Romney Calls It Quits

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections08/mittromney/story/0,,2254242,00.html

Mitt Romney today withdrew from the Republican presidential race today, effectively ceding the contest to frontrunner John McCain.

The former Massachusetts governor pulled out after losing considerable ground to McCain in the coast-to-coast Super Tuesday primary contests. He also failed to edge out ordained Baptist preacher Mike Huckabee in the socially conservative southern states.

Romney made the announcement in front of an influential conservative political group in Washington, saying that he was withdrawing because America was at war in Iraq and he would rather support McCain as nominee rather than make it easier for the Democratic nominee to win.

I was shocked. This is one of the few things that has comletely suprised me during this campaign.

I just wonder if it would have been different had West Virginian politics not unfolded as they did last Tuesday.

I seriously doubt 18 delegates would have mattered a bit. I also doubt the outcome of the WV Convention swayed any voters anywhere else.

I think Mitt got tired of squandering his childrens' inheritance and is seeking to cast himself in a favorable light for future endeavors.

What are your thoughts on his future? Did his advance people ruin him for you?

ohio county wrote:What are your thoughts on his future? Did his advance people ruin him for you?

I encountered a few Ron Paul supporters I wouldn't want for friends or neighbors. I don't hold his staffers or his volunteers against him. I hold his record in MA against him. I don't trust him. He switches positions depending on his target audience.

The only worse candidate the GOP has is now sure to get the nomination. All I can think of to say is good grief.

What say you?

I was more troubled by his advance people than by him. Aaron reminded me that you can't really judge a guy's record by how he runs a state - probably that's especially true of Massachusetts. He's got to balance budgets and pay for chunnels and has a whole other set of rules. If you're going to do some social spending the place to do it is at the state and local level.

I'm far more troubled by McCain's record as a US Senator.

I've sort of reconciled myself to life on the sidelines and may very well write Ron Paul in...

Stephanie wrote:I seriously doubt 18 delegates would have mattered a bit. I also doubt the outcome of the WV Convention swayed any voters anywhere else.

I think Mitt got tired of squandering his childrens' inheritance and is seeking to cast himself in a favorable light for future endeavors.

Really??? You don't think it making the national news all afternoon that Mike Huckabee defeated Mitt Romney in WV and that voters in Ga, Ar, Tn and other areas didn't here about what happened?

If it didn't, then the WV Republican party moving their primary up to Super Tuesday failed. Correct!!!

I think Mitt the Mormon got tired of being trashed by Mike the Baptist and the christian coalition based SOLELY on religious beliefs and has nothing at all to do with Republican party values given the fact that Huckabee is a liberal democrat on all but the 3 'G' issues.

ohio county wrote:I was more troubled by his advance people than by him. Aaron reminded me that you can't really judge a guy's record by how he runs a state - probably that's especially true of Massachusetts. He's got to balance budgets and pay for chunnels and has a whole other set of rules. If you're going to do some social spending the place to do it is at the state and local level.

I'm far more troubled by McCain's record as a US Senator.

I've sort of reconciled myself to life on the sidelines and may very well write Ron Paul in...

It wasn't Romney's social spending that bothered me so much, Jimmy. It was the MANDATING he did I find so offensive. Whenever the government mandates something upon the people they should all prepare to bend over.

I don't know if you and I have ever really discussed this, but abortion is a deal breaker for me. I won't cast a vote for a person, man or woman, who isn't a staunch supporter of the rights of the unborn. Believe it or not, my position on this has softened a bit over the years. I no longer oppose the "morning after pill". The humans that kills haven't got fully developed nervous systems and beating hearts.

I don't trust Mitt Romney on that issue so I could never vote for him. Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, John McCain, they're all big government guys. I can't vote for any of them. I just won't do it.

So in the end I'll probably be writing in "Ron Paul" too. He's the only candidate that agreed with me on all of my top issues......our foreign policy, abortion, reducing the size of the federal goverment, protection and restoration of our civil liberties, and the death penalty. I'm not seeing anybody else from any party with views so closely mirroring my own.

