September 28, 2012

"With Republicans everywhere wondering what has happened to the Mitt Romney campaign..."

"... people who know the candidate personally and professionally offer a simple explanation: It’s the candidate himself."

ADDED: The mainstream media are using a tactic reminiscent of grade school, alpha kids spreading the idea nobody likes this one kid. Not even for any particular reason. Just: Ew, nobody likes him. Hoping to influence the beta kids. Probably succeeding!

121 comments:

Once written, twice... said...

As a liberal, I want Obama to be re-elected. But it is comforting to know that Romney would be the most liberal Republican to be elected since Ford.

Fen said...

Ford wasn't elected.

Once written, twice... said...

I didn't say he was.

Fen said...

the most liberal Republican to be elected since Ford.

Once written, twice... said...

Romney, given his privileged background, would go out of his way not to undermine social safety net programs, including Obama/Romneycare. In fact he would do the opposite.

Matt Sablan said...

It's sort of implied, if I say something is the X-iest Y since Z, it is implying that Z was Y. It's a bit of rhetorical sloppiness that's causing the confusion.

ricpic said...

Yes, Romney's in terrible trouble. Which explains why Obama is spending so much time in Ohio, a state he has a lock on, NOT.

Paddy O said...

Ah, the old "lacks fire in the belly" argument.

It'd be much more convincing if this was late October, not late September. Romney has gone nonstop the last few months, and much longer given the primary season.

Do we want a candidate who is exhausted at the end of the race or one that knows the right time to step back for a bit and regain energy?

Obama, meanwhile, is sort of just the opposite of Romney. Loves being a candidate, hates being an executive.

TWM said...

Who are these Republicans wondering about Romney's campaign? Besides beltway types needing to be heard on news shows.

As to Romney being liberal, well, he didn't sound too liberal when talking about the 47%.

machine said...

What happened was what everyone has been saying for over a year now...good guy, bad candidate....

But compared to the rest of the jokers what choice was there...

wyo sis said...

There has never been a more clear distinction between style and substance in any election I can remember.
If the people elect Obama in an honest election we'll deserve what we get.

madAsHell said...

There is no substance to this report. It's another appeal to women voters.

Do you see that dull, boring guy in the bed next to you? You know, the guy that's too tired at the end of the day for any fun. The guy that becomes upset when you spend too much money on frivolous things. Would you put him in the White House?

Once written, twice... said...

Fen, learn to read. "Elected" refers to Romney. Ford is used as just a point of reference in time.

cubanbob said...

Given a choice between the cool guy or the boring competent guy it's a no-brainer. The election is about retaining or hiring, not about dating.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Obama got 53% of the vote in 2008 right? Does anyone think he will match that or improve on it? No he won't so how could he be up by 5% or 6% or 8% in states he barely won in 2008? How could he be getting killed in Indiana, a state he won in 2008?

And lastly what Ricpic said too!

machine said...

Romney...substance?!?!?!

He epitomizes the "tells you what you want to hear" persona...his "substance" depends on the people in the room..and we have video proof of this now...roll tape:

Hagar said...

Actually what our Government really needs is a totally heartless, conscienceless cost-cutting bean-counter like old Joe Kennedy!

Nonapod said...

Some of these media types are able to distort reality to such a degree that it would put Steve Jobs to shame.

virgil xenophon said...

Just for starters, I NEVER pay attention to anything that wide-eyed weasel Mike Allen, he of the constantly surprised look visage, says--a smarmier example of journOlist mind-set would be hard to find..

X said...

remember folks, the Obamacare layoffs start in just a little over a year.

Farmer said...

I don't think the problem is Romney. I think Romney is fine. I'm not convinced there actually is a problem.

edutcher said...

Gee, he did pretty well in the primaries.

You don't suppose this is just another hit piece from Politico, do you?

Jay Retread said...

As a liberal, I want Obama to be re-elected. But it is comforting to know that Romney would be the most liberal Republican to be elected since Ford.

More FUD.

Not to mention what ric said.

The Romster impresses me as someone whose basic instincts are fairly Conservative.

And Retread's a Leftist. There hasn't been a Liberal in this country since Hubert Humphrey died.

machine said...

What happened was what everyone has been saying for over a year now...good guy, bad candidate....

As I say, he did pretty well in the primaries.

Romney...substance?!?!?!

He epitomizes the "tells you what you want to hear" persona...his "substance" depends on the people in the room..and we have video proof of this now...roll tape:


Hey, that's the Obama reel!

