Jonah Goldberg, on Mitt Romney’s major obstacle to winning the GOP nomination:
I have shaken Romney’s hand a few times, and I can say he feels surprisingly lifelike.
Don’t get me wrong: if Mitt Romney gets the nomination, then I’ll vote for him. Cheerfully. The alternative is Barack Obama, and I’m kind of done with Barack Obama. But Romney’s… fragile. Fragile like Obama, and the current debate system is not actually helping him. One reason why I want the debates whittled down to five people (or less, at this point) is because Romney needs more on-the-griddle time. A lot more.
Moe Lane
No, Romney needs to withdraw. What’s the use of tempering a piece of wood in a fire, when what you need is iron?
I’m with you on that one. I’m writing columns all day about this debate and I can honestly say I’m not sure any of these exchanges have been very useful, considering what’s at stake and what they’re NOT talking about.
Case in point–immigration. No one has asked Romney about the impact of churches on back door amnesty and there is a very good reason to ask him about this.
Rob> When all you have is wood, you can, according to the odyssey, temper it in a fire. Would steel be better? Yes. But if you have no steel, you make do with what you have.
I have no doubt Romney would destroy Obama, as he is doing a great job running as generic, acceptable Republican. I just think this is a great year to get a very conservative candidate elected, and Romney isn’t it.
I can’t believe Pawlenty couldn’t put together a more effective attack on Romneycare. Perry has utterly failed to capitalize on it as well. It’s amazing he’s skated by as well as he has. (Although, it does make some sense, as a mandate to purchase insurance isn’t as personally intrusive as a mandate to vaccinate little girls for STDs. (zing!))
Reg, I have every doubt taht Romney would prevail against Obama. Remember that he got his butt whooped by the last guy Obama beat… has he grown any since then?
Obama 2008 and Obama 2012 are completely different elections. And, like it or not, being perceived as a moderate is an advantage in the general. He’s also clean as a whistle, unlike Perry, who has a few skeletons that will come out in a general. (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304760604576428262897285614.html)
Romney is most electable, but not most electable conservative.
I’m starting to lean towards Newt. The guy is solid, and I think the public is in a mood to listen to sense again.