Halperin: GOP establishment thinks Mitt Romney will lose to Obama

[morningfog]

On MSNBC Wednesday morning, "Morning Joe" host Joe Scarborough had one of those refreshingly direct moments where he cut through all the political blather with a blunt assessment of what's really going on in the presidential race. Mr. Scarborough was talking about Rick Santorum's chances of being the nominee in 2016, when panelist Mark Halperin interjected that Mitt Romney might win in the fall (thereby taking 2016 out of the equation for Republicans). At that point, Scarborough irritatedly cut him off:

“Nobody thinks Romney’s going to win [the general election]. Let’s just be honest. Can we just say this for everybody at home? The Republican establishment – I have yet to meet a single person from the Republican establishment who thinks Mitt Romney’s going to win the general election this year. They won’t say it on TV, because they’ve got to go on TV, and they don’t want people writing them nasty e-mails. I obviously don’t care. But I have yet to meet anybody in the Republican establishment that worked for George W. Bush, that works in the Republican Congress, that worked for Ronald Reagan that thinks Mitt Romney’s going to win the general election.”

This basically corresponds with Decoder's own conversations with various Republican insiders. There are many who say they think President Obama is vulnerable – but there are far fewer who, when speaking off the record, say they believe Mr. Romney is well positioned to take advantage of that vulnerability. In a word, many Republicans smell a loser.

Yes, Romney is widely seen as the most "electable" candidate among Republican primary voters, and has been throughout this campaign. In Tuesday's Wisconsin primary, 38 percent of voters said that beating Mr. Obama was their top priority, and 68 percent of those voters chose Romney. But that doesn't mean they're confident Romney will beat Obama – just that they think he has a better shot at it than the other GOP candidates on the ballot.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/DC-Decoder/2012/0405/Morning-Joe-host-GOP-establishment-thinks-Mitt-Romney-will-lose-to-Obama

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

1. I don't care what the Rethugs or anyone, especially that asshole Halperin says...

We need to work our asses off to get Obama elected. Even more critical: we need to give this president an *OVERWHELMINGLY PROGRESSIVE* majority in the House and Senate.

Let me be clear: The House and Senate Democrats that we elected MUST BE PROGRESSIVE!!!!! No more of these Corporatists or Blue Dog Democrats. We have enough of those. We need MORE progressives in Congress. PERIOD!!!!!

[brooklynite]

6. I had a chat with someone in Party leadership recently...

...there's a feeling that, if the perception sets in that Mittens is going to lose, Republican funders are going to shift their wallets to the Senate races.

[BeyondGeography]

2. They see him as a loser and as the most electable candidate

Which should tell them their party is fucked up. But it won't, as the same establishment is convinced that things would be different if the "top talent," i.e. Jeb, Daniels, Christie, etc. were the nominee instead. Keep thinking that way, folks. Grover Norquist thinks it's cute.

[coalition_unwilling]

13. I'm really glad Huckabee decided not to run, as I think he would

have given Obama a real run for his money. Of all the Repukes, he was the one I thought could resonate best with the broad American middle. (And he actually knows all his Bible, and not just a few worn out passages from "Leviticus&quot .

[asjr]

3. I hate being a Negative Nellie but what

concerns me most are the states whose Republican legislatures have installed over the top rules on who can vote. They have made it so difficult for blacks and seniors to vote because of photos and such they may just win by that route. And those voting machines! I think it may just be a concerted effort with all the Republican states. Our entire country has become a home for circuses and more clowns. I also hate the helpless feeling that goes with all of this. I used to be a half-full glass person--trying to stay that way.

[polichick]

4. I'm with you. They stole the WH in 2000 and 2004...

...and they'll do it again if they can.

Republicans can't win on their policies anymore, but that doesn't mean they won't "win" by hook or by crook.

Until we have verifiable voting without voter suppression, we have no business going around the world preaching democracy. And Democats, having seen what happened in 2000 and 2004, still have done little to ensure verifiable voting, which makes you wonder if either side is really about democracy.

[mac56]

7. True. Republicans can't win a fair fight, and they know it.

But the OP articulates what many on DU have thought all along: the GOP isn't playing their A-team this time around. They seem to be trying to boot the election like the 1919 Black Sox, wait till 2016 when the economy is better, and then count on Americans not remembering that Bush ran us into this sh*t-pit and Obama dug us out. Just my .02

[Cal33]

10. With so many criminal personalities holding high positions, what can anyone expect? This

country is practically being ruled by criminals.

