They Never Learn: GOP Hopes Gentlemanly Junkyard Dog Unifies Party By Shaming Trump Into Submission
[guest post by Dana]
Former presidential candidate Mitt Romney is set to “eviscerate” Donald Trump today in Utah at the Hinckley Institute of Politics Forum. Yes, Mitt Romney. The former presidential candidate who was too polite to push back at Candy Crowley during the 2012 debate.
Mark Halperin has released an excerpt of Romney’s anticipated speech:
Yet another reason to be disgusted with the Republican party. Did they not notice what happened to their other guy when he feebly attempted to bring Trump to heel? He ended up dropping out of the race, and Trump’s support continued to grow. Now another establishment guy is being sent out to do the job with a full-frontal attack? How has the party not figured out that the more they send out one of their own to shame Trump into submission, the more his numbers go up?
–Dana
UPDATE BY PATTERICO: On one hand, I get this criticism; you feel like any attack like this will mean a 5-point bump in the polls for Trump. But on the other hand, at this point I’ll take any ally in this fight. Romney can say, in a high-profile way, that he had already released his previous year’s tax returns by this point in the race, and say that Trump’s “audit” defense is a scam. He could call on Trump to release the audit notification letters. Finally, he is appealing to people who aren’t already committed Trump supporters. I think it could help. But I understand the argument that it won’t — and I can’t say it’s wrong. Who the hell knows anything these days?
Good morning.
Dana (86e864) — 3/3/2016 @ 7:07 amUPDATE BY PATTERICO: On one hand, I get this criticism; you feel like any attack like this will mean a 5-point bump in the polls for Trump. But on the other hand, at this point I’ll take any ally in this fight. Romney can say, in a high-profile way, that he had already released his previous year’s tax returns by this point in the race, and say that Trump’s “audit” defense is a scam. He could call on Trump to release the audit notification letters. Finally, he is appealing to people who aren’t already committed Trump supporters. I think it could help. But I understand the argument that it won’t — and I can’t say it’s wrong. Who the hell knows anything these days?
Patterico (86c8ed) — 3/3/2016 @ 7:15 amIn priebus’s hunger games, he’ll be among the first to go.
narciso (732bc0) — 3/3/2016 @ 7:15 am“the more they send out one of their own to shame Trump into submission, the more his numbers go up?”
This doesn’t seem accurate.
A.S. (23bc66) — 3/3/2016 @ 7:34 amIf the GOP we’re really interested in stopping Trump and unifying the party, they would throw their full weight of support behind Cruz. But that’s not what they want, they want their cake and eat it too.
Dana (f0c334) — 3/3/2016 @ 7:47 amOr at least sasse, lee, cotton and co, could go all brownjacket@firefly.
narciso (732bc0) — 3/3/2016 @ 7:50 amIt’s accurate, so far those who attack Trump have quickly suffered the stinging rejection of a rapidly growing group of supporters. If you haven’t observed cause and effect in action, you haven’t been paying attention. It’s been going on for weeks.
ropelight (4bcc7f) — 3/3/2016 @ 7:53 amMitt Romney, again. That’s our lifeline?
Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1) — 3/3/2016 @ 7:54 amI’m reminded of droopy.
narciso (732bc0) — 3/3/2016 @ 7:57 amAnd a loud cackling was heard throughout the land. And it was bad.
Colonel Haiku (328795) — 3/3/2016 @ 8:03 amThe midwife who birthed RomneyCare is set to attack Donald Trump, while the Donald unveils his position paper on ObamaCare:
So, what’s not to like?
ropelight (4bcc7f) — 3/3/2016 @ 8:05 amI despise Romney-care 100x more than Trump. It screwed up health care in Ma. long before the rest of the nation. Romney is a 3x loser.
mg (31009b) — 3/3/2016 @ 8:07 amConservatives: GOP is terrible! Burn it all down!
Trump: OK.
Conservatives: No, no, no! Don’t burn it all down THAT way!
SMH.
A.S. (23bc66) — 3/3/2016 @ 8:09 amI think this is the only angle of attack that’s likely to make a dent on Trump.
After all, he is a con artist–he will lie his way out of any accusation, given half a chance.
The only solution is to make sure no one buys his lies.
I also think that this is necessarily a suicide mission. Whoever does what’s necessary to take down Trump is likely to end up ruining their own shot (and possibly that of their preferred candidate), especially considering the mud he slings. But on the other hand, they don’t have a shot anyhow until he’s gone.
Additionally, there’s a definite “Anyone but the establishment” line, such that if Romney et al. endorsed Cruz at this point, it could render Cruz toxic to some who would otherwise back him.
As a result, I suspect that Trump will have to be damaged by everyone piling on before the race narrows down to two candidates.
I’m thinking it’s possible that Rubio could keep after Trump and take him down, and end up delivering the race to Cruz.
tl;dr: Maybe an anti-Trump coalition, rather than fully backing Cruz, is the only option that will work.
