Value for Romney?
is the clearest exposition I have seen of the (lack of) choices available to the Republican Party now: advice that the party rallies round and takes the medicine if that is not too much of a mixture of metaphors...
puts the Romney campaign spending in perspective:
"Republican campaign operatives call it the Gramm-o-meter, the money a candidate spends per delegate won, in honor of Phil Gramm, the former Texas senator who spent $25 million and won just 10 delegates, or $2.5 million per, in 1996.
"By Republican strategist Alex Vogel's calculation, Mitt Romney is giving Gramm a run for his money. The former Massachusetts governor has spent $1.16 million per delegate, a rate that would cost him $1.33 billion to win the nomination.
"By contrast, Mike Huckabee's campaign has been the height of efficiency. Delegates haven't yet been officially apportioned, but roughly speaking, each $1 million spent by Huckabee has won him 20 delegates."
But will he be back to spend more cash in the future?
I hope he comes back to the race next time with a slightly improved view of his neighbours to the east.
"Europe is facing a demographic disaster. That is the inevitable product of weakened faith in the Creator, failed families, disrespect for the sanctity of human life and eroded morality..." This is what he said today about my home continent.
I must say, the morality point is hard to take. I much prefer living in the United States, but the idea that Europeans are somehow immoral - or that European society is morally flawed in comparison with the US - seems to me to be bizarre.
There: I have written about Mitt Romney without even mentioning his faith...
Hello, I'm 
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Some laicity in the USA would be NEEDED...
If it is true that religion is the masses' opium, then USA is just about to OD
It's about time somebody made the morality point. Europe is going to continue to decline until it wakes up and finds some Christian values! Mitt Romney knows God's will: doubling the size of Guant谩namo. Europe needs to get over their "tolerance" and "human rights" obsessions, just like Mitt did when he decided to seek the Republican nomination. I want to see some waterboarding, people! It's about time that our "friends" across the pond took Jesus' advice and slashed social programs, dumped the poor out on the street, and gave some more tax cuts to the rich. Mitt Romney understands Wall Street's pain; have you seen the price of a bottle of Dom P茅rignon these days?
Silly Europeans.
The mention of his faith at the end makes irrelevant the fact that it's not mentioned in the article. While you're not attacking or defending his faith, making it an issue of interest implies that it has implications worth considering, which I think is repugnant in the case of someone who A) is out of the race entirely) and B) said that his policies wouldn't be controlled by his faith.
As another Brit living in the US, some of the comments from Romney recently - as well as other politicians - leave me scratching my head. I happen to think that Romney will never win a Republican nomination, simply because of his Mormon faith. The people who are most likely to vote Republican are the same people who distrust the Mormon faith, and (without wishing to make gross generalisations) are more likely to embrace a candidate who shares, or at least appears to share, their 'extreme' Christian views. I think this explains the current White House resident's two terms in office, as well as Mike Huckabee's unexpected success. Huckabee probably had a detrimental effect on Romney's own campaign, and the former Arkansas governor is probably in prime position to be given the VP nod on the Republican ticket in the autumn.
Romney's resignation from the race this time around is probably a pretty smart move, though, because unless the Democrats manage to screw things up in a spectacular way, I think it's a fairly safe bet that either Clinton MkII or Obama will be sworn in next January. The last 8 years mean that no matter which Republican runs will have almost no chance, but next time the country may be ready to give the party with the elephant logo another chance.
Yeah Romney scares a lot of us in America too. You didn't need to speak about his religion but it clearly fuels the statement about Europe he made. He talks about a lot of us like that too...
To be fair to Mitt Romney he is right.
However, I must take issue with this one sentence:
"Europe (has)... disrespect for the sanctity of human life"
Hmm... exactly how many people were executed in the EU last year? And before anyone says it, I know the death penalty has been temprorarily suspended in the States. And yes, I know he's referring to abortion.
It just goes to show that Mitt Romney will say ANYTHING to pander to those he's talking to. Most importantly, he is THE phoniest human being to have ever lived. I feel bad for those journalist who had the misfortune to be tortured by this modern-day demagogue/phony's stump speeches for over a year.
I'm curious how you would respond to the portion of Romney's comment about Europe facing a "demographic disaster."
Isn't it true that not enough babies are being born to maintain the native population in places like Italy and Germany? Menwhile, booming populations in the Middle East and Africa will push into Europe and change the culture, economy and face of the continent, I suspect.
I am an American who likes Europe and wants to see global population stabilized. But it does not look good for Europe in the short term, eh?
If the "true" conservatives have such a dislike for McCain, it appears that to be a Republican candidate, one must fit the mould 100%. In which case why bother having all these elections? Just have a check list, if the candidate ticks the boxes, let him run? Makes a farce of the "democratic" process if the "true" conservatives have such a voice that they can stop anyone who is not as far right as they are!
Well, not to worry about the comments on Europe. The 大象传媒 reports on his home "continent," too. Not as denigrating as Mitt's comments for sure, but enough to raise eyebrows among Americans.
As for Mitt's departure, Tim Russert correctly points out he's no Reagan of '76. Reagan then had a large number of delegates and nearly humiliated Gerald Ford, a sitting President, for the GOP nomination. Mitt had but a few in '08. Mitt has got to do more than thinking he can win by buying an election.
You're not very good in math. Rommey had 268 delegates. That over $300 million by your math.
He's spent about $70 million. You are way off!!!
I find it impossible to believe that any american evangelical would even consider voting for romney, considering the attitudes towards mormons that has come out even during this campaign. it will be interesting to see what huckabee will do now- was he in the race solely to damage romney's credibility? or did he run for just one reason: to act as a conscience for those americans who dared to vote for a member of the US' most established cult and to remind evangelicals of romney's faith?
