Wins with 56% — CNN projects.
ADDED: I'm visualizing Paul Ryan as Romney's VP choice. Do you think that's a bad idea? I love the way he projects the message: This is serious. But do you think the 2 of them together might seem scarily robotic?
March 20, 2012
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But he's not conservative enough. And he's a Mormon. And he's rich. And he can't close the deal. And he should have locked it up by now. And he's kind of a fuddy duddy. And he and his wife had too many children. And he's not electable.
Did I mention he's a Mormon. He's cooked. Americans could never tolerate a Mormon or a Catholic or a Jew or a Muslim in the White House. Mormons have some funny ideas. Some of them are abolitionists (or whatever it is when you marry two people.) Many Americans marry two people, but not at once. These Mormons go on "missions," which seems kind of strange so what's that all about.
Plus the guy has never done anything noteworthy. Except run the Olympic Games. And be a Governor (in Massachuestts!!!???). And raise a great family. And run a super successful business.
Guy could never be President. Unimaginable.
True, but that won't be the headline anywhere else.
"Romney crushes the competition in Illinois."
And they're gonna regret it.
Also, James Taranto brings us a bit of insight into Ann's reluctance to admit her vote for Obama was a "rational" disaster:
National Review's Jim Geraghty ponders what this means for this year's campaign. "Generally speaking," he observes, "people hate admitting they made a mistake. . . . Very few Obama voters will express their vote for the GOP [nominee] in 2012 as an explicit act of personal penance for bad judgment." Instead, "a lot of Obama voters must be persuaded that they made the wrong choice in 2008, and that it isn't their fault."
How to do this? Geraghty goes on:
Monday I spoke to a smart political mind who had been watching focus groups of wavering Obama voters in swing states, and he said that one word that those voters kept coming back to, again and again, was "naïve." (The term was to describe the president, not themselves.) Those who voted for Obama won't call him stupid, and certainly don't accept that he's evil. But they have seen grandiose promises on the stimulus fail to materialize, touted as the answer to all their health care needs and turn out to be nothing of the sort, pledges of amazing imminent advances in alternative energy, and so on.
The list goes on, but you get the point: "If we're seeking to persuade Obama voters that it's okay to vote for someone else this time, perhaps we need to reinforce that notion that he just doesn't quite understand how things work in the real world."
I call it being delusional - and there's a LOT of it going around.
Unfortunately, the delusional are the last to cop to it,...
Crack, as to delusional:
"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."
We'll see.
The exchange from yesterday undoubtedly helped, but the real issue is IL is the first of the big city states. The phenomenon of the Rust Belt and GodZero's policies have turned OH and, especially, MI into much more rural states than even 20 years ago, although both have been hemorrhaging population for much longer than that, so the Romster benefits from a much more urban crowd for the first time since MA.
The Romster (is that the official Althouse nickname now?) may well do better than expected in LA (laissez les bons temps roulez) and he will start to pull away as we get into the big city states of the Northeast.
(Santorum has yet to be endorsed by so much as one prominent PA Republican, so it's doubtful he can even take his home state)
PS Crack, I think a lot of former Zero supporters will stay home.
Crushes! -- I hope Malia is safe.
I'm with you half-way. I just don't think Ryan should pick Romney as his Veep.
Now there's a man that doesn't quit.
BTW, Ryan is right about staying in the House. The only way things change is replace the old RINOs with guys like him.
Seriously, though: Ryan and Romney are both extremely earnest and clean-cut and wholesome, but Ryan is entirely comfortable in his own skin, and Romney isn't -- which is what you're perceiving as "robotic" in him.
My blog still has a homemade "Draft Paul Ryan" sidebar banner, but I recognize that Romney is still the odds-on favorite to win a first-ballot nomination. If he doesn't, all bets are off, though; and I don't think the convention would turn to anyone currently in the field with the kind of swoop that it could turn to Paul Ryan.
Rubio would be a better ticket-balancer for Romney than Ryan, though.
Romney + Rubio = Rout
"I love the way he projects the message: This is serious. But do you think the 2 of them together might seem scarily robotic?"
To put it another way: It's cool he looks serious, even if my decision making isn't. What are we talking about here, Dancing with the Stars?
Ryan is needed where he is now ...the only budget man in Congress at the moment ... if Romney is the candidate he needs a VP candidate that balances and draws from sectors he does not.
Romney is finally hitting his stride.
Ryan is too much of a lightning rod for opposition to his plan. Plus, he'd probably languish in the office of VP, which is more retail politics than number crunching.
“But do you think the 2 of them together might seem scarily robotic?”
Perhaps, but I’m OK with that. Let the two of them roll up their sleeves and bore us to death with their competency. Our new ex-president can keep us entertained with his adolescent passions:
http://www.eonline.com/news/marc_malkin/president_barack_obama_promises_make/301951
It doesn't matter that much who the Veep is (Rubio, though Hispanic, is Cuban; the people you want are Mexican - that would mean someone like Susana Martinez), they have to take the fight to GodZero.
