Romney Lacks Sincerity According to 2008 Supporter

| August 3, 2010

image Something that I almost bypassed when reading and writing my post yesterday on Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty’s visit to Iowa was a quote from a supporter of Romney in 2008.

The Des Moines Register reports:

Waverly Republican Mary Lou Kelly supported former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the 2008 caucuses. Romney, the 2008 second-place caucus finisher, is weighing a 2012 campaign.

Lunching on barbecue and coleslaw with the others at the Walker farm, Kelly said Pawlenty’s profile, like Romney’s, as a conservative in a Democratic state appeals to her. But Pawlenty has something Romney doesn’t, the longtime GOP activist said.

“He has a sincere way about him,” Kelly said. “He’s a good communicator. I would prefer him over Romney. I view him as more electable.”

image

Romney’s conservative?  I digress… obviously this is anecdotal, but with friends like these Romney certainly doesn’t need enemies.  I think she’s spot on.  One thing that turned me off to him was that he just seemed fake.  I didn’t feel I could trust him; of course shifting your positions around for political expediency doesn’t help.

I don’t know how electable Governor Pawlenty would be, but comparing him to Romney I would have to agree with Ms. Kelly.  I predict that Romney wastes more money here in Iowa with even worse results.

A lack of sincerity doesn’t play well in Iowa.  You can be wrong as long as you are sincere about it (just kidding, well at least I am).

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Category: Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty

About the Author ()

Shane Vander Hart is the founder and editor-in-chief of Caffeinated Thoughts.  He is also the President of 4:15 Communications, LLC, a social media & communications consulting/management firm.  He is a communications director for American Principles Project’s Preserve Innocence Initiative.  Prior to this Shane spent 20 years in youth ministry serving in church, parachurch, and school settings.  He has also served as an interim pastor and is a sought after speaker and pulpit fill-in.  Shane has been married to his wife Cheryl since 1993 and they have three kids.  Shane and his family reside near Des Moines, IA.  You can connect with Shane on Facebook or follow him on Twitter and Google +.
  • Stan

    You can’t achieve the stature that Mitt Romney has by being insincere. Pawlenty is a good choice but Romney has all the qualifications necessary to bring this country back to the prominence that a world power should be. Number one on the agenda is the economy and can you think of anyone better to solve our problem?

    • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?author=2 Shane Vander Hart

      Yes – any potential GOP nominee – Palin, Pawlenty, Daniels, and Barbour all have a stronger fiscal record than he does. Two words – Romney Care.

      • mavsrcheap

        I’m very concerned that so many of the “true conservatives” are convinced that their favorite candidate can get elected in a general election by blowing off “Obama Care/Romney Care”. By 2012, Obama Care will have sent it tentacles throughout our entire health care system. Our side is going to need someone who can speak authoritatively on emerging health care problems. Someone like Romney who has deleveloped business plans to turn around faltering private hospital consortiums as well as having experience with what does and does not work in government dealings with the health care system.

        • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?author=22 David Shedlock

          Romney’s experience in health care is to require people to carry insurance, require companies to cover everybody, and subsidize those who can’t afford it. It has already led to insurance companies having caps on their profits, and threatening to leave the state of Massachusetts which still has the highest costs of insurance in the country.

          • Dandini

            He believes that states should control their own health care, not the federal government. Yes, under his direction MA became the first state with it’s own universal health care. Official figures indicate gains in resident health coverage, a 45 percent drop in premium costs, and the number of uninsured Massachusetts residents was 2.6% as of June 30, 2008. How dare he do his job well and for no pay on top of it!!!

            Yes, it is costing MA more, but only after changes had been made by the Democratically controlled government after Romney left.

            • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?author=2 Shane Vander Hart

              I believe that I should control my own health care, not the state.

              It’s costing MA more than they can afford.

              • Dandini

                Everything is costing MA more than they can afford.

                Ever since Romney balanced their budget and got them out of the financial hole they were in, as soon as he left them, they headed right back in to having financial problems.

