The American Spectator : A Romney Survival Guide

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A Romney Survival Guide

By W. James Antle, III on 5.23.12 @ 6:10AM

And a tale of two Bushes.

For many conservatives, Mitt Romney wasn’t their first choice. Come November, he will be their only choice. The Republican Party is set to nominate Romney for president. Few will find Barack Obama an acceptable alternative, and even fewer will vote third party.

So what is a conservative to do? Right-thinking Americans would do well to consider the parable of the two Bushes. George Bush the elder was nominated to be Ronald Reagan’s successor, but conservatives never trusted him. They remembered his barbs about “vodoo economics” and his Eastern establishment roots. So when the first President Bush raised taxes, they rebeled. When he signed a quota bill, they rebuked him. They read his lips and then read him the riot act.

That presidency didn’t work out terribly well for George Bush. He served only one term. His share of the popular vote collapsed by 16 points in four short years. Desert Storm and expansions of government remain his most enduring achievements. But the resistance to Bush’s backsliding helped put conservatives in charge of the Republican congressional leadership. In 1994, the leadership won control of Congress and thwarted Bill Clinton’s most liberal initiatives. Conservatives gained in the long term by keeping the Republican president at a distance.

George Bush the younger knew how to talk like a conservative. He left behind his Yale roots and spoke with a Texas accent. He connected with evangelicals because he was one. And he had the good fortune to have a primary opponent named John McCain, who implausibly thought he could win the Republican nomination by running to Bush’s left.

Once in office, Bush cemented his bond with conservatives with his resolute response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. So when he grew non-defense discretionary spending at twice the rate of Clinton, many conservatives looked the other way. The same held true when he doubled the size of the Department of Education — which even Bob Dole campaigned on abolishing — through No Child Left Behind. Bush’s Medicare Part D increased the program’s unfunded liabilities by trillions of dollars and was the largest new entitlement program since LBJ’s Great Society.

Republican failures endangered Republican successes. Out-of-control spending threatened to wipe out the Reagan tax cuts, with increases in the top marginal income tax rate coming in 1990 and 1993. Trillion-dollar deficits similarly endanger the Bush tax cuts, which will expire absent direct congressional action. But far fewer conservatives were complicit in the first set of failures than the second.

So which Bush will be the model for how conservatives treat Romney? My former American Spectator colleague Philip Klein hopes conservatives will stick to their principles, but he acknowledges it’s no sure bet. “It’s easy for Republicans to talk tough about fighting for smaller government when they’re in the opposition and a Democrat is in the White House,” Klein writes in his new book Conservative Survival in the Romney Era. “But the pressure placed on elected Republicans to sacrifice conservative principles becomes much more intense when one of their own is in power.”

Even rank-and-file conservatives will feel pressure to fall in line. Klein, now a senior writer for the Washington Examiner, notes:

In the coming months, those of us who criticize Romney from the right will be told we should save it until after November, or else we’re just helping Obama. When we do so after the election – should he win – we’ll be told he deserves a honeymoon period and needs to rack up a few accomplishments first before moving to items on the conservative agenda. Eventually, it will be that we can’t weaken him before the midterm elections, and then later, that we have to loudly support him, or else he’ll lose reelection to an even worse liberal boogeyman (or boogeywoman) in 2016.

But if candidate Romney needs only to woo swing voters, he will ignore conservatives. If President Romney faces pressure only from his left, he will surely disappoint the right. When Republicans take the base for granted, government gets bigger and conservative policy objectives go unrealized.

Despite his good intentions on Social Security reform, George W. Bush’s presidency was an enormous missed opportunity for conservatives on entitlements. Not many more opportunities will present themselves. Romney needs to have the same political incentives to govern in a conservative fashion that Tea Party challengers have created for complacent Republican incumbents across the country.

Klein was an early conservative critic of Romneycare, presciently realizing its individual mandate would be hard to confine to the state level — and that even many of the Massachusetts health care law’s conservative backers saw it as a model for the nation. He correctly observed that it would at the very least complicate the political case against Obamacare.

Yet in Conservative Survival in the Romney Era, Klein isn’t trying to dampen conservatives spirits ahead of November or get people to stay home rather than support the Republican nominee. He is writing an important blueprint for how conservatives can make a Romney presidency worthwhile.

“Even if conservatives would have preferred a different Republican nominee,” Klein writes, “there are still plenty of ways for them to advance their ideals by pressuring Romney into behaving more like the conservative for whom they had longed.” If they learn from Klein’s book — and the tale of the two Bushes.

About the Author

W. James Antle, III, author of the new book Devouring Freedom: Can Big Government Ever Be Stopped?, is editor of the Daily Caller News Foundation and a senior editor of The American Spectator. You can follow him on Twitter @jimantle.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (171) | Leave a comment Leave a comment

Tom| 5.23.12 @ 6:37AM

With Barack Obama as the incumbent I have much (MUCH!) to OPPOSE, for he presents a (political) existential threat to this country as founded.

Alas, with Romney as the GOP nominee -- a/k/a Romneycare (R) -- I have precious little to be FOR.

The GOP establishment has nominated yet another RINO, as it has every cycle since 1988. As presently constituted, the leadership / power structure of the GOP is part of the problem.

Read my lips: I'll hold my nose and vote for Romney in November, only because Obama is so bad. But other than making monthly donations to Senator DeMint's Senate Conservatives Fund, I'm standing-down from any participation in this election cycle -- no other donations, no volunteering, no yard signs or bumper stickers.

Jack in Wi.| 5.23.12 @ 7:27AM

A vote for Romney is a vote for more of the same. That means more war, more rule by the banksters and the Fed, more inflation to pay the debt, more liberal rule. It means Romney care , the same as Obamacare. He will do nothing on gay marriage and abortion, except enable it, just like he did in Massacusetts. He was for gay adoption before he was against it. I consider gay adoption a great crime against humanity. Romney is a liberal and has been his whole life. He couldn't really articulate or do a conservative governing program, if his life depended upon it.

What is a true conservative or libertarian to do under these circumstances. Well I am going to leave the top of the ticket blank or vote 3rd party and vote only conservative down ticket. The Bushes, Dole, McCain, and now Romney can all go to hell. With a divided government maybe nothing will get done. That would be a blessing. Romney or Obama are both going to lead this country over the cliff. It is better if we concentrate on picking up the pieces.

Richard Ryan| 5.23.12 @ 8:16AM

Jack,
Nothing will get done, and that's a "blessing?" maybe you are ignorant of the facts or can't comprehend the big numbers, but we are heading for the cliff at a rapid clip. Obama and Dems are pushing us faster. Conservative leadership would slow us down, maybe even keep us from a free fall. That's a big maybe, but I'll choose POSSIBLE disaster over certain disaster any day of the week.

Alan Brooks| 5.23.12 @ 5:00PM

"maybe you are ignorant of the facts or can't comprehend the big numbers, but we are heading for the cliff at a rapid clip."

Since many of you claim to be Christians, could it it be God's will we are to be punished severely? Jesus didn't only offer blessings, He also promised trials and tribulation; outright persecution-- but you want someone else to suffer.
Doesn't work that way.
I just want to see the look on GOP faces when it becomes their (our) turn to have the heaviness of the Old Rugged Cross placed on their shoulders.

Quartermaster| 5.24.12 @ 1:48PM

Could be Brooksie. But, God would stay his hand in judgment if the country were to repent of its sin and live lives ploeasing to him.

The chances of that happening are between and snowball's chance in a steel mill, and snowball's chance in hell. Too many will live their way, and ignore God's way. God makes demands, but they aren't having any.

So, yes, judgment is coming, but it is not predestined, although it is inevitable because people refuse to turn to God.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 3:43PM

"Since many of you claim to be Christians, could it it be God's will we are to be punished severely?"

He saves His Own from the hour of trial.

"Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial which is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell upon the earth." Rev. 3:10.

"the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment". 2 Peter 2:9.

"and if any one's name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." Rev. 20:15.

Alan Brooks| 5.24.12 @ 4:35PM

Jesus also promised persecution: the Christians way back when thought it would happen to someone else and then one dark day they saw lion teeth up real close-like..

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 4:49PM

You asked about ALL of us being punished. I was responding to that group think.

Of course Jesus said there would be persecution. It's still the same battle between good and evil, Religionists and biblical Christians.

But the Words of God and His promises to Christians as to what is to come, that I posted above are still true, and apply.

Are you going to be putting your trust in Him before it's too late?

chuck| 5.23.12 @ 8:21AM

Right, Jack.

Romney will keep Eric Holder at Justice, refusing to prosecute blacks. He will keep Janet Napelotano at DHS, so the groping will continue. He'll keep Hillary as Sec. of State to continue......does anyone know WTF Hillary's doing? He'll keep all the Commie "czars" of Obull$hit's, probably even keep that "gay czar", whatever the hell his name is.

He'll keep destroying jobs and spending trillions that we don't have, and of course he'll give away our military secrets to Putin.

Riiiiiiight! No difference between Romney and Obull$hit!

Jack, you're an ignorant troll. Go play with your Ron Paul blow-up doll.

Pat| 5.23.12 @ 10:08AM

Obama hates the evilllll Isrealis, that trumps anything the Kenyan Communist might do to the USA in the meantime and that works for the chump from cheeseland. Ever wonder why every article about Obamamao ends up a Romney bash for jackass?

Jack in Wi.| 5.23.12 @ 10:46AM

Obama has been a groveling, lackey of the Israeli Lobby his whole career. The only good thing about that, is that he hates being an Israeli stooge. He especially hates having to kiss the ass of the war criminal Bibbi Netanyahu. Romney on the other hand wants to turn American Middle East policy directly over to his life long pal Bibbi. He has said that the first thing he would do after his innaugeration is get on a plane for Israel to confer with dear old Bibbi.

June 8th is the 45th aniversary of the dastardly attack on the USS Liberty. It is long since time that these brave heros, who fought so bravely our enemy, were given the honors they are due. It is also long since time that we quit being Israel's stooge, doing it's fighting, and carrying them on our financial backs. Our soldiers have been in needless and stupid wars for over a decade. It is time to cut our losses and come home. As for the country that gave us the attack on the USS Liberty, the Lavon affair, selling our military intelligence to China and Russia, and Jonathon Pollard, let it go to hell where it surely belongs.

Pat| 5.23.12 @ 2:18PM

Well, you'll sure know if Isreal goes to hell or not because you'll be there to see it arrive.

richard ryan| 5.23.12 @ 11:06AM

You are either a) delusional or b) completely lacking intelligence. I'm not sure which, and have no interest in it, but none of what you predict will happen.

chuck| 5.23.12 @ 12:46PM

Have you no appreciation for SARCASM?

chuck| 5.23.12 @ 1:00PM

I was showing the idiocy of "Romney is as bad as Obama", which is what Jackass says everyday.

Obviously you are too slow to catch on.

Quartermaster| 5.24.12 @ 1:52PM

Romney is your standard New England Libtard. That's how he will givern, because that's how helived as MassGov.

RINOs tried to foist Dubya on us as a Conservative. He conducted himslef as a Lib when TXGov and that's how he acted as POTUS too. So, if you wish to engage in delusions of how Mittens will be so much better than Obama, be my guest.

