# Assuming Mitt Romney replaces Orrin Hatch, what are your expectations for Mitt? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 3, 2018, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-mitt-romney-replaces-orrin-hatch-what-are-your-expectations-for-mitt/805796 "2018-01-03T14:18:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2018, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-mitt-romney-replaces-orrin-hatch-what-are-your-expectations-for-mitt/805796/41 "2018-01-05T22:21:21Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > You recognize that that’s fucked up, right? ETA: apparently not. Why’s that? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2018, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-mitt-romney-replaces-orrin-hatch-what-are-your-expectations-for-mitt/805796/42 "2018-01-06T05:29:24Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Man, seriously, do you find your political predictions have been solid and reliable over these past couple of years? I’m not impugning you specifically; rather, I’m finding it impossible to make any prediction with any degree of confidence about what’s gonna happen in American politics. > > Until things settle down to business as usual, I don’t know what the hell is gonna happen. > > As for Romney: I said in 2012, I didn’t want him to win, but much like McCain, he’d be the sort of Republican that could be dealt with. To borrow PJ O’Rourke’s perfect endorsement of Hillary Clinton, Romney is “wrong within normal parameters.” Hence the “at least I hope so” part. And yes, I’m absolutely confident that Republicans will never desert their anointed pussygrabber unless it’s so blatantly obvious to everyone including Deplorables that he broke the law. In other words, no chance in hell. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-mitt-romney-replaces-orrin-hatch-what-are-your-expectations-for-mitt/805796/43 "2018-01-07T16:42:44Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > You recognize that that’s fucked up, right? Recognize what specifically? “Many conservatives are suspicious of his Massachusetts background.” That seems like a completely innocuous statement. Many conservatives are suspicious of Romney’s Massachusetts background. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-mitt-romney-replaces-orrin-hatch-what-are-your-expectations-for-mitt/805796/44 "2018-01-07T18:10:27Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Recognize what specifically? > > “Many conservatives are suspicious of his Massachusetts background.” > > That seems like a completely innocuous statement. Many conservatives are suspicious of Romney’s Massachusetts background. But what does that mean? What does coming from Massachusetts do that make him suspicious? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-mitt-romney-replaces-orrin-hatch-what-are-your-expectations-for-mitt/805796/45 "2018-01-07T18:26:10Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > But what does that mean? What does coming from Massachusetts do that make him suspicious? One question at a time, please. Why should someone/you/ **HurricaneDitka** /I recognize that that’s fucked up? Right? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-mitt-romney-replaces-orrin-hatch-what-are-your-expectations-for-mitt/805796/46 "2018-01-07T18:32:27Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > But what does that mean? What does coming from Massachusetts do that make him suspicious? Too many syllables. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-mitt-romney-replaces-orrin-hatch-what-are-your-expectations-for-mitt/805796/47 "2018-01-07T18:38:31Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > One question at a time, please. Why should someone/you/ **HurricaneDitka** /I recognize that that’s fucked up? Right? There is just one question. Just as you have two question marks in your post, but only one question, I am asking what the statement, “Many conservatives are suspicious of his Massachusetts background.” means. Part of that explanation is explaining why coming from massachusetts makes one suspicious, and part of that is explaining what suspicions those are. It is pretty fucked up to just drop that statement with no explanation, reasoning or rational behind it. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-mitt-romney-replaces-orrin-hatch-what-are-your-expectations-for-mitt/805796/48 "2018-01-07T19:40:14Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > M > No, Utah gets two Senators, same as every other state. They get \*two \*LDS senators. Quite a few LDS senators. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-mitt-romney-replaces-orrin-hatch-what-are-your-expectations-for-mitt/805796/49 "2018-01-10T19:37:02Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > There is just one question. Just as you have two question marks in your post, but only one question, I am asking what the statement, “Many conservatives are suspicious of his Massachusetts background.” means. > > Part of that explanation is explaining why coming from massachusetts makes one suspicious, and part of that is explaining what suspicions those are. > > It is pretty fucked up to just drop that statement with no explanation, reasoning or rational behind it. That “statement” that you claimed was dropped was actually a question. A question that, hopefully, **Left Hand of Dorkness** would answer. With his Massachusetts background, many conservatives would consider Mitt to be more of a liberal than a conservative. Any attempt by Mitt to run for a national office as a resident of Utah, instead of Massachusetts, suggests that Mitt couldn’t get elected in Massachusetts where he is well known. I wonder if Utah voters are sympathetic/gullible enough to elect the Mitt-meister? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-mitt-romney-replaces-orrin-hatch-what-are-your-expectations-for-mitt/805796/50 "2018-01-10T19:51:43Z")
Romney could not be re-elected in Massachusetts. That’s a statement of fact. He’s known it himself, since he spent half of his term as governor making speeches in red country about how horrible Massachusetts is. