Clipmarks | merrie's 'romney' clips

McCain-Jindal?

Mon, 05 May 2008 09:01:49 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: Another McCain staffer called my attention to this finding in the latest Fox News poll: McCain led Obama in the straight match-up, 46 to 43. Voters were then asked to choose between two tickets, McCain-Romney vs. Obama-Clinton. Obama-Clinton won 47 to 41.

That reversal of a three-point McCain lead to a six-point deficit for the McCain ticket suggests what might happen (a) when the Democrats unite, and (b) if McCain were to choose a conventional running mate, who, as it were, reinforced the Republican brand for the ticket. As the McCain aide put it, this is what will happen if we run a traditional campaign; our numbers will gradually regress toward the (losing) generic Republican number.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Maybe that’s why, in separate conversations last week, no fewer than four McCain staffers and advisers mentioned as a possible vice-presidential pick the 36-year-old Louisiana governor, Bobby Jindal. They’re tempted by the idea of picking someone so young, with real accomplishments and a strong reformist streak.

It might also be a way to confront the issue of McCain’s age (71), which private polls and focus groups suggest could be a real problem. A Jindal pick would implicitly acknowledge the questions and raise the ante. The message would be: “You want generational change? You can get it with McCain-Jindal — without risking a liberal and inexperienced Obama as commander in chief.” I would add that it was after McCain spent considerable time with Jindal in New Orleans recently, and reportedly found him, as he has before, personally engaging and intellectually impressive, that the campaign’s informal name-dropping of Jindal began.

Tags: vice-prez, mccain, clinton, obama, jindal

Romney Joins McCain On Fundraising Trail

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 21:20:35 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: Since then, McCain has praised Romney repeatedly as someone who is certain to continue playing a large role in the GOP. Romney, for his part, has suggested that he’d accept the No. 2 spot on the ticket, though some Republicans privately speculate that he’s looking ahead to 2012 and a possible repeat run.

Neither man appeared especially fond of the other during the campaign. Romney cast McCain as outside of the GOP’s conservative mainstream and a Washington insider who contributed to the problems plaguing a broken system. McCain, in turn, argued that Romney’s equivocations and reversals on several issues indicated a willingness to change his positions to fit his political goals.

Clip Source: elections.foxnews.com

John McCain was getting some help Thursday from former Republican rival Mitt Romney, a pairing that two months ago seemed improbable as the two fought bitterly for the party’s presidential nomination.

In their first campaign swing as allies, Romney planned to meet McCain at the airport in Salt Lake City and appear with the likely Republican nominee at a fundraiser. The two then were traveling to Denver for a second fundraiser.

McCain, who has struggled to raise campaign money, is on a weeklong western fundraising swing. Romney is popular in Utah and Colorado, states with large numbers of residents who are members of Romney’s Mormon faith.

The former Massachusetts governor dropped out of the race last month after it became apparent it would be near impossible to topple McCain in the convention delegate race. A week later, he endorsed the Arizona senator and pledged to do whatever he could to help McCain win the nomination.

Tags: mitt romney, john mccain, salt lake city, fundraising, utah and colorado, mormon

Playing By Obama's Rules

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 10:10:16 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: To observe Democrats this week, savaging one of their heroines, is to understand why the party is unready to rule.

This week, after being subjected for 48 hours to accusations of divisiveness by Barack Obama, and racism by his agents and auxiliaries in the media, Ferraro resigned from Clinton's campaign. What had she said to send the Obamaites into paroxysms of rage?

Obama's agents suggest that Ferraro deliberately injected race into the campaign. But this, too, is ridiculous. Her quote came in an interview with the Daily Breeze of Torrance, Calif., not "Meet the Press."

The attack on Ferraro comes out of a conscious strategy of the Obama campaign -- to seek immunity from attack by smearing any and all attackers as having racist motives. When Bill Clinton dismissed Obama's claim to have been consistently antiwar as a "fairy tale," and twinned Obama's victory in South Carolina with Jesse Jackson's, his statements were described as tinged with racism.

Clip Source: www.realclearpolitics.com

Barack Obama has a chance of being the first black president. And holding out that special hope has been crucial to his candidacy. To deny this is self-delusion -- or deceit.

Nor is this unusual. John F. Kennedy would not have gotten 78 percent of the Catholic vote had he not been Catholic. Hillary would not have rolled up those margins among white women in New Hampshire had she not been a sister in trouble. Mitt Romney would not have swept Utah and flamed out in Dixie were he not a Mormon. Mike Huckabee would not have marched triumphantly through the Bible Belt were he not a Baptist preacher and evangelical Christian. All politics is tribal.

