Video: Romney’s emotional goodbye; Update: He’ll run again, says advisor; Update: We’re pressing on, says Team Huck; Update: McCain calls Mitt
posted at 1:34 pm on February 7, 2008 by Allahpundit
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In which Mitt himself answers the question posed recently by InstaGlenn about whether Romney 2008 = Reagan 1976. What’s the best thing about this? The goodwill it’ll earn him among the party establishment for not dragging out the primary? The fond memory it creates in the mind of the base of a man willing to sacrifice his own ambition to support victory in Iraq? The venom it’ll draw from the left about him using the war as political cover for his own failure? Or the fact that it backs Huckabee into a corner by framing the continuation of his own campaign as effectively furthering the Democrats’ plans for withdrawal?
Virginia’s five days away and Huck stands a chance of hurting McCain. Over to you, Christian leader.
Update: Reagan 1980?
Making the dramatic announcement at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference at a Washington hotel, Romney clearly hoped to preserve the goodwill of his party for another possible bid in 2012. He intends to run again in four years, according to a senior member of his inner circle.
“He should be president. 2012,” the confidant e-mailed after talking to Romney.
Update: He didn’t tell many people it was coming. Not McCain. Not even the Mitthead faithful assembled.
Update: A pro forma statement of perseverance from the Huckabee camp. I can only assume they think they’re going to lose next Tuesday, which would give their guy a convenient excuse to exit. But what if he wins Virginia? You can’t quit after a victory, especially one that would embarrass McCain.
Update: The decision came last night.
Update: Heh.
According to a senior McCain adviser, McCain told Romney that he “admired his speech today and that he was a tough competitor.” McCain also told Romney he looks forward to sitting down with him at the earliest opportunity.
McCain did not ask Romney for his endorsement…
We’re also told McCain will reach out to Romney’s supporters and ask for their votes when he speaks at the top of the hour at the Conservative Political Action Committee conference.
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Great.
We’ll stay in Iraq
*but*
-we’ll close Gitmo
-we’ll stop ‘torturing’ our enemies
-we’ll keep that open sieve of a border bleeding
whatever
sloopy on February 7, 2008 at 2:15 PM
Odds are that there will be a Dem Pres. But either way, 2012 is not intended to be insulting. There have been plenty of balloons floated about a one-term presidency centered around the war - some I suspect in part to appease/rally the base. But there is no way he could ever make that concession public and still remain viable during the first term.
Spirit of 1776 on February 7, 2008 at 2:16 PM
Yes, yes we do. Apparently in the GOP it is to look around for an septugenarian who has been in Washington for about eleventy billion years and put him up because it’s “his turn.”
Deety on February 7, 2008 at 2:16 PM
McCain is wrong on the following:
immigration, he called conservatives racists
campaign finance reform, he called conservative corrupt
The Bush tax cuts, he claims now they should be permanent
judicial appointments, he voted for Alito, but says if he were president he might not have nomintated him.
In fact can you point out one conservative principle other than the WOT, that John mccain has supported in the past 12 years? Name one bill that was conservative in nature that he introduced in congress…..
paulsur on February 7, 2008 at 2:18 PM
geckomon, yeah and a senior member of McCain’s inner circle is the one who ran around crying on dem staffers’ shoulders and got the party switch rumors started. I’m going to give Romney a pass and assume he’s still a team player, and his staffer misspoke.
funky chicken on February 7, 2008 at 2:18 PM
I haven’t seen this surfaced yet but — is it possible that McCain is Constitutionally ineligible to become president? He was not born in the USA but rather in Panama. Of course he was born to US citizen parents in the US militarily controlled Panama Zone but — Article II of the US Constitution requires a “natural born citizen”.
As it happens the case law on this term is unclear, and there was some controversy about this when Michigan Governor George Romney was running for the presidency in 1968 (he was born in Mexico to US citizen parents.) Since he dropped out it never became a big issue but — I can see whomever is the Democrat candidate raising this after the Republican convention if/when McCain gets the nomination.
SunSword on February 7, 2008 at 2:18 PM
The difference is HUGE. Carter caused the problems in ‘76 by his refusal to side with the shah and lobbying for the ayatollah khomeni to be allowed to return to Iran. We’ve been paying for that ever since.
The Democrawlers want to retreat, always. The Republicans have known that as adults, we have to face evil and defeat it; not appease it.
