anyone else. They are scared to death of him.
Do they really think all this, “who has the most houses” BS matters to anyone but them? I want a Pres/VP who has all those houses so they can show me how to get that many.
Class warfare is the foil of the weak.
4. Bill Mitchell | 08.27.08
P.S.,
Earlier today, Romney was plummeting on Intrade and Hitchison was surging. Now that it has been announced McCain has made his choice, the tables have turned and Romney is surging again while Hutchison is falling fast.
We will probably learn tomorrow by who the Secret service suddenly surrounds although I am sure Mccain won’t formally announce until Friday as that would be in better taste.
5. Don from Nevada | 08.27.08
Mitt Romney just spoke here in Henderson, Nevada to standing ovations and a packed audience. I have observed several public figures speak and Romney reaches to many many people with his on time messages and enthusiam for McCain. I think Romney would be a fine selection for vp.
6. Rob | 08.27.08
He’ll pick Romney and McCain will shove these words down their throat. Carville is as left as they get. I’d do exactly the opposite of what he says. I would vote for Ridge, I don’t know anything about Pawlenty (which means most others don’t either), but Romney is really the other pick that can likely deliver votes in key states. No question.
7. ted bertrand | 08.28.08
I am from Michigan and doing the years George Romney was gov. I was a state employee and I can tell you George Romney was a friend of labor and business and that is why the memory prevails.
If mitt is anything like his father we all including the Democrats will come aboard and cheer for Mitt.
I am a independent who was a poll watcher for Kerry and Edwards in 2004 since I happened to live in a Republican county and the Democrats were desperate for help any help even from an independent voter.
Mitt I feel from taking with others will carry Michigan.
8. Carol | 08.28.08
I just can’t help it. Carville bears a striking resemblance to Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, who I always thought looked sorta like Satan. I can never take anything he says seriously.
9. Michelle | 08.28.08
I agree with Carville about Romney. I think he would be the worst choice for VP and although I’m a life-long Republican, I will NOT vote for McCain if Romney is on the ticket.
I followed the primaries very closely and was absolutely disgusted with Mitt Romney’s behavior. He has changed his position on so many issues and seems to have no problem lying. Even after he’s caught, he continues lying. Some say ‘well, all politicians can change their minds about issues’ Sure, but not 4 or 5 times as Romney has with abortion. His flip flops are all based on opportunism and appealing to the group he is trying to appeal to. The man has absolutely no true convictions and no character.
10. John Martin | 08.28.08
Romney is the man Mr McCain - His family and his values will bring the femal vote as well as galvanize the Senior and White Male vote. Do the right thing.
11. James | 08.28.08
Michelle:
The only people who take this hard line against Romney are former Huckabee supporters. Why not just come out and say it?
Romney has not “changed” his positions “again.” He changed his position on abortion one time. One. Not four or five. He remains PRO-LIFE and against same sex marriage. Millions of people trust him and his actions since the switch have been consistent.
Romney is the man with the MOST conviction and character. He’s also a politician like McCain, Huckabee, Ridge, Pawlenty, et al.
This is a POLITICAL process. Do you get it?
Try this website on for size. http://www.evangelicalsformitt.com and get the truth from the conservative Christian point of view.
12. ABRanteweia | 08.28.08
Michelle, undoubtedly seems to me that he doesn’t read about Mitt Romney’s background. This means that you are the opposite with these three words “good, better and best”. To me you are the problem lying, but not Mitt.
13. Bill | 08.28.08
Romney was not a good Governor here in Mass. He raised taxes by increasing fees on almost everything, he wanted the state employees to pay more for thier insurance he is not a friend of labor in my mind. Adding Biden to the Obama ticket gived the democrats a huge advantage. Adding Romey to the McCain tick almost guarantees a democratic win, enough of the republican **** they have to go.
14. JoeinNH | 08.28.08
If Romney, it should be interesting to see McCain attack the Democratic proposal for health care in view of what Romney pushed for as the Mass. Governor. It will take some fancy dancing to distinguish between the two (actually the Romney plan is the more left wing one in that it required everyone and not just parents to have insurance unlike Obama’s plan).