The Romster needs a fighter in the #2 slot, like Sarah Palin or Cheney. Both need to apply all of Saint Sean's Gospel:
They pull a knife, you pull a gun
They send one of yours to the hospital, you send one of theirs to the morgue
"I'm visualizing Paul Ryan as Romney's VP choice. Do you think that's a bad idea? I love the way he projects the message: This is serious. But do you think the 2 of them together might seem scarily robotic?"
It's not a *bad* idea, just an unlikely one. Choosing a member of the House is a risky move, regardless of whoever it might be. No one knows who Ryan is; even then, the Dems will lie and distort his "seniorcide" Medicare salvage proposal to drive the idiots to the polls for Obama and other Democrats. Besides which, it's risky for Ryan - if he wasn't risk-averse, he'd have run for the Senate. That he didn't says much (yes, he'd lose seniority in the Senate, and his lead on the budget in the House, but still).
Romney will probably choose someone noted as more conservative than himself, possibly a governor - but not Rick Perry, of obvious reasons (although...).
Crack will not be invited to vet the nominee.
Yeah Romney and the Republican Party returning to the middle! Romney is the most liberal nominee since Ford. The moderate liberal consensus seems to be returning to our politics. That is a good sign. Thanks to Althouse for supporting the moderate choice!
Althoue wrote: But do you think the 2 of them together might seem scarily robotic?
Not in a "Danger, Will Robinson sense."
People might take that combination as too focused on fixing the economy.
Rubio, baby! He needs Florida and the Latino vote.
For libs like me a Romney/Obama race is a win/win. Though it will make for a boring Fall...
It would be a formidable team. But I wonder why Ryan does not run on his own. Something about his family. But I wonder.
“Plus the guy has never done anything noteworthy. Except run the Olympic Games. And be a Governor (in Massachusetts!!!???). And raise a great family. And run a super successful business.”
But…, but…, an unsuccessful indigent would be less offensive to the current sensitivities.
(Good, Lord!)
"But do you think the 2 of them together might seem scarily robotic?"
Yeah, cuz Mr. Empathy has done so well for us the last 3 yrs.
Why the fuck do I want a President who feels my pain? I have a mother. I want some who's actually qualified to manage the country.
Yeah, Ryan should probably stay where he is but, damn, that'd put a spring in my step on the way to the polls if he was on the ticket.
And as for regretful Obama voters, they don't need to vote republican. Staying home works too.
My problem with Ryan being VP is he's doing the Lord's work in the House.
Though I would love to watch debate Mr. Foot-in-Mouth.
Paul Ryan comes across as too cerebral. The deficit on Romney's side is lack of charisma -- Rubio will make up for it.
Rubio's a teenager.
@Original Mike
Not really. His speech on why immigrants come to America, why they thrive, the exceptional nature of this society to make that proverbial American dream happen has been the most poignant I have ever heard. Take Latino vote away from the Dems -- he will be good for that.
As compared to Obama & Biden being utterly clueless?
I prefer Rubio as VP. Ryan can work from inside the House as Finance Chair or some such. The big plus for either is thatneither Ryan nor Rubio is a Boomer.
The lefties are not weighing in here on the Ryan choice as VP. I'm thinking it strikes fear in their hearts.
No comeback to Paul Ryan's common sense.
We need Ryan where he is. My choice is Lt.Col/Congressman Allen West. Terrific speaker. Can be an attack dog. Has great academic and military creds.
Romney: Replace a law professor with a conservative businessman.
Hard to argue that we would not be a LOT better off.
"Original Mike said...
Yeah, cuz Mr. Empathy has done so well for us the last 3 yrs.
Why the fuck do I want a President who feels my pain?"
If Obama feels your pain his only concern is how that pain actually effect him. Otherwise he could give a rats ass.
They will have to prove they are not robots.
@pm317: I'd like to hear that speech. The couple of times I've heard Rubio (and it has only been a couple of times), I've been left wondering what the attraction is (other than the demographics, which I get).
Romney: Replace a law professor with a conservative businessman.
He was a visiting lecturer not a professor. Said the professors who were actually professors in the department.
"... And he's a Mormon..."
So fucking what? I'm Catholic raised yet every Mormon I've known is the nicest and most decent person I've met. More than I can say for any other religion I've come across.
Actually I hope to God and Sonny Jesus the left mocks his religion. Be nice to see the unmasked bigotry that liberals display to ' certain' faiths.
@Original Mike,
I will see if I can find it. I came here as an immigrant and I totally could see his where he was coming from (though he was talking about it from his parents perspective).
