Mitts off

[Gob]

Is the US ready for a Mormon pres?

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has taken the first formal step towards running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.

Mr Romney, who ran a failed bid in 2008, is setting up a committee to explore the feasibility of a run.

"It is time that we put America back on a course of greatness," he said

Mr Romney is the second high profile Republican to announce a bid following former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty's move in March.

While Mr Romney is widely expected to enter the 2012 race, correspondents say he has several hurdles to overcome, notably his moderate record as Massachusetts governor, which does not sit well with conservative primary voters.

Mr Romney's reform of the Massachusetts health care system - an overhaul that has been viewed remarkably similar to the one President Barack Obama passed in 2009, in the face of forceful Republican opposition - is considered as albatross around his neck.

Some also see Mr Romney's mormon faith as an issue.

Mr Romney ran in 2008 but lost the Republican nomination to Senator John McCain.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13044448

[MajGenl.Meade]

See? Obama's announcement is flushing the rabbits out

[rubato]

Izzat what you call Jack Mormons?

yrs,
rubato

[MajGenl.Meade]

[Gob]

Trump is from the gut, as George W Bush used to like saying about himself. And "guts" is something in relatively short supply if you look at the current line-up of Republican contenders. Mitt is cerebral with almost extra-terrestrial perfection. You're afraid that if you pinch him your finger will glow. Tim is too nice to be truly of the gut. Mike's guts are diluted by his sense of humour. Newt only does bespoke gut. That leaves the potential women candidates, Sarah and Michelle. Plenty of guts there, for sure. As they used to say about Margaret Thatcher: "She's the best man we've got."

The point about The Donald's flirtation with presidential politics is that he sees America's deep rut of self-doubt as an opportunity. The Republican Party is scrabbling around for a suitable candidate like perhaps never before. This is a party in search of itself. The old genteel rule of allowing a dauphin to rise to the helm no longer works. These are ranks fraught with insurrection. It's a bit like the Apprentice. Anyone can have a go. Guts will not be the only quality that a successful candidate needs. Sound judgement, clear policies and money also help. The Donald has at least one of the above.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/mattfrei/

[Long Run]

It's never a bad time for good comedy.

[Gob]

Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, whose outspoken libertarian views and folksy style made him a cult hero during two previous presidential campaigns, will announce on Tuesday that he's going to try a third time.

Sources close to Paul, who is in his 12th term in the House, said he will unveil an exploratory presidential committee, a key step in gearing up for a White House race. He will also unveil the campaign’s leadership team in Iowa, where the first votes of the presidential election will be cast in caucuses next year.

Paul, 75, ran as the Libertarian Party candidate in 1988, finishing with less than one half a percent of the vote. After more than a decade as a Republican congressman, Paul gave it another shot in the 2008 presidential election, gaining attention for being the only Republican candidate calling for the end to the war in Iraq and for his “money bomb” fundraising strategy, which brought in millions of dollars from online donors in single-day pushes.

So, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Donald Trump, (Sarah Palin?) the repubbies have a right bunch of headbangers to choose from this time...

[MajGenl.Meade]

http://www.wmur.com/r/26859973/detail.html

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is the early frontrunner in the New Hampshire Republican primary, according to a new poll.

The WMUR Granite State Poll shows Romney well out in front of other potential candidates, but a large majority of likely voters said they are still trying to decide who they will support.

The poll shows 40 percent of likely Republican primary voters would vote for Romney, 10 percent would vote for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, 7 percent favor former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, and 7 percent support former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Another 6 percent prefer former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, 6 percent favor 2008 vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, 5 percent support U.S. Rep. and 2008 candidate Ron Paul, 3 percent support businessman Donald Trump, 1 percent favor former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, and 1 percent prefer Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour.

Romney also has the highest favorability ratings of the potential candidates. Currently, 73 percent of likely Republican voters said they have a favorable opinion of him. Romney's net favorability, the percentage having a favorable opinion minus the percentage of those with an unfavorable opinion, is 57 percent.