      • Dandini

        Shane clueless, Romney made money by turning around struggling companies such as Monsanto, Dominos Pizza, Burlington, Corning, and others. Later he ran a venture capital firm which provided money to numerous startup companies such as Staples Office Supplies, enabling them to expand and create thousands of more jobs. During the 14 years he headed the company, Bain Capital’s average annual rate of return on investments was 113 percent.

        Romney’s only real problem is he would rather increase jobs in the private sector, than expansion of government.

        • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?author=2 Shane Vander Hart

          I’m clueless? His record in government is pretty straightforward, as is his record of flip flop.

          Those are the things that matter when looking at how he’ll govern.

          • Dandini

            You should then go and read the facts, instead of making up accusations.

            Regarding his supposed flip-flopping on issues? Check the facts! Mitt has never been pro abortion. His state was facing a financial crisis and he simply committed not to make any policy decisions to erode Mass’ currently pro-choice laws. Although he was pro-life, he simply made a commitment to take the abortion issue off the table for the majority of Mass residents who are pro-choice but wanted to vote for Mitt to turn the state around financially (which of course he did!). He has always worked to bring people together despite his own feelings.

            He never took a salary while Governor of Democrat controlled Massachusetts because as he said, he didn’t need it. He never raised state taxes, though he raised licensing fees yet still keeping them below the national average. He closed loopholes on corporate taxes. He increased penalties on drunk driving. Never supported the release of criminals convicted of serious crimes. He worked to turn around MA’s economy from deficit to surplus, balancing their budget in less than 4 yrs. MA’s students ranked #l in the nation in education during his term in office. He believes that states should control their own health care, not the federal government. Under his direction MA became the first state with it’s own universal health care. Official figures indicate gains in resident health coverage, a 45 percent drop in premium costs, and the number of uninsured Massachusetts residents was 2.6% as of June 30, 2008. How dare he do his job well and for no pay on top of it!!!

            • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?author=22 David Shedlock

              “Mitt has never been pro abortion”

              This is exactly why he cannot be trusted. He won’t admit he was ever pro-abortion. He was “effectively pro-choice” which is a better euphemism, he thinks. You can’t really repent of a position until you admit that you held the position.

              • Dandini

                Because he never was pro-abortion, according to you he can never be trusted? What logic!

                David, your comments say that you would only support a “perfect” politician?

                Do you have anyone that you can find, anywhere, that you could recommend?

                Thought not!

                Try to provide something more constructive and useful.

                • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?author=22 David Shedlock

                  Apparently YOU missed the logic. It is not because he was never pro-abortion, it is that he was pro-abortion and us unwillingly to admit it. THAT is why he can’t be trusted.

                  (And his continued financial support of pro-baby killnig politicians)

                • Dandini

                  David, again your lack of research is evidenced by your accusations, without supporting facts…

                  is that your brain on drugs?

      • Dandini

        You never said how they have a stronger fiscal record, so you probably don’t know the facts…

        Romney has a sophisticated understanding of the challenges faced in both the national and global economies. He has an MBA and LAW degree, cum laude, from Harvard. As a highly successful leader in business, he made money by turning around struggling companies such as Monsanto, Dominos Pizza, Burlington, Corning, and others. Later he ran a venture capital firm which provided money to numerous startup companies such as Staples Office Supplies, enabling them to expand and create thousands of more jobs. During the 14 years he headed the company, Bain Capital’s average annual rate of return on investments was 113 percent. What this country needs is someone who can create and promote jobs in the private sector as opposed to expanding government on the backs of hard working taxpayers.

        He never took a salary while Governor of Democrat controlled Massachusetts. He never raised state taxes, and though he raised licensing fees, yet still keeping them below the national average. He closed loopholes on corporate taxes. He increased penalties on drunk driving. Never supported the release of criminals convicted of serious crimes. He worked to turn around MA’s economy from deficit to surplus, balancing their budget in less than 4 yrs… How dare he do his job well and for no pay on top of it!!!

