Ah rubbish! Ask the Michigan Dem’s how they’ve been able to handle the economy there? And by the way how is there Governor doing? I believe she’s a Democrat!
Exactly! The Dem’s have done such a terrible job in Michigan, no one will believe these smear attacks there putting on Romney. Anyway’s Romney is Michigan’s “Favorite Son”. I really do feel good about our chances there if Romney is the VP.
Here anything new today on Romney as VP? Or still the same as yesterday with your solid 4 sources? I’m starting to hear that it will probably be Romney as well, but do you think McCain does it sooner rather than later? Thanks!
Were still working on things. Right now I may be a little less confident in some of the sources, but think they are good leads, we’ll get back soon enough.
All this says is that the Democrats in MI know they’re vulnerable to being held responsible for the state’s economic woes. McCain hasn’t even chosen Romney yet and even if his odds of being selected are good, it’s far from certain that McCain picks him.
Romney’s far from perfect – but he’s done more for and knows more about the economy than Obama and his stupid little groupies in the media that just can’t wait to kiss his imbecile ass.
Romney’s economic credentials are impressive – it is the number one issue in this race and the democrats have just validated Romney’s credentials by attacking him.
The Romney trolls like to conflate business experience with understanding how the economy works. Sadly, Mittens and his minions think the US is operated like one giant business.
Well I’m hardly a Romney troll here and think the man is far from perfect, as Jason and IL Guy can attest to, but Romney did cut taxes in MA. Romney does have executive experience. Romney does have a record in business. That may not directly correlate to being an expert on being chierf executive but it’s got to count for something.
Obama is nothing but a Louis Farrakhan that has the jaw-dropping ability to read a teleprompter. I work in TV news. I can say with 100 percent certainty that a hell of a lot of dumb people can read a prompter.
Why don’t we set up a debate with Donald, Sampo, and Mitt on the subject of the economyand see who comes out most knowledgeable? WOULD I LOVE TO SIT THROUGH THAT ONE!!
Sampo, I love ya, but HUSH! They are also attacking McCain!
Can I just say that this is clearly the most exciting election in the history of this nation. This is so exciting that the Democrats are attacking McCain and Romney at the same time, and Romney is not even on the ticket. WTH! I am confused, but it obviously stays within the logic of this insane election.
what about meg whitman of EBay for VP? has all the econ and business creds of Romney if not greater, has way more money to contribute to the campaign, none of his downsides, doesn’t have the LDS baggage, everyone knows and loves Ebay, she’s a woman, the media would think it’s a great pick, etc…
Donald,
Of course the U.S. isn’t operated as “one giant business.” Hasn’t been for some time. That’s why we have a several trillion dollar national debt that we all owe. A company with such a poor balance sheet couldn’t keep borrowing and can’t print money so they would have declared bankruptcy many times before and gone out of business. It’s our ability to print money and borrow from the Chinese that keeps this country going. That’s why we desperately need some economic smarts in D.C. Unfortunately, only Romney seems to have actually graduated from several schools in the top of his class and actually understands a profit ( say reduced national debt several times over ) concept as opposed to endless borrowing against rapidly disappearing assets.
#25 – she has no political experience. Your going to suggest that we put a woman with no political experience on the ticket? She hasn’t been vetted and she took advice from Romney on how to run her business – so who’s really responsible for the success of E-bay?
I don’t think the Michigan Democratic party would have wasted their time if Romney is not the Veep pick for McCain. But they have no room to talk as the Michigan economy sucks even worse than the national economy.
#28, this was also an attack on McCain, but clearly the MI Democratic party have internal polls showing a McCain/Romney ticket winning in MI. That has to be why they focused on Romney in this ad.
Maybe Romney can carry a state for McCain? Unfortunately I have to agree with Speaker Gingrich, I prefer Sarah Palin.
Meanwhile, Bob Novak updates his take on VP: “The identity of McCain’s running mate, whenever he is named, still is unknown. But former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney now leads all speculation. He is getting a boost from private polls that show his presence on the ticket puts McCain ahead in Michigan — changing that state from Blue to Red.”
#32, she is dynamic, fantastic on camera, OIL, OIL, OIL, and she is an actual Reagan Republican, not like many Republicans who use the gippers name, but turn on him when elected.
Most importantly, I believe she can appeal to Conservative Democrats in PA, MI and OH. When Obama described those small town voters (guns, hunting, church, etc)…he was actually speaking about Palin, as that is who she is. Her selection would be a stick in the eye to Obama and attract the very voters he is struggling with today.
I just don’t think she’s ready for the national stage(don’t get me wrong I would vote for that ticket) but I think she’d be better served finishing her term in Alaska and perhaps challenge for the GOP nomination in 4 years(should there be a open primary) and then serving as say Romney’s running mate.
Judging from McCain’s comments on H&C tonight, I’d say Romney is the likely VP pick. I’d rather Palin or Jindal, but so be it. If he can bring Michigan, he’s worth the risk.
The Dems wouldn’t be running this ad if they didn’t apprehend Romney’s electoral effectiveness. Back in the primaries, the DNC (and MSM) attacked Romney relentlessly, while coddling McCain and Huckabee. Romney was discussed on the Huffington Post today:
“While McCain’s age remains fodder for late-night talk show yucks… If McCain selects a virile and younger running mate like Mitt Romney, the question of age will recede even further.”
