Romneybot Reboots

re: Romneybot Reboots

VitalCentrist — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 02:35:35 GMT

Perhaps Romney intentionally committed tactical errors early on---running as an evangelical conservative---as part of a genius strategy to show his ability to bail out sinking ships as a "turrnaround artist." Or maybe he hired Bain to consult on his campaign, and a bunch of nerdy Harvard 20-somethings stated the obvious: forget the rightward shift and focus on what you're good at, fundamentals. But then, wouldn't he be a failed company or a corrupt Olympics, and then that would negate his whole new theme? I'm so confused.

re: Romneybot Reboots

BinxBollings — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:05:31 GMT

While Romney may have "rebooted" his campaign, looking at the exit polling, this looks an awful lot like a freak victory for a native son.

The single biggest split in the exit polls that I saw was the question about how important are Romney's ties to MI. 56&-16% of the people who thought Romney's MI ties were important voted for him, and 41% thought the were important. That is a HUGE chunk of his voters!

He loses by 18% to McCain and almost loses to Huckabee among the 56% who thought his MI connection unimportant.

Another interesting fact is when voters made up their minds. Romney carried the people who made up their minds in the last month. A month in which he poured $2 million in advertising into the state compared with $744K for McCain and less for Huckabee.

So, we draw the lesson that Romney only wins in states where he has a personal/familial connection and can dramatically outspend the other candidates. Since he outspent his competition in both IA and NH and lost, I don't see this as being a sign of future victories.

Maybe he'll be "reenergized" and his new, "authentic" message will work better in SC and FL than his original message did in IA and NH, but I'm not so sure.

re: Romneybot Reboots

Jed@ConservativeRepublicans.com — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:11:50 GMT

Great for Romney, and for Michigan, which will win big if Romney gets the nomination!

Doesn't this put Romney's delegate count at six times McCain's?

re: Romneybot Reboots

Kallen — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:27:10 GMT

Well deserved win. Sadly biased article.

Washington is broken. Fix it with Mitt ! (Pass it on.)

re: Romneybot Reboots

ricewaters — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:56:49 GMT

Newsweek's very own columnist, Markos Moulitsas, can take some satisfaction in Mitt Romney's "win". Yes, the weather was on Mitt's side, and yes, spending millions of dollars probably helped (even though you'd think that would be something a native son wouldn't have to do). But here's the X-factor that gave him the margin with which he wound up: Because the Democratic primary didn't mean anything, Markos Moulitsas managed to rally a significant number of people to cause some "mischief" by switching over to vote in the Republican's primary instead, in order to keep Romney alive for a bit longer so that he can continue pouring his wealth into attacking his fellow Republicans in a race that is proving to be a muddied dose of chaos.

So to all of you Romney fans out there, congratulations on your "victory", which was partially bought, partially aided by snow, and of course, was assisted by a significant number of liberals and progressives like myself. Brilliant, and just too funny!

re: Romneybot Reboots

darciesdaddy — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 04:40:01 GMT

The race hasn't even begun yet. The true conservative states lie ahead, where the Republican posers like McCain and Huckabee will be weeded out.

re: Romneybot Reboots

R.E.M. for president! — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 04:40:45 GMT

If you had actually paid attention to the facts, you wouldn't find yourself asking stupid questions like "How did Romney win", and would stop making stupid rationalizations (though clearly not rational) trying to downplay his success. I hope you learn from your short-sighted predictions rather than rationalizing the results away.

In fact, even in his showings in Iowa and New Hampshire, he won a respectable second (which is more than the nothing the liberal pundits would like it to be). If you have half a brain, you'll realize that his two golds and two silvers at this point blow away the single victory of that single issue candidate, Huckabee, and even Senator McCain's only victory in New Hampshire.

While I think Romney to be the best candidate, I hardly expect him to win, given the widespread lack of intelligence as displayed in these and similar articles, as well as the flawed attitudes behind them.

I love how ignorant people persistently fail to attack Romney on his issues, but prefer cheap shots on his personality, which are generally unfounded. There's Huckabee's jab, something to the effect that people "don't want a president to remind them of the guy who laid them off". How does he get away with that? Attack an opponent on the basis that he is more a more effective executive? Romney has spoken more loudly with his many successful actions than the empty words of his cloud-riding clowns of opponents (admittedly, McCain isn't too bad, but he really wouldn't add very much). Even his so-called "attack-ads" are fairly neutral in that they compare issues, rather than the less verifiable and less honest personal attacks by his opponents (which are never considered attacks, because the media doesn't hate them).