15. smc | 08.28.08
Mr. Carville makes me laugh. He’s a total hoot. Gotta remember, he’s in the entertainment business. If he’s not stirring up dust, he’s not gonna get any interviews. I’ve never met the man, but my guess is he’d be fun to hang out with at a cookout. He’s always jabbering about something and it is always in such excess that it comedic. I TOTALLY DISAGREE with his political views, but I’ve gotta admit, I think he’s a funny guy.
16. smc | 08.28.08
ps… I agree that if he says he ‘wants’ Romney, I’d say he’s scared to death that McCain will pick him for the VP slot…
17. Denise | 08.28.08
Oh this is too precious. So we’re going to have two of the more wealthy Americans–part of that 1%–wandering around the country claiming, “We need more tax cuts for the rich.” For themselves! How self-serving is that? McCain can’t even count the number of houses he owns. I bet he doesn’t know how much he pays in taxes, either, but apparently it’s still too much!
18. Tom in Atlanta | 08.28.08
Well I’ll flat up say I think Mitt Romney IS a night mare but that’s because of his close family ties to the leadership of the LDS church (NOT because he’s a Mormon!).
But I’ve also got to agree with Carville, now that Biden is on the ticket, Slick Romney is painting one big, “White Rich Clueless” target on his and McCain’s forehead.
Obama is not Kerry.
Expect an actual effective counter attack this year.
19. Laura | 08.28.08
I know the decision has been already been made. I sure hope it is Romney. He will generate excitement for the ticket and he is very articulate.
20. CAFuller | 08.28.08
Mr. Carville certainly puts on a certain amount of cutting political charm and wit, certainly to “sell” his persona, but also because he CAN. His frankness and over-the-top commentary don’t mask an inability or compensate for his weak analysis. To the contrary, he can communicate so bluntly and hilariously (compellingly, I might add) precisely BECAUSE he has the political clout and hard-earned experience….not to mention success. Many of the anti-Carville or mock-Carville-as-trivial commentators above clearly fail to recognize legitimate political commentary.
Secondly, I couldn’t agree more that Romney would be a terrible choice for the Republicans, and thus a wonderful opportunity for the Democrats. Romney has very little proven political track record. In fact, majority views in the very state he governed feel he did NOT do a good job. Massachusetts-based polls show this. While certain connected or older Michigan residents may remember the older Romney fondly, the average Michigan resident will not associate strongly enough to vote for the younger Romney’s ticket. (Note that those of you who wrote in favoring the older Romney were either people who had close working relationships with that adminstration or were of an older generation). The average, current Michigan resident won’t remember that. Instead they’ll see a rich businessman, not particularly inclined to help them where they’re at. That’s not personal opinion, but political perception.
As for the female vote, John Martin (see above post)… I find that to be an un-substantiated, poor assumption–that because Romney professes family values he’ll carry the female vote. What poll data supports that? By that standard, women should be predicted NOT to vote for the Romney/McCain ticket because they don’t like things like war. Similarly, the women who would vote for Romney are presumably of a different “ideology” to begin with. Ok, so that narrows it to a “right wing, socially conservative” set. We might assume these women are conservatives or Christians, or just Republicans. However, many in THAT set do NOT consider Mormon family values the same as theirs–even conflicting. In fact, many evangelical Christian women or socially conservative women find “Mormon” family values a far cry from their own–either in terms of economics, social, or religious views. Since when did Evangelical Christians consider Mormonism a parallel set of values? That is frightening. And of course, this doesn’t even address the set of social conservative or relgious or family values oriented women who don’t agree with the blatant gender inequality perpetuated by Mormon values and ideology. They exist, for sure.
Finally, James who comments on Michelle… Your comments frighten me. Evangelical Christian ideology frightens me. Political ignorance and blindness frighten me. Readers of the Monitor are generally intellectual, free-thinking people. That doesn’t preclude high standards of morality, even social conservatism, but it usually does avoid a fundamentalist mindset, especially a religious one. Is this the average Monitor reader? Part of me worries if that is the case. Part of me rejoices at the fact that the a fundamentalist is reading critical, un-biased analyses, and might develop a broader perspective!