Ibidem (f7be92) — 3/3/2016 @ 8:14 amCheer up my lad, tis to glory we steer
With Sir Romney at the helm, we shall banish all fear
GOPe trying once again to become relevant in this election. Get back in the barrel!
nk (dbc370) — 3/3/2016 @ 8:19 amRopelight:
What’s not to like?
That those aren’t his positions, they’re gleaned from what everyone else advocated.
And as a result, he can neither be relied on to stand for them nor to reason from them.
And that he’s a con artist who can’t be relied on.
Ibidem (f7be92) — 3/3/2016 @ 8:19 am*lads*
nk (dbc370) — 3/3/2016 @ 8:20 amHoly cow, ropelight, you actually buy into that? Allstate and State Farm sell me insurance across state lines. And my rate is still dependent on my zip code. Just like my Obamacare rate in Cook County is 50% higher than it would be in DuPage County. His “lines around the states” is as meaningless as his win in Webb County.
nk (dbc370) — 3/3/2016 @ 8:25 amThe “you will only make him stronger” argument is horse pucky. The way to treat a bully is to smack him in the nose as hard and as many times as you can. In the Houston debate, Cruz did it with relentless, inexorable logic, and Rubio did it with mockery. That’s a good combination, and I hope they will keep it up tonight.
I don’t care at all what Trump claims today that his policies will be. I know better than to believe anything he says. Might his policies turn out to be as promised? Yeah, sure. And it might also be true that the check is in the mail and that the guy from the government is here to help. It might also be that one of the biggest statist crony-capitalists can somehow fix a broken system instead of exploiting it. But I’d rather bet on the likelihood of my dog stopping his practice of licking himself — that conversion would require a smaller miracle than Donald Trump turning from a public scourge into a public servant.
Beldar (fa637a) — 3/3/2016 @ 8:25 amBravely bold Sir Romney rode forth from Camelot
He was not afraid to die, oh, brave Sir Romney
He was not at all afraid to be killed in nasty ways
Brave, brave, brave, brave Sir Romney
He was not in the least bit scared to be mashed into a pulp
Or to have his eyes gouged out and his elbows broken
To have his kneecaps split and his body burned away
And his limbs all hacked and mangled, brave Sir Romney…
His head smashed in and his heart cut out
And his liver removed and his bowls unplugged
And his nostrils raped and his bottom burnt off
And his penis split and his…
“WELL, I think that’s enough discussion of tax returns for now, lads.”
Leviticus (efada1) — 3/3/2016 @ 8:26 amHis criticism as a GOP nominee might not be very useful, but his criticism as a highly competent and successful businessman and financier might have some heft. Especially one who doesn’t feel the need to slap the ROMNEY name on everything he does.
Which of these two men would you buy a used car fro?
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/3/2016 @ 8:31 amIf Trump ever reads that position paper, it will be a miracle. If he ever follows it, it will be a second miracle.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/3/2016 @ 8:33 amBedlar @ 19 – You could remove the name of Trump and replace it with Republican National Committee, they both stink Trump has the odor of a skunk, but I smell rats in the r.n.c.
mg (31009b) — 3/3/2016 @ 8:35 amThis Romney has fire in his belly, if the one we see TV today was the Romney who ran against Obama he’s be running for his second term instead of running down today’s frontrunner.
ropelight (4bcc7f) — 3/3/2016 @ 8:41 amIf Romney was attacking Obama instead of Trump, I’d probably vote for him again.
ropelight (4bcc7f) — 3/3/2016 @ 8:42 amI read some of what Sasse said,
Which first emphasized an appreciation for what Trump supporters are mad at, then explaining why Trump is not the best way of expressing that anger.
Fwiw, I think there is a difference between standing up to a bully
MD not exactly in Philly (deca84) — 3/3/2016 @ 8:51 amAnd bullying a bully
The latter may feel more satisfying in the moment,
But I think the former is better.
I agree that it is a shame that he was not this animated with Obama.
MD not exactly in Philly (deca84) — 3/3/2016 @ 8:52 amWhatever happens in this election, there is going to have to be some housecleaning at the RNC. Their strategy for the last decade or two has been show to be terrible. That a poseur like Trump could come close to hijacking the party shows that they are not quite the masterminds they thought they were.
People to never hear from again: Reince Priebus, Karl Rove and Mike Murphy. Not to mention Sarah Palin and Chris Christie.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/3/2016 @ 8:54 amThat was one hell of a speech. I’m impressed. Romney made his case with powerful points, yet he went overboard enough times to call his sincerity into question. Resorting to low blows undermines the case against Trump. Romney’s effort to throw every accusation including the kitchen sink in Trump’s face made his case seem petty and contrived.
I’m waiting for Trump’s rebuttal. It should be good.
ropelight (4bcc7f) — 3/3/2016 @ 8:58 amTo those who say that Trump is con artist who can’t be relied on, I say, which politician is not?
Trump supporters merely make the judgment that Trump is less bad than his competition, perhaps only marginally. I too think Trump is a blowhard dingbat con man, but his ego may drive him to succeed.
