CNN

McCain looks like an idiot, sounds like an idiot, talks like an idiot, acts like an idiot. Must be an idiot. Huckabee looks like a crook, sounds like a crook, talks like a crook, acts like a crook. Must be a crook. Romney looks intelligent, sounds intelligent, talks and acts intelligently. Must be intelligent. Americans will never go for that. Makes too much sense. Americans act like idiots, sound like idiots, talk like idiots, love crooks, Nixon and the Clintons among their favorites. Americans must be crooked idiots, or idiotic crooks. There are both varieties out there, I'm sure. They'll vote for a crooked idiot, Democrat, or Republican, that's certain. BTW, when McCain, the idiot, gets the nomination, look for his running mate to be Huckabee, the crook. They cut a deal, for sure. Between media trashing and McHuckaduck bashing, Romney had not chance from the start, but he has certainly fought the good fight against impossible odds. Congratulations America, you win the prize, ClintobaMchuck. Choose any one of 'em, same thing, America goes down the tubes.

McCain looks strong.

I'll go for a man who served his country in combat any time over a slick, rich man's son who just couldn't find the time to do so himself. It pissed me that Bush managed to keep out of combat, but at least he had the guts to climb into a jet fighter and take his chances with that highly hazardous duty - not that I agreed with Bush's politics.

Romney is just too, too groomed and sure of himself to suit me. Maybe in a few years he will learn to keep his mouth shut about better men. In the meanwhile, I'll not vote for him.

McCain/Feingold Sold our country out to politicians that could not make it out side of government ( in the real world)!

Poor Mitt Romney ... no matter how hard he tries, he can't help reminding everyone of their least favorite neighbor's irritating little yappy dog.

By the way: Choosing a candidate on how well he or she hews to some outdated ideological "party line" - whether you call that "conservative" or "liberal" - is pretty dumb.

To stretch the canine analogy a little farther: Who does McCain remind me of? Maybe Ole Yeller?

The Crazy Right Wing Talk Radio is frantic because McCain is the one Republican they can't control. They see their iron grip on the GOP is slipping and they're scared to death.

But they can't spin Romney enough to make him look either conservative or presidential. McCain is going to ride the Straight Talk Express ALL THE WAY.

TODAY THE CRAZY RIGHT WING STOPS RUNNING THE COUNTRY!!

Okay, I'll say it. Most Americans are idiots; stupid, ignorant, cut-off-their-noses-to-spite-their-faces blockheads. The mess of a primary we're in shows just how dimwitted the average American is. Doesn't proffer much hope for the future. Someone said Romney is a weasel. I'll tell you who are weasels, the person who said that, Huckabee and McCain. Those two make me want to puke. "Puke", now that's a funny word. "Weasel" has been over-used. Huckabee is so gleeful to thwart a Mormon, any Mormon, that he can't contain himself and McCain is so full of himself he can't contain his bowels, or is that just his age? He is arrogant, as someone posted, and so is Huckabee. It's interesting to me that many Americans are more willing to throw support to a narrow-minded Baptist minister than a broad-thinking, experienced businessman, who happens to be a Mormon. It's ghastly! I also find it despicable that McCain is preferable to many so-called conservatives than an upright, intelligent family man. In the midst of a serious economic crisis, Americans will, for petty, absurd reasons, reject a candidate that has the ability to fix at least some of the problems. They'd rather smash into an iceberg and go down with the ship than let a competent captain steer. It is where America is. Many Americans will get what they deserve; McCain, Obama, or Clinton, doesn't matter which one. I'm just sad those of us who have intelligence will have to live with the wreckage wrought by the remainder of this forsaken land's inhabitants. Fasten your seatbelts, it's all rapidly downhill from here.

keep it up, boys and girls and the dems will win the whitehouse in november in a lanslide........i love it

Most people vote for Romney because he supposedly "looks like a president". What president does he most look like? I can't think of one. Maybe Calvin Coolidge?

If we pick a president based on whether they "look like a president", we should at least pick someone who looks like one of our good presidents.

How about Sam Waterston? – he kinda looks a little like Lincoln...

Say no to:
Huckleberry
McCan't
Mitt Ruin-me

Say yes to:
Obama or Ron Paul!!!!!!!!!!

Huckabees only talent is his jokes and one liners, thats how ministers fill their congregations, other than that, he's a chump and is unelectable. He'll win the bible belt but nowhere else in the nation would vote for him. McCains a loose cannon with attitude, & should be living in a seniors center. These jokers are going to squeeze out the only candidate who might be able to make a difference in washington.

It is funny how more and more it is becoming apparent that in the eyes of McCain if your a decorated veteran you are always right. If that is the case and he is elected I guess we can look forward to even higher levels of contention between congress and the President since McCain as a POW will always be right.

If McCain gets the Republican nomination....the Democrats will surely take over the White House.

Huckabee is the only Republican who speaks the truth. And the only one who is not a Bush Supporter. Yet, Americans are stuck on Mitt and John? Go Figure.
NO matter – The Dems are going to win anyway...

McCain is the real flip flopper:

1. Twice voting against the Bush tax cuts. Now he says he understands the need – flip flop.
2. Voting against an amendment to the Constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman. – Now he is the family man – flip-flop.
3. Voting against energy sufficiency by refusing to allow drilling in Alaska. Now he wants to be energy independant...??
4. McCain Feingold, which damaged the First Amendment. – Flipped to the dems
5. McCain-Kennedy amnesty. Now he says he has heard the voice of the people – flip flop.
6. Lying about Romney in Florida. Then demanding Romney to apologize...?
7. Filing an Amicus brief in a Wisconsin case to stop parental notification of abortion. But he is now prolife – flip flop.

Washington politics as usual. Clean house Mitt. If it takes a bunch of dead wood federal workers to lose their jobs to balance the budget and cut spending, so be it. The rest of us will create jobs for them to fill when the reach the real world!! We need Romney's record and productivity in Washington. McCain is dead wood; the Huckster is just that...

If Mitt does not win the republican nomination, I will vote for Obama just so the libs get what they want and I definitely don't want either McCain or Clinton anywhere near the WH. I don't agree much with Obama's political leanings, but at least he would be a breath of FRESH air after nearly two decades of the same old families at the top.

I would love to be McCains V.P, Why? because after a year you would be President. He is way too old, can we please have some fresh blood in office, instead of these old white men who do nothing but batter at new ideals. Just because McCain was a war hero it doesn't make him any better, like he tries to come off. The reason I say he is to old is because he has no good vision how to turn this country around from G.W. If he is elected we are screwed, same if hilliary is elected.

mccain's true colors are now showing....That is why i am glad that i casted my vote today for a true conservative ROMney

saire February 5, 2008 4:29 pm ET

Romney will receive the republican nomination. Lets be honest, he is the only one truly qualified.

You cannot use the word "honest" when talking about a Republican...

It would be tough to be a Romney supporter right now.
As they say, 2 against 1 just ain't a fair fight.

Very ugly and mean of Romney to say what he did about Dole. Here is a man who is running for president who seems to ONLY know two things: throw mud at his opponents and TRY TO BUY the presidency of the United States! How can ANYONE who has researched Romney's record consider him a conservative,?! At best he is a "flip-flopper" and at worst, he is using his money to buy the presidency!

I am an Independent, hoping and praying that I can vote for Sen. Obama!

Flash to everyone!

Dole was no war hero; he got wounded taking aggressive action against the advice of the situation and his superiors.

It's a fact!

Romney will receive the republican nomination. Lets be honest, he is the only one truly qualified.

I hope the people do wake up. McCain is really showing his true colors. We don't need anyone as president that is always putting some else down. He is too old. Mitt Romney is the only one to turn the US around. He may get back at McCain but McCain is worse. And also Mitt Romney keeps his cool.

MITT ROMNEY

FOR

PRESIDENT

The older I get, the more confirmed I am in the belief that no one of strong moral conviction with the intelligence and respect required to run this country will ever get the job. Why? Because they are too smart to run upstream against all the BS career politicians and mindless campaigners throw in their way.

We have to "settle" for whoever makes it through the nonsensical gauntlet that is the American politcal system.

McCain's support is a bunch of have-beens and also-rans. Bob Dole got the nomination because of people just looking the other way because he was a WWII Vet. Everyone knew he was going to lose. McCain will be the biggest Dole repeat and the only reason to nominate him is if you don't believe Republicans can win anyway and we just want him to shut up once and for all. He's a disgraceful opportunist who is always taking the chance to get his mug on tv. My dislike of him as a person and a politician stems from all he has done and has very little to do with my support for Romney. They are separate. If Romney loses, I still not like John McCain.

john February 5, 2008 3:27 pm ET

"By the way…does anybody know how the sheriff got captured
in the first place?"

You question might be sarcastic but in any case in case people don't know:

McCain's aircraft was shot down and he crashed into a lake, he nearly drowned as both his legs and arms broke. The North Vietnamese pulled him out of the water and imprisoned him. He was given a chance to go home after the North Vietnamese found out that his father was in a high position in the US Army to gain good propaganda. He turned down the offer saying that he won't go home unless they let go all other American prisoners who were captured before him. This meant that he stayed in prison for another 5(!) years! He was subjected to systematic torture for years and never once did he leak any information.

What does Dole has a decorated Vet has to do with the price of rice in China????

Would Obama be getting so much support if he wasn't an African American?
I think because of political correctness, people are afraid NOT to vote for him and appear racist?

There are many Reps. online, and in California, as well as my family, who agree that if sen. mccain wins, and Sen. Obama wins they will vote for Obama. The only way they will vote for mccain is if clinton wins.There is not much difference between mccain and clinton especialy in character. and this is not just because of our candidate not winning, but because we believe mccain will only hurt our party and our country, and at this point we can't afford mccain or clinton. As for huckabee, he has a right to run, but it is obvious at this point that he will not win, he attacks Gov. Romney for saying that "A vote for huckabee is a vote for mccain". It is true at this point, and Gov. Romney is not the first person to say this, it was in the media before Gov. Romney said it. It is public opinion. huckabee is just fighting for the VP spot and helping out his buddy.

Thank you

VOTE FOR ROMNEY!

JESSE

If McCain thinks Romney's remark is disgraceful...lets verify the particulars of him leaving his first wife when she became disabled after automobile accident while he was running with a young future wife from affluent family supporting his earlier campaigns. He thinks being a war hero, he's above all. Give us the real facts on him.

Willard "Mitt" Romney = FLIP-FLOP.

