Wednesday, January 11, 2012

The 2012 Shoo-in - Maybe

Well over a year ago I predicted on this site that the religious bigots and crazy people who long ago hijacked the "the party of Abraham Lincoln" would never nominate Mormon Mitt Romney. "David Duke will be named head of the NAACP before that ever happens" I speculated at the time. It appears that I might be forced to eat a healthy dish of crow on the occasion of Mitt's victory in the New Hampshire Primary last night. This is not to imply that the half-witted "base" of that party are happy about what happened last evening. Anything but. Let me put it to you this way: The Republicans just got the news that they're pregnant and they're trying to fall in love as rapidly as possible.

Yes, with the honorable exception of Jon Huntsman, the most impressive GOP candidate to
come along since Teddy Roosevelt a century ago, the contenders for the nomination were just too bat-shit crazy for even the right wing to stomach. That takes some doing.

Although the
polls show Romney with a healthy edge in the South Carolina primary on January 21, it is by no means a done deal. Anything can happen in that state and usually does. John McCain learned that lesson the hard way in 2000. At this moment, the Gingrich campaign is bombarding the palmetto state with an anti-Romney propaganda blitzkrieg so fierce it's liable to take a heavy toll. Whether or not it will prove fatal is open for speculation.

Which brings me to the nasty subject of Newt Gingrich. He will probably save the Obama campaign a million or more in advertising this year by making the case for them why Mitt Romney should never be sent to the White House. The Republican "cause" - such as it is - means not a damned thing to him. He can't be so delusional that he honestly believes that he'll ever be president. His is a scorched earth, take-no-prisoners policy. The only thing that matters to Newt is Newt. If he has to bring the Republican party down in flames with him, so be it. GO FOR IT, NEWT!

"I love firing people"

-
Mitt Romney
New Hampshire primary, 9 Janu
ary 2012

That little Freudian slip didn't do him much good. As someone pointed out recently, Mitt Romney doesn't "create" jobs. He cremates them. The jolly good work he did for Bain Capital all those years ago by buying up companies and liquidating them - throwing thousands of people out of work in the process - will surely come back to haunt him when he faces President Obama in the general election. It was a very telling - albeit unfortunate - choice of words. It is what defines Mitt and his party. It's all about making the largest amount of profit for the smallest number of people. Who gives a shit if their policies wreck havoc over the social landscape of the nation? Money is everything. Chris Matthews has compared him to the Gordon Gekko character played by Michael Douglas in the film "Wall Street". It's an apt comparison to be sure. Greed is very good indeed to these clowns.

Assuming he will be the 2012 nominee, Romney has a few hurdles to overcome. Let's face some uncomfortable facts here, campers; even his own people can't stand him. He doesn't come off as the most sincere guy - and that's being generous. In fact he's the most superficial candidate who ever sought the office. He reminds a few people of the host of some lame, 1970's game show. He's not likely to inspire "the base" to show up at the polls en masse. Not only is his religion a hindrance, but there's also the fact that this former governor of "Taxachusetts" is seen by these knuckleheads as the worst kind of bleeding heart liberal. Isn't that a hoot? And you wonder why I get such a kick out of politics.

But it's not
as if Barack Obama himself doesn't have an uphill fight to deal with. His position at the moment is envious despite the economic mess - which he inherited. His problem is that the Governors and legislators of Republican-controlled states all over the country have been passing unconstitutional laws that will make it nearly impossible for the people who tend to vote Democratic to pass their ballots in November. Their reason is the non-existent plague of voter fraud. Although I'm placing my money on Obama, I'm certainly not going to bet the farm on him.

The president also has the problem of the Democratic base to deal with. He's been a huge disappointment in too many areas to count. I can understand the frustration people are feeling. I would only hope that traditional Democratic voters will remember that the alternatives to Obama are just too depressing to even think about. Maybe in a second term he'll start behaving like a real progressive. Maybe.

This much is certain: 2012 will be the most interesting political year of our lifetimes. To paraphrase Pete Townsend:

"Gotta feeling 2012 is gonna be a weird year."

Indeed it will be. Fasten your seat belts.

Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
tomdegan@frontiernet.net

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27 Comments:

At 9:20 AM, Anonymous Just the Facts! said...

"I love firing people", if they are not doing the job for which they are being paid to do.

