What if Romney had had the balls...

Forums: Politics, Romney, 2012 Election
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... to stand up the right wing of his party?

The obvious play for Romney was to veer to the center. He could have turned to the right wing of his party and said "look guys, it is me or another four years of Obama so let me do what I need to do to win this election". He could have then talked of compromise, a moderate conservative course for the economy, a nuanced stance on abortion and gay rights as state rights.

This is what I was expecting and I think he might just have pulled it off. He could have highlighted his stint as Republican Governor of a Democratic state and showed he was someone who could look at both sides of an issue and think independently.

Clearly this was the path that Obama was worried about... the first round of ads was clearly a response to the centrist swing they were fearing from Romney.

Does anyone really think that Romney's strategy of putting up a radical right wing view and then arguing it on the merits is anything but foolish?

What would have happened if Romney ran as a center right candidate?

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[+3] - Smit - 08/14/2012"What would have happened if Romney ran as a center right candidate?" He would lose. The center and left is dominated by the democrats. The Republican Party is right wing. If...

@maxdancona,

I think the tea party would have dropped him like a cold fish and said they'd rather stick to their "principles" and have Obama for four more years than a moderate Republican.

1 Reply

@engineer,

That's the question engineer. They hate Obama to the point they are saying that four more years will destroy the country. Would they really drop Romney that fast?

1 Reply

How does anybody arrive at the conclusion that Romney is a 'moderate?'

He's changed his stance on most of the major issues of our day; where does he stand on anything?

Do we really know who Romney is?

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@cicerone imposter,

I am talking about political strategy, not about any reality. Politics is about appearances and reality (beyond apparent reality) has very little to do with political strategy.

I believe that Romney could have painted himself as a center-right candidate and a significant number of moderate Americans would have believed him. If he could have went for the swing voter, and given his right wing of supporting him or facing a certain four more years with that Kenyan, America-Hating Islamic Atheist Socialist America Destroyer they hate so much, they would have come along.

That would have been a smart way forward.

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@maxdancona,

maxdancona wrote:

That's the question engineer. They hate Obama to the point they are saying that four more years will destroy the country. Would they really drop Romney that fast?

Yes. They would rather have Obama for four more years and make it clear to Republicans that they will fall in line or loose office rather than hold their noses and vote for a moderate.

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@maxdancona,

There really is no "reality" in politics. However, I will agree that political strategy is a component of the American style of campaigning for office.

American politics is a mesh-mash of lies and innuendos, biased media coverage, and perceptions that both liberals and conservatives have the correct solution for our problems - when in fact, they are the creator of most problems.

FACTS:
Presidents do not create jobs.
The US is not a democratic republic.
Obama is not a socialist or communist. He does not control the means of production or distribution of our goods and services.
Obama is not a "Kenyan."

The only "smart way forward" for Romney was for him to stay out of the race. He's not a liberal, moderate, or conservative; he's a liar.

2 Replies

@cicerone imposter,

A rather harsh but accurate depiction of Romney. Too bad more people on the right cant see this. But the electroate elected Bush so they are unable to recognize when they are being lied too.

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@maxdancona,

"What would have happened if Romney ran as a center right candidate?"

He would lose.

The center and left is dominated by the democrats. The Republican Party is right wing. If you’re going to be a republican presidential candidate today you have to be right wing. If not you lose.

Ryan was the best choice for Romney. As it stands now he will energize the right wing and bring them out to vote. A majority of Americans may like and support Obama but if they lack enthusiasm Obama will have a low voter turnout. Ryan brings the enthusiasm to the conservatives they need in order to get them out to vote. That enthusiasm on the conservative side is the only way I see Romney winning.

The problem for Romney/Ryan is America is not a right wing nation. It sometimes leans right or left but it is primarily a centralist nation. Romney/Ryan are going to have to try to convince America they are not as right wing as they really are.

1 Reply

@Smit,

Ryan will bring out the Tea Party hopefuls, but most Americans now see they are the party of No and obstructionism.