What Barack's allies seem to be demanding is immunity, a special exemption from political attack, because he is African-American. And those who go after him are to be brought up on charges of racism, as has Bill Clinton, Ed Rendell and now Geraldine Ferraro.

Tags: obama, hillary, romney, huckabee, bill clinton, ed rendell, geraldine ferraro

Dances With Mitt>>>How Long Will McCain Play Coy?

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 08:38:30 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: On the other hand, the Pennsylvania primary in on April 22nd, and it seems likely that Hillary will make up some ground there, keeping the competition alive. Having a Romney underticket, with its implications for party unity would be an excellent contrast with the shambles apparent among the Democrats.

Aside from the perceptual issues, fund-raising gets that much easier as well.

My guess? Two to three more weeks before McCain announces Mitt as running mate.

Clip Source: www.uncorrelated.com

Its hard to get any media face-time with the two chihuahuas barking at each other in such entertaining fashion, but John McCain is teasing a little coverage by teasing the press about Mitt Romney as a possible VP.

While emphasizing that it was premature to announce possible candidates, he threw a pretty broad hint that Romney is at very least--first tier.

GOP presidential contender John McCain would not rule out Mitt Romney as a possible running mate yesterday, noting that the former Bay State governor ran an effective primary campaign and is a rising star in national politics.

“Millions of Republicans voted for him,” McCain said during a swing through New Hampshire. “He’s earned himself a place in the future of the Republican Party.”

how long McCain can play coy. Considering how long the Democrats misery can be expected to prolong itself, McCain is unlikely to be able to draw this out much past April. Figure a week of curtsies and bows and we're not much past the middle of April.

Tags: mccain, media face-time, running mate, clinton, obama, democrats

List Of Plausible Picks For McCain's Vice President

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 01:29:57 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: Five meet all the important criteria to be John McCain's running mate this fall. They are: Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, John Kasich, Rob Portman, and Chris Cox. They edge out other superb candidates such as Mike Pence, Mark Sanford, and Paul Ryan. (former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating.)

To review, the best candidate 1) will be obviously ready to become president at a moment's notice; 2) will be a Reaganite conservative; 3) should at least put into play a state, region, or constituency that otherwise would be far less attainable for McCain or for a typical Republican; 4) should be well rounded, preferably with at least interesting non-political item on his resume; 5) should have some executive or serious organizational experience; 6) should be intelligent, widely respected, good on TV, and preferably "cool" in persona to balance McCain's sometimes fearsome intensity; and 7) should clearly be a reformer with a record of occasionally bucking the establishment on behalf of principle.

Clip Source: www.spectator.org

In order from least plausible to most plausible among the five who fit all the criteria, here's the scouting report:

Mitt Romney:

His resume is a wonder to behold. His competence is readily apparent to any voter.

McCain seems to have developed a personal dislike for him, and McCain is not good at hiding such sentiments.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty:

Pawlenty seems able to keep conservatives happy while presenting a friendly persona.

Former House Budget Committee Chairman John Kasich:

There is no doubt that Kasich has an appealing and approachable personality

he can come across as a bit hyperactive, which might exacerbate rather than modulate McCain's intensity.

Rob Portman:

He immediately gives forth an air of (that overused word) gravitas, and he seems to be liked and respected by people across the entire ideological spectrum.

But is he a true Reaganite?

Chris Cox:

The best choice, bar none.

Other columnists have also written that he would make a good Veep choice

Tags: mccain, vice-president pick, mitt romney, tim pawlenty, john kasich, rob portman, chris cox

Romney Might Run Again in 2008

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:51:20 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: Romney's son Josh says it's possible his father might rejoin the race as a candidate for vice president or for president if McCain's campaign stalls.

Clip Source: www.newsmax.com

Romney suspended his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination after a disappointing showing on Super Tuesday, and has endorsed John McCain for the GOP nod.

But Romney�s son Josh says it�s �possible� his father might rejoin the race as a candidate for vice president or for president if McCain�s campaign stalls.

Romney hasn�t commented publicly about a recent New York Times article that implied McCain had an improper relationship with a female lobbyist.

McCain and the lobbyist have firmly denied the allegation, but subsequent reports have contradicted some of McCain�s denials, and further disclosures could raise questions about the viability of McCain�s campaign, Andrew Malcolm reports in the Los Angeles Times.