Me, I like Cruz, but I’m Canadian, so I say, vote for the Calgarian, but cast no stones at Trump’s followers.
Fred Z (5db617) — 3/3/2016 @ 9:09 am@ Beldar,
The “you will only make him stronger” argument is horse pucky. The way to treat a bully is to smack him in the nose as hard and as many times as you can.
I don’t think it’s horse pucky. I think we’ve seen Trump become emboldened by attacks lobbed at him. Now, it is an important distinction being made when you note the effectiveness of a Cruz pummeling. Romney, however, is a different story altogether. He does not have gravitas of Cruz, and seems to have painfully, with the help of the GOP, tried to shape himself into the patriarchal head of the party or some such functionary. I don’t see where his attacks will carry weight. He opens himself up to Trump ridiculing him about his failed run at the presidency and failure to hot hard at Obama and Crowley.
I think, if anything, we see how desperate the establishment has become. Again, if this was about defeating Trump and unifying the party, GOP would throw their full weight behind Cruz. But that’s not what want. Not really.
Dana (f0c334) — 3/3/2016 @ 9:11 amFurther, given that Romney gladly accepted Trump’s support of his candidacy in 2012, it’s hard to buy his Trump attack today when they both essentially stood for a lot of the same thing.
Dana (f0c334) — 3/3/2016 @ 9:18 amI agree with Dana’s concluding sentence. The GOPe is desperate and this isn’t remotely about unifying the party behind a candidate selected by primary voters. This is the opening salvo in Romney’s bid for the nomination. The GOPe and Romney are colluding against the rank and file, as usual, to maintain control of the Republican Party.
ropelight (4bcc7f) — 3/3/2016 @ 9:18 amRush sees it the same way I do.
ropelight (4bcc7f) — 3/3/2016 @ 9:20 amDana, Trump already ridicules Romney daily; he’s one of Trump’s favorite rhetorical punching bags. Romney’s attacks won’t carry a lot of weight with very many people, but they will carry a little bit of weight with quite a few, and quite a bit of weight with some (not you or me, likely, but other very conventional Republicans/conservatives). On a net/net basis, it’s an easy call.
Trump’s blowback isn’t what knocked Jeb out of the race. Jeb’s last name did that. And I ask you to think again about the assertion that anything could “embolden” Trump. I’m not worried about him becoming more bold, and in fact I don’t think that’s possible.
I do wish Romney and everyone in the #NeverTrump group would take the next step in their logic and recognize that Cruz alone has a clear path to beating Trump. They’re beginning to get their minds around that now, finally, but I fear it won’t happen until after the March 15 results, and it will be far harder then — but still not impossible.
Beldar (fa637a) — 3/3/2016 @ 9:21 am@ Fred Z (#30): That’s as spectacular an example of a false equivalency as I’ve ever seen. Yes, to a considerable extent, all politicians are con men. That has no relevance, though, when we’re talking about fundamental and constant dishonesty on the scale of Donald Trump. You have to go back at least to Huey Long or George Wallace to find a con man in politics that operates on Trump’s scale, and neither of them were ever more than regional figures who posed no real threat to the American political process.
If you are truly a Cruz supporter, that’s great, but I’m surprised that anyone who understands and supports Ted Cruz could fail to see how hollow and how poisonous Donald Trump is.
Beldar (fa637a) — 3/3/2016 @ 9:25 am“Resorting to low blows undermines the case against Trump. ”
This is just precious.
JD (34f761) — 3/3/2016 @ 9:28 amThis appears to be a link to the full video of Romney’s speech. I haven’t watched it yet.
Beldar (fa637a) — 3/3/2016 @ 9:29 amI think he was embolden by early attacks. I think he is impenetrable now. He got the response he hoped for as he played the masses like the chumps they are.
Dana (f0c334) — 3/3/2016 @ 9:30 amI do wish Romney and everyone in the #NeverTrump group would take the next step in their logic and recognize that Cruz alone has a clear path to beating Trump. They’re beginning to get their minds around that now, finally, but I fear it won’t happen until after the March 15 results, and it will be far harder then — but still not impossible.
Beldar,
I think, given their attempts to include Kasich, that they do not want the Party to be choosing the candidate, other than making it clear that Trump is wholly unacceptable for myriad reasons. Exhorting people to vote for Cruz in all the upcoming primaries would be destructive to the RNC long-term, and possibly counter-productive short term as it would allow Trump to do better in places where Cruz is weak (e.g. the Northeast). The idea that everyone should vote for the stronger not-Trump for a bit is pretty much like my criss-cross idea, but simpler.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/3/2016 @ 9:31 amRomney’s re-emergence may be with the GOPe’s blessing. If so, does that mean the establishment has given up on Rubio and Romney is his replacement? Or is this the start of a more concerted effort to stop Trump and help Rubio?
DRJ (15874d) — 3/3/2016 @ 9:34 amWhere was this Mitt Romney in 2012? He’d be President Romney now.