Seems like mindless automatons are easy to fool.

wyo sis said...

Substance as in knows how to get things done. Yeah, let's compare Olympic Mitt to community organizer Obama on substance.

Oh, wait we've done that already see the last 4 years of golf, skipped breifings, disdainful posturing and celebrity chasing to judge Obama on substance.

Palladian said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Palladian said...

I don't think the problem is Romney. I think Romney is fine. I'm not convinced there actually is a problem.

There isn't a problem, but a lot of people are working very hard trying to create one.

Matt Sablan said...

One thing is that if you ever have a massive failure right before people choose between keeping you or hiring someone new, that never goes well for you. When your mistake leads to people -dying-, it is even less likely they'll keep you around.

So, honestly, things should be a lot worse for Obama than they are. So, there's that. Either he's a great candidate, Romney is doing really bad, or people are just numb to politics, maybe? A lot of possibilities out there.

AF said...

This is the opposite of a back-handed compliment -- criticism that's intended to be praise. I don't buy it. I don't think that presidents are politicians on the campaign trail and CEOs in the oval office. Romney is a lousy candidate because he is a lousy politician, and being a lousy politician would make him a lousy president as well.

He does seem like a talented manager though. Maybe Obama should appoint him head of Health and Human Services, to implement Obamneycare.

Matt Sablan said...

He's such a lousy politician he managed to get a compromise health care plan passed in one of the most liberal of states that managed to be successful until he left, oversaw lowering unemployment rates and tentatively united multiple factions within the Republican party.

Lousy politicians are always securing amazing compromises and unifying disparate party elements. That ability to succeed is what makes them giant failures. If only Romney could ensure even his own party rejected his budget plan unanimously in Congress, then he'd be a great politician.

Shanna said...

There isn't a problem, but a lot of people are working very hard trying to create one.

This.

When are the debates going to happen, btw? Are they usually this late?

SomeoneHasToSayIt said...

You can't win the game in the second and third quarters.

And, America's attention span is shockingly short.

So who cares how it seems at this point in time. One wouldn't want to be peaking now anyway.

Much ado about nothing.

AF said...

Matthew Sablan: "He's such a lousy politician he managed to get a compromise health care plan . . . "

I agree, that was an impressive accomplishment.

Bryan C said...

I'm a Republican and I'm not "wondering what happened" to Romney's campaign. He seems to be doing quite well, in fact.

Amexpat said...

It may not be fair, but Romney is in trouble. Right before the "47%"tape surfaced, Obama jumped from around 60% to 65% at Intrade. Obama recently had another big jump and is now at 78% at Intrade, higher than the present polls warrant. My guess is the someone is trading on information that hasn't surfaced.

Obama doesn't have a lock on Ohio, but he's doing very well there (that's one place where the auto bailout has been a net advantage for BO) and it is smart to keep the pressure up there as Romney will do all he can to carry that State.

Yes, Romney won the GOP nomination but if was by default, after a series of non Romneys flaked out. If most people in the GOP aren't excited about Romney, how can you expect the whole country to be?

pm317 said...

To politico, I say put a sock in it and watch this.

I have never seen such blatant bias and misinformation from mainstream media.

NotWhoIUsedtoBe said...

In my experience obituaries are only published once.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
garage mahal said...

He seems to be doing quite well, in fact.

Agreed :-)

TWM said...

"If most people in the GOP aren't excited about Romney, how can you expect the whole country to be? "

I disagree with your premise that most people in the GOP aren't excited about Romney. The turnouts at his campaign events are evidence enough that there is much excitement. The fact that he is neck and neck in Dem-skewed polls is also evidence.

But frankly, I think a ton of people are going to pull the lever for him, not because they are excited about him, but because everything is going to crap and most of them realize that Obama is full of more crap when he says he is going to create, what 12 million jobs?

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

More liberal spin from Politico.

"or the improving economy”

The economy is not improving. In fact, the bigggest news right now is that we are heading towards a double dip recession and the media will not even mention it.

AF said...

"ADDED: The mainstream media are using a tactic reminiscent of grade school, alpha kids spreading the idea nobody likes this one kid. Not even for any particular reason. Just: Ew, nobody likes him."

Not for any particular reason -- except maybe that he said 47% of the country can't be convinced to take responsibility for their lives.

Sprezzatura said...

It seems like the Romney folks don't realize that the business man pitch has been systematically dismantled over the last five months.

