Romney may return?

Well, color me surprised.

Mitt Romney was not my first choice for a presidential candidate, but he came third after Duncan Hunter and Fred Thompson. He's far more conservative than McCain, and while there was a question of flip-flopping on some issues, he seemed far more trustworthy than McCain and, God forbid, Clinton or Obama. My support ran to Mitt after the two most conservative candidates left the race, and I was genuinely saddened when he dropped out, especially when he said this:

Now, I disagree with Senator McCain on a number of issues, as you know. But I agree with him on doing whatever it takes to be successful in Iraq, and finding and executing Osama bin Laden. And I agree with him on eliminating Al Qaida and terror worldwide.

Now, if I fight on, in my campaign, all the way to the convention...

I want you to know, I've given this a lot of thought -- I'd forestall the launch of a national campaign and, frankly, I'd make it easier for Senator Clinton or Obama to win.

Frankly, in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror.

This isn't an easy decision. I hate to lose.

My family, my friends, you, my supporters across the country, you've given a great deal to get me to where I have a shot to becoming president. If this were only about me, I'd go on. But it's never been only about me. I entered this race -- I entered this race because I love America. And because I love America, in this time of war, I feel I have to now stand aside for our party and for our country.

I will continue to stand for conservative principles. I'll fight alongside you for all the things we believe in. And one of the things we believe in is that we cannot allow the next president of the United States to retreat in the face of evil extremism.

And so, Romney bowed out gracefully, something that Mike Huckabee cannot seem to get the hang of. And I was supremely disappointed that he dropped out, because he was the closest we had left to a conservative, even though some thought Mitt Romney would be unelectable in the general election (I disagree).

Well, there may yet be some hope -- he may be returning to the race.

Josh Romney, one of former Gov. Mitt Romney’s five sons, says it’s “possible” his father may rejoin the race for the White House, either as a vice presidential candidate or seek to become the Republican Party’s standard bearer if the campaign of Sen. John McCain falters.

He’s asked about speculation that given the McCain troubles his father might re-enter the Republican race either as a candidate for the top spot or as the party nominee’s vice presidential partner and Romney replies it’s “possible.” Then, he adds, “unlikely, but possible.”

It was the first sign from the Romney camp or family that the former Massachusetts governor’s political plans for 2008 were anything but over.

Such a move could provide a possible rallying point for conservatives, who awaited a perfect conservative candidate and held back from supporting Romney all during 2007 while the campaigns of other conservatives including Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback and Fred Thompson collapsed.

I would love to see Mitt reenter the race, as a vice presidential candidate or, even better, as a presidential candidate once again. He would be a vast improvement over McCain and Huckabee.

I still think that if McCain ends up our nominee we need to be united behind him. But I think we all would be able to do that much more willingly with Mitt Romney as our candidate. It's a long shot, but it's hope, and isn't that one of the keywords of this election season anyways?

Q & A: Mitt Romney

J. Otto Tennant said...
May I ask your opinion about Mitt Romney?

(For what it is worth, I seriously doubt the competence in logic of anyone adhering to the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints.)

(And, for what it is worth, I am a Christian by the gift of grace and faith and, may I say it, logic.)

I would like to ask other questions, but I am an old man; maybe twenty years ago I would have had the guts to ask them.

I dislike Mitt Romney, not because he's a Mormon, but because I don't feel I can trust anything that comes out of his mouth. I don't personally believe in anything that is said at the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, but I don't find it particularly harmful to anything, either, so... his being Mormon doesn't really concern me. His flip-flopping and pandering, however, does.

Q & A: Giuliani, McCain, or Romney?

Jarrod in Texas said...
Cassy I love the blog. I'm not sure how I found it, but it's in the rotation of things I check pretty much every day. I know you are all for Duncan Hunter who I like for his actual conservative chops and I'm torn between him and Fred. Assuming neither of them makes it to the primary for my state, if you were me and potentially forced to choose between Guiliani, Romney, or McCain, which way would you go?

Also, there was a time where I thought you were the perfect woman: pretty, smart, and conservative. Now I can understand hatred for Peyton Manning, because I share it as well, but who in their right minds would not hate Tom Brady even worse? It's this unforgivable Massachusetts liberal streak in you that's the dealbreaker. Sorry.

Hello Jarrod!

My first choice, as readers of my blog know, is Duncan Hunter, and Fred would be a close second. However, if I had to choose between McCain, Romney, or Giuliani, my choice would probably be Rudy Giuliani. Here's why. Like most conservatives, John McCain is not an option. I applaud him for his service to our country, and I look up to him very much for what he has done, but I don't trust his politics for a second. I know he is great on national defense, but I don't like how he is so firmly ensconced in what Duncan Hunter called "the Kennedy wing" of the GOP.

As far as Mitt Romney goes, I don't see myself voting for him, and not because he's Mormon. I could really care less about Mitt Romney's religion, provided he isn't Muslim. No, I just don't know where he stands. He's about as slippery as John Kerry is, and I just don't know that I could have faith in his leadership.

This process of elimination leaves me with Rudy Giuliani, who I don't think has the experience to be President and isn't conservative enough. However, he is great on national defense, and accomplished a lot of good things in New York as mayor.

When it comes down to it, I won't vote for any of the three of them in the primary. However, if any of those three, including McCain, get the nomination, I'll throw my weight 100% behind that person. Any of those three would be better than Hillary. Even if they aren't the best candidate, our sole concern should be keeping the Dems out of the Presidency.