The Romney trolls like to conflate business experience with understanding how the economy works. Sadly, Mittens and his minions think the US is operated like one giant business.
Maybe I am being naive, but how exactly are they different? I don’t like Romney whatsoever as a candidate, but this meme built by Romnots has always struck me as hollow.
Romney just wants VP because he knows it is his only route to be president some day. Some Romney supporter on an earlier blog said that if Romney doesn’t get picked his chances in 2012 are toast. Romney ran negative ads against John McCain and got in numerous fights. He wasn’t kidding when he said that John McCain knows nothing about the economy or that he is too liberal to be a republican. John McCain wasn’t lying when he said that Romney is the “candidate of change”–meaning a flip-flopper and he even called Mike Huckabee congraduating him on his Iowa win and telling him “Thanks for kicking the crap out of Romney for me!” and telling the media that “Huck’s victory proves that you can’t buy the white-house”. Seriously,—-all these statements are red meat for the Dems’ commericals.
Why would the MI liberals waste their resources attacking Romney this way? He dropped out of the race months ago. It is clear that they must fear him joining the Republican ticket.
I think it is because they are doing their own polling that shows Romney being a boost in the state.
Hopefully we will actually get to see the results of the much talked about MI poll that shows Romney turning the state from blue to red. It will be interesting to see how it is dismissed and torn to shreds by Romney haters and proclaimed as proof that Romney should be the VP by Romney supporters.
“The Romney trolls like to conflate business experience with understanding how the economy works. Sadly, Mittens and his minions think the US is operated like one giant business.”
And conversely, the liberal trolls like to attack Romney on his business successes as if they are now some sort of political liability!
i think Palin, or any other woman, would be a good choice for electoral reasons.
The GOP basically wins from 2 groups. Whites and Hispanics. In the 70s and 80s under Nixon, Reagan and Bush, whites were big enough to win on them alone, but now we need hispanics.
Basically, if we get close to 60% of whites and 35% of hispanics, we win. If we don’t we likely lose. Among whites, we need 60%+ of white men and 50%+ of white women to have a shot.
Now, there;s really no VP who can pump up our hispanic numbers and if McCain himself can’t do it, there’s no chance anyway. He’s a s hispanic friendly as they come.
among white men, McCain shouldn’t need help either. he’s made to order for white guys and the GOP has own white guys recently. If we’re losing them, it’s too late for the VP to matter anyway.
so, white women is where the election will be won or lost. Bush got 55% in 2004 and won, he got 49% in 2000 and lost the popular vote and barely won the electoral vote. the closer he gets to the 55%, the better chance McCain has. If he tops 50, he should win, but he’ll need to get closer to 55 to make up for the higher black vote for Obama.
Especially after what happened in the dem primary and the anger and backlash among women voters, white women voters, older white women voters who turn out heavily, having a white woman VP would be a very good way to push that # closer to 55. McCain right now is losing big among women, and he’ll need to move that if he wants to win.
i’m not saying it’s the only way, but a woman VP is probably one of the better ways
Speaking of experience, I was listening to Hugh Hewitt’s radio show this afternoon (Dean Barnett hosting in Hugh’s absence) and he asked Obama supporters to call in and explain why they supported BO.
One guy said it was for esoteric reasons. When Dean pushed him for reasons that B.Obama was qualified, the caller could come up with no reason.
Anne, regarding Romney’s chances to be POTUS someday, it becomes much less likely if he is McCain’s VP, not more.
It probably guarantees that Romney will be the GOP nominee someday, but unless McCain/Romney wins in 2008 and loses in 2012, Romney probably won’t have a very good chance of winning a general election.
If McCain/Romney loses in 2008, Romney is damaged goods for his own run in 2012, though he still would have a very good shot at the nomination.
If they win in 2008 and McCain doesn’t run in 2012 and the ticket is Romney/???, odds are they don’t win a 4th consecutive GOP term.
MA may have lost jobs during Romney’s first year as Governor if those figures are true, but they were all gained back by the time he left. It can take time to fix the fiscal irresponsibilities of liberals.
Romney’s team may have had to close some factories which forced layoffs. These are the tough business decisions an executive would have to make in order to clean up after someone else’s mismanagement – something apparently these liberals can’t understand as demonstrated by the state of MI’s economy. As a whole, Bain under Romney’s management has created thousands of *new* *tax-paying* American jobs. No mention of that here.
I’d like to see how Bain could make $100M by forcing a company in to bankruptcy. Last I checked, investors lose money when their company declares bankruptcy.
False & outrageous claims. All of them. Is it any wonder why MI is in a one state recession?
Maybe you misunderstood me. I was quoting an earlier poster. I feel like the other Adam. While I don’t like Romney, I feel his business experience is one of the best things he has going for him. I don’t understand why Romnots are so quick to discount it.
I mean, I assume since the guy made a ton of money in business and (claims to be, ZING!) is a Republican, he is a free market capitalist. I would assume that would translate well to the executive branch. I don’t understand the meme that business experience != understanding the economy.
Romney’s best chance to become President someday is to take over the RNC and orchestrate a huge turnaround at all levels: re-branding the GOP, getting new Congressional leadership and winning back Congress in 2010 along with state legislatures and Governorships for the important redistricting that will take place after the 2010 census.
Then in 2012 or 2016 he would have enough credibility with the base and independents that his changes of position wouldn’t matter anymore.
