The American Spectator

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Thinking Ahead

10.28.08 @ 6:01AM

BLINDSIDED
Re: The Prowler's Post-Defeat Planners:

We were blindsided by an anonymous hit piece from the Prowler today suggesting Mitt Romney was sitting on his hands this election season. The not-for-attribution quotes, factual misrepresentations and fanciful imaginings of its author makes for a psychedelic bit of reading. Furthermore, the timing of the piece, coming as it did on the same morning that Mitt Romney was appearing (yet again) with John McCain (this time in Ohio) just adds to the offense. Since no one called us for reaction, I hope you will allow me as a senior adviser to the governor to set the record straight

The truth is I can't think of another Republican leader who has spent more time this election year than Mitt Romney in helping GOP candidates and conservative causes, starting at the top of the ticket with McCain-Palin but also involving dozens of other federal and state races and some important ballot campaigns. Aside from the work he's done for the McCain-Palin ticket, he has personally campaigned for 32 candidates running for House and Senate seats, as well as for two gubernatorial candidates.

Plus, the financial support he has extended goes beyond what he has been able to effect through his personal appearances. Governor Romney's Free and Strong America PAC was formed in April and since then has donated $202,000 to 75 GOP candidates. He's also made another $173,000 in donations to party organizations and other entities, including $10,000 to the National Organization for Marriage in California to pass Proposition 8, and $5,000 to stop a ballot initiative in Massachusetts to decriminalize marijuana. After Senator McCain withdrew from Michigan, Romney contributed $50,000 to a demoralized state party there to help with their races. The total amount of financial support provided to Republican candidates and causes through Romney-controlled state and federal PACs is an eye-popping $375,000.

Why has Governor Romney worked so hard since leaving the presidential race? Because #1, he's a loyal Republican, and #2, he believes this is a critical election year, and that the policies and principles of the Republican Party are the best ones to strengthen our economy, our military and our families.I hope you can find a way to correct the record. -- -- Eric Fehrnstrom
Free and Srong America PA

I think the Prowler has it more accurate than the Romney apologists in the reader comments. I watched Deval Patrick (D) defeat Muffy Healy (R) with what amounted to zero support from the then out-going governor. Patrick was able to skate by on a banal "Yes we can" slogan, and completely vague feel-good campaign while he waited for the clock to tick down. Healy went hard on fiscal conservatism and her strong suit -- criminal justice. Mitt was too busy looking out for himself in the presidential to lend a hand. Kerry should be ripe for the picking, but Beatty's got a tough row to hoe. Mitt could very easily tilt things more Beatty's way with a little effort.

Before McCain was nominated, I liked Mitt from an issues perspective -- but always thought he was a little stiff/phony in the personality department. I now believe he does lack the "realness" of Palin -- and without much effort in the name of the party, he doesn't seem to get the "neighbors help one another" quality that would endear him to a greater percentage of Republicans.

One of the paths to getting a conservative back in the White House is to highlight the "libs will do or say anything to win" selfish personalities of their leaders, and that their policies are marred with trying to please every voting group under the sun without any serious analysis on their effects. Mitt may believe in conservative policy, but he sure acts like he only cares about his personal political future -- to the detriment of the party.
-- William H. Stewart
Boston, Massachusetts

In follow-up to today's piece in The Prowler, I believe that one of Mitt Romney's key advisors/supports is Dan Senor. Not coincidentally, Senor is the significant other of CNN's Campbell Brown who has been particularly aggressive in her criticism of Governor Sarah Palin. I have heard from fairly good sources that Senor and Brown were furious that Senator John McCain did not pick Romney as the VP.

Just thought you'd find the information worthwhile.
-- MAM

Mitt Romney is a phony. He's always been a phony and he always will be. The reason why he will not be in charge on November 5 is that Sarah Palin is a genuine person. Whether you like her or not, she's genuine. Romney is a legend in his own mind, but Sarah will be the conservative choice in 2012, win or lose.

Palin/Jindal 2012!
-- Keith Kunzler

TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Re: Larry Thornberry's Sunday With Sister Sarah:

I think that there may be considerably more support for the McCain/Palin ticket than may have been reported or be apparent. I have long thought that the professional polls can not be trusted, if for no other reason than most of them bear the name of a major main stream news organ in their title. Now, I thought that the McCain-Obama race would be close on election day. I have said that the only real hope the Democrats have to win the White House is Democrat vote fraud. Now I have discovered reports of an almost unknown poll whose results, if accurate, are truly amazing. The AOL Presidential Straw Poll.

AOL runs a straw poll on Presidential preference. Reportedly, the poll ending 10/18/08 had McCain up 60% to 38%. In the 10-/25/08 poll McCain was up 63% to 37%. Now I know that this is not a scientific poll, but it is interesting. Just one more point, in July of 2004 the poll reportedly had Bush at 49% and Kerry at 48% with 2% undecided. If anyone has further information on this poll, I think that we would all be interested in hearing about it. We certainly won't from the MSM.

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