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-mitt-romney-replaces-orrin-hatch-what-are-your-expectations-for-mitt/805796/51 "2018-01-10T20:01:22Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > That “statement” that you claimed was dropped was actually a question. A question that, hopefully, **Left Hand of Dorkness** would answer. I see no question in this: > [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Many conservatives are suspicious of his Massachusetts background. He’s always struck me as a moderate, and here in this thread, most people expect him to be a Collins / McCain. If they don’t count as moderate, I don’t know who would. If the suspicion is that he is not a radical, and is more of a moderate, then I suppose that suspicion is warranted, but I was thinking that the suspicion went further than that he was a person who was able to rationally work with his political opponents. If the end of the suspicion is that he isn’t far far right, then I don’t see that as being that bad a thing. Is it really that a republican is disqualified in the eyes of the voters if he is not part of the far right? I consider Romney to be pretty far to the right, if he’s not right enough for republicans, then I am starting to see where the problem lies. > [@](#): > > With his Massachusetts background, many conservatives would consider Mitt to be more of a liberal than a conservative. Any attempt by Mitt to run for a national office as a resident of Utah, instead of Massachusetts, suggests that Mitt couldn’t get elected in Massachusetts where he is well known. No liberal would consider Mitt to be a liberal. I assumed that he went to Utah to live and to hold office because of his Mormon roots, and the reason that he cannot get elected in Massachusetts is because he is too conservative for them. Take a look at their current delegation. Though the governor is republican, both senators and all the representatives are democrats. So, you are correct that he cannot get elected in massachusetts, but that is because he is too far to the right for them, not a liberal in disguise. I wonder if Utah voters are sympathetic/gullible enough to elect the Mitt-meister? [/QUOTE] I don’t know all that much about utah politics, but I don’t know that it would require sympathy or gullibility in order to elect a person who actually has a ton of experience, has pretty solid conservative credentials, and is a member of the religion that is dominant in the state. If I were a conservative, I would be very happy to vote for mitt. He seems competent, and the only problem I have with him is that his ideology is very far to the right of mine. You are telling me that his ideology is far to the left of yours? No, he’s not. Probably not an impediment in this case. No, Utah gets two Senators, same as every other state. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-mitt-romney-replaces-orrin-hatch-what-are-your-expectations-for-mitt/805796/52 "2018-01-10T21:01:57Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > No liberal would consider Mitt to be a liberal. I assumed that he went to Utah to live and to hold office because of his Mormon roots, and the reason that he cannot get elected in Massachusetts is because he is too conservative for them. Take a look at their current delegation. Though the governor is republican, both senators and all the representatives are democrats. > > So, you are correct that he cannot get elected in massachusetts, but that is because he is too far to the right for them, not a liberal in disguise. > I wonder if Utah voters are sympathetic/gullible enough to elect the Mitt-meister? I don’t know all that much about utah politics, but I don’t know that it would require sympathy or gullibility in order to elect a person who actually has a ton of experience, has pretty solid conservative credentials, and is a member of the religion that is dominant in the state. If I were a conservative, I would be very happy to vote for mitt. He seems competent, and the only problem I have with him is that his ideology is very far to the right of mine. You are telling me that his ideology is far to the left of yours? [/QUOTE] [/QUOTE] (post shortened) I’m telling you that Mitt’s Massachusetts history might not play well with potential, pro-Mitt, conservative, voters outside of Massachusetts. Which is why I originally questioned why the news media outlets were acting as if Mitt had a lock on Hatch’s old seat. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-mitt-romney-replaces-orrin-hatch-what-are-your-expectations-for-mitt/805796/53 "2018-01-10T21:21:37Z")
The quotes are a bit garbled, so it’s kind of hard to follow, but in response to your questions: > [@k9bfriender](#): > > I see no question in this: I think he was referring back to [post #41](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=20705609#post20705609) / #43 > [@k9bfriender](#): > > Is it really that a republican is disqualified in the eyes of the voters if he is not part of the far right? “disqualified”? No. But perhaps not the preferred candidate, just like a moderate Jim-Webb-style Dem might not be the preferred candidate of the Dem primary voters and donors. > [@k9bfriender](#): > > If I were a conservative, I would be very happy to vote for mitt. He seems competent, and the only problem I have with him is that his ideology is very far to the right of mine. You are telling me that his ideology is far to the left of yours? It’s a ways to the left of mine. If I had a choice between a clone of Mike Lee, Mitt Romney, and the trans-gendered grocery store cashier the Dems put up last election, Mitt would be my second choice. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-mitt-romney-replaces-orrin-hatch-what-are-your-expectations-for-mitt/805796/54 "2018-01-10T21:31:40Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > “disqualified”? No. But perhaps not the preferred candidate, just like a moderate Jim-Webb-style Dem might not be the preferred candidate of the Dem primary voters and donors. Would you still vote for him over a dem, if he gets the nomination? > [@](#): > > It’s a ways to the left of mine. If I had a choice between a clone of Mike Lee, Mitt Romney, and the trans-gendered grocery store cashier the Dems put up last election, Mitt would be my second choice. Assuming that you are not picking the “trans-gendered grocery store cashier”, is Mike far enough to the right for you, or would you prefer he distance himself further from the center? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-mitt-romney-replaces-orrin-hatch-what-are-your-expectations-for-mitt/805796/55 "2018-01-10T21:59:20Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Would you still vote for him over a dem, if he gets the nomination? Yes, probably. There’s actually a small chance I’d vote for someone like Jim Matheson (a Democrat, for those that aren’t familiar with him), depending on the positions they staked out during the campaign. > [@k9bfriender](#): > > Assuming that you are not picking the “trans-gendered grocery store cashier”, is Mike far enough to the right for you, or would you prefer he distance himself further from the center? Mike Lee is about right for me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-mitt-romney-replaces-orrin-hatch-what-are-your-expectations-for-mitt/805796.md?page=2)