My thoughts on Romney/Ryan:

1. 93

   habeeposted 12 years ago

   This is what worries me: I like Romney. I think he's a moderate at heart. I think Ryan is smart and a decent guy, but I also think he's too far to the right, although I like some of his ideas. I think Romney was forced to pick Ryan because of the Tea Party. I'm not saying I disagree with everything about the TP, but they've said they don't believe in compromise. We HAVE to have compromise in government! Is Ryan going to be Romney's "boss"? Is this going to end up like Cheney/Bush? I don't care what you think about W, I think he's a decent guy who caved to Cheney. Will Mitt do the same thing? WHY couldn't the GOP let Romney run as a moderate, instead of trying to mold him into a "severe conservative"? Is MODERATE a dirty word now??

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   1. 0

      JaxsonRaineposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I think Romney is going to run his own show if he gets elected. I heard him say once that he doesn't expect to get a second term, if elected, because of the changes he wants to make.
      
      It is unfortunate... people criticize him for pandering to the right(the only way he has a chance), but then they make it seem that if he was a moderate president, that would be bad too(a flip I guess).

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   2. 75

      Mighty Momposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I think Romney WAS a moderate at heart.
      Until he sold is soul to run for POTUS.
      Yes, moderate and compromise are dirty words now.
      
      You'll find this sad Habee.
      John Huntsman and Bill Richardson were both interviewed on CNN regarding Jan Brewer's defiance re: illegal aliens.
      I really liked Huntsman's message. Reasonable. Not party line.

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      1. 93

         habeeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Yeah, you know I wanted Huntsman.

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   3. 59

      Praetorposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I think, "the devil you know, beats the devil you don't; and I like the devil I got". I'm much less afraid of a second Obama term, one that will be marginalized by a Republican Congress, than I am of a Romney/Ryan administration that will have a proverbial "blank check" in Congress (much like Obama did his first two years).
      
      I'd prefer to just "stop the bleeding" with Obama, and wait four more years for a Marco Rubio, Bobby Jindal, Nikki Haley or one of the other young up and comers in the GOP. That's one good thing about the Republican Party at the moment, we've got a pretty deep bench.

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2. 58

   Wizard Of Whimsyposted 12 years ago

   Can either of you name one Republican President who has EVER cut spending. cut the deficit, or reduced the size of government? 
   
   And do you really think Romney or Ryan has produced any specific plan, other than to cut taxes and reduce regulations, that will turn the American and global economic crisis around?
   
   And do you think either one of them has the experience and on-the-job training that Obama has?
   
   I don't ask these questions to put you down, but to understand why you think Romney/Ryan would be good for America and the world.

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   1. 75

      Mighty Momposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Don't look at me when you say that, WOW!
      I think I'm pretty clear in my POLITICKING (see Jaxson Raine thread with definition) dead-set against the RR ticket.
      I was merely commenting how surprised (but pleased) I was to hear former Governor Hunstman talking rationally and reasonably about Brewer's radical stance on assimilating vs. deporting illegal immigrants.

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   2. 93

      habeeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Wiz, I don't think Obama is terrible, but nothing is going to get done by Congress while he's POTUS. Maybe the House will work with Romney. Also, many businesses are sitting on $$ now instead of hiring. Maybe if Romney wins, they'll start hiring. I still think Obama will win, and I won't be upset if he does. I won't be elated if Romney wins, either, but perhaps a "change" will boost the economy. W was bad for the deficit, spending like crazy.
      
      I think Eisenhower was the last one to cut spending, although Poppy Bush cut military spending.

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3. 70

   carol7777posted 12 years ago

   I think the two of them will work well together. This should attract the younger voters.

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4. 0

   Motown2Chitownposted 12 years ago

   Sadly, habee, the GOP does not like to run moderate candidates.  They don't tend to do well in the final election.  The hope is that an ultra conservative running mate will make everyone feel better about the moderate candidate they did put up.  And I agree with you - I think Romney is far more moderate than he's been made out to be.  Frankly, yours and MM's are the only political opinions round here with which I generally agree completely, so I always hope that the two of you are as on point as I think you are.
   
   But, when it comes down to it, our votes are the only things that will matter.  We can argue about all of this till we're blue in the face, but some of us simply will NOT get our way come the first Wednesday morning in November, and we ultimately ALL need to learn to play nice in the sandbox once the games begin.
   
   

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5. 71

   Reality Bytesposted 12 years ago

   Moderates lose elections,McCain,Dole, even Bush 1!  Conservatives win,W, Bush, Reagan.
   
   
   Just truth 

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   1. 0

      HowardBThinameposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      You've got a point.
      
      I don't think Romney/Ryan will win, but I think Romney is a moderate and would probably stay that way.
      
      I wonder if Romney, being Mormon, didn't think he was attracting enough of the conservative Christian base? Maybe that's why he chose Ryan.

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         Motown2Chitownposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         So sorry to go off topic here, but that's one of the best usernames I've ever seen, Howard!!
         
         

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            HowardBThinameposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Thanks Motown!  Most folks don't get it.

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6. 93

   Genna Eastposted 12 years ago

   Hi,
   
   As a MA resident, I can tell you that Gov. Romney was never far right; he was always a moderate.

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7. 67

   Charles Jamesposted 12 years ago

   This is a common problem in democratic politics. The activists by definition are not "moderate". They are more enthused and they want to be fed the red meat of extremism. And if you give them the red meat they will be happier and even more enthusiastic.
   
   That red meat also galvanises the other party who say "Look at what X said - they really are going to cut medicare/ make abortion compulsory/ raise taxes/ cut Welfare."
   
   The independents and centre ground are normally put off by the red meat. They want to see reasoned arguments rather than slogans.
   
   Elections tend to turn on differential voting. So one has to consider red meat to build majorities in safe seats or moderation to win the swing seats. Getting the balance right is not easy.
   
   BTW I don't recall Goldwater as a moderate?

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