Tennman on February 7, 2008 at 2:19 PM
I’m not going to like it, but I am going to vote for McCain in November, if only because there is a small chance McCain will nominate another Roberts and he won’t surrender the WOT, as Mitt outlined.
Even if he does choose Huckabee as VP, that will at least assure he has some emphasis on life issues.
However, I sincerely hope that McCain creams Huck so badly that he only needs Romney’s 270-odd delegates to get to 1191, thereby eschewing the brown-nosing minister for someone else who can woo the South (Fred?) on the promise of Romney’s delegates.
BKennedy on February 7, 2008 at 2:19 PM
Wise words, Terry. I fervently hope that when all the emotions cool down, all the conservatives will consider this advice.
RushBaby on February 7, 2008 at 2:19 PM
Anytime Mitt speaks, he exudes “Presidential”. McCain can’t get through a simple thank you speech without fumbling with notecards. Such a shame. Great speech, Mitt!
revolutionismyname on February 7, 2008 at 2:20 PM
The stories we will see about McCain being and over the hill nutcase warmonger have already been written, I am sure the press coverage on him will start to turn pretty quickly. Only then will these sellout RINO’s realize what they have wrought.
echosyst on February 7, 2008 at 2:20 PM
Yeah, you’re just gonna love the radicals that Obama picks paulsur. The ones who are 35 years old and will get to make crazy decisions for another 50 years or so.
Yup, that’s some great, patriotic logic ya got there.
funky chicken on February 7, 2008 at 2:20 PM
Good job Mitt, what I have been saying all along..
I hope that Mitt campaigns vigorously for McCain.
Chakra Hammer on February 7, 2008 at 2:20 PM
And the country will pay an extremely heavy price for it. The expression “be careful what you wish for” comes to mind.
If Obama gets in I would suggest having a bomb shelter and gas masks because the US will have a huge bulls-eye placed on us. He is so naive, ignorant to the threats we face, and clueless about the world that it will be open season on bringing the United States to its knees. There probably won’t be much left of the country we knew in 2012. Book it!
libhater on February 7, 2008 at 2:20 PM
I know what you meant, but HuckaGibot has ALWAYS looked like a fool. A religious gibot fool at that.
csdeven on February 7, 2008 at 2:21 PM
more here
RushBaby on February 7, 2008 at 2:21 PM
Mitt, Rudy, and Fred are out.
The credit crunch is the first stage of a serious problem with inflation.
The next president will probably get to appoint 2/3 supreme count justices.
The war on terror is a clash of civilizations that needs a tough-minded commander in chief.
Most of us supported Bush in ‘04 when it was evident he was about as conservative as LBJ.
So now, the responsible conservative thing to do is to sit this one out?
oldvannes on February 7, 2008 at 2:23 PM
I think Will is giving too much credit to our idiotic electorate, most of them don’t even know who is vice president much less who Bhutto was or what the ramifications of that may be. Independents oppose the war by 66% and yet they voted for the Maverick, who they probably don’t realize is more pro war than Bush and wants to bomb Iran.
echosyst on February 7, 2008 at 2:24 PM
Very good speech. Except for the very end when he suspended the campaign this was the speech he should have given earlier. Time has the transcript.
Now, can McCain start attacking the two-headed monster of Hilary and Barack? (Is it Barac-linton or Hil-bama?)
Vote Sauron 08 on February 7, 2008 at 2:24 PM
Some here call him McLiar, why these FACTS?
Maybe this is just diplomat speak.. ;)
Chakra Hammer on February 7, 2008 at 2:25 PM
I think when a child is born in another country to US Parents on a military base, the child is considered to have been born on US soil.
sloopy on February 7, 2008 at 2:25 PM
McCain doesn’t have a snowball’s chance to beat either Obama or Clinton. Be prepared for a disastrous 4 year Democratic administration of appeasement, surrender, apology and terror attacks. Even the most Republican states will forsake McCain. Watch Utah and Idaho choose Obama and then the Republicans will wake up to the disaster they allowed.
Alma on February 7, 2008 at 2:27 PM
Class Act.
gstrickler on February 7, 2008 at 2:27 PM
Any child born to an American Couple is still American. If not my Brothers two kids would be German as they were born in German when he was stationed there. Its unfair to American GI to strip their kids of citisenship because they are stationed overseas.
William Amos on February 7, 2008 at 2:27 PM
I have to say, Mitt’s a great guy and I would have gladly cast my vote for him if things had turned out differently.