CNN,
If you were a fair news organization you would print Romney's comments....and not taken out of context. This is just another John McCain "straight talkin' lie. Mitt Romney NEVER said anything about Bob Dole's military record. As a conservative I wouldn't want Bob Dole writing a letter in my behalf either. He wasn't conservative. That's what Romney meant. This is as blatant a lie as McCain's time table accusations. Why can't you report the truth?

CNN you need to put RON PAUL's name on your website as the list of presidential candidates. I SEE YOU PUT RUDY JULIE ANNIE ON YOUR CATEGORIES SIDEBAR AND HE IS NOT EVEN RUNNING ANYMORE

YOU GUYS ARE SO DISGRACEFUL!

go hillary!

McCain should know what "disgraceful" is ...he looks at it in the mirror everyday!! GO MITT!!! McRINO is nothing but a traitor to the GOP.

John McCain continues to pander to his conservative christian base. It will serve him well now but in the general election he will have to some of his words to apeal too the general population.

I hopr Gov Rommey is getting a big return on his investment because he is not getting any votes.

Very simple, Dole is not taking calls from Romney. This snafu is going to cost Romney big time as vets vote. What is the saying, "snatching defeat from the jaws of victory". Romy's sons should just keep their father incomicago for the rest of the day.

Oh wait is this yet another comment taken out of context for his benefit? Typical washingtan crud. ... typical McCain.

I HEAR YA DAVID AND I'M WITH YOU ! All that ...BACK SCRATCHING.... GOING ON and favors owed , AMERICANS DON'T STAND A CHANCE !

My family changed to ( I ) after Clinton. We voted for George TWICE . It's hard to take his war reasoning seriously ...

If McCain wants to stay at war and not deport illegals and enforce the border laws that were designed to protect us " from enemies abroad and at home " then we don't REALLY need to be at WAR spending lives if the threat to this country isn't serious enough to close the border !

If he can be BULLIED by radicals who would define every opinion we have supporting DEPORTATION as "HATE SPEECH" then he is a MENACE !

Republicans should have went with Guiliani. New ideas to old problems. Hopefully McCain puts him on the ticket

I think sen Mccain believes that all veterans are war heros and great presidential material, well we should have several million canditates vying for the White House, but were lucky, most veterans have a lot more sense than Sen Mccain

You know I respected John McCain and his service for his country. And admired his bravery as a POW. But, I'm getting really tired of him using his Military Service as a cop out for every criticism related to his Campaign.

I greatly admired and respected my Dad who was a WII Veteran. Who as a Seargeant fought on the front lines for six years. He received many medals and marched proudly on every Veteran's Day. When he came home he was given no preferential treatment. When he took ill, as a result of his war injuries during he couldn't get the pension he rightfully deserved. My mother worked all her married life as a result to keep our family going. And I worked while attending high school from age fourteen to help her out.

So John, your not the only Vet who sacrificed. They all sacrificed. Some to a greater or lesser extent. But, I'm sure you'll agree when you have served your country in time of war, all sacrifices you made are great ones.

All Veterans, all present active military are deserving of our praise, admiration, respect and gratitude. But you are no more deserving than others. My Dad never once spoke of his battles in War. I heard of his many brave deeds from his two younger brothers that were with him. My Dad was a humble man. Who during his fifty-seven years on earth never once spoke of his active duty or military achievements.

McCain owes ME and the rest of us an apology for screwing up the definition of a CONSERVATIVE! He scares me.... BIG TIME!

Go Mitt!

Well this just convinces me even more than Romney is a jerk and I was right in casting my ballot for McCain!

Being a war hero is very noble, but it doesn't make you better or smarter than anyone else. I think Romney's remark probably had to to with something Dole has done in the last 50 years since being a war hero, and not something from the 1940s when he was a war hero. McCain should quit living in the past. If McCain wins the nomination I will vote Democratic.

I do not feel that Bob Dole would be bothered by Romney's comments! Anyone that watches SNL knows that Bob Dole can take a joke! He is a funny guy!

It's as if you're branded disgraceful if you insult someone who is a veteran. Granted, the best thing for Romney to do would have been to clarify that point at that moment, but he didn't. I'm really getting tired of the media playing up these quotes, and I'm tired of the candidates harping on their fellow candidates who make these comments. What happend to Freedom of Speech? Don't apologize!!! I'm sure Mitt has the utmost respect for Dole, but come on, this war of words and the medias overkill of it is really growing old.

Dole IS a genuine war hero, unlike McCain, who uses his "ex-prisoner-of-war" status as often and as disgustingly as Guiliani used 9/ll.

I'm afraid that his time in detention has warped McCain irreparibly, witnessed by his uncontrolled outbursts of anger and venom at anyone who stands in his way. He's a loose cannon waiting to go "BOOM".

ANTI CLINTONS-

Supider-is that your idea of a intelligent word to use?

Julie Thomas-
There goes Romney shooting off at the mouth again; he will insult others, but when someone comes after him, he cries how unfair they are to him. See, Romney, as a draft dodger, who is trying to portray himself as a "wannabe" veteran. It is an insult to our veterans who have served or are still serving for him to even be considered our "Commander and Chief" of the services…..can you imagine, a "draft dodger" laying the wreath at the grave of the unknow soldier – he would be rolling in his grave.

What do you think Bush is???

Wy would Dole stoop down to the level of Limbaugh?

Nobody owes anybody an apology. At least Dole fought in a war that was
legitimate and we won. At least Dole never got taken prisoner(the first thing
you learn in boot camp). McCain fought in a war that never should have
happened. A war presided over by Henry Kissinger, who now endorses
McCain! By the way...does anybody know how the sheriff got captured
in the first place?

Phony, flip-flopper Mitt, I am not suprised. After today, he will bite the dust and so will Huckabee.

GET RID OF THE IRS ...VOTE FOR HUCKABEE.

HERE HERE SIDNEY.... THE MORE THE GOOD 'OL BOYS SHOVE MCCAIN IN MY FACE THE FURTHER I WANT TO RUN.

Bob Dole is a war hero, decent man. Romney's comments were disgraceful.

Obama 08!

Romney has big business all over the Globe... who's interest is he going to look out for ????

Romney seems to be another candidate that opens mouth and inserts foot. Maybe he should think before commenting, oh thats right he doesn't think he needs to.

McCain is a lier and like a kid holds grudges against people and he has a temper. Not a good combination for a president. He needs to realize he is not the only war hero and that does not qualify him to "lead". Dole did not really endorse McCain but he acts like Dole did. Another lie.

JUAN is the reason McCain should not be trusted ... Juan wants nothing more than to destroy OUR constitution. Why don't he go to Mexico and make all that noise ?
He wouldn't last from 12 till noon. And I don't know why he hasn't been arrested for HATE SPEECH against white America.

I think everyone here is missing the point. Bob Dole was injured in battle leaving him with a bad right arm. That is why he clutches a pen.
Romney was making a joke about how he wouldn't want a guy with a bad right hand to write a letter for him. That was what was in bad taste. McCain is not saying you can't criticize a vet, but that you shouldn't make fun of their injuries.

Whethe or not this shines a good light on McCain, I can't say and my vote this morning is on the democratic primary. However, Mitt said that Dole was probably the last person he would want to send a letter for him. Today Mitt says he'd be proud to have Dole support him. Which is it? Mitt is a goof head and while I'd rather vote for him than Hillary (if my party is so stupid) that isn't really saying much. I'd vote for any republican over Hillary.

The fact of the matter is that I really don't think it matters who the Republicans pick. If Obama (I hope) is the Democrat nominee, the Republican's will lose. If Clinton is the Democrat nominee, the Republican's will win.

And while I am a Democrat today, I fully intend to shift to Independant shortly. I left the Republicans several years back and am now convinced that neither party is the party that really belongs to me. You have Rush and Bill O and Norris and all those clowns on one side and Rosie and Michael and Babs on this side. Send in the clowns all you want, the two party circus is about to go the way of the Betamax.

GO HUCKABEE! Trust in the LORD and ANYTHING is possible. In GOD we TRUST.

HEY JACK ! ! ! That "Barbie wanna be" is another reason I wouldn't vote for McCain

she makes him look like a "BOOBY BAR PATRON "

happy now ?

Once again, Romney proves he'll say whatever he needs to seem like he's on the right side (no pun intended). He can't even fathom that enough video footage exists to prove how many times he's backpedaled. Seems like there's enough gullible hypocrite rescumlicans to fall for his garbage like they did for Bush-and now they want more time to try and do something correctly for this country. They just can't stand the fact that Bush had 8 years to do something and did nothing but #@$! this country up-THAT will always be Bush's legacy-deal with it. Where was Romney's time serving his country? He's another coward just like Bush.

McCain is Bob Dole 1996...war hero, old guy, tried/lost for President, long-time senator "His turn"...lost big to a younger, hipper guy...

McCain will lose to Obama...

Old, ugly versus young happy.

Old loses. Especially when old is angry, political insider, owes favors to Ted Kennedy, and is not a defender of conservative values (like marriage–he dumped his wife and kids for a multi-millionaire 26 year old...no skirt chasing husband will ever get my vote!)

Mitt Romney will set the country on the RIGHT course!

Mitt Romney is presidential.

factchecker1946 February 5, 2008 1:29 pm ET sez:

"Bush's budget presented to Congress has a $400,000,000,000,000 deficit – and THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE MONEY REQUIRED TO KEEP FIGHTING HIS WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN!!!!"

Nice try, boob, except that you are a few orders of magnitude off... the budget shortfall submitted by the Bush administration is $400,000,000,000 (billion) not $400,000,000,000,000 (trillion). You see, $400 trillion would be bigger than the entire gross output of the world – for almost 14 years.

Oh – to all those who think the Bush tax cuts should be made permanent, don't listen to clowns like "factchecker," who is either stupid or a liar. Which, I suppose, makes him automatically a Democrat.

This age of information (or shall I say misinformation) has definitely done nothing but make the election process in this country overdo for a complete overhaul. It use to be the candidates put a spin on what each other has said, now the media has taken that role by spinning one or two comments out of a 1 hour speech. The future will definitely show that the over analyzing and excess of opinions by the media in general will be the undoing of the poitical arena. Show us the debates and keep your opinions and you comments to yourself, with the mistakes in the past polls, you have shown us that you know no more about the candidates and their position than the american public.

I'm still waiting for John McCain to apologize to AZ voters who voted for Prop 200. He called our votes "less than worthless".
Just because you serve your country in a war 100 years ago doesn't give you a license to be a total jerk for the rest of your life.

