Pleasing Your Enemies Does Not Turn Them Into Friends

The problem with Romney is that he could in fact turn out to be just as bad for the economy as Obama. I am far from convinced that he has the disposition required to make the vast structural changes that are now absolutely necessary. Of course he might be less socialist than Obama, but he might also be more able to pass harmful budgets whereas Obama now seems to be adrift without oars. Neither situation is good. It would be far better if Ron Paul were the next president.

The David Frum faction has determined that another neutered tom-cat is the ticket, in large part because they don't want their upscale urban friends to think bad things about their understanding of climate change, evolution and the great tasks of the United Nations. In other words, the GOP is firmly in the control of salon liberals who suffer the delusion of thinking they are conservatives. Methinks they are only conservatives in not wanting to pay high taxes. That is hardly the point at this stage of the unfolding mess.

Peter, Obama only appears to be adrift right now because of the coming election....he can't do what he really wants

This is a totally different campaign than 2008.

My own view is that McCain lost not because he wasn't mean and nasty enough, but because he represented a continuation of the Old Guard of the GOP, and a continuation of Bush. [I'm a fan of Bush by the way]. But the electorate was tired of war, of Islamic hatred, of war costs; they were tired of reality. Obama, an outsider, offered a totally imaginary world, one of Hope and Change and, indeed, the oceans ceasing to rise.

Yes, Obama wasn't vetted; yes the press ignored his abysmal history of literally skimming along through life, unaccountable, with no accomplishments, merely skipping along by voting 'present' and pontificating about Himself.

And don't forget, for one second, that Obama uses race as a key factor in preventing criticism of him. Don't ever forget this aspect.

This election is different than 2008. Descriptive terms, even mild ones such as narcissistic, thin-skinned, misinforming, manipulating, constant party-goer and golfer, in over his head, insulting our friends...etc. Questions about why his records are all hidden. These are now regularly in the media.

Comments that 'he can't run on his record' are heard and read daily.
And now, the blogs are alive; they are doing the really serious review of Obama.

Therefore, I think that these comments, about his relations with such as Wright, his 'Chicago style' political machinations, are best left to the blogs and other media. I think that this critique - which includes anything and everything - including his past almost-rigged elections, his birth, his friends - can be best carried out unofficially.

I think that if the 'official' Romney campaign moves into this malevolent area, that it will turn off the electorate. That is, the electorate might be now coming to realize that Obama has not been honest, good or as he portrayed himself. Let them realize this on their own, with the help of the Internet and blogs etc.

But if Romney moves into these personal attacks, then, he risks people turning against HIM, as being on the same level as Obama. Let the electorate dislike Obama on their own; they aren't going to easily say it aloud (that's the racist card that Obama holds dear to himself). Don't have Romney move into this area. He should stick to the issues - which aren't just about the economy, but include taxes, entitlements, foreign relations, and the relation of the federal govt to state governments.

Romney appears unwilling to take any risks or make any effort to define the larger movement which gave birth to Obama and will survive his defeat to dog and attack his own presidency and the country. This is dereliction, of sorts. In this sense, Romney absolutely follows in the footsteps of McCain and Bush and Dole and the GOP old guard. And this is the rub. In truth, Romney is NOT running against Obama; he is running against the ENTIRE LEFT. The failure to grasp this truth, and to define, marginalize and demoralize the Left will cripple Romney's presidency for four years and set the stage for another and even more violently divisive contest in 2016 probably with Hillary Clinton.

I hope you are right ET,the problem I see is too many people get their news from the TV or print,not many go to the blogs and everyone semi informed knows they are running intererence for the celebrity prez.

'It would be far better if Ron Paul were the next president.'

Posted by: Peter O'Donnell at May 18, 2012 12:21 PM

I agree with you, Peter O'Donnell. Ron Paul carries no baggage for the Demos to trash. Ron Paul is a Patriot who plans to run the Ship of State by the 'book' (Constitution). Mitt is loaded with flip flops and sleazy behavior; Mitt would lose to the Kenyan because he offers nothing different and is not likable.

Patriots will vote for Dr. Paul. I hope Americans will rescue themselves in Nov. 2012.

Unless Romney & the Republicans take off the gloves and fight a very tough campaign, they will lose. Like McCain.

The Democrats and their allies in the lickspittle MSM are going to work without moral restraint for O's re-election.

