As Mitt Romney desperately seeks to win the Michigan primary invoking the memory of his father with glossy TV ads it is relevant to consider the bolder and more progressive man George Romney was. As a businessman his success rested on the pursuit of more fuel-efficient cars. He was a Republican governor who dared to give his state’s public workers collective bargaining rights for the first time ever. He was a man who saw the need to create a state income tax to provide benefits for Michigan’s least fortunate. And he fearlessly opposed the rise of right wing ideology within his own party.
Today, the irony is that Mitt Romney would encourage his rich friends to run negative ads against his own father if they were rivals.
But if he makes it to the general election, being more like his Dad would attract independents.
The contrast between father and son reveals less about Mitt Romney’s state of mind than it does about America’s. If Mitt has a tin ear for the concerns of the needy, if he goes along with the rightward turn of his party, he is simply mirroring the disturbing transformations of American business and politics in recent decades. In his public and private careers, the younger Romney has emulated the retreat of corporate elites and the Republican Party from the model of economic partnership and cross-party compromise that the elder Romney exemplified. At a moment when America needs both business innovation and effective oversight, vigorous growth as well as economic fairness, we would be better off with George, rather than Mitt, in the White House. — Jacob S. Hacker, Yale professor, and Paul Pierson, University of California at Berkeley professor (The Cap Times)
Or Is He?
In this pivotal interview George Romney’s confusing reservations and reversal about Viet Nam policy essentially ended his chances for the 1968 presidential campaign …
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65 Responses to Mitt: Not His Father’s Romney
Now on The Trail
Mitt sure is trying to pander to the tea party people here in Michigan. Sad what politicans do to get elected.
Corey, you were our eyes and ears, and a keen observer, in the 2008 Michigan primary. Hope you can keep us posted this time, pal. Choke it up and go to some events for us!
Corey
Yeah Corey what Craig said. Does Michigan have an open primary?
I thought it was just a campaign slogan when Manboobs -- said he was nudie without the baggage. True dat. Sanctimonious is not on his third marriage but he does have all the other outrageous craptastic nonsense that is completely irrelevant to the everyday lives of most Americans or hurts them.
His views on women, women’s health and the role of contraception are laughable. He is another gooper who makes up stuff to support his fake arguments
The media should be calling him out everyday for his lies
Abstinence as a policy does NOTHING to prevent teenagers from having sex. It merely makes it more likely to result in a pregnancy. Another failed Bush policy.
Some journalist needs to point out that Ricky is Nudie without the wives but including all the bad policy and we really have to wonder who Ricky earned some of that 3 million from — an energy start-up could it be — a failed energy start up another Sylindra with Ricky as it’s financial political guide
where are those tax returns Ricky boy?
And Mary Matalin arguing that Ricky boy’s views are his own and he wouldn’t enforece his religious views on others
kind of hard to make that case when he just stepped all over insurance requirements based on his religious beliefs
as usual both are liars
Craig,
As was the case with George W Bush, it doesn’t come as a shock that the more conservative son comes off as a small embittered politician in the shadow of their more competant and princpled fathers.
The elder Romney is just another example of what a
politician looks like when they want to hold office to help the country and not just grow their bank accounts.
I think the corpse of George Romney is a better candidate than his son at this point.
Housekeeping: Our server corp, Network Solutions, had a brief glitch tonight but their crack IT team seems to have fixed it as of now. As usual they earned their pay. Thanks guys!
“The media should be calling him out everyday for his lies
Abstinence as a policy does NOTHING to prevent teenagers from having sex. It merely makes it more likely to result in a pregnancy.”
KGC, The whole republican philosophy on contraception and birth control has religious overtones.
They think that you should go out and sow your wild oats and then pray to God for a crop failure.
I can just see those right wing men giving their daughters a bottle of aspirin and then loading their shotguns to prepare for the wedding.