BTW, why does the business expert spend so much more for so much less of a campaign team?

machine said...

"The emerging GOP sentiment seems to be that if Mitt has to tout Romneycare as a way of fending off 47 percent attacks, then ideology be damned and just do what it takes to win this thing."

yea..he's doing just fine...such principles!

TWM said...

"BTW, why does the business expert spend so much more for so much less of a campaign team?"

People with more talent are usually paid more because they are worth more. And those people can accomplish more than say, two people with less talent.

Makes perfect business sense actually.

NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...

I won't make any predictions, but I don't hear any gloating from the Democrats. Something's up!

Matt Sablan said...

"BTW, why does the business expert spend so much more for so much less of a campaign team? "

-- I thought, until recently, Obama was burning more money than he was bringing in, while Romney was banking more money than he was spending?

machine said...

Because he's doing to the GOP what Bain did to companies it took over...move in, bleed em dry, move on...

He calls it "harvesting"...

TWM said...

"Because he's doing to the GOP what Bain did to companies it took over...move in, bleed em dry, move on..."

Funny, I think what he did with the Olympics is more in line with what he is doing now. And yes, Dems are worried, what with all these gaffes and bad weeks Romney has had and he is still tied with Barry in D+6 and 9 and 11 polls.

ndspinelli said...

Most Democrats were not the cool kids in high school. This horseshit is their revenge. Now, to be intellectually honest, a lot of Republicans weren't cool either, but I think a higher % were.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

"+8 percent unemployment.
<1.5 percent GDP growth
-$4,000 in median income.
+15 million in new food stamp recipients.
$4/gallon gasoline.
+$5 Trillion in new debt.
U.S. Ambassador murdered.
Al Qaeda flag flying over U.S embassy.
Aimless in Afghanistan.
And he . . . goes on the View? This is not a serious man. In love with being President but utterly clueless when it comes to actually governing, leading the country. A failure in the job by ANY measure. 40 days to decide. What are you gonna do?"

-John R (I hope he doesn't mind me re-posting his perfect post)

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

It's as if the pro-Obama media don't even care that the Obama-recession will be extended.

Sprezzatura said...

TWM,

I agree. If Romney was crushing BHO, you comment would be applicable.

I'm sure you'd agree that it is possible to overpay for poor results. This is what Romney is doing. Math tells us that, as of now, BHO's campaign is more efficient (less dough/more accomplished) and effective(winning).

R's campaign needs to be turned around. Lucky for him that's his expertise. Soon enough we'll see if he's as great as his supporters claim.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

I'm so fed up with the over-the top pro-Obama media, I now have FOX news again. After years of nothing but basic cable.

Yay.

robinintn said...

When I was trying to find a traffic report this morning, I happened to hear Snuffelufagus and a reporterette opining that the debates will be key for Romney to dispel the "the fact of how very strange he is."

Oh well. At least the traffic report wasn't too biased.

edutcher said...

wyo sis said...

Substance as in knows how to get things done. Yeah, let's compare Olympic Mitt to community organizer Obama on substance.

Oh, wait we've done that already see the last 4 years of golf, skipped breifings, disdainful posturing and celebrity chasing to judge Obama on substance.


You forgot sleeping while Beghazi burned.

AF said...

He does seem like a talented manager though. Maybe Obama should appoint him head of Health and Human Services, to implement Obamneycare.

That didn't even work for T-Paw.

He'd be great at dismantling it, though.

Bob Ellison said...

Politico.com is of course a closed shop with regard to comments. Every comment-allowing leftist and left-center site I know is closed, while most rightist ones are open.

Presumably Politico's writers rely to some extent on commenters for feedback on how they're doing. Presumably, too, they get extremely little rightist feedback.

Echo chamber!

sakredkow said...

More paranoia about the MSM "tactic" - spreading the meme Romney is unlikeable.

They may be spreading it but they didn't create it. He's not real likeable.

TWM said...

"I'm sure you'd agree that it is possible to overpay for poor results. This is what Romney is doing. Math tells us that, as of now, BHO's campaign is more efficient (less dough/more accomplished) and effective(winning)."

You're going to have to explain to me how they are being more effective. Frankly, I'd give more, if not all of the credit for any positive poll numbers for Barry to the media, which is overwhelmingly in the tank for him, than his own campaign.

Romney is tied with Barry and he is fighting more than just a on the ground campaign battle.

TWM said...