But, ultimately, this is squabbling over a smaller piece of the larger puzzle. The real question is: if the Republican VP is Jesus himself, can the Republicans win the election? Preliminary data indicates no. The discontent with the current administration says no. Mark my words, this will seem a silly discussion this winter, when we have a new Democratic president.
And yet, the American public elected Bush. Twice. The rest of the world looked at us and shook their fingers. They said, “Well, the first time, we just felt bad for you, saw you were victims of a terrible deception, and you were stuck under this terrible administration. But the second time, the second time, you did it knowingly, willingly. You elected him again. Now, we have no sympathy for you. We just think you are stupid, strange, ignorant.”
Please, let us never show the world that face again. Let us not make that mistake again. It’s time to set things right–the course of our future depends on it. That’s not dramatic; it’s realistic. I’m not preaching doomsday; I’m preaching “wake up.” And if you want to pretend the Iraq war is great, and terrorism isn’t a problem, and bombing Iran is a good solution, and alienating ourselves in the world, and favoring big business, and destroying the environment, and not dealing with the energy crisis, and claiming global warming doesn’t exist, and neglecting the growing underclass in our own society that threatens to topple us all (I’m an urban educator, trust me…and no, No Child Left Behind doesn’t help; it harms)…then by all means, go ahead. Seal your own doom. But you’re an ostrich sticking your head in the sand, and you owe it to your children and grandchildren to do otherwise.
I’m not talking about political side here. I’m not talking about moral values. I love morality and I even love Republicans. But this particular, specific kind of bull-headed ignorance in a critical time simply CANNOT continue.
That, my friends, is the real issue. I just hope the American people are ready to confront who they are and where they country is going with honesty and awareness.
21. byoung | 08.28.08
romney may look good on paper, but he will lose it for mccain. independents and wavering dems will not flock to mccain/romney, as they might if he can get the ‘maverick’ label to stick… he needs every one of those votes he can get. as much as romney fans might hate to admit, he does come off as a phony.
22. Matthew | 08.28.08
I agree. I think the Dems are frightened of Romney. A Romney VP would certainly help McCain and hopefully again secure yet another 4 years of Bush’s failed policies.
It’s amazing to me how anyone could continue to support the Republican Party in its current incarnation. Or how anyone could support the Democratic Party.
We’ve got a system that’s been broken for years. For the first time in my 62 years, I refuse to vote for anyone! I’ll sit this one (and maybe the rest of them) out!
23. David | 08.28.08
We all know that Carville says what he thinks will energize the far left base of the Democrat party whether what he says is true or false. He mostly says what is false anyway. Why should we take what he says this time seriously? He mostly bloviates.
24. JD | 08.28.08
As a McCain supporter, I pray for a Tom Ridge pick. He gets the REPs a swing state or two (Pa and Oh) possibly and he can go toe to toe with Biden. The other candidates would be eaten alive!!
25. JD | 08.28.08
Let me take this one step further, IF McCain picks a social conservative and convinces independents like myself to think “well maybe he is like Bush and 4 more years”, i will stay home and NOT vote. I dont want Obama but i surely dont want a Bush clone.. Acceptable would be: 1) Ridge 2)Lieberman 3) Sarah Palin 4) Crist 5) Guliani……
26. Dale | 08.28.08
In my opinion it doesn’t matter who McCain picks. The Republicans lost the election when WMD wasn’t found in Iraq and they all circled the wagons around that MONUMENTAL mistake with excuse after excuse…and then there was Louisiana…need I go on?
27. Patrick | 08.28.08
On paper and in theory, I thought Romney would be formidable - money, looks, many successes to highlight, family values, but Americans aren’t ready for a Mormon. We all believe in the same God, but if he were any other denomination, he’d be a slam dunk. I think Romney sounds great, looks Presidential, works hard, and can leverage vast financial and organizational skills, but between the lines, as we saw during the Republican debates and campaign, the average Christian is too suspect of Mormonism. Hard to put a finger on it. He sounds too scripted as well and is deemed a flip flopper by many Republicans. He championed health care for all as Gov - not a traditional Republican strategy and I believe was pro-choice as Gov too. I think we’re all going to be surprised by who McCain picks.