 
At 10:23 AM, Blogger MagginKat said...

@Just the Facts: Yeah....I'm sure that is what Mittens had in mind as he did Bain's work for them, closed down companies & put thousands out of work. Yep & I believe in Santa Claus!

 
At 10:28 AM, Blogger The Catharine Chronicles said...

Yeah, but how could you have known that the only thing the GOP had to offer this year -- after four years of kvetching about how they wanted their country back -- all they had to offer up were the collection of Keystone Cops they put forth this year?

As for Romney's "I love firing people", it was totally taken out of context, but given his history, it was the dumbest sound bite he could have offered up. What I found offensive in the extreme was his suggestion that he had ever worried about "getting a pink slip". He's been a trust fund baby since he was a baby, he was the son of governor of Michigan and he never had a single money worry in his life.

Romney's has this really weird problem with proper affect (that's A-fekt, emphasis on the first syllable) and reaction. It's almost like he has a limited form of Asperger's. He has no idea what to say, he has no ability to read people's body language or facial expressions. It could be a social problem he's always had. Or it could be something that's been cultivated over years of just not giving a damn how others feel or what they think. From everything -- but EVERYTHING -- I've ever read about the man, the latter is far more likely.

You would have to travel far and wide to find someone as disinterested in the condition of his fellow man as Mitt Romney. And that's a shame, because if that's the best and most electable the GOP has to offer up, it says volumes.

~A~

 
At 10:54 AM, Blogger charles moore said...

Tom, I agree that Romney will most likely get the nomination, but yet there is still lots of time for many ups and downs. However, being originally from the south, I can tell you he will never carry the fundamental Bible thumpers down there. Most interesting will be to watch Gingrich. I don't think he stands a chance in hell, but he is not going down without a fight and it is going to be ugly and nasty - and fun.

 
At 12:09 PM, Blogger Ellis D., Esq. said...

Romney is the most phony, plastic candidate they have had since Ronald Reagan. So I guess he has a good chance at getting elected as Amerikans have only gotten dumber since 1980. The Citizens United decision allows this stupidity to be exploited in ways never before imagined so merit now plays little part in the electoral process ( if it ever did at all ). These next 10 months should be very entertaining if one likes black humor !!

 
At 12:16 PM, Blogger Chris said...

Here's a bit of odd info regarding the probable nominee.

He's Mexican-American, actually eligible for Mexican citizenship; a product of polygamy; belongs to a church that actually waged war against the American government; believes God lives on Planet Kolob, believes the Garden of Eden is in Jackson County, Missouri; and is a 1%er.

Could you imagine all this being true for the Dem nominee what the Repugs would be saying about him??

I agree, though, Tom. A month ago I would have bet money the Theocons in the GOP would never let Romney happen. I was wrong.

 
At 12:37 PM, Blogger The Black Swan said...

Check out Buddy Roemer. Probably the only sane and ethical man in the race for the White House. Which is exactly why the Media never talks about him and he never gets invited to the debates.

 
At 1:25 PM, Anonymous sean said...

"The Citizens United decision allows this stupidity to be exploited in ways never before imagined so merit now plays little part in the electoral process ( if it ever did at all )."
HA! Ellis D. Esq. the socialist complaining about Merit!

 
At 1:29 PM, Anonymous sean said...

@ Black Swan
Gary Johnson is the best candidate running for president. Best ideas & best experience (started and grew a business to over 1000 employees, and was governor of a state).
I do wish Roemer would have gotten a more serious look by the repubs.

 
At 1:31 PM, Blogger Ellis D., Esq. said...

Merit in the sense of being worthy of leading a nation, Sean. You guys really need to deflate your egos and join the human race !! Right now the only race you are in is the rat race. How ironic Romney's real name is Willard !!

 
At 2:52 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

So, does Paul run as Libertarian or Independent and sink Romney?

 
At 2:57 PM, Blogger Ellis D., Esq. said...

Nah, Romney picks Paul for VP !! Amerika, what a country !!!

 
At 3:49 PM, Anonymous Just the Facts! said...

MagginKat,
What power do you have that allows you to know the intent of another person? Mind reader?

 
At 4:10 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Catharine, the problem you describe of Romney's disconnect is an attitude quite common among the wealthy and privileged. Most of them have never had to work and thus have a sense that they are owed everything.

