Poll: Obama 45, Romney 41; Update: 54% think Obama will lose in 2012
posted at 7:31 pm on March 25, 2010 by Allahpundit
Believe it or not, this may end up being Romney’s best argument in the primaries. Electability, pure and simple. Sure, he’ll do what he can to salve the wound that RomneyCare has left on his campaign, but that scar will be with him forever now. The difference in places like New Hampshire and Florida won’t be his posturing about repealing O-Care; potentially, it’ll be the fact that Mitt, perhaps alone among major Republican figures, stands a chance at beating The One. People will shudder at me saying that since that was also the argument for McCain, but the landscape in two years will be different from 2008. Come 2012, conservatives will be so frantic to stop Obama that electability really might be enough, RomneyCare or not.
Emphasis on “might.”
Romney is the clear leader of the GOP field. He holds support from 29% of the 415 GOPers and GOP leaners included in the poll, 10 points ahead of Huckabee and 11 points up on Palin. Gingrich clocks in at 13% with Bush at 8%. Sen. John Thune (R-SD) and IN Gov. Mitch Daniels each earn 1%.
GOPers also see Romney as one of the party’s top spokespeople. When asked to name the party’s major spokesperson, 14% settled on Romney while 14% came up with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). Gingrich finished at 10%, just ahead of conservative talkers Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh, at 9%.
The topline numbers: Obama leads Mitt by four, Huckabee by eight, Gingrich and Jeb Bush by 12, and Palin by … 18. Not enough primary look-ahead fun for you? Well, here’s what the DNC put out yesterday in order to provide a little political cover for the individual mandate. Don’t fixate on the spot’s pedigree; you’ll be seeing attack ads just like this from Republicans against Romney come next year. I take his basic point — the mandate is a way to address an inefficiency in the market by eliminating free-riders — but to paint a coercive policy enforced by new IRS hires as a “conservative solution” will be an awfully tough sell two years from now. In fact, compare and contrast this Mitt highlight reel with the clip of Obama dumping on Hillary’s mandate during the Democratic primaries. Who sounds more conservative, soundbite for soundbite?
Update: Minutes after I posted this, CNN came out with a new poll of its own: Romney 22, Palin 18, Huckabee 17. You’ll find a fun detail below, although I’d advise not reading too much into it. As of January 1995, 65 percent thought Clinton would lose his reelection bid.
Blowback
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You can say that again.
Whatever it means…
profitsbeard on March 25, 2010 at 10:29 PM
Hey, Sen. Santorum may have sort of kind of hinted at a run. That makes me happy!
-Aslan’s Girl
Aslans Girl on March 25, 2010 at 10:32 PM
The people of MA aren’t all that happy now.
See my comment on the election of Scott Brown and what it means for MittCare.
I’m not denying the people of MA their right to vote on issues.
But you are trying to deny my right to say it’s wrong, unConstitutional and Socialist!
You’re the one in Left field, not me.
Jenfidel on March 25, 2010 at 10:38 PM
Pundit creates a false comparison in the videos of State Mandate vs Federal mandate. Romney always said he would have a bill to assist states.
PrezHussein on March 25, 2010 at 10:48 PM
So the MSM is at it again, huh? Telling Conservatives who they should vote for. Mitt Romney, who did Romneycare. Obama’s beating Palin by 18 points? When she’s finished campaigning, Obama will not be 18 points ahead. I’d take these polls with a pound of salt!
SilentWatcher on March 25, 2010 at 10:48 PM
1. The people of Mass overwhelmingly wanted RomneyCare. That was the will of the people.
2. Compulsory insurance has only been part of the state scheme. They cant force you to drive, so there is a small difference. But the state precedent isnt a far flung asthe federal one.
swamp_yankee on March 25, 2010 at 11:08 PM
I’d like to know more about Mitch Daniels and his health care program-he claims it works and is solvent.
Mitt is going to have to admit he was wrong on health care, or he will lose.
PattyJ on March 25, 2010 at 11:23 PM
I think one reason Palin polls so low is that the assumption is that she’s not running, while Mitt looks ready to sell his left eye for the nomination. Romney’s toast. If Palin doesn’t run, I hope Santorum does.
ddrintn on March 25, 2010 at 11:32 PM
Not quite: MittCare was passed by the MA legislature, not by referendum of the voters.
This is what makes compulsory (health) insurance more tyrannical and Statist: all you have to do be subject to is is to be alive.
Driving is a choice.
