Posted by
Zorro on Thursday, January 03, 2008 5:36:53 PM
David Brooks Wrote an intersting Column in the NYT on Tuesday: link
I think he is totally wrong. I’m sick and tired of all the talk that the Republicans are doomed in the presidential race. I bet they’ll be routed in congress but that Romney will win the presidency. Why? To put it simply, Hillary is viewed as a harpy, and Obama is a naïve and experienceless kid. While the electorate hasn’t shown signs that they’d sink him for that, I think they will. I think that competence will be a major issue in the presidential election. The people will “date” the exciting candidate, but in the end, they’ll marry someone less risky. That desire for competent leader will work heavily in Romney’s favor.
As for Brooks’ suggestion that the electorate leans left. That may be true, but the independents will take a smart, competent leader over a left-leaning, but dislikeable candidate like Hillary or Obama. Furthermore the only specific things Brooks cites are minor issues: If the electorate values authenticity so much why did Gore and Kerry almost win the election? As for the Hispanic vote, Brooks isn’t accounting for the anti-illegal immigration vote, which will at least cancel the Hispanic hostility out. Finally, Brooks overstates the disadnantage Romney has due to the allegedly left-leaning electorate: The Democrats may outdemocrat Romney on healthcare, but he will present and excellent and more conservative alternative. Voters support Democrat approaches to corruption by double digit margins? What’s he talking about? Same goes for Iraq. As for economy, that’s the only issue he’s probably right on, Still, I think as a transcendentally good businessman and manager, Romney will easily neutralize this issue unless the economy absolutely tanks.