Just a word to the willing to listen: Is it wise to vote for a bad tempered person to lead this country? Look around you in the world, what we are trying to avoid. What we want so desperately to avoid, we are becoming.

McCain will spend more time having temper tantrums and accomplishing nothing.

I am not a Republican, just a very concerned voter.

For crying out loud, could these candidates come out of the school yard long enough to realize the REAL issues face the American voters, vis a vis the war, the economy, and so many other issues too numerous to mention. The next President should concern him/herself with the problems facing the average American – not concern themselves so much with casting dispersions . Let's get away from the nonsense, please.

Reading this board and ones on the NYTimes site have made me realize there is no hope for America. Everyone is stupid and believes whatever talking head on TV or the radio says. The few intelligent posters have been overwhelmed by the uninformed and uneducated people who can't spell, much less critically analyze anything. And they all get to vote anyway.

Willard Romney and John McCain should just keep on digging! They will be the big losers in November.

McCain doesn't care what Romney said ... If he were a TRUE patriot he would uphold the constitution and start talking about deportation ! !

I am an Independant ... usually vote REP. but I will vote for Obama before I will vote for McCain ... If the Constitution is going to be trampled , the HONOR to do it should be given to a BLACK man , not a white VET that want's us to think of him as a PATRIOT while he's refusing to uphold the Constitution....or a white woman that can't help her own husband stay focused.

HUCKABEE FOR VICE PRESIDENT ? NOOOOO ... McCain wouldn't listen to him ...
Might as well vote for Obama.

ACTUALLY..... it's too bad TANCREDO didn't make it . HE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS NOT ALIENATED WHITE AMERICANS.

If Bob Dole backs McCain then that shows he is just as liberal as him.Hes no better than anyone else he along with others just trying to help McCain.Ill vote for democrat before a dirty lying senator like McCain. Romney 08

Jt February 5, 2008 2:16 pm ET

McCain owes me an aplogy stating that he will give amnesty to 30 million illegal aliens living in our country, eating up all the welfare they can.

That shows how little you know, JT. Illegals are not entitled to collect welfare – in fact, 80% of those on welfare and food stamps are white.

Your racism is showing....

Dole for pineapple '08!!

There are very few of us military families at this base who care whether our Commander-in-chief has military experience. Experience on the battlefield will only get you so far. The fact that the budget is in the toilet and our soldiers are fighting without proper armor and equipment implies that we need someone with more financial experience, the kind that will rescue us from the outrageous deficit and keep us from fighting the war with slings and stones. We don't need McCain to tell us how to fight our battles, we need a president who can finance our battles. The war is a small issue when looked at in comparison to the bigger picture – America. Vote Romney!

That's kind of a mean comment about Cindy McCain, she is a pretty woman, but she did steal drugs from her own charity and the reason she got off was because of her husbands and family connections.....

can't get away from the truth...

please people, so many reasons to vote Mitt,,, go out and do it today.

Mitt, you're great and thank you for trying to do this....

I take great pleasure in the Republican party's inability to recover from the past eight year's worth of bullying, ignorance and lying. Further proof that conservatism doesn't work.

Keep looking ahead America. A Clinton/Obama ticket is our one chance to redeem and renew our country.

Walt, Belton TX:

"When the extremes (Romney and Clinton) fail in their goals, perhaps this nation can begin some serious rebuilding and changing for the better." I have4 news for you pal, Hussein Obama is far, far to the left of even Hil-liary Clinton... He's an out-and-out Socialist. She, of course, has no core political beliefs at all and will say and do anything to attain power. And I don't know what a "far-right winger" is supposed to mean, but conservatives have been, are now, and always be the core of the GOP. You need to get a grip, you old Dole-voter.

What our country needs is a good lesson by electing the McCain/Clinton ticket. After that, maybe we will be more careful about who we vote for in the primaries.

John McCain, if you think all of us citizen patriots out here in the USA are going to stand for your military arrogance, think again. Your military sacrifice was indeed fine, but the President of this country works for the citizens of the USA and not just for military or elected persons.

Pooh Pooh on your "disgraceful" remarks. Were you elected to "God" and you kept it a secret like you did so many shenanigans with the Democrats?

To all the people who say they will vote Democrat if McCain is nominated:

Come on over…there's plenty of room in the Democratic party for you guys!

We look forward to having yours (and Ann Coulter's) votes in November!

To Jack
I don't think there is a place for those kind of personal attacks anywhere. Now if you were to say I am concerned that Cindi McCain has a substance abuse problem that we detract from the office of President I can see some merit in that. It is well known in Arizona that she struggles. I would rather not have a first lady that struggles with drugs since our youth deserve a better example.

Romney is a cowardly weasel. He made the snide comment and then backed up, cringed and tried to muddy the waters. Anyone who would vote for that empty suit is either a villain or a fool.

I am sorry that Mitt made that statement because i rather like Dole. However Like I've said before the more of the good old boys who line up to support McCain the more I am anxious to see a complete change in Washington. Can you just imagine what reforms could take place if you didn't have to pay back favors. McCain keeps saying how he'll work with everyone, I don't doubt that for a second. What I want is a complete house cleaning!We've seen what happens when politics controls the economy I'd like to see it run as a business!

Well McCain has been a Senator for what? 25 years or so? And what of note does he have to show for it? We need change and its not by electing an old Washington insider that will give us 8 more years of Bush logic. I applaud his POW bravery, however, that has nothing whatsoever to do with this election. He is more of the same. The very fact that hes using this campaign to bad mouth those that are too close, tells me volumns about his character. If he gets the nomination, I will switch partys immediately!! Unfortunate that our leaders have to act like kids on a playground and then expect us to back those actions. Mitt Romney may be wealthy, may not be part of the Washington inner circle, but the guy has character and a proven track record. Get in there Mitt and clean this mess up before we all go down the tubes!!!!!!

You want the truth? YOU COULDN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!

Truth is, any one of these career politicians would make a good choice (except maybe Huck and Ron Paul, who are ideologues). McCain or Mitt or Hillary or Obama, pick one. They aren't going to sell us out to al-Qaeda or make us all get gay-married or take away our family doctor, okay? 99% of what they say is campaign rhetoric, and a president doesn't really have much power or influence.

Despite Bill Clinton being The President, most Americans from both parties thought he made a stooge of himself. Despite GW Bush being The President, most Americans think he's just Cheney's spokesmodel. No one except really mentally unstable freaks tries to model themselves after a president (they dress up like Britney instead). So quit trying to elect the exemplar of your philosophy and just settle on which dumb hack is least likely to follow in Bush's stumbling footprints.

Illegal's don't get welfare.

Compare McCain's voting and past stances on issues like abortion, homosexual marriage, and socialized medicine, to those of Romney.

America: you're being lied to by certain corporate plutocrats. McCain is the real conservative. McCain is the traditional conservative. Romney supported abortions and socialized medicine when he was governor… his only conservative credential is that he's a corporate sellout.

Why is it that everyone picks on the spouse of the Democratic candidates but never mention "BARBIE" McCain, the drug abuser RICH wife of "my friend" John?
She follows him around like a little poodle in more outfits and just smiles a little bit so as not to crack all the make-up she wears. What is it with the Republican spouse bashing the democrats, but not vice versa. What gives?

i'm so sick of mccain waiving the war hero flag! fighting for our country is beyond extremely respectable but does not give him the right to do and say whatever he pleases. mccain is not a republican but rather a rhino wanting to give amnesty to millions to illegals! please get out and vote for romney!! we do not want juan mccain on our ticket come november!

I'm a registered Republican but if Mitt Romney gets the nomination, I'll vote Democrat regardless who the candidate turns out to be. I find it funny that people even listen to Rush Limbaugh or Ann Coulter. Those are what normal people call right wing extremist. They are crazy – really, really crazy. What is wrong with being able to compromise? It involves a certain level of maturity and tolerance that I guess some people just can't muster up. I think most of America is ready for someone to reunite the country, not continue this downward spiral we are in.

If you don't like McCain that's okay, but saying that conservatives "need to rally around Romney" is ridiculous! If anyone–conservatives should be rallying around Huckabee.

If you can't see Romney for the opportunist that he is then shame on you–he would get crushed in a general election.

So a drug addict now is the voice for the GOP!!!???? Glad I am not one, would hate to listen to a guy addicted to drugs, always cheating on his wife, and is a draft dodger! Go reTHUGlicans!!! Self destruct.

McCain and media are good at stirring up things right during the election against Romney. A desperate hot head Mccain.....had to trist it enough to make Romney look bad since it really wasn't an endorsement from Dole. Understandably the media has never liked Romney ….even thou he's a new face with tremendous background that could turn our country around and who is generating most of his own campaign money. What does that tell you? At least he won't have to promise all the typical paybacks to his contributors once in office. Why don't you inform the Americans all about Romney's good background (public service record, educational experience and both government and business experience and inform us about the real McCain as to furher investigate his questionable actions in both governmental and personal. Also, I may add to advise us that Romney probably has more of a stable personal home life. Unfortunately most people, media included do not like a wealthy individual running as a presidential candidate even with great credentials. You will do all possible to make the other candidates look good against Romney. A president must be highly respected for their experience and leadership to be globally regognized.We must have the next president to have true leadership ability in varous areas of their life.

Wow, and the mediator yanks half of my remarks. This is a nasty discussion.

I am tired of McCain telling everyone that they have to apologize to some one.

It's a cheap tactic to avoid a substantive debate.

I bet the press will report a surge by Romney because they want the Dems to win.

Hillary or Obama would eat Romney for lunch.

Romney seems to be a bit of a loose cannon....speaking without thinking. Not what we need in a president.

Mitt Romney was for abortion before he was against, for gay rights before he was against it, for gun control before he was against, for universal health care before he was against it. Mitt, who is the REAL conservative. The correct answer is, not you or McCain. Who do you think you're fooling...honestly? Go back to Boston and go sailing with uncle Ted.

It's just the media trying to stir up trouble again. They thrive on controversy.
I just heard on t.v. the McCain campaign are making phone calls in CA trashing Romney.
WV took a 2nd vote and choose Huck. Romney won the first one and McCain in last. good grief. I still swear Huck is there to screw up Romney. and theres's no way McCain is going to make him v.p. I don't like this delegate business.
Go Romney!!!

Today is Doomsday and the end of Conservatives as a viable political force. The Christian Right is going down in flames. McCain raises triumphant with his foot on their necks. McCain is sort of like Constantine, this is a turning point of history.