My apolgies AdamPSU for that misunderstanding. Regarding this:
“I don’t understand the meme that business experience != understanding the economy.”
One must have business experience first & foremost before one can even have a prayer to tackle the economy as a whole. Just look at the backgrounds of those on the many Federal Reserve Boards. Business experience does not necessarily equate to global economic credentials, but you need business experience to have economic credentials.
Romney was the only candidate running who is recognized with having the global economic credentials and experience to speak competently on fiscal policy.
Thanks for the encourging word. If politics is a bunch of people flip-flopping on every issue just so they can become president then I must be ignorant. BUT, for the first time I got involved in the political process. I’m a part of a grassroots network that is 20,000 strong and for the first time believed that a candidate (A GOP One at that) actually wanted to help working people. Politics is not all about the money or who has the biggest war-chest, it is about the people behind the scenes who make numerous phone-calls, volunteering their time and contributing $5.00 because they can’t afford more but believe in a candidate that much. I believe politics is about standing for something because if you don’t–you fall for everything. Candidates should remember that we are their boss, not the other way around. So yes–maybe I am ignorant.
Yes. Sorry about that. I have been a computer coding frame of mind (!= means “not equal to” in computer language) thanks to my former PhD advisor riding my ass about a field project.
Funny that they attack a guy not on any ticket. Scared DNC?
Like in the primaries when the democrats attacked Mitt endlessly (I don’t remember the numbers but wasn’t it like 100 articles against Mitt and 4 against Huckabee?), they understand he will be a tough fight and if they can do anything to convince John to not choose him they will. No matter what anyone says, if the DNC can get rid of the guy “perceived” to have the strongest grip on the economy they will be smiling.
“Scott Romney, the Michigan co-chair for McCain, begs to differ about his brother’s record, and notes that Michigan is suffering economically under Democratic leadership.
“This is full of distortions and untruths from the Democrats who are desperate to distract people from Barack Obama’s plan to raise taxes. Gov. Romney helped create thousands of jobs in the private sector,” Scott Romney said. “When Gov Romney took office, Massachusetts was in a recession and losing thousands of jobs every month. When he left office four years later, the state’s economy was adding thousands of jobs every month.
“Unfortunately, under Democratic leadership, Michigan continues to experience soaring unemployment, higher taxes and loss of jobs,” he continued. “This is the kind of record that Barack Obama has aligned himself with in Michigan. Mitt will continue to actively engage all Michiganders in support of Senator John McCain’s strong economic policies to help Michigan grow their economies and add much needed jobs.”
cwpete, the Dems are just repeating charges made by McCain against Romney in a debate (the one with them seated, with Air Force one in the background).
Romney effectively answered those charges then (not that it helped him) and its easy to do so now. I belive the year that the paper is talking about only has a few months under Romney, the rest was under his predecessor. Not that a Governor can have instant results (unless he doubles the size of the state government employees immediately. It would do wonders for the unemployment rate in the short term!)
The former Massachusetts governor and one-time rival of McCain’s for the GOP presidential nomination was the top vote-getter with 36% in a new Rasmussen Reports national survey taken last Friday night.
Among Republicans, Romney is the leading choice by far: 50% say they think he is the best running mate, and 47% think he will be picked by McCain. He is the top vote-getter among unaffiliated voters, too, with 34% expecting him to get the nod.
Forty-four percent (44%) of likely McCain voters believe Romney is the best choice, with 45% sure he will be the one who is actually chosen for the vice presidential slot.
Among all voters, 11% think another Republican presidential hopeful and former governor, Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, will be McCain’s pick.
Ten percent (10%) say McCain will reach across party lines to name Connecticut’s independent Democratic Senator Joseph Lieberman, his own party’s vice presidential nominee in 2000, as his running mate.
Three governors known to be under consideration by the GOP candidate all registered in single digits – Florida’s Charlie Crist (7%), Louisiana’s Bobby Jindal (5%) and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota (5%).
Yeah, you are right #67. Perhaps Republicans ought to play more Hilary Clinton clips attacking Obama to counter this all this. For sure, Republicans have a great deal more primary ammo of Clinton attacking Obama than Democrats have of McCain attacking Romney.
Liberals attacking Romney on his strong point of economics and fiscal policy is a lot like them trying to attack McCain on his strong point of foreign policy. It is just plain stupid, but they are welcome to try.
Furthermore, this all just begs the same question to them in return: What exactly are Obama’s economic credentials? We all know what the MI Democrats have done to their state’s economy. How exactly is Obama’s fiscal policy going to help MI and what is his track record in matters of fiscal policy?
All questions that they can’t answer while having a very poor or nonexistent track record on.
* He actually inhereted a 1.5 billion dollar death tax increase from the previous governor. He certainly had no intention of repealing them.
* Then he renamed taxes fees and increased those by 250 to 500 million dollars (but hey, what’s a quarter-billion dollars among friends?)
* Then he taxed people in the form of health care mandates.
In case that is too much to read, with all the candidates there are to choose from, 36% of all voters want Mitt as McCain’s running mate. Amongst Republican, 50%…that’s right everybody else put together gets 50%,; and amongst Independents, 34%.
So, here is yet another poll showing Romney way out in front of everybody else.. Note that second place was Huckabee at 11%, less than 1/3 of Mitt’s.
Before we have any more personal opinions like ‘2/3 of the Republicans are just not warm to him’, maybe we should start paying attention to the latest polls. If you recall the 18th of July Zogby showed Mitt as a huge asset to the McCain ticket also.