Romney just needs to run against Obama's white half. That's the S.O.B. that screwed everything up. Even the people who voted for Obama don't want that guy back, and of course if he goes, they both do. I call it reverse-triangulation with a little English on it. It's genius, and I wasn't even drunk when I came up with it.
My first choice is Rubio, 2nd choice is Gov. McDonnell of Virginia. Third is Gov. Jindal of Louisiana.
If Rubio is picked, I would want Col. West to be selected as his replacement in the Senate.
"He was a visiting lecturer not a professor."
Romney was being graciuos.
ADDED: I'm visualizing Paul Ryan as Romney's VP choice. Do you think that's a bad idea? I love the way he projects the message: This is serious. But do you think the 2 of them together might seem scarily robotic?
Paul Ryan is much, much more valuable to the GOP right now in his current position as House Budget Chairman. Should the GOP gain the Senate and presidency this November, Ryan arguably becomes the second-most powerful man in America, as he gets to finally enact his budget, which if enacted how he wants, will finally begin to turn this country around fiscally.
Either that, or trash John Boehner and actually get Ryan into the Speaker of the House position, which is a position he could run for president from.
"I will see if I can find it."
I'd like to see it. Immigrantion is hugely important for this country.
But now, it's sleepy time.
@Original Mike
Take a look at this. This is not what I heard but he is repeating some of the same sentiments. I don't speak Spanish but he has some in the beginning for one or two minutes and jokes about it. He has a good sense of humor. I just realized though that, for Rubio to be VP, Romney may have to tackle or at least get serious about the immigration issue.
It's 46-35 now; pretty good for the Romster. With these happy over endorsing victory headlines, it's kind of like one of you coming home and hearing 'It's Cheese Whiz for dinner!' Better to just note it at meal time; otherwise it ruins the appetite. After that bit of headline I thought you were going on to say 'Ron Paul for veep.' I think I'd (rather) have the cheese whiz with macaroni, does it come with macaroni?, after all.
It looks like Romney is losing ground, having lost ten points in the last couple of hours, down to 46 percent, in a contest that had the lowest turnout for a presidential primary in the past 70 years.
I like Allen West too Sara (with no "h", like Lee), but I think we'd see the press vigorously vet a black man for the first time since Clarence Thomas. It wouldn't be pretty.
Rubio of the Blunt-Rubio Amendment. Oh, that's just what Romney needs. How about that woman from Alaska -- Lisa Murkowski.
Bender said...
It looks like Romney is losing ground, having lost ten points in the last couple of hours, down to 46 percent, in a contest that had the lowest turnout for a presidential primary in the past 70 years.
All the wet ballots from downstate have miraculously dried.
Bender only likes candidates with self-polished haloes who proudly grip the instrument of their martyrdom; in this case, the ballot box with which San Torum was fatally beaten.
Hoosier Daddy,
"... And he's a Mormon..."
So fucking what? I'm Catholic raised yet every Mormon I've known is the nicest and most decent person I've met. More than I can say for any other religion I've come across.
Actually I hope to God and Sonny Jesus the left mocks his religion. Be nice to see the unmasked bigotry that liberals display to ' certain' faiths.
His "religion" - created by a convicted con man. Look, you know my views, so I won't belabor the point, except to give you this by Deborah Layton of The People's Temple cult - that killed 900 people - on how "nice" works with cults:
"...Nobody joins a cult. You join a self-help group, a religious movement, a political organization. They change so gradually, by the time you realize you're entrapped - and almost everybody does - you can't figure a safe way back out...."
To the White House - and beyond!
One more:
David,
Did I mention he's a Mormon. He's cooked. Americans could never tolerate a Mormon or a Catholic or a Jew or a Muslim in the White House. Mormons have some funny ideas. Some of them are abolitionists (or whatever it is when you marry two people.)
Funny you should mention being abolitionists, considering the "church" is caught in multiple race issues - the two biggest involving the baptism of Jews and racism against blacks - but nothing to concern yourself about.
Racism's only a big deal if a black guy's in power, right?
Of course it is, because you guys are, oh, so fair,...
Bender, I saw that article too (claiming it's the lowest turnout in 70 years). And the low turnout meme is being echoed everywhere. Newt sure made a point of it.
But it's false. The 2008 turnout was just under 900,000. This year-- going by the numbers on CNN-- it's over 900,000 (not sure by how much).
For 2008 turnout see here.
For 2012 turnout see here.
"Unfortunately, the delusional are the last to cop to it,..."
That's because they're always sure it's the other guy that's lost all perspective.
To echo many....Marco Rubio without a doubt.
Guarantees Florida, shores up the Tea Party/Southern vote and may be the swing for the Western fence sitters.
Romney needs a Southerner as VP. I would suggest Jeb Bush or Allen West or even Rick Perry as VP.
Bobby Jindal might work as well, if he wants the job.