I would be surprised if they make much headwind with women (we will control your body whether you like it or not), minorities (we don't want foreigners in our country), seniors (we're going to take away Medicare and social security), gays and lesbians (marriage is between a man and a woman). I think they make up the "majority" of voters.

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@maxdancona,

maxdancona wrote:

... to stand up the right wing of his party?

The obvious play for Romney was to veer to the center. He could have turned to the right wing of his party and said "look guys, it is me or another four years of Obama so let me do what I need to do to win this election". He could have then talked of compromise, a moderate conservative course for the economy, a nuanced stance on abortion and gay rights as state rights.

This is what I was expecting and I think he might just have pulled it off. He could have highlighted his stint as Republican Governor of a Democratic state and showed he was someone who could look at both sides of an issue and think independently.

Clearly this was the path that Obama was worried about... the first round of ads was clearly a response to the centrist swing they were fearing from Romney.

Does anyone really think that Romney's strategy of putting up a radical right wing view and then arguing it on the merits is anything but foolish?

What would have happened if Romney ran as a center right candidate?

Romney showed his cowardice when he didn't fight back when Norquist insulted his intelligence on TV and laughed about it with his circle of friends. A real man would have decked Norquist.

0 Replies

@maxdancona,

maxdancona wrote:

What would have happened if Romney ran as a center right candidate?

Obama is the centre right candidate, that's why he got on so well with David Cameron. With the exception of how to deal with the economic crisis, you couldn't put a fag paper between them.

Romney is far too right wing, even by Conservative back-bench standards, and that's pretty right wing. That's why the whole party, not to mention the nation, turned on him when he made disparaging, and as it turns out, incorrect, remarks about the Olympics.

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One of the burdens Romney will have to carry is the Ryan budget. Obama should have a lot of fun with that.

1 Reply

@Smit,

They already are! It should make seniors very happy; Medicare voucher system, and end social security as we know it.

1 Reply

@cicerone imposter,

cicerone imposter wrote:

The US is not a democratic republic.

Huh? What is it,then?

1 Reply

@maxdancona,

maxdancona wrote:

I am talking about political strategy, not about any reality. Politics is about appearances and reality (beyond apparent reality) has very little to do with political strategy.

I believe that Romney could have painted himself as a center-right candidate and a significant number of moderate Americans would have believed him. If he could have went for the swing voter, and given his right wing of supporting him or facing a certain four more years with that Kenyan, America-Hating Islamic Atheist Socialist America Destroyer they hate so much, they would have come along.

That would have been a smart way forward.

Moderates have been getting slammed for a very long time now, they are practically endangered species. Do you not pay attention AT ALL?

1 Reply

@Lustig Andrei,

A republic.

From Wiki.

Quote:

In modern republics such as the United States and India, the executive is legitimized both by a constitution and by popular suffrage. Montesquieu included both democracies, where all the people have a share in rule, and aristocracies or oligarchies, where only some of the people rule, as republican forms of government.[4]
Most often a republic is a sovereign state, but there are also subnational entities that are referred to as republics, or which have governments that are described as "republican" in nature. For instance, Article IV of the Constitution of the United States "guarantee[s] to every State in this Union a Republican form of Government".[5]

1 Reply

@cicerone imposter,

Yes, granted it's a republic. But how is it not democratic? 'Democratic' basically means that the government is elected by the people and that's what we have here -- a democratic republic.

1 Reply

@Lustig Andrei,

Actually, the US is a Constitutional Republic. In a democracy, the people select what laws are established.

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As I understand it a democracy is rule by a majority. As one wit said—“Democracy is three wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for lunch.” There are no individual rights in a democracy unless the majority decides to allow them. Under a democracy you can have a tyranny by a majority. The minority have no rights.

A republic is rule by its citizens who elect representatives to represent them in government. They also elect their leader. And, most important, there are individual rights that cannot be taken away by a majority. That’s what our Founding Fathers gave us; an elective government and individual rights.

http://lexrex.com/enlightened/AmericanIdeal/aspects/demrep.html

0 Replies

What if Romney had had the balls...

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