George Romeny was governor of Michigan nearly 50 years ago. A vast proportion of the Michigan population wasn't even born when George was governor. Mitt hasn't lived in Michigan for decaeds...why do people assume that putting Mitt on the ticket gets them any more or less of a shot at Michigan than McCain already has?

Welcome Tom! I've long enjoyed your writing and am pleased to see you posting here.

I work in publishing and like many of my peers, I have a host of grammatical and lexical peeves, and one of them is "ATM Machine." ATM, of course, stands for 'Automatic Teller Machine,' so there's no need to say 'machine' after 'ATM.'

I'll also be watching out for misplaced apo'strophe's. :)

Romney could be the best present Obama ever got. Anyone worried about old man McCain kicking the bucket in office would be confronted with the fact of Smarmy, Flip-floppy, Mormon Mitt Romney as President. That should just about sew it up for Obama. As much as the crazy bigots out there hate Obama at least he doesn't belong to what they see as a cult.

That choice would do wonders for McCain with the southern evangelicals that he's already doing so well with.

I think the entire Obama campaign would be doing the Happy Dance if that was his choice. Yes, I'd be dancing too.

and relevant.

But every evangelical would stay home rather than vote for a "cultist" or a Democrat.

a gift from Moron-eye, a vacant suit with magic underwear, a hairstyle looking for a head. Please, please, please, nominate the dweeb. Like we'll carry Utah anyway. His impact on Michigan would be zip. If you don't think it's a cult, read the Book of Moron. I did. right there with L Ron, Koresh, and the Moonies. C'mon John- go for the dough. jeff

The news seems so personality-driven now, I don't think the press could stop talking about real and imagined signs that McCain and Romney hate each other. It would drive up both their negatives. On the other hand making the media the enemy probably helps with their base.

We loved his dad, we put up with his sister Ronna, but I for one never knew Mitt to be dedicated to this State. I think he's more likely to help carry Massachusetts than Michigan

As much as I couldn't stand him, I always thought Romney was smart. Definitely smarter than McCain but also willing to say anything to pander to the Right. If he didn't need to win the Republican primary, he could have been a contender for the White House. As it is, he basically appeals to the base, that's it. That said, I'd love to see Romney on the ticket. McCain would hemmhorage white, blue-collar voters. They'd stay home in droves.

Automatic Teller Machine machine??

Ugh. That's almost as bad as personal identification number number.

This theory isn't new to me (I've heard it from a number of sources): McCain is doing so badly against Obama that he will pick Romney as his running mate and will bow out of the race right before the DNC, citing a vaguely serious minor health problem. Romney will then win the Repub nomination in September.

In the last few days, McCain has had a mole removed from his face and his doctors are checking to see if his skin cancer has returned.

Makes me wonder...

Then I can trot out my Slick Willie nickname I've been dying to try out.

Let it be stated that his name is indeed Willard, not Mitt, and I feel that Slick Willie would be far more appropriate given the former governor's reputation in Massachussetts and ability to change his position on just about anything he's made a statement on.

The freedom that allows you to express your beliefs is something that should be valued and respected. When you use that freedom to misrepresent others, you devalue its worth. Making the stand that Romney is not fit to be vice president because of his religious beliefs is in the least uninformed. Mormonisn is not a cult but a religion dedicated to following our Savior Jesus Christ. If you want to have a religious debate please use other forums. Romney should be critiqued for his political views and accomplishments not his religious beliefs.

Nate's article made some very relevant points, but he didn't really address the Economy. Say what you want about Romney's flip flopping, his religion, or his hair, but the record shows that every time he has taken the lead of a floundering organization he has turned it around and made it prosper (Business, Olympics, Massachusetts.) The man knows how to make good things happen.

On the subject of the ATM machine, I recommend: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAS_syndrome