Presidential Campaign

The buzz over whom Mitt Romney will pick as his running mate has all but consumed Washington, and the suspense is killing me — but the suspense in the political universe of Rick Santorum is not. Turns out Santorum is actually waiting to be given a speaking slot in Tampa at the Republican National Convention. As the list of speakers trickles out — leading to speculation that any names left off the roster remain on the shortlist for vice presidential contention — Santorum (perhaps the last Republican next to Newt Gingrich on the planet to be selected as a running mate) is waiting for his speaking invitation.

I just saw this latest Priorities USA ad suggesting that Mitt Romney, through Bain Capital, killed a woman when the firm she worked for went under and she lost her healthcare benefits and passed away from illness. Bain is a legitimate issue, so long as facts are respected and truth is taken seriously. This ad is not merely over the top. It is sickening. It is despicable. It is unworthy of a sitting president. It is unworthy of a candidate for president. It is unworthy even of the campaign from hell we are witnessing. It embarrasses me to be a Democrat that this is what our party offers to reelect a president after four years in office. The disgraceful behavior of certain Republicans is no excuse for an ad like this from Democrats.

Three cheers for Harry Reid's roundhouse punch against Mitt Romney's efforts to hide his legal tax avoidance that was enabled by those in the 1 percent who bought tax laws enacted by their lobbyists between fundraisers for politicians who voted for them. And now we know Mitt Romney's real vice president, Sheldon Adelson, whose power is a gift to privilege that is the legacy of Chief Justice Roberts and Citizens United. Romney seems to believe he can buy the presidency. Adelson seems to believe he can buy president. Mitt Romney is the candidate now on sale.

What is Mitt Romney hiding?  What is he so afraid of?  Why doesn't he release years of his tax returns, as his father, former Michigan Gov. George Romney, a very good man, did?

In my column today I warned that even after seven years of running for president, Mitt Romney would be dangerous for America and the world as commander in chief. I emphasize: The column was NOT about his obviously disastrous trip to Europe. The incompetence of this trip is old news. The issue I raise is far deeper and more serious and dangerous. The role of commander-chief of the American military is a high responsibility. On issue after issue, over the course of years, Mitt Romney has shown he lacks the qualification, preparation, temperament, skill and depth to lead our military. Mitt Romney is as unqualified to command as Sarah Palin.

If President Obama visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Poland, and the The Daily Caller's Neil Munro shouted a question to him about his alleged "gaffes" — would the media and Democrats defend Munro? (Romney did not commit gaffes, by the way.) Would the slams and barbs be directed at Obama for not answering the question?

The opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games displayed Britain’s contemporary cultural relevance and glorious heritage.

Which makes it all the more puzzling why Mitt Romney shied from embracing the so-called "shared heritage" comments London’s Daily Telegraph attributed to one of his staffers last week.

Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul distanced the Republican presidential challenger from the comments in a hasty bid to stanch the Obama campaign’s predictable misrepresentation of the words.

I’m getting sick of the rewriting of 2008 presidential campaign history as K Street Republicans continue to assault Sarah Palin in the fear that a similarly conservative Republican will rise to the top of the VP sweepstakes.
 
It has been so fashionable in D.C. Republican circles to bash the Palin nomination as a mistake, ill-conceived or even disastrous, that even Dick Chaney has gotten into the act.
 
These self-serving attempts to change history are nothing more than a smear campaign designed to influence the Romney VP pick by obscuring the truth that the choice of Sarah Palin to be the vice presidential nominee was truly inspired.

Mitt Romney wrapped up his first foreign tour as presidential candidate today in Poland.

The Republican presidential contender had a chance to shine in his swing through London for the Olympics, as well as Israel and Poland. His appearances in cities of three key U.S. allies should have been a breeze and enhanced his standing as potential commander in chief. Not only did he blow it, he left a trail of controversy behind him, with his hosts feeling obliged to contradict his message on every single stop.

Mitt Romney's latest opining about wealth, as he concludes his gaffe-laden visit to Europe, betrays a lack of understanding about American tradition and world affairs. I would note that Romney has not only opined about Israeli culture versus Palestinian culture. He has made the same argument about American culture versus Mexican culture (this will not be a big hit in Latin America or with Hispanic voters). Romney has made the same argument about the culture of Chile versus the culture of Ecuador. Who will Romney insult next?

Mitt Romney acts as though he is a member of the House of Lords, or a royal family, with some inherent superiority of one group or class versus another. In this world Romney appears to envision himself in the privileged class along with whomever he’s pandering to at the given moment he offers his opinions.