Patterico's Pontifications

1/10/2012

Romney’s Victory Speech

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 7:59 pm



Like him, love him, hate him, or be indifferent . . . you have to agree that he’s right about our current president. Things are not going well in America, and maybe people who aren’t that excited about Mitt Romney are at least excited about the prospect of having someone in the Oval Office who is not Barack Obama.

54 Responses to “Romney’s Victory Speech”

  1. Also: Ron Paul coming in 2d = cuckoo! cuckoo!

    Patterico (d508e7)

  2. Seems like being a “Not” is all the rage now. Lots of people were campaigning on being Not-Romney. Romney can’t do that, but at least he can get with the fad by being Not-Obama.

    Steven Den Beste (99cfa1)

  3. Mr. Santorum has helped me to see that Wall Street Romney has qualities I had previously overlooked.

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  4. Obama, in his turn, is campaigning on being Not-Republican. (And Not-Congress.)

    Steven Den Beste (99cfa1)

  5. Obama, in his turn, is campaigning on being Not-Republican. (And Not-Congress.)

    Historically, that is not as effective as campaigning as not-President.

    Michael Ejercito (64388b)

  6. Also: Ron Paul coming in 2d = cuckoo! cuckoo!

    Yes, but perhaps things would have been different if Newt hadn’t lost his mind.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  7. and look on the bright side: Perry got twice the votes that Buddy Roemer garnered.

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  8. Well, as everyone has pointed out already, Obama will run for reelection based upon the idea that his mediocrity and inability to lead is better than what the GOP agenda would be if they had control of the White House and Congress. How would you like to be Harry Reid and whichever poor sucker is in charge of the Senate Democrat election campaign? Obama has made it pretty clear that he is going to go scorched earth and run against Congress. Even though he won’t explicitly blame the Senate majority Democrats, he won’t have any credibility in arguing that they need to be kept in power.

    This could be a repeat of 1996 when even though Bill Clinton coasted to reelection, Democrats lost two seats in the Senate. I would guess that Obama will have a tougher time than Clinton, so even if he hangs on to win he may wake up on that post-Election Day Wednesday with his party holding five or six fewer Senate seats. Even though his party will appreciate that he held on to win, I think Senate Democrats won’t feel any particular obligation to work with Obama, especially since they will be defending 20 seats in 2014 (to the GOP’s 13), at which point Obama may have sunk to Bush-in-2006 levels of popularity.

    JVW (4d72aa)

  9. And bye-bye Supreme Court majority. Possibly for decades to come.

    Patterico (d508e7)

  10. That’s what I keep saying, as you have, Patterico. And then I have folks who insist that Romney would nominate leftist judges. I just don’t know what to say to them. It’s like fury drive them to say things that just don’t make sense.

    I would like to see a “wise conservative” appointed to the Court, to match that “wise Latina” nonsense.

    Simon Jester (7fe6e9)

  11. The President is going to pull every trick from the Alinsky book to win.

    He also has a willing media to do his bidding. Defeating him is a challenge.

    So, who might be able to win the election from the GOP side, with the Supreme Court in the balance?

    Who could possibly appeal to the right and the undecideds? Who is not a nut or too scary for the limp-wristed independents?

    Is it Satan?

    That is a reference, not an accusation, for the so inclined.

    Ag80 (ccff59)

  12. 7. and look on the bright side: Perry got twice the votes that Buddy Roemer garnered.

    — Mr. Colonel, sir, in the interest of fairness I must strongly protest that you are unnecessarily being a dick.

    [That last sentence was completely heartfelt, and in no way was it an attempt to mollify any other commenter to this blog that I may have called a dick in the past.]

    “Precious indignation nags on clearly cruel heretical ignorant obstructionists” – Anonymous

    Icy (d8098c)

  13. I voted for Romney today because the other candidates have worse baggage. I was annoyed that Gingrich had by far the best speech tonight. Everyone else was in favor of renewal and optimism rather than decline (bravely taking on all those declinists!) But only Gingrich gave reason to believe he had an actual vision of what ends decline and brings renewal and cause for optimism. Of course, you never know when Gingrich is on the verge of sticking his foot in his mouth again, except that it’s sure to be timed to do maximal damage… to himself and perhaps to conservatism. Paul also had specifics; of course, some of them were crazy, such as his lead-off with the need to eliminate the Federal Reserve Board.