And as far as Tom Brady... what can I say? I can't help but love the guy. And while my family is from Massachusetts, I promise you there's no "Massachusetts liberal streak". ;)

Mitt Romney, Pretty Boy Extraordinaire!

What is happening to men in this country? I mean, sheesh.

You see so many worrying about hair gel and exfoliators and moisturizing and waxing... isn't that supposed to be our department? Our meaning women? I mean, I get keeping yourself clean and looking nice, but come on. It's not unusual to find men who take longer to get ready than I do, and that's an automatic strike against you. God help you if I were to find out you spent more money than I do on "health and beauty" supplies.

Enter Mitt Romney.

Everyone knows how much of a pretty boy he is anyways -- Ben Affleck hypocritically called him a Ken doll -- but good Lord. I think he's trying to catch up to John Edwards:

What kinds of things do you think of when you hear "communications consulting"?

Speechwriting? Message strategy?

Well, "communications consulting" is how presidential candidate Mitt Romney recorded $300 in payments to a California company that describes itself as "a mobile beauty team for hair, makeup and men's grooming and spa services."

Romney spokesman Kevin Madden confirmed that the payments -- actually two separate $150 charges -- were for makeup, though he said the former Massachusetts governor had only one session with Hidden Beauty of West Hills, Calif. That was before the May 3 Republican presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., co-sponsored by MSNBC and The Politico.

"We used them once but booked time twice and still had to render payment for the appointment time," said Madden, who said the disbursement was listed as "communications consulting" because it was paid from the communications division's budget.

Politicians often wear makeup for photo and video shoots. Federal campaigns, on at least 26 different occasions since 2002, reported paying for haircuts and other primping -- services totaling $7,443, according to an analysis by The Politico of Federal Election Commission data. And Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards refunded $800 his campaign shelled out for two haircuts after he was criticized for them.

But Stacy Andrews, who made up Romney for Hidden Beauty, said he barely needs makeup.

"He's already tan," she said. "We basically put a drop of foundation on him … and we powdered him a little bit."

All right. I get if you're going to be on national television, you need to look good and wear a little makeup. But $300? $300?! For a little drop of foundation and some powder?

I think I spend 1/6 of that on my total beauty "budget", if you can even call it that. I never throw shampoo and conditioner bottles away, so I practically have the shampoo aisle from Walgreens in the closet in my bathroom, albeit with assorted half-empty bottles. You can get foundation and powder for $5 a pop, and I promise you it is just as good as the high-end stuff. It's not that I wouldn't ever use the high-end stuff, but I buy it sparingly and use it sparingly (as in, only for special occasions) so it lasts a while. I don't bust out the Sephora products to go to Winn-Dixie. There are so much more important things I can be spending my money on than make-up!

Now, don't get me wrong, I doubt most women are as stingy as I am when it comes to make-up and hair care and that kind of thing. But I doubt most women spend anywhere near $300 on make-up in an entire year, much less in one sitting. And to hear a man is spending that much money for a bit of foundation and some powder? Couldn't his wife have just done it for him? I mean, honestly.

God help him if he ever has to go to the Middle East as President. His make-up might get smudged!

Seriously, folks. Do you want someone in office so concerned about make-up that they spend $300 in a single sitting?

Maybe John Edwards and Mitt Romney could run on a ticket together. The Breck Girl and the Ken Doll... a victory for pretty boys everywhere!

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Ben Affleck, Meet the Kettle

Ben Affleck, Meet the Kettle

Political Analyst Ben Affleck picked Mitt Romney to be the GOP's nominee for the presidential election in 2008:

Chatting about the upcoming presidential race on the season finale of "Real Time with Bill Maher," the Cambridge homey said he thinks the GOP will end up with Romney because the ex-gov looks good, has nice hair - and the Republicans really don’t have anyone else.

"He says he doesn’t like abortion and he’s all clean-cut and he looks like a Ken doll," said Affleck who was doing a rather amusing imitation of our ex-gov during the Romney rant.

"The Mormonism thing is really suspect," he added, "but they’ll take it at this point. I mean, who else do they have? Crazy (Rudy) Giuliani and (John) McCain who’s completely insane? They don’t have any other options."

"‘I hate liberals,’ is what he’s [Romney's] basically now saying. He’s holding his nose saying, ‘I wish I didn’t even have to be in Massachusetts. I’m sorry I was there. I hated them when I was governor. I hated Massachusetts. I was governor because I wanted to kill them all!’"

The GOP has no one better than Romney, McCain, or Giuliani?

Well, we have Duncan Hunter, a Vietnam Veteran who was an Army Ranger as well as a member of the 173rd Airborne Division, and was the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and also wrote the Secure Fence Act to build 854 miles of fencing along our border. He's my pick, anyways.

And at least we aren't stuck with Shrillary "Let's-socialize-all-industry-and-turn-into-a-communist-nation-because-I-know-better-than-you" Clinton; or Barack "I'm-so-tired-that-I-keep-saying-stupid-things-but-I'm-only-in-my-forties" Obama; or John "I'm-on-my-way-to-a-$400-haircut-but-is-that-an-ambulance-I-hear??" Edwards.

But on to the real juicy part: Ben Affleck called someone else a Ken doll as an insult?!

Uh, Ben, honey? You might wanna take a look in the mirror before you insult someone for being a pretty boy-Ken doll look-a-like. Just a suggestion. I mean, hello! Pot, meet the kettle. Notice how you're both black?

Maybe he and John Edwards can go to a spa and get $225 in "services" together!