Any anologies with drivers’ licenses is a straw man.
swamp_yankee on March 25, 2010 at 11:08 PM
Jenfidel on March 25, 2010 at 11:33 PM
Yeah, that was the argument for McCain, too.
ddrintn on March 25, 2010 at 11:33 PM
^ As AP already pointed out. Oops.
ddrintn on March 25, 2010 at 11:36 PM
In the entire state legislature, only two people voted against RomneyCare, two. It was popular. It was the will of the people.
swamp_yankee on March 25, 2010 at 11:40 PM
Freebies are always popular with either the free-loaders getting them or the folks distributing them who get all “the people’s” power and money.
Just because the “people” in Taxachusetts loved them some Socialism, must the rest of the country follow suit?
I think not.
Sooner or later, MittCare is going to come crashing down.
Probably sooner: it’s being propped up with federal funds which will stop when the feds have to spread that money to all 50 states.
Jenfidel on March 25, 2010 at 11:48 PM
Not quite: MittCare was passed by the MA legislature, not by referendum of the voters.
That’s a funny point to make coming from someone who’s spent much of this thread bashing CA, land o’ referenda.
Y-not on March 25, 2010 at 11:49 PM
It was either RomneyCare, O’BrienCare, or DevalCare. One could actually make the argument that Mitt helped save private care.
If anybody screwed it up it was the legislature, and Deval.
What people fail to realize that Dems have a veto proof legislature, and Mass was going to get care one way or the other. Mitt just assumed control of the process that the people wanted and that was going to get done whether he wanted it or not
swamp_yankee on March 25, 2010 at 11:54 PM
That’s not true. Mitt foresaw the fiscal problems coming from the Democrats and attempted to veto it. But he was overridden:
As you can see, the democrats inserted some provisions in his plan that would have cost the state more money, Romney attempted to veto, democrats overrode the veto and true to form…the state is suffering finanancy due to the Democrat’s meddling with health care.
RomneyCare is a perfect lesson for all of us: Don’t let Democrats anywhere near health care reform because it always costs more.
Had the Democrats not meddled with RomneyCare, it would have been cost effective for the Massachusetts.
Jinfidel, you are clearly ignorant about the details of RomneyCare. Romney did foresee the financial problem and tried to veto the Democrats costly provisions but was overridden.
If you would like to see MORE facts on how Romney tried veto democratic proposals but was overriden, go here.
Conservative Samizdat on March 26, 2010 at 12:01 AM
So why doesn’t Romney come out and disown the whole enterprise?
ddrintn on March 26, 2010 at 12:02 AM
Of all of the stupid rationalizations and mental masturbation over that loser Romney…this takes the cake!
You think he has such strong “personal principles” that he could let them slide just because he was in Massachusetts?
What the hell man?
If someone’s principles aren’t with them 24/7 in everything they do, then they don’t have any, period.
Palin will clean this RINO’s clock.
Remember, while Mittens has been in hiding, Sarah has been out kicking butt!
Something else no one has brought up….
RomneyCare and Jeb Bush went on a “Forget Ronald Reagan” world tour a little bit ago. And Sarah Palin is Ronald Reagan in a skirt.
Now while everyone is remembering that Sarah Palin is Ronald Reagan’s daughter he never had, and the very essence of the man…..AND remembering that RomneyCare and Bush told America “screw Ronald Reagan”…..General Electric will be spending around $10 million celebrating Reagan’s 100th birthday!
How big of an Epic Fail for Mittens will THAT be!
On top of that, sometime between now and then, “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” a high quality 8 part documentary, shot in HD…will be airing on The Learning Channel.
Not only is Sarah Palin Ronald Reagan, she is following in his footsteps!
Meanwhile, at the same time we are celebrating Reagan’s birthday…you can bet you last penny that everyone will know that old RomneyCare went around the country dissing Ronald Reagan!
Oh, and Sarah Palin? She brings the same morals, same positions, same principles she has at home to work with her.
Palin walks the walk, Willard just talks the talk!
gary4205 on March 26, 2010 at 12:05 AM
That’s a funny point to make coming from someone who’s spent much of this thread bashing CA, land o’ referenda.Y-not on March 25, 2010 at 11:49 PM
I most certainly have NOT spent “much of this thread bashing CA.”
I made 2 or 3 posts, tops, affirming what a mess CA was in.
Do you deny that?
And it’s in a mess for lots of reasons, but mainly because most of their voters are Democrats/Liberals/Progressives who vote in other Democrats who vote in Democrat/Liberal/Progressive policies.
Straight democracies are not that good of a thing which is why we live in a REPUBLIC.
Case in point: CA.
L.A. and San Francisco are big time Liberal, but when you get out of those big cities, a good deal of the rest of CA is Conservative and votes Republican.
God bless our Founders for their vision of the Electoral College and the Congress!
