Romney - Moderately Conservative

[Conan]

I just saw Romney on The Situation Room and he looked like an excellent candidate as well as a respectable and honorable man.  He's not as conservative as I thought and very reasonable. I hope he gets the republican nomination.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I saw the same thing.  He looks very much Presidential, although I'm still not sure if I would support him.

[Conan]

I saw the same thing.  He looks very much Presidential, although I'm still not sure if I would support him.

I'd vote for the dem most likely but Romney isnt a polarizing scumbag. He's decent and civil it appears.

[© tweed]

I just saw Romney on The Situation Room and he looked like an excellent candidate as well as a respectable and honorable man.

"don't judge a book by its cover"

[Democratic Hawk]

This jury's still out on Romney. He can't be that conservative given he's the governor of Massachussetts, I would have thought

Dave

[Conan]

I just saw Romney on The Situation Room and he looked like an excellent candidate as well as a respectable and honorable man.

"don't judge a book by its cover"

I'm not quick to rush to judgement. Of course we'll see where he stands when he runs.

[Democratic Hawk]

I just saw Romney on The Situation Room and he looked like an excellent candidate as well as a respectable and honorable man.

"don't judge a book by its cover"

I'm not quick to rush to judgement. Of course we'll see where he stands when he runs.

I suspect to your right, Conan, given that he'd be seeking the GOP nomination

Dave

[Smash255]

He has taken a HARD right turn from when he was campaigning for Govenor.  the only question is, which Romney is the true Romney.  the moderate to almost liberal Republican who ran for and is Govenor in a liberal state or the right wing version running for the GOP nomination, who started his sharp right turn as  the Gov

[George W. Hobbes]

The issue most conservatives have with Romney is not going to be his Mormonism, it's going to be two things:

1. Prior pro-choice stand, from his 2002 gubernatorial campaign.

2. Support for the Federal Gun Control Act of 1993.

Combined, those two (and, sadly, yes his Mormonism) will deny him necessary votes in the South and West, and those two, sans the Mormonism, will cost him the votes of conservative ideologue leaders.

[JSojourner]

Never underestimate the capacity of ANY politician to change with the political wind.  Romney appears moderate now.  He has to.  He's the governor of Massachusetts and his designated successor needs the support of a moderate, if not liberal, Republican. 

Even if freedom of choice and gay rights are in Romney's lexicon, that would almost certainly change if he became a frontrunner in the GOP. It's not like there isn't precedent.

George H.W. Bush was moderate to liberal on social issues, before joining the Reagan ticket.

Jack Kemp had downright progressive ideas on immigration and fighting poverty.  He didn't even pretend (to his credit, I think) to hide the fact that he was changing those views to accomodate Bob Dole in 1996.

Al Gore was among the Democratic party's most conservative voices on the abortion rights issue while a Senator.  But he was advised that the party would never nominate an anti-abortion rights candidate for a national ticket.  So --- he "realized he'd been wrong". 

Same thing happened with Dick Gephardt when he came into national prominence as minority leader. 

In some cases, politicians probably DO have changes of heart and mind.  Hell, that makes a person both human and trustable.  It's the "I never change course" mentality that worries me.  That said, the timing of one's change of mind needs to be carefully looked at.  Is it a change of mind for the sake of politics?  Or to sate genuine conviction?

[Conan]

The issue most conservatives have with Romney is not going to be his Mormonism, it's going to be two things:

1. Prior pro-choice stand, from his 2002 gubernatorial campaign.

2. Support for the Federal Gun Control Act of 1993.

Combined, those two (and, sadly, yes his Mormonism) will deny him necessary votes in the South and West, and those two, sans the Mormonism, will cost him the votes of conservative ideologue leaders.

He wasnt pro choice, he just wasnt going to take up the issue.

[Adlai Stevenson]

I am predicting Romney is the GOP's 2008 presidential candidate and that his running mate is either Mike Huckabee or Kay Bailey Hutchison. 

[Conan]

I am predicting Romney is the GOP's 2008 presidential candidate and that his running mate is either Mike Huckabee or Kay Bailey Hutchison. 

I think he's gonna be the nominee too.

[NHPolitico]

I think he'll get the nomination, too, and, interestingly, there is very good money to be made on that outcome at TradeSports. In fact, the price for a share has gone down 5 off its high. It's only at 15.9 right now. I'm not an expert on TradeSports, but the max contract price is 100.0, so I'm guessing an investment of $15.90 today can yield $100.00 in 2008. I reserve the right to be wrong.

[Lincoln Republican]

The issue most conservatives have with Romney is not going to be his Mormonism, it's going to be two things:

1. Prior pro-choice stand, from his 2002 gubernatorial campaign.

2. Support for the Federal Gun Control Act of 1993.

Combined, those two (and, sadly, yes his Mormonism) will deny him necessary votes in the South and West, and those two, sans the Mormonism, will cost him the votes of conservative ideologue leaders.

