The Mysterious Case of Mitt Romney

The Mysterious Case of Mitt Romney


Until recently I would not have thought it possible that Mitt Romney could have emerged as the Republican candidate for President of the United States. Even now I find it mysterious. I do not understand how the Republican Party can be serious about this. Fully 75% of voters have not supported him, his unpopularity rating is higher than for any Presidential candidate in history. Virtually no one likes him, including members of his own party. They have desperately attempted to find the “not-Romney” but failed. For whatever reason any potentially qualified candidate such as John Huntsman, Buddy Roehmer, and Gary Johnson were not even allowed to compete, and those who were allowed: Trump, Cain, Palin, Bachmann, Paul, Gingrich and Santorum, were so dismal as to be virtually out of the question. So it seems clear that Romney is going to be the Republican candidate.

Romney’s claim to fame has to do with his having been a one term Governor of Massachusetts, a Businessman, and someone who is reputed to have saved the Utah Olympic Games (I think with considerable support from the U.S. Government). As a businessman he is known to have been a venture (vulture) capitalist predator that shipped many jobs overseas as he downsized or eliminated businesses in order to make his remarkable profits. While Governor his state was 47th in creating jobs. He has been running unsuccessfully for President since 1995 (I think that is correct). He is extremely wealthy, the veritable epitome of the 1% currently under siege by the 99%. He is so gauche he probably should not be allowed on the campaign trail where he puts his foot in his mouth at almost every opportunity. Having been extremely wealthy all his life he apparently has no comprehension of what life is like for ordinary working people. He is known to have flip-flopped on every major issue of importance to Americans, is believed to have no core values of any kind, is willing to say and do anything to get his way, and his known to be a consummate and egregious liar. Indeed, has recently been described as a “Professional Liar,” as opposed to just the general run-of-the-mill political liar. It appears to be the case that even those who might be considered viable running mates are declining the honor. So far his campaigns against his opponents, and now against President Obama have been entirely negative. He has yet to offer a platform or any positive plan for his presumed Presidency. There are at the moment few who are enthusiastic about Romney, most say they will not be voting for him but against Obama. But wait, it gets worse.

In order to get the nomination Romney has not only outspent his opponents probably 10 to 1, but has also had to move further and further to the right to attempt to get support from the Tea Party element of the Republican Party, now a strong force for the most extreme ideas. The result of this, without going into details, means he has alienated the women’s vote, the Latino vote, the Black vote, I assume also the Teacher’s vote, the Muslim vote, the Young vote, and the Senior vote. This leaves, as far as I can figure out, the less educated White working man’s vote (although I personally cannot understand even this). Can there possibly be enough votes from that voting block to bring him the Presidency? I wouldn’t think so, but perhaps with the anti-Obama vote (which, I confess, I also cannot understand) it could potentially be enough?

In any case the Republicans seem to be serious about presenting Romney as their candidate, a decision so mysterious I cannot fully comprehend it. There is apparently not enough of the traditional Republican Party left to put a stop to this (to me) Kamikaze attack on Obama. I gather those who might be opposed are so threatened by the Tea Party crowd as to be completely cowed. What I find even more mysterious is the claim on the part of most pundits that the coming election is going to be very close, a “nail-biter.” How, I ask myself, can this possibly be? If this should happen it will prove to me, uncontrovertible evidence that the American electorate simply has not paid attention to the endless campaign and will enter their voting booths with no understanding of anything that has transpired up to that time. Why should we not confine these campaigns to no more than a month and give each candidate no more than a thousand dollars? I doubt it would make much difference and might even be an improvement. Can Romney be elected? I do not see how, but, then, I said Nixon could not be elected, Carter could not, Reagan could not, and certainly the mentality handicapped George W. Bush could not. I for one will not necessarily be voting for Obama, but I will certainly be voting against the lying Romney and the disaster that is the current Republican Party.

Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard.

H. L. Mencken