Althouse: "It is the last decision I wanted to take. The personal consequences, the political consequences that fall on me as a result of that are going to be extraordinary."

February 5, 2020

"It is the last decision I wanted to take. The personal consequences, the political consequences that fall on me as a result of that are going to be extraordinary."

"Yeah, it's going to get very lonely. And again, the consequences are significant. ... There has not been a morning since this process began that I slept beyond 4 a.m."

Said Mitt Romney, reflecting on what it will mean for him, now that he's decided to vote to convict President Trump.

ADDED: Quick! Mitt! Change parties. Become a Democrat, and go for the nomination for President this year.

263 comments:

«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 263 of 263

Inga said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/5/20, 4:07 PM
Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...: The Chicago one is one of the better ones if I remember it correctly although the giant 'Trump' sign doesn't help. Great location. NYC parking tip. You can park at the NY Trump buildings much more cheaply than any other nearby location. Who knows why. I take advantage of this on occasion.; 2/5/20, 4:09 PM
Kevin said...: "There has not been a morning since this process began that I slept beyond 4 a.m."

Poor Mitt.

Still preparing for the 3AM phone call that will never come his way.; 2/5/20, 4:11 PM
The Vault Dweller said...: One Republican has chosen to bend over for Queen Nan,
I don't think there is any political payoff for Mitt Romney voting the way he did, from Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, or the Dems in general. At least not the immediate sense or medium term. So it is a reasonable possibility that Mitt Rommney is simply voting his conscience. The most plausible scenario I could see for Romney voting the way he is for political gain would be if he suspects in the next 4-6 years that there will be a party realignment which occurs and perhaps the socialist party of america spins off from the democrats, which makes the democrats much more centrist and the would be in a good position to take a leadership role in a party like that. Or perhaps the far left does get control of the Dems and then more center leaning Dems split off from the dems along with more center leaning Repubs and a new centrist third party forms. But this all seems very highly speculative and not terribly likely.; 2/5/20, 4:11 PM
Vance said...: Inga, who is surprised that Democrats all marched lockstep? We were hoping that some bipartisanship would finally be demonstrated by a Democrat, but no, that never ever happens.

Once again, if Pelosi and Schumer introduced a bill mandating that we all sacrifice a child to Moloch every year, Inga and the Democrat congress would vote, lockstep, to support it. And scream how it is Republicans who are the partisan ones for not supporting cultural practices or whatever.; 2/5/20, 4:12 PM
Chuck said...: ...
Trump and Romney are not from the same party.

AMEN!

Mitt Romney is a Republican. The son of a multi-term Republican Governor of Michigan; also a cabinet member in a Republican administration and a Republican candidate for President.

Mitt himself was a Republican Governor of Massachusetts.

Then there is Trump. Leader of the Trump Party. Never before elected to anything and never ran as a Republican. A former donor to Democrats and a New Yorker who was pro-choice, pro national health care and in favor of an assault weapons ban.

Paraphrasing the lying, adulterous, sociopath Trump, you’re “Goddamned fucking” right they are not in the same party. Not the same “league,” either.; 2/5/20, 4:16 PM
Mark said...: It's hard for me to imagine a more serious attack on the constitution and on a republic like ours than saying that a president would be able to enlist a foreign government to corrupt our elections to keep in power. That's what happens in tinhorn autocracies.

What also happens in tinhorn autocracies is complete mischaracterization of things and promoting disinformation, such as Romney does here.; 2/5/20, 4:18 PM
bagoh20 said...: "Trump is a resourceful guy but he keeps on piling up enemies among potential allies. This is why he faces a tough reelection."

Deluded. Trump has far more allies today than he did in 2016. A lot of anti-Trump people have come around, and not becuase he has promised them jobs or favors, as is the swamp custom, but rather because he gets results, and people who like results like the guy getting them. It's exactly how Trump won me over from a doubter. The people you call "potential allies" are only there for the swamp treats, and when they don't get them, they act accordingly.; 2/5/20, 4:22 PM
Mark said...: In Romney's mind, apparently Joe Biden is above the law. He's untouchable. To even suggest that someone "look into" his conduct -- even after Biden publicly confesses to extortion for personal family gain -- is a capital offense deserving of a political death sentence.; 2/5/20, 4:24 PM
YoungHegelian said...: It's hard for me to imagine a more serious attack on the constitution and on a republic like ours than saying that a president would be able to enlist a foreign government to corrupt our elections to keep in power.