There is only one reason to vote Mittens. he ain't the Kenyan, and we might, just might, get lucky. But to depend on luck shows just how far down the drain this country, and the GOP, have gone.

Jeamar| 5.23.12 @ 12:36PM

chuck: You know this because... Nothing you said made much sense.

chuck| 5.23.12 @ 12:47PM

SARCASM!!!!!!!!!!

benny havens| 5.23.12 @ 8:34AM

If the Rino is not elected the socialist will remain. I have heard some say that we need to then stack the House and Senate with conservatives to oppose the socialist’s reelection. The problem is the socialist has his executive order pen handy. Four more years of red ink will doom our economic system. However, this is fine with the socialist and his supporters. A total collapse of the system is just what Jeremiah Wright, Van Jones, Bill Ayers and George Soros want.

For all of you lefties out there who will vote for the socialist, be careful what you wish for. The collapse of the dollar affects you as well. The gas you buy for your BMW, the food you eat and the rent you pay requires money. If you think you are going to get gas, food and lodging for free, you are a complete fool. And when you hit the streets in protest, you will be arrested and labeled a Terrorist.

Oldefarte| 5.24.12 @ 3:05PM

You complete dumbarses, THIS-FOLLOWING is what you morons will bestow on the rest of us with your ''''''STUPIDLY STAYING HOME'''''BS. You worthless fools are so GD stupid you can't see the forest for the trees. There are ''''TWO'''''choices in November, YOU DUMB POS, so get your youknowhat our of your earlobe and pick the right one, because the wrong choice or NO CHOICE gets all of us the following:
'.....NewsmaxRep. Maxine Waters: TeaParty ‘CameWithaMean Spirit’ Thursday, May 24, 2012 10:31 AMBy: Jake MillerRep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., no stranger to provocative rhetoric, stirred the pot again on Sunday, accusing the tea party of harboring a “mean spirit” in a video posted on Youtube.
Speaking at a church service, Rep. Waters denounced the arrival of the tea party on Capitol Hill, exclaiming, “I don’t know what party they’ve been to — that must have been some bitter tea.”
She continued, “They came with a mean spirit, and now they want to cut the food stamps. They don’t want to fund education. They want to give all of the tax breaks to the richest people.”In her address to the congregation, Waters offered a defense of President Barack Obama’s health care reforms, explaining, “We had fashioned a way that, working with government, we could afford to have everybody have insurance no matter what level you are — that those people with no money whatsoever, no income, Medicaid. For our elders, Medicare. […] Well, all of that is being jeopardized. ”It is unclear whether her remarks referred to entitlement program reforms proposed by House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan, R-WI.Waters also indicted her critics’ motives, explaining, “When those people are messing with me in Washington, D.C., and they come after me because I’m trying to help poor people and people of color, I say ‘They ain’t seen nothing yet.’”Rep. Waters previously roused the ire of conservative activists in August of last year, when she told a gathering in Inglewood, Calif. that the tea party “can go straight to hell.”.........'

TLP| 5.23.12 @ 8:03AM

I'll say it, again.......Some people seem to, not only wanna Cut off their Noss to Spite their Faces, but Blow off their Heads, to Spite their Hats.

You didn't get your guy. He's not as (fill in the blank) as I'd like him to be. HE'S NOT PERFECT, like me.

We can't do 4 More Years of The Muslim. We won't survive another Term of a THING that has as his only goal, the utter Destruction of the United States of America.

Everything he does, is anathema to our Founding Principles. Everything he says, is a POS Lie. Everyone he surrounds himself with is either a Muslim, a Communist, a Marxist, a Maoist, an Anarchist, an Jew Hater, or an America Hater.

Name ONE ALLY that Trusts us. Name ONE ENEMY that Fears us.

We don't go to Space, anymore. Think about that. We can't put a Drill in the ground, anymore, and capture our own Energy Resources on Federal Lands.

He's using His EPA to Shut Down Coal. He's using His IRS to Confiscate Family Farms. He's SLAUGHTERING Farmer's Livestock. He's using His Interior Department to Shut Down Mining for Ores and Minerals. He's using His Fish and Wildlife Department to go after Fishermen. He used his Energy Secretary, and his Interior Secretary to Forge Documents, and put in place an ILLEGAL Drilling Moratorium.

And, in his Quest to take away our 2nd Amendment Right to Arm Ourselves against HIM? He has used his "Blacks Only" Justice Department to run Guns to the Mexican Drug Cartels, in an effort to KILL as many Mexican men, women, and children as possible, and then be able to point to the fact that these guns were Bought in America, and Walked over the Border. Yeah. By HIM!

I'm 54. This is NOT the Country I was born in. It's not the Country I grew up in.

The United States of America needs those DRUNKS in Russia, to get its people in to Space?

The United States is the Biggest Debtor Nation on the Planet?

The United States has a White Hating, Jew Hating, America Hating, MARXIST in the Oval Office?

America has a man with all of his Pertinent Personal Documentation Sealed in a Vault, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and nobody seems to want to see it, even though TWICE, when he was running for Office, in Illinois, he had a Judge UNSEAL his Opponents "SEALED DOCUMENTS". We're talking about the Biggest News Story in the History of the United States of America, and yet, NO-ONE wants to write it. Besides, the other guy was a Bully 47 Years ago, and he won't release every Tax Return he's ever gotten in his entire life.

If The Muslim gets 4 more years, there will be no-one to stop him from finishing us off. As I've already written, the Press, and the Media can See No Evil, when it comes to their boy. The Republican Leadership, in Congress, cares more about their sweet Offices, their primo Parking Spaces, and their Key to their Luxury Toilet, than they do with getting things done.

No matter what, he's gotta go.

I have always hoped that someone in the Secret Service would Step Up, and fulfill his or her Oath to Protect and Defend the Constitution of the United States of America, from all Enemies, both Foreign and DOMESTIC.

(He has people from The Muslim Brotherhood, in sensitive positions, throughout his Administration. They're in positions at TSA, Homeland Security, and the Department of Defence.)

I always thought that the Secret Service would recognize the Domestic Enemy, when he produced himself. I always thought that they would accept their responsibility of being our First Line of Defence, against any would be Nero or Caligula or Mao or Hitler. I thought that they knew that Protecting the President was just their job. Their OATH is to the Constitution, just as the Roman Praetorian Guard were charged with the Protection of the Emperor, but their ALLEGIANCE was to The Empire, sometimes, to the detriment of the Emperor of the Day.

But, I digress.

This is where we are. You can take the Red Pill, and fight for your Freedoms, and a return to our American way of life?

Or, you can take the Blue Pill, because the guy running is not Your Guy, he's not Everything you want him to be, and you will be put back in to the Machine where you can live out your life as a member of a Group, living a life of Servitude to the Ruling Class, and Reminiscing about the days when America was a Superpower, and Countries feared, and idolized us, at the same time. And we could live our lives free of the Oppressive Yoke of an All Encompassing, All Powerful, Central Government.

It really is, just that simple.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.23.12 @ 12:35PM

"We can't do 4 More Years of The Muslim."

THANK YOU.

TexasMom2012| 5.23.12 @ 2:17PM

Amen! Romney has never been my guy but I would crawl blindfolded over broken glass to vote for him over the One. I was encouraged by his Day One ad to believe he may actually understand enough to open up our energy policy to include energy from below rather than only above. And his turn around of the Olympics tells me he can be creative. Hopefully he can force our unelected bureauacracy to re-evaluate all of our regulations with the intention of eliminating unsustainable costs to business.

Oldefarte| 5.24.12 @ 3:10PM

It's that simple for you, me and some more; but some of these dumb AH's here have their sexual organ so far into their ear lobes, their brain cells are scrambled apparently. See my above re: the lovely Maxine from the Land of Oz!!!!!

Alan Brooks| 5.23.12 @ 4:00PM

'Compassionate conservatism' is an oxymoron.

Mickeybutane| 5.23.12 @ 11:51PM

Yeah, and Lame Brained Liberal is not - your point?

Oldefarte| 5.24.12 @ 3:13PM

You're correct AB, since COMPASSION never works with liberals/progressives/domestic terrorists; since they always are never satisfied and want a little bit more and income earners' INCREASED FAIR SHARE [IE WELFARE]. We tried compassion previously, now it full bore GUTMENT OF WELFARE......F*&K EM!!!!!!

Joellen| 5.23.12 @ 6:59AM

I agree Tom. I only donate to true conservatives - and if I find out they have betrayed the Constitution, then they too are dropped. I also do not contribute to the Catholic Bishops Appeals - havent in years (before I even knew of their involvement with ACORN). Instead I donate to Priest For Life and every other organization that I know the Bishops cant get their fingers into. I do believe holding the money back is part of the solution. If you havent yet, get involved in your local TEA party. Call your Representatives every chance you get - and get your family and friends to do the same. Never give up and never stop praying - remember all, GOD is in control and HE WINS.

Tom| 5.23.12 @ 7:08AM

Joellen,

If you haven't already, read the book "The Creature from Jekyll Island" -- while I don't necessarily buy all that the author concludes, it's one of the most eye-opening books I've ever read and provides fascinating insights into the origins of the GOP / Democrat Ruling Class.

Joellen| 5.23.12 @ 12:12PM

Added to my book list - my only problem with it, Willie The tax cheat Nelson endorses it. I'll get through that though.

Von Mises Jr| 5.23.12 @ 8:33AM

I agree with Tom and Joellen. And another kudos for "The Creature from Jekyll Island" that I have not read yet. Perhaps Perp can give us a book review?
But Joellen is spot on that we all should be getting emails and attending TEA Party (as well as Americans for Prosperity) meetings. Besides meeting and learning from great Americans, you get information about national and statewide issues. We can get many thousands of emails out in a couple hours in one county alone to organize against state and county issues.
I have met Peter Ferarra (whom wrote for TAS today) at a TEA Party meeting. I have met Robert Moffit from Heritage, Betsy McCoughey, Dr. Jerome Corsi, Richard Mack (AZ Sheriff who overturned the Brady Bill), Charles Payne, Deneen Borelli, David Webb, Mychal Massie and many other conservative speakers. I meet with local State Senators and Assemblymen. It is a way to be educated and connected. It is not too late to make a difference.

Al Adab| 5.23.12 @ 11:26AM

We keep hearing about the Jeckyl Island book. It must go on our to read list.

When can we expect Romney and his handlers to go after the President the way he went after his GOP rivals? When we need a street fighter to take the issues to the voters we get accomodationist, cross the aisle, mainstream republicanism once again. Those who fail to stand for something truely stand for nothing.

Von Mises Jr| 5.23.12 @ 11:59AM

Like McCain, perhaps we need to try and drag him across the finish line. But if we elect more conservatives like mike Lee to replace Bennett and Murdock to replace Lugar; we will win the war.

aware| 5.23.12 @ 5:01PM

Griffin's "Creature from Jekyll Island" has to be on every informed, liberty loving American's bookshelf, not just a list.

Learn what shadow government can do and has done. It is not possible for the American people to regain control of government with the Federal Reserve system in place. Period.

