Why Did Mitt Romney Lose The 2012 Presidential Election?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Hopefully this defeat will open the door for the Libertarian Party, fiscally conservative and socially liberal. I have said before that the core of the current Republiucan party is full of religious busy bodies, mainstream America wants nothing to do with that anymore.

Polls have shown time and time again that in spite of all the partisan bickering, the average American voter is not an ideologue. They are open to solutions. The candidates and the party that offer the most reasonable solutions will typically garner a majority of independent voters.

[dalegg 143]

[quote name=' timestamp='1352317437' post='5807988]

You guys should have nominated Huntsman.

I heard Huntsman speak and he seemed pretty logical. Gonna take a heck of a lot to get a guy like that past the primaries though.

[^_^ 5,021]

I heard Huntsman speak and he seemed pretty logical. Gonna take a heck of a lot to get a guy like that past the primaries though.

Not this GOP, but maybe a different one. There's a very natural opening out there for a third party. Conservadems are really not all that enthusiastic about Obama and the general progressive direction of the D party.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

A great article on why Romney lost:

Romney couldn't overcome contradictions

Mitt Romney is a paradox. If you saw a photo of him and didn't know who he was, you might assume from the square jaw, trappings of wealth and arcane haircut that he was the perfect country-club Republican.

But that would be too simple, especially in this election.

Romney only looks like an insider. But in many ways, he has remained an outsider.

For one thing, the Romney-Ryan presidential ticket, which lost the election Tuesday to President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, was the first in history not to include a Protestant. (Romney would have been the first Mormon president, Rep. Paul Ryan is Catholic.)

He's a Republican who won election in a blue state. The people of Massachusetts may know the former governor as a bipartisan moderate, yet he sold himself on the national stage as "severely conservative." In his own state, he invented what many regard as the prototype for Obamacare, yet he repeatedly vowed to repeal Obama's version of it.

More here:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/07/opinion/stanley-romney-history/index.html?hpt=hp_t3_7

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Four years is a long ways away. The Republicans need to go back to the winner formula of nominating western and southern governors. Trouble is, I don't see of any those in the queue. Actually, the queue is empty for the first time, that could be a good thing. Romney already had his bite at the apple and much like McCain, Gore, and Kerry, his political career is toast.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

[quote name=' timestamp='1352319927' post='5808107]

Not this GOP, but maybe a different one. There's a very natural opening out there for a third party. Conservadems are really not all that enthusiastic about Obama and the general progressive direction of the D party.

The Democrats and Republicans have too much invested in the system, and have gone to great pains to lock out any independent third party movements. Buy more ammo.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Polls have shown time and time again that in spite of all the partisan bickering, the average American voter is not an ideologue. They are open to solutions. The candidates and the party that offer the most reasonable solutions will typically garner a majority of independent voters.

What you say about finding solutions is correct. The stonewalling on Obamacare by the Repubs was the last straw for me. I do believe we should have universal healthcare. I am not crazy about the plan Obama put in place, but for crying out loud it passed 467 times, it was time to move on.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I don't think a party can expect to maintain control of government on the premise that government doesn't work. It might be easier to make that argument when you aren't the party in power, but once you gain control, that rhetoric quickly becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. While most Americans would never regard government as 'the solution', they recognize that it can and should be part of a myriad of solutions to the problems we face today.

[decocker 7,198]

Obama is too much corporatist, to conservative, for the liberals, and is pretty much a likable Republican.

In contrast, Romney, the supposed Republican, has alienated everyone except the super rich, the white trailer trash, and the bible clinging folks. It's not possible to become the President of a country with those people alone.

But if you tell me that I cannot get affordable health care that you yourself have created for your own state, that you want to take away my Medicare retirement fund and turn it into a voucher system for the private corporations, and that you will appoint one or more right wing judges that will try to take everything away we have gained in the past 50 years in terms of public liberties, then you can't get my vote. Worst, if I perceive you as a liar without a backbone who would say anything and do everything to fulfill your personal wet dream, you really can't get my vote.

this is all complete truth.

i wanted to vote for gary johnson - but i couldn't - not without guilt, seeing as i live in a swing state and my sister's health, future and happiness completely depends on the u.s. keeping the reforms to our health care system that obamacare inacted. my vote choice lay solely on romney stating he would repeal obamacare. plain and simple.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Four years is a long ways away. The Republicans need to go back to the winner formula of nominating western and southern governors. Trouble is, I don't see of any those in the queue. Actually, the queue is empty for the first time, that could be a good thing. Romney already had his bite at the apple and much like McCain, Gore, and Kerry, his political career is toast.

I agree with McCain and Gore and Romney being toast and as far as Presidential ambitions go, so is Kerry. But Kerry may very well end up taking the State Department once Hillary leaves the post. So, he's not quite done politically.

As for the Republican pipeline, it's not all empty. You still have Daniels, Jeb Bush, McDonnell and Christie just to name a few. There's really no shortage when you take a close look. The issue is that the Republican base needs to realize that in order for the Republicans to move into the White House, they will have to settle for a candidate that can appeal beyond the tea party freaks.

[Krikit 1,165]

and as a male I could care less about abortions, gun rights and such stuff.

How much less could you care?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

You still have Daniels, Jeb Bush, McDonnell and Christie just to name a few.

Except for Jeb, wrong part of the country, and America is not going to elect another Bush until the next generation comes around. Christie is too fat, and tossed his Republican credentials away by clinging onto Obama. Good for his state, which is what a governor should do, but suicide for a Presidential bid. All four you named have potential as a VP, but not as a headliner.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Except for Jeb, wrong part of the country, and America is not going to elect another Bush until the next generation comes around. Christie is too fat, and tossed his Republican credentials away by clinging onto Obama. Good for his state, which is what a governor should do, but suicide for a Presidential bid. All four you named have potential as a VP, but not as a headliner.

Haley?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Haley?

Love the guy, but he has some gaffs that make his an easy target for the left. Jindal is a maybe. Huckabee is a dark horse still. Let's see who makes the governor rolls in 2014. California will be tired of Brown by then, and a good jumping off spot for President in 2016.

[SMOKE 1,426]

Love the guy, but he has some gaffs that make his an easy target for the left. Jindal is a maybe. Huckabee is a dark horse still. Let's see who makes the governor rolls in 2014. California will be tired of Brown by then, and a good jumping off spot for President in 2016.

4 years out.... maybe rubio, ryan, cantor nah eric looks and sounds like a smug rich white bread DH.

Edited November 7, 2012 by SMOKE