Mitt Romney Is Not Running In 2016

Mitt Romney appeared at the University of Utah today to meet with students at the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business and stated that he would not be running again in 2016.

Romney also made it clear to the overflow crowd of students, faculty and business leaders gathered to hear his 45-minute speech that he was done running for the White House after two unsuccessful tries.

"I've had two bites at the apple. Three strikes and you're out," he said.
Romney, who received hearty applause after a questioner thanked him for his 2008 and 2012 presidential races, jokingly suggested his wife, Ann, or son Josh — who lives in Utah — would be better candidates next time around.

Before the speech, Romney said he was "feeling bad I'm not in the White House," calling it a "great thrill to run for president" and an honor to have had the support of Utahns.

"The country faces real challenges, which unfortunately are not being addressed in the way I'd hope they'd be. A lot of people are hurting. A lot of people across the country can't find work," he said, including new college graduates.

I knew that Mitt Romney would not be running again in 2016. Its not that I had any inside information but I knew that he just wasn't going to run. I don't think he wants to become like Ralph Nader or Ron Paul who have ran for President in multiple presidential elections. I also think he wants to move on and do other things whether it be in business or politics. 

There are many people (I am not one of them) who want Mitt Romney to run in 2016. There's even a Facebook group called Mitt Romney for President 2016 that has already been set up to promote that idea. Even though I am deeply saddened that Mitt Romney lost and I believe he would have made a great president, he made the right choice not to run again. 

As far as 2016 goes, I would like to see the following people throw their hats into the ring for that Presidential election: Chris Christie, Bobby Jindal, John Kasich, Robert McDonnell, Scott Walker, Nikki Haley, Susana Martinez, Jan Brewer, Senator Jeff Sessions, Senator Jeff Flake, Senator Kelly Ayotte, former Oklahoma representative J.C. Watts, Former Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Dr. Benjamin Carson, Former U.S. Representative Artur Davis, Former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, and Former U.S. Representative Allen West and former Mitt Romney running mate Paul Ryan. 

I also don't want the following people to run in 2016: Senator Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Ron Paul, Herman Cain, Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich, Alan Keyes, John Huntsman Jr., and Rick Santorum, Sarah Palin, Mitch Daniels, and Mike Huckabee.
 

Do you think it was right for Mitt Romney to decide not to run in 2016? Who do you think should run in 2016?

2012 Candidates Blast Pastor Jeffress' "Mormonism Is A Cult" Comment

While the 2012 candidates disagree with each other on various political issues, they are all united on one thing: Pastor Jeffress was wrong to call the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints a cult:

Former Sen. Rick Santorum, a presidential candidate who performed strongly at the Values Voter summit, said he does not believe Mormonism is a cult, and believes Romney is a Christian.

"I'm not an expert on Mormonism, but every Mormon I know is a good and decent person ... by and large, except for Harry Reid," Santorum said on "Fox News Sunday," jabbing at the Senate Democratic leader.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said someone's specific religion has no place in the conversation.

"I think that none of us should sit in judgment on somebody's else's religion and I thought it was very unwise and very inappropriate," he said, adding that he thinks Mormons are Christians.

Businessman Herman Cain, who appeared with Gingrich on CBS' "Face the Nation," was a little more circumspect.

"I believe that they believe they're Christians," Cain said of Mormons. He added that the candidates are running to be "theologian-in-chief."

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., told CNN that the issue is about religious tolerance, not someone's faith.

"To make this a big issue is ridiculous right now, because every day I'm on the street talking to people. This is not what people are talking about," she said.

Texas Rep. Ron Paul, who won the Values Voter straw poll, told Fox News that he disagrees with Jeffress and the comment was "unnecessary."

“But I don't think that's the issue of the day," he said. "I think liberty is the issue of the day. Our Constitution is the issue of the day. And too much government -- that is the issue of the day. It's not the definition of a cult."

Another 2012 candidate, Rick Santorum has previously stated that Mitt Romney and John Huntsman's faith will not be an issue in this election.  Jim DeMint has also publicly echoed that same idea earlier this year. Furthermore, influential Christians like Pat Robertson and Joel Osteen have accepted the fact that Mitt Romney is a Christian.

Attacking Mitt Romney's faith is an old 2008 campaign trick that won't happen again. Voters have already gone through this issue before and they're not interested in going through it again. Additionally, Americans are becoming less tolerant of candidates who are willing to use an opponent's faith for political gain. American has always been a religiously diverse nation and it will continue to be in the future. 

All of the 2012 candidates, except Rick Perry,  recognize this fact and that is why they have blasted Pastor Robert Jeffress for his comments.

