It is not exactly a big surprise that Sen. Rick Santorum has now formally suspended his campaign. Though it is annoying for those who are not exactly jumping for joy for a Romney nomination – the Rominee.
I was not the greatest of Santorum supporters – though out of the slate of presidential wannabes I liked him the most. There were certainly some areas I thought him totally wrong on from a Catholic moral perspective, such as applauding assassination of civilian scientists which simply has no moral ground to stand on.
Though there were a lot of areas where I was in a high degree of agreement with him. I think he answered the hypothetical of “What if a Catholic blogger ran for President?” In many ways he reminded me of a Catholic blogger in that he was willing to talk on many topics involving social issues invoking a Catholic worldview. Also like a Catholic blogger he often hit the post button before thinking fully about what he was saying. It was both very cool that he did not try to shape some focused message as a political mantra and frustrating that he would go down more squirrel holes than a rodent infested golf course. He was willing to talk on topics that had not been heavily tested in focus groups and even willing to engage reporters on topics. His excitability on social issues often came across as a bit angry, but the destruction of the culture is really not something to be calmly sipping tea and eating crumpets over. He doesn’t always have the greatest political instincts, though maybe that was why I liked him since issues could be more important than his political goals.
I am annoyed by the use of the term suspension in regards to campaigns. Maybe I read too much SF, but it is like a Candidate gets put into some deep-freeze chamber to be revived if the nominee really blows it – and then they can be thawed out and ready to go. Suspension is just one of those silly face-saving names out of place with reality.
Right now I think I am the most pessimistic I’ve ever been on the GOP winning the election. Gov. Romney will make just as great a president as Sen. Dole, Sen. McCain, and second term G.H. Bush. I can also say I can’t too excited by even a possible Romney win even with Obama setting the bar so low. There was much silliness in Romney’s aide talking about Etch-a-Sketch and the resulting jokes about it. I firmly believe the Etch-a-Skektch parallel is totally wrong. Silly Putty for sure, but not Etch-a-Skektch. If only we could stick Romney in a kiln for a firing process so that he would stay the “severe conservative’ he is today – hey he did say he likes firing.
6 comments
I think “suspension” is a technical term that still allows the campaign to collect money and, therefore, retire debt.
As for classic toy analogies… Romney is a Weeble.
Candidates suspend a campaign not to save face but to allow them to continue to raise funds in order to retire their debts.
No one is perfect, but I like the Rominee for several reasons:
– Never worked in D.C.
– Not a career politician
– Worked in the private sector for many years
– Well vetted since 2007. No skeletons in the closest
– Good debater
– Presidential. Whether we like it or not, the president is the spokesperson for the nation. He has the look and is well spoken.
– His wife is his best asset
– He knows how to win
– I don’t see the county going far left to far right in one election. The right will vote (R) and the left will vote (D). I know it is cliché, but independents will decide the election.
I agree, Romney will be fine. However, I would love to have Santorum on the ticket as VP. He would balance the ticket.
I’ve been saying it everywhere else, so I might as well say it here as well. I wouldn’t vote for Romney if my life depended on it. He has no convictions and no fixed principles, except that he himself ought to be president. I really resent the assumption of the RNC that we silly religious people, conservative geeks, and out-of-date prolifers only need to hear a few soothing words, and we’ll answer to the flick of the whip and do as we’re told. NEVER. I’d rather see Himself have another term (second terms are notoriously frustrating and unproductive anyway) and have a real conservative renaissance in 2016. in the meantime I will not be controlled by the Republican Party, and that’s final.
I am not thrilled with Romney, but agree with the positives raised above. No, he not idea, but as others have said, then God is not running.
The problem is though, if you don’t vote for Romney, you are, in effect, voting for Obama. And in terms of principles and beliefs, who can think Obama is in any way better than Romney?