RNC Members Skeptical of Romney, Preferring a More Charismatic, Youthful, Exciting Newcomer: Jeb Bush

You may take some comfort in the RNC's hostility to a presidential bid by Mitt Romney until you realize they're trying to edge Romney out to give Socialist Hero of the Donor Class Jeb Bush an unobstructed view of the nomination.

Kill me now. I swear to God, I'm moving to Costa Rica.

No, not "moving." Defecting.

Here are a couple of quotes from RNC members, quoted at Politico. Or, as they call it: POLITICO.

"Mitt Romney. He didn't run his campaign right against Obama. He flubbed it. Another Romney candidacy would be a complete disaster, and I don't think he’ll even get there," said Bill Eastland, a Republican party member from Texas…

One Republican strategist, who is hedging bets against candidates this early in the race and so wanted to speak on the condition of anonymity, said: "We hear he is getting his old team back. We are all really concerned because his old team didn’t do such a great job last time. Everyone I talk to says he had his chance, and his chance has gone. They are desperate for someone new. And what would he do different this time?"

I have a lot of affection for Romney -- I would up really liking him last go-'round-- but this last question is key. I didn't feel sold out by Romney on policy; I knew he was a squish chameleon who would say pretty much anything to please whatever ten voters he was standing in front of at any moment. I knew that; that was a loss leader going in.

Where I felt burned, however, was where Romney fell down in the area I expected him to perform very well: Tactics, execution, logistics, metrics. I vouched for this guy, saying over and over again, "He's the only candidate who's done his homework." But then, when the big project was due, his team turned in thrown-together piece of shit.

The other place I felt let down was his failure to deploy his nasty bladed elbows against Obama. Romney may be a nice guy in real life, but he's a pretty nasty competitor in a political contest, and he repeatedly used low tactics against his Republican competitors.

Eh, such is life. But, come the general election, I'm now thinking that killer instinct is a feature not a bug. But then he, of course, goes easy on Obama just like the last RINO we nominated, John "My Good Friend Barack Obama Only Wants What's Best for America" McCain.

I'm not completely hostile to Romney; unlike the donor class, I'd prefer him over Jeb "Act of Love" Bush.

But the big question here is, "What would be different?" And getting the band back together is not a good answer to that question.

The band sucks, Romney. It's time to fire the band and recruit another one.

posted by Ace at 03:09 PM

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