Von Mises Jr| 5.23.12 @ 11:41PM

I placed an order at www.mises.org the other day, but I haven't ordered from Amazon yet to add this book to my shelf. But it is a "must have" after several major kudos. I enjoy reading this kind of stuff.

martin j smith| 5.23.12 @ 7:14AM

Romney was not my man and I do support his manner of running his campaign but I consider this particular election a referendum on Obama. Thus the only reasonable way of voting NO NO NO NO NO NONO and NO is to vote for Romney. I sincerely hope that neither Romney or the Republican Leadershit do not take such a vote if Romney wins as a mandate for the. The stink. But Obama stinks far worse.

Lawrence| 5.23.12 @ 9:50AM

"I sincerely hope that neither Romney or the Republican Leadershit do not take such a vote if Romney wins as a mandate for [them]."

The Tea Party is entirely responsible for the enthusiasm that swept the Republicans back into power in the House and for the tremendous gains in the Senate, but the conservative punditry has ended up focusing on where they fell short (O'Donnell and Angle) than on the otherwise massive tidal wave.

That wasn't an anomaly, either; the conventional wisdom is that Palin was a mistake as a VP pick, even though she provided the only real boost to a moderate's miserable camapaign.

It is entirely predictable that, if Romney wins, the moderates will see it as a mandate for moderation; no matter how close the race ends up being, how lackluster the Republican turnout, it will be seen as a vindication of the strategy of running in the middle, just to the right of whatever Stalinist is running for the other side.

They will conclude that the conservatives will always vote for their candidate because the alternative if worse -- and why shouldn't they conclude that? They will have been proven right.

And, year after year, the situation will worsen, so the argument will never be entirely invalid that we must support the Republican progressive because the Democrat radical is worse.

As bad as Obama is, the situation isn't going to get better without sustained conservative governance, and so -- while we should have truly revolted against the GOP leadership earlier -- there's no better time GOING FORWARD to send the very clear message that our votes cannot be taken for granted.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.23.12 @ 12:34PM

Right on as always, martin j smith.

martin j smith| 5.23.12 @ 7:14AM

Err or first sentence: I do not support Romney manner of running... etc.

gearjammer| 5.23.12 @ 7:47AM

The majority of Americans do not want your kind of conservatism ruling. Center right is nor far right. You all just have to get over it. The social issues are a particular problem. Unless some ive and let live on marriage is percieved as part of our makeup we lose. Being adament on abortion is more easily understood. And, then we have those pesky Latinos. It is such a tight electoral map-but none of you care about reality. Just start bellowing about Rinos-that'll do the trick.

lsudolemite| 5.23.12 @ 10:11AM

If Republicans are to capitulate to liberalism because of demographics, surrender conservative principles, and provide no contrasting vision for the country's future, then why not simply allow Obama to be reelected? If you fall from a cliff that's 300 feet high instead of 200 feet, you're still just as dead when you hit the bottom. That is the legacy of GOP moderation, "compassionate conservatism" and reaching across the aisle: slow-motion certain death, regardless of whether it's politically palatable to acknowledge.

Indy| 5.23.12 @ 8:17AM

Romney who claimed to be "severely conservative" could take a step in the right direction by taking the lead now to oppose the Law of the Sea Treaty, so far, only 26 senators are on record as opposing it. Guess who from the GOP supports it? wait for it....McCain, Murkowski and I'm sure you could add Lugar, Graham (he is McCain's side kick)

http://dailycaller.com/2012/05.....-steroids/

We need conservative sites to raise awareness on this treaty and how it will cede our national sovereignty to the UN and it will redistribute wealth. TAS, we need your help to call on Romney to oppose this. My guess is this will be a Lame Duck vote...bad, very bad for the US.

Please call you senators and spread the word.

Von Mises Jr| 5.23.12 @ 8:39AM

Indy is spot on. LOST is being touted by dick Morris to be on the agenda for the Lame Duck session if ObaMao wins or loses. It redistributes one-half of the profits from our offshore oil drilling, fisheries and any other wealth creation from the seas to the United Nations. It is a grand scheme to redistribute America's wealth to the Third World. It is only a matter of time that America will join the Third World. And the UN and DC elites will be our international Aristocrats. We shall be their serfs.

Al Adab| 5.23.12 @ 11:31AM

Absolutely. It represents another example of the internationalism of The Left which for fifty years has blamed nationism for the ills of mankind. A total world government, the elimination of the nation state and the creation of centralized government is their goal.

On our side, we must ask when the GOP and its selected nominee will begin to go after the DEM rival the way Romney went after his GOP rivals. A gentlemanly, accomodationist campaign is the road to defeat. Ask Dewey, Dole or McCain.

Clint| 5.23.12 @ 8:20AM

Obama Is A Tarpster, And Romney Is A Tarpster.

Obama Orchestrated Obamacare, And Romney Orchestrated Romneycare.

" Gingrich: Conservatives Won't Let Wall St. And Romney "Buy Election"

"Look, the conservative movement is not going to sit by and let a Massachusetts liberal, who's pro-abortion, pro-gun control, pro-tax increase, pro-gay rights, whose Romneycare in two articles in the last 24 hours were described as the equivalent of Obamacare and who George Soros says is just fine. He'd be happy with either Obama or Romney [be]cause they are both the establishment -- that's just George Soros," Newt Gingrich told FOX News' Bret Baier on the campaign trail in Tampa, Florida.

"Now, the conservative movement isn't going to sit back and say 'Oh yes, let's let Wall Street, and Goldman Sachs and Mitt Romney buy the election. So you're going to see a real grass roots fight. It will be people power vs. Goldman Sachs and Mitt Romney," he added."

Oldefarte| 5.24.12 @ 3:20PM

Obviously you're one of those who alternatively prefer the following [since that is what you'll give to the rest of us with your lack of attention to your preferred candidate and possible PAYCHECK PROVIDER, this woman's compatriot-in-crime]:
'...... NewsmaxRep. Maxine Waters: TeaParty ‘CameWithaMean Spirit’ Thursday, May 24, 2012 10:31 AMBy: Jake MillerRep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., no stranger to provocative rhetoric, stirred the pot again on Sunday, accusing the tea party of harboring a “mean spirit” in a video posted on Youtube.
Speaking at a church service, Rep. Waters denounced the arrival of the tea party on Capitol Hill, exclaiming, “I don’t know what party they’ve been to — that must have been some bitter tea.”
She continued, “They came with a mean spirit, and now they want to cut the food stamps. They don’t want to fund education. They want to give all of the tax breaks to the richest people.”In her address to the congregation, Waters offered a defense of President Barack Obama’s health care reforms, explaining, “We had fashioned a way that, working with government, we could afford to have everybody have insurance no matter what level you are — that those people with no money whatsoever, no income, Medicaid. For our elders, Medicare. […] Well, all of that is being jeopardized. ”It is unclear whether her remarks referred to entitlement program reforms proposed by House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan, R-WI.Waters also indicted her critics’ motives, explaining, “When those people are messing with me in Washington, D.C., and they come after me because I’m trying to help poor people and people of color, I say ‘They ain’t seen nothing yet.’”Rep. Waters previously roused the ire of conservative activists in August of last year, when she told a gathering in Inglewood, Calif. that the tea party “can go straight to hell."........'

Oldefarte| 5.24.12 @ 9:10PM

PS: Oh , if the above was/is not good enough for you and you somehow need further evidence of the need to vote one way in November versus the other, let me perhaps add some spice to your mental capacity to choose by the following inducement:
'....Breitbart.com.....Democrats Run Fundraiser Celebrating Barney Frank's Coming Out Anniversary by Ben Shapiro 5 hours ago The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is holding a very special campaign event for Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) on May 30. It’s an important 25th anniversary that deserves celebration, according to the DCCC. What happened 25 years ago? He came out of the closet as gay. “Barney is an inspiration to all of us as one of the first openly gay Congressmen to serve in the House,” writes Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), another openly gay Congressman. “This event will be particularly moving for me as it will be one of our last events with him before he retires this year.”But it isn’t just a celebration for Frank letting the world know about his sexual orientation. It’s an opportunity for the DCCC to fundraise: “Leader Nancy Pelosi, DCCC Chairman Steve Israel, and I would love for you to join us as we pay tribute to his service. To purchase tickets to the event, please click here.”It is worth remembering just how Frank came out of the closet. In 1985, after entering Congress, Frank was not openly gay. He was, however, hiring a male prostitute for sex and housing him in his apartment, from which location the prostitute was running a prostitution ring. Only after the scandal broke did Frank come out of the closet. Now that’s cause for celebration – being caught with a male prostitute living in your apartment, then having to come out to quash the scandal.No word on whether the DCCC will throw a fundraiser on the upcoming 10th anniversary of former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey coming out in 2014.......'

Lawrence| 5.23.12 @ 8:47AM

Another commenter here suggests that those who are not willing to support Romney are like the drones in The Matrix, swallowing the "blue pill" to return to a life of deliberate self-delusion, but I think he has the blue-pill/red-pill analogy exactly backwards.

Mitt Romney is a managerial progressive and a technocratic statist. His only actual political accomplishments are the very statist expansions of government with MassCare and carbon caps. The only time he has shown an unwillingness to change his views for political expediency is to defend statist positions like his support for the individual mandate, which he continues to defend to this day. The only time he has ever stood apart from the Republican mainstream is to stand to its left.

Even in the primary campaign, Romney has let slip his progressive worldview, at one time suggesting that he would reform Obamacare rather than repeal it, attacking Perry for speaking the truth about entitlements, accepting the welfare state as a permanent system of support for the poor, and endorsing the leftist position of tying the minimum wage to inflation.

Obama's awful, but the problem isn't just Obama.

The problem's PROGRESSIVISM, and you don't defeat progressivism by replacing a utopian progressive with a managerial progressive.

The problem is the Leviathan state, and you don't cut Leviathan down to size by electing just another moderate Republican who cannot name even one function of Housing and Urban Development from which the federal government ought to remove itself entirely.

Mark Steyn is right that we're heading toward a real catastrophe, and the only way to avert it is to reduce the size of government, dramatically and immediately. Mitt Romney is incapable of doing that; he's incapable of standing to the right of Ryan's entirely inadequate plan to balance the budget in TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS.

He's more likely to triangulate off of Ryan's plan, to negotiate with Democrats for a plan that will raise taxes now for the implausible promise of spending cuts later -- and he's already pledged to work with Democrats "or die trying."

Romney isn't adequate even as a first step to fiscal sanity and constitutional governance, and the truly self-deluded are the ones who think it's enough that he's a Republican who's not Obama.

aware| 5.23.12 @ 5:10PM

Absolutely right. Instead of meekly getting in line and holding the banners the Party commissars shove in their hands, conservatives should be mad as hell. All of your "choices" got the bums rush, every one since Reagan.

The establishment is never going to change if you keep taking it like good little soldiers. I'd say the destruction of the Republican establishment is just as critical as kicking Obama to the curb.

When does that start?

randyinrocklin| 5.24.12 @ 1:48PM

In 28 years the interest on the debt will overwhelm us to a point that we will be bankrupt long before we even balance the budget.