I’m not a Trump supporter, but GOPe games like this keep reminding me who the real enemy is, and I find myself cheering for Trump, even though I don’t like him. If they keep this up, I might just vote for the son of a bitch in a couple of weeks.
Arizona CJ (da673d) — 3/3/2016 @ 9:38 amOkay, I’ve now watched the Romney speech. It was okay, but no better than that, and if you described it as “weak sauce” I wouldn’t quibble.
This ain’t the beginning of a push for Romney to jump into the race. That is an impossible fantasy, for which impossibility I’m heartily glad. I’m not saying there aren’t some frustrated Republicans who long for that, I’m just saying they’re engaging in fantasy and it won’t ever come about, not least because Romney isn’t crazy enough to go along with it (although I’m sure in his heart he still wants to be POTUS).
From the standpoint of a Trump opponent, the speech is a slight positive overall; I disagree with Dana about the downside’s scope (although I don’t dispute that there will be some marginal downside). I didn’t need Romney to explain any of this to me, not today and not a year ago; but his speech might have the effect of rallying some voters who should and almost certainly do know better than to support Trump, but who, through a cowardly failure of imagination (I’m thinking of you, Jeff Sessions) might otherwise be on the brink of capitulation.
Beldar (fa637a) — 3/3/2016 @ 9:56 amTune in. It should be good.
Governor Chris Christie to hold press conference at 1pm today.
Donald Trump will hold press conference on C Span at 1:15pm today.
ropelight (4bcc7f) — 3/3/2016 @ 9:56 am@ Arizona CJ: Romney’s speech today was indistinguishable from hundreds he gave in 2008 and 2012. He’s the same mild-mannered guy he’s always been, for better and worse. If you think Mitt Romney is the “real enemy,” you’re confusing someone who disappointed us with someone who is actively, deliberately trying to screw us over — a category that includes not only Clinton, Sanders, and the entire left wing, but also Donald J. Trump. Don’t vote for Trump; you’re absolutely right in describing him as a son of a bitch. 😀
Beldar (fa637a) — 3/3/2016 @ 10:00 amDid you all forget Gruber wrote Romney Care.
mg (31009b) — 3/3/2016 @ 10:00 amlmmfao
Pro choice mittens
mg (31009b) — 3/3/2016 @ 10:01 amlmmfao
Last week mittens said we need to combat climate change
mg (31009b) — 3/3/2016 @ 10:02 amlmmfao
4 years ago he called Trump more successful than himself – he was begging for Trump’s vote.
mg (31009b) — 3/3/2016 @ 10:03 amlmmfao
Where was this Mitt Romney in 2012? He’d be President Romney now.
He was listening to the fools that infest the RNC and the ranks of GOP strategists. “Be sure not to offend. Be politically correct. Above all, be inclusive. We don’t want to lose the bisexual Orthodox vote.” So, Romney became Casper Milquetoast, the man without beliefs.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/3/2016 @ 10:04 ammg–
Just the same, Trump is probably the most unqualified person to be president — based purely on raw talent — that I have ever seen. Bella Abzug would score higher.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/3/2016 @ 10:06 am” His domestic policies would lead to recession”
MItt Romney is probably talking about his traxe protectionism. That may actually not be carried far enough to cause it. What could lead to recession is a tighter monetary policy and higher interest rates, which unfortunately all Republicans seem to be for. And their budget policy would fail too, because interest on the debt would go up and they’d say that Obama caused it and we need more of the same medicine.
But that’s not the most important issue. It would take about a year or a year and a half to implement as members of the Federal Reserve Board were replaced.
Sammy Finkelman (9775b0) — 3/3/2016 @ 10:07 amGovernor Chris Christie to hold press conference at 1pm today.
At which point he resigns as governor, and then joins Trump as his running mate. Until he’s fired, of course.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/3/2016 @ 10:08 amIf there was no consensus at the convention and we were on the 11th ballot, and eyes turned to Romney, it would probably be for the best. At that point you’d want someone who’d seen the elephant because there would be no room for mistakes.
Or if Trump had it all locked up in May and you were casting about for an alternative not named Bloomberg.
But not otherwise. That ship has sailed.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/3/2016 @ 10:12 amropelight (4bcc7f) — 3/3/2016 @ 8:05 am
He’s not addressing the issue of pre-existing conditions, or if you will, uninsurability, not to mention the issue of near fradulant insurance policies which some states will allow. Theer is also the issue of looking for irrelevant concealmet of higher medical risks, and revooking the nsurance policy after people get sick but only from the people who sick.
And he’s not addressing health care inflation, except by including a few things that make things more competitive but will not do the job. He preserves insurance or third party payments for most medical expenses. This does not restore the free market and rational pricing.
Sammy Finkelman (9775b0) — 3/3/2016 @ 10:13 amThe difference between Trump and Romney was made clear to me on Tuesday night. During Trump’s remarks he said he’d make America great again, and contrasted that with Hillary!’s promise to make America whole (hole?) again. Trump asked simply what she meant by “whole”. Romney had similar opportunities four years ago, but he apparently spent his mental energies trying to understand what Obama meant when he promised to continue the transformation of Amerika. He should have ridiculed the notion, and he should have offered a positive alternative, instead of treating it as a perfectly understandable, but perhaps puzzling, political objective.