If Romney is VP, I think I’ll vote for Chuck Baldwin. McCain promised he would pick a pro-life candidate and if he doesn’t, he is a lier and not worthy of my vote.
“* He actually inhereted a 1.5 billion dollar death tax increase from the previous governor. He certainly had no intention of repealing them.”
Do you think Romney would not have been vetoed by the Democrat super majority in the State MA congress? Of course he would have. What a waste of time that would have been. But hey, let’s still blame Romney for the bad legislation of others. That works..
“Then he renamed taxes fees and increased those by 250 to 500 million dollars”
No I think you are trying to rename fees to taxes so you can continue on with the false DNC talking points that Romney raised taxes when the truth is taxes were lowered while the $3B deficit was closed at the same time.
“Then he taxed people in the form of health care mandates.”
What additional tax was this? The state of MA was already paying for the emergency hospital visits of those uninsured. Romney merely took some of that money, along with fee reductions to health insurers, to help get everyone insured within the private sector.
What if Romney is McCain’s VP? Can you handle that?
Anne- as Bonham said you are ignorant Romney is pro-life for cryin out loud. The Mass. citizens for life even gave him an award. You must really be sipping some crazy Kool-Aid
Today I spent two hours in a corporate audit committee meeting (as company outside counsel) in which committee members discussed profits, the latest merger, how they were intergrating, etc. They cooed and congratulated management on what a glowing M&A had been consummated. Unfortunately, glossed over quickly (and surely not to be referenced in the Board minutes) were the multitude of employees to be phased out by year end (right around Christmas) with a few holdovers until February ‘09 to help with the year-end financials.
I see this every day (that is why, although I make a lot of money, I am growing extremely weary of greedy corporate fiscal cons, who worry far more about their options than their shareholders and certainly not their employees). Maybe I will end up like that attorney in “Michael Clayton” who couldn’t take it any more and gave the plantiffs’ the real story on his pharmaceutical company client.
Bottom line, here, folks, good businessmen do not CREATE a good economy, they know how to take advantage of it. And they also know how to desert sinking ships quickly — luke you know who.
There is no equation between making lots of money and governing in a stewards-like fashion, brandishing the control, responsibility and well-being of so many disparate living creatures.
All I know is that Romney was out here in San Diego last year breaking his back with a shovel for a few hours straight to clean up after the forest fires. He asked that media not be present and did not tell his campaign where he would be because he wanted to provide service along side his son. A couple locals got some cell phone pics of it, but if you guys really think he is 100% phoney and calculates his every move, you don’t know the real Mitt Romney.
Are we really going to have to go through a point-by-point defense of Mitt Romney to fellow conservatives come general election when he’s on the ticket??
Seriously, Dems here in MI have NO place to talk about economic issues. They have done nothing, NOTHING to help our state- they’ve just been feathering their own nests. BUUUUULLLLLLLLLL crap.
A Delusion is being sent to the earth and people will believe a Lie. Romney is a Delusion, putting souls in jeopardy. He is for torturing human beings, breaking the Geneva Conventions, the standards for which our forefathers laid down their lives in battle on the front in Europe. He wants to double or triple Guantanimo Prison. The amount of lies he has pursued for naked power places him in company with Antichrist.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:10 pm
The plot thickens now doesn’t it?
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Ah rubbish! Ask the Michigan Dem’s how they’ve been able to handle the economy there? And by the way how is there Governor doing? I believe she’s a Democrat!
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:13 pm
This is just the MI dem’s desperate attempt to blame someone, anyone for their destruction of their states economy.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:14 pm
See–even the Dems don’t like Mitt…it’s contagious.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Exactly! The Dem’s have done such a terrible job in Michigan, no one will believe these smear attacks there putting on Romney. Anyway’s Romney is Michigan’s “Favorite Son”. I really do feel good about our chances there if Romney is the VP.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:15 pm
thats’ really weird
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:16 pm
wowzers
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Jason,
Here anything new today on Romney as VP? Or still the same as yesterday with your solid 4 sources? I’m starting to hear that it will probably be Romney as well, but do you think McCain does it sooner rather than later? Thanks!
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Bizzare?! What a waste of time?
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:19 pm
#9: “What a waste of time?”
and money. Kinda sums up the whole Democrat Party.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Bryan,
Were still working on things. Right now I may be a little less confident in some of the sources, but think they are good leads, we’ll get back soon enough.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:20 pm
The WSJ/NBC poll that was posted below also asked what qualities voters want in McCain’s VP.
Expert on the economy is far and away number one at 60%.
Military/FP expertise is 2nd at 25% and,
Experience in the business world is 3rd at 22%. (respondents chose their top two priorities.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:21 pm
The WSJ poll should be good for Romney for VP proponents.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:23 pm
All this says is that the Democrats in MI know they’re vulnerable to being held responsible for the state’s economic woes. McCain hasn’t even chosen Romney yet and even if his odds of being selected are good, it’s far from certain that McCain picks him.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Thanks Jason.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Companies like Staples that now have 65,000 happy employees would have had none if Mitt would not have save their them. Same with Dominos Pizza!