But, isn't that exactly what the Obama administration DoJ & Intelligence agencies did to Trump with the creation & dissemination of the Steele dossier?

I mean, there's no doubt about that now, as even the FISA court has admitted to abuses & the FBI has admitted that it had no other support for the FISA warrant other than the tainted Steele dossier.; 2/5/20, 4:26 PM
mccullough said...: Romney was a draft dodger.

That doesn’t bother Chuck. Because Chuck is a draft dodger.

So is Trump. That bothers Chuck.

Because that’s how Chuck rolls.; 2/5/20, 4:26 PM
Mark said...: Now that Biden is politically dead in the water, no longer a viable presidential candidate, is it OK to investigate his corruption while in office as vice president?; 2/5/20, 4:27 PM
bagoh20 said...: "Mitt Romney is a Republican. The son of a multi-term Republican Governor of Michigan; also a cabinet member in a Republican administration and a Republican candidate for President.

Mitt himself was a Republican Governor of Massachusetts.

Then there is Trump. Leader of the Trump Party. Never before elected to anything and never ran as a Republican. A former donor to Democrats and a New Yorker who was pro-choice, pro national health care and in favor of an assault weapons ban.

Paraphrasing the lying, adulterous, sociopath Trump, you’re “Goddamned fucking” right they are not in the same party. Not the same “league,” either."

I assume you think that's makes Trump look bad. The only negative is that Trump once supported some of the things that Romney would, except Trump learned since then, and Romney has gotten dumber. They definitely are not of the same party. The Republicans have left Romney, becuase he's a loser and Trump's a winner. Nothing moves men like that choice.; 2/5/20, 4:29 PM
The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...: "Trump is becoming more erratic and obviously troubled. She may still break him."

Yes, it certainly seems like he's on the ropes....; 2/5/20, 4:29 PM
mccullough said...: How is Hunter making money these days?

How are Romney’s Sons making money?; 2/5/20, 4:29 PM
mccullough said...: Romney sought Trump’s endorsement in 2012.

This doesn’t bother Chuck. That’s how Chuck rolls; 2/5/20, 4:30 PM
bbkingfish said...: There goes Mitt's Presidential Medal of Freedom.; 2/5/20, 4:30 PM
Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...: The Vault Dweller said...
And perhaps I'm inferring too much here, but it appears that we at least agree that Brutalism is no good.

It doesn't have to be. The old Salk Institute building was genuinely beautiful. Walking into that building in the morning was a genuine spiritual experience. Unfortunately they screwed it up with an addition. In general though I agree it is awful and cheap looking. I just read a book on materials and they talk about centrality of concrete to modern civilization but also discuss how rarely it works well as an exterior or interior surface.; 2/5/20, 4:36 PM
Lincolntf said...: I don't consider either Trump or Romney to be a "draft-dodger".; 2/5/20, 4:39 PM
iowan2 said...: Then there is Trump. Leader of the Trump Party. Never before elected to anything and never ran as a Republican. A former donor to Democrats and a New Yorker who was pro-choice, pro national health

AND, we have it. Every time this discussion starts, the core resentment gets revealed.

President Trump isn't pure. He hasn't had to go through the double secret initiation. He does't poses the "proper" CV. No matter his obvious talents, his impressive intuition, and the obvious list of accomplishments..."The fucker isn't ONE OF US!!!" shhh it is preferable to wander for the next 40 years in the minority; 2/5/20, 4:43 PM
Koot Katmandu said...: Well if it was not for Romeny we would not have PDT. If Romeny had won and stopped Obama Trump would not have ran. Looks like we dodged a big bullet when Romeny lost and we did not know it at the time.