Lawrence| 5.23.12 @ 9:24AM

About Antle's article, I notice that he claims, quite correctly, that conservative skepticism about George H.W. Bush ("Bush 41") and opposition to his progressive policies were healthy for conservatism, that "Conservatives gained in the long term by keeping the Republican president at a distance."

I'd add, in their defense, that the conservative punditry wasn't entirely in the tank for George W. Bush ("Bush 43"), as both Rush Limbaugh and National Review were criticizing the growth of government under Bush as early as Fall 2003, but I would agree that conservatives were generally less antagonistic to Bush 43 than to Bush 41, and that it was to their detriment.

But notice that Antle doesn't AND CANNOT argue that the conservative resistance actually made Bush 41 govern as a conservative.

"That presidency didn't work out terribly well for George Bush."

We cannot direct the president, we can only protect ourselves, and since Romney is far less than what we need (to say nothing of what we would prefer), I believe supporting him is a mistake that will implicate both the Republican Party and the conservative movement in the permanence of Leviathan and in the catastrophe that will predictably result.

I sincerely hope I'm wrong about Romney, but it's utterly foolish to expect any politician to grow TOWARD conservatism while in office in D.C., and it's foolish to expect any politician to grow a pair when (as Sowell has frequently observed, even as recently as last week) he can just as easily kick the can down the road to the next election.

Perhaps out of a understandable fear of repeating his father's mistake of speaking too rashly, Romney has never displayed the courage required of statesmen in a time of crisis. He ran this campaign as the presumptive nominee, but he has never given conservatives a reason to support him other than that he's not as bad as the other guys. This timid campaigner cannot be expected to be a political combatant in office, especially not for a political philosophy he himself does not hold.

We were right to mock the so-called conservative pundits who were taken in by Obama's pretending to a post-partisan moderate. We would be no less ridiculous (i.e., worthy of ridicule) for hoping that Romney's a fiscal conservative when his record points decisively the other way.

As much as I hope to be proven wrong, I suspect that we'll see more and more conservatives realize that a Romney presidency is a mistake, no less so because of the disastrous alternative. The choice between Obama and Romney will be seen as the Hobson's choice that it always was (Romney should have run in the Democratic primary), and refusing to support either will be seen as the only reasonable and honorable position.

Myself, I'm not opposed to Romney out of spite, I'm opposed because of foresight.

I'm not petulant, I'm ahead of the curve.

Vern Crisler| 5.23.12 @ 10:25AM

Good points. Conservatives are deluding themselves in thinking Romney will tilt their way.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.23.12 @ 12:32PM

Vernie,

Conservatives are deluding themselves if they think Obama will tilt their way. Are you going to allow your vote to go to the destroyer of our nation by not voting for Romney if he wins the nomination?

Derek Leaberry| 5.23.12 @ 12:37PM

Think long term rather than short. A Romney Administration will rip the Republican Party to shreds. Better to have the economy collapse under a second Obama Administration and reap the benefits of a discredited Democratic Party.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.23.12 @ 12:47PM

I am thinking long term, though. I'm with TLP on this. Utterly and completely.

You really don't believe that Romney will have any conservatives in his admin?

Unless of course you don't consider anyone but Ron Paul types as conservatives. I've sort of forgotten as we haven't chatted in some time but if I'm not mistaken, that's what you think, right?

Why is it that Ron Paul believers always side with the Left on the most crucial issues to conservatism~ War and abortion and actually, just about everything else.. and want us to lose this election, a most serious one~ to Obama?

The economy doesn't HAVE to collapse. It WILL under Obama the dictator, though.

Romney's a business man who is into prosperity for the country.

There's NO hope of prosperity under Obama.

Derek Leaberry| 5.23.12 @ 1:19PM

A country with abortion rights and homosexual marriage doesn't deserve prosperity. America deserves Obama because a majority of its people are bad.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.23.12 @ 1:29PM

Abortion "rights" is not what is desired by conservatives or Republicans. That's the Left's Religion.

Same for Homosexual "rights". Ok, ok, not ALL Republicans are conservative, I get that. But the majority are.

As to not deserving to prosper as a nation because of these horrors, well, none of us "deserves" anything. But there are those of us who DO beg for God's Mercy in our lives and try to live it as best we can and there are those of us who do NOT want to give up fighting as best we can for conservative principles to win.

Jesus is the Hope of Mankind anyway, not Man. As Christians, we know what the end result is going to be. That Christ returns, and the "government shall be upon His Shoulder." (Is.).

Until then, I say we vote Republican. It's better than the alternative, and sometimes you just have to consider the alternative, right?

W| 5.23.12 @ 2:52PM

DL
So our country does not deserve prosperity because of abortion and homosexual marriage? That makes no sense, and it sounds like those crazy ministers who said we deserved 911 because of abortion, and Wright saying we desered 911 because of our history.
You don't really mean this, do you?

Al Adab| 5.23.12 @ 6:09PM

Actually, if our acceptance of and promulgation of the sacrifice of children to the godess Choice and perversion in sexual matters has led to our nation "being weighed in the balance and found wanting" then D L would be correct. He judges the nations even though His people are the salt (the preservative) of the earth. A remnant shall survive. Let us hope, and pray, that this is not yet the stage at which we find ourselves.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.23.12 @ 11:28PM

Well I guess Obama is doing what he was destined to do, isn't he? The ushering in of the Great Tribulation and the Anti-Christ, perhaps?

Still, Christians and conservatives will will vote for the Republican nominee. We live in a fallen World, we are fallen beings, and yet by His mercy and Grace we as a country have been the most successful and prosperous country on the face of the Earth.

No candidate is going to be the ultimate perfect person, that's not possible. But we must consider the alternative. Obama??

And the Great Tribulation that Jesus spoke about in Mt. 24 is going to happen, it's God's Will, whether we hope and pray it isn't yet or not. But come to think of it, you just reminded me of something Jesus said.. "And if those days had not been shortened, no human being would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened." Mt. 24:22.

Which brings us to a whole different and way more important issue, doesn't it?

PolishKnight| 5.23.12 @ 3:43PM

If one Obama administration isn't enough to discredit the Dems, then nothing is. Since they control the media and most of government, they define credibility and one of their supporters made a point to me that Obama is "popular on the world stage." Even despite Obama's horrid performance, he still has a 40%+ approval rating with his hard core constituencies of race based entitlement groups, unwed mothers, and gays. Even if Obama pushed the red button and nuked the planet, they'd still be chanting "yes we can!" from a fallout shelter. They simply don't care.

Obama's pushing towards the end zone and this is through demographics: In a few years or so, he can push for some kind of amnesty and get a few supreme court justices to rewrite The Constitution and that's it. Hate gay marriage and abortion all you like, but they're here to stay and more importantly, simply distractions and irrelevant.

Oldefarte| 5.24.12 @ 9:17PM

Oh for sure, I mean we can survive an accumulation of the following sort of thing which will only multiply and extrapolite a thousand fold. You died-in-the-wool-conservatives-that cannot-tolerate-a Romney-presidency, right?:
'......Breitbart.comDemocratsRunFundraiserCelebratingBarneyFrank's Coming Out Anniversary by Ben Shapiro5 hours ago The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is holding a very special campaign event for Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) on May 30. It’s an important 25th anniversary that deserves celebration, according to the DCCC. What happened 25 years ago? He came out of the closet as gay. “Barney is an inspiration to all of us as one of the first openly gay Congressmen to serve in the House,” writes Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), another openly gay Congressman. “This event will be particularly moving for me as it will be one of our last events with him before he retires this year.”But it isn’t just a celebration for Frank letting the world know about his sexual orientation. It’s an opportunity for the DCCC to fundraise: “Leader Nancy Pelosi, DCCC Chairman Steve Israel, and I would love for you to join us as we pay tribute to his service. To purchase tickets to the event, please click here.”It is worth remembering just how Frank came out of the closet. In 1985, after entering Congress, Frank was not openly gay. He was, however, hiring a male prostitute for sex and housing him in his apartment, from which location the prostitute was running a prostitution ring. Only after the scandal broke did Frank come out of the closet. Now that’s cause for celebration – being caught with a male prostitute living in your apartment, then having to come out to quash the scandal.No word on whether the DCCC will throw a fundraiser on the upcoming 10th anniversary of former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey coming out in 2014.....'

Vern Crisler| 5.23.12 @ 12:46PM

I think Obama is going to lose anyway. The economy, you know.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.23.12 @ 1:01PM

Not if we all think that it's better to stay home or not vote for the Republican nominee!

That's exactly how we got Obama I.

Ready then, for Obama II?
Not me.

Romney = McCain| 5.23.12 @ 3:55PM

Wrong. McCain lost because moderate RINOs voted overwhelmingly for Obama because they were ashamed of the conservative running along side McCain. If you trust God as much as you say you wouldn't keep falling in line & attempting to elect the same power hungry RINOs election after election simply because they are Republicans. Your fear of losing gives Barack Obama & the left more & more power. Conservatives never get elected because Republican voters can't get over their fear of losing & stand behind the conservative principles they claim to hold dear & the God they claim to trust. Romney if by some miracle is actually elected will not change one thing.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.23.12 @ 11:40PM

Voting for Obama as you say they did is exactly what I am saying RINOS will do again.

A Republican in Name Only will again re-elect him, indeed.

They will refuse to vote for Romney because he isn't perfect.

I was for Herman Cain. And if he were still in the race, I'd be out there physically working for him as well as financially supporting him. But these RINO'S that you speak of destroyed him.

RINO'S despise strong conservatives, because they make them look bad.
Par for the course.

I do trust God. That's why I'm confident. That's why I know that it's His Will that I not allow my vote go to Obama in any WAY SHAPE OR FORM.

Got it?

Maybe if you started trusting in God, you wouldn't see fit to hurl your phony accusations around so much, eh?

Oldefarte| 5.24.12 @ 9:21PM

For sure, lets get them there RINOS goooood by allowing the following to become standared fare for your children, grandchildren and yourselves constantly. G-d forbid if another one of them RINOS gets elected when the alternative will become Barney & Co 24-7.Charge on, dumbarses:
'........ Breitbart.comDemocrats Run Fundraiser Celebrating Barney Frank's Coming Out Anniversary by Ben Shapiro 5 hours ago The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is holding a very special campaign event for Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) on May 30. It’s an important 25th anniversary that deserves celebration, according to the DCCC. What happened 25 years ago? He came out of the closet as gay. “Barney is an inspiration to all of us as one of the first openly gay Congressmen to serve in the House,” writes Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), another openly gay Congressman. “This event will be particularly moving for me as it will be one of our last events with him before he retires this year.”But it isn’t just a celebration for Frank letting the world know about his sexual orientation. It’s an opportunity for the DCCC to fundraise: “Leader Nancy Pelosi, DCCC Chairman Steve Israel, and I would love for you to join us as we pay tribute to his service. To purchase tickets to the event, please click here.”It is worth remembering just how Frank came out of the closet. In 1985, after entering Congress, Frank was not openly gay. He was, however, hiring a male prostitute for sex and housing him in his apartment, from which location the prostitute was running a prostitution ring. Only after the scandal broke did Frank come out of the closet. Now that’s cause for celebration – being caught with a male prostitute living in your apartment, then having to come out to quash the scandal.No word on whether the DCCC will throw a fundraiser on the upcoming 10th anniversary of former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey coming out in 2014.......'