Yes yes yes. George Romney was a great man and a very popular governor. I lived so close to the Michigan border I followed Michigan politics and happenings more than I did those of my native northern Indiana. I was too young to follow the nuances of collective bargaining issues but not too young to pay close attention to that war which I was eventually sent to. And George Romney was too smart to fall into the bullshit trap people like McNamara were promulgating. He sorted it out. He was an extremely popular governor. His son is an out-of-touch capitalist degenerate with zero tolerance for poor people or wage earners. It’s all in front of you, voters…REJECT MITT ROMNEY, that pompous son of a bitch.
Hi Renee, Rick too..
I try and listen to Morning Joe online in the morning while i read..This morning was particularly silly with Mika playing the role of good respectful liberal..I respect anyones right to their opinion, yep, even the HATER Santorum but i do not respect him! I’m really lovin the Republican sideshow though, couldn’t happen to a more deserving crowd..
Glad you two are vacationing..Wish it was somewhere near so i could treat you two to a nice dinner.
Pure entertainment: Article on mystery of Charlie Chaplin’s birth and McCarthy investigation with help of MI6 in UK
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9086510/MI5-files-Was-Chaplin-really-a-Frenchman-and-called-Thornstein.html
Santorum’s Money Man: ‘Back In My Days, They Used Bayer Aspirin For Contraception. The gals put it between their knees’
by Taylor Marsh
What Did Mitt Romney Do During Baptism Conversion Ceremonies of The Dead, Why Did he Do It & Who was Baptized?
by Taylor Marsh
Michigan’s Hostile Takeover
A new “emergency” law backed by right-wing think tanks is turning Michigan cities over to powerful managers who can sell off city hall, break union contracts, privatize services—and even fire elected officials.
—By Paul Abowd
Obama poised to win 2012 election with 303 electoral votes: The Signal Forecast
By David Rothschild & Chris Wilson
NJ Assembly Passes Gay Marriage Bill
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Yep, the Republican governor Christi will veto the bill and continue to discriminate, prick! No surprise..This Independent will never vote Republican, thanks Gov. Christi for reminding me what your party represents..
Pursed Lips Morgan can’t let go of the Whitney Houston story
and of course he pursues the most speculative of story lines.
Why doesn’t CNN go whole hog and have Pursed Lips and Nancy Graceless anchor the coverage of the funeral
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/16/dhs-monitoring-of-social-media_n_1282494.html?ref=politics
I bet we’re on their list.
Tonyb, Enough with the copy-and-paste routine please! Is this a blog for comments or just a wire feed??? And yes, we know how to find Taylor Marsh if we need to, without you flacking her every utterance.
Stinky and I bought a 1965 Rambler American from George Romney’s company. She was mighty proud of that car. I wouldn’t buy shit from his son.
Boba..speak for yourself. I kinda like the Cliffs Notes. And that’s what they make the page down for..if you don’t.
I agree, Carol. Tony keeps the quote and his related comment less than a screen long. It’s easy for me to read the short quote and his comment all in one shot.
http://craigcrawford.com/2012/02/16/mitt-not-his-fathers-romney/#comment-281637
Bobadoo,
Glad your here, welcome! Nope, sorry, i will continue to post Taylor Marsh and other’s..If you don’t like the posts just move past them..Please stick around though and give us your perspective..
“Tonyb, Enough with the copy-and-paste routine please! Is this a blog for comments or just a wire feed??? And yes, we know how to find Taylor Marsh if we need to, without you flacking her every utterance.”
Not to put too fine a point on it, but we are all here by choice, and we read only what we choose. Kind’a the way it works.
Jace,
Oh man, for sure! Its all about choice..Hope you and yours are having a nice evening…
Just to get back to sex where all the interest seems to be today … Would someone please explain to me why most human beings seem to think all of the males are supposed to be expert and adept while women are most valuable when ignorant and inexperienced …. how does that work again?