28. Richard McDonough | 08.28.08
Romney would be the perfect choice. A man who made his fortunes buying businesses, lopping off jobs, getting “mean and lean” and then selling them. The antithesis of the good citizen the opposite of what a real builder does. What better man to choose to backstop the not very bright, fifth from the bottom of his class where he entered only because he was a legacy applicant. A marriage made in Democrat heaven.
29. Eddie Wilson | 08.28.08
I hate Carville. That egomaniac b*****d who rubs it in your face when he is right, thing is he is right most of the time when it comes to politics. I think Romney will not be chosen but he is setting himself up for a presidential run in the future. Sons are not always like their fathers. Evan Bayh is a case in point. His father, Birch Bayh, was one of the greatest friends of the working man that there ever was but his son as Governor of Indiana refused pay raises to state employees for 5 years. I know that being from Indiana my opinion is not taken by the majority of people here. George might have been a good man but like Evan Bayh, Mitt is more interested in promoting himself than helping the people. Put Romney on the ticket and it is a guaranteed loss for the Republicans. Early Republican voters saw what Romney truly is and they don’t want him.
30. Ben | 08.28.08
Either party is going to raise taxes. If you read Republican Ben Stein in the NYTimes, listen to Warren Buffet or heard about the documentary that the former US Comptroller made, the deficit is truely a scary sight - trillions and its getting worse each year. Ben Stein hates taxes but if you had a $500,000 Visa bill and made $20K a year, what would you do? Drastic, drastic changes are required. Iraq is like the Exxon Valdez, just draining out resources. I think we’re all going to have to get used to higher taxes and less benefits going forward - we need a VP who brings business sense back to Washington, that may be Romney.
31. John | 08.28.08
You can never tell what will appeal to the American voter on election day. For me, Mr. Romney is just like McCain: born on third base, he thinks he hit a home run. That these children of privilege have done well is not surprising, nor is there anything inherently wrong with it. To compare the achievements of either of the Obamas negatively with these two is nothing short of ludicrous, however. Of course, they are black, so they must have made it through Harvard Law because of affirmative action…
Give me a break!
Mr. Romney’s strange religion, his large brood of military-avoiding sons, and his own history of flip-flopping make him an excellent choice for McCain’s Veep. If only the Dems will go as negative on the offensive as the Repubs already have begun doing, this will be a blood Fall.
32. Concern4Civility | 08.28.08
Reading the comment of the man who liked Romney because he could teach us how to own lots of houses, I’m reminded of the story of when Jesus took offense to business people extorting profit from the exchange of monies and scattered the coins of the money changers and turns over their tables. The Republican focus on financial gain for the privileged under the guise of a twisted free market philosophy is sad indeed.
33. Dan | 08.28.08
Good grief, people. This “Romney got rich cutting peoples’ jobs” is ridiculous.
Romney took sick companies and turned them around. When companies are that sick, they are at risk of closing. Guess what happens when businesses fold. ALL THE EMPLOYEES ARE OUT OF JOBS. Romney saved thousands and thousands of jobs, but to do it he had to massively restructure the companies, and that often meant scaling back costs and people had to be let go. What, would you rather have 100% of the employees lose their jobs?
He did EXACTLY what we need our government to do right now - SCALE BACK THE SPENDING. But nobody in Washington has the guts to do it. Here’s to hoping Romney can, if he’s chosen.
It is so scary how quickly people buy into sound bites and rhetoric. THINK, people.
34. Gary | 08.28.08
Mitt Romney is the strongest pick by far. Democrats fear Romney- that’s why they attack him so much. Put Romney on the ticket and he will tear Joe Biden up.
35. Val J. | 08.28.08
James Carville is a loon and in reality is pooping twinkie cream at the thought of Romney on the McCain ticket. Tell me please what has Carville ever accomplishing in his lifetime besides bad mouthing others when they succeed? Like him or hate him, Romney is definetly a proven leader. The best case the Dems can make against a McCain/Romney ticket is their money? Come on now. Romney has more than proven his love for country over money. When running the olympics he donated his salary to charity, when governor of Massachusetts he donated his salary to charity, when running in the primaries, he forgave his own debt to himself and didn’t try to burden the public with it….like Hillary Clinton did. The politics of envy is a sour grape for the general public. The more I’ve studied politics, the more I realize that Washington is full of and run by several (not all) incompetent, incapable people. Then we get a proven success like Romney and all the incompetents (Carville, Obama, Huckabee) try to make their best case against him? I’m all for Romney. He’s a hard to case to argue: he can’t be bought with money for political swaying, he already has the money and has proven he isn’t looking to make more (if he was, he wouldn’t be in politics), he can’t be ignored, he is an independent thinker that is very well educated, he can’t be discredited, he has proven himself time and time again. We need more Romneys in Washington.