Romney has shown he is spitful, dishonest, and selfish. I regret I ever voted for him.; 2/5/20, 4:43 PM
Drago said...: LLR-lefty Chuck: "Then there is Trump. Leader of the Trump Party. Never before elected to anything and never ran as a Republican. A former donor to Democrats and a New Yorker who was pro-choice, pro national health care and in favor of an assault weapons ban."

Donald J Trump has given us the most conservative governance in over 90 years as reported by Heritage Foundation and other conservative thinktanks.

This is Trump's real crime for LLR-lefty Chuck. Instead of being a milquetoast "republican" who surrenders to democrats on every issue, Trump fights and defeats LLR-lefty Chuck's beloved dems and Trump does that every single day.

Notice how LLR-lefty Chuck keeps going back decades to describe Trump and his beliefs....all the while LLR-lefty Chuck NEVER discusses how Trump has governed for over 3+ years now.

It's almost as if LLR-lefty Chuck is only here to drive a wedge between Trump and his base as well as smear Trump along with driving a wedge between Althouse and her readership.

Wait!!

Those are 3 things LLR-lefty Chuck has EXPLICITLY and repeatedly claimed he was doing here!!!

LOL; 2/5/20, 4:55 PM
effinayright said...: eloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...
Drago said...
You really arent picking up on this, are you?

Trump's hand picked associates despise him.

>>>And you know this, how? Why would they take the gig if they hate him so much?

They know him, you don't.

>>> Do YOU know THEM? Or are you just claiming clairvoyance, as you do so often?

Whose judgement should I trust?

>>> Certainly not your own!!; 2/5/20, 5:21 PM
Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...: wholelottasplainin' said...
And you know this, how?

They give speeches, write books, leak to the press, tell their friends and roll their eyes in meetings. Other than this though I agree we are all in the dark.; 2/5/20, 5:40 PM
Rusty said...: What I got from that tirade was that Trump is capable of learning whereas. Well. We won't go there.; 2/5/20, 5:41 PM
stan said...: Mitt is worthless. He’s always been worthless. Man has no backbone, no loyalty and no principles. Other than his own personal aggrandizement. What a waste. Dishonest, afraid and corrupt is no way to go through life.; 2/5/20, 5:49 PM
Seeing Red said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/5/20, 5:52 PM
Seeing Red said...: Pierre is like Nanny B; run as a republican to get elected, but is a wolf in sheep’s Clothing.

Or like Petey B run as a moderate but is a vile prog.; 2/5/20, 5:54 PM
Gk1 said...: I wonder if any democrat is making the connection that their partisan anti-trump tactics are actually energizing the republican base but depressing theirs? Trump is more popular after Impeachment than before. How are they going to drive his numbers down if they keep running the same playbook? There biggest "get"out of this fiasco is 1 vote from Mittens and a rejuvenated Trump. That's their silver lining? Was it all worth it?; 2/5/20, 5:58 PM
MeatPopscicle1234 said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/5/20, 6:06 PM
MeatPopscicle1234 said...: Romney is the Benedict Arnold of our time; 2/5/20, 6:07 PM
Bob Boyd said...: What"s the difference between Romney and Hillary now?

I mean apart from the obvious, which is that Romney has a better ass and Hillary has bigger balls.; 2/5/20, 6:10 PM
Greg the class traitor said...: Quick! Mitt! Change parties. Become a Democrat, and go for the nomination for President this year.

That action would be too honest for Mitt to do it; 2/5/20, 6:15 PM
Greg the class traitor said...: I don't think there is any political payoff for Mitt Romney voting the way he did, from Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, or the Dems in general. At least not the immediate sense or medium term. So it is a reasonable possibility that Mitt Rommney is simply voting his conscience.

Nah, he's long shown that he doesn't have one of those. https://thefederalist.com/2020/02/05/romneys-entire-career-has-been-about-punishing-republicans-for-voting-for-him/

What he's voted is his spite and bile.; 2/5/20, 6:23 PM
Howard said...: For someone so worthless and impotent as Mittens, you people are stridently verklempt like an old biddy scorned.; 2/5/20, 6:24 PM
Howard said...: Bipartisan support for conviction. That's what stings enough to cancel a press conference. Daddy's sadz; 2/5/20, 6:26 PM
walter said...: Greg the class traitor said...Quick! Mitt! Change parties.
--
Glancing at that, for a second I thought it said "Quick! Mitt! Change panties."
Works on more than one level.