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 11:56PM

Hey Oldefarte,

The Lefty Libertarians (who are most of these anti-conservative trolls here, are FOR Barney-ism.
They believe that everybody should behave as perverted as they want to, "long as it don't hurt nobody".

"They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for whatever overcomes a man, to that he is enslaved." 2 Pe. 2:19.

It's the diff. between the Occupy party & the TEA party.

Mike Hawk| 5.23.12 @ 9:26AM

McCain ran a horrible campaign, the worst I ever experienced. Worse than Dole or Bush 41 or Ford. McCain generated no enthusiasm, no leadership persona (charisma deprived) and dealt with no issues. In my locale, heavily Republican, the Oborgs were all over the place and their HQ in the town (Democrat enclave) was always full of them. There was no HQ for Capt. McQueeg and the GOP office could not get campaign materials even if we wanted them. No wonder he lost. Romney had better run a campaign worthy of the name, not a schmooze fest that reaches across the lines.

Bob| 5.23.12 @ 9:27AM

You GOPukes are simply amazing, goose stepping right-left-right-left. At least Reagan whose policies I despise to infinite proportions stood for something. What the hell does Romney stand for or any other Reagan leftover GOPukes?

Mike Hawk| 5.23.12 @ 5:59PM

F/O you jerk.

Oldefarte| 5.24.12 @ 9:23PM

I'll tell you the least common denominator of what Romney will stand for, genius.......ANTI-BARNEYISM [SEE ABOVE LINK]!!!!!!!

bettyandveronica| 5.23.12 @ 9:32AM

A petulant vote against Romney is just an egoistic self indulgence, Staying home amounts to the same thing. If nothing else, look at it this way, at least you won't have to look at, or listen to Mooch, and pay for her vacations, for another four years.

Anommynous| 5.23.12 @ 10:40AM

Why did the Republicans leave George W. Bush hanging when he tried to reform Social Security? I'm sick of W. being used as a scapegoat for all bad behavior of Republicans in the House and Senate. There's plenty of blame to go around.

Derek Leaberry| 5.23.12 @ 10:50AM

Conservatism came out of each Bush presidency demonstrably weaker than when each began. This was spectacularly true of the first Bush presidency. Yet the second Bush presidency thrust upon the nation anti-American and anti-Christian Barack Obama.

Sometimes it is good to lose the White House. It was better that Gerald Ford lost in 1976. The failed Jimmy Carter presidency gave conservatives Ronald Reagan and the first conservative Presidency since the 1920s. George H.W. Bush's defeat in 1992 gave conservatives the giant tidal wave of 1994 and the first conservative control of Congress in modern times. John McCain's defeat in 2008 led to the Tea Party and the 2010 landslide. A Mitt Romney defeat in November will lead to Republican landslides in 2014 and 2016 and takeover of the presidency in 2017 of some sort of true conservative. It is in the interest of conservatism to lose in November 2012 so that conservatives can achieve overwhelming political power in 2017 and revolutionize a dying country.

Jack in Wi.| 5.23.12 @ 10:59AM

Derek: You are spot on. Romney will be far more destructive of the conservative movement then a lame duck Obama administration. The elites of the Republican Party have been feeding us dog food like the Bushes, Dole, McCain, and now Romney for over 2 decades. Conservatism cannot stand any more victories like that. Bush 43 and Cheney almost destroyed the conservative movement. Romney would be its death knell.

Oldefarte| 5.24.12 @ 9:25PM

You want 'dog food'? See the above Braitbart link concerning Old Barney, and that's what more ObamaNation will result in!!!!!!!!

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.23.12 @ 12:40PM

"Sometimes it is good to lose the White House."

Wow.

It really isn't the same thing as like a gambler who has to hit rock bottom before he learns his lesson kind of thing.

You're talking about an entire nation of people, here. You're talking about another four years of the completion of the destruction of a nation.

aware| 5.23.12 @ 5:16PM

And you figure Romney is capable of even understanding the calamity we are going to have, much less do something about it?

If you think Obama gone equals we're home free, you got another thing coming.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.23.12 @ 11:42PM

1. Yes.
2. Never said that, or thought it.

aware| 5.23.12 @ 5:13PM

Agree. It's pathetic to behold.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 4:00PM

Anarchists are the dregs of our society. Too bad you see fit to be one!

kwan| 5.23.12 @ 11:17AM

To win a war you must first acknowledge that you are in a war. RINO's are essentially useful idiots that assist the internal enemy: The Democrat Party. The Democrats believe that to achieve "fairness" and "social justice" they must fundamentally transform our country into a Totalitarian Socialist State. Everything Obama has done since entering office has been done to achieve this intended transformation. Any dunce or RINO who is unable to see what the Democrat Party is up to after 3+ years of the Obama Presidency is in perpetual denial of the obvious.

Lawrence| 5.23.12 @ 1:33PM

The commenter who goes by "One Mediator, Jesus" asks a couple questions of us conservatives who oppose Romney.

(How are we supposed to address this person? "One"? "Mr. Jesus"? I'm not a fan of pseudonyms that aren't easily addressible names.)

"Are you going to allow your vote to go to the destroyer of our nation by not voting for Romney if he wins the nomination?"

This question is based on an emotional appeal that is based on the completely irrational belief that refusing to vote for Romney is equivalent to voting for Obama.

It's not -- or if it is, my simultaneous refusal to vote for Obama is equivalent to a vote for Romney, and the two cancel out.

It's bad enough to try to blackmail and browbeat conservatives into supporting the moderate/progressive Republican on the basis of how bad the alternative is; don't add to it with the nonsense that one's refusal to vote for the RINO is tantamount to voting for the Democrat.

Wrap your head around the fact that WE'RE NOT VOTING FOR EITHER OF 'EM.

It's a Hobson's choice, similar to 1912 when two Progressives (Wilson and TR) were running for the two major parties. A pox on both their houses.

You obviously disagree with the decision to abstain, but it can be a principled decision, and it is MOST CERTAINLY a decision NOT to choose one over the other.

"You really don't believe that Romney will have any conservatives in his admin?"

For many of us, that's not the issue. Sure, we can expect conservative appointments and officials. The question is, is that enough to warrant our support?

I don't think it is, especially not when we're heading to what Mark Steyn has correctly identified as a serious catastrophe. If Romney isn't capable of curtailing government quickly and significantly in order to avoid this crisis, then he's not worth supporting.

He probably is better than Obama, but that very low standard simply isn't good enough. It's not enough to have a candidate who'll take his foot off the gas as we approach the cliff, we need someone who'll put his foot on the brakes and turn the car around.

The commenter writes, "Romney's a business man who is into prosperity for the country."

He may be "into" prosperity, but that doesn't mean he understands what he needs to do to ensure prosperity, much less that he's willing and able to carry it out.

The evidence of his entire political career points to one thing.

Mitt Romney's a progressive.

He may be a managerial progressive rather than a utopian progressive like Obama, but he's still a progressive.

He may be a technocratic statist rather than a stealth radical, but he's still a progressive -- and I would add that his lack of political convictions is a worrying thing, even if it's better than Obama's deliberate deception.

He may have surrounded himself with businessmen rather than various flavors of Marxists, but there are plenty of progressives in the business world, particularly in the corporatist, "crony capitalist" world of Wall Street.

(Just because Romney's pro-business doesn't mean he's pro-market.)

He doesn't believe in small government, and he doesn't believe in limited government. He just believes in efficient government, and he thinks he's just the guy to be Leviathan's rational manager.

His is precisely the sort of statist attitude that has run both political parties for generations with only the rarest exceptions (Coolidge, Goldwater, Reagan) and which has nearly driven this country into the abyss.

Enough is enough.

TexasMom2012| 5.23.12 @ 2:31PM

One acronym for you. SCOTUS. We cannot afford another Elena Kagan. So if you do not vote for either candidate you have abdicated your responsibility to prevent a far left liberal loading up of the SCOTUS. You have also helped the Senate abdicate its responsibility to PASS a DANG BUDGET! So go ahead and take your "ball" and go home because you are part of the problem. There is no perfect candidate. Pick your best alternative and work to load up Congress with strong conservatives, they write all legislation, the President only advocates for his position and either signs or vetoes congressional bills!

Lawrence| 5.23.12 @ 2:55PM

In practice, the President has a lot of power setting the agenda as the leader of his political party, even if that party has majority control of Congress. That's why Bush got his way with the GOP Congress on massive spending, including NCLB and Medicare Part D.

But if we can trust a Republican Congress to set the agenda even with a President Romney, we ought to be able to trust them to reject radical judicial appointees from a President Obama -- and I do believe that conservatives should work to elect a Republican majority in Congress as a bulwark against progressivism, regardless of who wins the Presidency.

A President Romney would obviously be more likely to push for some items on the conservative agenda, but the problem is that he appears to be a progressive who cannot be trusted to rein in Leviathan.

In the long term, the SCOTUS composition does matter enormously, but if you believe, as I do, that Steyn is right that we're heading toward something that more resembles collapse rather than decline, we cannot afford to let such long-term considerations trump what we MUST do now to avoid the abyss.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 12:20AM

Lawrence,

You make it sound as though Mark Steyn won't be voting for Romney, or that he is telling everyone not to vote for him.

But I just bet that's not what he's doing, or is about in truth.

darcy| 5.24.12 @ 3:06AM

I'm sure glad you're writing here lately, Lawrence. Your logic is razor sharp.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 3:40AM

Ahh, darcy's true colors.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 12:17AM

I knew that somehow not everyone out of Texas was bad.
Heh, just kidding.
Thanks for your EXCELLENT comments!

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 12:37AM

Oops. Meant to say, wasn't bad, above.
Ah, well.

Vern Crisler| 5.23.12 @ 3:33PM

Good points Lawrence. Also, One Mediator, Jesus, is Margie, resident anti-trinitarian, or anti-anything she thinks was invented by Roman Catholics.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.23.12 @ 11:43PM

Vern is a liar. He is not a Christian.

Vern Crisler | 5.24.12 @ 12:21AM

Margie, you need to keep up on your meds.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 12:26AM

Sorry to disappoint, but The only Mediator between God and Man, Christ Jesus, keeps me sane.

I am sorry for you that you see fit to mock and deride one of His own.

May God have mercy on your filthy, lying reprobate soul.

Vern Crisler| 5.24.12 @ 10:46AM

Margie, I would only mock and deride you if I thought an idiot like you were worthing mocking and deriding.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 3:16PM

Only perverted Reprobates like yourself say the things like you say to biblical Christians, because you aren't one.

Now, go bow to and kiss the feet of your savior, Ron Paul.