Jamie,
Excellent, yes why?? Could it be that males are in control of the media and set the agenda? Glad you posted and soooo true..
LOL, Maybe Mz Marsh, because it is none of your fricking business and it has squat to do with his ability to govern.
Does Obama engage in ritualized cannibalism when he goes to church, I know Ricky baby does but how about Obama?
But seriously, the quote above is just one of several really bad shit I’ve seen about Mormonism today as I scanned headlines. One that stuck in my mind “How you can keep the Mormon Church from baptising you after you are dead?” There is starting to be a lot of really silly bigoted stuff out there.
Jack
bobadoo, just plain rude to pop in here and tell someone off like that. contribute something of your own or keep your gripes to yourself
Jamie,
I’m not sure about your question. But you have it right.
Just never were enough ‘nice girls’ to go around.
One thing thing is becoming increasingly clear however,
when it comes to health care in general the republican mantra seems to be pay as you go. When it comes to contraception they believe in pray as you come.
I’m with Jamie, let’s talk about sex.
I’m too sexy
Jamie..I keep waiting for Phyllis Schlafly to raise her ugly head up again. Is she still kicking?
Or as Tina asks, “What’s love got to do with it?”
Jack,
“has squat to do with his ability to govern”.I agree with you!” I was baptized in the Mormon religion and i get the thinking of Mormons as a cult BS..Mormons are no more a cult than any other religion..Each religion has their own tenets and practices.. Romneys religious practices mean squat to me but maybe to others its of value..
WSJ: Santorum ahead for February 28 Michigan Primary.
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2012/02/16/political-wisdom-romneys-challenge-in-michigan/
and here’s another George Romney video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZHYbyA9Ovo
I hope the debate moderators ask Sanctimonious some questions about sex and Nudie too. And I want detail. Plus written and notarized statements from their various partners
For all we know Sanctimonious just had the seven kids to justify all the sex. I want to hear from his wife that neither of them enjoyed it at any time.
Mittens mother was also a better person. What about Mitt’s siblings are they jerks as well or is he the only one and if so what happened?
http://craigcrawford.com/2012/02/16/mitt-not-his-fathers-romney/#comment-281636
ct…
I said that a long time ago.
Have a great day.
Tony…keep posting your links. I’ve said before that this is one of the best features of this site.
corey -- Glad you live in a state where “the trees are the right heighth.” (How tall is that, exactly?) I’m surprised he didn’t say he liked the state because, except for the UP, it was shaped like a Mitten.
Best analysis of Mitt’s style so far was on Tweety’s show last night. Someone compared him to a Conehead from SNL, trying to convince others they were human.
A good weekend to all.
I couldn’t get back on here last night, but here is a good editorial from the Detroit Free Press:
http://www.freep.com/article/20120217/COL10/202170419/Rochelle-Riley-Rochelle-Riley-GOP-has-already-lost-Michigan-s-vote?odyssey=mod|mostview
I also heard that Mitt Romey’s wife is going to be speaking at a $40 a plate luncheon in Hudsonville tomorrow. That’s about 20 minutes from here. It seems that Santorum and Romney are pandering their base and bashing Obama and unions here in Michigan.
A little bit of Awwwwwww to start your morning right
Bear Tagging in the Algonquin
Soledad OBrien would not let Sanctimonious press secretary give a speech however she missed an opportunity to ask the woman about Manboob’s contradictory stances.
The press secretary claimed Sanctimonious did not allow his religious views to inform public policy — what a lot of hooey
Ms OBrien was too busy asking about the 9 point gap between Mittens and Ricky with Republican women
I have heard that 1850′s throwback say a million times he does not leave his faith at the door of the legislature
Tony…
you are soooooo gracious… I wanted to rip boobado a new one. But in honor of both you and Craig, I won’t. And next time, Rick and I will take you to dinner.
hey Corey… good to see you here.
