Peggy Noonan: Mitt Romney was the more Conservative CandidateJanuary 2nd, 2009 | 6 Comments | Posted in John McCain, Mitt Market, Primaries & Caucuses, Rudy Giuliani
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I came across this article by Peggy Noonan this morning and although it is dated Jan.2, 2009, it seems to be an article that was written some time ago, around the period following the 2008 primaries.
The article deals with some of the leading figures in the election, but I wanted to excerpt the part that deals with Gov. Romney. I know this can be categorized as “water under the bridge” but it is still encouraging to hear another opinion from the political right, other that the Mike Huckabee looneys who are forever decrying doctrinal deviations.
~~John Cronin~~
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ONLINE
The Republican contest may well end on Tuesday, but I sense little relief and much unease. In terms of avowed programs, policies and approaches, Mitt Romney was the more conservative candidate, and his even-keeled air won many friends. He offered executive experience and business acumen. As for how he came across, here is Mike Deaver on Ronald Reagan: “This is a face that when the baby sees it, the baby smiles.”
His supporters tell me he will fight to the end. The conservative establishment still has hopes. But the great unruly base may be doing some redefining.
If you go by the Florida returns, maybe this year positions aren’t everything. Republicans on the ground think the conservative is the one who suffered 5½ years in the Hanoi Hilton. Republicans on the ground think the conservative is the one who has endured a lifetime in the rounds in Washington and survived as antispending, antiabortion and pro-military. Republicans on the ground think the conservative is the old fighter jock who’ll keep the country safe in a rocky time ahead. And maybe Republicans on the ground are saying: He earned it.
The conventional wisdom is Mr. Romney can’t win it while Mike Huckabee’s in it. If Mr. Huckabee dropped out, Mr. Romney might pick up his conservatives. But Mr. Huckabee seems very happy running, and perhaps happy thinking of his future as the Mitt slayer in the party of John.
Mr. McCain seems to me to have two immediate problems, both of which he might address. One is that he doesn’t seem to much like conservatives, and never has. They can’t help admire him, but they’ve disagreed with him on so many issues, and when they bring this up his demeanor tends to morph into the second problem: He radiates, he telegraphs, a certain indignation at being questioned by people who’ve never had to vote in Congress and make a deal. He’s like Moe Greene in “The Godfather,” when Michael Corleone tells him he’s going to buy him out. “Do you know who I am? I’m Moe Greene. I made my bones when you were going out with cheerleaders.” I’ve been on the firing line, punk. I am the voice of surviving conservatism.
This doesn’t always go over so well. Mr. Giuliani seems to know Mr. McCain is Moe Greene. Mr. Huckabee probably thought “The Godfather” was kinda violent. Mr. Romney may be thinking to himself, But Michael Corleone won in the end, and had better suits.