        When the 2002 Olympics struggled under scandal and financial disaster he went to Salt Lake, took over for a one ($1.00) dollar salary, saved the Olympics and made it profitable, leading to one of the most financially successful Olympics in US history. And Utah continues to reap gains from that Olympics.

      • Dandini

        “Yes – any potential GOP nominee – Palin, Pawlenty, Daniels, and Barbour all have a stronger fiscal record than he does.” – Shane

        Shane, talk is cheap, and boy are you cheap! Never providing facts… List their fiscal records. Bet they pale in comparison to Romney’s fiscal record. Maybe they even fail when compared to his record.

        Romney made money by turning around struggling companies such as Monsanto, Dominos Pizza, Burlington, Corning, and others.

        Later he ran a venture capital firm which provided money to numerous startup companies such as Staples Office Supplies, enabling them to expand and create thousands of more jobs. During the 14 years he headed the company, Bain Capital’s average annual rate of return on investments was 113 percent.

        He never took a salary while Governor of Democrat controlled Massachusetts. He never raised state taxes. He turned around MA’s “tanked” economy from deficit to surplus, balancing their budget in less than 4 yrs.

        When the 2002 Olympics struggled under scandal and financial disaster he took over for a one ($1.00) dollar salary, saved the Olympics and made it profitable, leading to one of the most financially successful Olympics in US history.

        And that is just the condensed version of Romney’s fiscal accomplishments.

        Where is your list???

        • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?author=2 Shane Vander Hart

          Did I ever say he was a lousy businessman?

          No, let’s look at his record as Governor. He never took a salary. Good for him. He can afford to do that. It doesn’t make him a better governor.

          He didn’t raise taxes… no, but he got nailed for this 08 – he raised fees plenty, but as long as they aren’t called taxes they are ok.

          I’ll give you that RomneyCare has been turned more to the left by the MA Legislature, but that doesn’t mean he’s off the hook.

          http://www.cato.org/pubs/policy_report/v30n1/cpr30n1-1.html
          http://online.wsj.com/article/NA_WSJ_PUB:SB10001424052748703625304575115691871093652.html
          Oh this one was written in 06 – http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=18322
          http://reason.com/blog/2010/07/08/the-price-of-romneycare
          http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124726287099225209.html#mod=djemEditorialPage
          http://prolifeprofiles.com/romney
          As far as what I think about other candidates, you’ll just have to read my blog.

          • Dandini

            Shane, read them all. Very right of right, and with blinders for some of them. At least one was very neutral, not too bad.

            One interesting thing to note, no maybe two or three.

            He did raise MA government fees. But after he raised them they still were below national average. So does that make it okay?

            No. But he still got the state out of debt before he left.

            That is his specialty, getting large organizations or companies out of debt and profitable again, for which he has probably been one of the most successful in US history.

            Do you have someone who can run for President of the United States who has a good enough understanding of and experience with world finances to get this country out of debt?

            Or do you prefer we be owned by China and work for Mexico?

            MA was going to do a healthcare plan no matter who their governor was. The healthcare plan set up by Romney was within the budget allowed. Until the Democratically controlled MA government took over when Romney left.

            Interesting to note that Insurance companies were not as happy with the MA (Romney) program as they are excited about the Obamacare program. Did you see how hard they lobbied against Obamacare? Not! Do you have a clue as to what the difference is?

            So have you come up with some good names to run for President, and supporting facts? Still waiting…

      • Dandini

        Shane,

        found your stronger fiscal record than Romney candidate…

        Reality Check: Pawlenty’s Proposed Spending Cap…

        Governor Tim Pawlenty is proposing tough new budget standards. However, they are standards he has failed to meet himself since taking office in 2004. He has proposed budgets that far exceed the amount of money the state had to pay for it…

        FACT Check: The governor himself proposed budgets that cost a total of $7.3 billion more than the state took in the previous two years.

        In 2004, he proposed $2.9 billion more.

        In 2006, he proposed $1 billion more.

        In 2008, he proposed $2.2 billion more.

        Lastly, in 2010, he proposed $1.2 billion more.

