Ghost of a flea

He's had Coulter for a while, it seems.

I still don't understand this Romney thing. How does he do it? I've theorized that it's a Bill Clinton of the Right phenomenon.

It's very, very strange.

Ben: It is an assertion more than a theory. Aside from you apparent inability to account for why people should be loyal to these two men what do they have in common?

I still think Bill Clinton more closely resembles Huckabee. Both men are likable, both smooth talkers, both charismatic Arkansas governors. Both completely full of shit. I have no difficulty understanding an enduring loyalty to either man.

Romney has yet to demonstrate anything like the popularity and affection Clinton evokes and offers no equivalent to Clinton's early third way policies (or indeed his triangulation). Romney is wooden, off-putting and has no apparent ideological commitments except to win whatever job or office he is currently seeking. One is a Rhodes scholar who married an ideologue from Yale and whose political career might have followed the same trajectory in academia had he not gone in to politics. The other is a businessman raised by a businessman and offers the dubious merits of Olympic/Massachusetts executive and management experience; a technocrat not a scholar.

The two men could hardly be less alike.

How?

Creative definitions of words. Apparently seductive political charm. Incredibly cynical focus-grouped pandering.

And when you watch him, you want to believe him.

Hard-bitten conservatives are calling him Reaganesque.

Oh, and this little gem.

You know what? I think that if he can work people like this, there's no telling what the man can do during a general election campaign.

I think he very well might be the next president -- he's that good.

What he actually believes, I don't know, and where he'll take the country (Khrushchevism? Reaganism?), God only knows -- but he seems to have the skills.

It's totally weird.

It would certainly be weird if the last year had born out Terry Michael's prediction from last February. Romney may be marginally ahead in the delegate count - perhaps more so after Nevada - but despite having dropped something on the order of $150m so far it is far from certain the nomination is his to buy, let alone win. Clinton never had the deep pockets and he never needed them.

Perhaps my difficulty in appreciating your position stems from the fact I find Bill Clinton (and indeed Mike Huckabee) quite charismatic while I find Romney radically less charismatic than Bill Clinton's wife. Thus far the polls suggest I am not alone in this opinion. If Romney goes on to win the nomination and the presidency - he will need a third candidate in the race to do so with Clinton's results - I shall find myself in perfect agreement with your current befuddlement.

Just wait and see.

I think it is safe to say we both hope you are mistaken... :-)

Oh, I'd be thrilled if I turn out to be wrong.