Thanks Renee! Good to see you and everyone else, too!I see there was a tehnical glitch here last night. No wonder I couldn’t get on here! Michigan is the center of attention here, but it’s just for Conservatives and Republicans. Which is probably 90% of the people where I live!
Just heard a fairly new group for the first time: Alabama Shakes
I’m surprised Santorum hasn’t embraced public funding for female genital mutilation; certainly don’t want women enjoying intercourse for enjoyment’s sake.
I wonder how many hours of groping and searching went on in the back seats of cars looking for that fu--ing aspirin?
Santorum has no sense of humor at all. Damned shame.
Somewhat belatedly I have realized that Mitt/Mutt/Mittens-in-any-case-not-George Romney doesn’t even look like a real person--
he looks like an oldtime square-jawed comic strip character--Dick Tracy or Steve Canyon or some such--
Never did know of either of them flip-flopping on principles though--
Meanwhile a friend posted this link--and I could only think what a whining self-pitying bigot it is--
http://www.theamericanconservative.com/blog/2012/02/16/blacklisted-but-not-beaten/
If the intertubez are to be believed, Buchanan has been photographed lately with loud & proud white supremacists--
guess he finally has decided to don the robe & hood he’s long worn in the eyes of a whole lot of people--
As for his rhetoric: as a southerner I’ve heard similar BS, even in my immediate family, for the whole of my half-century of life. The only difference in Buchanan and those I’ve heard is that he uses storeboughten fifty-cent words to express himself.
Ah, Dick Tracey using his wrist radio to do good. Romney probably doesn’t even carry his own phone.
If challenged to use the capabilities of a smart phone he would probably be left speechless as was Bush-the-Elder when he was faced with a supermarket scanner.
Can’t imagine that he carries his own billfold, either. Romney the Imperious.
Have to say that as I sign online petitions protesting that travesty of a panel on birth control and harangue my pandering GOoPers in Congress about same, I miss Patsi like hell--
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Alta Devices, Maker of Highest Efficiency Solar Panel, Working With Military
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Rombo’s got nothing on Santorum
Mitt can’t attack his rival for his hard-right stands on birth control and the culture wars because he’s joined him VIDEO
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BY GLENN GREENWALD
Just a reminder the Academy Awards are a week from Sunday. If you want in, the ballot is below. Just delete the ones you don’t want and email the choices to me at webthings at comcast dot net
OSCAR BALLOT
Best picture?
“The Artist”
“The Descendants”
“Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”
“The Help”
“Hugo”
“Midnight in Paris”
“Moneyball”
“The Tree of Life”
“War Horse”
Best actor?
Demián Bichir in “A Better Life”
George Clooney in “The Descendants”
Jean Dujardin in “The Artist”
Gary Oldman in “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”
Brad Pitt in “Moneyball”
Best actress?
Glenn Close in “Albert Nobbs”
Viola Davis in “The Help”
Rooney Mara in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
Meryl Streep in “The Iron Lady”
Michelle Williams in “My Week with Marilyn”
Best supporting actor?
Kenneth Branagh in “My Week with Marilyn”
Jonah Hill in “Moneyball”
Nick Nolte in “Warrior”
Christopher Plummer in “Beginners”
Max von Sydow in “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”
Best supporting actress?
Bérénice Bejo in “The Artist”
Jessica Chastain in “The Help”
Melissa McCarthy in “Bridesmaids”
Janet McTeer in “Albert Nobbs”
Octavia Spencer in “The Help”
Best director?
Woody Allen, “Midnight in Paris”
Michel Hazanavicius, “The Artist”
Terrence Malick, “The Tree of Life”
Alexander Payne, “The Descendants”
Martin Scorsese, “Hugo”
Tie Breaker: How many oscars will the Best Picture winner receive?
NEW THREAD
Furious Rick Santorum Fights Charlie Rose Over ‘Gotcha’ Question On Aspirin Joke: ‘This Is What You Guys Do!’
VIDEO
by Jon Bershad