Hiney Von Pewps on February 7, 2008 at 2:28 PM
So what now? The Republican party is clearly running away from the conservative and religious right. What do we name the new Party? It’s clear the left and the moderates have hi-jacked the Republican Party.
RINO_Hunter on February 7, 2008 at 2:28 PM
If there were another candidate as the front runner Mitt Romney’s strategy might have some effect. The base may eventually vote for McCain, but it will not get energized about McCain.
I will look forward to 2012.
Tim Pancoast on February 7, 2008 at 2:29 PM
It’s still a long time until the general election. Once the primaries are over and the nominees are in place, the media lovefest (He’s a rock star! He’s JFK reincarnated!) for Obama (if he ends up with the nomination) will likely cool down. The general public knows very little about Obama at this point, but in the coming months they will get to know a lot more about his Muslim parents, his Muslim family in Kenya, his membership in a black supremacist church, his race-baiting wife, his socialist political views, etc. By November, things may look a lot different than they do now. The good thing about strong emotional feelings is that tend to have a relatively short shelf life.
AZCoyote on February 7, 2008 at 2:29 PM
McCain is not as strong on national security as he would have you believe. He is strong on the WAR IN IRAQ, but on the domestic security side he is a disaster. He has also not articulated a comprehensive position on the Global War on Terror. Without a strong economy we will be unable to fight the war effectively and he is a disaster in that regard.
echosyst on February 7, 2008 at 2:29 PM
Like if they’re born on Embassy grounds it’s considered American soil, correct?
Geronimo on February 7, 2008 at 2:30 PM
If McCain wins the general, it means he basically gets to hand-pick the next Republican candidate in the form of his VP. Another very high price to pay for the short-sightedness of picking McCain. I’m pretty sure he’ll saddle us with an unacceptable non-conservative, and we’ll be stuck running that person whether we like it or not.
aero on February 7, 2008 at 2:31 PM
I have a cousin who was also born in Germany and he’s American by birth - in other words, a “natural born citizen.”
locke on February 7, 2008 at 2:33 PM
One word - Seppuku
SkinnerVic on February 7, 2008 at 2:33 PM
Agreed
RINO_Hunter on February 7, 2008 at 2:34 PM
If Mitt continues to man up he might actually get to the point where he could be mistaken for a conservative at a distance. All in all it was a nice speech and now we know that if there still is a GOP in 2012 it will be his turn.
Guess we all should have known that there wasn’t any sense in fighting McCain, Kennedy and Bush selling our nation down the ShAmnesty river. The defeat of the American voters was inevitable and terrible to watch but a defeat it was and the NAU by any other name is now a fact, no matter who wins this sham election it wasn’t the people.
Mark this day on your calenders because today was, in reality, the day that our Constitution became worthless, our Nation no longer sovereign, and the War on Terror was lost. Today, thru an almost Orwellian plan, we have nominated the man who did more damage to the First Amendment than 70 million Democrats ever could. We nominated the man who, in the name of national security, will make our borders 12 to 20 million times less secure and nominated the man who did more to harm to war on Terror by naming a former fraternity hazing prank, waterboarding, a WAR CRIME that somehow made us on the level of Pol Pot and his Cambodian killing fields and Hitler in his slaughter of the Jews. The same man who will give every detained terrorist what they have dreamed of, unending “death to America” criminal show trials right here in our home towns when he bows to the Jihadi dream of closing Gitmo. We have just nominated the ONE REPUBLICAN THAT VOTED NOT TO PASS THE BUSH TAX CUTS PEOPLE!!!!!
If the
moronsfine conservatives who actually voted for McCain or themoronsfine conservatives who will vote for him next November haven’t figured it out yet, you just made sure that no conservative will be in power in Congress or the White House for decades. Republicans possibly, but always those RINOs who are at least as liberal as Democrats if not more so.Sorry Ramos and Compean, you’re going to do your full sentence so McCain, Bush, Hillary and Obama can have their slave labor and record corporate profits.
Today, when Mitt surrendered, November failed to matter anymore in any real sense of our Nations future. Mitt may have not been a real conservative but he was at least a real Republican.
Buzzy on February 7, 2008 at 2:35 PM
Can we cut the horses**t about McCain being “weak” on national security because of the border? It’s like a pothead arguing for legalization of weed as an anti-glaucoma drug.
