It should come as no surprise that the Detroit Free Press has endorsed Mitt Romney for the upcoming GOP Presidential Primary coming up this Tuesday. The left does not want a clear choice for the White House; it wants someone not that unlike the current occupant. Or, as this is actually rather sinister and underhanded, they want the person most likely to lose to President Obama, and are conniving to get Republicans to pick a weak candidate.
The paper berates the changes in Romney's attitudes during the primary season, but offers the excuse that he probably had to appear to have a sharp rightward turn in order to win the nomination. Shouldn't this be a reason not to support him, though? How can anyone trust a candidate who veers in any direction simply to garner votes? The idea that such rhetorical lip service is all that someone needs to qualify for President certainly ought to ring hollow in the face of the serious journalism the Free Press ordinarily claims to practice. Further, as that newspaper will almost surely endorse Barack Obama, why should it deign to help Republicans select their nominee?
The editorial writers save the sharpest stick for the others: Santorum is 'zealous' (Obama isn't?), Gingrich 'impulsive' and Ron Paul 'backward thinking'. Yet it easy to see why Romney is their guy: he was Barack Obama lite in Massachusetts and they expect he'll be that way again if President.
It is important that conservatives are not swayed by such talk. The Detroit Free Press cares nothing about who would make a truly good Republican president. Indeed, the writers there care nothing about what makes a truly good conservative. They care about what will keep the folks they like in power. As such, they want the electorate to vote for the GOP candidate most like them. It's a fail safe, really. It is in no way objective. It is in fact the worst kind of selfishness: fatal conceit disguised as virtue. Do not fall for it.
Showing posts with label Michigan GOP Primary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michigan GOP Primary. Show all posts
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Kingmakers?
Rick Santorum has cruised to victory in three states: Colorado, Minnesota, and Missouri. Sure, no delegates were awarded. But when one of your main rivals can win with majorities, not pluralities, in two of the states in question (and a solid plurality in the third) then Mitt Romney has to take notice.
It certainly shows that confidence in Romney is shallow, especially among conservative voters. Where he has won he's been expected to win: New Hampshire, Nevada, and Florida, and likely Maine this week. Yet that Caucus might become interesting if Ron Paul can make a strong showing there, as he plans to in any state with delegates granted proportional to the vote. If Paul can undercut Romney support there, it would be another chink in the Romney armor.
But what does this all mean for Michigan and Michigan Republican voters? After Maine's results are announced on February 11th, there are no more primaries or caucuses until the 28th, in Arizona, and right here in the Great Lakes State. With Romney hurting, might that put Michigan in a position to make a real difference in the GOP Presidential race?
How often have we been in such an ideal spot to perhaps crown a winner? Is it possible that Michigan could prove pivotal for the eventual nominee? Seeing as Super Tuesday, so called because of all the delegates awarded on that day of many primaries, etc., is the following Tuesday, March 6th, and seeing as momentum is tomorrow's starting pitcher, our fair state may play a more important role in an election than it ever has before. A weak Romney showing in Maine, or especially a Ron Paul upset of some sort, combined with, say, Santorum wins here and in Arizona, would leave Romney in the fight of his political life.
When we examine the states holding elections on Super Tuesday, we see that eight of the 10 are significantly conservative, although as it stands right now only Romney and Paul will appear on the Virginia ballot (for legal reasons local to Virginia). From our vantage point this far away, it would seem that only Vermont and his home state of Massachusetts are locks for Mitt. As such, wins by Santorum or Gingrich or Paul on February 28th might play huge in the long run. A brokered convention, the first since 1976, isn't all that outlandish of a thought.
Will that happen? We have to think no, unfortunately. But not solely because Romney is still the preemptive favorite. A win in Michigan could change the course of the race so much that a non-brokered convention might be someone's else's day in the sun. And we could have created their dawn, while being the gloaming of someone's else's hopes. It is a very nice stool on which we perch.
It certainly shows that confidence in Romney is shallow, especially among conservative voters. Where he has won he's been expected to win: New Hampshire, Nevada, and Florida, and likely Maine this week. Yet that Caucus might become interesting if Ron Paul can make a strong showing there, as he plans to in any state with delegates granted proportional to the vote. If Paul can undercut Romney support there, it would be another chink in the Romney armor.