So on the one hand Trump scores some points by ridiculing a fundamental premise of Hillary!’s candidacy, and on the other we have this this nice, ineffectual man coming forth and saying bad things about Trump. Netting out the two, Trump’s remark will have legs, and Romney will just look like a sad sack a week from now.
Cruz and Rubio would do well to think upon Trump’s ability to identify and ridicule his opponents. Often his words are vile and ugly, like Trump’s comments on Fiorina, but other times they have real value. Even Trump’s unending focus on relative polling numbers, which I think are wistfully superficial, have a grain of truth in them. I support Cruz, but I don’t see the same originality and clarity of thought that characterizes the better bits of Trump’s utterances. If Cruz or Rubio want to make inroads into Trump’s supporters, they need show an ability to cut to the heart of the matter in an understandable and incisive way. Cruz’s “Cartel” is an example of what I mean, but he needs to build on that with new insights at every opportunity. Cruz really needs to come up with simple ways of encapsulating the Trump phenomena in order ridicule the blizzard of promises that keeps Trump’s kite flying. And a few good swings at Hillary! along the same lines wouldn’t be misspent.
BobStewartatHome (a52abe) — 3/3/2016 @ 10:15 amTrump on CSPAN-1 delayed. I’ll update when information becomes available.
ropelight (4bcc7f) — 3/3/2016 @ 10:28 amRomney: “Trump’s support of socialized medicine, gun control and abortion are terrible and must be stopped! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go advocate for socialized medicine, gun control and abortion.”
CrustyB (69f730) — 3/3/2016 @ 10:34 amThe word on the street is that Chris Christie intends to demonstrate his support for Donald Trump by giving a bear hug to Barack Obama.
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 3/3/2016 @ 10:34 amOut of sight and right on Bob!!!
mg (31009b) — 3/3/2016 @ 10:43 amThank you mg.
BobStewartatHome (a52abe) — 3/3/2016 @ 11:00 amPer some previous comments, where was this Mitt Romney when he was running against Obama in 2012?
DN (f53b94) — 3/3/2016 @ 11:12 amThe Republican Country Clubbers remind me of Doug Neidermeyer at the end of Animal House.
Rodney King's Spirit (3adc86) — 3/3/2016 @ 11:13 am“I do wish Romney and everyone in the #NeverTrump group would take the next step in their logic and recognize that Cruz alone has a clear path to beating Trump.”
That would require them eating even more Crow then supporting Trump.
Rodney King's Spirit (3adc86) — 3/3/2016 @ 11:17 amAnd he only has one sales pitch for his scams.
“I’m Donald Trump. I’m extremely rich. I’ve built a great company. A beautiful company. A luxurious company that says quality. The name Trump means quality. Why? Because I’m a great businessman. I’m a world class negotiator. Some say I’m the world’s best negotiator, and I have beautiful hands with long fingers. I have the best words, because I’m highly educated. I went to an Ivy league school, the best business school. So when you:
A. Buy a Trump Property
B. Take a Trump University real estate seminar
C. Vote for Donald Trump
…you’re getting the best of the best. It’s all about success, folks, and Trump means success. Were going to have the best people. Terrific people, people hand picked by me, Donald Trump, with terrific brains, on our team. If I can’t:
A. create a world class, elegant vacation resort home that you’re going to be proud to own
B. turn you into a real estate success
C. make America great again
…no one can folks. But I guarantee, you’re going to love it. I promise you, folks, you’re not going to regret:
A. Buying a property on what must be my finest development yet
B. learning my real estate investing secrets
C. making Donald Trump President of these United States.
You’re going to love it, folks, it’s going to be beautiful. You’re going to win so much, you’re going to get tired of winning. Those other guys, they’re losers.
I’m Donald Trump, and I approved this message.”
Steve57 (1ace39) — 3/3/2016 @ 11:18 amMan, have you got Trump down to a tee, Steve57. I could almost see him gesticulating* as I read.
*Gesticulating is not a sexual reference for you ignorant, bigoted Trump supporters.
Rev. Hoagie™® (f4eb27) — 3/3/2016 @ 11:28 amAnti establishment versus establishment
mg (31009b) — 3/3/2016 @ 11:42 amCruz and Trump rubio and the guy from Ohio
A billionaire who admits to buying politicians because they get things done on his behalf is a great example of being “anti-establishment.”
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 3/3/2016 @ 11:48 am(LOL)
eff you c.s.
mg (31009b) — 3/3/2016 @ 11:50 amYa see that new phrase: North American Integration? When did North America become in need to be integrated? Who decided? When was the vote? This creep should have said: “It is an idea based on bigotry, ignorance, hating the Constitution and fascism and has no foundation in the reality of We Want Your Money!. Take care of our poor, damn you, it’s integration!