Old Juan McAmnesty is using the same tactics on Romney that the Bushes used on him.

McCain has Juan Hernandez on his campaign staff. Former Mexican cabinet member who says that 7th Generation Mexican Americans should think of themselves as Mexican first. McCain's campaign treasurer is the founder of Univision spanish language television. Do your homework. I am a republican who will never vote for McAmnesty.

The shame is with old Juan McAmnesty.

Mitt Romney is a real man! I know men who went through way more than Mcain and Dole did and you don't hear them flashing it all over the TV. Why don't we hear anything about Mcain leaving his invalid wife for a Filty rich women who is old enough to be his daughter. Who would you trust to run the country!

2 thoughts/questions:

1) does Obama have the connections and/or political capital in DC to effect the change he talks about?
2) will any of the candidates and congressmen who are opposed to government participation in any way in health care be willing to refuse the health care program that they do or would have, if elected? And then accept the same coverage that someone working at a mid level position at a medium sized private company would get for coverage? Would be interesting to see how many would volunteer!

sorry, but if Dole is backing McCain then he is off his rocker. and is out of touch with the reality of McCain.

John (aka Mr. Straight Talk), the Truth hurts. Now stop your pathetic whining, it's unbecoming of a presidential candidate, no matter how vapid you are.

Yes, Senator Dole is a WWII hero, he served his country with honor, served the State of Kansas very well, has a very charming spouse, Senator Elizabeth Dole, but give me a break, is he above from being criticized. When did it become off limit to disagree with a vet. McCain the Liar is just trying to create the illusion that Gov. Romney is unpatriotic, unsophisticated, and discourteous, all the traits that McCain is noted for. Yes, a vote for the Liar is a vote to undermine the Republican Party, don’t waste your vote for the weasel McCain. Vote Mitt Romney and be able to sleep tonight with a clear conscience and peace of mind.

As an American (and veteran) I thank all of my brothers/sisters for their service.

However, just because someone is a veteran ( or even a hero) doesn't mean squat when it comes to running for elected office. Candidates like John McCain ( or Bob Dole) shouldn't be given preference points for military service in the contest to live in the White House.

Being a good soldier is one thing, but it doesn't qualify you, in itself, to be President.

Romney's mouth runs 60 mph. while he thinks at 20 mph. Kind of like the prez we have now.

If the Conservatives where the base of the party why is he not winning? Rush you time as past. you can't tell people what to do.

Why not run for Office Rush? Since you have the base in your pocket.

RUSH for President.

If this is what is needed to be "conservative without consious" then I am proud as hell to be a moderate democrat. Anybody that listens to that idiot Limbaugh and that other moron on Fox Noise is more than likely brain dead already. So vote for Mr McCain and send Romney and the others back to where they came from.

Des anyone even care that if "Juan" McCain gets elected that most likely he'll get his way toward his amnesty bill? Those of you who don't live n border states could care less but for those of us who do, we've seen our small towns completly change from mom and pop stores to Taquerias and Carne shops on almst every corner. When I go to the mall I'd like t hear a little more english if you don't mind,after all I am in America right? Mitt Romney is th one who cares about fairness. He is the one I know who will finally do something on illegal immgration and someone who has experience on this economy. McCain is a war hero, yea so what, how will that help our economy?

Hey TRENT, you left Coulter and Limbaugh off your ENDORESEMENTS list...how come? To tell you the truth, guy, most people in this day age don't even know what a conservative is................except for the two noted above. Bellyachers...and loud, too.............................................

McCain is more despereate then Hillary,he will use anything he can get .Remember a Vote for Huckbee is a vote for McCain. McCain is the ULTIMATE Washington insider.He is calling in every political favor he has in the Senate.Even Dole whom I respect is paying his debt to McCain on super tuesday .

What Mitt said is true.

in 1996, the GOP nominated a crippled war hero who had unsuccessfully run for President before. He was the senate majority leader and had been a senator forever. Bob is a great guy. I voted for him. I donated to his campaign.

but

the media played it out like this:

Old crippled guy (SNL) versus young, hip guy (Bill clinton–criminal–they never mentioned that).

Bob Dole looked good for an old guy on TV. McCain does not .

In his own words, he looks like Frankenstein.

So, in 2008:

Obama v. McCain

Young v Old
Good looking v. ugly
happy v. crotchety
optimistic v. pessimistic
strong family v. left his wife and kids for his mistress half his age
Democrat v. GOP? (he did negotiate to leave the party and thought about running for Vice President with John Kerry in 2004)

Fresh face (in DC for 2 years) v. establishment DC–in a change election, you can not be the thing that needs to be changed–McCain is a fixture in the Senate.

Mitt Romney-optimistic, youthful, successful on his own, takes failures and turns them into successes, understands the economy.

Mitt is presidential, not petty or crotchety like McCain

Fix it Mitt!

McCain is a genuine war hero who even today walks stooped because of his service injuries; Dole is also a genuine war hero who lost an arm in his country's service. Romny and his five sons have never served a day in uniform. Any questions?

McCain needs to get off the "war hero" bandwagon. War heroes are people like Pat Tilman and the other 3900+ souls thst have been lost in this ridiculous and illegal occupation. McCain and Dole, though highly recognized for their military dedication, are war vets that came home alive. Nothing more and nothing less.

McCain needs to stroke the "war hero" moniker because he can't obviously face reality and the degrading conditions of this country and the war in Iraq (remember him walking around that Baghdad market espousing how safe it was to walk in Baghdad? All the while he was wearing body armor and was protected by a small army and air force). The very next day that market was attacked by insurgents, resulting in the needless deaths of 27 vendors. You're doing one heck of a job there, Johnny Boy!

So give up the "hero" crap, and leave it for the ones who really deserve that honor; the men and women who toil in Hell every day and make the ultimate sacrifice. They don't get to spend 5 years in prison.

In a time when we are failing economically, we don't need war heroes. Great men that they are, being a war hero doesn't mean that they know anything about making a great economy run well.

Go to West Virginia website for result of caucuses.

Do not intervene with my First Amendment Right to Free Speech if you don't like what I'm posting, since you have deleted it twice CNN.
Here is the voitng after the first round on THAT website

Romney 41
Huckabee 33
McCain 16
Paul 10

As no candidate got a majority, they are starting a second round.

Romney '08

He look like he is about to cry. All million gone, will he win?

Whatever! Romney can say who he wants or doesn't want to speak on behalf of his campaign. Personally, I would not want to have Bob Dole say anything for me.

Nice going, MittWit.

Those disgraceful remarks about a true patriot like Bob Dole will come back to haunt you.

McCain owes me an aplogy stating that he will give amnesty to 30 million illegal aliens living in our country, eating up all the welfare they can.

Rush Limbaugh said... Limbaugh says...

It would really be nice if we could all think for ourselves for a change.

Can someone tell me the difference between McCain and Hillary please?

McCain, the guy who said he "hates all gooks and always will" says Romney's comment is disgraceful? So a racial slur is okay but a comment you'd rather not be compared to a failed presidential bid isn't? This is more than pot meeting kettle, it's the old blackened pot trying to insult the shiny new stainless steel kettle.

Go to the West Virginia Caucus Site:

Percentates before re-voting reported on their very own website

Romney 41
Huckabee 33
McCain 16

As no candidate got a majority, they need to vote again. Paul 10%, so he is out.

Go Romney! Upset coming?

We already one ultra religious President and look at that turned out. I think the ultra right Limbaugh crowd have to realize they are on their own in this election. America has had enough of neocons like Cheney, Rumsfeld, & Ashcroft. McCain is plenty Conservative he just isn't a neocon wackjob.

Personally I don't like that McCain wants to stay in Iraq but at least the man has some honour, he is the only Repub who has gone on the record against waterboarding and other forms of torture.

Romney was stupid to have made the Dole remark.

I would think Romney is backing off from his remark (once again, just another remark Romney wants to crawl out of) about Dole. How much more plain can you get than to say "probably the last person..." Romney would want to write a letter for him? And then to turn around and admit that he (Romney) would have loved to have a letter from Dole to support his bid.
I think Romney was just plain jealous that McCain got the support from Dole that Romney would have loved to have for himself.
And I do think that saying Dole was "the last person" Romney would want to write a letter for him, was not a very nice thing to say at all, war vet or not. But especially because he is a war vet. Just because this war is such an issue in this election is the reason I think Romney said that about Dole's letter.
The bottom line is that Romney or no one else can take away the experience that John McCain has in military issues and that he is the best qualified to be our President and Commander in Chief to the troops he so loves.

Romney is a good person.

It's sad to see all this negativity being thrown around as we aproach elections.

His campaign also released a statement in which the Arizona senator called Romney’s remark “disgraceful.”

Mitt Romney's remarks were not only disgraceful. Mitt Romney HIMSELF is a disgrace.

Actually, McCain and Romney...they are like little kids arguing over candy...One only knows the military from before the fall of the wall and the other can't answer a simple question. My choice...Huck.

I think John McCain will benefit from what Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter has to say about him. I mean he has to have something going for him if these two evil blowhards don't like him.

I heard the remarks... totallly blown out of proportion. The media reporting on this is even sillier. Nothing was said about military record.... People please.

TO DAVE: If John McCain is our only hope, then we might as well become a liberal aristocracy and crown the next Democrat -King or Queen. Doubters need to 'shake it off' and realize that this election is NOT over. NOT OVER! Dave.

McCain is once again twisting the truth in a Clintonesque way that shows his true colors. He is NOT trustworthy. He is a disaster and his partner in crime the Huckster, have cooperated in a secret deal to help beat the only honest man in the race. That is of course Mitt Romney.

Why does getting shot down and then caught make you qualified to be president?

McCain's retort for every criticism of him or a veteran is, "Frankly, I think he should apologize to the troops." "He's a hero, you should apologize."

McLame is dirty...sitting there with his slimy little smirk, knowing he's weasled his way into this thing.

I'm a Mormon and generally conservative. I don't like any of the candidates, Democrat, or Republican. Nevertheless, since one of them is going to end up in the White House, I firmly believe the least troubling of the mistakes-waiting-to-happen out there is Mitt Romney. I don't feel that way because we share religious affiliation. I believe his positions on illegal immigration and the economy are the most important issues in this campaign and on those issues, I agree with him. I have never supported our foray into Iraq, I want the troops home now, and I would prefer a national health insurance to Romney's plan, but I think he will turn Washington in different, perhaps better directions overall. It's certain that McCain, Clinton, or Obama would not. They have no experience in executive administration. They are professional politicians. I don't trust anyone who pursues politics as a lifetime career. What have any of them done outside politics? Nothing of any significance. Romney is a doer. I don't like all of his politics, or philosophies, but I believe our nation will be better off with him in the White House than any of the woeful alternatives forced upon us by hidebound political party institutions and ignorant, reckless, self-serving media.

