RSS Feed MenuClick here for all of David Frum’s blogposts on Mitt Romney’s “No Apology”.
Pp. 22-34 of Romney’s No Apology offer the reader a juicy hunk of red meat, attacks on President Obama as a denier of American greatness, uncomfortable with American ideals of freedom, who anticipates and perhaps even welcomes American decline, and who receives plaudits from hostile authoritarians like Muammar Qaddafi and Hugo Chavez. He condemns Obama for canceling the eastern European missile defense project and for leaning too hard on Israel.
There are interesting clues in this section however that Romney’s own policy preferences diverge somewhat from those of his red meat audience. While he condemns Obama for placing greater pressure on Israel to make concessions than upon the Palestinians, he does not categorically rule out all concessions by Israel – or for that matter any future pressure upon Israel. Romney endorses the Colombia free-trade agreement, not unanimously popular with conservatives. While Darfur gets a glancing mention (p. 30), Romney exhibits none of the excitement for this cause prevalent among some evangelical Christians.
The voice is the voice of talk radio, but the hands are the hands of Brent Scowcroft.
Chekote // Mar 10, 2010 at 11:09 pm
Why is this site pushing phoney Romney?
Independent // Mar 10, 2010 at 11:17 pm
Newsflash my Starfleet friend, Mitt Romney has a new book out which outlines a path for the country to return to normalcy and prudent policies.
We’re hoping that DavidF spends more time assessing those proposed policies and less time worrying about making the John Edwards’ metaphor of 2 Americas work.
Hope is a family value for conservatives, too.
Chekote // Mar 10, 2010 at 11:36 pm
I am sick of Romney. He has shown that has no core beliefs. Who knows which Romney will run and that is the problem. I think the title of his book is Stupid. He needs to leave the stage and make room for new leaders.
mlloyd // Mar 11, 2010 at 8:03 am
I appreciate the point that Romney isn’t exactly a Kristol disciple, but I’m not sure it’s fair to invoke Brent Scowcroft. His proteges like Colin Powell and Robert Gates are endorsing/in the Obama administration. It’s hard to imagine him signing on to any of Romney’s pro-forma jingoistic nonsense.
Independent // Mar 11, 2010 at 10:59 am
Paging Admiral Chekote?
You may be “sick of Romney” –I wonder why? Is it all about the hair for you or do you have substantive reasons for opposing his efforts to rebuild and strengthen the GOP, help raise funds for 2010 candidates and layout a strategy for America recapturing her Reagan-era glory when America was once again that shining city on the hill? I mean, isn’t that what a good GOPer is supposed to do for his Party?
Romney knows that Obama has permanently tarnished the US image abroad and with our allies. Obama’s sold our national soul down the river in his singular effort to flatten out the American promise so that it’s no higher than the lowest, 3rd world muslim country still praying on dirt floors –it’s why “No Apology” is an apt title. Just like Obama’s mentor, Jimmy Carter, destroyed American military might, America’s diplomatic standing in the world and created today’s most effective Jihadist terrorist state in Iran because Carter couldn’t be flexible in his persistence to enforce his view of interntl human rights on then pro-America Iran.
Romney knows that another 4 yrs of failed Obama leadership isn’t the right course for America. American presidents shouldn’t begin their Administration by apologizing to despotic, secular countries for what Obama and Democrats see as American excesses of the past generation.
“No Apology” is the perfect title for any caring, thoughtful patriot intent on ending this nightmare we call Rule by Obami.
sparty // Mar 11, 2010 at 11:17 am
Independent:
“Romney knows that Obama has permanently tarnished the US image abroad and with our allies. ”
http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2009/07/23/ba-obama0724_pol_SFCG1248393003.jpg
““No Apology” is the perfect title for any caring, thoughtful patriot intent on ending this nightmare we call Rule by Obami.”
I think you forgot to Capitalize Patriot.
“Hope is a family value for conservatives, too.”
No, “hope” is an empty platitude, offered by empty suits (and usually read off of a teleprompter).
Independent // Mar 11, 2010 at 11:48 am
sparty: while I can appreciate a poll that purports to be able to gauge world opinion, some of those countries aren’t conducive to polling –and the simplest example to show you how wrong your San Francisco values paper can be is to look to two of America’s longest termed allies –England and France. Neither country’s leadership have found much positive in your president’s “leadership”.
In fact, both France and England’s elected leaders have had to lecture Obama about the requirements of leadership of late.
I get that Kenya is happy we elected one of their native sons to the WH –I guess they aren’t aware that Obama ran from that point during the campaign.
I get it that muslim countries who harbor terrorists love Obama and the Democrats. Honest, it’s a natural fit.
No Apology is the perfect title for any book that reflects upon where America is and where we need to be and how to get there after this Nightmare on Pennsylvania Street and the Capitol are left behind.
sinz54 // Mar 11, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Independent:
I don’t believe Romney is sincere. He’ll say anything to win votes, anything.
I live in MA. He was my governor, and he also ran for senator from my state.
He constantly flip-flops with the political winds.
On abortion: He was pro-life, then as a MA candidate he was pro-choice, then as a GOP hopeful for the Presidency he became pro-life again.