Jenfidel on March 26, 2010 at 12:06 AM
From here. He doesn’t sound too rueful to me.
ddrintn on March 26, 2010 at 12:08 AM
Some of you are clearly much more politically savvy than I’ll ever be. But I really hate all of this red on red arguing. These early polls smell like bait to me. All I know is that Barack Obama has proven himself to be an extreme Leftist, with a vision of America that will render us unrecognizable in a few short years. I now consider any Democrat to be of the same mindset as Mr. Obama. They are all Progressive Liberals – clear in their intent to destroy American Capitalism, liberty, freedom, and the very essence of the America which so many have fought and died for. They have ZERO regard for The Constitution of The United States of America and I want them out of power. Period.
Therefore, Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, or any any any any any any any anyone who offers a valid sensibility of conservative-minded common sense, adherence to respect for our Constitution, and demonstrates a genuine desire to save America from the ravages of the Leftist-Progressive-Liberal-DEMOCRATS is okay by me!
redwhiteblue on March 26, 2010 at 12:11 AM
Romney “objected” and “tried to veto.”≠ veto.
The man has no Conservative b*lls.
Furthermore, the argument was already lost when Romney had already conceded, by having his own alternate plan, that the State, in this case the state of MA, belonged in the health insurance business.
No real capitalist and believer in the free market, entrepreneurship and individual initiative would ever propose that the State interfere with private persons in their affairs of health insurance or anything else!
Furthermore, Mitt is smart enough in economic affairs to know that no such thing as “profitable and efficient” health insurance delivery would ever come out of a State system.
The man is a Statist, he’s just a “right wing” statist.
Epic. Fail.
Jenfidel on March 26, 2010 at 12:15 AM
If Romney had a brain he would have know that! Anytime you set up a government program, the democrats will work night and day to try and grow it!
Romney LOVES Big Government himself, which is why he let the camel’s nose under the tent!
A smart person would have never gotten involved with that nonsense to start with. No way it ends well. The fact that Romney doesn’t instinctively know this disqualifies him from the race!
Sarah, like Reagan knows government is not the answer for anything. It’s the problem with pretty much everything.
Romney is a putz. Worse he’s not a leader. Oh, he might be a manager, and even a decent one, but there is a HUGE difference between a manger and a leader.
Sarah Palin is a leader. She’s also the only one that literally makes Obama wet himself at the mere mention of her name.
You don’t see the left hanging on Romney’s every word, do you.
They fear Palin, because she will destroy them.
Romney would be like McCain (or Bush) just slow down Big Government, not stop it.
We must Stop It!
gary4205 on March 26, 2010 at 12:19 AM
Hey, if you can create a program, even with democrat tinkering, that only costs less than 1.5% of the state budget, you wouldn’t be too rueful either.
Conservative Samizdat on March 26, 2010 at 12:20 AM
Mandates are better than calling it new taxes. Calling it a mandate instead of a new tax and deduction is actually less liberal.
PrezHussein on March 26, 2010 at 12:22 AM
+100,000,000,000,000!
Nothing more I can add!
gary4205 on March 26, 2010 at 12:23 AM
Gee, what’s 1.5% of (-$295) Million?
More cuts loom as state faces $295 million in red ink
How that’s MittCare working out for them?
And how about when the feds pull out of MA’s funding, which is propping up MittCare, because they have to give it to the other states?
Jenfidel on March 26, 2010 at 12:26 AM
Allahpundit must enjoy being Mitt Romney’s Chris Matthews.
*T*I*N*G*L*E*
Romneycare wipes out this RINO.
Lockstein13 on March 26, 2010 at 12:26 AM
No, Romney vetoed. Democrats overode the veto.
That’s how our government works either at the state or federal level. The executive branch can veto an item but congress can override the President’s veto.
That’s how the game works. Mitt did what he legally and constitutionally could to stop the democrats but was overridden.
Romney uses the veto pen. Look at Bush or Obama. Neither one of them used the veto pen very much. They signed whatever Congress gave them. Look at the mess we’re in now.
Even if he creates a program that costs than 1.5% of the state budget!? I would say that is success story for Romney both for the free market and for smaller government.
Secondly, I dare you to create a program in which you find a way to lower costs by reducing the number of people who are “free riders” who use other people’s money to pay for their health problems.
Mitt Romney gets everyone to pay their own way either in the form of making sure everyone gets their own insurance or paying out of pocket for their health costs.
Conservative Samizdat on March 26, 2010 at 12:28 AM
I read the entire article. The article states that Mass is in a financial crisis for two reasons:
1) The down turn in the economy is hurting the state’s beccause lower tax revenues are coming in:
2) The Democrats have mismanaged the Commonwealth:
Finally, did you read this in the article!?
RomneyCare is unrelated to the state’s budgetary problems. What is blowing a hole in the states budget program is MasHealth which predates RomneyCare.