Jim DeMint Tells The Tea Party To Not Lose Focus

Recently, Jim DeMint wondered aloud about the where the TEA party was heading: 

"What's up with the Tea Party right now?" asked Heritage President Ed Feulner near the end of the meeting. "We're not hearing much right now."

"I really don't know," DeMint said. "As I move around, people are telling me they're out there and they're engaged, but since the election they have not had as much of a focus."

DeMint also told people not to endorse candidates early in the 2012 election: 

In the meantime, he said, he's warning fellow conservatives to keep their mouths shut when it comes to making endorsements this early in the game.

"I think we're going to have a good field," DeMint said. "I'm encouraging people...not to endorse early. One of the things I found out last time is as soon as you endorse the candidates, they stop listening and go on to endorse somebody else. The longer we all hold out as conservatives the better chance we have of uniting behind a candidate to make sure our nominee reflects the heart and soul of our party."

I hate to brag, but I saw this problem coming a long time ago. In April of 2010, I wrote an article warning the tea party not to get involved in endorsing candidates running for office. Seven months later, in November of 2010,  I wrote another article about how the TEA party "leaders" were betraying the movement by claiming to be voice of millions of people who poured out into the streets in anger at how our government was mismanaging our tax payer money when there was never supposed to be leaders in the movement. 

There fact that the TEA party is losing its focus is directly related to the misguided attempt to become a kingmaker in the upcoming Presidential election. The TEA party is losing its focus because they're more concerned with elections and campaigns rather than issues. Many TEA party organizations are trying to get candidates to sign pledges, or endorsing one conservative candidate over another while attacking other conservative candidates. And the TEA party will lose its way if it keeps doing this during the 2012 Presidential elections.

Which is why I'm hesitant about Jim DeMint hosting a TEA party sponsored Presidential debate. I'm not sure how I feel about it since some are advertising this event as a way to break the mainstream media's control over the presidential debate and actually asking serious questions to the candidates. I'll hold my judgment for now.

However, not everyone in the TEA party movement is losing their focus. Some people are doing right things by  focusing on issues like the Balanced Budget Amendment, whether or not we should raise the debt ceiling, opposing increases in taxes and opposing ObamaCare. 

If the TEA party wants to continue to be relevant beyond 2012, it needs to stick strictly with its message of financial accountability and responsibility in government. By focusing on these issues, it will get the candidates they want in office because candidates will not only have to work on getting their vote but remain viligant in wisely managing our tax payer money. If they don't, they know they will face the wrath of the TEA party in the next election. 

However, if the TEA party focuses on providing endorsements for candidates and becoming a vehicle to attack other candidates, then they will get the candidate they want but they will do it at the cost of diluting their movement's power. Moreover, they will be less vigilant in keeping the country financially secure and more focused on playing kingmaker. By seeking to become king makers, they will become like other special interests groups that politicians pander to. Once the average and everyday Americans see that that what the TEA party has become, they will leave the movement.  At some point, the movement will fade away because it will have lost its focus. 

I don't want the TEA party to lose focus and fade away. This movement has been the best thing that has happened to conservatism, the Republican party and for America. I hope it remains that way for a long time.

Jim DeMint Thinks Mormonism Will Not Be An Issue In 2012

Like Rick Santorum, Jim DeMint thinks that Mormonsim will not be a big issue in the 2012 Presidential campaign: 

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's (R) Mormon faith won't be an issue for him in the Republican presidential primary, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) argued Wednesday.

DeMint, the conservative icon who endorsed Romney in 2008 but hasn't decided whether to do so again in 2012, said that Romney's religion might not be the hindrance it has been traditionally considered to be.

"The religion is not an issue," DeMint said on MSNBC. "But I think what Americans are looking for right now is a person with principle, but courage."

Just to be clear, this isn't an endorsement of Mitt Romney but just an expression of his opinion that Jon Huntsman and Mitt Romney's religion will be an issue for him in the election and that he thinks that their religion will not be an issue for the American voters either. 

However, Jim DeMint will endorse a candidate but not yet: 

As for DeMint's support, he's still keeping his powder dry when it comes to Romney or any other candidate. The South Carolina conservative said Romney "could" still win his endorsement, but that he's keeping a close eye on how the presidential candidates handle the upcoming fight over raising the debt limit.

"I'm keeping an open mind," he said. "I'm not endorsing anyone right now because I want to see what they want to do on the debt limit."

The fact that he's waiting to see how candidates, including Mitt Romney, will address the debt ceiling is interesting in light of his comments about RomneyCare.

I'd also like to point out that Rick Santorum and Jim DeMint's comments about Mormonism is in stark contrast with social conservatives who are frantically trying to find a non-Mormon candidate who can win the election that they are happy with, everybody else doesn’t give a damn what religion the candidate belongs to. They just want a candidate who has the work experience and qualifications needed to lead American and get it back on the path of financial stability.