If the republicans nominate romney, then I am definately going to place a large bet on the democrats winning in november. Nominating romney would be the biggest mistake the republicans can make.

How can any republican who failed to rebuke the Swift Boat Liars for Bush complain about denegrating a genuine American war hero in a political campaign?

Typical John McCain. How dare anyone say anything negative about a war hero! This guy is going to ride his military service and former POW status all the way to the nomination. While I admire him and greatly appreciate the sacrifices he's made for this country, he's not fit to be president. It's unfortunate that his opponents can't come out and say that his service to our country has absolutely nothing to do with being president in the 21st century. An old Washington insider with little or no experience as an executive is a step in the wrong direction for the Republican party. It's time for real leadership and real ideas – not a trip down memory lane.

Blaine: being a vet doesn't mean that a person can't be wrong. The point is that Dole deserves more respect than Romney afforded him. I think Romney realizes that now and he's apologized for it.

What is disgracefull is that a war hero and a straight-talker (back in 2000) has left his principles back in South Carolina when Bush handed him a thumping.

I have never seen somebody give into so easy as McCain did to Bush. If Bush would have called my wife a junkie, and used my black baby against me, the only part of my hand that bush would touch is my knuckles on his nose, but McCain gave into Bush like a lap dog that he has become. Not even Tony Blair gave into Bush that easy.

As far as Mitt, he so slimy I wouldn't touch him with a 100 foot pole.

First a comment to Mitt2008:

After reading all of those wonderful endorsements for your guy, why am I left wondering why are all of these very same people who have done their very best to steer us into the abyss we now find ourselves in...they're all supporting this little rich brat claiming to be this die-hard conservative when his record is nothing close to that fact. How is it this one-term so-so governor and the guy who ran the Olympics for a time, suddenly is viewed as this grand genius and political leader. Gimme a break will ya?

I try so hard to keep an open mind, really. But why is it everytime I hear Romney speak, it makes me cringe...why is it I feel like I'm being pitched by one of the slimiest snake and oil salesmen of our time.

More importantly, why is it when I see video of a Romney speech with a crowd behind him, I just feel like I am watching an updated version of The Manchurian Candidate...although I haven't found Angela Lansbury behind him yet?

McCain isn't that much better, but anyone that has the right wingnuts of the Republican Party all tied up in knots, certainly has a PLUS going for him. Clearly, that 30% or so of the Republican Party just can't stand to give up control or their power to so many other Republicans more in touch with the real world.

Fun to watch if you ask me.

Mitt Romney is fake. Often flip floppin on issues just to attract supporter wherever he campaigns. Disrespecting our hero's across the nation just because they have chosen not to endorse him. This tells us a lot obout Romney!!!
Romney is a disgrace to the republican party, he is not the great man his supporters portray him to be. As an AMERICAN I am abashed to have this crook politician running for the oval office. AMERICANS DO NOT LET ROMNEY BRAIN WASH YOU, HIS A CROOK!!

VOTE FOR JOHN McCAIN 2008

During Dole's interview on Hannity & Colmes, it came out that McCain had a higher conservative rating than Dole himself and another highly conservative patriarch, Jesse Helms.

Why do Limbaugh and Hannity think that they have so much power? Hopefully, these two right wing conservative mouthpieces will undergo a humbling transformation. They aren't who they thought they were. They ain't all that powerful. Americans love independent thinkers. They love the underdog. They love American heroes. Above all, they want a Congress that will WORK TOGETHER to get something done instead of the totally ignorant practice of supporting you party at all costs. America needs a steady hand at the helm.

Go McCain.

You McCain bashers are starting to sound like our fundamentalist friends out east. You're getting all wound up over someone who is not as extreme as Rush or Anne. It's not too hard to draw a parallel between the strife in the M.E. and where we're headed if we don't find a leader to unite us. I find it refreshing that fewer of us republicans are falling for this "my way or the highway" ego trip and willing to vote for someone a little more moderate that will work towards solving some of the problems of this country. Mitt will only divide us further and do the bidding of the corporations. I wonder how that shoe tasted that he stuck in his mouth. GO McCAIN!!

Why don't you report the truth of the matter. McCain lied and said Dole supported him in letter and once again distorted the truth. Rush has said today that he is lying about the letter and also manipulating Romneys response. Once again the media will only report McCains side and not report the truth. Dole said he had respect for all the candidates and didnt endorse any of them. Eager to expose anyone other than McCain's Lies. How do you do it?

These guys don't get. The labeling of candidates has to stop. We the people are looking for the best candidate to turn this ship around. I want someone who can get something done and work with bothsides of the isle. Bob Dole is a great American who should be above this kind of name calling. Remember he was a guy who knew how to work with both sides.

I have absolutely no respect for that creepy piece of crap McCain. He is an f'n old man. Too old to be president. We would then have to supply the white house with Depends for the next 2 years, until he cant be pres anymore. Hopefully the azzwipe picks a decent vp. probably not though. I am sure it will be Hickabee.

Hey, E.C. and all you moronic wing-nuts that like to call yourself conservative. You don't even know the definition of the word. There's little about you people that are conservative. What you are arguing about is which candidate is more right wing.

You guys have voted in the current disaster-in-charge twice, and would gladly do it again. With that kind of anti-american, non-conservative track record, why should anyone even listen to you?

For those of you that did vote in Mr. bozo-in-charge and that are looking to vote [R] again, I suggest you look out for those sneaky terrorists that you like to use as part of your fear-mongering: they are now resorting to strapping bombs onto special needs people, and that would make you guys prime candidates to be the strap-ees.

Just to clarify:

I am an independant. Always have been, always will be. I find political parties exhausting and pointless. They take away the voice of reason, and all you are left with are two sides who do nothing but bicker and argue, but with no one getting down to the nitty gritty. Neither can seem to compromise.

I think the entire political party system should be abolished.

I mean look at it. Republicans fighting because someone is not as conservative as they like? Who cares? With uber right wing nutcases like Romney running, the GOP will never win the election, unless they can change. Huckabee and Romney, honestly worry me with their zealous religious positions. I do not want a person running our country that believes the world is 4000 years old and that man killed the dinosaurs. Its silly. Its stupid. And it completely proven wrong.

And please, the democratic race?

A complete and utter joke. Nothing more than a race/gender competition. Both candidates are uninspiring (as are most of the republicans for that matter
). I see nothing positive in international affairs that either candidate can offer the US. And I realize that people want the war to end, but you can't just stop something your in the middle of and ignore whats going on. It happened after Bush Sr. and during Clinton's time, and look what happened.

Honestly, my biggest issues this time around are gay marriage, the war and taxes. I'm tired of my hard earned money being taken to support other people. As mean as it sounds, I am 1 year out of college and struggling with money. Why should I pay for others, when I'm trying to get by? and who cares if homosexuals want to get married/united? Its their business.

So what does all this mean?

Unless Andrew Ryan comes and builds an underwater Utopia where "a man is entitled to the sweat of his brow," I'm voting McCain. He's the closet hope we have (besides Paul, who seems to be a slight nutcase), to crossing the party lines and shaking the entire party system, which is utterly ridiculous and unfair to those in between.

How desperate is Romney – is there anything he won't say – is there anyone he won't insult. D-E-S-P-E-R-A-T-E

Mitt, you are a better person that this – but the people will never know it. Stop listening to your "handlers".

I will say this again – Romney is nothing but empty rhetoric – telling folks in MI that he will bring jobs back when He (former Bain consultant) clearly knows that it is next to impossible to back it up. So what if he had a successful career as a corporate raider/VC manager – they believe in slash and burn tactics – CEOs fend for themselves and make decisions that are mostly short-term focussed, they never care about employees. My friend our curremt President Bush also rode the "I am a doer/not a washington insider/was a state governor" platform – look what that has gotten us? Romney is a slick used car sales man – don't buy the car he sells – you will end up with a lemon!

McCain is acting like a petty child in the school yard.
Tiday he is going to find out just how unliked he really is. WAHOOO! bye bye "straight talk express" and hello to common sense.

Amazing how Romney's comment is both "disgraceful" and and an insult to an American hero. I recall how Courageous John was nowhere to be found when it came time to rebut the Swift Boat smear campaign. Straight talk indeed.

Doesn't Bob Dole have a purple heart?

I thought the Republicans all made fun of purple hearts.

Just from reading this thread, it is apparent to me that the Republicans are just as divided as Democrats!

Solution: RON PAUL! True conservative, constitutionalist, and he DOES NOT PANDER!

Too bad everyone is blinded by the 'front-runners' that they can't see we NEED Ron Paul!

The Republican base is fractured, but who can pull it together???????

This notion that Romney is going to somehow expose Washington for what it has become is kind of laughable. Look at the current and last Presidents. Both Governors. Neither was a Washington insider or a Senator. How exactly is Romney a change from that?

That said, on the GOP side of things, I'm undecided. Both McCain and Romney have some good ideas.

McCain is disgraceful. He is doing the same garbage he did right before Florida. I hope Romney wins, and shows that McCain's bad tactics, and stance on illegal immigration is the reason.

Blayze: I agree with you entirely. I am so tired of all the military/veteran/patriotic lingo. I want to ask them: Did you enlist to serve your country or so you could get a free education, a meal ticket or possibly be exempt from criticism? Do you talk about it so much because you need validation?
Veterans: You served your country...very honorable indeed. NOW SHUT UP ABOUT IT! It doesn't make your opionion any more important!

Mitt Romney is a makes me physical ill everytime I see his fake smile. You Repulicans are losers.

Oh please, Bob Viagra Dole is a putz. When he did the Viagra add, now that was shameful and denigrating.

It amazes me how Mr. Romney is such a "supporter of the war"; Calls veterans 'heros', and yet....if he thinks the war is SUCH a great idea.....why aren't his military aged, eligible sons signing up?!!! Sometimes slips of the tongue can reveal true, deep-seated opinions usually hidden from public view. Hidden especially during a political campaign.

I love the Republicans sniping at each other. Keep it up. A divided party bodes well for an Obama presidency.