[KharmaTrain]

5. Halperin is a rushpublican weathervane...

During the booooosh regime he wrote that the political world revolved around drudge and rushbo...and always can be counted on for the daily rushpublican talking point. The fact he's putting this siren call out reflects the major soul searching and manuevering going on inside the rushpublican establishment. This is a shot across Rmoney's bow to stay on message (translation: usual rushpublican talking points) and that its Rove and his ilk that will be calling the shots from here on out. Could be interesting to see who emerges from this latest implosion within that corrupt and inept party.

[Smartbear]

8. Here is How to Quickly and Easily Dispatch Mitt Romney

Folks, I am an independent .....making decision.....I am new here....Would someone who is better at this forum put this into a main topic to insure we get Obama elected....

This IS the way to do it....Simply break out/Split the Christian Right from the GOP Moderates and it is WON....
The post below is from Ann Coulters Forum....there are thousand pissed because Romney is Mormon serving "Another" God....and are even more pissed that GOP is hiding this.....

I am interested in any and all Democratic Party views on how to expose and eliminate Romney EARLY...or Late...




The Hope and Change Message of Mitt Romney!

My name is Mitt Romney, and I am going to be YOUR President. I have paid the most money for winning any nomination to Lead the GOP in the history of USA and/or the World. It has not been easy, but at least 35% of the GOP have agreed that I have the best chance of defeating the evil Obama.

As the presumed Leader of the Party it is important only now for you to know who I really am. You see, had you known who I was you would have not voted for me: In fact you would not have allowed me into your house. I had to keep who I really am a secret, but now I am going to tell you the truth. You have only one option now. Vote for me and accept what I am about to tell you as your future, or vote for Obama who you also know is evil.

The Elites of the GOP selected me long ago. They selected me because I have the ability to trick liberals, independents, and Moderates into voting for me. With that ability alone, I am best to be able to win the election, by tricking the Nation. You see the Nation is just as stupid as you little idiot Christians that make up 80% of the GOP.
First understand that I am a Mormon. Not just any Mormon, I am a Temple Level High Priest of the Malchezedek Order of Mormon. This means that I am on the same level, as a Priest of Malchezedek with Jesus Christ who was the brother of Satan. You see, I do not serve the same Judeo Christian God that you do. I serve a different God.

My God and Jesus came to be with God of the Universe impregnating women on other Planets. By the way, you need to know that I, Mitt Romney will indeed be a God of another Planet System when I die after I am baptized upon my death.

As a Priest of Malchezedek, I get my council and advice from "Modern" Seers and Prophets who are now located in Salt Lake City, Utah and in other Temples of the Realm of Mormon across the Nation. There are now 14,000,000 followers of the New God I serve in the world.

Our mission in Mormon is to convert the Gentiles (that would be you of course) to our God. We are right, you are wrong and your Pastors are all Apostate and evil. I took Blood Oaths (and will cut my throat to uphold) to defend this correct position (and keep it secret) when I became a Mormon Temple Priest of Malchezedek. Had I been honest with you, the polls said it would not happen, so I had to lie to you until now. But since you have not other choice now, I am telling you the truth so that you to can get on board and become followers of the First Prophet of our God….Joseph Smith.

The reason you don’t trust me is the necessity of lying to you to get your vote and Save the USA in compliance with the “Whitehorse” Prophesy of the Seers of our Mormon Kingdom who you will get to know very soon.

By following me, you have nothing to fear but perhaps your misguided and apostate belief that your Soul matters. I will give you the same opportunity given to all good Mormons…..More on that later, but felt it was time for you to know!

I am Mitt Romney and I am a Priest of the Malchezedek. I WILL be your President and it will be Good!
This message brought to you by the Committed Secular and Elite Followers of Romney for President.

Good Night …..And May MY God Bless ! You see....Your God and the Judeo Christian God of the United States is Dead



PS......I go to Easter Services to Serve my False God and have fun with other Cult Members!

[KharmaTrain]

9. President Obama Will Do Fine Without The Fundies...

He did without them in 2008. Millard's getting tepid response in his own corrupt and inept party...many either will stay home or go third party. And we haven't even touched on his problem with women and Hispanics.

President Obama won't beat Mittens as much as Mittens will beat Mittens and my hope is he'll take that decrepid party along with him. The focus is in winning House and Senate seats.

Welcome to DU...

[Major Hogwash]

11. Even Jon Stewart made fun of Scarbrow's tirade that he had on Wednesday.

They were completely over-the-top. I mean, Joe lost his shit so bad that Mika looked like she felt sorry for him. She kept looking down, like a mother would do while her little toddler threw a fit. It was unreal.

Halperin was trying to help ol' Joe out when he launched into his tirade. During the first 15 minutes of the program!
I couldn't stand to watch more than that, but it was enough that I knew then that it is over and it has been for weeks.

[LiberalFighter]

12. We need to convince them that Congress is going Democratic too

So they stay home and not vote.