But reading this the Trump supporters are the bigots. Bull!
Rev. Hoagie™® (f4eb27) — 3/3/2016 @ 11:51 amI mean eff you elephant stone.
mg (31009b) — 3/3/2016 @ 11:51 am> When did North America become in need to be integrated?
NAFTA was quite clearly a step towards North American integration (at least economic integration).
> Who decided?
The President, and the Congress.
The merits of the phrase “north American integration” aside, the idea that Mexico is going to pay for this wall is far-fetched at best. Why would they choose to do that?
aphrael (e0cdc9) — 3/3/2016 @ 12:56 pmAm I right that the last time a former Presidential nominee denounced the putative nominee of his own party with this kind of force was 1912?
aphrael (e0cdc9) — 3/3/2016 @ 1:13 pmaphrael (e0cdc9) — 3/3/2016 @ 1:13 pm
But Theodore Roosevelt also was contesting the nomination. He couldn’t get it because now that Taft was president, he had control of the party machinery and there weren’t too many primaries.
Theodore Roosevelt came in second in the general election, and carried 6 states with 88 Electoral votes. Taft carried only two states, the rock-ribbed Republican states of Vermont and Utah, with 8 electoral votes. wilson won with 435 Electoral votes.
In 1936, the two states that Alf Landon carried were Maine and Vermont (also with 8 Electoral votes)
Sammy Finkelman (9775b0) — 3/3/2016 @ 1:56 pmPresident Polk actually achieved North American integration, but we had to give it back.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/3/2016 @ 2:15 pmaphrael,
Teddy actually competed for the nomination, almost won, then bolted the party and ran as an independent. I don’t think Romney has any of that planned, although he could run as an independent if he wanted.
Teddy outpolled Taft and got more electoral votes, and combined they had a majority, but Wilson squeaked through with 41% — and an electoral vote landslide.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/3/2016 @ 2:22 pmRight. This isn’t 1912, but I think you have to go back to 1912 before you get anything as big as this.
aphrael (e0cdc9) — 3/3/2016 @ 2:23 pmRick Santelli spoke truth today. Romney of today went missing when it mattered in 2012. GOP has been missing when it matters in opposing Obama or implementing Conservatism last 30 years. The Voters question why now and why this? Trump, agree or disagree, seems to want to get things done (good or ill) and that beats doing nothing GOP who don’t deliver what they promise (not even a good faith effort).
Rodney King's Spirit (3adc86) — 3/3/2016 @ 2:31 pmaphrael–
You could consider the Perot insurgency in ’92, or the Wallace run in ’68 as party splits, although they did not involve a former President. They don’t always lose either. There were splits in ’48 and ’60 for the Dems, but Truman and Kennedy still won.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/3/2016 @ 2:48 pmIt would be very very interesting if someone like Bloomberg or Romney ran independently, knowing he/she would not win and for the specific purpose of keeping the Presidency out of Trumps hands.
It would be an act of patriotism, and would prompt extremely ugly backlash.
Leviticus (efada1) — 3/3/2016 @ 2:54 pmRomney of today went missing when it mattered in 2012.
That isn’t quite fair. The news media found itself incredibly easy to distract when news coverage might help Romney.
They almost completely ignored the GOP Convention except for “how it was dealing with the hurricane” and the last week of the campaign was blacked out by Tropical Storm Sandy. The only thing that squeaked through was Christie’s ring-kiss and hug of Obama. That they showed a lot.
Romney did get blindsided by Candy Chowhound, and didn’t seem to know how to respond. His best move would have been to turn to Candy and ask “DID YOU TWO DISCUSS THIS!??!” and if she said yes, unclip his mike and walk off. But he didn’t.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/3/2016 @ 2:54 pmLeviticus–
Bloomberg would win, since he would be acceptable to many Democrats, who correctly view Hillary as a crook. If Romney ran instead, he might win, as many Democrats would see him as a decent person. IF both ran, the election might go to the House, where Romney wins if he’s in the top 3.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/3/2016 @ 2:57 pmBloomberg couldn’t win the Dem primary, how in the world could be win running 3rd party?
JD (6194b9) — 3/3/2016 @ 3:03 pmRunning third party opens up opportunities which aren’t there if you run in the primary.
aphrael (e0cdc9) — 3/3/2016 @ 3:06 pmThird party runs open a 6 foot deep hole out in the middle of the desert.
Colonel Haiku (328795) — 3/3/2016 @ 3:08 pmMegyn Kelly is this go-round’s slim, blonde version of Candy Crowley.
Colonel Haiku (328795) — 3/3/2016 @ 3:14 pmMost politicians are not. The claim that all politicians are dishonest is made primarily by the dishonest ones. Like McCain claiming that all politicians are for sale. He was, so he either imagines or pretends (I’m not sure which) that everyone else is too. Trump thinks everyone else is as crass as he is, and he’s just the only one honest enough to admit it. But it ain’t so.