You people claiming that Romney is the "true conservative" are unbelievable. Look at what he's said (and done) over the course of his political career vs. what he's said since the last primary. Not that I care either way. The Dems will eat either candidate alive in the generals.

But, I'm always fascinated by certain Republicans never letting facts get in the way of their point of view.

Why don't you print Romney's full statement. He didn't say anything about Dole's character or war record. He was referring to the fact that Dole ran a poor campaign in a bid for president. CNN obviously is siding with McCain. It's disgraceful that you aren't showing the full comment.

If you like G W Bush. You will love John McCain.

t not take McCain at his "straight talkin express" word? "I guarantee you as the nominee of my party, I can and will carry the city of New York, as well as the state of New York because we know how to appeal to independents," said McCain at a Manhattan rally, backed by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Sen. Joe Lieberman, an Independent who McCain called "my favorite Democrat." There it is! McCain knows he can't carry the base, he's to liberal so he counts on independents, is backed by them and even Bill Clinton said that McCain and Hillary are close friends. Enough said. Romney is the true Republican. No matter how blatant the media are in their pull for McCain he isn't a true republican candidate..

Romney is one of the worst candidates to run for office, ever!!
What an idiot.

These lies and the warmongerers are making me sick. Hope for America can not be found on this page....better look around. Ron Paul has been the only candidate who has run a campaign of integrity. His honesty and intelligent discussion can not be found elsewhere on the Republcan campaign.

ROMNEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"McCain is trying hard to turn the tables and twist Romney's words."

Why do Romney supoorters alywys whine that Romney's words are being "twisted?" Whether it was a statment like this:

"I was an independent during the time of Reagan-Bush. I'm not trying to return to Reagan-Bush."

–Mitt Romney

Then there are these little reminders of the not-so-conservative Mitt.

'Romney ran against Senator Edward M. Kennedy in 1994. During a debate, Romney declared: "I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country. I have since the time that my mom took that position when she ran in 1970 as a US Senate candidate. I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years we should sustain and support it."
- Boston Globe, March 2, 2006

'"I respect and will protect a woman's right to choose."
-2002 Questionnaire for the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL)
Boston Globe, July 3, 2005'

'"All citizens deserve equal rights, regardless of their sexual orientation. While he does not support gay marriage, Mitt Romney believes domestic partnership status should be recognized in a way that includes the potential for health benefits and rights of survivorship."
- Romney's 2002 campaign website

"Mitt and Kerry Wish You a Great Pride Weekend! All citizens deserve equal rights, regardless of their sexual preference"
- A flier handed out at "Gay Pride" by the Romney/Healey Campaign See the flier here

"We have discussed a number of important issues such as the Federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which I have agreed to co-sponsor, and if possible broaden to include housing and credit, and a bill to create a federal panel to find ways to reduce gay and lesbian youth suicide, which I also support. One issue I want to clarify concerns [grammar in context] President Clinton's "don't ask, don't tell, don't pursue" military policy. I believe that the Clinton compromise was a step in the right direction. I am also convinced that it is the first of a number of steps that will ultimately lead to gays and lesbians being able to serve openly and honestly in our nation's military. That goal will only be reached when preventing discrimination against gays and lesbians is a mainstream concern, which is a goal we share…"
- Governor Romney letter to Log Cabin Republicans, October 6, 1994'

C'mon people! Smarten up...this guy Romney is a fraud and you're a bunch of dupes if you think otherwise!

Dole needs to go back canning pineapples. OBAMA 08!!!!!!

MAYBE JOHN MC CAIN SHOULD TALK ABOUT GEORGE W's SPARKLING MILITARY SERVICE!

Jacob, one of the two things they have in common is they are both as old as dirt, and they both lost an election.

Vote Hillary 08

According to the Boston Globe January 27th 2008.

VP Dick Cheney's daughter Liz Cheney has joined Mitt Romney's campaign as his Senior Foreign Policy Advisor. Considering that and the fact that he has close ties to Jeb Bush and George HW Bush should be all anyone making a decision about who to vote for on the GOP side need know. If you want a continuation of the Bush Cheney administration vote for Romney.

According to the polls it seems people want a change. Has everyone already forgotten Bush and Cheney's ratings?

John McCain is a patriot and I support him wholeheartedly. He will make a wonderful president, demonstrating the moral courage it takes to be a leader. The American are looking for a candidate who speaks for all of us and can work with Republicans, Democrats, and Independents to make this a better country.

Ha ha ha! I hope Romney wins for the repubs..... because he will be slaughtered, SLAUGHTERed by the DEMS. Sweet dreams GOP. The revolution will be televised.

This is bull.

MCCAIN USED DOLE.

ROMNEY DID NOT DISPARAGE DOLE AS A WAR HERO.

MCCAIN IS DESPERATE.

WHAT A DISGUSTING TACTIC.

DON'T BLAME ROMNEY – DOLE'S CAMPAIGN WAS A FAILURE.

Never vote for anyone with bulletproof hair and with sons that make the Osmonds look like a Tim Burton movie family. Very scary people.

I love that a bunch of you are quoting Rush Limbaugh as a source of honesty and reason. That's fantastically funny. If he and Ann Coulter are against McCain that's almost enough evidence right there to convince me he's the right guy to become president.

McCain/Lieberman 08.

Makes you wonder if Rove is pulling the puppet strings once again. Either way, boo for Romney and boo for McCain. Either one will bring this country down.

Ron Paul '08

And hopefully soon Mitt will be vanquished.......................to la la land where he belongs........................Huckabee is the true voice of freedom and there is not enough money in Utah to change that!

Insane McCan and JJ McClure, Your two grabastic amphibian pile of crap!! What is your problem! Insane, Dole didn't anything positive about you, you and your blow hard media friends and political hacks you have have blown this thing so far out of proportion that you look stupider than Pee Ww Herman being busted in a FL stall jerking off!

Dole told an interviewer what he said and waht it meant and morons blow it out wrongly. So why don't you just SHUTUP!

JJ McClure, magic underpants? what the heck are you talking about! This isn't about releigion you moronic arrogant, ingnoramas!

Scientologist, leave them alone and go call someone in your nursing home to wipe your mouth! it is running in overtime and you need to put your dentures in your mouth and eat you puree food.

Romney!

McCain... quit your dishonest twists. Like Rush said about your dishonest 'timetable' swipe at Romney... 'for someone who says he is honorable, this was not honorable at all... "dispicable"

Romney did not mean it in a mean-sprited way – stop twisting things, McCain. You are really showing your colors. I hope the people wake up.

And Ann Coulter's support is something you would accept – what a joke!

Gov. ROMNEY will win California on his way to the Nomination!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

McCain is an arrogant prick. These military guys always stick together even when they're dead wrong. Dole and McCain do have lots in common.

Oh – to all those who think the Bush tax cuts should be made permanent – think about this: If you were to run your household budget the way Bush is running the country's, you would soon be bankrupt! You can't increase your spending while cutting your income and remain solvent! Bush's budget presented to Congress has a $400,000,000,000,000 deficit – and THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE MONEY REQUIRED TO KEEP FIGHTING HIS WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN!!!!

All you financial geniuses who have the brains available to remember Ronald Reagan should also remember that Reagan realized he had to – and DID – eliminate his tax cuts in order to restore financial integrity to the budget.

If the Bush tax cuts are made permanent, we'll end up like the Soviet Union. We'll IMPLODE from financial ineptitude!

Thank you to those persons who left a long list of Romney Endorsements on this Board in the Comments.. Many Republicans have been wondering if there were any. The Media Bias is so STRONG and UNJUSTIFIED in this Campaign. The MEDIA continues to try to PICK THE CANDIDATES. This is exactly why John Edwards could make no advancements in the Polls. The Media Ignored him, pure and simple. This morning on CNN, it was AGAIN.....ALL ABOUT HILLARY...
DISGUSTING! Is this PAID FOR ADVERTISING, or GRATIS?

UUGGGGGH, good god, you can't say something bad about a person if that person served in the military? You can't have legitimate complaints about other aspects of a person's life? What is this, a democracy under civilian leadership, or a military dictatorship? Stuff it, McCain!

McCain has Juan Hernandez on his campaign staff. Former Mexican cabinet member who says that 7th Generation Mexican Americans should think of themselves as Mexican first. McCain's campaign treasurer is the founder of Univision spanish language television. Do your homework. I am a republican who will never vote for McAmnesty.

After tonight, it won't matter what romney and his pathetic campaign will have to say. See ya Willard!

The problem is with the Washington insiders!!!!

Mitt Romney is not a Washington insider like McLaim, Obama and Hillary

McLaim, Obama and Hillary they are part of the problem

You can not fix Washington just by having one of the Senators switch seats!!!!!

There is very little difference in the voting records of McLaim, Obama and Hillary.

Vote for Mitt Romney the person with executive experience.

Vote for Mitt Romney!!!!!!!!!!

Why is anybody even giving a junkie (Rush) the time of day???

Politicians will harp on anything that will make them seem the better person, especially when it's defaming another's character or supporting a historically significant person that has nothing to do with their campaign.

That being said, slinging mud to make someone look dirty leaves the doer's hands unclean. If politicians really want to make themselves appear better, they should let other's misstatements go and let the media take the role of mud slinger; the media tends to be good at that anyway.

You should include the whole text of the Romney quote about Bob Dole, as has MSNBC in the name of honest journalism.

He simply and quite obviously (when read in context) meant that establishment John McCain was being endorsed by establishment Bob Dole. Contributing to the efforts of the McCain campaign to blow the comment out of proportion and make it seem as if Romney were attacking a "war hero" is just misleading. Come on CNN, don't be so obviously pro-McCain on the Republican side.

I think McCain is desperate and when he gets desperate, he starts losing his temper and making mistakes. He does not have the temperament to be the president, frankly.

Romney stated the truth. That an endorsement or letter from Bob Dole carries zero weight with the republican rank and file. All the "independent" votes that McCain is getting now, will evaporate, during the General election, when they would turn away from McCain to a Clinton or an Obama.

The "straight talk express' is starting to sound pretty shrill and is now coming across as a "desperate to win at any cost express" now.

Bottom line is this....both Dole and McCain served and paid the price. Mitt, Rush, Hannity, Ingraham, Coulter, et al never got close to wearing a uniform or serving in combat. And where are Mitt's five healthy sons? Guess he raised them not to serve. Like father, like son.

