Prepping for a potential presidential run in 2012, Romney got a Letterman plug for his book, "No Apology," and then stood, sans-tie, to announce a casual, comically self-deprecating lineup of "Things You Don't Know About Mitt Romney." 10. Mitt is short for Mitt-thew. 9. I can't begin my day until I've read the Washington Post and Kim Kardashian's Tweets. 8. I'm the guy in the photo that comes with your picture frame. 7. I spent 6 months in a Mexican prison for selling black market Pillow Pets. 6. Do I smell as good as I look? No! 5. In high school, I was voted "Mittiest." 4. I got into politics for the piles and piles of paperwork. 3. Look for my best selling biography "They Call Me Baba Romney." 2. I have absolutely no idea where my birth certificate is. 1. Oprah is my half-sister. <img src=http://i.huffpost.com/gen/243663/thumbs/s-MITT-ROMNEY-LETTERMAN-LATE-SHOW-large.jpg>
I like romney, but this is so calculated. The last thing he needs is to come across as synthetic, like John Kerry saying "Who amongst us doesn't love NASCAR?" I also see a strong flavor of the typical republican campaign strategist thinking, eg we need to show people we're not as mean and hateful as they think. I really think if you are rich child of privilege who has been wildly successful in your own right, you should run with it. The American people don't seem to mind, in fact they love it. Look at the Kennedys. Ever see one of them poke fun at himself? Never.
Thinking men do calculate, a sign of intelligence. Let me ask you a serious question AAA. If Romney today had a spiritual experience in which Jesus appeared to him, and told him to renounce Mormonism and become Southern Bapitst...and Romney sincerely (not calculated) did become "born again" Christian...wouldn't that almost surely give him the nomination? Of the leading republican candidates, you have to admit that Romney has the most going for him...except that the right wing born again types won't vote for him because he does not pass their religious test. I think it is pathetic actually that his religion is the biggest obstacle for him. Had he been born again in 2008, he would have easily defeated the old angry and pathetic McCain. Come on, seriously, tell me I am wrong on this...
Let's leave aside the issue of his becoming a Baptist. I'll certainly agree that he was the best qualified candidate in 2008, and he probably will be again in 2012. I think three things hurt him in '08. One, he didn't connect with voters. Obviously, he is trying to correct this with things like the Letterman stunt. Two, he went on the attack against McCain from the beginning, which proved a big miscalculation. McCain is thin-skinned and went after Romeny hard, plus people respected mcCain and didn't like the idea of this newcomer taking shots at him. Third, the religion issue, which Huckabee exploited late in the primary season to divide the "anyone but McCain" vote. On balance, his religion probably did cost him the nomination, but his own poor tactics were a big factor as well. It seems unfair, but politics involves actually convincing people to vote for you, not convincing them you are the best qualified, and he wasn't very good at the former.
Or maybe just maybe Romney likes to laugh. I remember when Dole was on Letterman after he lost the election. He came across as a hell of a good guy, exactly opposite of his campaign image where he came across as a mean asshole. This may be a good sign that there are actually some Republicans out there with a sense of humor, god forbid.
How would you know? You give every indication here of being a putz. Where do you get such a high opinion of yourself? Mitt the Morman? Is that religious intolerance you are exhibiting? I thought the left eschewed that kind of thing. Or is it really the opposite? Arrogance steeped in ignorance.
that was back when religion was a big deal. now its about fiscal conservative values. lets see what happens.
You think suddenly the religious test has vanished because of the fiscal situation? I think you are wrong. In tough times, the religious test often becomes even more important for the extremist thinkers on the right. You think that the hatred of Obama and thinking he is a Muslim right wingers are going to overlook the Romney is a Mormon issue? Not bloody likely...they want one of "their own."