Milhouse (87c499) — 3/3/2016 @ 3:25 pmThat’s horsesh*t, Milhouse.
Colonel Haiku (328795) — 3/3/2016 @ 3:26 pmNo, they didn’t. Why would anyone turn down the endorsement of a person they despise, if it’s likely to gain them more votes than it loses?
Milhouse (87c499) — 3/3/2016 @ 3:27 pmThey should carry weight with everyone, not because of who he is but because he speaks the plain truth.
Milhouse (87c499) — 3/3/2016 @ 3:28 pm@ Steve57 (#63): That’s classic! Good job. You only left out “D. be a contestant in my Miss U.S.A. pageant” and “D. that breast augmentation surgery.”
Beldar (fa637a) — 3/3/2016 @ 3:35 pm“Why would anyone turn down the endorsement of a person they despise, if it’s likely to gain them more votes than it loses?”
– Milhouse
Because it sends the right message. See the recent David Duke episode.
Leviticus (efada1) — 3/3/2016 @ 3:36 pmOh wait.
Leviticus (efada1) — 3/3/2016 @ 3:36 pmDid Sir Willard of Romney Shire actually deliver his harangue for 47 minutes?
Did Mister Forty-Seven Percent really say ‘Trump’ 47 times?
We report. You decide.
DCSCA (a343d5) — 3/3/2016 @ 3:55 pmMitt should have stayed home today if he couldn’t have said “I was conned by Trump when I took his money and sang his praises when he endorsed me.” Otherwise, unless he’s ready to jump in an run or back somebody who is running he should shut his yap and go home because scheming for a confirmation fight is not very smart.
crazy (cde091) — 3/3/2016 @ 3:58 pmIt was a few years back and Joe Malone was running for a republican seat in the Massachusetts state house and mittens kept telling him he would endorse him at the right time, so the time came and mittens told Joe “Get Out”.
mg (31009b) — 3/3/2016 @ 4:02 pmJoe should have decked him. No one would have offered mittens a hand in getting up.
Colonel, just because cynicism makes one feel good about oneself doesn’t make it true. Politics is a noble calling that attracts many honest people. It’s also a lucrative trade that attracts many cads. One does not negate the other.
Milhouse (87c499) — 3/3/2016 @ 4:02 pm“Running third party opens up opportunities which aren’t there if you run in the primary.”
He can’t get a majority of Dem support, and would get next to zero Republican support. I don’t see any reasonable or plausible scenario that would favor him.
JD (112444) — 3/3/2016 @ 4:03 pmWhat team stupid is doing to Trump makes it look like Mississippi on steroids.
mg (31009b) — 3/3/2016 @ 4:05 pmBloomers will back Trump for some new czarship enterprise.
mg (31009b) — 3/3/2016 @ 4:07 pm“Colonel, just because cynicism makes one feel good about oneself doesn’t make it true”
As you are the King of Obstinate Narcissistic Contrarians, I will defer to your judgement.
Colonel Haiku (328795) — 3/3/2016 @ 4:17 pmThe people who vote in the general election are not the same people who vote in the primary. 🙂
aphrael (e0cdc9) — 3/3/2016 @ 4:37 pmDid you ever notice how Romney only ever attacks Republicans during the primary?
He NEVER once attacked Obama during the general election.
If Romney had simply stated the obvious truth about Obama, he might well have won.
But VichyGOP only attack other Republicans.
If I had any respect for Romney, I would have lost a great deal of it today.
Phony is as phony does.
WarEagle82 (5bf75f) — 3/3/2016 @ 4:54 pmSorry, but if Mittens (& I don’t often use slurs as nicknames, but this time it fits) fought this hard in 2012, then we’d be worrying about how badly he was going to trounce Granny Clinton…
Mr. Romney failed to win twice…and have proven why he failed. He refused to attempt any sort of real attack on his opponents in his failed campaigns for president. So, we lost…badly twice and the country is the worse for it. Mr. Romney’s worst failure is because he is willing to slur a fellow Republican (and I use that term loosely in this instance) while hoping to slip in as an “alternative” candidate in a brokered convention…if he, and the GOPe do that, they will guarantee that Hillary pardons herself in January 2017…
I don’t like Trump, but I don’t think he’ll be the nominee, I think that Mr. Cruz will…more so since a significant GOPe member, Linsey Graham, has endorsed him in a backhanded way. But then, I’ve thought all along that Cruz would be the only alternative that would be accepted by the base of the party, as pissed as we are at all the lies and broken promises of the GOPe.
The time has come for the GOPe to understand that the status quo is unacceptable any more. We’ve had enough of their lies. It’s time to clean house…or face a broken party, forever…
Rich Vail (339dcb) — 3/3/2016 @ 4:58 pmMr. Flip-Flop flip-flops for the forty-seventh time– this time on Trump.
DCSCA (a343d5) — 3/3/2016 @ 5:04 pm“Take and ally in this fight”?
http://www.redstate.com/diary/stridentconservative/2015/07/31/mitt-romney-defends-obama-attacking-ted-cruz/
Cherry picking at best.
