I wonder that the side show of wacky candidates is there to make Romney appear sane.

[JohnnyRingo]

Think about it. For fence sitters it may feel a relief when the dust finally settles and the Cains, Santorums, and Bachmanns go back to their day jobs. Romney will be the voice of reason. Certainly Mitt is playing the game by avoiding the cesspool the others have waded into.

Imagine what a fox Hillary Swank would be if she hosted a documentary on Appalachian inbreeding.

[HughBeaumont]

1. No small feat considering Romney is an uncharismatic Reaganomics-snorting LOON.

If "sane" means "Selling a corporate raider/serial firer/wealth pocketer as a populist 'Man of the People'", then . . . well, more please. Run that shit up a flagpole and see how many unemployed American voters salute.

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. Of course.

Surrounded by those fools, anyone would have to look half-normal.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Frankly, I don't think Mitt is inclined to that kind of wackiness

I remember his dad, who was a national political figure and considered among the "liberal Republicans" in those days. For those too young to know, liberal Republican was not an oxymoron in the sixties.

George Romney also stated reservations about the LDS racist doctrines, although not too loudly. That was at a time when black parishioners still could not become priests in the LDS church. I would add that George Romney's Mormonism was not a serious issue when he sought the GOP's presidential nomination in 1968. For those who aren't clear concerning my sentiments, Mitt Romeny's Mormonism is not a legitimate issue, either. There are good reasons to oppose Mitt Romney, but that isn't one of them. I may not agree with him on many crucial issues, but if he is president I know that he won't try to interfere with my lifelong habit of starting the day with a couple of cups of coffee.

Mitt Romney, in my opinion, gets bundled with the other Republican contenders as one of the nine ninnies because he said, "corporations are people." No quarter should be given to that sentiment, ever, and especially not now. Otherwise, he is a lot more reasonable than Rick Perry, Herman Cain, Michele Bachmann, Newtie the Cutie, Rick Santorum, et al. He stands out in that crowd as the only one with whom any of us could imagine holding a coherent conversation.