I don't want Romney to be a gentleman-loser, I want him to defeat Obama & Co. and start rebuilding America.

I agree that the Democrats are going to fight with malice, lies, manipulation. Obama has never gotten anywhere on his own merit; all he is, is manipulation and exploitation of any underhanded tactic.

But, I don't think that TWO campaigns, each vicious and manipulative, each focused on the irrelevant personal, is the answer.

If we could definitely conclude that McCain lost because and only because he wimped out from attacking Obama personally - people supporting a vicious GOP strategy on Obama personally would have a valid point.

Romney is attacking Obama on issues. Not personally. Obama IS being confronted on his personal claims - but on FOX, in the National Review, on Hot Air, etc. This was barely a whisper in 2008 for nothing was known about Obama, and the Obama gang worked very hard to keep Obama virtual rather than real. They can't get away with it so easily now.

The 'born in Kenya' was headlined; and the videos of Wright were on FOX and the Internet. Romney's campaign does put ads on TV showing Obama's flip flops (heh - the Democrats call such flips as evolution).

So it isn't that Obama isn't being held accountable, as he wasn't in 2008. He's accountable but his personal state isn't coming from Romney. Romney is dealing with his governing actions - and strongly criticizing him there. Obama of course doesn't want to deal with this area; he wants it all kept personal. Dogs and polygamous relatives.

"End of the fight, one guy's left standing. And THAT'S how you know who won."
-- The Untouchables

The whole issue has drifted so far from reality that neither faction is making any sense. I understand that one proposal on the R side is undoing Obamacare but still covering pre-existing conditions.

If you want to call it free health care then call it that. But saying insurance has to cover pre-existing conditions is an insult to sense and to the language. How do you insure against something that has already happened? Can I insure against the pre-existing deaths of my parents?

The opinion that Wright etc, distracts from Obamas disasterous economic skills is valid as far as I am concerned.

The real world is his Achilles heel, and will do him in.

Romney doesn't need to say anything about Oblamers communist preacher.

Racists Rev Wrights new audio tells all about his disappointment in the new polices obama has adopted, and how obama has changed.

?what the hell he changed from I have no Idea..

Newsweek tells the entire world that he is the first gay Commander in Thief.

His 1991 Kenyan biography.

Calling the Supreme Court a group of non-elected people.

We Hope You Keep The Change,
etc.
etc.
etc.

-

Romney just needs to continue hammering blames budget deficits (15 trillion) and stupid energy (Canadian pipeline) decisions,
o blamer and his liberal ass-wipes will continue to swirl the rest.

Chickenshit Conservatism. As practiced by both John Tory and 'Tiger' Tim Hudak.

Neither one of them had the balls to point out Dildo McDinky's chronic aversion to the truth or his history of saying anything to get elected.

Mitt doesn't have McCains POW problem, McCain had all the FIGHT kicked out of him... Sleep Walking

Yes Mitt needs to show he is willing to fight to Win, but Mitt's VP pick gets to be the hit man (someone from Floria is showing he is not afraid to mix it up with Obama)

Wait for it!

Romney's team has responded to every attack and made sure it blew up in the obummer's face. He's not playing the gentlemen campaign guys this is an act. It's perfect strategy. Play the good guy and let surrogates do the attacks. Obama tries to do it but it always comes back as being from his campaign and hurts him.

Do any of you doubt this bs story to the NYT was leaked on purpose from the Romney campaign? There's no doubt in my mind about that.

Slap Shot - Mitt spent the Viet Nam war in France - doing Mormon Missionary work (essential service??). Mitt's daddy got Mitt exempted from Military service - now Mr. Mitt is all guns and bombs and fight! Gung Ho to risk the lives of other men (not any of his sons though). Soldiers call that type 'Chicken Hawks'.

Dr. Paul is the only vet running for President; he did not agree with the war (Viet Nam) but when he was called up he went - he did not wimp out. Dr. Paul advocates preserving soldier's lives. No wonder soldiers support Dr. Paul; he gets more soldier's donations than all the Chicken Hawks do, put together.

Politics has always been "war without bullets" But not without stones.
Untill Republicans wake up to the fact that they are under attack & fight back they will lose . Just ask the guy from Ontario who lost an election, he had in the bag.