        Of course that would mean that “fiscal” mast have the same meaning as “political”, right?

        Have you checked the other names you mentioned as having a stronger fiscal record than Romney?

  • Tom

    Stan:

    I agree with you. I really don’t understand the “insincere” charge. Some voters are simply missing Romney’s sincerity when looking for the folksy mannerisms of Huckabee or Pawlenty.

    Romney has proven his effective communication skills as a business man, the Olympic chairman in 2002, and as an effective Governor in MA.

    No one single candidate can appeal to everyone, but Romney can appeal to conservatives, blug dog democrats, and independents. He is the one that can effectively beat Obama or Clinton in 2012.

    On my opinion, Palin, Pawlenty, or Huckabee could be the Repblican nominee but that can’t bet Obama.

    • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?author=2 Shane Vander Hart

      Let me explain the “insincere charge.” Because he can’t be trusted. He’s changed his positions over the course of years I’m not even sure he knows what he believes.

      He’s pro-abortion when running for Senate and then Governor, he says he’s prolife when running for President, but approved pro-abortion measures in his state after he had his “epiphany.” As far as his PAC is concerned he doesn’t have any problems endorsing prochoice candidates and rarely speaks to the isssue.

      All I need to know.

      Fiscal conservatism? RomneyCare – enough said. He’s no conservative, he’s an establishment moderate squish. We in flyover country care more about principles than whether someone is folksy or not.

      • Howard Headlee

        Shane, you perpetuate a false premise at the peril of our party and nation. I have known Mitt all my life, my father worked on his father George’s Presidential campaign. Mitt has never been pro abortion. His state was facing a financial crisis and he simply committed not to make any policy decisions to erode Mass’ currently pro-choice laws. Although he was pro-life, he simply made a commitment to take the abortion issue off the table for the majority of Mass residents who are pro-choice but wanted to vote for Mitt to turn the state around financially (which of course he did!). Regardless of how you want to interpret the past, you cannot say he was pro-abortion. Mitt has been and is very Pro-Life. This is based on personal conversations with him for many, many years.

        Romney care was based upon free market principles. It put people in control of their healthcare. Of course Mitt was dealing with an overwhelmingly Democrat legislature that insisted on a number of provisions, some of which Mitt vetoed and was over-ridden. Perhaps he should have just fought and done nothing but that is not his style. The ruining of the Mass health care plan came after Mitt left and the liberals began inserting fiscally fatal components into the plan.

        Say what your talking points tell you to, but Mitt is an extremely successful father and husband and is very sincere and talented, we would be lucky to have him leading the free world right now.

        • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?author=22 David Shedlock

          “Romney care was based upon free market principles”

          It is not free if you cannot choose not to have insurance.
          It is not free if you can’t decide what kind of coverage you want or don’t want.
          It is not free if the insurance company must cover you.
          It is not free of the insurance company has limits on how much it can charge.

          You keep using that word “free”. I do not think it means what you think it means.

          • Dandini

            David, go back to school. “There is no such thing as a free lunch!”, and that is a “free market principle” which you probably do not understand, or maybe never read.

            If you can think of someone better, please name them and list their “real” qualifications and actual experience that can even come close to Romney’s. And try to be factual.

            Romney has an MBA and LAW degree, cum laude, from Harvard.

            As a highly successful leader in business, he made money by turning around struggling companies such as Monsanto, Dominos Pizza, Burlington, Corning, and others, getting them profitable again.

            Later he ran a venture capital firm which provided money to numerous startup companies such as Staples Office Supplies, enabling them to expand and create thousands of more jobs. During the 14 years he headed the company, Bain Capital’s average annual rate of return on investments was 113 percent.

            He understands the world markets and the economy better than most, the importance of people, organization, research, planning, communication and direction.

