Romney’s endorsement Binge

Mitt Romney has been the recipient of a quite a number of big endorsements lately. In the last few weeks, he’s picked up the endorsements of George H.W. and Jeb Bush. Additionally, he secured the endorsement of Tea Party favorite, Marco Rubio in Florida.

These endorsements may soothe the anxieties among the Republican party faithful. But does a such closing of the ranks actually do much to help Mitt Romney at the ballot box, particularly during the November general election, given the political disillusionment in America?

Although I still maintain that endorsements don’t really matter. Romney’s people are being very smart in that many of his endorsers are popular figures without firm ties to the current ties in Washington.

This allows Romney to portray himself as the Washington outsider, yet give him some credibility as someone who can undertake the difficult task of being President of the United States.

 The news media has made a big deal out of the lack of sitting Republicans endorsing candidates…

With all the mistrust and hatred of Washington D.C. politicians would you want to be known as the “ESTABLISHMENT candidate for President”?

The Problem With Debate Policy

The Republican Presidential debate has produced some interesting sound-bites and late night comic fodder, but has it really produced much in terms of meaningful policy substance.

 I mean its’ great to tell the audience that your not Barack Obama in all, but what has any presidential candidate offered in terms of policy. When I say policy, I mean policy that can be enacted within the first few weeks of a new administration?

 Herman Cain has surged to the front of the pack for the simplicity of his 9-9-9 plan, but does he have the support to enact it within Congress? I’ve heard more talk about Mitt Romney’s gardener than policy substance. America needs substance, not three year olds throwing tantrums.

Debates are not the place for policy substance though…debates are designed to appeal to the base of Republican voters who will be voting in a primary. You have to appease the base as a candidate in primary and then do a spin-job to catch enough of the general electorate to win the actual election, without alienating your base.

 Candidate websites and voter guides are much better sources of information than these debates, which provide living proof that money doesn’t equal maturity. So for anyone voting in a primary, please only use the debates as a tool in making your decision, otherwise look to be sorely disappointed.