It's one thing if Romney doesn't want to descend into the sewer with Obama and his useless followers; it's quite another not to be a bulldog. When he debates Obama, he should go for the throat. Thrash him. Remind the voter of how useless, unaccomplished, vile, idle, duplicitous and elitist he is. As for Romney's erstwhile supporters, they, too, must challenge every little thing. Make heads explode. It shouldn't be hard. Leftists aren't the most logical or patient.

Osumashi Kinyobe at May 18, 2012 7:52 PM

'As for Romney's erstwhile supporters, they, too, must challenge every little thing. Make heads explode. It shouldn't be hard. Leftists aren't the most logical or patient.'

How can Mitt supporters challenge Barry? Mitt wrote the blueprint for Obummercare, Mitt is pro gun control, Mitt supports TSA, Mitt supports NDAA, Mitt is supported by the same blokes (Wall St. Goldman Sacks et) who support Barry, Mitt is a pro Fed guy because the Fed backs Mitt (and Barry). Mitt/Barry no difference. Same hollow suit.

Dr. Paul is a man with Principles and has the courage of his convictions. Dr. Paul is a man of God and he does not work for the One World gument thugs. This election, in USA, is a no brainer when it comes to casting a vote. All patriots will vote for Dr. Paul. "Others" will vote for 'other' men for a different reason; love of country low on the list.

Jema, whether one likes it or not, Romney is the candidate against Obama. It's four years of him or four more of Obama.

I am not convinced of Ron Paul's mettle but as he is no longer a candidate, my feelings about him are moot.

jema

" Dr. Paul is a man of God"

so was Boosh, and that was his biggest flaw

we need a leader, not a God***n follower

I believe that this time out it will be impossible for the Republicans to lose the Presidency. No matter how hard they try.

And OMG are they ever trying. Mitt freakin' Romney? Are you kidding me?

The biggest problem I see is Romney and the Super Pac itself may have broken campaign laws when he intervened and they acquiesced to his will. "Super Pacs" are by federal law required to be unaffiliated with candidates and make fully independent decisions. They theoretically go their own way without reference to a candidate's wishes. Supposedly. Or else what they do/say they can be counted against a candidate's campaign expenses.

Mitten's "niceness" is rapidly turning this into a boring campaign. Boring campaigns diminish voter turnout. Lower voter turnout favors incumbents. If he blows it this year there's no way he gets the nod in 2016. But he probably doesn't know that because his staff is so out-of-touch with reality. Which, in the end, reflects poorly on him.

Ron Paul is still running for President Osumashi Kinyobe at May 18, 2012 8:42. The msm has a blackout on his campaign:

PMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYFWOyCevYA

Ron Paul is picking up a lot of delegates and delegates, not beauty contests, win elections. There is no enthusiasm for the 'Ken Doll' that the establishment Republicans are hauling around for a front man.

Fox and many Conservative radio talk shows are owned by Mitt's company, Bain Capital.

Here is the proof that Ron Paul is still in the race:

http://www.dailypaul.com/233405/doug-wead-we-are-not-out-we-are-up-the-fight-has-just-begun&from=lbp

In all honesty, if you were an American, wouldn't you rather vote for The Champion of the Constitution, Ron Paul? I know I would, this is a moment in time and those who are stuck in the msm for their news are going to miss it. A person should at least watch it so they can tell their grandchildren about the election of 2012 when America reclaimed the constitution and their Liberty or (the bad/sad): when Americans lost their Liberty. It really is that black and white, Mitt cannot win, he has no appeal to Independents or Blue Demos (the majority), Ron Paul does because Liberty is popular with almost everyone!

we need a leader, not a God***n follower

You already have someone who thinks he's a god. How's that working out?

fiddle - you know nothing about Dr. Paul and it is obvious, why don't you do a little research before you flip and flop and hiss and swear? Do you follow Allah? Sounds like it!

Maybe you think the 'Book of the Mormon' has all the answers? If you are a woman, a young man or a poor man you might want to read that Mitt belief book first.

Do yourself a favor, read "Riders of the Purple Sage" written by Zane Grey (its at Gutenberg Project for free) before you curse the Lord and prop up the Islam/ non Christian Marxist views of the 'present' President or the Mormon dedication/Progressive views of the 'chosen to loose' Mitt fella.

Your post sounded like one Barry Soetoro's old preacher pal, the rev. rite, would make.