            He never took a salary while Governor of Democrat controlled MA. He never raised state taxes, though he raised licensing fees and yet still keeping them below the national average. He closed loopholes on corporate taxes. He increased penalties on drunk driving. Never supported the release of criminals convicted of serious crimes. He worked to turn around MA’s economy from deficit to surplus, balancing their budget in less than 4 yrs. MA’s students ranked #l in the nation in education during his term in office. He believes that states should control their own health care, not the federal government. Under his direction MA became the first state with it’s own universal health care. Official figures indicate gains in resident health coverage, a 45 percent drop in premium costs, and the number of uninsured MA residents was 2.6% as of June 30, 2008. Until he left MA, the cost was within budget. How dare he do his job well and for no pay on top of it!!!

            When the Salt Lake City Olympics struggled under scandal and financial disaster he went to Salt Lake, took over for a one (1) dollar salary, saved the Olympics and made it profitable, leading to one of the most financially successful Olympics in US history.

            Romney has done a lot for America for no monetary gain, not many Americans can say that!

            I believe the answer to the real question, “What is wrong with America” is often answered with this reply…”It’s the economy, stupid!” At least that is part of the problem and answer.

            • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?author=22 David Shedlock

              It was you who used the word “free” first. I thought free market meant you make your own choices, not the government, but you and Romney can feel “free” to differ.

              • Dandini

                David, guess that is why you should either read more or go back to school.

                A “free” market is where all markets within it are unregulated by any parties other than those players in the market. There are still regulation/rules, so it is not really “free”, but those regulationa/rules are determined by the players within that market.

                … Still waiting…

                If you can think of someone better, please name them and list their “real” qualifications and actual experience that can even come close to Romney’s. And try to be factual.

                • Dandini

                  David,

                  Any names?

                  I did not think so!

  • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?author=22 David Shedlock

    I am amazed at the consistency with which Romney supporters almost universally believe he is perfect and the only one who can save us:

    “Romney has all the qualifications necessary”
    “can you think of anyone better to solve our problem?”
    “He is the one that can effectively beat Obama or Clinton in 2012″

    • Dandini

      “Can you think of anyone better to solve our problems”? If you can, list them with their qualifications. And be factual.

      Oh, still waiting???

      • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?author=2 Shane Vander Hart

        How about reading this blog for more than just Romney posts? Then you’ll find out who we like and why.

        • Dandini

          Shane,

          Again, who do you like? And why? Please be factual, don’t let yourself be determined by a blog, as so many do.

  • ann

    “You can’t achieve the stature that Mitt Romney has by being insincere”

    Al Capone had stature.

    Romney ‘stature’ is only who he can buy with his money.

    Romney is a waste of time and money. Romney is insincere.

    • Dandini

      Ann, you could probably say most politicians are sincere and be fairly accurate.

      However, Romney is willing to use a great deal of his own money to fight for a cause and is perhaps the “most authentic person” you can find… “Putting your money where your mouth is” may be cliché, however it’s time tested and true. He donates millions of dollars of his own money for charitable causes.

      He never is first to bring up religion. Yet in 2008, Romney and his wife, Ann, were awarded the Becket Fund’s prestigious Canterbury Medal for “Courage in the Defense of Religious Liberty” – The D.C. based Becket Fund for Religious Liberty is a civil rights law firm founded to defend the rights and practice of all religious faiths.

      I can certainly understand liberals hating Romney, after all he’s been married to the same woman he first married, is from a close knit family and values family first.

  • http://kenreads.wordpress.com kenleonard

    I don’t know why people think Romney is insincere.

    I mean, it’s not like he said that he supports Massachusetts’ gun bans, then suddenly came out saying he backed the NRA.

    Wait, he did that …

    I mean, it’s not like he was avidly pro-choice and then suddenly decided that he was pro-life in time for the Republican primary.

    Wait, he did that, too …

    I mean, it’s not like he claimed that he’d be “a stronger advocate for gay rights than Ted Kennedy” and then came in line with GOP orthodoxy in time for the primary.

    Wait, he did that, too …

    Come to think of it, I know exactly why anyone who’s spent five minutes evaluating his record sees him as insincere.