I don’t think you read your own article carefully. You just shot yourself in the foot since it validates that RomneyCare isn’t the reason for the state’s budget problems.
Conservative Samizdat on March 26, 2010 at 12:38 AM
Good choice. Romney will run socialized medicine properly.
Maybe he can get Huck on board and together come up with some solid government-based solutions.
Dr. ZhivBlago on March 26, 2010 at 12:42 AM
Anybody who would vote against Romney/Ryan would have to be braindead, or Democrat.
Sorry for repeating myself.
Star20 on March 26, 2010 at 12:47 AM
No, I didn’t shoot myself in the foot.
It only confirms what I was saying: Romney likes Statist solutions, which is why he was comfortable running for Governor in a deep Blue state like MA.
MassHealth has been draining the state dry since it was implemented.
MittCare just made it that much worse by making the mandate even bigger and more comprehensive.
Did Mitt actually try to veto anything?
Too little, too late.
The budget is swimming in red ink and MA’s unemployment rate is 9.5% officially, yet they have a $675 million “reserve fund.”
Who’s getting rich on that?
Certainly not the citizens of MA.
Let’s hope Scott Brown’s election was the beginning of the end for statist Dem rule in MA.
Jenfidel on March 26, 2010 at 12:50 AM
I hope this is sarcastic.
If so, it’s hilarious–these 2 Nanny Staters would have lots to talk about.
Jenfidel on March 26, 2010 at 12:51 AM
csdeven on March 26, 2010 at 12:53 AM
well, that was fouled up. I’m sure you can see the point through the format error.
csdeven on March 26, 2010 at 12:54 AM
I find the whole idea of describing citizens as “free riders” repellent.
I don’t have health insurance, yet I pay thousands in property taxes, a good deal of which go to our county hospitals.
And I pay for my own health care out of my own pocket.
Yet, I’m sure I’m a “free rider” to Mitt.
In addition, the political goal of “controlling costs” (of a private good or service) is Socialist, regardless of whether the politician proposing it is allegedly pro-capitalist.
Mitt Romney cannot get me to do sh*t, including vote for him or like him.
Jenfidel on March 26, 2010 at 12:55 AM
I find it difficult to believe that any of the decisions of MA voters have any validity, at this point.
Yes, they did elect Scott Brown to the Senate but this was after sending Teddy “KGB” Kennedy there for the last 50 years.
Disgraceful.
There’s bound to be arsenic, benzene or lead in the water up there…
Jenfidel on March 26, 2010 at 12:58 AM
Jenfidel,
You’re an idiot and I mean that in the worst sense of the word.
You have no understanding of the constitution. You have no concept of federalism. You have no understanding of the nuances in RomneyCare.
You just throw around big words like “RINO,” and “statist” think your arguments work when they don’t. It only reveals the smallness of your brain.
Yes, he actually vetoed 8 items. ALL of them were overridden by the democrats.
Conservative Samizdat on March 26, 2010 at 1:02 AM
So you’re saying that this years elections won’t neuter the Democrats?
If Republicans take the House, Barry is done. He can propose all he wants, he can demand all he wants; he’ll get NOTHING!
GarandFan on March 26, 2010 at 1:03 AM
Mittens and his ObamaCareLite is not the direction this country needs to head.
Besides, he’s a religious nutter who believes that crap about John Smith, his scrying device and the ‘white Jesus’ that appeared in the USA.
Mr Purple on March 26, 2010 at 1:07 AM
My reasons “make me look like a moron?”
1. MittCare is a disaster: it’s only being propped up by Federal money. Cuts in service and rationing are already happening. The state budget is heavily in the red and it’s not creating, but draining jobs.
2. The country doesn’t want ObamaCare. Poll after poll show this, because the country knows it will result in ballooning costs, fewer jobs, rationing, higher taxes and cuts in actual available health care.
3. Mitt publicly defends MittCare as the “ultimate Conservative plan.”
It is his signature issue, yet his book about American foreign policy.
He will not be elected President if the primary issue is ObamaCare (which it will be) and how much people hate it after paying for it in taxes for 4 years without getting any health care in return.
Oh, but these are the reasons of a “moron.”
Jenfidel on March 26, 2010 at 1:08 AM
Let me repeat that:
Didn’t you read the damn article!?
MassHealth was a program that existed BEFORE RomneyCare. Mass Health is what is blowing a hole in the budget. Not RomneyCare.
I think you harbor hatred for Romney and will justify what reasons you can find…even if your reasons make you look like a complete moron.
Dear Goodness, you must be dumber than I thought.
You’re not a free rider if you pay your OWN health care bills. You’re not a free rider if you pay for your OWN health insurance.