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Romney’s far from perfect – but he’s done more for and knows more about the economy than Obama and his stupid little groupies in the media that just can’t wait to kiss his imbecile ass.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Romney’s economic credentials are impressive – it is the number one issue in this race and the democrats have just validated Romney’s credentials by attacking him.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:31 pm
The Romney trolls like to conflate business experience with understanding how the economy works. Sadly, Mittens and his minions think the US is operated like one giant business.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:35 pm
AMEN!
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Nice ad…
Have to admit that the dude is sooo easy to hammer.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Well I’m hardly a Romney troll here and think the man is far from perfect, as Jason and IL Guy can attest to, but Romney did cut taxes in MA. Romney does have executive experience. Romney does have a record in business. That may not directly correlate to being an expert on being chierf executive but it’s got to count for something.
Obama is nothing but a Louis Farrakhan that has the jaw-dropping ability to read a teleprompter. I work in TV news. I can say with 100 percent certainty that a hell of a lot of dumb people can read a prompter.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Why don’t we set up a debate with Donald, Sampo, and Mitt on the subject of the economyand see who comes out most knowledgeable? WOULD I LOVE TO SIT THROUGH THAT ONE!!
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Sampo, I love ya, but HUSH! They are also attacking McCain!
Can I just say that this is clearly the most exciting election in the history of this nation. This is so exciting that the Democrats are attacking McCain and Romney at the same time, and Romney is not even on the ticket. WTH! I am confused, but it obviously stays within the logic of this insane election.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:41 pm
what about meg whitman of EBay for VP? has all the econ and business creds of Romney if not greater, has way more money to contribute to the campaign, none of his downsides, doesn’t have the LDS baggage, everyone knows and loves Ebay, she’s a woman, the media would think it’s a great pick, etc…
makes perfect sense
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Donald,
Of course the U.S. isn’t operated as “one giant business.” Hasn’t been for some time. That’s why we have a several trillion dollar national debt that we all owe. A company with such a poor balance sheet couldn’t keep borrowing and can’t print money so they would have declared bankruptcy many times before and gone out of business. It’s our ability to print money and borrow from the Chinese that keeps this country going. That’s why we desperately need some economic smarts in D.C. Unfortunately, only Romney seems to have actually graduated from several schools in the top of his class and actually understands a profit ( say reduced national debt several times over ) concept as opposed to endless borrowing against rapidly disappearing assets.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:46 pm
#25 – she has no political experience. Your going to suggest that we put a woman with no political experience on the ticket? She hasn’t been vetted and she took advice from Romney on how to run her business – so who’s really responsible for the success of E-bay?
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:48 pm
I don’t think the Michigan Democratic party would have wasted their time if Romney is not the Veep pick for McCain. But they have no room to talk as the Michigan economy sucks even worse than the national economy.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:51 pm
#28, this was also an attack on McCain, but clearly the MI Democratic party have internal polls showing a McCain/Romney ticket winning in MI. That has to be why they focused on Romney in this ad.
Maybe Romney can carry a state for McCain? Unfortunately I have to agree with Speaker Gingrich, I prefer Sarah Palin.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Can anyone confirm the rumor that McCain has hired a FT staffer for the VP, and who is the staffer?
Aron?
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:56 pm
froM MSNBC.
Meanwhile, Bob Novak updates his take on VP: “The identity of McCain’s running mate, whenever he is named, still is unknown. But former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney now leads all speculation. He is getting a boost from private polls that show his presence on the ticket puts McCain ahead in Michigan — changing that state from Blue to Red.”
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Kristofer-Why Palin? She’s only been in office for a year and a half. Plus Alaska isn’t exactly a major player on the national stage.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:06 pm
#32, she is dynamic, fantastic on camera, OIL, OIL, OIL, and she is an actual Reagan Republican, not like many Republicans who use the gippers name, but turn on him when elected.
Most importantly, I believe she can appeal to Conservative Democrats in PA, MI and OH. When Obama described those small town voters (guns, hunting, church, etc)…he was actually speaking about Palin, as that is who she is. Her selection would be a stick in the eye to Obama and attract the very voters he is struggling with today.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:11 pm
I just don’t think she’s ready for the national stage(don’t get me wrong I would vote for that ticket) but I think she’d be better served finishing her term in Alaska and perhaps challenge for the GOP nomination in 4 years(should there be a open primary) and then serving as say Romney’s running mate.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Judging from McCain’s comments on H&C tonight, I’d say Romney is the likely VP pick. I’d rather Palin or Jindal, but so be it. If he can bring Michigan, he’s worth the risk.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:21 pm
The MI liberals who have controlled the state for decades, who have economically ruined MI’s economy, dare to challenge Romney?
I welcome this, bring it on..
If the MI liberals are happy with the state of their economy by all means, keep listening to these guys & voting liberal.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:21 pm
The Dems wouldn’t be running this ad if they didn’t apprehend Romney’s electoral effectiveness. Back in the primaries, the DNC (and MSM) attacked Romney relentlessly, while coddling McCain and Huckabee. Romney was discussed on the Huffington Post today:
“While McCain’s age remains fodder for late-night talk show yucks… If McCain selects a virile and younger running mate like Mitt Romney, the question of age will recede even further.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-katovsky/why-is-the-media-still-ca_b_114359.html
This Dem ad is proof positive that there will be DNC celebrations if McCain picks Mitt.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Maybe I am being naive, but how exactly are they different? I don’t like Romney whatsoever as a candidate, but this meme built by Romnots has always struck me as hollow.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:24 pm
DNC celebrations? I don’t follow.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Romney just wants VP because he knows it is his only route to be president some day. Some Romney supporter on an earlier blog said that if Romney doesn’t get picked his chances in 2012 are toast. Romney ran negative ads against John McCain and got in numerous fights. He wasn’t kidding when he said that John McCain knows nothing about the economy or that he is too liberal to be a republican. John McCain wasn’t lying when he said that Romney is the “candidate of change”–meaning a flip-flopper and he even called Mike Huckabee congraduating him on his Iowa win and telling him “Thanks for kicking the crap out of Romney for me!” and telling the media that “Huck’s victory proves that you can’t buy the white-house”. Seriously,—-all these statements are red meat for the Dems’ commericals.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Why would the MI liberals waste their resources attacking Romney this way? He dropped out of the race months ago. It is clear that they must fear him joining the Republican ticket.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Romney/Palin 2012 – Sounds great! I think she should wait!
