Another Reason Chris Christie Was Never Going To Be V.P. Choice

The bombastic nature of Chris Christie was always problematic for the wishes of his presidential hopes.  While he would have been a good counselor in the role of vice-president the baggage he brings with him over Bridge-Gate proved more than Donald Trump wanted to saddle himself.  The shading dealings and background of the governor made Mitt Romney look but reject his name as a nominee in 2012.

Today one of Christie’s closest confidants and the former chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey pleaded guilty to a felony count.  David Samson, who resigned from his Port Authority post amid fallout from the tawdry political  affair had been under investigation for more than two years involving a flight unofficially dubbed the “Chairman’s Flight” that he allegedly requested United Airlines to reinstate from Newark to Columbia, S.C.   Interestingly, the route was convenient to his vacation home.

Both Romney and Trump had good reason to dodge away from Christie.

What Happens If GOP Candidate Is Less Favorable Than Mitt Romney?

A new Washington Post-ABC News poll finds that 31% of Americans have a favorable view of Donald Trump while 67% are unfavorable — nearly identical to an early March Post-ABC poll which found he would be the most disliked major-party nominee since at least 1984.

Ted Cruz fares better with 36% favorable and 53% unfavorable among the public at-large; his strongly unfavorable mark is 20 percentage-points below Trump’s level (33% for Cruz vs. 53% for Trump).

Now throw in some political history.

Both Trump and Cruz are less popular than Mitt Romney at this point in the 2012 campaign.  This is most problematic for the GOP—in a cycle where they were slated to win based on history and the mood of the nation.

With either Trump or Cruz Republicans are doomed at wining the White House.

Mitt Romney Pounds Donald Trump Like An Orange Drum

When it comes to Donald Trump today America heard some much-needed truth.

Mitt Romney made it clear that our nation and its future prospects for a safe future would be “greatly diminished” should Trump become president.  It is most clear that Romney is ready to work to make sure that does not happen.

Romney’s first effort in that regard–other than a perfectly timed interview on Fox News with Neil Cavuto about a week ago–was today’s blistering speech about the orange-skinned man from the stage at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.  Romney has not always been my first choice for the person I would most like to have over for dinner but today I have more respect for him than ever before.

In a nutshell the former GOP presidential nominee called Trump’s policy proposals “flimsy, at best,” and said he’d trigger a trade war, drive up the deficit and lead the nation into a recession.

During the speech Romney beat on Trump as if he were nothing more than an orange-skinned drum.

“Dishonesty is Donald Trump’s hallmark,” Romney said, pointing to Trump’s “bullying, the greed, the showing off, the misogyny, the absurd third-grade theatrics.”

“Now, I know you say, ‘Isn’t he a huge business success, and doesn’t he know what he’s talking about?’ No he isn’t, and no he doesn’t,” Romney said. “His bankruptcies have crushed small businesses and their workers. He inherited his business; he didn’t create it.”

One can only imagine the public tantrum the racist, xenophobic ass-hat of a candidate will make later today.   But Trump’s foul behavior is not our concern.  Instead we must know this country has 12 days to work like the dickens to make sure he is stopped.   Romney did what is required by walking onto the stage to deliver the words this nation must hear and heed.

Romney correctly labeled Trump as “a phony” and “a fraud” who is “playing the American public for suckers.”

His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University.  Ba-dum.

Romney knows how the economy works so when he speaks about the fate of the nation should Trump ever sit in the Oval Office it might be wise if we listened.

His domestic policies would lead to recession.

His foreign policies would make America and the world less safe. He has neither the temperament nor the judgment to be president. And his personal qualities would mean that America would cease to be a shining city on a hill.

Most telling of how Romney feels about Trump were the words we all need to ponder as they were delivered today in Utah.

His imagination must not be married to real power.

Is There “A Bombshell” In Donald Trump’s Tax Forms?

Mitt Romney says there may be “a bombshell” in Donald Trump’s tax forms–and that is why they have not been released.

That is a startling statement.

Romney suggested either the tax forms will show Trump is not nearly as wealthy as he claims or that he had paid such a paltry tax rate that it will show he is what all know him to be.

It might also show Trump has not made the gifts of his money to groups such as the vets that he so often claims.  To his credit Romney had released his taxes in Jan. 2012. It is now approaching March this cycle and Trump is still wiggling.

At the end of the day I do not think Mitt Romney is supporting Donald Trump for president.

Can Mitt Romney Still Become GOP Nominee?

I have played several times with the idea on Facebook that Mitt Romney can become the favored man should there be a Republican convention that is deadlocked with no one person able to garner the needed delegates.  Given the work Mitt Romney did for himself and the GOP following his loss in 2012, and that his numbers were very good with polling in early 2015 might suggest there is a backroom deal that could place him center stage.

For anyone who thinks my idea laughable only need look at the landscape of the Republican Party over the last 6 months and ask what is funnier than that.

And the idea of a brokered convention is more and more taking shape if you keep in fact the numbers.  All it takes is for three or more Republican candidates to be competitive  and fighting in the presidential race beyond March 15.  I would lay everything I own on that happening.

Therefore it becomes more likely that no candidate accumulates over 50 percent of delegates, so multiple ballots could be needed to select the Republican nominee at the convention.  You have to then make the not so large leap that Donald Trump will be one of them–and the GOP establishment will and can not allow that to happen.

Romney of course says he is not running–and lets be honest–anything other than that would be absurd for him to breathe.  But the party will need a candidate with some gravitas and experience.  They will need someone who has a pleasant personality and also smart.  To meet the needs of the party they will have to seek a Romney-like person.

And when one starts looking at the numbers and skill sets it might be best to bring Romney into full view.    That is not to say he could win–but he would not bring the rest of the party to their knees like Ted Cruz would do.

Lots will happen from now to convention time—but let us not discount what might very well be brewing.

Mitt Romney Correct About Removing Confederate Flag

Mitt Romney is correct. The old joke about a clock comes to mind, but for once we should applaud the former GOP presidential candidate.  Using Twitter he made the following statement.

Take down the #ConfederateFlag at the SC Capitol. To many, it is a symbol of racial hatred. Remove it now to honor #Charleston victims.

I have long opposed the flying of the confederate flag.  In my view the flag conveys and too often inspires hate and incites feelings that are not in the spirit of our era.  At a time when racism is still most prevalent there should not be–must not be–an endorsement of a symbol by any state that can be dangerous.  Since the flag was placed for flying in South Carolina only during the civil rights era as a sign of white hate, it is equally clear why it must come down.

Lesson For Republicans To Learn For 2016

Not that I think any presidential candidate will really try to learn.  Or the Republican Party can turn the corner fast enough nationally with this voting bloc.

If he had run, Mitt Romney said, he would have spent “a great deal of time taking my message to Hispanic Americans and to other minority groups in this country — African Americans, Asian Americans — and describing why it is that conservative principles are best for them and for their families.
 
“That’s something I wish I would’ve spent a lot more time doing” in 2012, he said.

Big Donors Worked To Undermine Mitt Romney Presidential Bid

This is a powerful paragraph from today’s New York Times.

“The campaign to deny Mr. Romney another chance began almost immediately after he mused to donors at a Friday get-together in New York City on Jan. 9 that he was open to the possibility of another run. By that Sunday afternoon, William Oberndorf, a prominent California investor who supported Mr. Romney in both of his previous presidential campaigns, had emailed a group of 52 powerful Republicans, including former Secretary of State George Shultz, the investor Charles Schwab, Gov. Bruce Rauner of Illinois and the Michigan billionaire Betsy DeVos with a blunt message: we need to support someone else.”