In addition, Dr. Paul educated me and probably millions of others to other pressing concerns I hadn't really considered before, like our monetary policy. I'm really excited about some of his ideas for reigning in the cost of health care in this country.

ugh, I can't think about it any more. He's 72 years old, I don't think there can be a "next time" for him and so I'm extremely worried about the future of our nation. It wouldn't surprise me if in a decade or so our name isn't changed to the United Socialist States of America.

Aaron wrote:

Stephanie wrote:I seriously doubt 18 delegates would have mattered a bit. I also doubt the outcome of the WV Convention swayed any voters anywhere else.

I think Mitt got tired of squandering his childrens' inheritance and is seeking to cast himself in a favorable light for future endeavors.

Really??? You don't think it making the national news all afternoon that Mike Huckabee defeated Mitt Romney in WV and that voters in Ga, Ar, Tn and other areas didn't here about what happened?

If it didn't, then the WV Republican party moving their primary up to Super Tuesday failed. Correct!!!

I think Mitt the Mormon got tired of being trashed by Mike the Baptist and the christian coalition based SOLELY on religious beliefs and has nothing at all to do with Republican party values given the fact that Huckabee is a liberal democrat on all but the 3 'G' issues.

No, Aaron, I don't think it made much difference at all. I think the Christian vote was split between Romney and Huckabee. The fact he is a Mormon hurt him in some states but surely helped him in others. The Mormons came out in droves in Utah, Nevada, Wyoming and other states to vote for "their guy".

The deep south was voting for their boy. Huckabee is one of them. He's a Baptist preacher, for crying out loud. I don't know why anybody would be surprised he carried Arkansas or Tennessee. I'm surprised he didn't carry South Carolina.

No, I don't consider the WVGOP Convention to be a failure in the eyes of most of WVGOP members. They gained national attention, had 3 candidates show up and speak, and gathered nearly 1500 WV Republicans under one roof on one day. How many people thought that was a realistic possibility? When was the last time that many Republicans were in the same county in this state, never mind the same building?

As far as what Mitt got tired of, all I've got to say is what I've said before. Politics is a blood sport. If he can't handle the swipes at his religion and his record as Governor than he won't be able to handle the pressures and demands the President of the United States of America must endure.

First, I don't know if I would have voted for Romney or not so this has nothing to do with "my" guy losing. What I do know is that I don't let any of the 3 G's or any other moral issue be the defining measure of whom I vote for. I don't have a problem with a candidate who changes his mind or one that grows and learns from past mistakes. After all, we're all human and one thing I've learned is that I'm not the same person at 40 that I was at 20. Anyone that is, in all honesty, scares me somewhat.

Religion was an issue and it shouldn't have been. In every debate, Huck was ask about the positives of his religion while Mitt, when questioned, was ask about the negatives of his. That was done by moderators and the media, both of which are supposed to show at least the appearance of neturality. It didn't happen. Nothing is going to change that.

As it is right now, Mitt the Mormon won 3 states because of his religion, Huck won 4. Mitt won 69 delegates while Huck won 100. And with no more states for Mitt’s religion to help him but plenty for Huck, I can understand why he wouldn’t want to continue spending his own money, especially given the fact that the nomination is McCain’s, lock, stock and barrel. All Huck and Paul are doing is spending money. McCain doesn't even have to do that. He can start running a national campaign tomorrow morning because his only competation is gone.

You do recall that I said your boy would be done by Super Tuesday. It's official...He's done and Super Tuesday confirmed what I said would happen. I'm not trying to say I told you so.

But I did tell you so.

As for WV, Republicans, they had a chance, in WV AND the national spotlight, to show that they were above the backdoor shenanigans that West Virginians democrats are famous for. They failed miserably. Faced with the opportunity to show they had some morals and honor by standing their convictions, they made a backdoor deal to GIVE the election away. And they didn't give it to someone they supported and felt should win, they gave it to one individual to keep another from winning. And you say it wasn't negative.