Americans don't accuse Europeans of being immoral. They think they are amoral. Quite different, but bad nevertheless. And nowhere is this more true than 大象传媒
I am just glad to see that money doesn't always mean politcal victory. By the way, not all Americans care about religion as much as some seem to think they do, and why do you perpher living in the United States of America over Europe?
Campaigns are much more exhausting now than in the 70s. In four years all these donors who gave to Romney will ask themselves a simple question: where did my money go? It is no wonder that neither Gore nor Kerry has mounted a run this year. Edwards was much weaker now than in 2004.
Romney will be branded as a loser and will not be able to run in 2012.
Cheers.
Dear Justin:
I disagree with your analysis of Mitt Romney, his candidacy, and why he quit. If you really think Mr. Romney spent his own money just to buy an election, then you never really knew anything about him. This man could not get a decent break in the US media. His fortune allowed him some breathing room, yes, but he also had many supporters and volunteers. He used his money to gain the publicity he was denied by the mainstream media and even local party officials. If you look at numbers, not delegates, he still had significant support in many states. If you really think Romney's religion was a minor factor in his lack of appeal to certain people, you also do not really understand religion in America. It was a primary factor. Throughout the race, beginning in Iowa, the undercurrent discussion in many evangelical churches was centered on fighting Romney and his religion because of their own bigotry. The lack of Christian tolerance hurt Romney the most, and the fire was gladly fueled by Gov. Huckabee. And if you think Romney quit because he lacks the fire in his belly for a fight, then you simply have not yet recognized character and honor. Here is a man who went to a funeral rather than campaign on a busy day; that is respect and dignity. Here is a man who spent a day in San Diego helping a fire victim clean up his yard--with no media around for him to get publicity doing it. That's character. This is a man who understands the one thing no other politician does: the strength of our nation is in the home, and if we don't focus on that we will become ever weaker no matter how big our economy or large our military. I was hoping we could elect a leader, but now we will only get a politician--no matter who that person is.
There is every reason to think that Clinton and Obama might go to the convention with neither having sufficient committed delegates from primaries and caucuses to win on the first ballot. If the back room deals for the super delegates and those now committed to others like Edwards throw the nomination to Clinton, Obama's followers may feel he was cheated and that it was stolen from him. We may see street riots the likes of which we haven't seen since the 1960s. They will say that he was not nominated because of his race. Funny, just a few weeks ago, many African Americans argued that he wasn't black enough. The real reasons he will not get nominated are that he is too inexperienced and too liberal. Liberal is a dirty word among many Americans and it casts great doubt on his electability in the general election in November. I'm sure the Republicans would rather run against him than Clinton.
Funny, Iowa and New Hampshire now seem a lifetime ago when it's only been a couple of weeks.
Mitt Romney was, without doubt, the best candidate for the presidency. His flawless performance in business and in the 2002 Olympics are an example of what he could have brought the country as a President. I am puzzled, however, at the animosity because of his faith. What is it about Mormonism that raises the distrust or ire of evangelicals or liberals? I had always thought that we are doing away with the old biases about sex, race, and creed, but America has demonstrated otherwise in this case. The Mormons I know are the most trustworthy, decent, and respectable people I know. It would be a disaster to have someone like this in the White House, right? We are a house of cards, financially, right now, and an talented man like Romney is the only candidate I see that could have walked us through the gauntlet.
The Huckster clearly doesn't have a chance to actually win, but he certainly can get close enough to be a major force at the convention. Brokering for VP? It's more likely than you think.
Romney was the epitome of a slimy politician, and everyone, GOP and Dem alike, saw right through him. I have more faith in the GOP for ignoring him than I have had in years.
It's good to see that money, at least obvious money, can't buy the office.
In the interest of full disclosure: I am an expatriate Democrat who voted for Mrs. Clinton on Super Tuesday.
If Huckabee really is given th VP spot by McCain, how many staunch Mormon Republicans will then vote Democrat simply because of Huckabee's obvious anti-Mormon views, I wonder. Not that it would hurt them much I suppose, as Utah isn't an important state election-wise. However, the state with the next largest number of Mormons would be California. Well, I guess they probably wouldn't change if Hilary was the other option--but maybe if it was Obama.
While I am largely in disagreement with Romney on most issues of substance, I do think the demographic data need some looking after. Are most of the new arrivals from the Middle-East and Africa progressive and/or secular? Is there reliable data suggesting that they will at least trend that way over time?
As an American, even I don't much relish the the thought of Europe becoming dominated by socially-conservative ideals that would make even some of OUR most die-hard fundamentalists cringe.
I say, believe what you want -- privately. However, if most of church-going Europe becomes folks calling said churches "mosques," then that could conceivably undermine the character of a modern Europe, born from centuries of religious strife; a special character that may well be crucial in the trying times ahead, as the modern world flirts dangerously with a new dark age.
I think you'll find that Rudy Giuliani has completely shattered the Gramm-o-Meter by spending nearly $50 million to acquire, I believe, one delegate.
Holy cow! You need to change the batteries in your calculator. Your figures on Romney's spending for delegates are overstated by 10x. He was nowhere near Gramm's per delegate figure.
Low birth rates go hand in hand with (lack of) religious practice. Romney is just pointing out the obvious. America flourishes because religious faith is still strong(despite all its imperfections) Europe is in decline for the opposite reason.
Secularism is ultimately a Darwinian dead end.
I am a non religious person and I have no problem with Rommney being a Mormon, nor Huckabee being an evangelical. The irony of values voters rejecting Rommney for his religion is rich indeed.