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Anne,
You just sound ignorant of politics in general.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:29 pm
I think it is because they are doing their own polling that shows Romney being a boost in the state.
Hopefully we will actually get to see the results of the much talked about MI poll that shows Romney turning the state from blue to red. It will be interesting to see how it is dismissed and torn to shreds by Romney haters and proclaimed as proof that Romney should be the VP by Romney supporters.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:30 pm
AdamPSU:
“The Romney trolls like to conflate business experience with understanding how the economy works. Sadly, Mittens and his minions think the US is operated like one giant business.”
And conversely, the liberal trolls like to attack Romney on his business successes as if they are now some sort of political liability!
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Gosh Jason, listen to people’s feedback. Anne’s thoughts are reflective of many voters.
Just face it, 2/3 of the GOP are just not warm to Romney. If Mitt is selected as VP (doubt it), he has some people to win over.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Houston Says:
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:24 pm
DNC celebrations? I don’t follow.
*******************
Me, neither? Please explain!
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:32 pm
i think Palin, or any other woman, would be a good choice for electoral reasons.
The GOP basically wins from 2 groups. Whites and Hispanics. In the 70s and 80s under Nixon, Reagan and Bush, whites were big enough to win on them alone, but now we need hispanics.
Basically, if we get close to 60% of whites and 35% of hispanics, we win. If we don’t we likely lose. Among whites, we need 60%+ of white men and 50%+ of white women to have a shot.
Now, there;s really no VP who can pump up our hispanic numbers and if McCain himself can’t do it, there’s no chance anyway. He’s a s hispanic friendly as they come.
among white men, McCain shouldn’t need help either. he’s made to order for white guys and the GOP has own white guys recently. If we’re losing them, it’s too late for the VP to matter anyway.
so, white women is where the election will be won or lost. Bush got 55% in 2004 and won, he got 49% in 2000 and lost the popular vote and barely won the electoral vote. the closer he gets to the 55%, the better chance McCain has. If he tops 50, he should win, but he’ll need to get closer to 55 to make up for the higher black vote for Obama.
Especially after what happened in the dem primary and the anger and backlash among women voters, white women voters, older white women voters who turn out heavily, having a white woman VP would be a very good way to push that # closer to 55. McCain right now is losing big among women, and he’ll need to move that if he wants to win.
i’m not saying it’s the only way, but a woman VP is probably one of the better ways
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Jason, Anne is not ignorant of politics, there is a lot of truth in what she said.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Speaking of experience, I was listening to Hugh Hewitt’s radio show this afternoon (Dean Barnett hosting in Hugh’s absence) and he asked Obama supporters to call in and explain why they supported BO.
One guy said it was for esoteric reasons. When Dean pushed him for reasons that B.Obama was qualified, the caller could come up with no reason.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Anne, regarding Romney’s chances to be POTUS someday, it becomes much less likely if he is McCain’s VP, not more.
It probably guarantees that Romney will be the GOP nominee someday, but unless McCain/Romney wins in 2008 and loses in 2012, Romney probably won’t have a very good chance of winning a general election.
If McCain/Romney loses in 2008, Romney is damaged goods for his own run in 2012, though he still would have a very good shot at the nomination.
If they win in 2008 and McCain doesn’t run in 2012 and the ticket is Romney/???, odds are they don’t win a 4th consecutive GOP term.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Re: DNC Celebrations.
Er, I meant there WONT be DNC Celebrations. Sorry.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:38 pm
MA may have lost jobs during Romney’s first year as Governor if those figures are true, but they were all gained back by the time he left. It can take time to fix the fiscal irresponsibilities of liberals.
Romney’s team may have had to close some factories which forced layoffs. These are the tough business decisions an executive would have to make in order to clean up after someone else’s mismanagement – something apparently these liberals can’t understand as demonstrated by the state of MI’s economy. As a whole, Bain under Romney’s management has created thousands of *new* *tax-paying* American jobs. No mention of that here.
I’d like to see how Bain could make $100M by forcing a company in to bankruptcy. Last I checked, investors lose money when their company declares bankruptcy.
False & outrageous claims. All of them. Is it any wonder why MI is in a one state recession?
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:40 pm
cwpete,
Maybe you misunderstood me. I was quoting an earlier poster. I feel like the other Adam. While I don’t like Romney, I feel his business experience is one of the best things he has going for him. I don’t understand why Romnots are so quick to discount it.