And by "tied" I mean tied in polls that unrealistically lean Dem.

sakredkow said...

The election is about retaining or hiring, not about dating.

The election is about whatever a voter says it's about.

damikesc said...

It'd be much more convincing if this was late October, not late September. Romney has gone nonstop the last few months, and much longer given the primary season.

Given that the press utterly ignores him --- except to poorly edit audio of an appearance where he tried to change the chants from "Romney!" to "Romney - Ryan!" --- it's easy to suspect he isn't doing much.

This is the opposite of a back-handed compliment -- criticism that's intended to be praise. I don't buy it. I don't think that presidents are politicians on the campaign trail and CEOs in the oval office. Romney is a lousy candidate because he is a lousy politician, and being a lousy politician would make him a lousy president as well.

If true --- Obama would be an amazing President.

He's the drizzling shits.

pm317 said...

Romney is almost irrelevant at this point. He can't be any worse than Obama. What we defeat, defeating Obama in this election is the corrupt media which does not help the public and in fact is harming the welfare of the general public by misinformation and hiding information. That never works toward building a thriving democracy. Fuck the media and defeat it, vote Romney for that reason if not anything else.

wildswan said...

I'll tell you one thing Romney is doing - he is aiding his party. He is helping other Republicans who are running and organizing them. That can't be mentioned by WMM* because Obama is not aiding Democrats. I expect when the Republicans win the election that they will leave the starting block as an organized unified team, everyone knowing what to do and being willing to do it and knowing how the media will lie.

*(WMM = White Mice Media - they know how to press the buttons and run the mazes to get food)

X said...

for the left, this election is about feeding at the trough, same as it ever was.

DADvocate said...

.move in, bleed em dry, move on..."

That's a better description of what Obama's doing now. Bled so dry the next generation won't be able to pay it off, let alone us take responsibility for ourselves.

Hagar said...

"I am here as eye-candy for you ladies."

Analyze.

Christopher in MA said...

"ADDED: The mainstream media are using a tactic reminiscent of grade school, alpha kids spreading the idea nobody likes this one kid. Not even for any particular reason. Just: Ew, nobody likes him."

Not for any particular reason -- except maybe that he said 47% of the country can't be convinced to take responsibility for their lives.


And if you consider yourself part of the 47% and find that comment to turn you off from Romney over to Obama, then Romney's point stands - you were never going to vote for him anyway, and now you have your specious "reason" for not doing so.

But yes, if only mean old Mitt hadn't made people feel bad, all the Peggy Josephs and "Obama Phone!" parasites in the country would be voting for him. . .

Sprezzatura said...

I'm confused. Is the beta kid the one who cuts off the hair of the alpha kid? Likewise, is the alpha dog the one strapped to the roof?

Maybe althouse should suggest that the betas are getting revenge on the alphas.

Known Unknown said...

"+8 percent unemployment.
<1.5 percent GDP growth
-$4,000 in median income.
+15 million in new food stamp recipients.
$4/gallon gasoline.
+$5 Trillion in new debt.
U.S. Ambassador murdered.
Al Qaeda flag flying over U.S embassy.
Aimless in Afghanistan.
And he . . . goes on the View? This is not a serious man. In love with being President but utterly clueless when it comes to actually governing, leading the country. A failure in the job by ANY measure. 40 days to decide. What are you gonna do?"


This is VO/supers to the empty chair ad, that Romney has yet to produce.

Known Unknown said...

This is VO/supers to the empty chair ad, that Romney has yet to produce.

Actually more powerful without a VO, but just supers overtop a slow dolly into a chair straight out of oval-office central casting, turned away from the camera.

Then, at the end, the chair spins around and it's empty.



Bob Ellison said...

Hagar, yes, Obama's "eye-candy" comment was bizarre. I can't imagine saying such a thing, but I don't have the face and figure of Narcissus. If I heard a man say something like that at a dinner party, I'd join with my fellows in slamming him for every visual flaw...and the men I know would have laughed, and we'd have assumed that anyone who said such a thing is either making fun of his own looks or just a fool. Obama is too handsome for the latter, so I guess he's a fool.

Bob Ellison said...

*uh, "the former"

Bryan C said...

"He's not real likeable."

I like him. I don't know why you don't.

There. That was a productive discussion. Now maybe we can talk about the Presidency, yes?

DADvocate said...

Romney needs to start buying people cell phones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tpAOwJvTOio

dreams said...