On health care: As governor of MA, he created RomneyCare, which has the Grand Bargain of guaranteed issue in exchange for mandated universal coverage. Then when he started trying to win the GOP nomination for President, he ran away from his own health care program. Now he criticizes ObamaCare (and it deserves to be criticized). But he neglects to mention that the basic principles of ObamaCare–guaranteed issue, mandated universal coverage, subsidies for the poor–are the same as the principles in RomneyCare. (In fact, RomneyCare had a public option for the needy, which even ObamaCare doesn’t have.)
He’s not fooling the GOP base. RedState.com is well aware that ObamaCare’s basic model resembles RomneyCare–and they despise RomneyCare.
sparty // Mar 11, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Independent:
“sparty: while I can appreciate a poll that purports to be able to gauge world opinion, some of those countries aren’t conducive to polling –and the simplest example to show you how wrong your San Francisco values paper can be is to look to two of America’s longest termed allies –England and France. Neither country’s leadership have found much positive in your president’s “leadership”.”
Actually, it doesn’t appear that you can “appreciate a poll.” In fact, it appears that you summarily dismiss a poll (“San Francisco values”) based solely on who reported the poll, not who took the poll (that’s Pew, by the way – totally UnAmerican, I know). If FNC reported this poll, would it be more authoritative?
“I get that Kenya is happy we elected one of their native sons to the WH…blahblahblah…”
So that portion of the poll that conforms to narrative (Obama is a dangerous outsider! Not one of “us”!) is legitimate? I thought some of those countries were “not conducive to polling”? Are you suggesting that Kenya (and not any of the other countries, of course) is the only county that is “conducive” to polling?
Why do I even bother to respond to you? I present a poll that refutes your baseless opinion. You respond with more baseless opinions. Isn’t this website supposed to be tailored to intelligent debate and not mindless GOP/FNC drivel? I think you’d be more comfortable at RedState, TownHall, or Imabraindeadconservative.com.
DFL // Mar 11, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Perhaps the businessman in Romney informs him that virtually bankrupt countries must cut military expenditures and refrain from overseas adventures.
Independent // Mar 11, 2010 at 7:14 pm
sparty, I’ll leave aside the uncivil tone you’ve adopted here and stick to the simplest facts.
I can appreciate a poll. I know how they work, very well. I use them professionally and know their limits. The poll purports to be able to assess “world opinion” changing because of Obama’s Apology Tour –which, of course, is simply a silly notion. Most of the countries that the poll purports to gauge are countries where polling is nearly impossible and any polling completed is utterly useless to gauge something like world opinion on America because she elected Obama.
What part of a mud floors, no electricty and widely dispersed populations normally beyond pollsters’ grasp can’t you seem to understand here? Kenya is one of the nations that your poll shows a wildly pro-American sentiment… in fact it tops the poll for most favorable. Do you really think any polling group can say it adequately canvassed Kenya’s population and secured a legitimate sampling? Sure Obama they consider Obama to be one of theirs… he’s the son of one of their native sons and has many family members still living in huts there.
No one said Obama is a dangeorus outsider… except the birthers, maybe. And I don’t think they say he’s an outsider per se… just not an American born citizen with proper standing to be president. Sure, his grammar school in Indonesia –which he’ll be visiting once again this month– still thinks he’s a registered Muslim, but in America that’s hardly an outsider.
Frankly, I don’t get all the uncivil, snarling, dismissive tone in your comments.
I think you might benefit from reflecting on your tone before posting. Or an editor’s red pencil, maybe? Either way, try to limit the discussion to the issues at hand and stop playing the ‘tude game. ok?
Independent // Mar 11, 2010 at 7:29 pm
sina54 “Independent: I don’t believe Romney is sincere. He’ll say anything to win votes, anything.” and “He’s not fooling the GOP base.”
OK, there you go again trying to argue you know something about Romney that you clearly don’t know –even with your experience in Massachusetts. I’ll tell you what, Sinz54, Romney is the first politician I’ve ever met in 30+ yrs of political activism who is rightly saddled with a conscience. He knows, by lying, he’s paving his way to Hell and an eternity separate from his family, his wife and kids.
That’s a huge burden for telling lies. Romney doesn’t. As far as a willingness to flip flop on policies with the kind of cavalier nature that’s usually reserved for John Kerry, I can only tell you that I’ve heard him address that issue str8 on in small group donor meetings and he explains it that if he didn’t mature on the issues and adjust his position based on learning more, thinking clearer and listening to others –you’d nail him for being doctrinaire.
He –and any politician– can’t win with your restrictions and expectations.
As for trying to announce that you know what the GOP base wants, is or needs. I can only say that you continue to boast of being an independent. You don’t know what the GOP base wants, needs, or desires. And from some of the comments lately, you don’t have a clue about partisans or party politics either. I’m not condemning you; I’m just saying you should stick to speaking about what motivates you, maybe expanding that to what might motivate other independents –which is your special claim– and leave discerning and describing what the GOP base wants to those who actually are a part of it, ok?
RedState is hardly the GOP base. Both you and sparty toss it about like it’s the Queen’s Seal of GOP Bases. It isn’t. Anymore that this webzine is a moderate voice within the conservative movement. This webzine is a progressive voice for moderating the GOP base, not rebuilding it. Two very different goals.
Stick to what you know. Like what motivates an independent… let people with authority speak to the other issue… like people who are part of the GOP base.