Romney = McCain| 5.23.12 @ 4:04PM

The poster's name is Margie Lawrence. That is how to address her. Also she is a Republican cheerleader. To Margie conservatism = Republican. Don't engage. You get nothing but guilt trips on why you will "help elect Barack Obama to a 2nd term" because you value conservatism over empty, hollow Republican victories.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.23.12 @ 11:44PM

And, what is YOUR name, kiddo?
Let's call you, "another liar". Or shall we say, Lying Libertarian and coward?
~Margie

Oldefarte| 5.24.12 @ 9:30PM

'Engage' the following then:
Breitbart.comDemocrats Run Fundraiser Celebrating Barney Frank's Coming Out Anniversary by Ben Shapiro 5 hours ago The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is holding a very special campaign event for Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) on May 30. It’s an important 25th anniversary that deserves celebration, according to the DCCC. What happened 25 years ago? He came out of the closet as gay. “Barney is an inspiration to all of us as one of the first openly gay Congressmen to serve in the House,” writes Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), another openly gay Congressman. “This event will be particularly moving for me as it will be one of our last events with him before he retires this year.”But it isn’t just a celebration for Frank letting the world know about his sexual orientation. It’s an opportunity for the DCCC to fundraise: “Leader Nancy Pelosi, DCCC Chairman Steve Israel, and I would love for you to join us as we pay tribute to his service. To purchase tickets to the event, please click here.”It is worth remembering just how Frank came out of the closet. In 1985, after entering Congress, Frank was not openly gay. He was, however, hiring a male prostitute for sex and housing him in his apartment, from which location the prostitute was running a prostitution ring. Only after the scandal broke did Frank come out of the closet. Now that’s cause for celebration – being caught with a male prostitute living in your apartment, then having to come out to quash the scandal.No word on whether the DCCC will throw a fundraiser on the upcoming 10th anniversary of former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey coming out in 2014.......'

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.23.12 @ 1:53PM

"He doesn't believe in small government, and he doesn't believe in limited government. He just believes in efficient government, and he thinks he's just the guy to be Leviathan's rational manager."

Really??

Hmm, let me see. As far as I know, efficient government would mean limited government. Government does have its purpose, according to the Constitution.

Unless of course you're a Paul-bot, trying to make sure the Republicans don't win the White House. Are you an anarchistic Paul-bot?

In that case I say, Get behind me, Satan!"

Lawrence| 5.23.12 @ 2:17PM

As conservatives, we know that government must be limited in its goals and powers in order to remain efficient, but not everyone believes this. Progressives believe that big government can be efficient government with the right enlightened and anointed leaders at the helm.

(It's a variation of the old saw that Communism has failed only because the wrong people were implementing it.)

NRO has just now published excerpts of a speech Romney gave today, on education.

http://www.nationalreview.com/.....ina-trinko

Romney proposes reforming NCLB, eliminating redundancies, and blog-granting federal funds to states -- with strings still attached, of course -- all because he says, "As president, I will make it my goal to ensure that every classroom has a quality teacher."

That's hardly the campaign speech of a limited-government conservative.

I'm not a Paul supporter for a lot of reasons, I just share Mark Steyn's view that we need to cut government hard and fast -- and I believe Romney's incapable of that.

I'm not trying to make sure Republicans don't win the White House, I just don't see the point of supporting them if all they're going to do is rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Even with the Department of Education, Romney isn't arguing for limited, constitutional government.

Instead, he sounds like a less charismatic and less lecherous version of the triangulating progressive Bill Clinton.

If the Republicans want to put Romney in the White House, they'll have to do it without my support.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.23.12 @ 11:57PM

Well then, Lawrence, I hope you have enough saved up to ride out another four years of Obama-land, where instead of the seven Dwarves, you have the seven Trolls.

If you care to, read my above post as to where I stand.

And I do believe you just underhandedly accused me of being a "Progressive"?

Heh, God knows exactly who and what I am, and I am no stinking Progressive. But since you say, "If the Republicans want to put Romney in the White House", I guess you're not one? So, you're a Libertarian?
Of course you won't vote for Romney, you probably wouldn't have voted for Santorum or Bachmann either.

You, along with your foul pals, are going to give us the government WE do not deserve.

Thanks.

Lawrence| 5.24.12 @ 7:45AM

I'm a conservative who votes Republican when they seem likely to advance conservatism. Even with the rejuvenating energy of the Tea Party, they're hardly willing to do more than make phantom spending cuts and nominate a progressive in the presidential race, and I'm under no obligation to support them on such a disastrous course.

I didn't accuse you of progressivism, I'm merely pointing out that Mitt Romney's record clearly points to his being a progressive -- albeit a managerial progressive rather than a utopian like Obama.

There will be conservatives who will support the progressive named Romney, but I'm not willing to join them.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 3:20PM

Well, you are disobeying the other lying Libertarian trolls here by even responding to me, so maybe you aren't as bad as I was thinking.

Look, I don't really like Romney, but I despise Obama.

Just trying to divert utter destruction here, with my one vote.

May God have mercy on us if we see fit to re-elect Obama. That's all I can say.

Clint| 5.23.12 @ 7:50PM

Where's Victor.

Mickey| 5.23.12 @ 10:24PM

Clint
You owe me an apology.
Calling me Margie. Didn't know who she was, now I see her demented crazy stuff.
Now that is an insult.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 12:00AM

Yes, because wanting Obama ousted is so... insane.

Mickey| 5.24.12 @ 2:17PM

No, One Media Toe. Your'e crazy. Not worth talking to. Get a job. Go preach in Iran if your's such a martyr, instead of sitting on your ass punching a keyboard all day all night. Nobody wants to talk to you, can't you tell.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 3:22PM

Is that you, So-on?

Heh, I'd look in the mirror if I were you.
Now, little creep~ what do you know about me, you fool?
You know nothing. You do not know whether I work or not.
How is it that you see fit to presume anything about me?
You're a sick little Troll. Now keep up your farce, Legion.

Mickey| 5.24.12 @ 3:48PM

Easy. Toe. Reading your stuff past couple days.
Not wasting time on sickie like you.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 3:56PM

Oh but you make it your life's duty here to waste your time, as you've been doing for over 2 years now, Troll.
Hypocrite as well, since you take a different handle every so often!
LOL!
Punk.

Mickey| 5.24.12 @ 5:29PM

Final comment. Your'e an Anti-Semite. Your words:

"Vlady| 5.23.12 @ 2:28PM

Mullah Margie Omar is back, masquerading at One Mediator, Jesus!
Reply to this

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 1:03AM

Vlady, tell that to Clint/Tim*, then get back to me.
Everyone knows it's me, I'm not hiding.
Now, aren't you a Jew who denies that Jesus Christ is Lord?
He is, you know~ and YOU are in danger of Hellfire."

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 7:11PM

You're a lying idiot, and Troll. You say this lie, and see if it will stick to minds as dim as yours.
I'm no anti-semite, but YOU are apparently against the Word of God.

Are you willing to call Jesus an anti-semite, you disgusting fool?

Better read up and see where you stand, along with anyone else who dares to reject the Christ:

"Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.
No one who denies the Son has the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also." 1 Jn. 2:22 & 23.

Mickey| 5.24.12 @ 7:18PM

These are your own words, Stupid.
Jews will go to hell if they don't accept Jesus as Lord.
Your'e too stupid to understand what you write.
Yawn...this is too easy...you is stupid.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 10:58PM

Troll:
Uhh, are we in 2nd grade, here?

ANYONE, according to God's Word, who does not repent and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ will perish, and that includes you as well.

Perish = Hell.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

He who believes in Him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the Name of the only Son of God." Jn. 3:16-18.

Take it up with God.

Occam's Tool| 5.24.12 @ 3:55AM

Mickey: Clint never apologizes, because he's a Paulbot.

Me, I am voting for Romney. Cut my taxes and revive the economy, and I think he's bright enough to do it. Bibi did it for Israel.

Mickey| 5.24.12 @ 2:17PM

Good man, Occam's Tool.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 3:24PM

Pervert.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 3:59PM

"Mickey: Clint never apologizes, because he's a Paulbot."

You just did it for him though, didn't you?

Mickey| 5.25.12 @ 3:44PM

Stupid Lunatic, See anybody here agreeing with you?

Margie| 5.25.12 @ 11:57PM

Yes, I do. And even if the anti-Christs like you here do not agree with me, I am in agreement with God. And that's what I really care about.
Liars like you will burn in Hell.
Unless you repent.

Mickey| 5.26.12 @ 2:53PM

Jews will burn in Hell according to Anti-Semite Margie..Get Lost, Loon. What happened to One Meidator, Jesus? Back at the nuthouse?

somnolence| 5.23.12 @ 2:53PM

I wonder how any of these candidates on the left, right, or center would fare if 98% of us didn't give them one thin dime(I don't give anything) for their campaigns, and instead we answered their plight by saying, "where the hell is OUR money"? We elect leaders to find SOLUTIONS, and if they can't harness their talents and ingenuity to come up with the message and the money by refraining from begging, then it is questionable whether they are qualified anyway. We are indeed in a pickle. Romney gets my precious vote, and that is all.

TLP| 5.23.12 @ 3:14PM

I'll say it, again.......Some people seem to, not only wanna Cut off their Noss to Spite their Faces, but Blow off their Heads, to Spite their Hats.

You didn't get your guy. He's not as (fill in the blank) as I'd like him to be. HE'S NOT PERFECT, like me.

We can't do 4 More Years of The Muslim. We won't survive another Term of a THING that has as his only goal, the utter Destruction of the United States of America.

Name ONE ALLY that Trusts us. Name ONE ENEMY that Fears us.

We don't go to Space, anymore. Think about that. We can't put a Drill in the ground, anymore, and capture our own Energy Resources on Federal Lands.

I'm 54. This is NOT the Country I was born in. It's not the Country I grew up in.

The United States of America needs those DRUNKS in Russia, to get its people in to Space?

The United States is the Biggest Debtor Nation on the Planet?

The United States has a White Hating, Jew Hating, America Hating, MARXIST in the Oval Office?

No matter what, he's gotta go.

(He has people from The Muslim Brotherhood, in sensitive positions, throughout his Administration. They're in positions at TSA, Homeland Security, and the Department of Defence.)

But, I digress.

This is where we are. You can take the Red Pill, and fight for your Freedoms, and a return to our American way of life?

It really is, just that simple.

Lawrence| 5.23.12 @ 3:39PM

Obama's not the real problem, progressivism is, and you don't solve that problem by replacing a radical progressive with a moderate progressive.

The truly delusional are the ones who think that Obama's removal from office isn't just necessary but sufficient -- and the ones who think that fighting Leviathan thus necessarily entails supporting yet another statist who is neither willing nor able to cut the machine down to size.

Lesser Weevil| 5.23.12 @ 6:18PM

Too right. If Romney takes office, almost all of TLP's catalog of outrages will continue right on, just a little more slowly and a little more smoothly, with a "bipartisan" label on top.

It is my "luck" to live where I have no useful vote, so I have no hesitation about choosing "none of the above."

TLP| 5.23.12 @ 7:32PM

Here's the problem with your missive.

One guy HATES THIS COUNTRY.

There is NOTHING in what I described, that Mitt Romney would do the same.

NOTHING.

You can't be this stupid.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 12:04AM

"The truly delusional are the ones who think that Obama's removal from office isn't just necessary but sufficient."

Hmm. How utterly Trollish you are.

If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were RCV, or Liberal Reader.

Very deceitful,

No one here has said that Obama's loss of election would be "sufficient". Are you kidding me?

No, but it's a beginning.