36. vincepage | 08.28.08
If McCain picks anyone other than Condoleezza Rice, he will have squandered a great opportunity.
37. CA | 08.28.08
Honey, we don’t fear Romney. The idea of Romney tearing anyone, let alone Biden, up, is, well laughable. Which is precisely why I hope the Republicans pick him for vp. That would be so quintessential of the party–to shoot themselves in the put and precipitate their own demise. That’s how Republicans got themselves here in the first place–making blunder after the blunder, the biggest of which is a four-letter word (B-U-S-H). Go ahead, pick him. Tell yourselves Dems fear him. Like Carville said, that only makes our day.
38. martin kessler | 08.28.08
Com’on, Citizens, McCain will be elected even if he choses Mickey Mouse as the VP.
Obama may be a nice school teacher, or he could make a living giving homilies every Sunday as Wright’s understudy, but he’s not fit even to be a Governor. What political hacks in Illinois went off their rocker to sent this guy to the Senate! The Senate! See how screwed up this whole election is? If is wasn’t for the money the media sucks from the candidates forcing ordinary folks to become TV addicts overwhelmed and drawn into all this nonsense as if it really matters in their personal lives this election would be a yawn.
39. martin kessler | 08.28.08
I’ll repeat
McCain will win even if he picks Mickey Mouse to be the Vice President
40. Keith | 08.28.08
Well, I am a liberal democrat and I can tell you I’m not afraid of ANY of these candidates (most especially McCain). The fact is, the more the Amercian people learn about ANY of these guys, the more turned off they get. All the dems have to do this year is keep reminding the public of 4 key republican policy positions: tax cuts for the rich, open immigration to supress wages, reckless military adventurism, survival of the fitest healthcare . . .
42. Carol | 08.28.08
Mitt Romney was a disaster as Governor of Massachusetts. Anyone who lives here will attest to that!He is arrogent,and out of touch with normal hardworking people. He has no passion, and speaks like a robot. I hope he is the VP choice.
43. Jaycee | 08.28.08
I actually like James Carville. I enjoy listening to his point of view. He is usually very blunt and straightforward. However, in this case, I think he is throwing this story out there as a bluff. The Dems don’t want Romney picked. Romney will continue to shore up the conservative base while beefing up McCain’s economic credentials. I think McCain/Romney is the perfect ticket for us this year.
44. Sensei | 08.28.08
This is an interesting mix of opinions. Also interesting is that most of the well-written ones are for Romney, most of the spelling & grammar errors are in rants against him. I’m hoping everyone thinks this through, reads up on both sides (no single side will give you the full picture), and makes a decision. To those who have decided to “sit this one out,” I say your choice is by far the worst. If you’re fed up enough to post on a board like this, do your civic duty and vote to preserve such rights!
45. Robert McIntyre | 08.28.08
Romney for the repug V-P ?
I hope so ……. he might help in Nevada , but I would think Michigan
would be another matter .
McCain on tour during the primaries ( in Michigan ) …….. addressing
the problems in the auto industry … ” These jobs will not be coming back “.
Just what a laid off worker wants to hear ……..
If McCain is dumb enough to say that in Michigan , he sure don’t belong in the Big House !
Nevada Bob
46. Dan | 08.28.08
I agree with Sensei above. If you’re fed up enough to be posting on a VP-choice column, and you can’t get yourself to vote for one of the major-party candidates, then place your vote for a different candidate. True that you’ll be affecting the election just as much as if you didn’t vote at all, but you’ll also be placing your vote with all those others who clearly also don’t like either major party candidate.
That may mean your vote is heard loudest of all, and maybe next time around the major parties will listen a bit more to those who are so unimpressed this go round.
