If I'm right about this, I also suspect that they aren't going to repeat McCain's mistakes in the 2008 campaign. Neither will they lie to themselves about what those mistakes were. I googled "2008 McCain campaign mistakes" and got several different takes on what McCain did wrong. And just for fun, I'll present it as a quiz:
In 2008, McCain's bid was washed up when he:
a) chose Palin for VP.
b) hurried to Washington to help with the financial crisis.
c) didn't talk about tax cuts in response to Obama's tax proposals.
d) moved further to the right after the primaries.In my opinion, the answer is (b), but (a) and (d) didn't help either. Just to be safe, Romney won't be repeating any of these errors. He'll choose someone with plenty of experience for VP, he won't run around like a self-proclaimed savior if there's a crisis, he will talk about cutting tax rates (but will be vague about how he'll reduce deductions), and will continue toeing the not-quite-hard-conservative line. He'll resist calls to make additional conservative pledges, like lowering all taxes or shutting down the EPA. He'll stay right where he is. That way conservatives can't prove he's going soft for the general election, but moderates will see that he's not a pawn of the hard right or Tea Party.
He'll also remain measured in his attacks on Obama, challenging the policies and the introduction of European-like programs, but not insulting Obama's personality or patriotism. Those wanting blood on the campaign trail will be disappointed because Romney will keep his Mormon reserve -- no swearing, no heart-pumping stimulants like coffee or Coke, no inhibition-reducing elixirs like whiskey. Romney will handle Obama the way he beat Gingrich in Florida--repeating Obama's own words back at him with hard precision. Both men have a cool, controlled style, so this contest will feel different from any other race. Perhaps it will feel like a Reagan vs. Kennedy match-up, though Romney is a less forceful speaker than Reagan.
With that thought, I'm actually looking forward to the general campaign. Boy have I set myself up for disappointment. (And sooner than I thought. See the comments.)
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| Squint and he looks like |
Other top mistakes:
- McCain tried to be a populist against Wall Street.
- McCain attacked the media during a crisis when people were hungry for news.
- McCain's brother was loud and obnoxious.
- McCain had a weekly dose of pressure from conservative bloggers. The Daily Caller recommends Romney repeat this mistake.
- McCain had a ludicrous proposal for the uninsured.
6 comments:
MP,
Reagan vs Kennedy? Yeeeaaah, I think that is sitting yourself up pretty badly. I suspect Adlai Stevenson vs Richard Nixon is more to the point. That is competent and controlled, but without any particularly memorable points either good or bad. If the economy keeps improving Obama wins. If it dips, Romney wins. I doubt issues as such will matter (whatever happens with ACA). Most people don't really care about them, and most that do have already made up their minds.
The senate races may well be where the interest and excitement are this year.
But I like my Kennedy/Reagan analogy. My imagination rarely kicks in, so I'm going to enjoy when I can.
Can I also pretend that we have a real democracy, not just the soulless economy determining the outcome of the election? Though maybe that is the better way to do it...
Well, MP, you are in good company. As was said of Thomas Jefferson, "no one can dream more beautiful dreams." For what it's worth, I hope you are right.
But, unfortunately, I suffer from chronic insomnia (literally, in fact). People are disillusioned and disappointed in Obama (whether fairly or not is a matter for debate), while Romney has the charisma and style of, well, a very successful management consultant. Obama can be eloquent when pressed to the wall, but that isn't very often, whereas Romney's eloquence is in his accomplishments -- and he is treating the biggest one like a rotting albatross some enemy chained to his neck.
Add to that the average voter doesn't compare favorably in wisdom with Wendall Wilkie, much less Solomon. Indeed, the average voter does not think much at all, but is rather a creature of habit who votes for a party instead of candidates or policies. I fear that this year, even in the face of all the problems we have, money (in the sense of the perceived direction of the economy) will trump policy.
One thing I have observed in the US is that our democracy is self-correcting. If we shift into an untenable belief (Commies!), we don't remain there. This is something that gives me more hope than anything else.
I honestly hope you are correct. It is said that the weakness of the fanatic is that he always harbors a secret doubt. Well, the weakness of the cynic is we always harbor a secret hope. Deep in our hearts, we want to be proved wrong.
Come back, Anastasios. You were right. This is not going to be a good campaign. Maybe the debates will be good, but even that doesn't seem likely.
Instead, we'll have stupid talking points for 5 months, and at the debates, they'll have to stick to the stupid talking points.
Maybe I can go into a medically induced coma and come out in October. That is perhaps the only thing that will preserve my sanity.
This prompted my comment. Stupid campaign bullshit ... how many months of this to go?
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