Whatever, Aaron. Ron Paul hasn't quit campaigning and I'm not endind my support for him.

There were no "backdoor" shenanigans. For crying out loud, the McCain volunteers were holding photocopies that read McCain Delegates Vote Huckabee. I don't know how they could have been any more open about what they were doing.

As far as the Paul delegates who opted to stay and vote for Huckabee, they were only doing what they could to garner a few delegates for the candidate they believe in. Remember, Paul had been eliminated. Even a single delegate would have been better than none.

Romney's people were very aggressive in their attempts to made a deal with Paul delegates. They were imploring Paul's people, offering more delegates, in a public hallway. Sorry to shatter your image of a smoke-filled room with the blinds drawn and look-outs at the door.

Anybody who doesn't realize that deals are made every day between political rivals is a rube. All parties involved were working for the interests of the candidate they support. There were a few who refused to participate. I know some delegates for Paul who left, I know some who stayed but obstained. I also know there were 12 McCain delegates who voted for him despite what the majority of his staff and supporters felt were in his best interests. That's just the way politics are, Aaron. It isn't unique to Republicans, or West Virginia, or even the USA. If you don't like it, get involved and do something to change it. Acting all holier than thou in a forum with a dozen members won't accomplish a damn thing.

Romney didn't "mature" or "grow up". He was against abortion and for abortion and against abortion. He can't make up his mind on that issue and others. He also repeatedly refuses to answer direct questions like, "Do you consider water boarding torture?" He's a worm.

I never called Romney "your boy" or "your" anything. I am well aware you have some freakish fetish for Hillary. All I have to say about that is Eeewwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!

And I don't think any less of those who supported taking the delegates. That's what we were there for. To do anything else only insured failure.

With regard to abortion - I also have immense feelings of sympathy for any little girl who finds herself pregnant and alone. Or worse. But I ultimately agree that taking the life of an innocent child doesn't solve anyone's problems.

As to predictions, I don't think anybody predicted a Ron Paul win. That's not what this is about. Oh, sure it is. But I think we're all adults. He has the charisma of Velveeta cheese and the zealousness of John the Baptist. I just think his message is important for the sake of the republic.

Please note: this is not directed at one person. Sure, a paragraph here and a paragraph there. I know it is confusing. I'm a little pumped on caffeine. And Friday.

Aaron wrote:As for WV, Republicans, they had a chance, in WV AND the national spotlight, to show that they were above the backdoor shenanigans

Why that is not so.

My wife is a Registered Republican and she was not ...... and will not ..... be given a chance to vote for her choice of the Republican Candidates for President.

But it really matters little, those Caucuses and Primaries, and I doubt that either one of us will even bother voting in the WV Primary.

GEEEZE, between those Super Delegates and the Electorial College, ...... it matters friggingly little who the "average voter" votes for.

All of the "In Case Of" Backroom Deals have been "stipulated and agreed upon" long before any Caucuses or Primaries were ever held. And that included "who" was to file as a Candidate for the purpose of "vote control".

Now wouldn't it be a "real loud hoot" ....... if Obama was pitted against McCain ....... and we had a "greater margin" repeat of the "Florida 2000"?

I mean like Arizona's McCain hasn't played the role of the Phoenix by accident or pure ole dumb luck.



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Actually, Violet can still vote at the regularly scheduled primary in May. There will just be fewer delegates at stake and the choices will be limited to one or two...

And just what would her voting accomplish other than her getting another "check mark" entered upon her Voter Registration Form?


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Point taken. They did a disservice to rank-and-file republicans all over the state. And in the end, accomplished nothing.

Stephanie wrote:Whatever, Aaron. Ron Paul hasn't quit campaigning and I'm not endind my support for him.

This morning on Today (GMA was doing some stupid space thing so I turned) when discussing Romney's dropping out of the race, the stated that it left McCain with "one opponent left in the primary election"...while showing Mike Huckabee on the screen.