Josh Romney, who campaigned actively for his father, told the Deseret Morning News that he is considering running for the House of Representatives from Utah�s 2nd Congressional District.

Tags: 2008 campaign, mitt romney, vice-president, mccain

Mitt Romney Endorses McCain Called Him A True American Hero

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:35:17 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: Romney today was gracious, lavishing praise in prepared remarks on the man who defeated him.

"This is a man who tied his political fortunes to the fortunes of his country in a time of war," Romney said. "Such courage is not always rewarded in politics, but it was this time – and that is a credit to both the man and to the party he will lead in the election of 2008."

The difference was especially stark compared to the last GOP nomination battle in 2000. As opposed to the week Romney took before endorsing, it took two months for McCain to get behind George W. Bush after that bitter contest. And when he did so in May of that year he initially declined to use the word "endorse." Only after being asked by a reporter why he wouldn't formally offer his blessing did McCain say "I endorse Gov. Bush" -- and then he said it over and over again as if to show his annoyance.

Clip Source: www.politico.com

Mitt Romney formally threw his support to John McCain this afternoon, calling the man he clashed heatedly with "a true American hero" and urging his delegates to support his former rival.

"With their rhetoric our Democratic opponents are very skilled at striking heroic poses," Romney said, speaking at his Boston headquarters with McCain by his side. "With our Republican nominee we’re going to offer the American people the real thing.

McCain, who had met privately with his foe before the press conference, thanked Romney for his support and saluted his former rival for having run a "fine, intensive and honorable campaign."

Just in case we had forgotten, the DNC sent out one of the Arizonan's tougher shots at a foe he could barely conceal his contempt for.

McCain accused Romney of "wholesale deception of voters," the day before the hard-fought Florida primary on January 28th.

Romney today was gracious, lavishing praise in prepared remarks on the man who defeated him.

Tags: mitt romney, endorse, mccain

A Very Moving Moment In Recent American Politics

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 04:33:53 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: >>>>>Romney Takes One for theTeam<<<<<
In which Mitt himself answers the question posed recently by InstaGlenn about whether Romney 2008 = Reagan 1976. What’s the best thing about this? The goodwill it’ll earn him among the party establishment for not dragging out the primary? The fond memory it creates in the mind of the base of a man willing to sacrifice his own ambition to support victory in Iraq? The venom it’ll draw from the left about him using the war as political cover for his own failure? Or the fact that it backs Huckabee into a corner by framing the continuation of his own campaign as effectively furthering the Democrats’ plans for withdrawal?

Clip Source: discerningtexan.blogspot.com

"...Gave Proof through the Night
That Our Flag was Still There..."

Clip Source: discerningtexan.blogspot.com

[Video]

A bittersweet day today, but a realistic one. I think Mitt has probably done the best thing for his party, and like Reagan in 1976, it gives Romney a leg up for the 2012 race. As you can see in the video Romney was doing his very best to hold in his (genuine, not faked....) emotions today. I can't speak for all Conservatives, but it damn sure resonated with me:

I can say this much: Romney showed me what he is really made of today. Unlike John McCain, Mitt is a team player. And he stands by his principles, the very principles which have made this country the "last best hope on Earth", to quote another great Republican. Very, very impressive.

Barring any unforseen circumstances, Mitt really won me over today. Count me in with Team Mitt in 2012

Tags: reagan, 1976, romney, 2008, team mitt 2012

Sen John McCain Attends CPAC This Election Year!

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 10:49:00 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: Seems John McCain now wants to make time to attend CPAC this Election Year to court Conservatives.

Well, some so-called Conservatives have resigned themselves to the fact that McCain is going to be the Republican Party Nominee, well I for one refuse to allow the media to cram McCain down our throats!!!

There is no way in hell that McCain should be allowed to walk in to CPAC and sale us a bunch of bs.

Clip Source: freerepublic.com

CPAC Press Release

CPAC is short for Conservative Political Action Conference. John McCain's attendance is a perfect opportunity to engage in some conservative political action

The candidates will appear at the following times over the course of the three-day conference to be held from February 7-9, 2008 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington D.C.:

Thursday, February 7
Vice President Dick Cheney - 11:00 AM
Governor Mitt Romney - 12:30 PM
Senator John McCain - 3:00 PM
Congressman Ron Paul - 4:30 PM

Friday, February 8
President George W. Bush - 10:20 AM

Saturday, February 9
Governor Mike Huckabee - 9:00 AM

Expecting fireworks, CPAC added this to the bottom of their press release:

PRESS CAN REGISTER ON-SITE AT THE OMNI SHOREHAM HOTEL.