I don't like them but the Dems are the political pros of the two parties. Unlike the Republicans who tend to pile on their candidate when their candidate comes under attack regardless of the fairness of the attack, whereas the Dems will rally around their candidate and viciously use whatever weapon available to counter the attack.

gerry said...

The MSM is disgusting. But.we.knew.that.

The Tea Party members who fought the Romney candidacy are now working their butts off to get him elected. The country-club Republicans are trying now to defeat Romney, and probably for the reason that Romney will owe TP members a lot for the success that will be his when every loving one of the millions who dread Obama and his phony recovery and disastrous foreign policy turn out to vote his sorry ass out of office.

cubanbob said...

If Romney really wants to fire things up a bit he should take a page from the Great Liberal God FDR and require all able bodied people on 'entitlements' to work for their money. Put them to clean the streets, fill the potholes and repair the infrastructure. No work, no money. Screw up at the job, get fired and fend for yourself. The unions won't like it but what a spectacle that would be, the unions going ape over this proposal.
I would guess the able bodied 'entitled' rolls would shrink by 80% over a three year period.

Anonymous said...

No he won't so how could he be up by 5% or 6% or 8% in states he barely won in 2008?

What states would those be? The only state he "barely won" in 2008 was NC (and arguably Florida). He has less of a lead in the other battleground states than his winning margin in 2008

Anonymous said...

Republicans and Independents I know are not dispirited. If anything, quite the opposite.

Oh, it's Politico. Never mind.

Anonymous said...

I find the current Obama triumphalism peculiar. What has changed? And how has it helped Obama?

No, I don't like Obama but the economy (the #1 issue with Americans) is still in the dumps and our Middle East embassies were just overrun on a 9-11 anniversary and an American ambassador dragged out of a safe house and murdered. It's been two weeks and our leaders have not explained what happened and the FBI remains unable to investigate. Meanwhile Obama seems to be doing little but TV appearances and one UN speech.

On the other hand a tape of Romney from a few months ago was released in which he said something about 47%.

How does this add up to Obama having a lock on the election?

Have the American swing voters arrived at some viscreal decision against Romney? Has the American media, including the polls, become so "weaponized" against Romney as in this Politico article that this is all we hear?

I'm at a loss to understand what is going on here.

chickelit said...

I am here as eye-candy for you ladies.

Analyze.


For the rest of us he's more like the Baby Ruth bar in the economic pool.

Tyrone Slothrop said...

It's bad enough when the MSM plays that game-- one expects it of them. What I can't fathom is the widespread criticism of Romney by the northeastern brain trust, the so-called Republican establishment. It's as if they're miffed at not getting to run the party any more.

Nathan Alexander said...

@phx,
They may be spreading it but they didn't create it. [Romney]'s not real likeable.

Hm.
Romney gave away millions in charity.
He took on the difficult job of getting the Salt Lake Olympics back on budget/schedule, and turned down a salary for doing so.
He shut down his business to find a missing girl.
He saved people from possible drowning.
He has a self-deprecating, wry sense of humor (I don't know they don't have windows you can open on aircraft...).
Self-confident and self-assured.

Whereas Obama:
- whines about people picking on him.
- uses veiled insults against women.
- surreptitiously flips off people while speaking.
- insults people to their face by distorting their words/views, but only does so in situations the person is unable to respond back
- has a caustic/sarcastic sense of humor that is based on insulting people
- is prickly, sensitive, thin-skinned, and overly arrogant about his abilities (thinks he is better than any of his staff at the jobs he hired them for)

So in light of President Obama's characteristics, if you think Romney is not very likable, that says far more about you than about Romney.

dreams said...


"For the rest of us he's more like the Baby Ruth bar in the economic pool"

Yeah, but this time it turned out not to be a Baby Ruth candy bar.

machine said...

"For all the talk about whether Mitt Romney should distance himself from George W. Bush –and the policies of the last GOP White House — a new survey shows that the former president actually has better favorability ratings than the Republican nominee."

maybe he should have been invited to the convention after all...

machine said...

and let's not forget the 1.5 billion in federal funds that got the Olympics "back on budget"...

Anonymous said...

Ann,

It's not succeeding very well at all.

TWM said...

"and let's not forget the 1.5 billion in federal funds that got the Olympics "back on budget".."

Money that could have been pissed-away like most federal funding - except for Romney being in charge it seems.

PatCA said...

Of course, the other effect of watching the bullies do what they do is to make me more sympathetic to their victims, like Bush and Palin.

