Even though nobody has yet cast a vote in the primaries, Republicans are increasingly resigned to Gov. Mitt Romney’s winning the party’s presidential nomination. Every week he gets a few more endorsements from Republican officeholders. He has never had a commanding lead in the polls, but one by one the other candidates who have occupied the top tier with him — first Rep. Michele Bachmann, then Gov. Rick Perry, then Herman Cain — have fallen back out of it. The current surge for Newt Gingrich looks like one last fling before Republicans settle down with Romney.
Republicans should not be gloomy about this prospect. Romney isn’t merely the candidate who is likely to win the Republican primaries. He’s the candidate who should win them. That’s why he’s likely to win.
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We all know the knocks on Romney. His health-care plan in Massachusetts was Obamacare in one state. He’s a flip-flopper. Inauthentic. His conservative detractors say he’s the establishment/moderate candidate — or worse. (Actual Thanksgiving conversation in the Ponnuru home: Conservative brother-in-law: “So, which of these characters are you supporting?” Me: “I think Romney’s the best of the bunch.” Him: “I didn’t know you were a Democrat.”)
It’s true that Romney took a sharp right turn when he moved from state to national politics. But it’s also true that in 2008 he was the candidate behind whom Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin, among other conservative notables, said that the conservative movement should rally in order to stop John McCain from getting the nomination. He has not moved left since that time. His positions on policy questions are almost all the same as they were then. On a few issues he has moved right: He now favors a market-oriented reform to Medicare, for example.
If Romney was to McCain’s right then, he is still. He’s to George W. Bush’s right, too. Bush never came out for the Medicare reform Romney has endorsed. Bush never said that Roe v. Wade should be overturned, either. Romney has. Romney’s long list of policy advisers includes people who are, within their fields, roughly in sync with the politics of the Bush administration or to its right; almost nobody is significantly to its left.
If Mitt Romney becomes president, he will almost certainly be dealing with John Boehner as speaker of the House and Mitch McConnell as Senate majority leader. While they, too, have their conservative detractors, they are the most conservative congressional leaders Republicans have had in modern times, and they will exert a rightward influence on the Romney administration. If they send him legislation to repeal Obamacare, cut taxes, or reform entitlements, he will sign it where Obama would veto it. If at some other point in his presidency a liberal-run Congress sends him tax increases, he will veto them where Obama would sign. Compared with President Obama, a President Romney would do more to protect the defense budget.
Winning in November doesn't matter, if the GOP elects someone like Romney. Barry-O lite.
Might as well have the full strength version and get the collapse over with.
Our family is going 'Galt', voting-wise in 2012, if Romney is the nom. We'll never back another 'lesser of two evils'. Hell, even Huntsman is preferable to Willard Romney!
Anyway, go ahead, DC GOP establishment and getcher guy the nomination. But you'll do it without our bitter-clinging help, out here in the hinterlands.
If it comes down to November and Romney is not the Republican candidate I do not see how you can't be for someone else, whoever that is. If it comes down to Obama and a 5th grader, I'm voting for the 5th grader.
I am a life-long Republican, but if Romney is the nominee, I am sitting out this election. I will not campaign or vote for another wishy-washy "Republican." Bush 41, Dole and McCain -- all losers. Romney will have the same fate because, like me, I think the vast majority of conservatives cannot muster enough enthusiasm to vote for Romney. It is sad. Obama is vulnerable, but if Romney is the nominee, Obama will surely win a second term.
So, let me get this straight: "...if Romney is the nominee, I am sitting out this election." And "...if Romney is the nominee, Obama will surely win a second term."
What kind of fool are you -- not to see that it could be idiots like you who sit out the election, thereby guaranteeing the very outcome you fear most? Or, do you simply fear Romney in the White House more than you fear Obama for another four years? Fool!! What a blasted fool you are!! If you sit out the election and Obama is re-elected, it is fools like you who will be to blame.
This sounds like a self-fulfilling prophesy - "I won't vote for Romney, therefore he can't be elected". If all of us who would prefer someone else (and that includes me) choose to sit on our hands, then yes, you're right - he won't be elected. On the other hand, if we have the good sense to realize that Romney, warts and all, is at least 1000 times better than Barry O., and if we can persuade even a thin majority of independent voters to join us, then yes, he can be elected.
Before you and others of similar mind choose to sit this one out, ask yourself how much the repeal of Obamacare alone is worth to you. For me, this election is important enough that even if I'm on my deathbed, I'm going to have myself carried into the polling place to vote straight Republican no matter who the nominee is.
It always amazes me that voters (except the very young ones who can be excused for not understanding the nature of the world we live in) imagine that they can disdain voting for "the lesser of two evils" and "send a message" by either not voting or perhaps by casting their ballot for some Libertarian nut. The effect of this high-minded nonsense is always to elect more Democrats. The next President will be a Republican or it will be Obama, and it makes a huge difference which.