Now to clarify, I would never vote for anyone who uses the TONE these two use when talking about religion. Trashing Europe for not being religious or talking about writing God into the Constitution is just a bunch of garbage. Coming from a fundamentalist background myself I can assure you first hand that these folks are no more moral than anyone else.
The failure of Romney shows that money can't buy elections. The failure of huckabee shows that most americans are not religous nuts.
"Europe is going to continue to decline until it wakes up and finds some Christian values!" -- would these be the values of the Crusades, the Inquistion, or those that spawned centuries of Protestant vs. Catholic killing that has dotted Europe's past. If Americans had gone through these as well, perhaps they'd realize how tainted these values really are. One can be moral without being Christian, and Christians can be immoral.
It makes me sick how politicians abuse religion. They can lack experience, have ridiculous policies, be terrible debaters, and have absolutely no idea how foreign policy operates, yet all they have to do is play the Christian card and they automatically have 20-30% of the popular vote. Little do people realize that these politicians are probably much less religious that they outwardly appear, and use religion as a tool to garner votes/gain power. At its very core, it is the same tactic that Islamist leaders use to gain power and control their religious zealots.
I never thought a Mormon could possibly win in a general election, so why bother running for the Republican party. The simple fact that Mormon's believe that a women can only get to heaven if she is married to a Morman and he happens die first and remembers to call out her secret name to call her into heaven would make it hard for me to believe that most non-Morman women could possibly vote for him no matter his party affiliation.
But the fact that he claimed to be against illegal immigration was appealing. The illegals will bankrupt our country.
It would seem to me that the illegal immigration will also ruin Europe as well. Why is it the Europeans continue to allow illegal immigration? It would seem that the immigration stems from the fact that those people seriously need to control their population and fix their own countries instead of thinking they can partake in the success of others.
Interesting that at least one comment from an American, while not outrightly supporting the statement made by Romney about Europe, suggests that he is right about demographic change. This is a thinly disguised "white supremism" argument. For "demographics" read, blacks and Middle Easterners. For "loss of morality" read the right to choose, and scientific research into stem cells. Romney is appealing to an evergrowing white Christian fundamentalist group whose new target is the Sodom and Gomorrah of Europe. I guess Islamic terrorists are no longer a threat?
Europeans would do well to be aware of just how large this group is. Almost 75% of Americans believe that the Earth was created by God less than 10,000 years ago. The land of the free, is also the home of the heavily armed righteous.
I liked the quote from a recent american evangelical that was interviewed on TV, "I like Mitt, but I would never admit it in Church". It says a lot about the deep seated prejudices that american evangelicals carry around.
Frankly both McCain and Huckabee both inspired and invoked anti-Mormon themes in their campaigns. So much for an inclusive uniting campaign. And good luck pulling in all those Mormons for a final general election vote. Last time I checked, the Republicans needed all them Mormons for their extremely small fractional majority. I, for one, feel no great allegiance to the Republican party given the way both he an Huckabee conducted their campaigns.
Obama's wife made a nice visit to Utah recently. Hey, maybe I can cast a historic vote for either the first female or black president. :)
McCain may be an ex-Navy fighter pilot, but he may well have shot himself in the foot.
No doubt Willard Romney scared the hell out of Euro-American liberals from which human values have lost their meanings all together.
I believe that he is a man of integrity regardless of his religion. He could have made a great president had Americans given him a chance and the benefit of the doubt. However, with millions of neo-liberals conspiring against him in the United States and Europe, he stood no chance of making it to the republican nomination, leave alone going to the White House in January next year.
"The mention of his faith at the end makes irrelevant the fact that it's not mentioned in the article."
That's true. I do think he meant it sort of as a half-joke.
"While you're not attacking or defending his faith, making it an issue of interest implies that it has implications worth considering, which I think is repugnant in the case of someone who A) is out of the race entirely) and B) said that his policies wouldn't be controlled by his faith."
It may imply that it's worth considering, but I think his religious viewpoint does matter, anyway.
It'd be different if he was talking about Romney, say, a month from now when he's not particularly relevant in the race for president. However, he's talking about Romney just as he's taken himself out of the running, so it's pretty salient, especially since Romney plans to run in the future (2012?). Besides, would you find it "repugnant" if he just happened to talk about Romney when he's no longer relevant to the race even if he didn't mention his faith?
Also, he may say that his religion doesn't impact his policies, but his statements have betrayed that statement. His comments on Europe above seem to be heavily influenced by his religious position.
Yes, Justin. Why do you prefer living in the United States over Europe?
What probably bothers Romney about Europe is the rampant socialism and the ever-increasing Islamization of the region--in other words, just way too liberal, going backward and therefore out of control. The future isn't in Europe, that's for sure.
I would think that the rather obvious rejoinder to that would be to point out that the same exact thing is true of us here the United States: Our "native population" is reproducing at below replacement level; immigration is the source of our population increase.
Romney's comments do not reflect the overall view of the American people...which is why he is no longer a contender.
The comment at the end was deserved since it highlights exactly why such stupid comments are made by an american candidate. He was working the strategy of find the 'other' group.. any defenseless group that can be alienate to make us feel superior. It seemed to be a favorite strategy of his, as it also came into play in his take on immigration.
Im one of the minority in the US, an American that has actually been and studied abroad. Particularly in Germany, and parts of France. Silly thing is that they are more truly religious as a rule then we are by far. But we have more of the extreme elements, by number not proportion.
He spoke with the politics of hate and exclusion. ..practicing what most mormons would resist, since they are generally nice welcoming people.