    • Howard Headlee

      Ken, we really need to leave this liberal fiction out of the Republican primary debate. I am as conservative as they come and I could say the same thing about gay rights as Mitt. In fact the point Mitt was making is that conservatives will defend the rights of all our citizens better than liberals who squander our freedom and liberty with their big government, big spending programs. Gays have all the same rights as any of us and I will defend their constitutional rights as aggressively as anyone. That is all Mitt ever said. The liberals have twisted it and many conservatives had played along. Leave yourself some wiggle room in case he becomes the nominee against the great socialist B.O.

      PS he was pro-life long before his run for President, that is why he had to make the commitment he made when running for Governor of perhaps the most liberal state in the union. He simply agreed to take abortion off the policy table because he was pro-life and the vast majority of the state was pro-choice. They elected him to turn the economy around and that is what he did. Wouldn’t it be nice if he were in the White House right now!

      Please stop perpetuating the myths created and perpetuated by the DNC

      • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?author=2 Shane Vander Hart

        Is that why RomneyCare pays for abortions?

        • Dandini

          Shane, again you speak and do not have any factual information to share…

        • Dandini

          Shane, have you figured out yet, who is now in charge of the MA health care program after Romney left, making all kinds of changes to what was considered successful when Romney was the governor and supported it?

          Under his direction MA became the first state with it’s own universal health care. Official figures indicate gains in resident health coverage, a 45 percent drop in premium costs, and the number of uninsured MA residents was 2.6% as of June 30, 2008.

          • Dandini

            And at the time Romney left office, it was running within it’s projected budgets.

    • Dandini

      kenleonard,
      you do have a problem with common sense and unerstanding of the total picture. Not uncommon for many liberal thinkers who do not know how to do their “homework”.

      Easy to show that by just one of your comments, let alone just as easy with all the rest of your comments… “I mean, it’s not like he said that he supports Massachusetts’ gun bans, then suddenly came out saying he backed the NRA.”

      In 2002, Romney garnered a “B” grade among politicians from the NRA. Maybe not perfect, but better than most and above average.

      Romney has been a strong supporter of both Second Amendment rights as well as certain pieces of gun control legislation.

      Yes, he backed the Brady Bill, a five-day waiting period on gun sales, and a ban on certain assault weapons that he viewed as posing a threat to Police.

      In MA he supported restrictions on assault weapons, but also worked with gun owners and sportsmen to ease the gun-licensing laws in MA.

      Romney has also supported legislation that was endorsed by the National Rifle Association and the Gun Owners’ Action League.

      Romney always believed that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms, rather than merely protecting a right of states.

  • Mike

    3, 2, 1 go haters go! Romney has all the qualifications and experience to be an outstanding President for all Americans! I voted for Reagan twice. Reagan was a pro abortion democrat before becoming a pro life Republican. Let’s be fair in our comments. Nobody has said anything about being perfect. Run Mitt Run 2012!

    • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?author=2 Shane Vander Hart

      He was never pro-abortion, he signed a therapeutic abortion bill in 1967 only four months into office, and its desire was to reduce backroom abortions. He said if he had more experience and thought out the consequences of that bill he would have never signed it and declared himself to be pro-life. This was pre-Roe v. Wade, he kept that position the rest of his life and wrote extensively about abortion and was passionately against it. I can’t say that about Romney.

      So let’s not compare Romney to Reagan please.

      I don’t hate Romney, I just can’t support him. Let’s not confuse the two things.

      • Howard Headlee

        Shane, you continue to be completely unfair. So what did Romney do that makes him pro abortion? He is pro-life. Period. I am fine with you not supporting him, but please be accurate. At least leave yourself some room in case we are lucky enough to have him as a nominee. He really is a good person, I promise you.

        • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?author=2 Shane Vander Hart

          No pretty sure he’s the one guy I couldn’t support if he won the nomination.

          • Dandini

            So much for the thought process of the human mind… “No pretty sure he’s the one guy I couldn’t support if he won the nomination.”

            Kind of like, “this is your brain, and this is your brain on drugs”

            Sorry, Shane…

            • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?author=2 Shane Vander Hart

              He’d have to convince me he’d be good on social issues, and he doesn’t have the record as Governor to back it up.