And on the supposed issue of "flip-flopping", most of that involves his respect of the laws of moderate-liberal Massachusetts, and his promise (which he kept) not to change the laws of the people who had elected him. Running for president is another issue, in which he is more free to act upon what he truly believes. The media is just afraid of any candidate who has the courage to LEARN and CHANGE (i.e. abortion) rather than persisting stubbornly in their own fruitless ways.

On a final note, our friend Romano's comparision of Romney to a robot is apt in some ways. Like Romney, robots are efficient, advanced, methodical, organized; they get things done without endless talk or empty promises. Maybe we DO need a hard-working robot to run this country, rather than an actor (Thompson), a preacher (Huckabee), or a stand-up comedian (Giuliani), or a female version of the emperor from "Star Wars" (need I say more?)

re: Romneybot Reboots

markci — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 04:55:17 GMT

*** Doesn't this put Romney's delegate count at six times McCain's? ***

Oh...no. It's 42 for Romney, 21 for Huckabee and 19 for McCain. That's out of 2380.

re: Romneybot Reboots

markci — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 05:01:11 GMT

*** Even his so-called "attack-ads" are fairly neutral in that they compare issues, rather than the less verifiable and less honest personal attacks by his opponents ***

HA! They're about issues. Unfortunately they're dishonest as hell:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/31/romney.ads/

Romney hasn't got a single principal he isn't willing to compromise. He would say absolutely anything, or its opposite, to get elected.

re: Romneybot Reboots

JM50 — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 05:04:24 GMT

What a sophomoric column by someone who is obviously bitter about Romney's victory. I'm learning more and more to appreciate what Rush means by the term "driveby media." That definitely was a piece of drive by journalism. Hey Romano, chew on this: Romney has a commanding lead in the delegate count, and he's going to keep on going.

re: Romneybot Reboots

robin hardaway — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 05:24:51 GMT

With Romeny's second primary win and closse seconds in two other primaries, I view him as the frontrunner, for the Republican nomination, and deservedly so. Real Republicans can not and will not support a candidate who both voted for amnesty and against making tax cuts permatnent. Nor will they vote for a big spending creationist who supports making the taxpayers pay the college in-state tuitions of illegal aliens while denying tthose same benefits to law abiding out-of-state legal immgrants. Nor do I think republoicans will vote for a candidate who has never run so much as a popcorn stand, or met a payroll, or who has done nothing but cast votes in the Senate. McCain's narrow victory in New Hampshire can be attributed not to Republican voters, (among whome Romeny clearly won) but to independents, and even Democrats who were inexplicably permitted to vote in a Republican primary, many of whom I suspect did not vote for Romney for fear that he would be the most formidlbe challenger to the Democratic nominee. Perhaps Romney's impeccable character has been working against him among those voters who prefer the more exciting but flawed characters of such politicians as former president Bill Clinton, but I for one believe that good character and high moral values are actually a desirable characteristic in a president. And unlke the other candidates who can talk the talk on issues such as health care, Romney is the only one who has actually walked the walk be presiding over the implementation of the only universal health care system in Massachusetts while holding the reins on ampant .government spending. Finally, Romney is clearly the most electable, as it is difficult to imaine a democratic victoy in an election in which the Repubican wins Massachusetts, Michigan, and a solid midwest and south.

re: Romneybot Reboots

outdoorsy1972 — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 05:52:10 GMT

Let me see if I understand. After a Republican who is funded by oil and gun companies in his Texas home state runs a war to help his friends get their money back, we're looking at a Republican who will want to spend our tax money to revitalize the auto industry in his Michigan home state?

$10B/month to keep the war going -- what and how much to "fix" the auto industry in Michigan?

These are the big government people -- they know nothing about running a country!

re: Romneybot Reboots

wordsilk — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 05:54:00 GMT

You clearly don't understand Michigan politics if you think Romney won there for any other significant reason than favorite son. Michiganders are extremely loyal -- just take a look at how long some of their congressbots have served (Dingell for 50+ years!) and Pater Romney was a very popular governor. In fact, I was shocked at what a small percentage of the vote he received -- I expected it to be at least 45% or more.

re: Romneybot Reboots

rwhit — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 06:28:26 GMT

WOW, THE MEDIA IN THIS COUNTRY IS TOTALLY OWNED BY THE LEFT.

MITT ROMNEY WINS AN ELECTION AND ALL YOU DO IS SLANDER HIM. THIS IS OUR COUNTRY. I KNOW THE MAN AND YOU ARE WRONG. THANKS FOR TELLING US ALL HOW STUPID WE ARE. I GUESS ALL THOSE VOTES FOR MITT IN IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE WERE JUST DUE TO MITT PULLING THE WOOL OVER OUR EYES!!!! YA, RIGHT!

