Building The Reagan Coalition, Phase II
I don’t ever recall seeing the comments section of this blog so active. Thanks to all for your interest in ALL THINGS ROMNEY and for your energy.
I wanted to touch on some of the points and comments that I see as being, in my mind, most prominent in the discussions.
One of the points that I see actively talked about is the new “write-in” strategy. I am not willing to concede anything to McCain or to Huckabee, but if it becomes necessary to adopt this strategy, several good things will happen.
1. None of us will get into the regrettable habit of voting for Democrats. You are familiar with the old saying: “Friends don’t let friends vote for Democrats.”
2. We will punish the Republican hierarchy for pushing a fairly liberal Democrat, er, I mean Republican as the party’s nominee. I don’t want to punish the party’s rank and file, just RINO”S like Crist, Schwarzzenneger and Mel Martinez. Psychologists tell us that rewarding bad behavior encourages more bad behavior. How embarrassing would it be for the RINO leadership to have pushed McCain’s candidacy so brazenly, only to have real Republicans write-in Romney’s name en masse?
3. Unlike voting for, you’ll pardon the expression, a Democrat, (any Democrat) a write-in will show up distinctly in the voting tallies, rather than being buried, to a certain extent, in the general election vote totals. I know, exit polling would measure it pretty well, but a write-in strategy would paint a clearer picture.
4. It will send a message to the party establishment that they can’t win without us, no matter how they may hold us in distain.
5. It will settle the religious bias controversy for everyone except the “invincibly ignorant” that if they insist on using this as a strategy, we will use our 35% voting bloc to over ride their 25% voting bloc.
6. It is light years more effective than “sitting the election out.” I am firmly convinced that the Democrats would like nothing better than for us pesky Reagan coalition voters to stay home and forfeit the game. Politically speaking, the general election is the SUPER BOWL. Nobody forfeits that contest. It’s what you work for all season long.
We have also talked a lot about the need to rebuild the Republican party. The current leadership needs to go. I love that old saying: “Politicians are a lot like a baby’s diaper. They need to be changed often and for the same reason.” One of our commenters talked about getting involved in a local election, I believe in a judge’s election. That’s what I’m talking about! She will get to be known within her local party’s membership and over time, access equals influence. Rather than hope the Old Guard will support Mitt in 2012 if it comes to that, why don’t we replace some of them now with Romney supporters? That way we will control the party apparatus.
Reagan built his coalition by working the grassroots for four years. Using the platform of his radio broadcast, traveling all over the country giving speeches that reinforced conservative principles, meeting and convincing voters from all walks of life that conservatism is in the best interests of the country. That is something Mitt Romney has not had a chance to do. You can build up a boatload of political IOU’s that way.
We may yet end up in a brokered convention, but that’s not for sure. Something completely unforeseen could cause us to sweep the remaining states. Never underestimate a hot head like McCain. Who knows what he might say if he explodes. The stories coming out of the U.S. Senate about his profanity-laced tirades suggest that he could change the dynamics of this race at any moment.
And finally, keep in mind that we now have identified the strongest conservative in American politics, Gov. Mitt Romney. His name recognition is now off the charts, his grassroots organization is now battle hardened and experienced. His national campaign staff is the envy of the rest of the campaigns. His fund raising strategy can now develop over a four year period and he will have the necessary time to develop a national network of political support. If, and I do mean if, it turns out that 2008 is not our time, we are in great position to take over the party, barn storm the country and finalize the work of “BUILDING THE REAGAN COALTION, PHASE II.”
~~John Cronin~~
February 7th, 2008 at 12:57 am
Write In Vote is a great idea… we need to start spreading the word all the way to November… make our voices heard!
People will assume there’s only two viable candidates, one R and one D and perhaps the names of Independents such as Bloomsberg and Nader. Tell them they have the power to write in Mitt Romney if the name is not on the ballot. Ideally, great idea… Practically, we need to spread the word that people have the power to vote who they want.
GO Mitt! We are with you all the way!
A Loyal Romney Foot Soldier
http://www.ultimitt.org
February 7th, 2008 at 1:00 am
you ppl have got to see the video on the previous post “funk”. I have sent it to threeof my friends and family. Another Romney foot solider.
February 7th, 2008 at 1:35 am
Well said John.
February 7th, 2008 at 1:39 am
I will write in Romneys name.
February 7th, 2008 at 2:10 am
Ditto. I’m on board.
February 7th, 2008 at 2:11 am
…and when my friends ask me who I would vote for as a backup, I’ve been telling them the same thing. They seem shocked at first, but when I lay it out, the see the point.
February 7th, 2008 at 2:43 am
I would be proud to write in Mitt Romney as my choice if he is not the nominee.
February 7th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Can you please explain what article the NY Times is holding? Did McCain get to them and tell them to sit on this news? Are Rush, Hannity, Beck and the other conservative voices aware of this? How do we get this out to everyone so that they will run the article? I guess this would be another reason for Romney to stay in. If this brings McCain down, Romney would be there to save the party.
February 7th, 2008 at 10:54 am
To all: Thanks for your comments. I am encouraged to see that the “write-in” strategy is being well received. Please contact everyone on your individual email lists and spread the word. Since the technique is so seldom used, I am assuming the vast majority of voters don’t realize it is an option.
February 7th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
First: I still anticipate pulling the lever for ROMNEY!
Second: If not, I will write in his name and provide pens to anybody else going in who wants to do the same.