At least now we are left with mccain.. while hes a bit of a freak in his own right.. (100 year war, et al.) hes the least insane option from that side. Even if it is 'most likely' gonna be a dem, its better this way, just in case.
I'm also curious as to why you prefer living in the US. I'm one American who's rather jealous of your EU citizenship! I'd take your supposed "demographic disaster" over our terrifying religous zealotry any day.
I don't think Romney is wrong in principle; he's just undercutting his own argument with hyperbole. I spent a week in Europe back in 2000 and did not see a single child. Everyone was adolescent or older. Mind you it was a week and I was only in city cores, but not a single child? In America I see children wherever I go.
Well, Europe may be facing a demographic crisis (like we didn't know that, thanks, Romney), and Europeans may be amoral, but I don't think the US have the right to teach us morals, especially after the last 5 years...
Plus, Europe is not having a recession, US is, so I don't know about the "European decline" either...
I am not a Romney supporter. However, the reason why he did not get the Republican nod is because of lame press coverage like this...I do not think I have heard a single press cover Romney without bringing up his religion. I don't even know what religion the remaining 5? candidates in both parties are! Give me a break! Why should anyone care what religion someone is? I thought that voting for a black man and a woman for president we MIGHT learn some tolerance for people that are different. Hipocrates! Religion is fine - so long as you are not a Mormon. Issues are Issues, Values are Values and if America REALLY cared about values then President Clinton would have been removed from office for lying under oath. That said, maybe I'll vote for Hillary...
Mitt Romney was the most competant and qualified candidate in the race. McCain & Huckabee both knew this and used some of the scummiest possible tricks from the book of dirty politics to take Mitt Romney out.
McCain is too old, mean and liberal for those with any sense to support him. Huckabee has a great personality, but could no more be the leader of the free world than Britney Spears.
That really only leaves Hillary and Obama, and I shudder to think about what would happen to my paycheck if either of them are elected.
I'm seriously thinking about moving to Austrailia.
To Phyllis:
first off... if you want to talk about a culture being eroded you only have to look so far as the United States. If you want to be honest soon you will be called the United States of Mexico and your national dish will be Tacos and language Spanish! Secondly, don't mask your statements the truth is "Caucasian" populations all over the "developed" world are in decline not just in Europe. Lastly, you want "global population stabilized" come on that is the most delusional comment i have read in a long time.
To Jim:
Was that 70 million only his personal money?? because from reading the article i interpreted that it was all the money his campaign has spent combined.
I'm beginning to find all this "America is best鈥攕tuff the rest" very disturbing, especially as the gratuitous attacks in Europe鈥攄idn't Romney pick on France in his speech? Why not choose the Aztecs closer to home as a decayed empire?鈥 by politicians increase during this presidential campaign. It's all getting rather reminiscent of the "Master Race", don't you think?
I hope it is just that some Americans are angry because the majority of Europeans are not very happy about the USA starting ideological wars and then demanding Europeans continue them for them as Mr Gates does. It all makes me wonder if one day this war hysteria will turn into "America is best, bomb the rest" (if you don't do what we want/what we like). There's an arabic joke: "Be nice to the Americans, or they'll bomb you with their democracy."
I'm staying polite to them at bus stops and on the tube鈥攖he half of me that's English enforces that, I suppose. But the other (Italian) half now loathes the sound of an American accent here in London. Because I fear what it might represent.
And it looks to me as though it is the "decay" or diminution of their own nascent empire that they fear.
I'm sure you must have realised by now how far off this calculation of Romney's spending is. How close are you to libel here?
To John B.?
National language spanish?
Have you been watching the current political trend in the US? Do you honestly believe that?
And how do you get off insinuating that the US white population is in decline? It is actually at a stable rate of 1.8 percent, the black population at 2.2 and the hispanic at 2.5. That was CNN offical stats.
But those demographic aren't very clear because the baby boomers are having their children later.
So keep up with the politics John B.
And yeah, Romney is right about Europe, it is in decline. A culture of anti-christian bigots for the most part. From reading european responses on 大象传媒 I have learned that namely white Americans are not well-liked.
Well guess what, Europe, I am not changing my views on Christianity and no matter how much you wish the US would decline we will always be a nuclear power with nuclear missiles.
So Europeans can brainwash themselves all day into thinking America is going away.
You just energize people like me more to act even stronger in our convictions.
Ponder that!
I do not think that Europeans know or care what Mitt Romney thinks about Europe, but Americans should. We have a lot of like minded people, mainly in the UK as well.
To Phyllis number 8) I would just say this, populations have always move to countries where they see opportunity. No place is this more true than of the United States. In this respect, the European Community is much like the U.S. in that people are moving from the poor South to further North. This part of Spain would not function at all without cleaner and carers from South American, labourer from Marroco and the Far East, Not to mention the Rumanians, the Russians ( they are not yet in the E.C. - so...).
As far is the comment from Justin that he prefers to live in the U.S.A. rather than Europe is concerned. As one who has some direct experieance of parts of the U.S.A as well as a good deal of Western Europe I would hold to the old saying that: "Home is where the heart is", and leave it at that.
Andy in Virginia - If yours is the god of doubling the size of Gitmo so that there can be more waterboarding, can you please keep him out of my hair ?
Here's something for you guys at the Beeb.
Kevin Connolly's piece on Romney's exit from the campaign is titled:
"Mitt quits in presidential style"
He made his announcement at CPAC, which is an annual gathering in Washington of the most rigidly ideological conservative activists. No issues with that, he could have made the announcement in Podunk, Iowa, for all I care.