Tags: vp dick cheney, gov mitt romney, congressman ron paul, sen john mccain, pres george w. bush, gov mike huckabee, 2008; amnesty; conservatives

Please Save U.S. From Four Years Of Unrelenting Moonbattery

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 20:55:16 GMT

clipped by: merrie

Clip Source: www.moonbattery.com

Dem'ed

Via Michelle Malkin:

Only a major comeback by Romney can save us from four years of unrelenting moonbattery.

Tags: hillary, mccain, amnesty, tax increases, universal health care

Disgraceful, Insecure McCain Campaign Manipulated Bob Dole

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:51:39 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: It was not an endorsement of McCain in any way, shape, manner, or form! It's another instance here of McCain campaign manipulation. They are the ones using Senator Dole. They are the ones manipulating him. I'm thinking, you know, what I ought to do. I ought to take copy of this letter that Senator Dole sent me; put it on eBay; auction it off much like the Dingy Harry smear letter, and then give the proceeds to Mitt Romney! I'm just thinking about it. I'm absolutely not going to do it. Folks, let me hit you between the eyes and fire with both barrels, here. (sigh) It's uncomfortable. This is not a situation... This is not why I got into this business

Clip Source: www.rushlimbaugh.com

I think what has happened here, ladies and gentlemen, is the manipulation of Bob Dole by the McCain camp -- Bob Dole is a war hero, by the way. The leaking of his personal letter to the media with a dishonest spin speaks to the insecurity of the McCain camp. In fact, I got an e-mail this morning from one of Bob Dole's associates

It was a report, not an endorsement, and it was done in hopes that Rush might respond on his program." I'm going to do that today. "It wasn't an anti-Romney piece, because Dole thinks highly of Governor Romney

Senator McCain, you are parading it around. Bob Dole is being manipulated by your campaign. The leaking of this letter to the liberal media with a dishonest spin speaks to the insecurity of the McCain camp

Now, this shows you just how willing the media are to be manipulated by McCain and they are invested in his campaign and how the McCain camp is unscrupulous to take a private note, lie about its contents, leak it to the media

Tags: mccain, rush limbaugh, sen dole, e-mail, report, leaking, media, lie

Talk Radio Goes After McCain...........If McCain Wins, He Won’t Vote

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 23:22:58 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: McCain>Back-room "electioneering"in W.Virginia?

If McCain wins, he won’t vote
Tuesday, February 5, 2008, 04:18 PM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With presidential primaries rolling toward evening rush-hour, much of conservative talk radio — led by Rush Limbaugh — has convulsed at the thought of John McCain as the Republican nominee, and is pushing its listeners to Mitt Romney.

Clip Source: www.ajc.com

The Romney campaign has just put out this YouTube link to this morning’s broadcast by Laura Ingraham, heard in Atlanta on WGKA (920AM), in which Ingraham reads a statement damning McCain by James Dobson, leader of the Colorado-based Focus on the Family.

In part, the statement reads:

“But what a sad and melancholy decision this is for me and many other conservatives. Should Sen. McCain capture the nomination as many assume, I believe this general election will offer the worst choices for president in my lifetime.

“I certainly can’t vote for Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama based on their virulently anti-family policy positions. If these are the nominees in November, I simply will not cast a ballot for president for the first time in my life.”

We don’t think radio guru Neal Boortz in Atlanta — whose conservatism can’t exactly be called orthodox — joined in the McCain bashing. You can read his comments here.

Tags: mccain, romney, laura ingraham, james dodson, limbaugh, clinton, obama

Romney Campaigns Throughout The Night

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 13:10:12 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: The former Massachusetts governor, who tries to keep his body clock on East Coast time wherever he travels in the country, planned to sleep on the return flight, aided by a pillow, pink fleece blanket and inflatable mattress his campaign staff brought aboard in Oklahoma.

His entourage, including his brother, Scott, and longtime friend, Bob White, spread out through the rest of the plane, one person on each side of the aisle across the 26 rows of seats. All were given blankets and pillows, along with a takeout dinner from the Outback steakhouse.

"I mean, it's an honor, obviously, it's an enormous honor to even be considered as a candidate for president and to know that there will be hundreds of thousands and hopefully millions who will say, `You're the guy we'd like as our next president.' It's a very humbling honor," he added.

