Guess the wind must have shifted today, huh, Mitt?
Incidentally, to those GOP establishment / GOP-intelligentsia types who think it’s a good idea to challenge Obama with a flip-flopping, “non-ideological” Dukakis-like technocrat — one whose policy is the model for ObamaCare — would it be to much to ask you why, precisely?
I’m serious. Tell me. I’m listening.
Because he’s electable, silly! Like John McCain.
Fabulous hair.
Massachusetts Gravitas.
Who’s got a 59 point financial plan? Mitt Romney, that’s who. How many points does Cain’s plan have? Perry’s?
Yeah, that’s what I thought. Less than 59.
Simplicity is for the simple-minded, Mitt reminds us simple-minded folk. He has a plan.
Because he can make the tough decisions with leadership and authority (provided you give him 72 hours and a focus group)!
But Squid, it will be a heck of a focus group. The best, only the best.
Hugh Hewitt is his wing man.
If you have to ask, you can’t afford it.
Particularly as the main thing they think Romney has going for him, electability, is just not true. Any conservative will beat Obama handily, but Romney will split the conservative vote and make this a close contest.
I love this site.
Because Herman Cain does not know how to flip flop like Romney. Romney’s flip flop kung fu cannot be beat.
Meghan McCain ? Romney
Romney Surging!
He’s such a pussy. This law has to pass. I live in deep blue Lakewood and the signs against outnumber the signs for, at least 100 to 1. I’m hoping Al’s “frontier” group, Darth’s minions and Crawford’s Cinci folk, can make up for my NE ohio morons.
Romney is a *
…Because he’s got what plants crave?
Electrolytes!
Romney is the thoughtful, intelligent choice.
Not the average supporters intelligent thoughts, but those thoughtful and intelligent people that tell them Romney is the only one that can beat Obama.
Thinking for yourself is HARD!
Making Jacques Kerry look decisive.
ok, serious question on the floor here — how do we determine what is a “flip flop” and what is a legitimate change of mind.
in 08 I was for Romney, based mostly on his track record as a businessman and his personal integrity (I mean if the worst personal judgement flaw was traveling with the family dog in a pet carrier on the car roof … well then). I’m backing Cain, especially since Perry has been such a disappointment.
Now there is few people more classical liberal than my dad and the question of Romney’s “flip flops” has come up (dad leans Romney right now due to his disappointment in Perry). One of dad’s heroes was Goldwater – who he got to meet and speak with on a few occasions in the late 1950’s. According to him, Goldwater remarked that any man who said he would never change his mind should not be trusted – either because of low intelligence hiding behind a closed mind or was lying about it.
So how do we go about vetting the “flip flops”?
Is the question as simple as distinguishing a change of a policy recommendation based on a new set of facts as opposed to a change of principle based on electoral convenience Darleen? People being (rightfully) generally suspicious of politicians who readily shift their principles to fit poll driven results?
Flip-flopping is like pr0n. I know it when I see it — and in the internet age, I don’t have to pay for it.
I think any “change of mind” has to fit into the persons larger philosophy.
For example, Romney says he will get rid of Obamacare, but defends Romneycare. He separates the two by distinguishing between state and federal rights, but how do you square even a state mandate to buy a service with the larger concept of constitutionally guaranteed individual liberty?
A change of mind is an action of principle, a flip flop is an action of expedience.
A change of mind is an action of principle, a flip flop is an action of expedience.
I like that!
I would, add, however that states do have more leeway to chart their own course without fed interference. And that can include things you and I may oppose in principle.
Greater (or broader?) police power is the term of art, I think. Though the so-called incorporation of the 14th amendment seems to have altered the original constitutional construction. Still, the people in the individual States are intended as sovereigns to have the ultimate say as to what police power the State exercises.
“I would, add, however that states do have more leeway to chart their own course without fed interference”
True, but even the state of Massachusetts can’t have slaves.
how do we determine what is a “flip flop” and what is a legitimate change of mind?
A legitimate change of mind needs to come with a well articulated, justifiable explanation of the reasoning behind the decision. If someone said, “I didn’t think deeply enough about the policy at the time. I supported the ostensible goal, but I simply didn’t consider the second-order effects or the likelihood that the costs would be so high,” I may extend the benefit of the doubt. I’ll still be suspicious of the candidate’s ability to think deeply about policy decisions in the future, but I’ll grant him his change of heart.
But where there’s no sign of a supporting argument, I can’t help but assume that the candidate is just blowing with the wind, or perhaps just blowing hot air.
Romney is in the sidebar, right now.
Stop looking at me!!
Romney is also leading in all the primaries.
Hold your noses, folks. The GOP is going to make sure you get who they tell you you’ll get.
Link
Perry’s plan is going to help him.
To the extent that the primary electorate isn’t taking its cue from our better informed Media sorts, warning that electorate off from the dangerous lunatic Herman Cain, and away from the swaggering cowboy-oil tycoon Rick Perry, we should probably expect our betters to redouble their efforts on Mitt’s behalf any
dayhour now. There’s no time to be lost. Damned peons must have their ears full of unkempt hair and earwax.According to CNN. The RCP averages show Cain up by 5+ in Iowa and SC.
CNN only adds independents in NH. The rest, they use registered Repubs only.
The other polls in the averages use likely voters, who are obviously registered.