A free rider is someone who shows up at the hospital and the bill gets paid by US either in the form of higher premiums or higher taxes.
Since you pay your taxes, pay your bills, and pay your health bills, you…jinfidel…and millions like you are not a free rider.
How hard of a concept is that for you to grasp!?
I think you have issues with Romney. You act like Mitt hung your dog from a tree when you were seven years old and you’re bitter about it ever since.
You have no rational objections to Romney.
Conservative Samizdat on March 26, 2010 at 1:10 AM
Strong supporter of Mitt Romney here. Have you read his new book? If not, you should… it’s excellent!!! He’s brilliant!!! I believe he is the one we need to fix our economy. He is a financial genius!!
I also suggest you research the differences between MA Healthcare and ObamaCare… the differences are striking!!!
I would love Mitt to be our President in 2012 and the names I would like to see as his running mate are as follows:
Mike Pence
Eric Cantor
Rick Santorum
John Thune
John Boehner
Michelle Bachmann
Liz Cheney
Sarah Palin
(to name a few)
Snicker_Snort on March 26, 2010 at 1:11 AM
Hot Air has no place for religious bigotry towards any faith, including the LDS faith.
I find your comment extremely offensive.
Conservative Samizdat on March 26, 2010 at 1:15 AM
All of my objections to Romney are completely rational.
His defense of MittCare & state-controlled health insurance show his love of Statism.
He has flip-flopped inexplicably on abortion, same sex “rights” and guns.
He has no military or foreign policy experience at all.
I don’t trust him politically and he has no charisma or appeal to me as a candidate.
As with McCain, I will only vote for him if he’s the GOP candidate in 2012 and I have no choice, except to vote for the Democrat.
I think he’ll be toast long before that, though.
His personal fortune can’t prop him up forever.
Jenfidel on March 26, 2010 at 1:24 AM
We already went over this and you’re STILL trying to use this issue.
Massachusetts is in the RED because of (1) declining tax revenue due to a slow economy, (2) mismanagement by the Democrats, and MassHealth, a program which was created BEFORE RomneyCare.
RomneyCare has NOTHING to do with the state’s budget crisis. The article you stated admitted it and I quoted heavily from your article.
Of course, people hate ObamaCare.
But if you ask Massachetts citizens, they actually LIKE RomneyCare:
Mitt Romney talks about various issues: Education, Health Care, Economy, etc.
Foreign policy was just one part of his book. Moreover, Romney discusses at length about his health care plan in his book.
You clearly didn’t read the book.
Conservative Samizdat on March 26, 2010 at 1:27 AM
Romney: States are smart to mandate their citizens buy insurance
Palin: Federal Government is smart to make everybody pay for others insurance.
Which is better?
PrezHussein on March 26, 2010 at 1:29 AM
hopeful Obowma is a one-termer
Fitna on March 26, 2010 at 1:43 AM
I’m hoping Newt Gingrich runs…maybe Giuliani again?
thinkagain on March 26, 2010 at 1:44 AM
Governor Palin has NEVER said anything even remotely like this!
I notice you give no link to this alleged quote, much less a video of her saying it.
That’s because you made it up.
Jenfidel on March 26, 2010 at 1:56 AM
You Lie! i have quote and video.
PrezHussein on March 26, 2010 at 2:00 AM
Conservative Samizdat on March 26, 2010 at 1:27 AM
From the article you cited:
Jenfidel on March 26, 2010 at 2:01 AM
You lie!
Produce it!
Jenfidel on March 26, 2010 at 2:01 AM
I will not produce it to you. You are a person who attacks Republicans. In this thread you attacked a popular prominent Republican saying he has no principles.
PrezHussein on March 26, 2010 at 2:12 AM
So predictable what occurs at HA whenever the 2012 election is discussed. Ridicule of “Mittens,” (and the requisite anti-Mormon bigotry from Mr. Purple), hatred of anyone who can be described as a RINO, drooling from ddrintn, unseen and others over Sarah Palin.
I don’t know if Mitt can beat Obama, but he sure as heck has as good a chance as the other frequently-mentioned names. At this point, I’d vote for him over Barry, RomneyCare notwithstanding, and I think a lot of other independents would, too. OTOH, Palin doesn’t have a prayer of winning over enough independents to beat The One. And that’s assuming she’d even get the nomination. Could the Republicans really be so clueless that they would snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by nominating someone that most of the public thinks isn’t up to the job, and almost all of the MSM absolutely detests?
The Republicans have some excellent possibilities that could put the fear of God in the Marxist-in-Chief. But he doesn’t fear Palin. Quite the contrary–he’d be the luckiest SOB in the world to have her as his opponent in 2012, and he knows it.