"The current surge for Newt Gingrich looks like one last fling before Republicans settle down with Romney."
Oh really? The reason why so many of us have looked at the other candidates is because we can't stand Romney. That distaste is for the reasons you mentioned in your article..he's a flip-flopping, waffling RINO. Romney is Democrat Lite. The fact that so many in the GOP establishment support him only confirms that Romney is the wrong guy. We've had enough of the "compassionate conservatism" that Bush foisted on the GOP and the nation, now we want a real conservative with true conservative principles.
You Rockefeller Republican types have done enough damage and have spent enough time allowing the liberal Democrats to walk all over us and the Constitution. Move aside.
I hope you're right about Romney, Mr. Ponnuru. I'm one of those who wanted Mitt in 2008 and have since fallen out of love with him. I still get the feeling that he doesn't know who he is, that some of his answers don't come from the heart. His interview with Brett Baier the other night was a bit disconcerting. Hopefully, he'll do better -- but this was with a friendly interviewer! Anyway, I'll ultimately vote for whomever the candidate is since it is the most important election since 2008! We got creamed with our candidate then -- that's why conservatives are so skeptical about anyone's advice who seems to be from "the establishment." No one is trusted who comes to us from D.C. or NY because we seem to be looked down upon from you all. We're not stupid, and we're serious about saving the country from those who don't seem to see the seriousness of the situation Obama and his Dems have put us in. We question those who want to continue business as usual as the Titantic is going down. We know the ship is going down out here, and we worry for our children. We'd like that acknowledged. This talk about "millionaires and billionaires" is ridiculous -- what about our kids who'll have to pay the ultimate price for these criminal politicians and their decisions? Sorry, a bit off-topic, but it's constantly on my mind. God bless.
Love it! Gov. Romney is the nominee to defeat Obama. His experience in the private sector is what we need to create jobs & turn this economy around. He is well versed on foreign policy & national security. He is intelligent, earning Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration joint degrees from Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School. He is a family man, who has been married to his wife for 42 years. He has integrity. Obama & the Democrats fear him... They are "licking their chops" at the prospect of Newt as the nominee. Let's not give them that opportunity. Mitt Romney is The One. With the Independent vote, Romney can beat Obama in 2012.
I have no doubt many Republicans like Romney. The problem is conservatives, such as myself, don't.
It's funny that Ponnuru's article comes out a day after Goldberg insists NRO isn't in the tank for anyone. Way to make one of your guys (and one of our favorites) look bad.
As for this opening line that "Republicans are increasingly resigned" to supporting Romney: We recognize when the MSM tries to craft the narrative rather than report the facts.
Do you think we don't recognize when NRO does it too?
So who do you propose the GOP elect to defeat BO? Because that is the whole point. Bachmann? Cain? Gingrich? Who is the "conservative" candidate that would win the nomination and defeat BO? Nominating your party's presidential candidate is not solely about adherence to principles. It's also about nominating the candidate who has the best chance to win. And that always involves tradeoffs.
Because that's the argument from last go-around, when we at least had a bona fide war hero the media and moderates supposedly loved carrying our banner.
"Romney’s long list of policy advisers includes people who are, within their fields, roughly in sync with the politics of the Bush administration..."
And that's the problem, isn't it? Bush was no conservative. His administration gave us...
1. A whole new costly Medicare entitlement.
2. Massive domestic spending increases.
3. Repeated attempts at Amnesty for illegal immigration.
4. McCain-Feingold.
5. The incandescent light bulb ban.
6. Harriet Miers.
7. TARP (which Romney supported) and other bailouts.
8. The "ownership society" idea that making sure financially irresponsible people got mortgages was smart economic policy.
Saying Romney is just about as conservative as Bush isn't much of a selling point...
Also. a lot of conservatives are alienated exactly because Romney seems to take out votes for granted. Because of this arrogance, he has made no efforts to reach out to conservatives, and he should not be surprised that conservatives return his indifference.
It's too bad Paul Ryan didn't run. It's too bad Bachmann and Perry turned out to be weak candidates. It's too bad that we are left with the choice between Mitt and Newt. If it were 1995 or 1996, we would all be for Newt. As of that time, his conservative accomplishments (not just talk) were unmatched by anyone other than Reagan. Newt's problems since then - personal and political - are all tied to his central weakness: the (unattainable) need to be loved and admired. His need for money (Freddie, Tiffanies) are likely tied to the same weakness. A Shakespearian tragic flaw. But I'm willing to give him another shot to bring out the old Newt. Romney talks a good game, and hires all the right people, but he has no conservative accomplishments, and is too "play-it-safe" to prevent the train-wreck that we all know is coming with our republic.
