what politician doesnt flip flop? a shorter list would be ones that dont

as far as unelectable, the national polls say otherwise. again, pubs and dems dont elect a president, the independents do. if the pubs are stupid enough to nominate someone way right of center like newt or santorum, they might as well paint the obama presidential portrait now with years 2008-2016 painted in

Quoted from 55tbird

what politician doesnt flip flop? a shorter list would be ones that dont

as far as unelectable, the national polls say otherwise. again, pubs and dems dont elect a president, the independents do. if the pubs are stupid enough to nominate someone way right of center like newt or santorum, they might as well paint the obama presidential portrait now with years 2008-2016 painted in

So you are saying that the GOP needs to nominate a candidate for President who does NOT share the views 75% of Republicans in order to win ?  

Funny thing about that --- Ronald Reagan proved that the Republicans could actually nominate a REAL Republican and win the White House.  

DVOR means that if the quiche is bad he will make jar sauce and box pasta....

Quoted from senders

DVOR means that if the quiche is bad he will make jar sauce and box pasta....

That is a particularly vicious thing to say ---  I have never used jar sauce --- I am wounded to the core
your words.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

So you are saying that the GOP needs to nominate a candidate for President who does NOT share the views 75% of Republicans in order to win ?  

Funny thing about that --- Ronald Reagan proved that the Republicans could actually nominate a REAL Republican and win the White House.  

Since 1980, no non-incumbent, opposed republican has gotten more than 41% in the Iowa Caucuses.
In fact, Reagan LOST to George HW Bush in 1980 and only got 30% of the vote.

Speaking of Reagan, that was 30 years ago. Think about how attitudes about things like gay rights, AIDS, and religion have changed since then. Its entirely different environment.

But to answer your original question, because the "conservative" republican candidates can't separate fiscal conservatism from  social conservatism, the answer is YES... Romney is their only shot.
If Joe Liebermann was a republican and was more engaging than watching paint dry, he would be my choice....actually, John Huntsman appeals to me the most as he is a fiscal conservative first..but the social right of the party won't give him a chance.

South Carolina will be the real test of Romney's viability --- although I am going to go out on a limb and suggest that he MAY be defeated in New Hampshire.  Quite honestly, I think Romney is the least electable of the Republican candidates.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

South Carolina will be the real test of Romney's viability --- although I am going to go out on a limb and suggest that he MAY be defeated in New Hampshire.  Quite honestly, I think Romney is the least electable of the Republican candidates.

I have never seen anyone lose a 29 point lead in less than a week, and I don't think Romney will be the first.
Only surprise for me is if he wins NH by less than 10 points.
Romney is the least electable only to republicans... I have not seen ANY poll out there that says Romney is not the best general election candidate the republicans have when it comes to independents and Democrats.
If the bible thumping conservatives stay home and Romney loses, they shouldn't say anything about what Obama does in his 2nd term.

I hear Obama is dumping Biden for Romney.  It's going to be the Obama/Romeny 2012 ticket.  

Quoted from 55tbird

Romney is the least electable only to republicans... I have not seen ANY poll out there that says Romney is not the best general election candidate the republicans have when it comes to independents and Democrats.
If the bible thumping conservatives stay home and Romney loses, they shouldn't say anything about what Obama does in his 2nd term.

I agree Tbird.  Conservative Right Wingers hate Romney as much as they hate Obama... but MOST Republicans realize
that Romney is the only one of the contenders that will draw Independent and Democrat votes away from Obama.

Republicans can elect Romney if they join forces in a "Defeat Obama" campaign.  If the Right Wing Extreme stay
home, they will have 4 more years of Obama.

Quoted from 55tbird

I have never seen anyone lose a 29 point lead in less than a week, and I don't think Romney will be the first.
Only surprise for me is if he wins NH by less than 10 points.
Romney is the least electable only to republicans... I have not seen ANY poll out there that says Romney is not the best general election candidate the republicans have when it comes to independents and Democrats.
If the bible thumping conservatives stay home and Romney loses, they shouldn't say anything about what Obama does in his 2nd term.

Depends on which poll you are looking at -- some have Romney's lead dropping now to  as low as 14 points.   Given the fact that Santorum pulled from "out of nowhere" to within 8 votes in Iowa .. suggests that  Paul or Huntsman or Santorum or  - even - Gingrinch could suddenly come from behind in New Hampshire.

Independent or voters not registered in any political party can cast votes -- so I would susupect that Mr. Paul or Mr. Huntsman have the best chance of pulling off a victory.    (mainly because Mr. Paul and Mr. Huntsman have spent a lot of time, money and effort in New Hampshire  -- while Gingrinch and Santorum have not campaigned as heavily in New Hampshire)

Quoted from CICERO

I hear Obama is dumping Biden for Romney.  It's going to be the Obama/Romeny 2012 ticket.  

Obama  and Oromneycare..........now that's the ticket! Just ask the TAXachusettes folks!!

Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if the ticket wasn't  Obama-Cuomo in 2012.

I have yet to talk a person that is excited about Romney.  I have yet to hear them talk about a plank in his platform that they agree with.  I see these poll numbers and they don't reflect the reality I see from the people I talk to every day.  

The only explanation I can come up with is, people must be mesmerized by TV and radio pundits McCabe Nod, by repetitiously saying Romney will ultimately be the party nominee - Romney will ultimately be the party nominee - Romeny will ultimately be the party nominee.    

Quoted from CICERO

I have yet to talk a person that is excited about Romney.  I have yet to hear them talk about a plank in his platform that they agree with.  I see these poll numbers and they don't reflect the reality I see from the people I talk to every day    

I see another possibility...
The people that you talk to every day don't reflect the values of most Republican Voters.

Quoted from Box A Rox

I see another possibility...
The people that you talk to every day don't reflect the values of most Republican Voters.

Most Republicans that I know -- and I know many  -- will NOT vote for Romney.

Here is my take on things ---  South Carolina and Florida will definitely be decisive as far as Romney's viability is concerned.   If he falters there -- then I suspect that some OTHER Republican candidates may enter the presidential race or -somehow - you have to get a consensus to start building around one of the other Republicans already in the field.  

Personally, I don't think Romney will do well in South Carolina or Florida --- and I am predicting he will not do well in New Hampshire  ----  beyond that ... we'll just have to wait and see.