Meredith on March 26, 2010 at 2:21 AM
Snicker_Snort on March 26, 2010 at 1:11 AM
That’s a great impression of Hugh Hewitt you got there.
lol.
-Aslan’s Girl
Aslans Girl on March 26, 2010 at 2:27 AM
I think we have problems that Mitt Romney can’t solve. In fact, I’m not altogether sure that he isn’t part of the problem.
That said, I think Huckabee is an idiot and Palin is a sellout. The only Republican leader I still respect is Michelle Bachmann.
The nation is disintegrating and we have a leader deficit. I don’t want another McCain-type choice. If another “moderate” or “compassionate conservative” is offered up as the Republican candidate, I’d be very tempted to stay home and wait for this thing to reach critical mass.
Venusian Visitor on March 26, 2010 at 2:28 AM
I do not attack Republicans!
I am one and have been a Republican all my life.
That being said, it doesn’t appear that Mitt does have a lot of principles, GOP affiliation notwithstanding.
Knew you couldn’t produce the Palin thing because it does not exist!
I know my Sarah: she has never had such a thought, much less said anything close to anything as Statist as you claimed.
Sarah Palin believes in the free market and capitalism big time.
Read her Facebook Notes for further enlightenment.
Jenfidel on March 26, 2010 at 2:41 AM
Oops! Typo. It appears that Mitt does NOT have a lot of principles, is what I meant to say!
Jenfidel on March 26, 2010 at 2:42 AM
I think this will be a first for me but…
…I agree with Jenfidel.
Produce it. Or it never happened.
Conservative Samizdat on March 26, 2010 at 3:15 AM
Anybody else in the history of modern politics under the same type of assault that Palin’s enemies have put her through over the last 20 months would have folded their tent by now and at least would be polling where Tim Pawlenty is polling now.
That Palin is ensconced in second place on Intrade and running very close behind Romney is truly a miracle and significant in the fact that Palin is not going away anytime soon. What Palin has also proven if she is given a chance to perform in a political competition that she will never give up, that she will fight until the bitter end for the American people. She can win, if we give her a chance to show what she has.
technopeasant on March 26, 2010 at 4:29 AM
…and I find it no more offensive than the chronic Palin bashing that exists on this site.
I take it you are busy policing the ‘Palin Witch Dr’ and the ‘she believes the world is 3,000 years old’ comments as well?
Mr Purple on March 26, 2010 at 6:01 AM
Arghh. Unlike ObamaCare, the individual mandate for the State of Massachusetts was unquestionably constitutional (not to mention supported by the majority of Mass residents and instituted on a bi-partisan basis).
Buy Danish on March 26, 2010 at 8:04 AM
/Exits DeLorean in 2007
Well I don’t know about 2012, but 2008 will be Hillary vs. Rudy for sure, no question, I garonteee.
ncc770 on March 26, 2010 at 8:24 AM
I don’t know if someone already posted this, but as of January 1995, Clinton had been reelected.
John Deaux on March 26, 2010 at 8:32 AM
Romney/Ryan 2012
Romney/Thume 2012
Romney/Mario Diaz Ballart 2012
Romney/Christy 2012
Falz on March 26, 2010 at 8:56 AM
Mitt Romney is clearly the ideal candidate for the Stupid Party–Socialist-Lite, all things to all people.
Who will the conservatives run? If the Stupids pick Romney, the Cons will have to go third party.
james23 on March 26, 2010 at 9:04 AM
You’d have to be a psychoanalyst–and a good one–to explain how HA commenters can hold these two thoughts in their brains, simultaneously, without causing meltdown:
*Repeal Obamacare!
*Romneycare 2012!!
Come to think of it, that would be the perfect Stupid Party slogan.
james23 on March 26, 2010 at 9:09 AM
Romney. that spineless vinyl chew-toy, got soundly thrashed by a barely interested McCain in the 2008 Republican primaries after dumping a cool $50 mil of his own money in the process.
Allahpundit must really love the idea of 4 more years of the Lying Socialist in Chief to want America’s David Cameron to run for Prez.
ebrown2 on March 26, 2010 at 9:21 AM
“You’d have to be a psychoanalyst–and a good one–to explain how HA commenters can hold these two thoughts in their brains, simultaneously, without causing meltdown:
*Repeal Obamacare!
*Romneycare 2012!!”
Based on his interviews, Captain Dog-chewed Ken-doll himself can’t help but brain-gas on his eponymous health care plan when cross-questioned about it, even by sympathetic media figures on Fox News. Obama, Plouffe and Axelrod are salivating at the thought of running against Willard in 2012.
ebrown2 on March 26, 2010 at 9:26 AM
Romney, the new McCain. Yup, he is the one we should all rally behind because someone tells us to.
