# I Pit Mitt ... (Romney that is) ... Massachusetts Governor **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 25, 2006, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-mitt-romney-that-is-massachusetts-governor/358173 "2006-05-25T15:15:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-mitt-romney-that-is-massachusetts-governor/358173/1 "2006-05-25T15:15:17Z")
Yes, I have been known to partake occasionally in a _few_ Dubya bashings. šŸ™‚ Now it seems we might be witnessing the emergence of a new Dubya for the next Presidential term. :eek: Mitt Romney (after heroically stemming the damage from the recent downpour here in Massachusetts) (see [Debaserā€™s post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=372037)) has now decided to visit the troops in Iraq. (Hey, why not? After all when the flood waters were rising, Romney went to Methuen, Massachusetts to visit a dam which turned out to be sound. How much more do you want from a Governor ?) Now the Governor has decided to visit our troops in Iraq but he insists this [trip](http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2006/05/25/romney_makes_surprise_stop_in_baghdad/) is _not_ political. Why of course - even though he _may_ be trying for the Presidency in 2008 and this might get him some national news exposure _and_ show that he heartily supports our troops. In fact the article says that Romney warned against a ``cut and run" pullout from the war-torn country. Thatā€™s a good one Mitt. After all, he didnā€™t ā€œcut and runā€ from his military responsibility during the Vietnam War. :rolleyes: He received college deferments and then a _religious_ deferment when he preached the word of Mormon in [France](http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/this_just_in/documents/05096826.asp). Mitt Romney, the son of a wealthy and politically powerful family, is gaining a startling similarity to another political figure. Hmmmm are we witnessing the beginning of Bush III - the _Final_ Insult? (The only thing Mitt forgot was to bring a ā€œMission Accomplishedā€ banner.) ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-mitt-romney-that-is-massachusetts-governor/358173/2 "2006-05-25T15:24:50Z")
I started a [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=339416) about this last October, and the general concensus was that he didnā€™t stand a chance. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-mitt-romney-that-is-massachusetts-governor/358173/3 "2006-05-25T15:30:27Z")
Without looking at your thread, **tdn** , Iā€™m going to hazard a guess that a mega-conservative like Romney needs the support of ā€œgood olā€™ American valuesā€ people whoā€™d never vote for a Mormon. ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-mitt-romney-that-is-massachusetts-governor/358173/4 "2006-05-25T15:41:24Z")
This isnā€™t me saying Mitt Romney is bad blahblahblah but do any of you Taxachusettians remember that crazy interview with his wife when he tried to run for Senate in the 90s and she came off as a total zombie? I was only in my teens but I swear I remember my eyes bugging out at the end of it and if I remember correctly, it was instrumental in dashing his Senate hopes at that time. I think it was published in the Living Arts section of the Globe. I ask only because I was telling my quasi-boss about it and he didnā€™t believe me and for the life of me I canā€™t find it now. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-mitt-romney-that-is-massachusetts-governor/358173/5 "2006-05-25T16:23:26Z")
I donā€™t give a shit about Romney one way or the other (I live in CA and he wonā€™t come near getting the nomination), but this may be the lamest pitting ever. If I understand you youā€™re pitting him for: - having a photo op at a dam - holding a position about the war the many politicans hold, Iā€™d say most, regardless of whether they would have gone into Iraq in the first pace. - visiting troops in Iraq, while claimiing that it has no political component - he comes from a wealthy family - he has religious convictions and acted on them For most of them, you may want to take into account HE IS A POLITICIAN! I look forward to your pitting every politician with similar ā€œfailingsā€. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-mitt-romney-that-is-massachusetts-governor/358173/6 "2006-05-25T16:38:04Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Without looking at your thread, **tdn** , Iā€™m going to hazard a guess that a mega-conservative like Romney needs the support of ā€œgood olā€™ American valuesā€ people whoā€™d never vote for a Mormon. Personally, I think you should go after Randiā€™s million. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-mitt-romney-that-is-massachusetts-governor/358173/7 "2006-05-25T16:56:35Z")