I mean, I assume since the guy made a ton of money in business and (claims to be, ZING!) is a Republican, he is a free market capitalist. I would assume that would translate well to the executive branch. I don’t understand the meme that business experience != understanding the economy.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:40 pm
I agree with Jason.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Romney’s best chance to become President someday is to take over the RNC and orchestrate a huge turnaround at all levels: re-branding the GOP, getting new Congressional leadership and winning back Congress in 2010 along with state legislatures and Governorships for the important redistricting that will take place after the 2010 census.
Then in 2012 or 2016 he would have enough credibility with the base and independents that his changes of position wouldn’t matter anymore.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:51 pm
My apolgies AdamPSU for that misunderstanding. Regarding this:
“I don’t understand the meme that business experience != understanding the economy.”
One must have business experience first & foremost before one can even have a prayer to tackle the economy as a whole. Just look at the backgrounds of those on the many Federal Reserve Boards. Business experience does not necessarily equate to global economic credentials, but you need business experience to have economic credentials.
Romney was the only candidate running who is recognized with having the global economic credentials and experience to speak competently on fiscal policy.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Adam, by != do you mean not equal?
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Jason Bonham,
Thanks for the encourging word. If politics is a bunch of people flip-flopping on every issue just so they can become president then I must be ignorant. BUT, for the first time I got involved in the political process. I’m a part of a grassroots network that is 20,000 strong and for the first time believed that a candidate (A GOP One at that) actually wanted to help working people. Politics is not all about the money or who has the biggest war-chest, it is about the people behind the scenes who make numerous phone-calls, volunteering their time and contributing $5.00 because they can’t afford more but believe in a candidate that much. I believe politics is about standing for something because if you don’t–you fall for everything. Candidates should remember that we are their boss, not the other way around. So yes–maybe I am ignorant.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Kristofer asks: Can anyone confirm the rumor that McCain has hired a FT staffer for the VP, and who is the staffer?
Aron?
As Skynyrd sang…”don’t ask me no questions, and I won’t tell you no lies.”
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:59 pm
cwpete,
Yes. Sorry about that. I have been a computer coding frame of mind (!= means “not equal to” in computer language) thanks to my former PhD advisor riding my ass about a field project.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:02 pm
AdamPSU:
I thought that is what you may have meant, but not till after I posted.
Regards,
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Funny that they attack a guy not on any ticket. Scared DNC?
Like in the primaries when the democrats attacked Mitt endlessly (I don’t remember the numbers but wasn’t it like 100 articles against Mitt and 4 against Huckabee?), they understand he will be a tough fight and if they can do anything to convince John to not choose him they will. No matter what anyone says, if the DNC can get rid of the guy “perceived” to have the strongest grip on the economy they will be smiling.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Mitt is the topic of this thread, and over two hours later we’re not even up to 100 posts. What’s happening?
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:23 pm
I must share this:
“Scott Romney, the Michigan co-chair for McCain, begs to differ about his brother’s record, and notes that Michigan is suffering economically under Democratic leadership.
“This is full of distortions and untruths from the Democrats who are desperate to distract people from Barack Obama’s plan to raise taxes. Gov. Romney helped create thousands of jobs in the private sector,” Scott Romney said. “When Gov Romney took office, Massachusetts was in a recession and losing thousands of jobs every month. When he left office four years later, the state’s economy was adding thousands of jobs every month.
“Unfortunately, under Democratic leadership, Michigan continues to experience soaring unemployment, higher taxes and loss of jobs,” he continued. “This is the kind of record that Barack Obama has aligned himself with in Michigan. Mitt will continue to actively engage all Michiganders in support of Senator John McCain’s strong economic policies to help Michigan grow their economies and add much needed jobs.”
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Aron says; “Don’t ask me no questions”
As George Michaels sang…..”why don’t you answer me, Don’t keep me waiting”
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:32 pm
cwpete, the Dems are just repeating charges made by McCain against Romney in a debate (the one with them seated, with Air Force one in the background).
Romney effectively answered those charges then (not that it helped him) and its easy to do so now. I belive the year that the paper is talking about only has a few months under Romney, the rest was under his predecessor. Not that a Governor can have instant results (unless he doubles the size of the state government employees immediately. It would do wonders for the unemployment rate in the short term!)
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:37 pm
#46 – another brand new poll Rasmussen 23 July very much refutes what you said:
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/romney_tops_list_of_possible_mccain_running_mates
Some of the highlights are:
The former Massachusetts governor and one-time rival of McCain’s for the GOP presidential nomination was the top vote-getter with 36% in a new Rasmussen Reports national survey taken last Friday night.
Among Republicans, Romney is the leading choice by far: 50% say they think he is the best running mate, and 47% think he will be picked by McCain. He is the top vote-getter among unaffiliated voters, too, with 34% expecting him to get the nod.
Forty-four percent (44%) of likely McCain voters believe Romney is the best choice, with 45% sure he will be the one who is actually chosen for the vice presidential slot.
Among all voters, 11% think another Republican presidential hopeful and former governor, Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, will be McCain’s pick.
Ten percent (10%) say McCain will reach across party lines to name Connecticut’s independent Democratic Senator Joseph Lieberman, his own party’s vice presidential nominee in 2000, as his running mate.
Three governors known to be under consideration by the GOP candidate all registered in single digits – Florida’s Charlie Crist (7%), Louisiana’s Bobby Jindal (5%) and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota (5%).