You guys twist everything back to the border in a thin effort to pretend you have this long diverse portfolio of gripes. It’s pathetic.
Hiney Von Pewps on February 7, 2008 at 2:36 PM
Yes, same principle.
sloopy on February 7, 2008 at 2:36 PM
I’ve always viewed the security of the border as part of the WOT. So how is McCain strong on the WOT? Support for one theater of conflict (IRAQ), does not a strong candidate make.
PappaMac on February 7, 2008 at 2:37 PM
Classy speech from Mitt.
phronesis on February 7, 2008 at 2:37 PM
The Panama Canal Zone was legally ours until Jimmuh Cartuh gave it away….to the People’s Republic Of China.
The base was certainly ours.
Yep, that whole 4 year Obama idea sounds better and better, doesn’t it?
funky chicken on February 7, 2008 at 2:38 PM
I think it was very classy that Romney brought up how he agrees with McCain in regards to the war in Iraq and the war on terror in general without taking any shots at the FACT that McCain lied about Romney’s position about a time table for withdrawl just two days before the FLA primary.
I hope McCain takes his opportunity at CPAC to apologize for intentionally mischaracterizing Romney’s position. I think that lie is what eventually put McCain over the top because it did not allow for the necessary amount of time for Romney to set the record straight.
McCain has been shameless in this campaign. His consistent lying and buddying up with Huckabigot has disgusted me beyond forgiveness.
McCain did not deserve praise of any sort from Romney in my opinion. I guess Romney is just more of a class act then I am though.
I’m looking forward to watching McCain lose the general. That is what he deserves and he is not fit to be our conservative leader.
Zetterson on February 7, 2008 at 2:39 PM
This was tried on Barry Goldwater back in ‘64, too. He was born in the territory of Arizona prior to statehood. Didn’t work, of course.
MrScribbler on February 7, 2008 at 2:41 PM
It was. Too bad his supporters are classless thugs driven by irrational hatreds.
Hiney Von Pewps on February 7, 2008 at 2:41 PM
There’s the Gang of Fourteen or the Keating 5, McCain/Feingold, voting against the tax cuts. Closing “GITMO”…
Do I really need to continue?
RINO_Hunter on February 7, 2008 at 2:43 PM
So is McCain just gonna debate Ron Paul for 3 months now or what? LOL
lorien1973 on February 7, 2008 at 2:43 PM
All all the candidates we were able to field this go around, how are we now left with the absolute worst three?
RINO_Hunter on February 7, 2008 at 2:45 PM
Living in Southern California, border security constitutes all the ‘gripes’ I need to fear McCain. Illegal immigration has turned our sleepy little town into a hellhole of crime and graffiti, with decent citizens moving out in droves while Welfare Section 8 government-subsidized homes sprout up in formerly nice neighborhoods like poisonous mushrooms. Coming soon to a neighborhood near you. Gracias, Maveprick.
EyeSurgeon on February 7, 2008 at 2:46 PM
Is whining and crying like a baby a conservative valuer?
Help me out here, i want to understand better?
JayHaw Phrenzie on February 7, 2008 at 2:47 PM
I didn’t use caps, but I did followed my unassailable reason with a taunt directed only to those who cannot accept said unassailable reason. Thus, if someone was insulted, they by definition must be unreasonable. Since you obviously saw the reason of what I said, the slur (if that was what it was) was obviously not directed at you.
tommylotto on February 7, 2008 at 2:47 PM
I’m still going with the “McCain = Sacrificial Lamb” theory. It’s simple-minded, but I simply can’t see why the party “establishment” would support such a previously and currently left-like minded candidate. A senatorial nominee to boot.
geckomon on February 7, 2008 at 2:47 PM
Come on. Blame the GOP establishment who set up this infernal primary system, and blame the morons who voted for McCain. Don’t blame Mitt. He would have had to win close to 100% of the remaining delegates to win the nomination.
All the guy did was win 13 states and 4 million votes the first time he ran for President! Pretty strong in my book. Reagan didn’t do much better in 1976, but he crippled Ford by staying in until the convention.
rockmom on February 7, 2008 at 2:48 PM
You’re just full of sunshine today, Buzzy. ;)
liquidflorian on February 7, 2008 at 2:48 PM
Romney ran by far more negative ads, then anyone else.
