While I did HOPE he would run, the deciding factor for him – always – is the health of Ann Romney. She was willing, but not enthusiastic, from what I have read.
Pablosays
Dearest Porcupine:
You are one of a couple of Republicans who know and really like the guy. I have other friends who describe him as a kind, thoughtful, caring sort, and have nothing but praise for Ann.
I don’t quite get it.
I had cause to meet, and meet with, Mitt Romney several times during his administration. My sense is that he had nothing but disdain for me and my municipal colleagues. I know that many members of the legislature felt the same way.
I find I genuinely like most elected officials, in part because you need a good dose of that trait to succeed in electoral politics. Mitt was one of the rare folks who I really couldn’t warm up to as a person, and it’s tough to generate a dose of compassion for the man.
A campaign for high political office, especially a losing campaign, is an extended opportunity for daily humiliation. I am so torn between the disappointment that I won’t see Mitt going through another losing campaign, filled with photo-ops with livestock in Iowa, versus the compassionate view that he won’t need to endure this humiliation on his way to another loss.
Davidsays
there is an enormous divide between Romney’s personal and professional personas. He obviously loves his family, apparently is a great guy to be around at dinner parties, etc. etc. But when it comes to business (whether private or public sector), to quote a prominent Republican who worked with him professionally, “ice runs in those veins.”
Peter Porcupinesays
The only worse natural politician than Romney is Baker.
MA has a sleazy gladhanding style expected of public officials. Romney is somewhat shy and disdains faking personal relationships, so did poorly at that. He had no desire to be chums – he wanted to end inefficiencies, curb waste, etc. Who else would have had the guts to abolish a hack haven like the MDC?
He wanted to do a good job for the state, not make new friends.
centralmassdadsays
He bailed on it, though, and then started running the state in a way that would help out in the Iowa caucuses.
Mark L. Bailsays
stuff I don’t like, but he comes across as more genuine than Romney. I may be wrong, but Baker doesn’t seem to be gunning for the White House either. He’s shown signs of actually trying to manage things, something I didn’t think Patrick did very well.
paulsimmonssays
He displayed a pretty good learning curve from his 2010 campaign.
I saw him a number of times during the Governor’s race, during which Baker came off as engaged and personally empathetic.
Peter Porcupinesays
Not a natural though. There was a joke by Jack Paar about his co-host Hugh Downs that if you asked him the time, he would tell you how to build a watch.
That’s Charlie Baker.
He will be a fine governor but he is still a terrible natural politician.
jconwaysays
Glad Dad showed me some ‘best of Parr’ specials on PBS, very complicated but witty persona.
And I think Baker was much, much better this time around at being engaging with people and hustling for every vote he could get. Coakley was too, she just didn’t have a message and Baker did.
I’ll echo Mark Bail too, I have been impressed with his cabinet picks so far, save for the McKinsey kid a few years older than me tapped to run Medicaid.
paulsimmonssays
I give Baker credit, however. He managed to turn retail liabilities into assets sufficient to his purpose…
farnkoffsays
Hooray?
I wish Romney was running, if only because I can’t abide the idea of another Bush.
jconwaysays
With the boomlet in the first place. I guess if he couldn’t handle the bad reaction, he wasn’t going to handle the campaign. Maybe Anne got cold feet or hopefully her condition didn’t get worse. But he seemed to have a plan on the tarmac like Cuomo did. Unless Jeb really made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.
Jasiusays
… is that you have to find a place to park that thing now, David.
We won’t have
NixonRomney to kick around any more.The famous “last press conference” by Richard Nixon.
While I did HOPE he would run, the deciding factor for him – always – is the health of Ann Romney. She was willing, but not enthusiastic, from what I have read.
Dearest Porcupine:
You are one of a couple of Republicans who know and really like the guy. I have other friends who describe him as a kind, thoughtful, caring sort, and have nothing but praise for Ann.
I don’t quite get it.
I had cause to meet, and meet with, Mitt Romney several times during his administration. My sense is that he had nothing but disdain for me and my municipal colleagues. I know that many members of the legislature felt the same way.
I find I genuinely like most elected officials, in part because you need a good dose of that trait to succeed in electoral politics. Mitt was one of the rare folks who I really couldn’t warm up to as a person, and it’s tough to generate a dose of compassion for the man.
A campaign for high political office, especially a losing campaign, is an extended opportunity for daily humiliation. I am so torn between the disappointment that I won’t see Mitt going through another losing campaign, filled with photo-ops with livestock in Iowa, versus the compassionate view that he won’t need to endure this humiliation on his way to another loss.
there is an enormous divide between Romney’s personal and professional personas. He obviously loves his family, apparently is a great guy to be around at dinner parties, etc. etc. But when it comes to business (whether private or public sector), to quote a prominent Republican who worked with him professionally, “ice runs in those veins.”
The only worse natural politician than Romney is Baker.
MA has a sleazy gladhanding style expected of public officials. Romney is somewhat shy and disdains faking personal relationships, so did poorly at that. He had no desire to be chums – he wanted to end inefficiencies, curb waste, etc. Who else would have had the guts to abolish a hack haven like the MDC?
He wanted to do a good job for the state, not make new friends.
He bailed on it, though, and then started running the state in a way that would help out in the Iowa caucuses.
stuff I don’t like, but he comes across as more genuine than Romney. I may be wrong, but Baker doesn’t seem to be gunning for the White House either. He’s shown signs of actually trying to manage things, something I didn’t think Patrick did very well.
He displayed a pretty good learning curve from his 2010 campaign.
I saw him a number of times during the Governor’s race, during which Baker came off as engaged and personally empathetic.
Not a natural though. There was a joke by Jack Paar about his co-host Hugh Downs that if you asked him the time, he would tell you how to build a watch.
That’s Charlie Baker.
He will be a fine governor but he is still a terrible natural politician.
Glad Dad showed me some ‘best of Parr’ specials on PBS, very complicated but witty persona.
And I think Baker was much, much better this time around at being engaging with people and hustling for every vote he could get. Coakley was too, she just didn’t have a message and Baker did.
I’ll echo Mark Bail too, I have been impressed with his cabinet picks so far, save for the McKinsey kid a few years older than me tapped to run Medicaid.
I give Baker credit, however. He managed to turn retail liabilities into assets sufficient to his purpose…
Hooray?
I wish Romney was running, if only because I can’t abide the idea of another Bush.
With the boomlet in the first place. I guess if he couldn’t handle the bad reaction, he wasn’t going to handle the campaign. Maybe Anne got cold feet or hopefully her condition didn’t get worse. But he seemed to have a plan on the tarmac like Cuomo did. Unless Jeb really made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.
… is that you have to find a place to park that thing now, David.
Judging from the photo.
I was so looking forward to learning about this guy’s war on poverty.