u235

It's not a case of just calling him "Mr. Romney" instead of "Mitt", it's a case of Freddy Kruger syndrome... for many in his party Mitt just ain't mean enough for their liking.

WOLFEBORO, N.H. (AP) -- A chorus of prominent conservative voices is worrying aloud that Republican candidate Mitt Romney's play-it-safe strategy is jeopardizing his chance to win the presidency.[..]

Romney dismissed the negative attention as he faced reporters Friday to respond to another weak federal jobs report.

"I don't say much to critics," he said.

In an editorial Thursday, The Wall Street Journal said the Romney campaign is "slowly squandering an historic opportunity."

Republicans like mean, they like nasty, they like vitriol because it comes with the territory - anti-immigration, anti-woman, anti-poor, anti-elderly, anti-anyonewithoutmoney and so on. It's hard supporting that kind of negative energy without a figurehead. What's worse, what happens when the figurehead isn't really out and out bloodthirsty? It's a problem isn't it?

Romney isn't at all like Palin, maybe because he's Mormon, or because he's from Massachusetts or maybe just because that's how he is. But with the last generation of electoral victors patterned after Mama-bear Romney poses a harsh dilemma... vote party line or, well, or what? There's no real alternative.

I suspect that some supporters may try and take their own initiative in staging attacks on the Dems and Obama, but I also suspect that it won't get much official support because Mitt hasn't budged in who he listens to. Those he depends on are still the same people he depended on back when he was Governor. I sincerely doubt he'll make changes now, no matter how well connected or politically popular they may be.

So it will be an interesting election season. Uninspiring probably from any angle. But aside from that I, for one, am relieved to get a break from the nasty-grams of the past decade. That's at least one change for the better.