As for VP, as Romney evidenced last time (McCain), it's traditional to pick from the 'other' wing of the party. If I recall correctly Kefauver was chosen that way, Nixon kind of in lieu of Taft, Reagan - Bush. Romney has called Santorum an 'economic illiterate;' OK, take him to school.
I hesitate to say Paul Ryan would be a good VP choice. For one, the Ryan Plan is a policy proposal full of specifics, and it's political poison to campaign on specifics. Did we once during the 2008 campaign hear any specifics regarding Obama's health care reform? No, we did not. Endorsing Ryan for VP is to endorse his budget plan--a plan of specifics; a plan that makes easy campaign fodder for the Democrats simply because the Republicans have specifics to attack and the Democrats do not. Remember, they haven't passed a budget in three years.
Second, there are a multitude of duties both constitutional and ceremonial that the VP is responsible for. It seems a waste of talent to make Ryan fulfill these duties when he would rather focus his attention on budget policy.
Which brings me to where I think Romney should install Ryan: as head of the OMB. It's a cabinet-level position that's very wonky but out of the limelight. Nobody attacks the head of the OMB; they only attack the output of the OMB, which is the president's annual budget proposal, which is, essentially, the blueprint and starting point for that fiscal year's spending agenda, and Ryan could be its architect. Installing him there would diffuse whatever controversy Democrats think surrounds him (you know, rolling grandmothers off cliffs in wheelchairs and whatnot), his talent as a policy wonk would not be wasted, and it leaves the VP slot open for a hunkier choice--which is a tall order to fill since Paul Ryan is a hunk.
Monday I spoke to a smart political mind who had been watching focus groups of wavering Obama voters in swing states, and he said that one word that those voters kept coming back to, again and again, was "naïve." (The term was to describe the president, not themselves.) Those who voted for Obama won't call him stupid, and certainly don't accept that he's evil...
The list goes on, but you get the point: "If we're seeking to persuade Obama voters that it's okay to vote for someone else this time, perhaps we need to reinforce that notion that he just doesn't quite understand how things work in the real world."
I agree with this - at least that this is how a lot in the middle who voted for Obama last time, and may not this time, see him. They are giving him the benefit of the doubt, which is more Christian, as well as being easier to reconcile with having voted for him.
And, having voted against him, I still don't think that he, himself, is evil. Dishonest, yes, more than most politicians even. But, not evil. Though, his policies have had evil (and completely predictable) results.
And, that is why Romney's attack tonight on Obama having been a college professor, while he had been a businessman, is likely to ultimately resonate. Romney can claim, convincingly, that he does understand how the economy works, and how jobs are created. Obama, after 3+ years in the White House still seems clueless.
What would you think about former Missouri Governor Matt Blunt as VP?
I'm visualizing Paul Ryan as Romney's VP choice. Do you think that's a bad idea?
Not a bad idea but not a great one either. Ryan is a policy wonk who fits well as chairman of the budget committee but i dont see him as a "people person" like say Marco Rubio. Plus, Rubio brings Fla into Romneys column which is kinda a big deal.
No one cares about the vice president. Ryan should be president or remain in the senate where he can still be powerful.
Rubio.
Rubio--one thing for sure: ole slow Joe isnt going to be able to deliver a speech in Spanish
edutcher said...
It doesn't matter that much who the Veep is (Rubio, though Hispanic, is Cuban; the people you want are Mexican - that would mean someone like Susana Martinez), they have to take the fight to GodZero.
The Romster needs a fighter in the #2 slot, like Sarah Palin or Cheney. Both need to apply all of Saint Sean's Gospel:
Yiiii. Uncharacteristic own goal by edster. Terrible choices. We want the election to be about what crappy president Zero is, and all the harm he's done. Palin or Cheney would instantly make the election about ... a bunch of stuff that can't help at all.
Lotta worse choices than Ryan. I don't know who would be the best. Both Romney and Rubio seem awfully eager to engage in more military adventures. I thought we'd had enough of that.
I think Tank has a good point--the dems and media were able to make 2008 about Palin--dont need a lightening rod as veep to detract from the economy and gas prices. At this point it appears to me that Obama folks are going for women's vote believing they have the black vote in the bag. I think their campaign issues will be based on internal polling among dems--look at their messages and judge accordingly. Whatever the messages are, the campaign will be very unpleasant I wager.
Ryan should be left in the Senate (and if asked to leave, will hopefully have the balls to say no.)
I've never understood this push for Presidents to grab allies from Congress for underlings. The exceptions are for politicians who are going to leave anyway, won't be reelected or ones you want to get rid of in favor of someone new. The other exception is grabbing enemies and blunting their political power (like what Obama did with Hillary Clinton and Huntsman.)
@pm317 - Thanks for the link. I just watched it. I see the attraction to Rubio now.
Scott Walker for VP
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