Giuliani is second, with a plus-30 percent net favorability rating, Pawlenty with plus-25 percent, Huckabee with plus-22 percent and Santorum with plus-18 percent.

The least popular Republicans are Palin at minus-17 percent and Trump at minus-43 percent. Barbour has a net favorability of minus 1 percent, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels is at minus-1 percent and former New Mexico Gov Gary Johnson is at minus-5 percent.

Obama's chances of winning New Hampshire depend, at this point, on his opponent. In a hypothetical race between Obama and Romney, Romney leads, 49 to 41 percent. Against Palin, Obama does much better, leading 57 to 34 percent. Against Pawlenty, Obama leads 44 to 37 percent.

[Gob]

Generic GOP Hopeful, Up in Poll, Avoids Overconfidence

— Even though a new Gallup poll shows a generic Republican Congressional candidate up 10 points over a generic Democrat rival, the non-specific GOP hopeful today cautioned against overconfidence, and urged his ambiguous team of supporters to work hard all the way through election day.

“There are still a lot of voters out there who have not made up their minds,” the generic Republican said. “We need to reach them with my vague, yet hopeful, message that makes them feel good about themselves and their country for no particular reason. Most importantly, they need to know that electing me would be a smaller mistake than electing the other guy.”

The candidate, a former businessman, attorney or blue-collar worker, who overcame a hardscrabble childhood to graduate in the middle of his class from a state university, said his strategy of tying his opponent to Obama, Pelosi and Reid, has forced the generic Democrat to distance himself from his own party.

“He’s running away from their record,” the Republican said. “And we’re running on our record of pointing out the failed policies of Obama, Pelosi and Reid…and on our proven approach of repeating the names Obama, Pelosi and Reid every time we talk about my opponent, who is just like Obama, Pelosi and Reid.”

Explaining his plain-speaking, principled approach to campaigning, the generic Republican noted: “I just say what I mean, and mean what I say. People want to know what you stand for, because if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything. And I stand for something. You know what I mean? That’s what I’m saying.”

http://www.scrappleface.com/?p=4800

[dgs49]

With all due irony, Mitt Romney IS the generic republican candidate.

Not surprisingly, the only "Republicans" who hold his Massachusetts healthcare initiative against himm are the ones in the MSM - who are basically non-existent. We actual , voting Republicans know that what is unconstitutional for the U.S. may be an interesting experiment for a state, particularly one which is sometimes called, "The Peoples' Republic of Massachusetts."

The Wild Card in this race is whether any of the younger "stars" on the R side will be willing to throw their hats in the ring. My personal fave is John Kasich, but we also have Rep Ryan, Gov Christie, and a few mid-Westerner governors.

Without going into too much detail, the Media promises to break all precedents with their one-sided electioneering this time around. It has already started in earnest and we are 18 months out.

[Big RR]

Please, please let it be Christie; a guy like him couldn't work with any congress (repub or democrat, he would piss the wrong people off), and he'd do far less damage in the white house than in the governor's mansion.

[Sue U]

Christie would literally eat the other candidates, and that's how he'd win the nom nom nom. But if it kept him away from NJ for the next year and a half everyone east of the Delaware and west of the Hudson would cheer him on.

I'm now rooting for a Trump/Bachmann ticket: Nitwit/Batshit 2012!!!!

[Rick]

Nitwit/Batshit 2012!!!!

OK, now that there is funny don't matter who ya are...

[Beer Sponge]

I'm now rooting for a Trump/Bachmann ticket: Nitwit/Batshit 2012!!!!

You owe me a new monitor, keyboard and mouse. I spewed my breakfast cereal all over when I read this! I expect the cheque to be mailed shortly!

[Sue U]

Thank you, I'll be here all week! Try the veal, and remember to tip your waitress!

[Lord Jim]

I'm now rooting for a Trump/Bachmann ticket: Nitwit/Batshit 2012!!!!

Yuck yuck yuck.....

Don't quit your day job....

No, on second thought, you're a lawyer.....

Quit your day job....