Clip Source: news.yahoo.com

The Republican presidential contender was logging more than 5,000 of them as he undertook a 37-hour, coast-to-coast-to-coast dash while trying to better rival John McCain in the 21 Super Tuesday nominating contests.

After flitting from Nashville, Tenn., to Atlanta to Oklahoma City to Long Beach, Calif., on Monday, Romney was turning around and flying a red-eye to Charleston, W.Va., in time to address the GOP state convention Tuesday morning.

Romney hoped not only to win there, but also in California's pivotal primary

"If I win California, that means you're going to have a conservative in the White House."

About 13 hours later, as he flew toward the Rocky Mountains, Romney came back to joke with his traveling press corps before settling into a seat at the front of his chartered Boeing 737 for the remainder of the flight to the West Coast.

After addressing convention delegates in West Virginia, Romney planned to fly to Massachusetts to vote in his hometown, the Boston suburb of Belmont.

Tags: mitt romney, nashville, atlanta, oklahoma city, long beach, charleston w va., boston

PATTERICO ENDORSES MITT

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:15:15 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: If the swing towards Romney in California continues [latest poll shows Romney leading by 3%!], he will emerge from Tuesday's contest in a solid second place with a new narrative and a renewed debate about the race --can Romney surpass McCain in Ohio and Texas in March? The rapidly fading Huck would simply disappear, as he is doing in many places where the obvious has already registered: A vote for Huckabee is a vote for McCain. A vote for McCain is a vote AGAINST the traditional family and traditional family values.

Clip Source: astuteblogger.blogspot.com

Q. What’s the difference between Hillary Clinton and John McCain?

A. One has a grating, disagreeable personality; has a history of financial scandal; has spoken of setting benchmarks for withdrawal from Iraq; has said the Bush tax cuts benefitted the wealthy at the expense of the middle class; has derided Sam Alito as too openly conservative; has supported amnesty for illegal immigrants (and then lied about it); has said that we shouldn’t drill in ANWR because it’s “pristine”; has misrepresented the positions of Republican candidates; wants to close Guantanamo; has spoken of sending “greedy people on Wall Street” to jail for their roles in giving subprime loans; has been endorsed by the New York Times; supports blatantly unconstitutional limits on free speech; and is hated by Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, and Michelle Malkin . . .

. . . and the other one’s a Democrat.

EFFIN BRILLIANT!

Tags: keating five, benchmarks, against tax-cuts, against anwr, gitmo, class-warfare

A Vote For The Huckster Is A Vote For MexiCain

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 02:43:06 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: Huckabee’s obstinate obsession with staying in a race for a nomination that he cannot win could hand the nomination to someone that would damage our party beyond repair.

Huckabee willing to hand the nomination to an individual who has made a career out of thumbing his nose at the Republican Party.

As an economic Conservative I feel more comfortable voting for someone who believes that the Bush tax cuts should be made permanent. MexiCain opposed the Bush tax cuts but now says they ought to be made permanent. Makes you wonder how genuine that desire is. Mike Huckabee says now he’s on board with The Fair Tax, but his record shows a tendency to raise taxes. Especially in the quest to institute a nanny state. Huckster would use the tax system to enforce nanny state policies against smokers, drinkers, and transfats. Do you want the President and the federal government tell you that you can’t eat that burger, smoke that cigarette, or have that drink? I don’t and I’m not even a smoker

Clip Source: gribbitonline.com

I will go on record now saying that if MexiCain becomes the nominee of my party, I’ll vote Democrat in the General election. Why? Because this country would have earned what we get. The depression that will ensue will be due to the Republican Party nominating someone who cannot be distinguished as any different than the Democrats. If we have a choice between a Democrat and a RINO, might as well vote for the genuine article I say.

Don’t let Huckster’s evangelical rhetoric sway you. His anti-Mormon bigotry is no different than being a racist.

But as a Roman Catholic Huckster despises me just as much as he despises Romney. His religious background affords him no choice but to be single minded in his bigotry.

Under a MexiCain Presidency we would have an open border policy that would increase the number of illegals invading our country exponentially. Instead of 12-20 million illegals in this country try 40-50 million.

And one last time. Each and every vote for Huckster is a vote for MexiCain.

Tags: abortion, election 2008, fiscal responsibility, illegal immigration, mitt romney for president, opinion, presidential candidates, taxes