But what does this all mean for Michigan and Michigan Republican voters? After Maine's results are announced on February 11th, there are no more primaries or caucuses until the 28th, in Arizona, and right here in the Great Lakes State. With Romney hurting, might that put Michigan in a position to make a real difference in the GOP Presidential race?
How often have we been in such an ideal spot to perhaps crown a winner? Is it possible that Michigan could prove pivotal for the eventual nominee? Seeing as Super Tuesday, so called because of all the delegates awarded on that day of many primaries, etc., is the following Tuesday, March 6th, and seeing as momentum is tomorrow's starting pitcher, our fair state may play a more important role in an election than it ever has before. A weak Romney showing in Maine, or especially a Ron Paul upset of some sort, combined with, say, Santorum wins here and in Arizona, would leave Romney in the fight of his political life.
When we examine the states holding elections on Super Tuesday, we see that eight of the 10 are significantly conservative, although as it stands right now only Romney and Paul will appear on the Virginia ballot (for legal reasons local to Virginia). From our vantage point this far away, it would seem that only Vermont and his home state of Massachusetts are locks for Mitt. As such, wins by Santorum or Gingrich or Paul on February 28th might play huge in the long run. A brokered convention, the first since 1976, isn't all that outlandish of a thought.
Will that happen? We have to think no, unfortunately. But not solely because Romney is still the preemptive favorite. A win in Michigan could change the course of the race so much that a non-brokered convention might be someone's else's day in the sun. And we could have created their dawn, while being the gloaming of someone's else's hopes. It is a very nice stool on which we perch.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Clark Durant's Bid for the Senate
Long time Republican activist and attorney from Grosse Pointe Farms, Clark Durant, will formally announce his candidacy for the US Senate this morning from a poor eastside Detroit neighborhood. He has already filed the paperwork for his run in the GOP Primary, having done so back in August 2011.
No one can doubt his credentials. He worked in the Reagan Administration and has been one of the movers and shakers in the Charter Schools arena in Michigan. He has worked hard for Cornerstone Schools in the Detroit area. He also has served on the Michigan Board of Education; indeed education seems his strongest calling card. His community service record is admirable.
But can he win the GOP Primary, let alone a statewide election? He has virtually no name recognition in outstate areas. He lost his bids for the GOP nomination for the Senate in 1990, losing in the primary as it were. This almost has the makings of someone who hasn't quite made it big in politics staging a final effort for such glory while there's still time.
That's not a bad thing, really, but time doesn't seem on Mr. Durant's side. Although he has some impressive supporters, among them Betsy DeVos, former Senator Spencer Abraham, and auto executive Bob Lutz, can that translate into victory when the GOP party mechanisms appear entrenched for Pete Hoekstra?
No one questions Durant's conservative credentials. It is even speculated that he should draw support from Tea Party types. Yet his race seems decidedly uphill. As always with elections, time will tell, and the final ballot is all that matters. We shall see.
No one can doubt his credentials. He worked in the Reagan Administration and has been one of the movers and shakers in the Charter Schools arena in Michigan. He has worked hard for Cornerstone Schools in the Detroit area. He also has served on the Michigan Board of Education; indeed education seems his strongest calling card. His community service record is admirable.
But can he win the GOP Primary, let alone a statewide election? He has virtually no name recognition in outstate areas. He lost his bids for the GOP nomination for the Senate in 1990, losing in the primary as it were. This almost has the makings of someone who hasn't quite made it big in politics staging a final effort for such glory while there's still time.
That's not a bad thing, really, but time doesn't seem on Mr. Durant's side. Although he has some impressive supporters, among them Betsy DeVos, former Senator Spencer Abraham, and auto executive Bob Lutz, can that translate into victory when the GOP party mechanisms appear entrenched for Pete Hoekstra?
No one questions Durant's conservative credentials. It is even speculated that he should draw support from Tea Party types. Yet his race seems decidedly uphill. As always with elections, time will tell, and the final ballot is all that matters. We shall see.
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