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:41 pm
JayPe:
Yeah, you are right #67. Perhaps Republicans ought to play more Hilary Clinton clips attacking Obama to counter this all this. For sure, Republicans have a great deal more primary ammo of Clinton attacking Obama than Democrats have of McCain attacking Romney.
Liberals attacking Romney on his strong point of economics and fiscal policy is a lot like them trying to attack McCain on his strong point of foreign policy. It is just plain stupid, but they are welcome to try.
Furthermore, this all just begs the same question to them in return: What exactly are Obama’s economic credentials? We all know what the MI Democrats have done to their state’s economy. How exactly is Obama’s fiscal policy going to help MI and what is his track record in matters of fiscal policy?
All questions that they can’t answer while having a very poor or nonexistent track record on.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Romney didn’t cut taxes.
* He actually inhereted a 1.5 billion dollar death tax increase from the previous governor. He certainly had no intention of repealing them.
* Then he renamed taxes fees and increased those by 250 to 500 million dollars (but hey, what’s a quarter-billion dollars among friends?)
* Then he taxed people in the form of health care mandates.
Smoke and mirrors. Smoke and mirrors.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:42 pm
In case that is too much to read, with all the candidates there are to choose from, 36% of all voters want Mitt as McCain’s running mate. Amongst Republican, 50%…that’s right everybody else put together gets 50%,; and amongst Independents, 34%.
So, here is yet another poll showing Romney way out in front of everybody else.. Note that second place was Huckabee at 11%, less than 1/3 of Mitt’s.
Before we have any more personal opinions like ‘2/3 of the Republicans are just not warm to him’, maybe we should start paying attention to the latest polls. If you recall the 18th of July Zogby showed Mitt as a huge asset to the McCain ticket also.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:43 pm
sampo,
Would you still vote for McCain if he chose Romney as his VP, since you obviously don’t care for Romney to much.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:46 pm
If Romney is VP, I think I’ll vote for Chuck Baldwin. McCain promised he would pick a pro-life candidate and if he doesn’t, he is a lier and not worthy of my vote.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Holy $#^&,
check out this news site! http://www.palinforamerica.com/
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Sampo,
“* He actually inhereted a 1.5 billion dollar death tax increase from the previous governor. He certainly had no intention of repealing them.”
Do you think Romney would not have been vetoed by the Democrat super majority in the State MA congress? Of course he would have. What a waste of time that would have been. But hey, let’s still blame Romney for the bad legislation of others. That works..
“Then he renamed taxes fees and increased those by 250 to 500 million dollars”
No I think you are trying to rename fees to taxes so you can continue on with the false DNC talking points that Romney raised taxes when the truth is taxes were lowered while the $3B deficit was closed at the same time.
“Then he taxed people in the form of health care mandates.”
What additional tax was this? The state of MA was already paying for the emergency hospital visits of those uninsured. Romney merely took some of that money, along with fee reductions to health insurers, to help get everyone insured within the private sector.
What if Romney is McCain’s VP? Can you handle that?
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Anne,
I was under the impression that Romney was pro-life and has vowed to overturn Roe V Wade, you need to check your fact’s my friend.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Anne- as Bonham said you are ignorant Romney is pro-life for cryin out loud. The Mass. citizens for life even gave him an award. You must really be sipping some crazy Kool-Aid
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:07 pm
The week isnt over yet though.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:12 pm
My name says it all. America needs this good man and soon.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Today I spent two hours in a corporate audit committee meeting (as company outside counsel) in which committee members discussed profits, the latest merger, how they were intergrating, etc. They cooed and congratulated management on what a glowing M&A had been consummated. Unfortunately, glossed over quickly (and surely not to be referenced in the Board minutes) were the multitude of employees to be phased out by year end (right around Christmas) with a few holdovers until February ‘09 to help with the year-end financials.
I see this every day (that is why, although I make a lot of money, I am growing extremely weary of greedy corporate fiscal cons, who worry far more about their options than their shareholders and certainly not their employees). Maybe I will end up like that attorney in “Michael Clayton” who couldn’t take it any more and gave the plantiffs’ the real story on his pharmaceutical company client.
Bottom line, here, folks, good businessmen do not CREATE a good economy, they know how to take advantage of it. And they also know how to desert sinking ships quickly — luke you know who.
There is no equation between making lots of money and governing in a stewards-like fashion, brandishing the control, responsibility and well-being of so many disparate living creatures.
July 24th, 2008 at 1:19 am
All I know is that Romney was out here in San Diego last year breaking his back with a shovel for a few hours straight to clean up after the forest fires. He asked that media not be present and did not tell his campaign where he would be because he wanted to provide service along side his son. A couple locals got some cell phone pics of it, but if you guys really think he is 100% phoney and calculates his every move, you don’t know the real Mitt Romney.
July 24th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Are we really going to have to go through a point-by-point defense of Mitt Romney to fellow conservatives come general election when he’s on the ticket??
July 24th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Seriously, Dems here in MI have NO place to talk about economic issues. They have done nothing, NOTHING to help our state- they’ve just been feathering their own nests. BUUUUULLLLLLLLLL crap.
July 29th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
A Delusion is being sent to the earth and people will believe a Lie. Romney is a Delusion, putting souls in jeopardy. He is for torturing human beings, breaking the Geneva Conventions, the standards for which our forefathers laid down their lives in battle on the front in Europe. He wants to double or triple Guantanimo Prison. The amount of lies he has pursued for naked power places him in company with Antichrist.