But let me pick out this quote from his speech:
"Now, if I fight on, in my campaign, all the way to the convention... I want you to know, I've given this a lot of thought -- I'd forestall the launch of a national campaign and, frankly, I'd make it easier for Senator Clinton or Obama to win.
Frankly, in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror."
If that is the Beeb definition of "presidential", you might as well use the term interchangeably with "traitorous". What Romney said was nothing short of disgraceful. My wife and I - independents - are both inclined to vote for McCain at this point, but not for a minute do we reckon Clinton or Obama would "surrender" to Bin Laden.
For Romney to go out in this style is entirely his prerogative; for the Beeb to characterize this exit as "presidential" is both stupid and misleading. Maybe you can have a word with Mr Connolly. Romney went out throwing red meat to the conservative base. Any article that pretends otherwise is written by an amateur hack.
Reading the comments to this article, it seems it may be useful to help Europeans with the American rhetoric in the Mitt Romney quote. My explanations are in brackets.
"Europe [continental Western Europe] is facing a demographic disaster [negative population growth to immigration ratios]. That is the inevitable product of weakened faith in the Creator [recall the recent difficulties the Pope had attempting to be a guest speaking at a university in Rome], failed families [divorce and single parent families], disrespect for the sanctity of human life [abortion] and eroded morality [gay, lesbian, homosexual behavior]..."
The idea of a morally superior America arose from the influx of religious refugees in the early days of immigration. Ideas of government free from aristocratic influence were novel but the ideal of a property owning democracy was undermined by slavery
and self righteousness which has bedevilled America ever since.
The USA, a nation that happily sends its' young men and women to die in wars that every new persident seems to want, complaining about the level / lack of morality in europe is laughable.
That it's OK to kill real people (send them off to war), but it's not ok to kill potential people (abortion of a bunch of cells), is a moral twist that most people (not just europeans) have difficulty understanding.
Additionally, while europe is again called to financially help the USA out of a recession (the second time in 10 years), it never ceases to amaze me that europe is always painted as the bad guy and portrayed as morally bankrupt by the people who are asking for help.
Willa
The USA, a nation that happily sends its' young men and women to die in wars that every new persident seems to want, complaining about the level / lack of morality in europe is laughable.
That it's OK to kill real people (send them off to war), but it's not ok to kill potential people (abortion of a bunch of cells), is a moral twist that most people (not just europeans) have difficulty understanding.
Additionally, while europe is again called to financially help the USA out of a recession (the second time in 10 years), it never ceases to amaze me that europe is always painted as the bad guy and portrayed as morally bankrupt by the people who are asking for help.
Willa
CNN is at it again already today - almost encouraging Independents to vote for Obama because the don't "really" have to vote in the Republican contest.
I find that quite insulting to those who would class themselves as Independents.
Some Independents may be naturally conservative (with a small 'c') and feel it is better for them to be involved in the Republican nomination.
A reasonable number of independents are also backers of Ron Paul and I suspect they would stick to their candidate even though he will lose.
But what is most insulting is to assume that they should vote Obama. Anyone, be it Democrat, Republican or independent, should be voting on the issues and not whoever happens to be the media's darling at the time (it was Clinton a few months back - now it's Obama) or voting on the rhetoric or personality. Deal with hard facts then think and chose your candidate.
This is not American Idol but for the future of the USA. As a non-American I do hope that the American people can make a considered judgement as it affects not only the USA but us in the rest of the world.
Jim's right,
Romney had won a total of 294 delegates according to the 大象传媒.
294 x $1.16 million = $341.04 million
Seeing as the campaign had apparently raised less than $100 million total by February 01 (including a mere $35 million of his own money)
(https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7220637.stm#graph)
it would have required a superhuman effort to raise and spend over $240 million in the last week.
Justin, you should know better than to believe (and repeat) everything you read in the papers!
While we're talking about the Gramm-o-meter though, I wonder how Rudy Guiliani's campaign measures up?
In a short speech Mr Romney has raised more important issues than Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama for their entire change-change-change campaigns. Which of the FACTS in this speech do you disagree with, Mr Webb? As you may recall Mrs Thatcher's famous saying, the facts of life are conservative.
Yes, as the ismalization of Europe progresses, you and quite a number of liberals/lefties would gladly move to the US leaving the more unfortunate in the mess you cooked up. I do hope that you will learn a few thing about multiculturalism before moving to North Am, and importing your self-destructive ideological baggage.
As for the morality issue: fascism, communism, socialism, human secularism, ethic relativism, feminism... All duly invented and applied in Europe, all targeting the Judeo-Christian fabrics of society and family. Just look at all the problems created by the single parent family (crime, poverty, school drop-out levels, etc.). It's funny how the left creates problems, and comes after that asking for taxpayers' monies to fix those problems. At least Mr Romney campaigned on his own monies
You thought Mitt Romney's observation about European morals bizarre? What about building a church on a sun-worshipper? And having it teach for a thousand years that what the King says is what God says? And allowing it to kill and maim and destroy thousands and thousands of innocent persons. And what about building State Churches upon on a king's harlotry? And plastering them over with pretty artwork and tinkling music and covering them with gold and pretending they are divine? And in the midst of all this hypocrisy, to abandon attending these false churches and still pretend that they are holy and divine? Now, that's bizarre. And oh so wholly 'Made In Europe'. Take a pill, Justin.
erm...
last time I checked Romney had won 294 delegates
294 x $1.16million = $341.04million
According to the 大象传媒 Romney had raised less than $100 million by February 01 (including a mere $35 million from Romney himself) so unless, by some superhuman effort, he managed to raise (and spend) in excess of $240 million in the last week...