47. serfer62 | 08.28.08
Forget all your prejidices against Romney look at the votes. While MacNasty and Huckberry bounced up and dowm, Romney stayed a constant Silver. It took the colusion of the two clowns to wash Romney off the slate…but he still had the most votes after MacNasty.
But for all you Romney haters don’t worry, Romney is to logical a choice to be selected. Besides MacNasty get to poke conservatives in the eye big time world class…he’ll pick Liberman and lose in a landslide…
48. Loraine | 08.28.08
So how many homes do McCane and Romney own? Are they willing to “dril here, drll now” in the backyads of those homes?
McCain: a noun, a verb, POW to every question!
49. KP | 08.28.08
All I hear in this blog is the emphasis on winning and Romney being “the man”. Since all we heard in the 2004 debacle was the term “flip flop,” perhaps this should serve as a reminder to those of you who think Romney is the savior to McCain:
Mitt Romney has flip flopped on issues ranging from immigration, abortion, tax cuts, gay rights (or lack thereof), campaign finance reform, climate change, conservatism, gambling, gun control, etc. Now that’s a solid performer we should all get behind…
I think it’s time this country elected a president who has a brain and new ideas rather than one who can beat his chest and yell Mission Accomplished. If anyone is paying attention to the issues in our nation currently, my question is “How’s it working for you?” If the answer is, “It ain’t great” why would you want to prolong that for four more years by electing someone who hasn’t told us anything other than we MIGHT obtain a smidgeon more oil in the next 10-15 years if we drill offshore (oh, did I mention the cost to construct those rigs??) and that with his leadership, we’ll drain even more money into a war that has already sucked us and our reputation dry?
50. Dan | 08.28.08
Loraine,
As long as they got them honestly, who the he** cares how many homes they have? And are they seeking to drill in ANYone’s backyard? Come up with something relevant, please.
I would think we would want successful people in leadership, but what do I know?
51. Dan | 08.28.08
Oh, please, Loraine. As long as they got them HONESTLY, who the he** cares how many homes they have? And they’re not advocating drilling in the backyard of anyone’s home. Please try to find something that is actually relevant.
I would think we might actually want successful people as our leaders, but what do I know?
52. Eric | 08.28.08
Matthew,
You said you have always sat elections out then how dare you criticize our government when you haven’t placed a single vote? Another thing, a Romney pick would be interesting I honestly thought he was going to walk away with the GOP nomination but I was wrong. I support Obama and I’m from Michigan and there are not that many average voters that remember the elder Romney. However we all remember former Republican Governor John Engler who misspent a whole lot of money and did not seek to diversify our state’s economy and only relied on the big three which was a decision that still is plaguing our state.
And from those few I know that remember the elder Romney they liked him; they thought he was the guy who would visit them on the assembly line at the GM plant and say “How’s it going? Great job! Keep up the good work!” While Mitt Romney comes off as “Guess what? You’re job is going to Mexico!” This isn’t something you want blue-collar workers who have lost their jobs thinking about a VP. Nor do you want a president who admits he doesn’t know much about the economy if you live in Michigan.
53. Steve | 08.28.08
Nevada Bob: Maybe you would rather he lie like the dems, “we will fix everything” But believe me it will cost us, read Obama’s tax agenda!
54. Frank | 08.28.08
I think Romney would be a big problem for a lot of evangelical voters who just can’t stand Mormons, and half-suspect that they secretly worship the devil. Romney could deflect this by (a) refusing to discuss theology anymore–let people to call the missionaries if they’re interested, (b) reminding everybody that voters said the same things about Kennedy being Catholic, and (c) playing up the “clean cut” “Boy Scout” image that everybody has of the Mormons.
The positive side is that Romney’s already well-known, and is considered to have expertise in economics (the issue at the center of most voters’ concern). Since McCain has out-and-out admitted that he’s weak in economics, he needs somebody like this.
55. CA | 08.28.08
To the poster who claimed the “anti-Romney” posts were those with the most grammatical errors and the “pro-Romney” votes were the most articulate… Clearly, you’re not an editor, and you may not be able to count.