Mittens has been a grandstanding, duplicitous backstabber/kiss-up/backstabber throughout.
That he thinks he is the standard-bearer for integrity is laughable.
Look for him to be seen dining with that other R standard-bearer of integrity: Sancti-Comey.; 2/5/20, 6:33 PM
FullMoon said...: Bipartisan support for conviction.

Second time you have used it with no response. Maybe rephrase? Include "you people", that generally works.; 2/5/20, 6:36 PM
Mark O said...: I think I heard him say, "Morituri te salutamus."; 2/5/20, 6:37 PM
Michael S. Kochin said...: Romney was just protecting his corrupt friends
https://amgreatness.com/2019/09/29/letat-cest-nous/; 2/5/20, 6:38 PM
Unknown said...: > "It is the last decision I wanted to take. The personal consequences, the political consequences that fall on me as a result of that are going to be extraordinary."
"Yeah, it's going to get very lonely. And again, the consequen

No matter what anyone says, no matter the excuse or explanation, whatever a person does in the end is what he intended to do all along.
– Cus D’Amato, Mike Tyson's trainer; 2/5/20, 6:41 PM
Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/5/20, 6:58 PM
Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...: It's kind of telling that the first batch of comments all assumed Mitt had personal motives/grudges/vendettas to act out, rather than the fact that his state voted something like at least 4 to 1 Ted Cruz over Trump in the primary. All these armchair carpetbaggers out to tell Utah what they should want in a senator, even if they hate Trump.

And then there's the likelihood that he simply acted out of principle. It shows you how unprincipled the right is that they can't even consider the notion. They don't recognize what principle is.

As for Bolton and "the house's job!" - his revelations didn't come out until after the trial concluded. And the senate has always sought evidence and witnesses in its impeachment trials. The house vote is akin to an indictment. The only reason to keep witnesses and evidence out of the senate trial is if you're as afraid of what they'd reveal as Trump's lackeys must be.; 2/5/20, 6:59 PM
walter said...: Nothing has changed since the primary, PPPDDD. Nothing!; 2/5/20, 7:03 PM
Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...: Donald J Trump has given us the most conservative governance in over 90 years as reported by Heritage Foundation and other conservative thinktanks.

Yes! 90 years ago. The most impressive era of American history - the presidency of Herbert Hoover and the conservatives who presaged him.

These wackos at Heritage should get out of their tanks and do some actual thinking, for a change.

Well, you've done it now. We're going back to a pre-FDR America - the goal of the anti-constitutional right-wing ever since Buckley and Reagan. You know. FDR: The guy who actually made America as great as it is.

What a legacy you guys are going to have. Hope it was worth whatever jollies you're getting out of it.; 2/5/20, 7:06 PM
walter said...: The House claimed an airtight case pre-Bolton rumors.
And they avoided due diligence to procure Bolton...because DANGER!
How's that working?; 2/5/20, 7:08 PM
walter said...: You should be happy your fave family, the Bidens, escaped Senate scrutiny.
"No joke!"; 2/5/20, 7:10 PM
Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...: Nothing has changed since the primary, PPPDDD.

Well, one thing that changed is a guy named Mittens became that state's senator. After Trump fantasized about having oral sex with him?

But ordinarily I don't think Mormons change all that much when it comes to wanting to be decent and honest. Evangelicals might get off on having a demonic president who implements their agenda as they see it. But Mormons aren't as trashy and morally repugnant. Or as idiotic.

They wear white shirts and ties for goodness' sake. And use words like "shucks."; 2/5/20, 7:10 PM
walter said...: Sad.; 2/5/20, 7:12 PM
Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...: The House claimed an airtight case pre-Bolton rumors.

Well, that's assuming a normal, decent and intelligent jury. Not the kind that's persuaded by O.J. and Epstein's lawyer.

Congratulations! Your clique is as fair-minded as the crowd that bought the "if it don't fit, you must acquit" line!; 2/5/20, 7:13 PM
Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...: But we get it. O.J.'s jurors had a beef with the law.