DNF (755a85) — 3/3/2016 @ 5:08 pmWrong messenger and said six months too late, but it still needed to be said.
WarrenPeese (b535a8) — 3/3/2016 @ 5:09 pmAphrael, actually those who vote in the primary almost always vote in the general election. With the new primary rules, they may vote for a different party’s candidate having done their best to upset the opposing party’s primary process. But vote they will. The really interesting thing about general elections is how many people vote with names like George Washington and addresses that match the county registrar’s office. Seattle’s homeless encampments are a source of great strength and even pride amongst Democrat campaign strategists when a few more votes are needed to reverse an election night victory by a Republican.
BobStewartatHome (e34c16) — 3/3/2016 @ 5:13 pmNot all of that record turnout on the GOP side is attributable to Trump in a positive way.
In Iowa and Texas, there were record turnouts to vote against Donald Trump and for Ted Cruz.
In fact, in Texas on Tuesday, the Texas GOP more than doubled its turnout from the previous record-setting turnout in 2012. Cruz beat Trump like a rented mule, by eighteen full percentage points. And in so doing, he won more than 200K more votes than Romney won in 2012 in Texas even though Romney was running unopposed.
(The reason for the 2012 record turnout, btw, even though the presidential race was already decided by the time Texas voted in late May, was … Ted Cruz again. The turnout for Cruz explained how he finished second in a seven-candidate race to force David Dewhurst into a primary runoff — which Cruz then, in yet another record-setting turnout, proceeded to turn into a devastating come-from-behind landslide.)
We’ve known Ted Cruz longest here in Texas. I’ve been among his fans since I read his briefing in the 2003 redistricting litigation, in which as Texas Solicitor General he won SCOTUS approval of a redistricting plan that led very directly to flipping the Democrats’ profound overrepresentation in the U.S. House (which was the product of a Dem gerrymander dating back to the early 1990s). I was watching when Ted Cruz fought for your and my religious liberty before the SCOTUS — he was so good at that, in fact, that on the same day the SCOTUS ruled that the Ten Commandments could not be displayed in Kentucky courtrooms, it also ruled that those same Ten Commandments could be displayed on the Texas Capitol grounds. Ted Cruz thereby forestalled a dangerous national precedent that would totally perverted the reach of the Establishment Clause. Yes, Ted Cruz has been fighting for your religious liberty too, for more than a decade — even if you aren’t from Texas and you never knew his name.
Texans turned out this week to vote for him so overwhelmingly because he’s done exactly what he promised us he’d do when he ran for the Senate. He’s fighting the good fight with every breath in his body.
And it’s not all tilting at windmills, either: Cruz was instrumental in legislative maneuvering that, in turn, made it possible for House conservatives to block the Schumer-Rubio Gang of Eight immigration deal.
Now, Ted Cruz has shown that he can beat Trump in five states even in a multi-candidate race; he won four of those states outright, and he has more delegates than Rubio, Kasich, and Carson combined. In this week’s national voting, Trump had 34%, but Cruz was only 5% behind at 29%, while Marco Rubio trailed Trump by a full 12%. Rubio’s only won one state — Minnesota, a caucus state where Cruz also beat Trump and finished close to Rubio — and we all know that MN isn’t likely to become a red state this November.
Kasich, of course, has little money, no national campaign, and no prospect of winning anywhere except, maybe, Ohio, where he currently trails Trump.
Trump can still be beaten, soundly and fairly, and without any shenanigans at the convention that would arguably justify Trump in going 3d-party. But the GOP must unite behind Ted Cruz. Maybe he wasn’t your first or second or third choice. But he’s now the only meaningful alternative to Trump.
Cruz has had many chances to rule out or throw cold water on the idea of a Cruz/Rubio unity ticket. He hasn’t. But Rubio, and the GOP establishment figures who’d prefer Rubio to Cruz, need to face reality. If they don’t, they hand the Party of Lincoln to Trump.
Beldar (fa637a) — 3/3/2016 @ 5:15 pmSigh … intended to post that on the Open Debate post, so I’ll cross-post it there. Please reply there if you’d like.
Beldar (fa637a) — 3/3/2016 @ 5:17 pmTotal disgust at Mitt. This is the guy responsible for the election of Obama. If only he was as tough on Dems as he is on Trump.
GTh Mitt.
Patricia (5fc097) — 3/3/2016 @ 6:32 pmHow about a pool on Priebus leaving the RNC? I pick April 1.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/3/2016 @ 7:01 pmPatricia–
I disagree. The people responsible are the usual suspects who have been soft-pedaling everything since they kicked Gingrich out. They made Romney tone it down (“Now Mitt, just let’s get p[ast that 47% thing, be cool, there’s no WAY they elect Obama. It’s in the bag, don’t rock the boat, steady as she goes…”) and so forth. Romney tore Obama a new sphincter in the first debate and they figured it was coast from there. But the media, the weather and Chris Christie killed them.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/3/2016 @ 7:05 pm