> [@anu-la1979](#): > > if I remember correctly, it was instrumental in dashing his Senate hopes at that time. Really? I thought having Ted Kennedy as an opponent had a lot more to do with it. For that matter, so did Romneyā€™s role in eliminating jobs at companies heā€™d taken over running Bain. Total tax burden in ā€œTaxachusettsā€ is something like 23rd out of 50 states, btw. If weā€™re looking for reasons to Pit Mitt, besides the OPā€™s diffused complaint about using state time and resources to run for President instead of being Governor, Iā€™d go with the basis of his last campaign. He assured us that his connections in the corporate world would permit him to lobby for the move of jobs into the state, thereby helping the economy. He hasnā€™t done a bit of that - heā€™s simply used his contacts to build his campaign fund. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-mitt-romney-that-is-massachusetts-governor/358173/8 "2006-05-25T17:01:11Z")
Geez **Magellan** , this is _the_ lamest pitting ever? Sure, there are extremely reprehensible people committing horrendous atrocities all over the world. However, I still think that anyone who engages in a John Wayne armchair patriot ā€œshow of forceā€ is pitworthy. I still feel Romney is attempting to get the Presidential nomination and I thought this was the _only_ reason for making this ā€œsupporting the troopsā€ visit. To me this was just more political bullshit. Yes, maybe Romney doesnā€™t stand a snowball in Hellā€™s chance of ever being elected President, but that never stopped people like Harold Stassen from trying did it? **tdn** - Sorry for not catching that thread you started. I think you know it is something I _definitely_ would have joined. **anu-la1979** - Iā€™ll see what I can do about fnding any information about that interview. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-mitt-romney-that-is-massachusetts-governor/358173/9 "2006-05-25T17:11:20Z")
In fairness, I did hear him on the radio saying that he was only the 29th Governor to go there. I donā€™t think theyā€™re \*all \* running. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-mitt-romney-that-is-massachusetts-governor/358173/10 "2006-05-25T17:13:25Z")
> [@wolf\_meister](#): > > **tdn** - Sorry for not catching that thread you started. I think you know it is something I _definitely_ would have joined. No problem. Yet another one of my threads dies on the vine. ā˜¹ You know, I could have sworn that not long ago Mitt Romney (which is German for ā€œWith Romneyā€) said that politics was a mistake for him and he was going to give it all up. Did I just imagine that? ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-mitt-romney-that-is-massachusetts-governor/358173/11 "2006-05-25T17:21:59Z")
> [@](#): > > Total tax burden in ā€œTaxachusettsā€ is something like 23rd out of 50 states, btw. Then I guess Iā€™ll go back to calling it Mass-of-two-shits. šŸ™‚ Seriously, I am from there if itā€™s not clear, these are just my pet names for the state. ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-mitt-romney-that-is-massachusetts-governor/358173/12 "2006-05-25T17:25:57Z")
Here we go, I realise the Phoenix is a bad source to cite because itā€™s completely biased but itā€™s the only thing I found that referenced what Iā€™m talking about. Itā€™s listed as ā€œPolitical Gaffe #4ā€ [Zombie Wife](http://www.thephoenix.com/article_ektid9677.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-mitt-romney-that-is-massachusetts-governor/358173/13 "2006-05-25T17:58:48Z")
> [@wolf\_meister](#): > > Geez **Magellan** , this is _the_ lamest pitting ever? I didnā€™t say ā€œ_the_ā€. I said ā€œtheā€. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-mitt-romney-that-is-massachusetts-governor/358173/14 "2006-05-25T20:50:08Z")