He wasnt pro choice, he just wasnt going to take up the issue.

I agree, during his gubernatorial campaign, Romney was not pro choice, he simply stated that the abortion laws of Massachusetts would not change with him as Governor.

[Lincoln Republican]

I am predicting Romney is the GOP's 2008 presidential candidate and that his running mate is either Mike Huckabee or Kay Bailey Hutchison. 

Wow, there's actually 3 posters on this forum who agree that Romney can win the nomination.

I have been extolling the virtues of Romney and of a Romney candidacy for the last 2 years on this forum, with a great deal of criticism from some quarters.  But that's OK.

I agree as well, that Huckabee would be right up near the top as a VP choice for Romney, as I stated some time ago.

Kay Bay would certainly be a interesting consideration, but I doubt he would go with her.

[© tweed]

Romney can only win if he inherits the neoconservative theocratic wing of the base that supported Bush.  Somehow I think that might be different for a formerly pro-choice Mormon from Massachusetts to do.

[Conan]

Romney can only win if he inherits the neoconservative theocratic wing of the base that supported Bush.  Somehow I think that might be different for a formerly pro-choice Mormon from Massachusetts to do.

I dont think he'll have a problem, he is more socially conservative then Giuliani and McCain.

[© tweed]

Romney can only win if he inherits the neoconservative theocratic wing of the base that supported Bush.  Somehow I think that might be different for a formerly pro-choice Mormon from Massachusetts to do.

I dont think he'll have a problem, he is more socially conservative then Giuliani and McCain.

But why would the right rally around him (a one-term Mormon Massachusetts governor) instead of a more traditional theocrat like Huckabee?  You know, white male southern protestant cookie cutter type dude.

[TheWildCard]

I am predicting Romney is the GOP's 2008 presidential candidate and that his running mate is either Mike Huckabee or Kay Bailey Hutchison. 

Wow, there's actually 3 posters on this forum who agree that Romney can win the nomination.

I have been extolling the virtues of Romney and of a Romney candidacy for the last 2 years on this forum, with a great deal of criticism from some quarters.  But that's OK.

I agree as well, that Huckabee would be right up near the top as a VP choice for Romney, as I stated some time ago.

Kay Bay would certainly be a interesting consideration, but I doubt he would go with her.

Ahem... I've been a supporter of Romney as well for a long time now. He's been my choice since last year.

I agree that Kay Bailey Hutchison would be an excellent choice particularly against a Clinton campaign, sicne she'd be one heck of a good attack dog to have.

[Lincoln Republican]

I am predicting Romney is the GOP's 2008 presidential candidate and that his running mate is either Mike Huckabee or Kay Bailey Hutchison. 

Wow, there's actually 3 posters on this forum who agree that Romney can win the nomination.

I have been extolling the virtues of Romney and of a Romney candidacy for the last 2 years on this forum, with a great deal of criticism from some quarters.  But that's OK.

I agree as well, that Huckabee would be right up near the top as a VP choice for Romney, as I stated some time ago.

Kay Bay would certainly be a interesting consideration, but I doubt he would go with her.

Ahem... I've been a supporter of Romney as well for a long time now. He's been my choice since last year.

I agree that Kay Bailey Hutchison would be an excellent choice particularly against a Clinton campaign, sicne she'd be one heck of a good attack dog to have.

It is always great to hear from another Romney backer.

Thanks.

[dazzleman]

Romney can only win if he inherits the neoconservative theocratic wing of the base that supported Bush.  Somehow I think that might be different for a formerly pro-choice Mormon from Massachusetts to do.

It depends who gets the Democratic nomination.

Right now, Romney is the candidate I like best.  Unlike some Republicans, I like the fact that he was able to win an election in the northeast.

I care not a bit about his Mormonism.  I don't see any problem with that religion, as long as he doesn't have 4 wives....

Against Hillary, whom many evangelicals regard as the devil herself, they may be a little more flexible about making sure they have somebody who can win.  Desperate times call for desperate measures...

[Saxwsylvania]

Hutchison does not support overturning Roe v. Wade, so I do not see her as a likely running mate for Romney.  I think it'll be Mike Huckabee, a strong social conservative who is a former Baptist minister.  If not him, then perhaps Mark Sanford or Tim Pawlenty if he is reelected.

And ironically, between Giuliani, McCain, and Romney, Romney is the only one who has had only one wife.

[zorkpolitics]

Up to now I've favored McCain for '08, mostly because I think he is perceived as being moderate so he could best win vs. Hillary.  But Romney seems smarter and I like that he has solid business experience mixed in with the ability to govern in  'hostile' state like Mass.  In all likelihood, the 2009, Congress. Like the 2007 Congress, will have at least one House run by the 'hostile' Democrats.