Get REAL.

aware| 5.24.12 @ 6:10AM

Yeah, the beginning of the end. And your politicians AND their politicians have brought us to it.

Just keep hoping and voting, that's what "elections" are for.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 3:54PM

aware,

I'm through with being merciful to you. You're a loser. An all out defeatist, anarchistic (you said so yourself) loser.

I suggest you pack up your belongings and move out of the USA, along with the Hollyweird crowd, since you hate our form of government so much.

But no, you won't, because it's way more comfortable to cry at your stupid keyboard about all the other bad guys who "gave us this mess"~ of course since you don't contribute anything you think you're somehow exempt.

You aren't.

Lawrence| 5.24.12 @ 8:22AM

Because YOU mistakenly believe I'm a sock-puppet, I'm guilty of being deceitful?

As for Obama's removal being a "beginning," that's reassuring only if we have more than enough time to meander and crawl to reform.

The reality is, we don't.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 3:25PM

Well then Lawrence, quit talking down your nose at us conservatives for voting for Romney, along with your holier-than-thou, "I'm sooo much better than you all because I refuse to vote for him" attitude.

okeedokee?

somnolence| 5.23.12 @ 3:25PM

There are no "true"conservatives out there as future presidential candidates. I repeat, none. Many of you will be searching for another Reagan till you succumb to the precipice of being hallucinatory without the drugs. He ain't comin' back.

Vern Crisler| 5.23.12 @ 3:34PM

No one's preventing you from voting for Mitt.

DIck Nome| 5.23.12 @ 3:52PM

Reagan was the inspiration. Those of us that care to will take care of it. You can be satisfied to piss and moan while the rest do something.

nathan| 5.23.12 @ 3:47PM

Folks, and you can save the name calling after I hit submit, I've heard them all by now so don't bother. Let us be totally brutally honest and the writer here tells us part of the story but only part of it.

Bush the junior showed no more regard for the Constitution than his successor. Signing statements? You all want to show where that is in the Constitution? Iraq? Jeanne Kirkpatrick, well respected member of the sainted Reagan administration asked to see the article of the Constitution that authorized that venture. No one could show it to her and none of you can cite it either.

He grossly over reacted to 9/11, I'm sorry he did. OBL had 1,000 people at most and carried out a spectacular attack but not one he could readily reproduce again any time after that. So Bush dragged us into two wars that one we've already lost, the second we're going to lose, and where is Walter Chronkite when you need him so you can blame him for this?

And the total complete destruction of our principles as we fought those wars, Abu Ghraib, the torture of detainees, so many of them not guilty of any thing, and the list goes on and he and Cheney were so impeachable on so many things.

And God forbid Romney recreates any of this but he looks like he wants to the whole imperialist nonsense, the whole democracry jihad, he apparently supported the Fifth Amendment destroying language in the NDAA. Is this what we are really about?

Frederick Douglas advised "Find out just what people will submit and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them. The limits of tyrants are proscribed by the endurance of those they oppress."

We're seeing that here right. In the name of defending the country, we're seeing it now. And only in a state like Virginia do they stand up like their forefathers and say not in this state will we cooperate with the NDAA. They in the spirit of the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions authored by no less than Madison and Jefferson, they at least understand what is to be done.

Do the rest of you?

David| 5.23.12 @ 4:01PM

Somnolence, neither was Reagan a true conservative. Look at some of the things he did as gov of CA. Look at spending when he was prez - granted that was so that he could get what he wanted to bring about an end to the Cold War. Yes, yes, it happened under Bush, but Reagan had completely set the stage.

somnolence| 5.23.12 @ 4:53PM

Exactly, David. Many here are looking for something that actually never was, at least in the 20th century(although Harding and Coolidge were closer to that ideal than any other Chief Executive).

redware| 5.23.12 @ 6:36PM

What's a conservative to do.Get out and volunteer,donate money,and go to the polls in November to vote for every single conservative on the ballot,and do not waste your time,money,or vote on any GOP candidate who is not a conservative.I will be skipping the top of the ballot!

TLP| 5.23.12 @ 7:39PM

Stupid Bastards, like YOU, are who I'm talking about when I say that some of you, not only want to Cut off your Noses to Spite your Faces. You want to Blow off your Heads to Spite your Hats.

Wake Up. Shut Up. GROW UP.

And do the right thing in November.

You people are outta your Fcking Minds.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 3:50AM

TLP: Remember the old movie, The Snake Pit?

Clint| 5.23.12 @ 7:59PM

Uh Oh !

American Spectator's Bloviatin' Arlen Specter-John McCain School Of RINO-CINO "Lesser Evilism" Mittens' Kitten Is All Upset & Angst Ridden Again.

We Are Being Set Up By The RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges For The Ruling Elites' Frontman Mittens Romney.

These Are The RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges Who Gave Us The Serial Traitor To Conservatism, John McCain Of McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy,McCain-Lieberman,Gang Of 14, Opposing Bush Tax Cuts Of 2001 & 2003,TARP.

Now They Are Trying To Give Us RomneyCare,TARP, Cynical Flip-Flops On Abortion, Gays, Refuses to Sign Pro-Life Pledge, Illegal Immigrants, "Little Chain Saw Al" At Bain, Crony Capitalism Campaign Money Trail.....

Oldefarte| 5.24.12 @ 9:37PM

Then vote for the Barney Party and send us permanently to hell!!!!!!!!!!!

TeaPartyPatriot4ever| 5.23.12 @ 11:53PM

I like this article, and the catch 22 situation we Reagan Conservatives find us in.. Thus Mr Mass liberal progressive RINO Romney is an a win win situation to become the next US President. But that is his goal in the first place, as that's all he cares and think about, himself and his lust for power.

The only way we Reagan Constitutional Conservatives can gain a stake and foothold of some sort of semblance of conservative policy and agenda in this situation, is to gain as many Reagan Constitutional Conservative elected leaders in the US Senate and the House this 6 Nov., to force Romney's hand to be more conservative in policy and executed law.

Romney's past as Gov of Mass., reflects what Romney will be in the future as President, as he has never veered away from what he was and what he is now. He is a liberal progressive, as he has so publically stated, along with his record as Gov. Thus he has never shown any ability, willingness, or propensity whatsoever to be either conservative in thought, policy, or action, ever.

Romney's record as Mass Gov. clearly shows that Romney supported gun control, liberal activist judges, inferior substandard socialized state medicine, tax hikes, every asinine kooky global warming cap and trade policy, and just about every other asinine budget busting liberal progressive idea that came down the Mass pike.

Will Romney repeal and overturn Obamacare and Frank-Dodd.. Not likely, which is to say politely- no he will not, and is why we must have as many real conservatives in Congress as possible.

TeaPartyPatriot4ever| 5.23.12 @ 11:55PM

I like this article, as it describes the catch 22 situation we Reagan Tea Party Conservatives now find ourselves in.. Thus Mr Mass liberal progressive RINO Romney is an a win win situation to become the next US President. But that is his goal in the first place, as that's all he cares and think about, himself and his lust for power.

Will Romney repeal and overturn Obamacare and Frank-Dodd.. Not likely, which is to say politely- no he will not, and is why we must have as many real conservatives in Congress as possible.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 12:11AM

At least you make sense.
Good comments, at least you don't think we deserve some kind of punishment as a nation, so we should cop out of life, and of voting for a Republican in the White House.

As I said, a Republican admin. is a thousand times better than the filth and corruption of the Democrats.

Conservatives will do the right thing. RINO'S will help to re-elect Obama.

None of us WANTED Romney to be the nominee, but he is. And we have to deal with it.

POST American| 5.24.12 @ 1:08AM

In this, the FINAL phase of the
4 decades on CFR---RED China
handover --takedown ----USURPATION
and OCCUPATION OP --consider:

----blatant CFR front op Bush SR.

---------the 3 CFR Caligulas:
--------------------Clinton/ Bush JR and Obama.

Now, put before us
-------------------SUB--MITT ---ROME-----KNEE?

"How doth this harmonize?"

Apparently, --NOT-- a Caligula

-----but something? ---something else?

something to do with the dead!

----------but NOT emabalming!

Just a month off from he 'Make IT Work'
'hard powering' of the genocidal agenda
of the UN banking and EUGENICS 'RIO + 20'

--------SUB---MITT ''Club of ROME---KNEE!''???

----------'CLUB----- of ROME'-----KNEE'!

--------------------------------SUB---MITT!

YES!

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 3:58PM

I hear the Dems are still doing the motor-voter thing. You still have time to register Democrat and vote for Obama.
Go for it, fool.

Lawrence| 5.24.12 @ 8:17AM

Margie/One Mediator, Jesus (OMJ) writes to me:

"You make it sound as though Mark Steyn won't be voting for Romney, or that he is telling everyone not to vote for him."

I don't believe I'm implying any such thing, but let me clarify, my political opposition to Romney is based primarily on a two-point argument:

1) We're heading toward a fiscal calamity which can only be averted by enacting significant cuts in government's budget and power, and doing so VERY soon.

2) Mitt Romney is incapable of enacting the necessary cuts in government.

It's point #1 that is based largely on Mark Steyn's writing in After America and his weekly columns.

Point #2 is based, NOT primarily on Steyn's writing, but on my observations of Romney's past record and recent rhetoric. Others predict (I suspect it's just blind hope) that Romney will be this fierce fiscal conservative, but they're doing so in the teeth of his record, and I believe that trusting that Romney's really a big-government dragon slayer is as preposterous as trusting, in 2008, that Barack Obama would be a post-partisan moderate.

(It's a variation of the mistake that Kathleen Parker and David Brooks and Christopher Buckley made, trusting/hoping/wishing that a given politician will be less liberal in office than his record clearly indicated. They remain worthy of our scorn and ridicule, and we shouldn't repeat the same line of thought just because the pol has an "R" by his name.)

That said, while Steyn hasn't been the primary reason for my thinking point #2 above -- the big reason is that I've been paying attention -- Mark Steyn has, at the very least, expressed some reticence about Romney.

He wrote a blistering cover story about Newt, but around the same time, Steyn was fairly critical about Mitt in NRO's Corner. He described the two as "Tweedlemitt and Tweedlenewt."

http://www.nationalreview.com/.....mark-steyn

Steyn begins with what I label as point #1 above: "it’s not enough merely to replace Obama: He’s a symptom of the problem, rather than the underlying cause. The ship of state has become encrusted with barnacles upon barnacles, and, if the next guy isn’t committed to getting rid of them, we’re still going to sink."

He wonders if Mitt Romney's committed to removing the barnacles off the ship of state, and he quotes Paul Rahe who writes that, once in office, Mitt may feel bound to keep his promise in repealing Obamacare but he will otherwise "drift into extending the power and scope of the administrative entitlements state."

MARK STEYN AGREES.

"That would seem the way to bet. 'Drift' is the best way to sum up his nominal stewardship of Massachusetts. In national office, he might approximate the instincts of David Cameron: Occasionally, depending on the audience he’s pandering to, he’ll say the right thing, but it’s entirely whimsical and arbitrary, and underneath the drift goes on."