They were correct. Granted he has no choice of winning either but I got their point.

Stephanie wrote:There were no "backdoor" shenanigans. For crying out loud, the McCain volunteers were holding photocopies that read McCain Delegates Vote Huckabee. I don't know how they could have been any more open about what they were doing.

And WV Republicans went right along with it. The fact that it was out in the open makes it just a bit more slimy imo.

Stephanie wrote:As far as the Paul delegates who opted to stay and vote for Huckabee, they were only doing what they could to garner a few delegates for the candidate they believe in. Remember, Paul had been eliminated. Even a single delegate would have been better than none.

I believe I stated that the other day. I don't have a problem with those delegates switching.

Stephanie wrote:Romney's people were very aggressive in their attempts to made a deal with Paul delegates. They were imploring Paul's people, offering more delegates, in a public hallway. Sorry to shatter your image of a smoke-filled room with the blinds drawn and look-outs at the door.

As they should have been. Paul was eliminated. That was the general idea of this type of convention, was it not!!!

Stephanie wrote:Anybody who doesn't realize that deals are made every day between political rivals is a rube. All parties involved were working for the interests of the candidate they support. There were a few who refused to participate. I know some delegates for Paul who left, I know some who stayed but obstained. I also know there were 12 McCain delegates who voted for him despite what the majority of his staff and supporters felt were in his best interests. That's just the way politics are, Aaron. It isn't unique to Republicans, or West Virginia, or even the USA. If you don't like it, get involved and do something to change it. Acting all holier than thou in a forum with a dozen members won't accomplish a damn thing.

I grew up in Lincoln County. I doubt there's much you can tell me about West Virginia politics.

Stephanie wrote:Romney didn't "mature" or "grow up". He was against abortion and for abortion and against abortion. He can't make up his mind on that issue and others. He also repeatedly refuses to answer direct questions like, "Do you consider water boarding torture?" He's a worm.

The "A" issue is meaningless to me, especially when considering my choice for President. He can't change that law.

As for torture, that's a loaded issue. There are many accepted and approved measures of interrogation that some might consider torture. I don't think it's fair to question candidates specifically on one technique.

Stephanie wrote:I never called Romney "your boy" or "your" anything. I am well aware you have some freakish fetish for Hillary. All I have to say about that is Eeewwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!

I would think an enlightened Yankee such as yourself could see it.

Velveeta cheese? Aw, Jimmy, that was kind of rough.

What did WVGOP Convention accomplish? I think it offered a number of local yokels an outstanding opportunity to practice being important.

I think it offered a number of local yokels an outstanding opportunity to practice being important.

Bingo! No more. No less.

Stephanie wrote:No, I don't consider the WVGOP Convention to be a failure in the eyes of most of WVGOP members. They gained national attention, had 3 candidates show up and speak, and gathered nearly 1500 WV Republicans under one roof on one day. How many people thought that was a realistic possibility? When was the last time that many Republicans were in the same county in this state, never mind the same building?

Stephanie wrote:What did WVGOP Convention accomplish? I think it offered a number of local yokels an outstanding opportunity to practice being important.

You sound just like Hillary, trying to support BOTH sides of a point!!!

You fail to pay attention to detail, Aaron. In my response to you, I told you what I believe most WVGOP (particularly leadership) consider to have gained through this convention process.

In my response to Jimmy I was sharing my thoughts on the whole thing.

Stephanie wrote:You fail to pay attention to detail, Aaron. In my response to you, I told you what I believe most WVGOP (particularly leadership) consider to have gained through this convention process.

In my response to Jimmy I was sharing my thoughts on the whole thing.

Hillary stated the governor's point on drivers license. Then she shared her personal thoughts.

I rest my case StephanieClinton.

Start talking about my thighs and you'll get banned.

I am quite confident they are not as lucious as Hillary's. Just thinking about them makes me.........