Please see below as an example of your supposedly pro-Romney articulate:
“46. serfer62 | 08.28.08
Forget all your prejidices against Romney look at the votes. While MacNasty and Huckberry bounced up and dowm, Romney stayed a constant Silver. It took the colusion of the two clowns to wash Romney off the slate…but he still had the most votes after MacNasty.
But for all you Romney haters don’t worry, Romney is to logical a choice to be selected. Besides MacNasty get to poke conservatives in the eye big time world class…he’ll pick Liberman and lose in a landslide…”
56. Trave | 08.29.08
Reading through all these comments I see some independent thinkers who have some knowledge and make good sense. I haven’t seen anyone comment that Romney would have taken the republican nomination If Huckaby had pulled out when he knew he couldn’t win. I hope his strategy dose not prevail for the VP position. It’s a sad day when we can’t get past religion. the Kennedy example Didn’t teach us anything. It’s sad that our population dos not understand what George P. was talking about when he said we would here this great sucking sound. Now that we have spent the last 15 years or so of Nafta, ripping the industrial guts out of this country and watering down the good paying jobs that pay good taxes into our government so we can enjoy some prosparity. Our government bragged about the $7-10 dollar ph. jobs they created that pay little to no taxes. It isn’t hard to figure that one out. (This was a crime to the American people) Thanks to the Clinton’s. When Billy was elected for a second term I lost faith in the American people. Another crime is the mith about the reasons for dependence on foreign oil. Having been in the auto industry for over 20 years I can tell you that the gas guzzlers could have been done away with many years ago. (our dependence on per gallon gas tax wouldn’t allow local or federal governments any interest etc.)I would like to carry on in much more depth, But Ive touched on a couple subjects and said enough. I’m 65, a Vietnam vet, and retired. I have seen the degeneration of of this great nation, moral and otherwise. It makes me ill that our people aren’t better informed, and would realize we have the power to remove the dead wood from our government and force the changes that could make the difference. We are not driven by powerful industry and special interest groups, Carville. is.
57. beth | 08.29.08
From the tenor of all these comments it sure seems to me that, the ‘Michiganders’ favorite son pride aside, that the conservative republicans are rather worried be it Mitt or be it not Mitt. This great nation might just get back to its roots, to the people.
Beth in FL
58. Patrick | 08.29.08
Hmmm…so in your 65 years you honestly don’t believe there is a connection between the health care industry, Nixon and HMO’s, you don’t think energy companies and Cheney influence eachother and you think the hundreds of lobbyists in offices surrounding the White House are lobbying for…better wheat bread? The National Association of Broadcasters hasn’t had any say on the FCC? And possibly raising taxes and pruning social programs to balance a budget in order to save billions of dollars of wasted payments on interest alone isn’t a wise budget move. If it makes you sick to pay the minimum on a $5,000 credit card bill, why don’t you feel sick paying interest (money out of the window) on a trillion dollar debt - oh, what is more important is that Clinton cheated on his wife.
59. john | 08.30.08
No use to worry about Romney NOw
McCain VP and his rash behavior — Country at Risk
More rash dangerous decisions.
McCain only talked with his VP choice last week. He just does not know her. McCain is willing to make a decision that could impact the country on one conversation!!!
And we all know that McCain still has cancer. He looked death in the eye 2 times. Once was just after the 2000 presidential race where he tried to be selected as the GOP presidential candidate. Shortly after he had to have an operation of 5 hours. That is why the left side of his face is scared and large. He gets checked once a month. But there is nothing that can be done if the cancer starts to spread quickly. That means that there is a chance that he will die or be very sick if he is President. This puts his VP choice as the new President. She a smart and clever person, but is is not brilliant and is grossly ignorant of the world. She would need to be to do the job at all well. There are high school students that know more about the world.
McCain has put the country at risk. Talk about decisions.
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1. Rebecca | 08.27.08
Mr. Carville, I strongly disagree with your comments about Mr. Romney’s ties with Michigan not meaning anything. I am a Michigan native. George Romney is remembered well in my memory and in my familie’s memories. I also like Mitt and his family. I think his partnership with Sen. McCain will help Sen. McCain more than you would care to admit. You are right to be fearful of Romney’s influence in Michigan. Your bluster and dirt flinging won’t make a bit of difference. How does your wife tolerate you?