    DWPittelli (87401c)

  14. ______________________________________________

    And then I have folks who insist that Romney would nominate leftist judges.

    But you can be sure that if Barry Soetero remains in the White House, there is a 1,000,000% chance that his choices will be leftwing. It’s only a matter of whether they’ll be very liberal, super liberal, or ultra-liberal.

    With Romney or any other Republican, if conservatives make a big enough stink — as they did when George W Bush wanted to nominate Harriet Miers — they can at least have some sway in who’s nominated. As for when David Souter was chosen by Bush’s old man — which predates the era of big-time Internet usage and blogging, and Fox News — I sense there was more squish than warranted due in part to an ivory-tower, high-faluting mindset that to talk about liberal versus conservative, or leftists (or “leftys”) versus rightists was somehow a sign that one was unkind, overly blunt, too candid or ill-mannered. That it was similar to violating the unspoken rule that when family members gather together for the holidays, it’s best for everyone to avoid talking about religion and politics.

    Mark (411533)

  15. I was hoping Santorum would do better. I like a lot (but not all) of his ideas.

    Icy (d8098c)

  16. Mark, there is a question as to whether or not Souter was properly vetted.

    Icy (d8098c)

  17. You’re almost surely right about the Supreme Court, Patterico. The only hope, should Obama be reelected, is that Scalia and Kennedy are like Stevens or Holmes and serve until they are 90, and that Thomas’s health is good. I would want to believe that Scalia is ornery enough to refuse to retire as long as a liberal is in office, but I don’t know that Kennedy has that kind of fortitude.

    JVW (4d72aa)

  18. Mark,

    I think the main problem with Souter is that Papa Bush took John Sununu’s word that Souter was OK.

    Patterico (d508e7)

  19. But I also agree that Souter would not have happened in today’s world, as we would have seen a Miers-style backlash.

    Patterico (d508e7)

  20. Sorry I don’t have much confidence in Romney.

    I expect to be called a redneck from the enlightened Romney Clan.

    Dohbiden (ef98f0)

  21. I don’t have much confidence in Romney, either. But if he’s the Republican nominee, I will vote for him without hesitation.

    Don’t blame the moderates and the pragmatists if Romney takes the nomination. Remember that our nominee is only going to be as good as the best guy running. And the True Conservatives did not run strong candidates this year. The fault for that lies with the True Conservatives, not Willard a/k/a Mittens.

    Daryl Herbert (476197)

  22. As far as Supreme Court justices go, I’ll take an Anthony Kennedy and [controversial statement alert] even a David Souter over a Ruth Bader Ginsburg or an Elena Kagan.

    JVW (4d72aa)

  23. Newt showed this week what happens when you go scorched earth on capitalists: you lose big time. Let Obama go nuclear! Let him prove that Bain Capital is worse than his cadre of rent-seekers and trough-guzzling czars who never had a real job! He can’t do it.

    Romney’s speech was gracious and on point; Obama’s record is so bad that it’s best to lay it out with a smile and then watch everyone shudder at its horror. Romney is appealing to the tea partiers and the people who love America. He has seen (again) the electoral light. I doubted him a lot, but tonight I have hope.

    If somehow Obama wins, the Repubs have a deep bench, from Paul Ryan to my new fave, Mia Love. We just have to be patient, vigilant, for a long time to come, whoever wins.

    Patricia (e1d89d)

  24. Darryl the fault lies with Romney and his mindless followers.

    And yes Gingrich panders to the left and they still trash him as a tool of the rich right.