One of the main reasons I left the Dem Party is their absolutely insane hatred of everyone else.

One Brit said to me as the Iraq war started, "The US is going to put the British soldiers in front so they die first!!"

Buy-bye.

Darrell said...

George Soros had to reverse his position on campaign contributions and pump millions to Democratic candidates--ones that were being sold as having a lock on the election. Does this sound as if Democrats think they have it in the bag?

Romney wins! That's a big fucking deal.

yashu said...

Agree this is what they're trying to do. The crudest of playground psychology. "Romney has cooties!" Agree with Palladian that "there isn't a problem [with Romney], but a lot of people are working very hard trying to create one."

Even if they have to doctor video/ audio to do so.

I shouldn't be shocked at this kind of thing anymore, and yet it still shocks me. This can no longer bear the designation "journalism," not even figuratively.

Beryl said...

It is fascinating to watch from the UK. this election play out. Here in the UK, many have lost interest in voting as whoever is elected seems to conveniently 'forget' what they promised in the run up to the election. Good Luck Guys and God Bless America.

Beryl said...

It is fascinating to watch from the UK. this election play out. Here in the UK, many have lost interest in voting as whoever is elected seems to conveniently 'forget' what they promised in the run up to the election. Good Luck Guys and God Bless America.

Known Unknown said...

Wow, that MSNBC audio/video lie is awful.

Fen said...

Jay Retread: Fen, learn to read. "Elected" refers to Romney. Ford is used as just a point of reference in time.

Actually you need to learn to express yourself better. And not get snarky when the fault is yours. As Matt said: "the X-iest Y since Z... implies that Z was Y. It's a bit of rhetorical sloppiness that's causing the confusion."

I'm Full of Soup said...

Freder - he won Ohio by 4.5% - aren't the MSM polls saying Obama is up by a lot more?

He won Indiana by 1% and polls say he is losing there by 10% or so?

He won FL by 2% and polls say he is up by way more?

To believe Obama will do better is not congruent when other opinion polls are reporting majority sentiment like 75% of Americans think everyone should pay some income tax and 70% favor voter ID laws.

Once written, twice... said...

Fine Fen, if Romney is elected president he will be the most liberal Republican EVER ELECTED!!!

Pretty cool eh?

Anonymous said...

This likability herring is a bunch of crap. As someone mentioned above, it's the popular kids trying to exert power by telling everyone not to like someone.

It lacks substance and makes no sense.

It also smacks of desperation.

This constant drumbeat of 'Obama has it won, just go home.' Is just so much wishful thinking--especially this early.

They know people are going to start to pay attention soon and if they can't create an air of inevitability, people might actually look at the job Obama is doing.

Only an extreme partisan can defend the president's record. If a republican were in office the New York Times would be calling for his resignation on page one based on
1) the economy
2) the attack on our embassy
3) our downgraded credit rating

So, they really only have one thing.

'Don't look at what Obama has done, look at how awful Mitt is.'

They are desperate.

Mitt looks to me like a guy who is boringly honest and wholesome. Only fun if you're not a cynic.

A guy who really lives his faith and practices genuine charity with his money and time.

He's proven himself a competent and successful businessman. And frankly, business is a lot less forgiving than politics when it comes to competence.

He's also a skilled politician and has chosen to leadership, substance and honesty.

He's faced withering attacks from a press that is squarely and blatently stumping for the president. Their service should be listed as an in-kind campaign contribution.

All of this and the race is essentially tied.

If it continues this way until Mitt's moneybomb of ads hits next month, the tide will turn hard.

Mitt will win and have coattails.

Mitt's not a problem. He's a solid candidate who, for reasons I can't begin to understand, is willing to put up with all of the abuse the media and democrats heap on him for having the gall to disagree with them and be willing to run for office to back it up.

God bless him for doing it. I believe he's a good man. All the media noise, crass distortions of his words and his record are so over the top, people are losing faith in the media rather than Mitt.

They have taken partisanship so far that normal people are disgusted.

We're disgusted with the kind of drivel like the Samuel L Jackson profanity-lace silliness that other entertainers think is edgy.

We're disgusted with the trashing of honest success in the private sector as suspect, while success as a community organizer or government employee is somehow noble.

We're disgusted with the snark, the changing the subject, the distraction and maligning of a good man's character. All because even Obama's supporters know he can't run on what he's done, or even what he plans to do.

