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Ward Smythe

Ward Smythe is a pseudonymous aspiring freelance writer from Central Virginia. Until late 2007 Ward blogged at the now defunct "Ward View" and was active in Virginia and national politics. Ward's signature style of snarkery gained him a unique following that he hopes to regain here at Bearing Drift. Ward uses humor, satire and sometimes photoshop to make his point. Ward is proud to be an equal opportunity offender.

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14 Responses to "The Re-Reinvention of Mitt Romney"

1. 

   Tweets that mention The Re-Reinvention of Mitt Romney | Bearing Drift: Virginia Politics On Demand -- Topsy.com February 12, 2011 01:10 am

   [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Bearing Drift, Chris Frashure. Chris Frashure said: RT @bearingdrift: Web: The Re-Reinvention of Mitt Romney http://bit.ly/ezeOQD [...]

2. 

   LittleDavid February 12, 2011 08:53 am

   In the spirit of “please nominate”:

   Republicans please nominate Mitt Romney for President. He’s the guy who asks voters what his opinion should be so he can get elected.

   I am not totally against a politician changing his/her opinion as times change. We all get older and wiser and as we age we start exercising some of that wisdom. But when it comes to Mitt I do not see any evidence of wisdom only a field of quicksand.

3. 

   Brian Kirwin February 12, 2011 10:23 am

   If Mitt didn’t have millions, no one would even know who he is.

   He’s a walking non-event.

4. 

   Valentinus February 12, 2011 18:21 pm

   Let me begin by saying I’m no advocate of Mitt Romney. However, the issue raised here relates mainly to political effectiveness or electability. I would not underestimate the “appeal” of this kind of trimming and tacking. Except in rare circumstances the US has not been favorable to ideologically consistent politicians. Even Reagan sought some consensus on policies. Even Obama was smart enough to hide his rigid ideology in a bland soothing campaign rhetoric of “Both Sides Now”. Once elected, he then of course too obviously revealed the cynical mask and at a minimum talked like a haranguing ideologue. I think the problem for Romney is more his personality which is not ingratiating or chummy. This makes his bobbing and weaving a bit more unpleasing than it might otherwise be to the voters.

5. 

   Craig Kilby February 12, 2011 23:12 pm

   Reminds of that song on the radio with the words, “He is everything you want. He is everything you need. He is everthing inside of you that you wish you could be. He says all the right things, at exactly the right time, but he means nothing to you and you don’t know why.”

6. 

   J. Christopher Stearns February 13, 2011 00:12 am

   @Kirwin

   Romney’s hair is quite the walking event…

7. 

   Britt Howard February 13, 2011 01:43 am

   I wonder what Mitt Romney’s hair thinks about extending the “Patriot” act.

8. 

   LittleDavid February 13, 2011 03:19 am

   Mitt Romney is from Massachusetts, right? What was the name of that other guy who ran for President from Massachusetts? John Kerry, correct? Must be something in the water up there. Maybe the water isn’t to blame, it is the Kool-Aid they’re willing to add, whatever flavor necessary to get elected. If Cherry is everyone’s favorite, then that is their favorite too!

   Why is it scandalous for a Democrat to flip on an issue but as long as it is a Republican doing the about-face it is somehow OK? “As long as when he’s flipping he ends up flopping on my side of the fence, it is OK.”

   Republicans please nominate Mitt Romney. If for no other reason for the great pleasure it will give me to point out just how big a bunch of hypocrites you are.

9. 

   Britt Howard February 13, 2011 09:38 am

   Well, LD, just pay attention to those of us that do criticize Romney. This reminds me of how allegedly NOBODY criticized Bush’s hyper spending. Yes, plenty were hypocrites and kept blind,deaf, and mute. That’s how the “establishment” likes their sheep.

   However, LD, plenty of us did say something then. I am saying something now. I have a feeling RomneyCare will be thrown at him during the nomination process.

   I sure as heck am tired of hearing how Republicans can’t be against Obamacare just because 1 Massachusetts Republican had a bad idea too.

10. 

    James Hawkins February 13, 2011 10:01 am

    A British view of the candidates from this link.

    http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tobyharnden/100075858/american-way-republicans-should-stop-fretting-about-2012/

    Mitt Romney? A flip flopper whose pandering failed in 2008 and is too corporate a figure to win in the Tea Party age. Newt Gingrich? Thrice married and carrying Clinton-era baggage, not to mention his 2008 ad with Nancy Pelosi in which they vowed to tackle climate change together.

    Mitch Daniels? Short, nerdy and his call for a “truce” on social issues is viewed by many as capitulation. Tim Pawlenty? The most exciting thing he ever did was joke that his wife wouldn’t have sex with him. Haley Barbour? A well-upholstered Southern lobbyist. John Thune? Seems to be having second thoughts already.

    Rick Santorum was dumped by the voters of his home state of Pennsylvania. Ron Paul can attract a cult following but no primary voters. Uberhawk John Bolton is a Bush era lightning rod and has no domestic policy credentials.

    Michele Bachmann is a poor man’s Sarah Palin at a time when the former Alaska governor’s stock is diminishing. Mike Huckabee, who like Palin stayed away from CPAC, is distrusted by fiscal conservatives and in any case appears most interested in a Fox News career.

11. 

    Jim Hewitt February 13, 2011 12:02 pm

    As I have stated before and will state once more – Mitt Romney is the best candidate for the 2012 Elections. We need someone who has experience in turning around businesses, someone with a proven track record of success. Romney fits that bill better than anyone else. We need someone who know how to reduce government and focus on our highest priority – jobs. Poll after poll indicates that the American people (across the political spectrum) want to see our economy improved.
    I understand the challenges that face him and any other GOP Candidate. There are many different “purity” tests that will be thrown at each potential contender. The one that should be most important in my opinion is simply this: Which candidate meets the most possible criteria AND which candidate has the best network and funds available? For me that person is Governor Mitt Romney…period. He has my full support and I cannot wait for him to announce.

12. 

    Valentinus February 13, 2011 14:58 pm

    LD,

    As in my first post I am not a Mitt Romney enthusiast. However there is NO hypocrisy in doing something at the state level that you would be against at the federal level. I am totally against Obamacare as a Federal program; however if a state wants to implement something like that and are willing to self fund it I would not condemn it. I might move out of the state but that’s what federalism (a swear word to leftists so I apologize) is all about.

13. 

    LittleDavid February 14, 2011 07:23 am

    Valentinus,

    OK, how about Mitt Romney being pro-choice before he decided to run for President and suddenly shifting his opinion?

    In his own words:

    “I never said I was pro-choice, but my position was effectively pro-choice. I’ve said that time and time again. I’ve changed my position.”

    For the record: I personally am pro-restricted choice myself. I do not want to confuse anyone.

14. 

    Steve Vaughan February 14, 2011 09:42 am

    Romney’s flip-flopping is so extensive and so blatant that it probably bars him from nomination. I mean you don’t have to be a political genius to design a campaign against this guy, just publicize his past statements and let him argue with himself.