    Dohbiden (ef98f0)

  25. I read your earlier post about moderates supposedly choosing more conservative SCOTUS nominees. I am wondering if anyone here could point to any positive differences between Romney and Obama. If Romney does become the GOP nominee, I think his uninspiring moderate persona and liberal history this will be his undoing, just like it was McCain’s in 2008, and Obama will win another term.

    deskbox

    deskbox (2a72fe)

  26. Just think if the government hav etheir way the only rich folks will be them.

    Dohbiden (ef98f0)

  27. Deskbox: George W. Bush, who departed from movement conservatism in a number of ways, gave us two stellar SC justices in Roberts and Alito. This doesn’t guarantee that Romney would do the same, but it ought to give us hope. In a similar way Bill Clinton, whom liberals thought was something of a sell-out, gave the Court Ruth Bader Ginsburg whose leftist credentials are unassailable. These nominations depend heavily on outside factors such as which candidate for the Court has a good rapport with the President, and which interest group the President needs to placate.

    JVW (4d72aa)

  28. Hey Patterico:

    “…I am wondering if anyone here could point to any positive differences between Romney and Obama…”

    and

    “…the fault lies with Romney and his mindless followers…”

    I told you.

    Simon Jester (7fe6e9)

  29. JVW:

    “…In a similar way Bill Clinton, whom liberals thought was something of a sell-out,..”

    But here is the difference: liberals may have thought he was a sell out, but they still closed ranks and literally kneeled before him.

    Our way is healthier, but it is a tougher battle to win elections without that kind of “closing ranks” mentality.

    Also, I seem to remember many, many liberals defending almost anything Clinton did.

    Simon Jester (7fe6e9)

  30. have their*

    Dohbiden (ef98f0)

  31. ____________________________________________

    Papa Bush took John Sununu’s word that Souter was OK.

    Patterico, I recall Bush Sr saying something along the lines of “atta, boy!” for the not-conservative way that Souter voted on a particular matter. I don’t remember what the issue was — and am too lazy to do a google search on it — but I do know that Bush was pleased that Souter couldn’t be pigeonholed. IOW, Bush seemed happy that Souter didn’t have a clearly rightist tilt but instead was squishy.

    This was before David Souter deemed that it was unconstitutional for the NEA to require applicants be screened in order to receive a grant. From that moment onward, I knew Souter was a pretty typical (ie, foolish) liberal.

    Mark (411533)

  32. such as his lead-off with the need to eliminate the Federal Reserve Board.

    Which might be the only way to get rid of the CFPB.

    AD-RtR/OS! (59e68b)

  33. Problem being of course that MITT is white Obama. I don’t don’t want to vote for that.
    Won’t.

    Honestly, Romney care? Anyone can actually examine the details online.

    Curtis (473960)

  34. Two things-
    Concerning Obama, why he needs to go, what he’ll do to prevent it:
    – La Raza to new heights of power
    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204124204577152782271234916.html

    and

    I don’t know why the results of Iowa and NH need to determine (apparently) who will be the nominee. There are 48 more states with a heck of a lot of electoral votes left
    Are either NH or Iowa a “bell weather” state like Ohio, where it is very rare for someone to lose the state and win the presidency? Let’s make the Ohio primary first, maybe that would make more sense.

    MD in Philly (3d3f72)

  35. Well the imminently ‘respectable’ Rudman (from the Dole camp) and Sununu, who thought himself the smartest man in the room, being a nuclear engineer’
    vouched off on Souter, and the Lando like tax deal,
    how did that work out again,

    narciso (87e966)

  36. I admit, did not see this coming:

    http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/that-the-debt-deal-was-a-bad-deal-has-never-been-more-clear-than-now/

    Have hope? What in the world for?

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  37. Gateway says Nor Laup now telling the field to drop, its him or Romney.

    God, help us. Why do you hide your face?

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  38. 17. Kennedy has indeed promised to stay until Lord of the Flies is gone.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  39. ‘it was a great deal. Vader said so, himself.

    narciso (87e966)

  40. Turnout very similar to 2008 despite Dimmi interlopers. 8000 Huntsman fans like Ogabe just fine.

    Through the looking glass. Question on the WH Hatter party. Did the original feature blood in vials for toasts?