He continues, "Nothing in Mitt’s past suggests he’s got either the stomach for that fight [in scrapping Obamacare] or the savvy to win it — and that’s before you consider his basic instincts on the matter" -- instincts that went first to reform rather than repeal, on the idea of keeping the good, when Romney thinks that THE GOOD PARTS of Obamacare are the individual mandate and making the responsible pay for the irresponsible by requiring "insurers" to cover preexisting conditions.

Mark Steyn looked at both Romney and Gingrich, approvingly quoting Rahe's assertion that neither recognize government meddling as the source of our problems.

Rahe: "What these managerial progressives in their desperation to manage the lives of the rest of us fail to understand is that the intellectual presumption underpinning the aspiration to 'rational administration' that they embrace is the principal cause of our woes."

Mark Steyn concludes, "It’s a tragedy that the Republican nomination has dwindled down to a choice not worth making."

If he has since come around to supporting the presumptive nominee, I haven't seen it.

Mark Steyn understands that it's simply not enough to vote Obama out of office.

Again: "He’s a symptom of the problem, rather than the underlying cause."

And again:

"The ship of state has become encrusted with barnacles upon barnacles, and, if the next guy isn’t committed to getting rid of them, we’re still going to sink."

We're still going to sink.

Now, the new captain's officers might be better than those of the old captain, and unlike the old captain he evidently does not plan to deliberately capsize the vessel, so he's an improvement.

But if the ship's still going to sink, he's not ENOUGH of an improvement, and so I believe a principled conservative can abstain from supporting him.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 3:36PM

Lawrence,

I only said that because you made it sound that way when you said,

"In the long term, the SCOTUS composition does matter enormously, but if you believe, as I do, that Steyn is right that we're heading toward something that more resembles collapse rather than decline, we cannot afford to let such long-term considerations trump what we MUST do now to avoid the abyss."

And you're still doing it.

And how do you OR Mark Steyn see fit to say the ship is definitely going to sink? As if you know this for certain, so we should just re-elect Obama, then.
You might as well just register Democrat & pull the lever for him, then.

Unless of course you're already a Democrat. I'm guessing you're a Libertarian, though.

Only flaming Lefty Libertarians say what you do.
You, good old nasty Vern, darcy, aware, Clint/Tim*, somnolence, just about everyone in this thread.

You are all nuts.

Doom & Gloom.

Oldefarte| 5.24.12 @ 10:10PM

Boy, you're long-winded, huh? What does your principled conservatism of not voting for Romney ACCOMPOLISH? You define what a Romney presidency might possibly become, but the operative word is MIGHT. Are you definately sure/positive? Alternatively, we all know what four more years of BHO will be, don't we? So in your principle stance, you condemn yourself and the rest of us to hell on earth from same, selfishly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lawrence| 5.24.12 @ 9:05AM

I notice a recurring theme from commenters insisting that we should fall in line behind Romney -- the misconception that those who oppose Romney are unrealistically demanding perfection.

TLP, posting the same comment twice:

"You didn't get your guy. He's not as (fill in the blank) as I'd like him to be. HE'S NOT PERFECT, like me."

Margie/One Mediator, Jesus:

"No candidate is going to be the ultimate perfect person, that's not possible. But we must consider the alternative. Obama??"

"They will refuse to vote for Romney because he isn't perfect."

TexasMom2012:

"So go ahead and take your 'ball' and go home because you are part of the problem. There is no perfect candidate."

Romney supporters should get it through their thick skulls that his opponents aren't demanding perfection. Quite the contrary, we supported some VERY flawed conservatives in the primaries.

It's not that Mitt Romney is imperfect, it's that he's PROGRESSIVE.

It's not that he fails to meet the unrealistic bar of what is perfect, he fails to meet the quite low bar of what is minimally acceptible.

We can disagree about that, certainly, but the Romney supporters should be willing to do the hard work of arguing over what the standard ought to be for our support -- it's not nearly enough that he's not Obama -- and whether Romney meets that standard.

Dismissing us as unreasonable perfectionists is no way to draw people to your side of the argument.

Tom| 5.24.12 @ 9:49PM

Indeed, it's not a question of seeking perfection, but at least some fealty to the Constitution as written.

I've (alternatively) been referring to Romney as "a Progressive in comparison to Obama's PROGRESSIVE" and "Romneycare (R) vs. Obamacare (D)."

I'll hold my nose and vote for the lesser of two evils in November, only because I don't believe that Romney is actively seeking the demise of America, whereas any sentient human being should now recognize that this is Obama's unstated but very real goal.

But I harbor no illusions about Romney, for Progressivism is inherently un-American; it's just that some Progressives are more virulent than others.

Do not expect me to "rally" behind the lesser of two evils.

Oldefarte| 5.24.12 @ 10:18PM

Your statement of ".... it's not nearly enough that he's not Obama..." says it all, but unfortionately you do not understand your own knowledge. It is 'enough' and that is the point which sadly people like yourself do not understand. One possibility represents the current bottom from the destruction of this country, while the other the possibility, though not the certainty, of improvement through replacement with a true conservative POTUS. Pity he who is so blind that he cannot see!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 11:02PM

Go get 'em, Oldefarte. Bravo.

vigilant| 5.24.12 @ 2:40PM

As a long-time reader here, I've watched commenters come and go-or like Margie (LOL), hide behind new handles-like she could. It's interesting to observe the communication styles of each, and their ideas of what constitutes effective persuasion (Lose The Caps, Clint. Makes You Look Silly.). Thank you, Lawrence (and others) for your thoughtful logic, brilliantly articulated. Hope you stick it out here. Gives one hope. Occam, you ably represent the noble opposition in the vote-or-don't-vote Romney debate, and I get it, I really do (SCOTUS issues, etc.). But you might experiment with watching his facial expressions in slow motion as he's speaking (gives away those pesky, revealing micro-expressions). What I see makes me uneasy. Coupled with everything else I've learned about him and the outcomes I think are likely with him in charge, the arguments of why he's the better option just don't wash. Go ahead, TLP, launch your best grade school name-calling now. You seriously believe that impresses anyone but you?

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 3:48PM

vigilant,

You are an ass.

Oldefarte| 5.24.12 @ 9:41PM

'Better option'? See above link to Braitbart regarding Democrats & Barney and then talk about OPTIONS!!!!!!!!!

obadiah| 5.24.12 @ 3:20PM

The Romney Plan for Prosperity.

Stop taxing plutocrats.
Stop regulating plutocrats.
Enact laws written by plutocrats.
Stop wasting money on sick, poor and old people -- that money belongs to plutocrats.
WAR is always good for plutocrats. Let's have WAR.

Oldefarte| 5.24.12 @ 3:35PM

I'm taking the gloves off, since this BS has to get down to the nittygritty. You have two choices in November, one leads to destruction of this country, and the other to possibly its survival. Its a question of whether you want to survive, for this country to endure, and for there to be the possibility of another day in which to work towards your ultimate wish in a futuristic candidate. Fools have said that historically there has always been the threat of THIS ELECTION REPRESENTS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE EVER. It was BS previously or less so, but now it is the ultimate truth. This country will not survive if you and all of us allow this current regime to continue. No one that I'm aware of has ever been enthusiatic about any previous candidate or politician [except possibly Reagan who also had his failures IMHO]. Now it not a question of getting what you want in a candidate, but instead survival of this country. If Romney is elected, you can always run a true conservative against him in four years and/or in the future; but if obama is re-elected, this country is toast and all of us will have to GRAB OUR SOCKS AND KISS YOUR ARS GOODBYE!!!!!!!!!!

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 3:37PM

They. don't. care.

Oldefarte| 5.24.12 @ 9:45PM

They didn't care on 11/4/08 and look what happened. STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES no doubt. The sad thing is no one that I'm aware of has TINGLES UP/DOWN THEIR LEGS OVER ROMNEY AND NEVER WILL. The issue is SURVIVAL OF THIS COUNTRY AND THE FUTURISTIC OPPORTUNITY TO PROGRESS TO A TRUE CONSERVATIVE WHICH WILL EXCITE THEM!!!!!!!!!!

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 11:31PM

Believe me, Oldefarte, these are all Trolls. Foolish, imbecilic, holier-than-thou, lying Libertarian fools.

It's one thing to say and believe that Romney isn't their choice, He wasn't the first choice for most conservatives, myself included. He was my last choice next to the lunatic, Ron Paul.

Bu to come up with all of this other trash as to why we shouldn't vote for him as the Republican nominee in order to oust the Obamanation, is utter horse excrement.

I have learned one thing for certain from reading and posting here~ and that is that Libertarianism is the certain enemy of conservatism.

It is like the Devil in disguise as far as I'm concerned. I so utterly despise its deceit. It is like a false and ungodly Religion,

Worship its way or die.
These people SAY they're for freedom, but they're really the enemy of it, and they absolutely hate regular conservatives, and here we see what ends they are willing to go to to achieve their goals.. and this goal right here seems to be to make sure no one votes for Romney.

And like the Religionists, because they're too "holy" to vote for Romney, they will with hold their "blessing", and in so doing will hand over the power to the enemy.

Self defeating and self fulfilling their "prophecy", that we need to be punished for not supporting a "true conservative".

And they'll probably happily vote for Ron Paul when he runs as a third party candidate.

somnolence| 5.24.12 @ 4:45PM

I prefer Mark Levin to Mark Steyn, and Levin has come around to support of Romney lately. Reagan was also a Progressive at one time. Suit yourself, naysayers, but the future course for me will be steered by people like Mitt and Bibi, and I'm so glad both cause Clint neurotic spasms.

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 5:10PM

You are in your right mind. I retract including you in my comment, above. Not that it matters to you, anyway, but just doing what's right for my own conscience.

PCP Smoker| 5.24.12 @ 6:12PM

Good piece. I just read that Romney is billing himself as the "Educator in Chief." Yea, you have seen this movie before. Recall G W Bush (The Idiot) getting together with Teddy Kennedy to increase education spending?
You conservatives who supported Romney because he was "the only one who could beat Obama," please explain

Oldefarte| 5.24.12 @ 10:24PM

I don't '''''support'''''' Romney, but I will '''''vote''''' for him. There have never been tingles up my leg for any candidate or politician [even Reagna disappointed me in ways]. This election is about SURVIVAL OF THIS COUNTRY, period! There are two choices, one represents SANITY while the other represents INSANITY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oldefarte| 5.24.12 @ 10:27PM

PS: If Obama is re-elected, I'd strongly urge you to remove the contents of your bank account [if more than $10] and bury same in your backyard for safe keeping......cheers!!!!!

One Mediator, Jesus| 5.24.12 @ 11:36PM

They won't do that, though. They'll cry in their coffee and blame "all the other bad guys" for the re-election of Obama.

It'll be all our fault. Because we supported Rick Santorum (or anybody else!) instead of Ron Paul.

Dilbert| 5.27.12 @ 4:46PM

Thanks to Romney, I am over the Republican party! I will vote for the more conservative Obama and only for Republicans in congress. Hopefully instead of Romney killing the Republican Party off, we will have gridlock and maybe the conservatives can give us a real Republican candidate next time. If not I am starting to not care what happens to either of the Democrat parties. All I see in this election is Democrat vs Democrat lite, both suck!!!

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Romney = McCain| 5.23.12 @ 3:55PM

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