RomneyCare
RomneyCare
RomneyCare
What else do you need to know. It is a huge disaster. It will bankrupt the state. It is not free market.
Truth is when Rush said we sacrificed the country to save Obambi’s arse. We also sacrificed the country to protect Romney. RomneyCare should have been part of the discussion for the last six months. How similar is it? How is it working out? How would you change it? What else could have been done? Treat it as an experiment in government, what worked, what didn’t?
But we didn’t have that conversation, because it would have destroyed somebodies candidacy.
odannyboy on March 26, 2010 at 9:43 AM
What’s interesting is about the polling data is how the numbers flip, depending on the poll.
But the truth of the matter is that at this point, the gap is simply too slight to call anyone a frontrunner.
AnninCA on March 26, 2010 at 9:53 AM
Uh, no.
ncc770 on March 26, 2010 at 10:03 AM
But we didn’t have that conversation, because it would have destroyed somebodies candidacy.
odannyboy on March 26, 2010 at 9:43 AM
The Republican establishment loves protecting its own at the expense of the country. That’s the only time it every shows the SLIGHTEST amount of courage.
ebrown2 on March 26, 2010 at 10:04 AM
Hot Air commenters would do a great cast for “confessions of a drama queen Part II”.
Falz on March 26, 2010 at 10:16 AM
Ob+ama: Mad dash to serfdom.
Romney: Slow crawl to the same AnnInCA’ing destination.
Like I said before…standing in the coliseum and hoping the lions eat you last.
SKYFOX on March 26, 2010 at 10:27 AM
Hopefully Brown’s election is an indication that MA voters are moderating to the center. On your other point I agree. But my point is that they and their state are not limited by the constitution to do so. The federal government is prohibited that power.
csdeven on March 26, 2010 at 10:43 AM
Clearly of the two clips, Obama is the HYPOCRITE! He was against the mandate before he was for it. Kerryesque at the least. Pathetic excuse for a president.
Romney is only one willing to address the problem of people imposing on taxpayers.
Lori on March 26, 2010 at 11:29 AM
You would have thought that we had learned our lesson from the last election, but I guess we are all gluttons for punishment. Instead of running a true Conservative, we are going to dig into our past and run one of the moderates that failed in the last election. I think it is time for the Republican party to pull its head from its nether regions and smell the coffee.
SGinNC on March 26, 2010 at 11:33 AM
To back up Conservative Samiszdat.
Masshealth is our Medicare/Medicaid and SCHIP program. This program has been in effect since the 80′s. Every state has a Medicare/Medicaid and SCHIP program and every state is having issues paying for their program. Medicare/Medicaid must be reformed.
Our Healthcare reform plan costs the state 1.5% of state budget. It is not bankrupting the state in any shape or form.
Secondly 68% of our state residents like our health care plan. We elected Scott Brown, because Obamacare hurt MassCare.
Lastly 70% of the physicians in MA like our healthcare plan. Unlike Obamacare which is forcing doctors into early retirement.
SED on March 26, 2010 at 11:54 AM
Great, so we could go from an infinite government Dem to a really, really big government, but not quite infinite government Republican. Swell.
I mean, yeah, it is better than the alternative. Slower government creep is preferable to ramrodding it down my throat. But if Romney is the best we can come up with, well I guess the other half of the people have spoken and they still want government to steal from others to provide them goodies. The next time Romney utters the words “less government” will probably be the first.
TQ on March 26, 2010 at 12:12 PM
The primaries will expose the negatives about Romneycare, but as each day passes it looks like any Republican will have a great chance at beating Obama. Provided illegals and felons are not given voting rights.
But that is the problem for most of us, the part about any Republican having a chance. For most voters what we really want is someone who is going to take a chainsaw to the federal government, and not reach across the aisle one single time. It would be awesome if we had a super majority and did not need a Democrat to pass or repeal anything!
I am thinking our nominee might not be from the list of usual suspects. It could be someone flying under the radar, and someone without any glaring negatives.
freeus on March 26, 2010 at 12:38 PM
I personally think that Romney will get about as many real voters behind him as in the past: Not enough.
They guy is just like Obama, but a white version.
“present”
AnninCA on March 26, 2010 at 12:57 PM
this ‘poll‘?? was from a Romney polling firm, that is run by the former Chief of Staff to Senator Landrieu it is called a push to get what you want poll and invalid by any but Liberal or Socialist polling standards.
mathewsjw on March 26, 2010 at 1:57 PM
Oops!
Massachusetts’ health care plan has been a fiscal train wreck by MA State Treasurer Tim Cahill
Jenfidel on March 26, 2010 at 2:17 PM
Health law costs aren’t the problem
- Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation
Health costs require action, but Cahill’s attacks won’t help
- STATE TREASURER Tim Cahill’s denunciation yesterday of the state’s much-praised 2006 health-care overhaul is an irresponsible act of demagoguery — one that seeks to redirect the understandable anger over rising costs toward the largely unrelated issue of providing insurance to people who would otherwise be in the state’s free-care pool.