**Magellan01** Thank you for that clarification. Now I see your remark in a totally different perspective. Itā€™s good to see that even in ā€œthe Pitā€, Dopers can still behave in a calm, rational, polite manner. šŸ™‚ **anu-la1979** - good link you found there. I never knew the Romneyā€™s were so ā€œdestituteā€. :rolleyes: Also, that link shows how he has made serious changes about his views concerning same-sex marriage, gay rights and abortion. It _doesnā€™t_ mention that he did some serious flip-flopping when he was in Utah during the Winter Olympics (which _he_ helped organize, mind you) I remember he kept assessing his options of running for Governor of Massachusetts or seeking office in Utah. Itā€™s nice to see what a strong ā€œallegianceā€ he has for the Bay State. And now that heā€™s done such a fine job, heā€™s leaving office in a state which has _lost_ businesses _and_ population (I believe only New York state has lost a higher percentage of population.) ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-mitt-romney-that-is-massachusetts-governor/358173/15 "2006-05-25T21:43:15Z")
Iā€™m ambivalent on Mitt-I havenā€™t lived out there on a regular basis since about 2002 (although I continue to list MA as my permanent address) so I barely remember that heā€™s Governor now anyway. I just remember that interview because seriously, she came off as intensely delusional. Hereā€™s another citation about that interview from a Utah source, although Iā€™m not certain how it leans politically (The Phoenix being extra liberal and all). [ā€œJune Cleaver on Steroidsā€](http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/media/storage/paper244/news/2002/03/26/Opinion/Mitt-Needs.Dose.Of.Reality.To.Continue.Success-222975.shtml?norewrite200605251737&sourcedomain=www.dailyutahchronicle.com) > [@](#): > > **ElvisL1ves** : Really? I thought having Ted Kennedy as an opponent had a lot more to do with it. For that matter, so did Romneyā€™s role in eliminating jobs at companies heā€™d taken over running Bain. I think in spite of everything he still captured something like 41% of the vote and itā€™s the closest race Ted Kennedy ever had. The interview really pushed him back in the polls because their family came off as kinda crazy and he had the Mormon thing against him more heavily at that time to boot. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-mitt-romney-that-is-massachusetts-governor/358173/16 "2006-05-25T22:13:31Z")
No, that was pretty typical for Kennedy elections. He always gets 55-60% vs. 40-45%, regardless of GOP challenger. This year he doesnā€™t have one. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-mitt-romney-that-is-massachusetts-governor/358173/17 "2006-05-25T22:53:12Z")
Mitt Romney is a republican in a democratic state. The MA Democratic Party is omnipresent, corrupt, and unstoppable. Romney tried to reform the state government, but it is impossible-the government is so full of patronage hacks that nothing can be done. So Romney canā€™t do anything but run for president-he canā€™t stay as governor. Does he have a chance ? Iā€™d say no-his mormon religion makes him unelectable in the South, and he is not accepted by liberals in the North. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-mitt-romney-that-is-massachusetts-governor/358173/18 "2006-05-25T23:31:37Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > So Romney canā€™t do anything but run for president-he canā€™t stay as governor. Does he have a chance ? Iā€™d say no-his mormon religion makes him unelectable in the South, and he is not accepted by liberals in the North. Plus the Pubbies will have trouble running _anyone_ who can be billed as the ā€˜Son of [George W.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Romney)ā€™ ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2006, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-mitt-romney-that-is-massachusetts-governor/358173/19 "2006-05-26T00:21:40Z")
I donā€™t liike Romney, but hell if I can remember why. Must be a brain fart or something. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2006, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-mitt-romney-that-is-massachusetts-governor/358173/20 "2006-05-26T00:34:05Z")
> [@wolf\_meister](#): > > After all, he didnā€™t ā€œcut and runā€ from his military responsibility during the Vietnam War. :rolleyes: He received college deferments and then a _religious_ deferment when he preached the word of Mormon in [France](http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/this_just_in/documents/05096826.asp). Are you actually insane? Obtaining college deferments is not draft dodging. The law allowed someone to continue their college instead of getting drafted in the middle of it. And since when is serving as a full-time minister (the basis of a religious exemption from conscription) draft dodging? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-mitt-romney-that-is-massachusetts-governor/358173.md?page=2)