# Romney 2016? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 26, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-2016/696562 "2014-08-26T16:08:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-2016/696562/121 "2015-01-14T18:33:25Z")
Whether or not it’s a scandal is primarily a dispute over semantics and intent. Whether or not it’s a government failure should not be in dispute. The only thing that makes it not a scandal is that the President knew nothing about it until he read about it in the newspaper, which really should be a scandal, but among his supporters that kind of thing is okay no matter how often it happens. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-2016/696562/122 "2015-01-14T19:51:58Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > If you think that the failures at HHS, VA, IRS, EPA, and ATF are the only things going on, you’re wrong. . Other than the VA, I have no idea what “failures” you’re talking about. Even the VA probably does much more right than they do wrong. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-2016/696562/123 "2015-01-14T19:55:49Z")
They killed patients and covered it up. The other failures were major news stories. You don’t think Americans’ faith in Obama’s competence plummeted just because? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-2016/696562/124 "2015-01-14T19:56:51Z")
I read [an interesting article](http://time.com/3662582/mitt-romney-2016-president-bush/) this morning that suggested that the noise around Romney is mostly designed to keep Jeb Bush from scooping up Romney donors (who might otherwise find Bush the prettiest contender in the beauty pageant) without Bush having to appeal to Romney himself. This article thought he can keep some of those donors in limbo, either because he wants Bush to have to come to him or because he just wants to keep Bush from getting a big early advantage. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-2016/696562/125 "2015-01-14T20:13:49Z")
That makes me think that perhaps Romney wants Chris Christie to be President and by putting himself out there can hold off on the rush to Bush. So maybe Romney stays in the race until late fall 2015, and then just drops out and endorses Christie, assuming Romney isn’t running ahead of the pack already. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-2016/696562/126 "2015-01-15T14:15:42Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I read [an interesting article](http://time.com/3662582/mitt-romney-2016-president-bush/) this morning that suggested that the noise around Romney is mostly designed to keep Jeb Bush from scooping up Romney donors (who might otherwise find Bush the prettiest contender in the beauty pageant) without Bush having to appeal to Romney himself. This article thought he can keep some of those donors in limbo, either because he wants Bush to have to come to him or because he just wants to keep Bush from getting a big early advantage. Any evidence that this is true, and not just something _Time_ made up? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-2016/696562/127 "2015-01-15T14:15:56Z")
The \*WSJ \*is just mild about Romney 3.0: [Romney Recycled - WSJ](http://www.wsj.com/articles/romney-recycled-1421194636) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-2016/696562/128 "2015-01-15T14:44:54Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **adaher** : > > That’s not exactly how it went, but even if it was, they weren’t authorized to do it. That’s true, they weren’t authorized to give those Tea Party groups tax-exempt status. I’ll grant you that that can be considered a government failure. Still tough to lay that one at Obama’s feet, though, since the parties involved were Bush appointees. And by the CDC’s failures, I assume you’re referring to this year’s flu vaccines having the wrong mix of strains? That sort of thing happens occasionally, and the people who got the vaccines still had less severe cases of one strain, and still avoided other strains entirely. That’s not a failure, that’s just a smaller success than normal. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-2016/696562/129 "2015-01-15T14:52:44Z")
Can we please limit this thread to discussion of a Romney 2016 candidacy? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-2016/696562/130 "2015-01-15T22:03:52Z")
“Almost certain.” [ > [@](#): > > Mitt Romney is moving quickly to reassemble his national political network, calling former aides, donors and other supporters over the weekend and on Monday in a concerted push to signal his seriousness about possibly launching a 2016 presidential campaign. > > Romney’s message, as he told one senior Republican, was that he “almost certainly will” make what would be his third bid for the White House. His aggressive outreach came as Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) — Romney’s 2012 vice presidential running mate and the newly installed chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee — announced Monday that he would not seek the presidency in 2016. ]([http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/romney-moves-to-reassemble-campaign-apparatus-for-2016/2015/01/12/d968592e-9a88-11e4-96cc-e858eba91ced\_story.html](http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/romney-moves-to-reassemble-campaign-apparatus-for-2016/2015/01/12/d968592e-9a88-11e4-96cc-e858eba91ced_story.html)) I’m pretty surprised. Obviously, still not a done deal, but I’m surprised he seems to be considering it. It makes me tired just thinking about running once, let alone three times. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-2016/696562/131 "2015-01-15T22:14:11Z")
He’s serious about seeming serious, anyway. Seems like some kind of ploy to help keep Jeb from locking up all the big money. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-2016/696562/132 "2015-01-15T22:15:47Z")
[There’s already a backlash against Romney.](http://www.salon.com/2015/01/15/gops_anti_romney_backlash_intensifies_and_mitt_saw_it_coming/) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-2016/696562/133 "2015-01-15T22:16:52Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > What would be the point of a Warren presidency anyway? Progressive policy outcomes. > [@adaher](#): > > If Obama can’t get anything done . . . But, he can. He has. A **lot.** ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-2016/696562/134 "2015-01-16T01:48:15Z")
Please see post 129. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-2016/696562/135 "2015-01-16T23:29:28Z")
Obama is off-topic; Warren is off-topic; everyone but Romney is off-topic. Please stay on-topic. Thanks, **twickster** , Elections moderator ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-2016/696562/136 "2015-01-17T00:26:38Z")
So, um, back to Romney. I’ll just make a couple of statements about him and if any of you disagree, just let me know: Romney is electable. He CAN win. And he MIGHT be the strongest candidate the Republicans have. Jeb would be stronger if he wasn’t named Bush. The others all have their flaws just like Romney, and Romney will raise more money than the rest of them. The problem for Romney and Bush is the same though: it’s hard to beat Clinton with either of them unless the headwinds for the Democratic candidate are just too much for Clinton to overcome. The playbook for beating Romney is still valid and quite effective. The Democrats almost managed to beat David Perdue in Georgia using the same playbook, but again, headwinds and all that. You can’t beat Clinton with old and tired. You can only beat her with new and exciting, but of course also with a track record of getting things done. I’m glad Romney will be there in case all the other candidates fail to catch on or self destruct, so I have no issue with him running. I also like that he’ll keep Jeb from sucking up all the donor money. With Romney in the race, all the other candidates will get a fair hearing, which I don’t think would happen if Jeb sat atop the field. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-2016/696562/137 "2015-01-17T06:40:54Z")
I recently watched _Mitt_ on Netflix. He came across as a likable guy, but he has to learn to take no for an answer. This comeback attempt is going to fizzle out well before the primaries. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-2016/696562/138 "2015-01-17T06:52:13Z")
The first Iowa poll shows him leading Bush and Huckabee, and both have as much name recognition as he does. So he’s definitely going to at least go that far. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-2016/696562/139 "2015-01-17T08:17:52Z")
I think the guy would be a disaster as President … but he just wants it _so_ much. Can’t we just elect him President for, like a week or something? Then he can get it out of his system and move on. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-2016/696562/140 "2015-01-17T08:51:45Z")
Romney is an effective manager, so at the very least we’d have a competent hand at the wheel. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-2016/696562.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-2016/696562.md?page=8)