Mitt Romney is a mensch. Yeah, I said it

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Mitt Romney was the only Republican senator to vote against one of President Donald Trump's judicial nominees on Tuesday. And he did so in part to defend former President Barack Obama.

Romney cast the lone GOP "no" vote against Michael Truncale, who was confirmed 49-46 on Tuesday morning to the Eastern District of Texas. Truncale called Obama an "un-American imposter" in June 2011, and explained to the Senate Judiciary Committee that he was "merely expressing frustration by what I perceived as a lack of overt patriotism on behalf of President Obama." He also said he believed Obama was born in Hawaii and did not subscribe to "birtherism," a racist theory that the president was not an American citizen.

But all that wasn't a good enough explanation for Romney, the 2012 GOP presidential nominee.

"He made particularly disparaging comments about President Obama. And as the Republican nominee for president, I just couldn't subscribe to that in a federal judge," Romney said in a brief interview. "This was not a matter of qualifications or politics. This was something specifically to that issue as a former nominee of our party."

Romney's vote was just his latest break with the president on everything from his national emergency declaration to his plans to nominate Herman Cain to the Federal Reserve. Though he backs Trump more often than not, he's one of the Republicans most inclined to break with the president.

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/14/romney-truncale-1321299

"When the facts change, my opinions change. What do you do, Sir?"

[Siwsan]

1. I admit, I wish he's positioning himself as a primary challenger. Probably not, but I can wish.

In fact, I wish for a line up of challengers. Weld and Romney can lead the pack. Even though it would likely fail, it would throw trump* off of his stride. I

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. Trump would crush them. It's a cult.

[Siwsan]

3. Maybe not crush, because I think some might cherish the opportunity to 'jump the cult'

And, he'd be spending much time bad mouthing and name calling members of his own party, one of which is still pretty well liked (Romney - I don't know anything about Weld.)

Anyway, it's just another of my unfortunately unrealistic fantasies.

[lunatica]

6. That's a fantasy I share with you

I would love to see Trump’s party implode bigly!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. How weird is it that I find myself sticking up for Mitt Romney?

[Wellstone ruled]

5. That's okay,you just had a

one of those Senior Moments.

[JHB]

7. Easy cure for that: Just remember that he only objects to the optics...

If he'd won in 2012 and again in 2016, Republicans would still be grabbing with both hands, demonizing opposition, stuffing the courts with conservative activists, and taking all the credit for getting out of the Great Recession while setting up the next. And probably still be cosy with Russian, Chinese, and Saudi money too. He'd just be less personally chaotic and have a coat of "reasonable" varnish intact.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. Oh, I know Romney is one of *them* -

but I do enjoy seeing him needle the Trumpies.