WE ARE TIRED OF MCCAIN SELLING US REPUBLICANS OUT. WE KNOW YOU LIBERALS WANT US TO NOMINATE HIM. HE VOTED AGAINST OUR TAX CUTS, HE WANTS TO GIVE AMNESTY TO 12 MILLION ILLEGALS, HE VOTES WITH THE LIBERALS ALL THE TIME. JOHN KERRY HAD IT RIGHT WHEN HE ASKED HIM TO BE HIS RUNNING MATE LAST ELECTION.

STOP ACTING LIKE YOU THINK JOHN MCCAIN IS SUCH A GOOD REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE, HE IS NOT. YOU ACTUALLY SUPPORT THE DEMOCRATS ANYWAY! IT IS IN YOUR EVERY LIBERAL EDITORIAL. IN THE LAST DAYS MEN SHALL BE CYNICS, THEY SHALL CONVICT A MAN FOR A WORD. LOVERS OF SELF (PLEASURE) MORE THAN LOVERS OF GOD

MITT ROMNEY IS THE REAL DEAL. HE IS SMARTER THAN YOU AND YOU CANNOT STAND IT. SO I GUESS THAT IS WHY THE "5TH GRADE NAME CALLING GAME' BEGINS IN EARNEST. I GUESS YOU CANNOT TALK ABOUT ISSUES BECAUSE YOUR ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THOSE,SO YOU NAME CALL.

GO MITT ROMNEY. GOD BLESS AMERICA. DOWN WITH THE SECULARISTS.

re: Romneybot Reboots

Bill Arnquist — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 07:04:53 GMT

Surprising election results make for NEWS. Expect more NEWS in SC & NV. Let’s hope that the campaign can focus more on the issues. Mitt Romney has the qualifications to serve this country well. Americans in greater numbers will recognize that Mitt Romney is the right person for President. IF NOT MITT ROMNEY, WHO? IF NOT NOW, WHEN?

re: Romneybot Reboots

eddiewhere — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:05:02 GMT

rOMNEY HAS MORE MONEY THAT ALL THE OTHE CANDIDATED COMBINED. mCCAIN JUST LOOKS TO DILApITATED. IF HE WAS YOUNGER HE WOULD HAVE SWEpT THE NOMINATION. rEpUBLICANS CAN ONLY WIN THE THE WHITE HOUSE IF BIN LADEN IS CApTURED OR KILLED. BARRING A MIRACLE, THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE WILL DEFEAT ANY REpUBLICAN

re: Romneybot Reboots

haffaja — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 11:38:29 GMT

Romney has the real leader experience, skills, knowledge as well as the presidential presence needed to win the national election over either Obama or Clinton. McCain is too old to win a broad based election - he has had his chance and cannot be trusted. The only reason he won in NH was the independents swung his way when the liberal media put so much emphasis on Obama's expected huge win over Clinton. Romney has won more GOP votes than either McCain or Huckabee. So why is Newsweek saying that he won ONLY because of his native son credential instead of what he stands for??? Why? - Romney scares the heck out of Democrats and their liberal media!!

re: Romneybot Reboots

dclayton — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 19:24:34 GMT

As a turn around professional of a sort... myself, I find the media's coverage of the whole Republican Primary very revealing. As an early Romney supporter, I'm probably overly sensitive, but come on, I thought "journalism" was about being a News REPORTER, not an analyst. There seem to be no reporters left, everyone is in the business of spin, and doing a poor job at that. Not to mention the wide inacuracy in reporting the delegate counts. Yahoo had Huckabee in the lead this morning, and referecend another article that showed the additional delegates McCain won but not Romney. Then I can count nearly 100 reporters that referenced this as the 3rd GOP race, when it is the 4th. CNN tried to dismiss the correction by one guest, as Wyoming is such a small state. Well that tiny state has the same number of delegates as New Hampshire, and how much ink was spent there? I dont put much stock in conspiracies, but media agendas are clear. I believe Romney is the candidate that scares the left and its media alies the most. He is the clearest contrast to the status quo and the liberal agenda. He's proven an ability to draw moderates support and he bets on himself with his own money. I believe that worry is a result of the lable of flip-flopper that has worked to this point. The reality is it does not show a John Kerry-like character flaw, merely a willingness to consider all the facts. The more people know about the real Mitt and the more Mitt relaxes the better chance he will have.

re: Romneybot Reboots

JoeE71 — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 18:15:58 GMT

Mitt Romney is the only financial genius that is able to stave off economic problems. Why is anyonw voting for McCain or Hillary or Obama? They are all Senators that are part of the problem! Why send them back to do the same tax raising and over spending that they always have been doing? It makes no sense. I am voting for Mitt Romney because he is not part of the problem and actually is famous for turning things around. Don't you all want a turn around in Washington? Don't let the media vote for you! I am for Mitt Romney!