Because we'd be disgusted by that, too.

This is all my opinion, so feel free to tell me how I'm wrong or parse my words and distract from my point--because that's what you folks are reduced to--but my point remains: Obama is doing a horrible job and needs to be replaced. Mitt looks pretty competent from where I stand.

He survived a bruising primary and has run a pretty good campaign, considering how hard the media is working to help the president.

No, I don't see much to defend in Obama. I don't understand the nasty personal attacks that come along with defending him.

Frankly, most of us don't want to be bothered at all with this kind of stuff.

Bender said...

Many of us are NOT wondering.

We SCREAMED at the top of our lungs in the spring that this is what we would get. And in return, all we got was abuse thrown our way.

Romney had been running for six years in the spring and for all of those years, he never could get above 20-30 percent support. And he was fine with that. His primary campaign strategy was that he was inevitable. And people bought it.

And now in the general, his campaign strategy is exactly the same -- he's inevitable, he's not Obama, and who else are you going to vote for, and that's about it. His entire campaign has been merely one of "I'm better than Obama because, well, because I am, because I worked at Bain and I ran the Olympics one time." Competence, not ideology. And boring competence at that. But not really all that competent after all since he can't get anyone excited for him.

People will choose a dynamic ideologue despot over a boring competence guy every time. Especially women. They would rather go out with the guy who smashes them in the face than the dweeb.

Bender said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Bender said...

And just like many of us also predicted, it is exactly the same Establishment people who pushed Romney, who demanded that he be the nominee, who are now abandoning him, just like they did with McCain -- push him on us and then run away.

chickelit said...

Bender said...
Many of us are NOT wondering.

We SCREAMED at the top of our lungs in the spring that this is what we would get. And in return, all we got was abuse thrown our way.


Your screaming was heard and rejected.

I've always thought Romney was compromise--an Establishment Republican one step removed from Jeb Bush. He needed someone with Tea Party credentials (especially after dissing Sarah Palin) and that move was Paul Ryan. I am disappointed that I don't hear more from Ryan on the trail, but I live in California, a state which is scrupulously avoided expect when it's time to refill coffers.


chickelit said...

except/expect

Anonymous said...

Jay,

Fine Fen, if Romney is elected president he will be the most liberal Republican EVER ELECTED!!!

Are you sure about that? Have you never heard of Nixon (EPA, price controls, etc)? What about W (NCLB, Patriot Act, Medicare expansion, interventionist foreign wars, McCain-Feingold, and generally increasing the size and scope of the federal government making it ever more intrusive)? Their records of accomplishment read very well as "liberal" (which actually means left-wing the way you are using it).

I get the feeling you don't know too much about conservatism and modern "liberalism", but only understand the tribal mentality of democrats vs. republicans.

yashu said...

I am disappointed that I don't hear more from Ryan on the trail

NB What you hear and don't hear is filtered through the MSM.

Unknown said...

Romney is hollow. Most people find that unappealing.

Unknown said...

What about W

Yet another Althouse lemming proves he is totally disconnected from reality.

Unknown said...

What about W

Yet another Althouse lemming proves he is totally disconnected from reality.

sakredkow said...

Especially women. They would rather go out with the guy who smashes them in the face than the dweeb.

Ever the ladies man, eh Bender?

sakredkow said...

Of course, the other effect of watching the bullies do what they do is to make me more sympathetic to their victims, like Bush and Palin.

It's the medias fault.

Anonymous said...

Jake,

Yet another Althouse lemming proves he is totally disconnected from reality.

This is exactly the type of mindless, empty response you've come to exemplify. Bravo!

You too suffer terribly from not understanding the ideologies of conservatism, nor modern "liberalism", but understand very well the tribalism of "us vs. them". And as a good little demobot, you want desperately to believe that anyone with an (R) after their name was a conservative and anyone with a (D) a "liberal".

Unknown said...

Ken - You're either delusional or an idiot.

Anonymous said...

Jake,

You're either delusional or an idiot.

Again, Bravo!! Not a coherent thought, argument, or fact anywhere in sight. You don't seem to be very good at that.

But you've got the name calling down. You're very good at that.

Anonymous said...

phx,

It's the medias fault.

Of course it is. Obama has been lying his ass off about the terrorist attacks on 9/11/2012. When he heard about the attack on Steven's embassy... Obama went to bed. Then he flew to Vegas for a fund raiser.

MSM response: yawn.