Yeah, like the guy in the $4,000 suit needs an endorsement from Dole. C'MON!

Rush and Coulter and Hannity have all damaged themselves more than they have damaged McCain. Clearly, the Republican base has shifted closer to the center. We Republicans need to recognize the shift and move ourselves behind the emerging leader quickly or we will lose the November contest. With a stupid war as a lasting tribute to 8 years of Bush it is going to be a tough election this fall. McCain is a moderate who can win. He was not my first choice either, but he's the only one who wins consistently in one-on-one polls against Hillary and Obama. McCain is my man.

We need to re-take the White house in order to preserve the judicial branch as a conservative vector. By next year's inauguration 6 of the 9 justices of the supreme court will be over 70. The next president will be re-shaping the Supreme Court for decades into the future. It is simply not okay for us to choose a nominee who is perfect yet unelectable.

McCain is not perfect. But he is a proven conservative and he is our only hope.

The Constitution has little relevance to the government, but still it's interesting to note that the crazed John McCain was born, to his state-connected parents, in the Panama Canal Zone. The Zone, the product of US imperialism under the the crazed Teddy Roosevelt, was never officially US territory. That is, McCain was born in a foreign country, and therefore not eligible to be president, according to the Constitution.

I completely agree with comments previously that suggest that the American media are out to sink the Romney campaign. Everything in the media about Romney has a negative connotation to it while every other candidate, both Republican and Democratic, seems to get a more unbias portrayal.

Enough with the "flip flopper" comments. Everyone of you on this board is a "flip flopper", especially if you are a parent. Nobody can say that they haven't told there kids one thing and not done something completely opposite. "Johnny put that down or your grounded!", but somehow Johnny never gets grounded. Yes, my example is a bit juvenile, but so is the attitude of many of you who suggest that it is wrong for someone to change a position on an issue, especially after several years when they have obtained more information and more experience.

I do believe that Gov. Romney should be the next president. He would be a new face to Washington, he has the business experience which brings with it the ability to make tough decisions, he has the experience of running a government – neither McCain, Clinton, or Obama (all Senators) can claim that.

However, the American media and, to some extent the American public for believing the media, will likely get McCain elected. Why? Because, for as big and as proud and as powerful as America says they are and wants to be, they will not elected a woman, a black man, or a Mormon to be their president.

Take a long look in the mirror, McCain, if you want to call a person's statement, 'disgraceful.' McCain has repeatedly charged Romney with False Statements and Untruthful Accusations. McCain is the one who should apologize to Romney. McCain is desperate for votes and endorsements, and Romney is correct. Just because a person has been 'waiting in line' and been around 'longer than he should have' doesn't pack any weight and doesn't guarantee that he's the 'best person for the job of President.' This can also be said of Hillary. So what if she was living in the White House and was a First Lady? She had nothing to do with the Presidency, or so the American People Thought! She was not a Leader all those years, but a spouse of an amoral man. Just because she's been around, doesn't make her the 'proven leader.' Obama is giving her a run, and he will probably destroy her quest for President. The BEST MAN ALWAYS WINS! A Voter can decide who to vote for himself; it is a personal issue. A Vote Cast is NOT because of an Endorsement!

McCain is so liberal he breaths the air exhaled by Hillary Clinton. Romney's comments are, were and will be taken out of context and spun to hurt him by a liberally slanted media. They love McCain because he is left of center. Look at his record folks. Who does he join to forward a liberal agenda in the Senate? Why is it that so few Republican Senators are standing up for this hot heated left leaning democrat in a republican primary. Wake up folks and take a close look. If the huckster wasn't making back room deals with McCain he would pull out and let the votes fall where they belong, with Romney.

Wow. I don't remember McStain being so quick to demand the swifties apologize to Kerry,

Obviously McCain would issue with Romney comment, after all Dole was endorsing him. McCain is such a hypocrite really. Where was he 4 years ago when the Republican was using the swift boat dirty politics to discrditing John Kerry patriotic service to this country. Don't remember him saying squat, then again I guess he was too busy working on some of those lame Bill with the Liberal Democrats. As Chuck Norris blatantly put it "John McCain" is too old and it shows in the way he thinks. This country need change for the future generation.

Last time I checked Romney was not in the letter? Neutral? HA.......... You go MItt. Romney will sweep CA and most states again the polls will be wrong. THE PEOPLE VOTE NOT THE POLLS.

Any disgrace is McCain's for posing as a conservative. Enough already about the war hero stuff; we are hoping to elect a PRESIDENT not a uniformed warrior.

Mitt Romney is such a wonderful person who keeps getting attacked for every word that comes out of his mouth. It is biased and unfair because the other candadates say many things which is often swept under the rug. People try to twist and spin things but Mitt Romney shows true character and can pull our economy out of the mess it is in!

Neither one of these guys are acceptable to me.

I am proud to be an Independent and very proud to be a FORMER Republican.

Vote:

None of the Above '08

I think very highly of Sen. Dole,” he said, and had merely intended to criticize “the mental set that says we should choose our nominee based on how many years they’ve served and how long they’ve waited in line.”

This is pure and simple changing of positions for convenience. Isn't this exactly the mental set that Romney uses on ilegal immigrants? They are only good if they've being waiting many years in line? Who cares about the geopolitical interests of the USA? Come on Mr. Romney, give me a break.

Another nonsense story. Neither GOP candidate has any chance of winning (unless Americans) are completely brainless like in 2000 and 2004. Wake -up America!

I notice that McCain referred to Dole as a "genuine war hero." This is to distinguish Dole from McCain who is NOT a "genuine" war hero – he is a self-promoted and media-promoted "war hero." Look at the facts: McCain was shot down and was a POW. True, he showed great personal strength and determination, but "war hero" he is NOT! Most "genuine" war heroes are dead, having sacrificed themselves to save the lives of other people. By the way, what makes Dole a "genuine" war hero?

No mere WW II veteran can match the Mormon and his magic underpants! Th only thing better is a Scientologist running for President!

The great flip-flopper flops again!

McCain is such a squid, I didnt hear the negative comment about Dole's service as McCain did, he is either lying, or as is the case with SOME older folks, the mind is the first thing that goes.

I read on this post that Romney is sheer rhetoric and that he doesn't do what he says. . . HA HA HA HA HAAA! That's a joke right!? I sure hope so, if it's not, you my friend are a fool and I don't know what evidence you have that supports Romney being a talker not a doer. That's Romney by definition, he's a doer. He's done it, fixed it, worked hard and worked even harder. He's never been just rhetoric, he's all about doing.

Being a POW does NOT entitle a mediocre, bitter skirt-chaser to be our next president.

Mr. Romney, just because you have money, it does not give you the right to insult Mr. Dole or anyone else. You are trying to buy the nomination, but your behaviour speaks volumes of the type of person you are. Clearly, insulting Mr. Dole brings you down a notch as a human being. While Mr. Dole spent his life serving the cause of Freedom, you have spent yours in the cause of making money on the backs of others. Your behaviour is going to make it very difficult, for any republican nominee to win the presidential race.

Oh, please...the republicans didn't have any trouble tarnishing John Kerry's war record though, did they? I respect McCain's war record, and haven't forgotten it. How could we. He never fails to remind us. But that's the 60's and 70's, tell me something you've done in the last year or something you're going to do in the future for the American people, besides keeping us in a unjust war for another 100 years, Mr. McCain.

I would have voted for McCain in one of the last elections, but his arrogant, snide and riduculing attitude towards the other candidates in the debates has changed my mind about him in this election! I think I saw the 'real' McCain this time.

The way I see it, the only person out there that is a uniter is Huckabee. Just look at all of these pathetic comments, ie – McCain is this or that, Romney is this or that, etc.
Romney – spent $100 million to get to the point that Huckabee is after spending $7 million. Do you really want him handling your purse strings?
Oversaw the Big Dig which went 13 billion over budget. Again, whose purse strings should he handle?
He has already alienated Mike when he said Mike should get out of the race. What business is it of his to tell opponents to get out of the race?
How did Romney make his millions? By laying off your elders and then taking some of the profits of the smaller company, and leaving the rest to the CEO's. Is this who you want leading the country?
There are only two candidates that can unite both parties and get anything done in Washington. One is Obama, who has little to no experience in managing anything. The other is Mike Huckabee. As a transplanted Yankee, I am now in receipt of the government that he put in place. I can tell you that it is a far more enjoyable place to be than anything in the northeast.

Another smoke screen by McCain!

Romney '08!

These guys are living on their "war" records...that's great that they served this country but let's be real...Dole...that was a mistake to run him for president ..."it's his turn"...give me a break...you don't give the nomination for president becasue it's his turn....and that's want Romney meant with his statement...nothing more, nothing less.....MicCain "will be" a mistatke....he's the Republican Party's Dole.

Romney needs to stand against the GOP that support McCain! McCain almost left the GOP because most of positions align WITH THE DEMOCRATS!!!!!

Romney '08!!!!!!!

Some needs to tell McCain that Benedict Arnold was a war hero also. Just because you serve your country does not mean that you get the automatic bid for president. The WAR is not the only issue we are dealing with right not. We won't have a war at all if the economy falls apart and this country crashes. McCain has publicly said he does not have the experience to run the economy and turn this country back around.

Trust your heart and not the media vote for Romney and bring Washington back.

The only flipping Romney will do is with Washington.

Shame on you, McCain, taking that out of context. McCain only has a few lines of attack – attack Romney's character through misrepresentation (because there's nothing in his actual record to get upset about), and mention the word 'war' as many times as possible.

Oh, and name drop as much as possible so that he can remember just how many people he owes favors to.

The only straight talk we've been getting lately is from Romney. Bob Dole is an American hero, but he was a lousy GOP candidate who got us four more years of Clinton. Let's PLEASE avoid another "Dole scenario" in 2008!

McCain has mentioned that young people will serve our country instead of their self interests under his presidency. Has anyone thought to ask him if he is planning to reinstate the draft? He is pro-military after all. Once again, candidates are not being specific about what their plans are once in office.

It is more of a DISGRACE that anyone would put any credibilaty in anything Rush Limbaugh would have to say about nanybody or anything. HIS reputation is far from Honorable

PiledriverBob

Is it me, or do these guys sound like children?

Any one who's actively endorsed by that big, fat, fool of man–Rush Limbaugh–should be very worried. The American people are sick and tired of the divisive tactics of such pundits.