Chakra Hammer on February 7, 2008 at 2:49 PM
I have it on good authority that McCain will nominate JC Watts to run as his Vice Presidential choice. That will be a winning ticket. Now that everyone knows who the ticket is, everyone can relax. Hillary has no chance with JC as the running mate.
Larraby on February 7, 2008 at 2:49 PM
tommylotto — are you Rush Limbaugh using an alias? Such pomposity is rare, indeed!
MrScribbler on February 7, 2008 at 2:49 PM
Too bad his supporters are classless thugs driven by irrational hatreds.
Hiney Von Pewps on February 7, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Geronimo on February 7, 2008 at 2:49 PM
Zetterson, don’t try to rewrite History on the way out.
Chakra Hammer on February 7, 2008 at 2:50 PM
BTW,
Anyone besides me see this AntiMcCain hate fest as the Republican version of what the Kossidiots did with Lieberman in 2004.
How did that one work out for the left wing extremists?
What makes you think right wing extremists will fare better?
The country needs a Center-Right candidate right now, a “Real Conservative” could not be elected in this years environment.
JayHaw Phrenzie on February 7, 2008 at 2:50 PM
Hiney, do yourself a favor. Type the words “illegal immigration” into the search box of this site. Read it all. Then come back and tell us that we are pathetic.
Anyways, I can tell by your small minded, thoughtless comment that you won’t do that. You will just come back at me with a comment about how you’ve read it all already (though you havn’t - that is obvious). I know I’d be wasting my breath in telling you to read some of the stuff in regards to the issue of immigration/illegal immigration written by people like Heather MaCdonald, Mark Steyn, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Michelle Malkin, Pat Buchanan, Peggy Noonan, Tom Tancredo, etc. I suppose I’d be wasting my breath to tell you to read a little bit about the growth of Hezbollah in Mexico/Canada. You don’t care about how that all that is important to those of us who aren’t just interested in pushing through the candidate with an R in front of his name. We care about these things and evidently you don’t. Or you havn’t read enough yet to realize that you should care. Hence, my suggestion.
Zetterson on February 7, 2008 at 2:51 PM
Second look at Ron Paul (oops forgot that he doesn’t like people like me).
For an
amnesty shill and RINO supporterfine progressive conservative you hit pretty close to the mark there. Between BKennedy and csd I had a really hard time finally supporting Romney. Nasty supporters can really kill a campaign. Probably lost the nomination for him too. Word for 2012 guys, always remember when you’re insulting folks, you just might need their votes some day and it does make a difference.Buzzy on February 7, 2008 at 2:51 PM
This is going to be an interesting election. If things pan out we will have a Republican (McCain) that no matter what room he enters the average IQ goes down. He will be pitted against a Democrat (H. Clinton) that prides herself on being the smartest person in the world and believes that the best solution for any problem is a bigger government and higher taxes.
Somebody, please help.
somedays on February 7, 2008 at 2:51 PM
McCain scores well in head-to-head matchups against both Clinton and Obama — leading her 46.3 to 44.5 and trailing him by 45.1 to 44.4 in RealClearPolitics polling averages — but those numbers belie huge Democratic advantages heading into the general election.
One measure of his [McCain’s] task is that more than 14.6 million Democrats went to the polls on Tuesday and only 9 million Republicans.
- Mort Kondracke
Chance of McCain actually becoming President appear to be slim.
MB4 on February 7, 2008 at 2:52 PM
You made your case.
The voters rejected it.
Don’t be a sore loser.
JayHaw Phrenzie on February 7, 2008 at 2:53 PM
You made your case.
The voters rejected it.
Don’t be a sore loser.
JayHaw Phrenzie on February 7, 2008 at 2:53 PM
As a former Fred supporter, allow me to take this opportunity to welcome the former Mitt supporters to the wilderness. It sucks, but welcome anyway. There’s still the legislature and 2012 to fight for.
I would also like to take this opportunity for a brief we-told-you-so:
Like the Fredheads said when Fred dropped out, it wasn’t just the failure of a bad campaign, it was an overwhelming repudiation of conservative ideals by Republican voters when Republican voters rejected Fred. We told you then that the writing was on the wall and conservatism was not going to be a factor in this election, and you mocked us for it. Now a candidate who ran an excellent campaign, ran hard for more than a year, spent untold millions, had the support of virtually all of conservative talk radio, and is good-looking to boot got rejected soundly as well. Yes, Fred ran a bad campaign, and that was most of his problem. But we were right about conservatism being the real loser the day Fred dropped out. Conservatism just took another kick while it was down with Romney dropping out.