Justin, you should know better than to believe (and repeat) everything you read in the papers...
Dear Lord, protect me from my co-believers in my country! These god-filled Americans above make me, as an American, so embarrassed. America was built upon principles that everyone, regardless of religion, can adhere to. I salute the Constitution, not the Bible.
Mitt Romney's campaign was killed by the "winner take all" system of allocating delegates.
Had there been proportional distribution of each states delegates (i.e. you won 40% of California's Republican vote so you get 40 percent of the delegates), he would have fared much better.
Winner take all is great for quick consensus but paints a very course picture.
First, I think the ratio bit is interesting but it injects a little too much objectivity into the mind of the American voter. The term political "science" is a misnomer indeed.
Second, "Evangelical" has become a blanket term for people who murder abortionists, hate gay people and don't believe in evolution. But originally it simply referred to someone who believed that Jesus' message should be shared with the world, through loving service to the poor and underprivileged, wise stewardship of personal resources, and a refusal to sit in self-righteous judgment of those who are not Christians; actually to love them. Both parties fail in these arenas in many ways, indeed the US Government does, thus they cannot truly claim to be "Christian."
Christianity, unlike its Middle Eastern competitor, is not inherently a political faith; it was coaxed into such an existence first by a power-hungry European Emperor and once again centuries later by the so-called "Religious Right" in this country.
I'm rather alarmed by the generalizations I see being made in these comments; these assertions that Americans are stupid or blinded by religion or what not. Shouldn't we note that the Republican party did not nominate Mitt Romney for president? Doesn't that give lie to all of these claims that the US is in some sort of downward spiral of hatred and stupidity? This man lost, remember? so most Americans (most Republicans in fact, which should encourage you more) don't feel he represents them. The presidential race is shaping up to be a contest between highly rational political moderates, all of whom seem to see putting America back in the world's good graces as a goal. This is a good thing, believe me!
It seems like so many of you have been so programmed to despise the United States (someone said he's made physically sick by our accent?!) that you'll never look at any news from our continent with anything but dismay ever again. I see here the same kind of ignorant closed-mindedness that many of you lament in Mr. Romney. We aren't bloodthirsty or any stupider on the whole than Europeans (that statistic saying that 75% of Americans believe the earth to be less than 10,000 years old was made up). We don't demand subservience from Europe (though we do appreciate it when nations live up to treaties dating back to 1955) and we most certainly don't expect you to 'bail us out' of a recession, if that were economically possible (which, since it's an investing trend, it isn't). Please try to divorce your opinions of our recent foreign policy blunders from your judgments of our collective national character (if there even is such a thing). We plainly have no designs on establishing a theocracy here (hilarious) let alone anywhere else.
For a guy from the country that pretty much made pornography into one of the most profitable facets of the entertainment industry, and one of the United States' biggest cultural exports, to moan about European morality is simply bizarre.
The Republican-Evangelical alliance is in tatters now, and maybe Romney should spend a moment pondering whether his attempt to pander to this group may be one of the reasons for the failures of his campaign.
Europe has some big challenges ahead of it, there's no doubt, but having some failed would-be presidential candidate lecturing an entire continent on the need of Christian morals is about as hypocritical and pointless as one can imagine.
Willa noted that she doesn't like Europeans being portrayed as bad. Well, it's stupid to make extreme comments about anyone. Not all Americans are fat, gun-toting, religious zealots, and not all Europeans are immoral or amoral snobs who look down on the rest of the world. There are many, many stupid people on all sides, and many, many good people on all sides. Oh yeah, not all Christians are uneducated and prone to violence. Believe it or not, there are some of us who are very well educated and think the world is just a tad older than six thousand years old.
It's great to see Romney gone from this race. The only pity is that he will probably be back again sometime in the future. This guy is the perfect example of what wrong with american politics.
"Dear Lord, protect me from my co-believers in my country! These god-filled Americans above make me, as an American, so embarrassed. America was built upon principles that everyone, regardless of religion, can adhere to. I salute the Constitution, not the Bible. "
Wouldn't these principles allow for these "god-filled Americans" to worship as they wish?
Or should we just leave it to you to decide what is acceptable and what is not?
Romney's Amero-supremacy is an actual, currently accepted article of his faith. Didn't you know the lost tribes of Israel anciently fled to the Americas?
The angel Maroni appeared at Joseph Smith's bedside. "He said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants."
Native Americans are ... Israelites. Which makes America ... the Holy Land.
Mormon theology aside, the effete, silver-spoonfed Romney is a pale imitation of his spiritual ancestors who braved the West:
"I have many a time, in this stand, dared the world to produce as mean devils as we can; we can beat them at anything. We have the greatest and smoothest liars in the world, the cunningest and most adroit thieves, and any other shade of character that you can mention....I can produce Elders (all adult males; women are Sisters) here who can shave their smartest shavers, and take their money from them. We can beat the world at any game."
(President Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, page 77)
Did anyone else notice Romney's crowd boo McCain ... but not Barack and Hillary? It's not over. Tim Russert is right, he's not Reagan in '76, but Romney remains coiled.
Can McCain compromise with the ultra-religious? Barry Goldwater famously advised, "Every good Christian ought to line up to kick Jerry Falwell's ass" and declared -- forcefully and repeatedly -- that every woman had the right to an abortion. Mrs. Goldwater personally established the first Planned Parenthood in Arizona.
And Goldwater's most famous opponent, John Kennedy said:
鈥淚 believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute; where no Catholic prelate would tell the president 鈥 should he be Catholic 鈥 how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote; where no church or church school is granted any public funds or political preference, and where no man is denied public office merely because his religion differs from the president who might appoint him, or the people who might elect him.鈥
Can John McCain really lead a re-formation of his church, er, um party?