    This is all very beezarre.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  41. November will be a choice between big government and socialized medicine from a Democrat or big government and socialized medicine from a Republican.

    CrustyB (d4da92)

  42. Born and raised, but sorry, never trust Northeast Republicans with power. They are forever talking conservatism but living socialism. It is a disease grown in the Ivy’s but borne of too much wealth, too little little sacrifice and too many brand new BMW’s at 17. They think they know it all and should be able to tell one how to live their lives.

    [note: released from moderation. –Stashiu]

    ODB (dcf97e)

  43. #42, No to Romney.

    [note: released from moderation. –Stashiu]

    ODB (dcf97e)

  44. vultures fly lazy
    circles as coyotes strip
    Texas dick carcass

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  45. “Though no one expects Romney’s opponents to roll over for him with so many states left to vote, the vicious attacks on Romney’s business career from Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry have done as much to discredit them as the former head of Bain Capital. The spectacle of conservatives trying to sound like Occupy Wall Street protesters in order to smear Romney hasn’t hurt him so much as it has made them look ridiculous especially when it is increasingly obvious that Romney is the only Republican running who can beat President Obama. In the coming weeks, conservatives must decide whether their unhappiness with Romney is enough to cause them to abandon their principles and to aid Democratic attacks on the man who will almost certainly be their party’s standard-bearer in November.”

    http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2012/01/11/romney-victory-new-hampshire/

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  46. Gingrich’s Folly

    “Newt Gingrich’s bubble burst weeks ago, but the after-shocks of his collapse are still being felt in the Republican race. By choosing to launch a bizarre attack on Mitt Romney from the left, Gingrich did little damage to the frontrunner but he managed to besmirch his already tattered image even further. After a disastrous showing in New Hampshire where he is battling Rick Santorum for the dubious distinction of finishing a distant fourth, Gingrich is now headed for an even more disappointing outcome in South Carolina.

    Despite a massive infusion of funds from wealthy contributors, Gingrich has virtually no chance at this point of coming back and winning the nomination. Though he pledged to go on to South Carolina in a lackluster concession speech, all he can accomplish at this point is to further sabotage Rick Santorum’s meager hopes of becoming the sole conservative “non-Romney” in the race. Even more to the point, by continuing to echo leftist Occupy Wall Street smears of Romney’s business career, he will ensure that the legacy of his presidential campaign is that of a bitter loser who sought unsuccessfully to bring down the ultimate nominee.”

    http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2012/01/10/gingrich-new-hampshire-primary/

    Colonel Haiku (b486eb)

  47. that one commenter guy at#13 said Gingrich gave a good speech and not a lackluster one and me I believe him

    I heard Wall Street Romney’s speech on National Soros Radio on the way home and he’s such a cheeseball I wanted crackers

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  48. Happyfeet you know the romneybots will maul you for that treason right?

    Dohbiden (ef98f0)

  49. he’s just so hi I’m julie your cruise director welcome aboard about everything

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  50. such as his lead-off with the need to eliminate the Federal Reserve Board.

    Which might be the only way to get rid of the CFPB.

    You know, that’s an excellent point. The fed isn’t the bogeyman Paul thinks it is, but how much actual good does it do? How bad would it be to get rid of it, if the CFPB goes with it?

    Milhouse (ea66e3)

  51. Sununu, who thought himself the smartest man in the room, being a nuclear engineer’

    Sununu is supposedly the sixth-smartest person in the world. Doesn’t stop him from being an idiot.

    Milhouse (ea66e3)

  52. I heard Wall Street Romney’s speech on National Soros Radio on the way home and he’s such a cheeseball I wanted crackers

    I get the feeling he’s not a natural people-person. That’s ok with me. I’m kinda over presidents that want us to fall in love with them.

    MayBee (081489)

  53. yup that’s ok plus we’re at the point where he’ll just have to do

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  54. If Ronald Reagan were running today he’d pay Meggie Mac and cheese $9,420 to stop acting like a valley girl ditz.

    Dohbiden (ef98f0)


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