Congratulations, Allah! ;-)
aero on February 7, 2008 at 2:53 PM
Right.
Please, John McTitanic doesn’t even know at this point who will fill the VP slot.
stenwin77 on February 7, 2008 at 2:54 PM
Come on Chakra. McCain and Romney have differences. Romney spent money pointing out differences between himself and the other candidates. He did not slander anybody. He did not lie about anything. He tried to tell the truth to those who were listening.
Zetterson on February 7, 2008 at 2:54 PM
Words to live by for McCain.
Geronimo on February 7, 2008 at 2:55 PM
Mitt bowed out because he saw that he could not win at this point…what with the establishment Dole-type loses lining up to support Juan and with the Satanic televangelist Huckabee there for the sole purpose of tripping up a REAL Christian…Mitt Romney. The war thing was an easy excuse. Juan will be worse on the war than Hillary. The Iraq War was a mistake anyway…the war on terror is right but the war on Iraq, trying to democratize those guys was a waste of life and treasur…pat buchanan is right about that.
I hope Hillary wins….she is better than Obama or McCain.
Roger Waters on February 7, 2008 at 2:55 PM
Sure looks that way, doesn’t it? Why let Mitt Romney or Fred Thompson blow his career in a suicide mission? Let the old guy have his gold watch.
I have also heard a plausible theory that the Bush operation guaranteed McCain the nomination in return for his support on the surge and immigration reform. He fought so hard for his immigration bill not because he believed in it, but because of what he was promised in return. That’s why it was so easy for him to walk away from it after he started campaigning. He doesn’t really believe in it. He doesn’t believe in anything except his own superiority.
rockmom on February 7, 2008 at 2:58 PM
With each passing day, thankfully, Huckaschmuck is destroying his chances of ever showing up on the national stage again.
labrat on February 7, 2008 at 2:58 PM
OMG, but but but CNN sez that all the DEMs fear McCain and all the liberal newspapers endorsed him. The NYTimes even kissed his wrinkled old butt in their editorial pages man, so how can this be?
Listening to Romney today I saw the man who could have made Hillary hush up and Obama supporters realize exactly what real change would look like. Sadly, we have McCain telling 40 year old lawyer jokes (but it’s a classic) while worrying about the voters finding out he took just about as much Soros money as Hillary since 2000.
Second look at spiking Fred’s geritol with something snappy and turning him loose in a third party run?
Buzzy on February 7, 2008 at 2:59 PM
Hey, mathematically speaking, Huckabee can’t manage to pull out the nomination, can he? He has even fewer delegates than Mitt did, so presumably he’s in the same boat, right?
aero on February 7, 2008 at 2:59 PM
Can anybody please tell me why GWB did not allow Cheney to retire gracefully (health reasons) and replace him with a VP who could be the natural heir apparent?
arizona on February 7, 2008 at 3:02 PM
No, he’s in a worse boat since he now has ZERO leverage to do the Veep thing… And going on looks bitter.
SkinnerVic on February 7, 2008 at 3:04 PM
Dude wanting Hillary over Obama is insane.
Obama just might put Hillary in a burka!
We might as well get it over quick and not drag it out.
I just can’t wait to hear what wonderful changes are coming.
And McCain is going to nominate Huckabee or Ted Kennedy as his running mate. JC Watts is a real honest conservative and don’t run with RINOs (word to Tom Coburn yo).
Buzzy on February 7, 2008 at 3:06 PM
Fascinating question, but it would be rather difficult for an open borders Democrat to raise this question. The pro-illegal immigrant interest have convinced most people that the Fourteenth Amendment says that anyone born in the US is a US citizen despite a clause (”and subject to the jurisdiction thereof”) in the Fourteenth that makes that claim nonsense. It seems to me that if McCain weren’t eligible, it would open the floodgates to questioning this bad interpretation that gives citizenship to the children of illegals.
As far as answering your question, there are 7 Supreme Court justices who were appointed by Republican presidents and only 2 by Democratic Presidents. (And to be fair to the 2 Dem SC justices, I suspect that if the question actually were to come before the SC that the decision would be unanimous.)
thuja on February 7, 2008 at 3:06 PM
I have to wonder that if Fred! hadn’t been in, that Romney would have been golden from the start. It’s not a knock against Fred!, because he was my first choice also.