              There is a reason he lost in Iowa. I’ve met him. I’ve listened to numerous speeches of his. I did seriously consider him in 2008. I haven’t seen much that would change my mind.

              I probably would in the end vote for him, but it would be a vote against Obama not a vote for Romney. Unless there is a really good 3rd party candidate I’d like to support.

              • Dandini

                Shane, explain what you mean by “social issues”… That could mean anything…

                You say Romney does not have the record to back it up, and again you lack the integrity or knowledge to lay out the facts, or maybe it is just a lack of facts…

                Iowa ? Is that the reason? So it was Iowa that decided they did not like Romney. I guess they made a big mistake and now look what kind of a mess this country is in…

                • Dandini

                  Shane,

                  how about Huckabee, who never brought up religion, and who seemed to have singlehandidly gotten Iowa to vote for him instead of Romney…

                  Fact:

                  State spending more than doubled under Huckabee…

                  “During Huckabee’s 10 years as governor, state spending more than doubled, from $6.6 billion to $16.1 billion in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006.”

                  ( Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 10/4/07)

                  Just trying to help you out with some good candidates for next president.

      • Mike

        Reagan / Romney, Your explanation makes their views on abortion sound identicle to me. Run Mitt Run 2012! Good day!

        • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?author=2 Shane Vander Hart

          One was pro-life, and the other we still have yet to see tangible evidence. Endorsing pro-abortion candidates doesn’t help.

          • Dandini

            Shane, sounds like you don’t know… ”

            and the other we still have yet to see tangible evidence.”

            Maybe if you did a little more research you could actually have more evidence before you speak.

    • Dandini

      I can certainly understand liberals hating Romney, after all he’s been married to the same woman, is from a close knit family and values family first.

      • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?author=2 Shane Vander Hart

        Which makes him no different than a number of the potential candidates out there.

        • Dandini

          Quite different from most, though. So where are your facts that you have not used to support any of your claims?

          • Dandini

            Shane, still waiting for your facts…

  • http://gooseradio.com Goose Nissley

    Man! Emotional Times!

    I wholeheartedly disagree with your analysis, and hope that you might be soon visited by an epiphany as to the electability of the good Mitt and the wisdom of a cessation of your assault upon his personage!

    We have such a great opportunity to limit BO to one term. We need this guy.

  • BOSMAN

    The former supporter (Ya, right) is throwing TOTAL BS.

    I’ve known Romney and supported him in Massachusetts when he ran for Governor and President in 2008. As a businessman myself, I can tell you that Romney’s background is TAILOR MADE for 2012 Presidential race. As for him being sincere, They doin’t make any finer gentlemen than Mitt. Look at his family life just as an example. Look at him turning around Bain Investments and saving it from bankrupcy taking only $1 (ONE DOLLAR) as salary. Mitt’s handshake is as good if not better than a signed contract.

    • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?author=22 David Shedlock

      “Mitt’s handshake is as good if not better than a signed contract”

      Unless he, like Obama, promises not to have lobbyists lead his campaign.

      Bosman, welcome to caffeinatedthoughts.

      • Dandini

        David, did Romney, like Obama promise not to have lobbyists lead his campaign?

        Do you have a point, or are you just pointing?

        We all know that pretty much all politicians work closely with lobbyists for one reason or another… Still wondering if you had a point to make.

        In 2008, “the Boston Globe, in a piece by Scott Helman, took a hard look at Obama’s contributions, noting that “behind Obama’s campaign rhetoric about taking on special interests lies a more complicated truth.” That truth revealed that as a state legislator in Illinois, a U.S. senator, and as a presidential aspirant, Obama had collected hundreds of thousands of dollars from lobbyists and PACs. Helman quoted an Obama campaign spokeswoman saying that after he experienced firsthand the influence of Washington lobbyists, he was taking a different approach to fundraising than he had in the past, and that “his leadership position on this issue is an evolving process.” If Obama’s leadership on campaign financing is indeed evolving, more news outlets should be following the evolution.”