Third: If the voting attendants tell me I can’t write in a name, I’ll make a fuss and call the local media and tell them I’m being denied my right to vote my conscience.
My vote will count, one way or another. And it will be for Romney!
February 7th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
DEAR GOVERNOR ROMNEY,
I AM WRITING TO EXPRESS MY SADNESS WHEN MY HUSBAND CALLED ME FROM SAN FRANCISCO ABOUT YOUR DECISION, AND I WANT TO USE THIS BOARD TO SPEAK TO OUR FELLOW REPUBLICANS THE FOLLOWING:
1) I WISH GOVERNOR ROMNEY TO KEEP THE “ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT DONATION FUNDS” OPEN, SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DONATE OUR MONEY WITHIN THE LIMITATION OF CAMPAIGN LAW REQUIRED (WAS $1,000/PERSON/YEAR?) FOR 2012 ELECTION.
2) I WILL NOT VOTE FOR MCCAIN AND WHOEVER WOULD BE HIS VP, BUT WILL VOTE FOR OBAMA, TO CHALLENGE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ON THESE REASONS:
A) THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS GETTING SMALLER AND SMALLER, BECAUSE THEY CAN’T STAND ON IT’S PRINCIPLES ON SMALL GOVERNMENT, LOWER TAX, AND ZERO TOLERANCE OF CORRUPTION. AMONG THESE 2008 REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES, HALF OF THEM ARE EITHER HAVE A CONNECTIONS WITH THE CORRUPTIONS SUCH AS GIULIANI AND HUCHABEE, OR DIRECT INVOLVED IN THE CORRUPTION IN PAST. I FEEL THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS GOING TO A WRONG DIRECTION, AND DON’T WANT TO BE A PART OF IT.
B). THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS VERY LOW TOLERANCE TO RACE, GENDER AND RELIGION, AND IS EXTREMELY EXCLUSIVE, WHICH HAS BEEN AND WILL BE THE MAJOR FACTOR THAT WOULD HURT THE PARTY BADLY. I RECALL THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS ELECTION, MCCAIN AND HUCHABEE SPENT A GOOD CHUCK OF TIME, RESOURCES AND THEIR ENERGY TO ATTACK GOVERNOR ROMNEY’S RELIGION, AND TRIED TO DISQUALIFY HIS ELECABILITY ONLY BASE ON HIS PERSONAL FAITH. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DOESN’T HAVE THEIR CORE VALUE ANY MORE, BUT FILL UP WITH THOSE RACISTS LIKE NEWT GINGRICH, RELIGION BIGOT LIKE HUCHABEE, AND CORRUPTIONS LIKE MCCAIN AND HIS BUDDIES.
3) JOHN MCCAIN WILL CHANGE HIS POSITION ON THE IRAQ WAR IN THE GENERAL ELECTION AND BECOME A FLIP-FLOP AGAIN. THERE ARE MORE THAN 70% OF THE GENERAL POPULATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY WHO WANT THE WAR IN IRAQ TO BE ENDED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IN ORDER TO BE APPEALING TO THOSE PEOPLE IN GENERAL ELECTION, JOHN MCCAIN HAS TO CHANGE HIS POSITION AND MAKE PROMISE THAT HE WILL END THE WAR IN IRAQ, OTHERWISE, HE WOULD BE ABLE TO DEFEAT THE DEMOCRATS IN GENERAL ELECTION, AND GOVERNOR ROMNEY WILL NOT HAVE TO PLACE HIMSELF IN SUCH POSITION AS HE WILL NOT CONTINUE HIS CAMPAIGN.
4) I WILL NEVER MAKE ANY DONATION TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY UNTIL 2012 IF ROMNEY COMES OUT FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, BECAUSE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS BEEN CORRUPTED, EXCLUSIVE AND FILL UP WITH POLITICAL JUNKERS, CORRUPTIONS AND RELIGION BIGOTS.
5) I WILL ELIMINATE ALL THE CABLE NEWS CHANNELS FROM MY TV CHANNEL PACKAGE JUST FOR SAVING AN EXTRA $20.00 TO PAY FOR MY GAS AND OR UTILITY BILLS
6) I WILL FOLLOW ALL MY DEMOCRAT FRIENDS TO VOTE FOR OBAMA, AND MAKE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FEEL ASHAMED FOR THEIR RELIGION BIGOT AND CORRUPTIONS. I WANT TO SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN WASHINGTON BY VOTING FOR OBAMA AS THE PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES, AND TO MAKE MY POINT: DEMOCRAT PARTY CAN TOLERANT A BLACK MAN TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES, BUT REPUBLICAN PARTY CAN’T TOLERANT A GREAT MAN LIKE ROMNEY TO HAVE A DIFFERENT FAITH OR RELIGION. IT HAS BEEN ASHAMED FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND IT IS ASHAMED FOR FOX NEWS AS WELL.
VOTE FOR OBAMA, AND TEACH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THE LESSON ON WHY THEY WILL LOSS FOR THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
February 7th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
I get so confused by people who revere the memory of Reagan’s presidency. He killed our economy.
There’s a good reason for why the Republican Party is shrinking. You wonder why universities and higher-educated people are liberal…
February 8th, 2008 at 1:54 am
Mel, Mel, Mel.
Facts are stubborn things, aren’t they? Our economy is currently approaching $15 trillion. How big was it before “Reagan killed it”?
Try reading a book or maybe subscribe to the Wall Street Journal.