I kinda have the same question if conservatism is in trouble, because the most conservative candidate, Fred got washed out.
And, I was somewhat upset at NRO for backing Romney so early on. I felt they were betraying conservatives also.
What a very weird and Twilight Zone primary cycle. That includes the democrats too.
Kai on February 7, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Not a huge Mitt fan, but what a class move. AND a smart one.
RWLA on February 7, 2008 at 3:08 PM
The last honorable man has left the room.
peacenprosperity on February 7, 2008 at 3:08 PM
Pretty much. He’d have to win practically all the remaining delegates if he was to win before the convention- obviously that won’t happen. All he could hope to do is delay the inevitable; to what end we can only guess.
Maybe he’s hoping that McCain is forced into a deal to make him the VP nominee, or perhaps he thinks that staying in improves his future prospects. In any case, I (like most of us) just wish he’d go away- and stay there. Not because his dropping out would help McCain, but because he’s a horrible candidate.
Hollowpoint on February 7, 2008 at 3:08 PM
aero
Right now, Huckabee is the only choice of the non-McCain crowd - unless they’ll split it with Ron Paul. I just hope McCain picks his VP nominee if it ain’t Huck - just so that Huck can start attacking him out of spite.
Looks like the March 5 primary will have the results of both campaigns fitting in 1 screen.
infidelpride on February 7, 2008 at 3:08 PM
Mitt has positioned himself for a great 2012 run…
I will now stay out of this election and wait for my new liberal overlords, either led by McCain, Obama, or the Hill….
And if Huck is even considered for the VP slot, well lets not speak of Hell…
Sooner-Inde on February 7, 2008 at 3:14 PM
Now what can I hope for? McCain/Thompson ‘08? That’d be the best remaining scenario I think.
OneGyT on February 7, 2008 at 3:14 PM
Is Huckabigot speaking at CPAC?
Zetterson on February 7, 2008 at 3:17 PM
On Saturday when all the drama is over.
INC on February 7, 2008 at 3:19 PM
That’s funny because I haven’t seen a ‘Real Conservative’ running for president in the past year…
eanax on February 7, 2008 at 3:25 PM
I doubt that McCain would choose Thompson (although I love Fred) - because of the age factor. I don’t think having TWO old guys would work.
arizona on February 7, 2008 at 3:25 PM
aero on February 7, 2008 at 2:53 PM
It would not be impossible for the conservatives who supported Duncan, Fred, Mitt et.al. to organize into an energetic delegation to influence the GOP direction. As conservative ideals do matter, it would be foolish not to unite efforts, and pathetic to submit entirely to liberalism. Effectivity would rely on simplicity, minimal agenda for potency of effort to survive. To attempt accomplishing everything would be futile. But to decide upon one success at a time would be effective, prioritize by vote. We already have professional spokesmen on radio talk shows.
maverick muse on February 7, 2008 at 3:25 PM
Oh please, cut the crap. Fredheads were calling everyone who didn’t jump on the Fred bandwagon RINOs and “not real conservatives” for months. Maybe you guys should have taken your own advice and not pissed off anyone and everyone who didn’t coronate St. Fred.
BKennedy on February 7, 2008 at 3:27 PM
Nah. I don’t think Fred’s up for it. McCain, if nominated (looking that way), will choose someone younger and a potential successor. Like a Governor…Perry of Texas or
eanax on February 7, 2008 at 3:29 PM
Deja Vu? I feel like this is another Ross Perot moment.
Mon dieu!
I question McCain’s health…more to the matter, I might even question who his veep will be only a heart beat away. Carcinoma anyone?
Kokonut on February 7, 2008 at 3:31 PM
Fred wouldn’t have much to lose if he ran third party as he, unlike Romney, probably has little or no thoughts of running for the Republican nomination again.
We could all chip in and get him a face lift and some B12 shots or something.
MB4 on February 7, 2008 at 3:38 PM
: (
Ludwig on February 7, 2008 at 3:42 PM
I’m for all of the above!
RushBaby on February 7, 2008 at 3:44 PM
Saving the Best for Last [Kathryn Jean Lopez]
In both the case of Fred Thompson and now Mitt Romney, the best speech of each candidate’s respective campaign was his last.
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MzdiNjgzZGU0NmM2ZjRjYzFkYTQwMWE1YmZhNTdkNDc=
bnelson44 on February 7, 2008 at 3:52 PM
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