        What has happened to the promise of government “transparency” that was promised? Maybe that should be your real question…

        • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?author=22 David Shedlock
          • Dandini

            David,

            Tell us who does not have lobbyists around them?

            Still waiting…

            You don’t state anything obvious. But seem to hope you can attack Romney with some dubious claims.

            Did you even listen the the youtube attack by the newshounds?

            Did you read all of the comments?

            Did you see how many negative comments there were without anything more than accusations?

            Did you see how many positive answers there were with more factual information?

  • Williams

    The term flip-flop is for someone who changes their stance on an issue more than once or depending on which crowd they are stumping to. A flip-flopper wobbles from left to right but Romney has moved to the right and remained a solid spokesperson for conservative issues. There is no question that Romney has evolved in his political ideology since he ran for Senate in 1994 and even since his Governorship. I don’t fault him for changing; in fact I applaud him for changing and sticking firmly to the changes. The greatest leaders are able to admit error and change quickly to adapt to correct principles. I am suspicious of someone who is “never wrong” and refuses to change. Consider Reagan, a former democrat – How well off would the conservative movement have been if Reagan were ostracized by Republicans as an actor, a divorcee, or a former liberal?
    I prefer to look at Mitt Romney’s evolution into the conservative movement as a fabulously successful businessman and leader who has come to find his footing – as Reagan did – in the bedrock of fiscal conservatism, national safety, and traditional values.
    Romney has the political prowess, intellect, charisma, organization, and fund-raising ability to win in 2012. More importantly he has the leadership, experience, integrity, and values to fix a very vexed America.

    • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?author=2 Shane Vander Hart

      And he has a problem with social conservatives who just aren’t buying it – http://spectator.org/blog/2010/03/10/mitt-romney-pro-choice-who-me

      By the way, changing your name doesn’t change your IP address. I know you commented here twice under two different names.

      • Dandini

        The “social conservatives” are probably not buying it because they believe a lot more in inuendo and extrapolation provided by people with political or personal agendas, rather than working hard to sift through the historical information available, and then using their own mind to think it through to a logical conclusion.

        • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?author=2 Shane Vander Hart

          Whatever, he was vetted here in Iowa in 08 and found wanting.

          • Dandini

            Shane if you always trust people to do your own thinking, that would explain your trust in the vetting process.

            Like I said, “this is your brain, and this is your brain on drugs!”

          • William

            I was in Iowa in 08 covering the election, as well as New Hampshire, Wyoming, Nevada etc. I like Iowa and it was a good race but Romney did not lose because of any kind of “vetting”. Romney was seen favorable in Iowa (even when he lost) and still is seen very favorably now.
            http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100611/NEWS09/6110352/Iowa-Poll-Exposure-lifts-3-GOP-presidential-prospects

            Romney lost in Iowa because Iowans are easily wooed by the slick folksy Arkansas type like Bill Clinton and Mike Huckabee. Almost overnight Iowa flocked to Huckabee but not because they found anything wrong with Romney, they just had more in common with the Baptist minister.

            • Dandini

              William, good call on that one.

              Huckabee had very “slick” and carefully crafted religious “pokes” at Romney. And always denied that he was attacking Romney for his faith.

              Yet Romney managed to stay ahead of Huck till he chose to drop out and support the leading candidate, who lost to Obama.

  • Bill
    • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?author=2 Shane Vander Hart

      So what? 2012 polls mean nothing right now. He was up there in 2008 as well.

      • Dandini

        So who would you recommend, and why? Please be factual.

        • Dandini

          Shane?

          Anyone out there?

          Guess you could not think of anyone better than Romney, by virtue of factual information…

  • William

    Wow, first time on your blog and I am greeted by:
    “By the way, changing your name doesn’t change your IP address. I know you commented here twice under two different names.”
    I did comment twice, the first time as William and the second time unintentionally as Bill which is short for William FYI. If I were trying to “hide” my identity I would not have put in the same email address both times I posted.

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