-
SED on March 26, 2010 at 2:29 PM
Jenfidel,
Also, note that Tim Cahill is a democrat turned independent running for the governor’s office. He is trying to garner the support of the TEA party movement to prop up his failing campaign. Cahill wants to be the next Scott Brown. We are not fooled. Cahill is a political hack and opportunist. A few weeks ago he didn’t know how the healthcare law was doing. Now he is trying to use the healthcare debate to serve his own means. The current democrat governor and the republican challangr have denounced him and his lies.
SED on March 26, 2010 at 2:35 PM
Cannot have a Romney and the Repeal-O-Care issue in 2012. It’ll be one or the other.
Resist!
curved space on March 26, 2010 at 3:20 PM
Read the comments to this article you cited.
They provide some perspective to your Pollyanna-ish view.
Jenfidel on March 26, 2010 at 5:47 PM
It’s not a pollyanna-ish point of view.
I live here. I know the local politics. I am also a part of the MassCare program and currently buy private insurance at a third of the cost less than what I was receiving from my previous employer. Pointing to some mixed comments does not make your point.
We elected Scott Brown, because Obamacare hurt our plan by raising taxes on our businesses. The plan directly taxes 225 medical device companies in our state. Those taxes will severly damage them to the point of insolvency. Our plan in MA is not the same as Obamacare. It’s like saying a Toyota Prius and Ford Mustang are the same. They are both cars, but they have completely different architecture.
The fact is that an overwhelming majority of citizens and physicians like our plan in MA. We also very much dislike Obamacare. To try to point to the Massachusetts plan as model for the ills of Obamacare is wrong. Ours is model that works specifically for our state.
The cost of our plan is 1.5% of our state budget. This is a fact. Cahill is playing politics to win the TEA party crowd and to help his campaign. It’s a shame you would listen to Democrat, turned independent for politics, over the republican candidate that we are trying to elect.
SED on March 26, 2010 at 6:30 PM
Gov. Deval Patrick: Tim Cahill didn’t warn on health-care costs
Gov. Deval Patrick shot back at Timothy Cahill yesterday, saying the state treasurer never warned him about the escalating cost of Massachusetts’ universal health-care program.
“That’s B.S.,” Patrick told the Herald following a speech at the Park Plaza Hotel to a conference on travel and tourism. “I’m sorry to be so blunt. But I don’t think the treasurer, with all due respect, has expressed any concerns about health-care reform until the political season came around.”
——————————————————–
SEC hits Cahill fund-raiser
Federal regulators claim a Medfield executive illegally won participation in $14 billion of bond deals after co-hosting a fund-raiser for state Treasurer Tim Cahill and donating to his campaign.
SED on March 26, 2010 at 6:38 PM
That’s a lot of water you’re carrying for MittCare, not to mention all the KoolAid you’ve quaffed to make it go down easier.
State-run health insurance programs are a nightmare, no matter whose idea is it: why can’t you admit it?
Jenfidel on March 26, 2010 at 6:41 PM
I’m making a case that state solutions are better than over arching Federal ones. Our plan works in MA. I like the plan. The majority of our residents do as well. Our case is a state health insurance program that uses the free market to provide private health insurance. It’s not perfect, but it works for us. The great thing with a state solution is you don’t have to live in MA, you don’t want anything to do with it you can move.
You can read my blog post on the subject:
Laboratories of Democracy
SED on March 26, 2010 at 6:53 PM
If you won’t take my word for it:
Romney keeping it real
Massachusetts Healthcare
SED on March 26, 2010 at 6:59 PM
Also,
Obamacare isn’t Romneycare
SED on March 26, 2010 at 7:11 PM
Nominating Romney would mark the death of the Republican Party. Conservatives “light” have had two Bushes elected who undid everything Reagan did and have brought the country to the brink of ruin. I won’t support this any more. I won’t.
Venusian Visitor on March 26, 2010 at 7:54 PM
Romney=McCain MK II=Obama a 2 term POTUS.
If there is not someone of the mold of Ryan or Cantor, conservative and able to explain why. The Republicans might as well run Bob the Drunken Dog Catcher, as they will not get the Tea Party bloc to vote for a Dem-lite candidate.
Nathan_OH on March 26, 2010 at 8:03 PM
The only one who can go toe to toe with Barry in 2012 is Huckabee. Still a hold you nose candidate but in a debate anyone else is toast.
inchdeep on March 27, 2010 at 12:24 AM
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