 
At 5:15 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Most of them have never had to work and thus have a sense that they are owed everything."
More unsupported urban legends

 
At 6:33 PM, Anonymous Tom V said...

I have to admit that its been an embarrassment to watch the Republican "debates" thus far and have to imagine its only going to get worse before it is over. Just today I read where Romney benefits from all the hangers on hanging on and I have to ask myself out of the current collection of miscreants that the GOP is referring to as candidates at least one or two has to seriously realize that odds are hes not going to make it to the nomination. So why in hell would that person(s) continue on. I mean seriously how much fun can it be to go out there day after day and make a total ass out of oneself? On the other hand the misceant(s) that I have just referred to could end up being the nominee the way this thing rocks back and forth and even scarier is that he might wind up in the White House and even scarier than that is that I might one day wake up saying I miss OBama now thats a horror show.

 
At 11:17 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I expect Romney to win the nomination.
As for the Presidency...Romney threw around the "middle class" a lot but Obama has a better chance of wooing the 99 percent, which may be key. The healthcare part of the equation is particularly delicious if at the same time incredibly depressing. I doubt the key rallying point of repealing Obamacare will be convincing coming from Romney. If anything, Romney'll have to win on jobs and voter ignorance. If unemployment slips until November, I figure Obama takes it.

 
At 3:17 PM, Blogger Dave Dubya said...

The GOP tendency for rewarding seniority will likely prevail again. Romney's been in line longest, except for Paul, but he's more a sideshow token.

Romney is similar to the junior Shrub. He's an artistocrat with little understanding of how most Americans live.

We know how well that worked out for us with the previous aristocratic Decider.

 
At 4:37 PM, Anonymous Just the Facts! said...

Obama is similar to the Teddy Kennedy. He's an aristocrat with little understanding of how most Americans live.


We know how well that worked out for us with the current aristocratic Decider.
Does anyone have any idea how many people the current aristocratic Decider hired in his business's before he went into politics?

 
At 8:36 PM, Anonymous Anonymous Too said...

J.T.F. said: Obama is similar to the Teddy Kennedy. He's an aristocrat with little understanding of how most Americans live.

To quote Anonymous from above " more unsupported urban legends"

 
At 8:45 PM, Anonymous Just the Facts! said...

"He's an aristocrat with little understanding of how most Americans live."

Really, name his none government jobs.

 
At 2:15 AM, Blogger Cirze said...

Don't denigrate the Perry and San(i)t(a)or(i)um $$$$ also being flung about in BAD TV ads daily against the mittens man.

Gag me with anything but them!!!

I'm even surer now that Jebbie will soon be sprung (full blown from Barb's brow) upon the panting masses as their long-awaited political savior.

Keep up the great reporting!

 
At 6:05 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am curious to see if the Democrats make a big deal about Romney producing his income tax returns. After all, this should be right up there in importance as producing a "long form" birth certificate.

How could any upstanding American vote for a candidate who refuses to produce income tax returns that show he paid his "fair" share of taxes in 2010?

The only logical answer has to be that Mr. Romney more than likely is a tax dodger who does not pay his "fair" share of income taxes, but we won't know that unless the Democrats insist as loudly as the Birthers did that he produce them.

May I suggest he put them on a set of fine china.

That is all.

 
At 7:56 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Heck, Id just like to see Obama's grades and papers from college!

 
At 12:43 PM, Anonymous Just My Two Cents said...

Its amazing how deep the liberal loons examine the GOP candidates, but failed to vet the biggest bullshit artist ever to become President!

Top Hopey Changy Slogans of 2008:
Change is Here!
Change We Can Believe In!
Yes We Can!
Its George Bushes Fault!
This was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal!
Obama sends tingles up my leg!
Send Me some of dat Obama money!

 
At 11:14 AM, Anonymous Virginia said...

I agree, Obama is a worthy solution, he has faced a ton of CRAP.

The total inanity of the Republicans will go down in history as Notorius.

 
At 6:27 PM, Anonymous boltok said...

JMTC,
The liberal lunes are starting the process of equivocation as they move from the days of JugEars/Harry/Nancy, to what they know, subliminally, is more competent stewardship of the country. Don't expect much more from the hockey helmeted fools on the liberal short bus.

 

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