Dear me. Could it be that all these attacks on Europe (mostly it seems, emanating from the 'Christian Right') are actually an exercise in displacement?
That they are loading their (definitely bizarre!) view of Europe with their own fears about South American immigration?
I keep wondering why the American Evangelical right concentrates so much on the Old Testament and Revelations, and never seem to mention the Sermon on the Mount . . .Give me our European secularism鈥擨 think I prefer 'humanism' as the more proper term鈥攁ny day.
It's a pity that 'Isolationism' hasn't re-appeared as a policy in this presidential election. We really could do with a rest from all this American sanctimoniousness and interference, let alone their wars.
Thus proving that American politics is not completely decided by money. No one is doubting the power of the currency in the process, but when John McCain's campaign has struggled economically from the start and Mitt Romney has always been able to dig into his deep pockets, the results so far are proof that the electorate is more interested in the candidate themselves than the depth of their wealth.
Alex Vogel is a poor mathematician. Why does this 1.16 million number keep being referenced? It is stupid and wrong
The comment in dispute is: "Europe is facing a demographic disaster. That is the inevitable product of weakened faith in the Creator, failed families, disrespect for the sanctity of human life and eroded morality..." I was not a Romney supporter. But he surely has a point. Birth rates are down except amongst immigrants, especially Muslim immigrants, meaning that our culture is being unsettled by an oppresive religion which has not had a strong influence in europe since before the reconquista. On the other extreme, our home-grown politicians are embracing oppressive secularism, wilfully cutting off our Christian heritage and cutting out Christian people. (Illustrated, for example, by the common refrain amongst some Westminster politicians that Christians shouldn't be allowed to influence politics.) Abortion, instead of being regarded as an evil and a tragedy is regarded as a triumph - as is divorce. And here in the UK drunkenness and sexual immorality are two of most prominent features of British 'culture'. Crime is spiralling, dishonesty in politics is routine, personal responsibility is a dying concept... I could go on. Someone tell me again why they don't think Romney has a point?
Romney finished with 294 delegates. Divide that by $90 to $100 million and you get...about $300k per delegate.
That is less than what health care companies spend to buy members of Congress.
Still, that is a lot less than the $1.16 million per delegate that you claim in your article. Check your source.
What do you mean you never mentioned his faith? He has the same "faith" in the same god that unites all Americans, the Almighty Dollar Bill. It's an ecumenical belief that unites all Americans, the cash nexus is what holds this country together, and fuels all politics, before and after nominal elections. It's hard to fathom why anyone would like living here better, unless they share that "faith". It is however, certainly "bizarre" for any Duopoly Party candidate to be prating about "morality". That's one word that could never be used to describe American foreign policy. We've murdered and maimed millions around the globe without batting an eye. So many that "we don't do body counts" anymore! But then again, we probably inherited these imperialist barbarous habits from Europe; so maybe in a macabre sort of way he's right. But before we're done we'll probably surpass even Europe's carnage, especially with candidates like Mitt and the remaining contenders.
For the record 'we don't do body counts anymore' because it's really morbid and pretty pointless, not because we kill so many people you can't count them. We did body counts in Vietnam and it became one of the most pointless and grim data to come out of a war full of them. Get the story straight when you rant, Brett!
To those complaining about having to listen to Romney's negative comments on Europe, I would only say this:
Not very pleasant, is it? We Americans should know. We have to listen to it all the time!
Oh dear, Justin - you and the 大象传媒 have spent the last few years years going to town on America's "problems" yet when an American does the same about Europe you get all snippy.....
Poor Diana; she must be really desperately upset over the subversion of true American values by "liberals" if she wishes to move to Australia! I guess she doesn't know that Australia recently elected a "socialist" (at least Labor) government in a strong rebuke to John Howard's slavish clinging to the Bush line. Perhaps her ignorance of this fact is reflective of why the USA is in such serious trouble today?
Yikes, Justin. Clinton is getting slaughtered tonight. How could you let this happen?!
As a European who spent 10 years in the US (all over), I must say these comments by Romney remind me once again why I made the right choice and voted with my feet 3 years ago and returned to Europe to raise my children.
Justin, it seems you have "gone native" in one respect at least... acquiring a propensity for hyperbole and over-use of superlatives!
"this is the world's most fascinating, open and complex place"
Anyway, thanks for the coverage.
Now, according to Obama, it's time to "turn the page". His use of cliches is becoming ever more ridiculous. How many ways can you say, "Change"?
Time for a book on Obama-isms?
It seems to me Europe is facing looming disaster on many fronts including a demographic time bomb but I don't think lack of faith in the Christian religion is among the causes. The demographic time bomb consists of an aging indigenous population and a rising number among Moslems and other minorities who are both home grown and immigrants but who are not integrated into society at large. Europe will not face this fact and doesn't even understand the true nature or magnitude of the problem let alone have a plan to resolve it. Sarkozy's pathetically hopeless proposal for France is evidence.
Europe's other real problem is economic, it simply has not created conditions since America ended its reconstruction of it and generous economic support to keep it from succumbing to communism to stand on its own two feet. Instead with its unsustainable lavish social safety nets paid for by very high taxes, its mind boggling maze of rules, regulations, restrictions, and taxes it deters any would be investment. Its cultures do not encourage innovation or individual initiative. It is instead preoccupied by climate change it is powerless to affect itself. Worst of all, it has needlessly and cavalierly alienated what is by far the single most important economic and military power in the world, it has burned a bridge which will take generations to rebuild if it is ever rebuilt.