The lies and spin that comes from the legacy is simply shocking.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Winston- that was a great analysis- I hope you are right.

yashu said...

Echoing Aj Lynch, I agree with you, Winston, and hope you're right.

chickelit said...

Bender writes: Competence, not ideology. And boring competence at that. But not really all that competent after all since he can't get anyone excited for him.

You sound as if you're seeking a savior.

Yes, compared to Obama, Romney lacks charisma. I don't think that's a bad thing, either.

People will choose a dynamic ideologue despot over a boring competence guy every time. Especially women. They would rather go out with the guy who smashes them in the face than the dweeb.

No, it's the whole "eye candy" aspect of Obama and the way he appeals to women and gays--the same cohort who so viciously derided Palin--perhaps because they sensed that she was eye candy to men. It's all pretty juvenile and predictable.

chickelit said...

You have to give Palin this: imagine her saying I hear I'm eye candy to some men.

That's how into himself our President is.

Unknown said...

Ken - Let me help you out here little buddy. If you want to believe that George Bush is a liberal, that's your choice. The facts don't support that viewpoint, but no one is going to force you to base your opinions on facts. Believe whatever makes you happy, okay?

I prefer reality. In the real world where facts and reason matter, sane people realize that conservatism and liberalism are not the only political philosophies, that the definitions of conservative and liberal are not static, and that not being a conservative does not make one a liberal. George Bush is not a liberal nor does he have liberal tendencies. It's not my responsibility to hold your hand and lead you back to reality. I'm content to chuckle at the thoughts that fill your fantasy world.

Anonymous said...

Jake,

The facts don't support that viewpoint

And yet you fail to point out any facts that don't support that view... again.

the definitions of conservative and liberal are not static

This is of course what all lefties desperately want to believe, that words have different meanings, especially if it's clear that the words read as written mean something completely different that what lefties want them to believe. For example, the sentence "congress shall make no law" falls on deaf ears when lefties are concerned, which is why lefties hate the Citizens United decision. That decision reaffirmed the people's right to free expression, something lefties have a hard time with.

George Bush is not a liberal nor does he have liberal tendencies

Except that he expanded the federal government's authority over the education system (NCLB). He expanded the welfare state through Medicare. He intruded aggressively and militarily in foreign countries. He endorsed McCain-Feingold (attacking free speech, which was thankfully overturned in Citizens United). He enacted the Patriot Act expanding the police state and surveillance, keeping an eye on the hoi-polloi the left distrusts so much. He back crony capitalism, bailing out banks tying the financial sector tighter to the federal government.

All of those things are leftwing agendas and are the primary accomlishments of Bush's administration.

Bush's primary legacy is the betrayal of conservative principles.

jr565 said...

Yashu wrote:
Agree this is what they're trying to do. The crudest of playground psychology. "Romney has cooties!" Agree with Palladian that "there isn't a problem [with Romney], but a lot of people are working very hard trying to create one."

Even if they have to doctor video/ audio to do so.

I shouldn't be shocked at this kind of thing anymore, and yet it still shocks me. This can no longer bear the designation "journalism," not even figuratively.


its bad enough if this were simply a mistake, but they clearly typed in the caption Ryan to make it,seem like Romney was acting small,because they were chanting ryans name when they should have been chanting Romney, when in fact he was being gentlemanly and trying to get the changers to include Ryan in the chants. Fuck you media. And Morning Joe, the biggest fuck you goes to you. Even after having this pointed out to him he still tweets as if it's a abrication. Joe, you ain't no conservative. You are a lying douchebag.the people around you are to be expected, but you are supposed conservative in the room so should know better. I'm sick and tired of the media trudging out these fake assholes pretending to speak conservative who then go out and vote for Obama and carry his water like the good little democratic operatives we know them to be.
Can we please get an official excommunication for some of these people? David brooks, Peggy noonan, buckleys retarded son, Morning Joe et al. There should be a byline under all their work that says"not real republicans" or "not real republican, but plays one on tv". Anything less is pure dishonesty on the part of the media. No conservative should EVER appear on morning Joes show again until he says that hes a fraud and apologizes for wasting our time.

Unknown said...

Ken - I hope a kind person takes care of you. I'd hate to think you sit in a puddle of your own urine as you shake your little fist and rage at "libruls" and "big gubmint" on various nutwing blogs.

By the way, I agree with you that Bush was incompetent and a disgrace. The difference between us is that I never voted for him while you voted for him twice.

Take care little buddy.