And so do your Republican senators.

Both groups voted for their higher loyalty, instead.

One for a Heisman trophy winner.

The other for a reality TV (game show) host.

Everyone's got to have their ethnic heroes, right?; 2/5/20, 7:14 PM
walter said...: Wow.
Keep going.; 2/5/20, 7:16 PM
Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...: Is that all you got, walter?

Trump really is the president of the little people, isn't he now?

The really little people.

The minuscule people.; 2/5/20, 7:21 PM
walter said...: I was being generous, Pee Pee.
But if you won't respond to encouragement, toodles.; 2/5/20, 7:33 PM
Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...: I was wondering if that's all you had for your side!

And apparently it is.; 2/5/20, 7:43 PM
DeepRunner said...: Mitt has no future in the GOP. He has ensured that. Maybe he can be like Bill Kristol and become the Dem he always wanted to be.; 2/5/20, 8:31 PM
Kyzer SoSay said...: As I recall, there were a few Democrats who crossed the aisle last December to vote AGAINST the articles of impeachment in the House. So the fact that Romney voted to convict (on only one count, at that) isn't much of a big deal to me. We have known his cowardly nature since the 2012 campaign, and we've known he lacks principle since his days governing MA. Frankly, I think it's MORE significant that ANY House Dems voted against impeachment. Representatives generally have fewer resources for reelection and depend heavily on the DNCC - not to mention all the far-leftist challengers that Soros et al. have been running against some of them. Romney on the other hand has a safe Senate seat that he won just last midterm, and so faces less risk in general - especially since I doubt he plans to run again. Further, at least one House Dem switched parties as a reaction to this absurd impeachment for non-crimes and hearsay, so in my mind that still puts the GOP and Trump on top here. Bipartisan opposition to impeachment in the House, and weakly bipartisan willingness to convict in the Senate - but even then, the coward Romney couldn't go whole hog and vote to convict on both counts. Add in the Dem defections, and I say it's still a clear GOP victory and a great election talking point for Trump.; 2/5/20, 8:38 PM
Lurker21 said...: Romney was a Democrat before he was a Republican, and he may have become a Republican because it was the easier way to get started in politics. And when he did get into politics, he tried to run to the left of Ted Kennedy, sort of - it was the fiscally conservative and socially (very) liberal thing.

I don't hate the guy. I've invested too much time over the last quarter century making up excuses for him to throw it all away now. But if there is an afterlife, I certainly don't want to end up on his planet.; 2/5/20, 10:23 PM
Martin said...: So it's really all about Mitt, and I am supposed to feel sorry for him?

I don't think so.

Even if I grant him every benefit of the doubt as to his motives, even if I agreed with him on the vote, he is not a victim.

"Hearts and Flowers" on the smallest violin in the world, Romney.

Maybe Trump succeeds in part because for all his faults he shows at least some characteristics of being a mensch in a town and a business with so damn few of them.; 2/5/20, 10:54 PM
Kirk Parker said...: Bagoh20,

"There was a time when I thought Romney would be a good President and Trump would not"

There certainly was: the 1950s.; 2/5/20, 11:36 PM
Gk1 said...: It will be interesting how the great state of Utah reacts to this decision of Mittens. I also wonder if Trump will zig instead of zagging and completely ignore Mitt from now on and not bother tweeting about him or even acknowledge his impeachment vote. I should have my answer by tomorrow morning. ;-P; 2/6/20, 12:45 AM
rcocean said...: Romney's father was a traitor too. Turned on Nixon and then dropped out of politics. As stated by others, Romney was NOT a Reagan supporter, he was out of politics in the 80's then ran to the left of kennedy in the early 90's Senate run. In the early 2000's he saw a chance to be Governor and defeated the MORE conservative candidate for the R nomination. After 1 term, he was too unpopular to run again, he quit and ran for President. And then ran again.

Its a pretty thin record before the Senate run. 4 tries, 1 win. In retrospect, he would've been a one term President.; 2/6/20, 3:15 AM
rcocean said...: Climate Change. That's the tell that Romney is a liberal who likes tax cuts.; 2/6/20, 3:15 AM