Europe reminds me of 10 drowning men clinging on to each other for dear life, each with only 10% of the skill needed to swim but believing that together they will be one strong unified swimmer. Europe sees the world and human nature as it wishes it to be, not at it is. As a result, its irrationality has caused it to act with a degree of folly which will prove suicidal. It has a long record of doing just that.
Justin - Can you tell me what happens to Edwards and Romney's delegates how are they reapportioned, does Romney and Edwards just release them and they decide which of the other candidates to support or is there yet another complicated system of allocating these delegates.
Looks like we are doing a McGovern all over again with Obama.
This Democrat will vote McCain instead of the false prophet that is Obama.
"What do you mean you never mentioned his faith? He has the same "faith" in the same god that unites all Americans, the Almighty Dollar Bill. It's an ecumenical belief that unites all Americans, the cash nexus is what holds this country together, and fuels all politics, before and after nominal elections. It's hard to fathom why anyone would like living here better, unless they share that "faith". "
First the Americans have too much faith in God. Now, they have too much faith in the Dollar Bill.
Why not just give it a rest?
I don't think America is on decline, most europeans wish that, but sorry, looks like europeans get sick. I think is been exagerade by some pro europeans.We will live and see. Sometimes i just wonder when europeans will wake up to say de truth. Leave alone USA, take a look what is ahead for you.
I remember you Greta (comment #68). Remember me from the anti-government rally a few years ago? Remember we burned an American Flag together? Yea and we talked about how you haven't paid the government a single penny in taxes for years. We also agreed that Communism is the only true equalizing government. America would be better off denying uneducated people voting rights as they would only vote for uneducated people.
You see now the burden is Greta's to justify her actions and rebuild credibility with the readers of this site.
Greta's comment really goes to the core of issue Mr. Romney dealt with throughout his campaign. That is once a comment about an individual is made regardless of its credibility or relevance, the burden of proof now rests on that person to convince otherwise. Mitt Romney was running for President of the United States based on his leadership experience. Not because of his affiliation with the Mormon Church. However, consistent attention was paid directly or indirectly to his religious affiliation, case in point, the Justin Webb鈥檚 comment "There: I have written about Mitt Romney without even mentioning his faith..." This focus consistently put Mitt on the defense.
Fact is, Mitt Romney had two battles to fight. 1. Fight for GOP votes 2. Fight against the Anti-Mormon movement.
Mr. Webb, you just proved that by not stating that the remarks about Europe were made by Huckabee, not Romney, the majority posting here believe Romney said it. You see how easy it is to write something that is true, but leaves it foggy about who really said it and cause people to attribute it to someone they dislike as a fact. As to the Mormon religion, we have people who have been in Congress for years and who are Mormon and nobody is the least upset about that and they are the people who write and pass legislation and allocate the tax money paid by the American people. In fact, the Majority leader in the Senate is a Mormon and a Democrat. So the Mormon religion as a stumbling block was created by the media because for some reason they disliked Romney and did everything they could to change people's opinion of him. This also proves that people form their opinions of who they will vote for by the information fed to them by the media. Just look what the media has left us with as prospective candidates for president. What a sorry state of affairs.
The problem with evangelicals/mormons is that they equate religion with morality. If you're a non-believer, then you must lack morality. I always found this somewhat curious, specially since I know many people who are agnostic or atheist that are outstanding human beings and on the other hand I know many people who are religious with very low character.
Who has higher moral standing? He who, because of a belief in a God, does right for a reward? Or he, with no belief in a God, does right just for the sake of altruism?
Thomas Patricio
Toronto, Canada
The US, a study today revealed, will have a majority non-white population by 2050 as well. Is religion to blame for that "demographic disaster" as well? Seems to me white people, religious or not, just have found other priorities. This seems quite universal and not limited to the morally corrupt Europe.
Funny, that those Christians always forget about "turning the other cheeck" and handing out their cash to the poor (what did Jesus say about the chances of a rich man going to Heaven???), but they do find time and energy to tell other people how to live their lives, mostly telling them what they should NOT do.
You need to have the perfect amount of religous blindness/faith. Common sense can just get in the way far too often.
For some reason, any islamic nation has too much religion (who wastes time praying five times a day, when just wasting a Sunday is all that's needed). Europe has far too little religion (insert unqualified French reference here).
Us Americans are just religiously perfect. How lucky is that!
Mark (#83) paints a bleak portrait of Europe. Europe has many problems, but so far as comparisons of self-sufficiency are concerned, I suggest he compare the USA's trade balances with those of Germany, for example. (The UK's is almost as bad as the USA's, because our economies have followed similar unsustainable trajectories, which involved scrapping large parts of our manufacturing capacity.) The US economy now depends on the goodwill of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party: should they decide to sell China's enormous dollar holdings, accumulated in exchange for all the cheap Chinese goods exported to the USA, the current credit crunch would look like very small beer.
#93: why would the Chinese elite want to undercut their best customer and ruin the foundation of their wealth? The US is betting that their devotion to Communism (another Western cultural import) is really not that deep. Until the Chinese elite trust their own government and banks more than they trust those of the US, the situation will not change.
Re self-sufficiency: Europe cannot grow enough food to feed itself. The USA can. Of course, unless world trade totally collapses, this will not be a problem; nor will the trade deficit.
If the US stops buying German imports, I suggest that they will be in some trouble too. No advanced modern nation is "self-sufficient"; economic autarky equals poverty.
Anyway none of this matters. I am tired of European carping. They will do and say what they want, and so will we. The Atlantic is widening.