Romney isn't dumb. He is something much worse.

[cthulu2016]

Romney says weird, ignorant, contradictory, senseless things all day long. This makes him appear to be dumb.

He isn't. He views saying dumb things as a political technology.

He is a self-programmed surrogate for himself. He speaks hundreds of words without saying anything whatsoever. He says things he knows to be false without shame.

He never speaks his mind.

But that does not mean he doesn't have a mind. He has enough of a mind to know that here is no political benefit to him in speaking his mind, and enough discipline to be willing to sound like a clueless idiot when doing so is better than the alternative.

If Romney spoke his mind how long would his campaign last? A day? An hour?

Romney seems much dumber today than he did in 2008, and he seemed much dumber in 2008 than he did as Governor of Massachusetts. I don't think he is suffering from a progressive brain disease. I think he has gotten better at nihilistic politics.

He makes big mistakes sometimes. The Ryan pick appears to be a big mistake, for instance. But making mistakes doesn't necessarily mean a person lacks brain power. Smart people make some of the biggest mistakes. And his discipline breaks down sometimes, leading to criticizing cookies and olympics and such.

But he is a much, much smarter person than the Dan Quayle, George W. Bush, Sarah Palin type of actual dumbass.

Fortunately, that does not make him a good politician. He lacks the instincts and temperament.

[ananda]

1. No, I don't think Roms is that calculating on his feet.

I think he's conflicted. His moderate record conflicts with the extreme
fringe ideas and policies he is supposed to spew comfortably. That
conflict makes him confuse his speech and make gaffes because he is
not good at ad lib, impromptu, thinking on his feet.

[unblock]

2. it's rather difficult to determine the "true" leanings of a republican governor from massachusetts.

say rmoney were extraordinarily right-wing. massachusetts is no longer as famously liberal as it used to be, but it sure ain't the tea party hub of the universe. republicans there know they can only go so far to the right, at least in their rhetoric, and still be viable.

once on the national stage, they are no longer so constrained, and can move further to the right; indeed they need to do so to get the republican nomination.


then again, many politicians either never had or learn to squelch their own political views. they pick a party and then say whatever is needed based on the political winds. some are consistent, others shifty, but they all pick a marketable image, whatever their personal views. often if they have any personal convictions or priorities, it's limited to one or two pet issues -- there they may be rigid, but on anything else, they just say whatever they need to say.

regardless, nearly all politicians become expert at uttering many words while saying nothing.

[gordianot]

3. Romney is a test case to see what vast sums of money can do for nonviable candidate.

He was created as a rich guy by seed money he did not work for and told to make it grow. He was successful in making money. This is why he becomes so unhinged at suggestion others did not build their own wealth. Mitt was entrusted money on a silver platter and allowed to use it as a tool.


Mitt is now in phase 2 of the experiment. Can the super wealthy rule the vast number of minions while still exploiting them? Not wanting to risk an absolute demagogue Mitt a stiff, non charismatic, aristocratic, secretive purveyor of empty words has once again been given access to vast sums of money. This time other tools besides attack ads that did not work for McCain are necessary. Mitt simply has no conscience unlike McCain who repudiated selected lies about Obama. Will voter suppression work? How long can markets continue to be manipulated? At what point will it be necessary to get a whip for all those takers and moochers?

[reformist2]

4. One thing's for sure - Mitt wants taxes to be as low as possible for his kind of people.

[NightWatcher]

5. he's an empty suit...stuffed with other people's money

There is no substance to anything he says or does.

He starts Obamacare back home in Mass then picks a VP who wants to destroy Medicare/caid?
He's pro choice except when he's asked by someone who is anti choice.
I'll be he believes in climate change, but only in the summer when it's hot. Come winter he's a denier.

[JHB]

6. I think he suffers from internal and external groupthink

Think about it.

[HopeHoops]

7. The word "evil" comes to mind.

[randome]

8. 'Ignorant'. Not calculating.

[Nevernose]

9. I don't think he has anything to say

I don't think he actually has any ideas, politically speaking, outside of "I want to be president."

[cali]

10. I think your analysis is excellent and rec it

[Blecht]

11. In politics, it is next to impossible to know what the "truth" is

But I think what you state in your OP is as good an explanation for Romney's behavior as any other.

And he is definitively smarter than those you mention.

[JohnnyLib2]

12. I agree, especially with the political technology angle.

Above all, he's decided to be president and sees this as the opening against the incumbent-with-track record.
I think selecting Ryan may be the closest, and most realistic yet glimpse of a potential Romney administration.