McCain WOULDN'T have benefited from Dole's letter, until Romney opened his mouth and made the letter national news. It's like his comment last week about Huckabee. This guy has big trouble controlling his mouth. I think that is a serious problem in one who wants to be our president. If Romney loses, as looks likely, he has only himself to blame

Johnny Mc is the disgraceful one.. he's the distortionist. distorting what mitt has said about troops in iraq. Now wants to cry wolf over the dole remark. Someone tell McAmnesty he cant have both sides of the coin. that's why he soo smug.. cause he a low lying slug. an opportunist at best. I wouldn't follow this man anywhere..as an vietnam vet also and a conservative republican.. i'll vote ABC (anybody but mccain) in the general. This guy is an unethical toad..

I can't believe that the American voters are even thinking about voting for this guy. Loose lips sink ships, do you really want this fellow running your country, you have got to be kidding me. Vote Huckabee!

Romney is the answer. McCain will do the same thing he's done in the senate for the past 2 1/2 DECADES. NOTHING. He'll support more liberal legislation to allow amnesty for illegals, promote tax increases, etc etc.

"People shouldn’t think that McCain has this rapped up."

Rapped up? RAPPED up??

Another home-schooled Republican, eh?

David said: One last thought – McCain, I don't care who you get your support from. They are all freinds or have been bought. Anyone who has supported McCain has betrayed the (R) party and I will remember who they are and never vote for them in any office from here on out.

David, you need to get your priorities straight. We should be Americans first, and then members of a political party. Loyalty to a party should NEVER come before loyalty to the nation. We fought people in WWII and the Cold War who made party loyalty number one.

That's the problem in this country; too many Republicans and Democrats, and not enough Americans.

My vote is for McCain, because he can reach out to moderates, independents and even Democrats.

McCain should be ashamed of himself for taking the Dole message out of context. ANY OF YOU WHO THINK MCCAIN IS CONSERVATIVE HAVE NOT...I REPEAT– NOT - DONE YOUR RESEARCH!!!

Why dont you all just vote for me? Im not a Washington Insider and I know when to shut up when needed. I'll cut all taxes and increase all program funding. Just dont ask how I'll do it and I wont then have to tell you.

All I know is the media loves McCain and hates Romney, and they are doing thier best to influence the election. I would not vote for either, but this kind of bias is not right. The media is here to report, not tell us who to vote for.

Romney is the fakest politician I have ever seen, I wonder if he melts in the hot sun. McCain is in la-la land. The terroists will surrender, I mean come on man people that are willing to strap bombs to special needs people at a pet market will never surrender. Romney slime, McCain war... which is worse?

Overreaction in my opinion. Romney's comment should have been allowed to slide. It had nothing to do with Dole's war record or patriotism, it was simply a tantrum thrown at Dole for not selecting him. A (barely) more adult version of "I never liked you anyway."

Go Mitt!

We can't afford a McCain/Clinton/Obama presidency!!

The real issue here is McCain's twisting of the story. Please, please pay attention to the truth of what has happend:

According to Rush Limbaugh, Dole did not give a full-throated endorsement of McCain, but simply tried to lay out his record, highlighting both good and bad in terms of conservative issues. In fact, Dole was later questioned on air and said he didn't "have a dog in this race!" The media's reporting otherwise is simply a lie!!

Second, Romney did not denegrate Dole's record, but simply said he didn't think a letter (read 'endorsement') from Dole would mean anything to him. Nothing Romney said implied that Dole was less than a patriot, nor was his serivce during WWII ever in question. McCain's indignation toward Romney is thus misplaced, incorrect, and just plain immature.

This was clearly a political attack that shows the desperation of the McCain campaign. He is simply trying to create a tempest in a teapot on Super Tuesday, much the same way he twisted the issue of timetables to make Romney seem less 'conservative' in his war solution.

For me, this just proves that McCain is stooping to smear tactics that are just sophomoric. For being 72, he sure isn't acting as if he's gained any wisdom during those many years!

Voters should look at John McCain's record. He voted more liberal than Hilary Clinton. He should retire; that's some strait talk.

Johns attitude , who is he too DEMAND for anyone to appologize; he isn't Mitts; Daddy ; stop acting like a Grandpa everyone is ignoring.

America don't let this sniping take the focus off of John McCain' Liberalism!

Giddy up America.

Once again, McCain is twisting things for purely political purposes. His campaign leaked this letter to his friends in the press and of course there's little time for Romney to explain himself prior to the voting today. Romney was disparaging Dole at all, he was merely saying his campaign was poorly run (which it was by all standards) and that he was beaten big time by the Clintons (nobody can argue that) and that it's going to happen again. His comment doesn't say anything about Bob Dole personally, as McCain is saying.

But what should we expect? McCain already has showed he's willing to blatantly lie about Romney's record about a timetable for withdrawing from Iraq. This probably takes second place compared to that, but of course the media won't pay much attention to either. They'll continue to publish the false allegations against Romney, hoping they stick, while ignoring the real story about McCain telling lies for political gain.

Apparently Romney spent $40 million of his own money for his campaign. That's his right. He also helped run a management consulting company that made money by advising consolidation and reduction of thousands of workers. That was maybe necessary. What is really, really weird is that he doesn't seem to defend any of his stands. I don't have to agree with everything he says, but I do want to see him take a stand and then stick to it. How is he going to lead if he keeps changing his mind on everything??

Instead of SETTLING for McCain why don't you all support Mike Huckabee? That's the most logical answer. If you don't want McCain, THEN do you want Hillery or Obama or Mitt ? THE CHOICE IS UP TO THE voters. GO OUT and VOTE !
Stop belly aching. VOTE !

Yes you will have a woman and a black in the Whitehouse. President Obama & Vice-President Whinfrey. Good luck! How dare Ms Whinfrey think she has to 'Give Permission' to the women of America to vote for a 'non-female' candidate!

The extent to which all the neocons seem to take pride in being authoritarian bigots amazes me. The only true Conservative running is Ron Paul.

Let's just elect our Presidents on the basis of how much they suffered while in the military. It'll be like the old TV show "Queen for a Day," except that the perks are more lavish.

With every primary win McCain looks more and more giddy and less presidential.
Conservatives unite!
Mit needs us today!

So, once again we see the true, nasty nature of Mitt Romney! If this man who never served a day in his life can't respect a WWII hero like Bob Dole, then he certainly does not deserve to be commander-in-chief! Romney is an imperious, strutting buffoon who's time on the political stage should be done after the polls close tonight, God willing!

Rush Limbaugh has never been a favorite of mine - until this election!!! Every time John McCain twists a truth and throws his war hero history into the mix, Rush has been immediately addressing it and cleaning the slate for Romney.

It is true, per Rush, that war heroes usually don't broadcast that and wear it on their sleeve as McCain has been doing. They quietly hold their pride and honor within.

Both are hurting themselves by showing their true colors. It's probably all for nothing anyway as the Republican party is fractured. Large numbers of conservatives are questioning the party's stance on Iraq and the economy. The Republican Party has been hijacked.

Ron Paul 08!

I'll tell you what is disgraceful, John McCain making fun of the war in Iraq by pronouncing "Bomb Bomb Bomb, Bomb Bomb Iran". Our country will be in the Middle East forever if McCain becomes President!

Conservatives are NOT the only kind of Republicans. Somehow these right-wing ideologues tar and feather even their own kind if they don't fit their "conservative" mold. Short-sighted, self-centered and adding to the divisiveness already too rampant in our country and culture.

McCain immediately put out a statement condemning the comment, and told reporters on his campaign plane that Romney should apologize to Dole, a decorated World War II veteran, for the remark: "this is no way to end up this campaign, by attacking a genuine American war hero."

I respect the War Hero status but that doesn't mean you are without faults. All this "you can't say ANYTHING bad about him because he went to WAR" is BS.

YES praise a man because he went to WAR but DO NOT be afraid to challenge him on issue SEPERATE FROM HIS OWN EXPERIENCE in the war just because of his war efforts.

John McCain needs to stop worrying about who was a veteran from what war, how long they served, and if they were decorated, and begin to work on domestic issues. Between him and Romney, Romney is the only person who seems concerned with the economy, and has a plan to fix it. Whether it will work or not is a different story, but at least he has offered a plan and has experience with economics. Just because you were a war hero or a veteran does not necessarily make you qualified to lead America.

Romney goes from bad to worse in his foot-in-mouth disease. How utterly presumptuous to suggest that people ("we") vote for McCain because of years served or waiting in line. Speak for yourself, bozo. As a voter, I find THAT remark insulting but totally in line with Romney. And he wonders why his support isn't stronger than it is. Here's a recommendation: Look in the mirror for your answer.

Romney, grow up. The last person? If I was him I would welcome a letter written from him as that would help with the military personal and the veterans. By stating what he did, I am afraid certain military groups will take that remark as a slap in the face. Will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Of course we can't criticize any veteran because the have "served". not Dole, not Kerry and not McCain. No matter how or what they do. McCain needs to let go. Huckabee is playing spoiler. Romney is the only logical candidate. And, "slimmy" is probably supposed to be spelled s-l-i-m-e-y.

McCain is so slimmy.He will say whatever works best at any particular moment. He's such a phony.

McCain is trying hard to turn the tables and twist Romney's words.

When Dole appeared on tv as the new spokesman for Viagra, about a week after losing his bid for the White House, his credibility ran down his leg and trickled away. Shame on Mitt for shooting at such a big fat flabby target anyway! Dole's become a punchline.

I think a lot of people are missing the point of this article. It is not to say whether or not Dole is a WWII hero, or whether or not McCain is a "real" conservative. The problem is that Romney essentially put down a well-known member of his own party.
The Republicans seem bent on destroying themselves, and this is another sad example of that.

What's wrong with his comment? Bob Dole, great guy that he is, ran a terrible campaign and was trounced by Clinton. I don't think I'd look for his seal of approval quickly either.

While being a war hero is very noble, it does not make you any smarter or better than anyone else. Romney's comment was probably based on something Dole had done in the last 50 years, not something he had accomplised in the 1940s. Let's get real about McCain. McCain is egotistical, smirky, and a war monger. The Republican party needs Mitt, unfortunately Huck is taking some of his votes for no worthwhile reason except to give the nomination to McCain. I will have to vote Democratic if McCain wins the nomination.

Anyone tat thinks Mitt Romney will turn this country around is delusional. Look what Bush – CEO President has done so far. Romney shrill rhetoric that he is the only candidate that had a real job in the real economy is laughable! And when did public service stop qualifying as a real job? What we need in a candidate is someone that understands public and foriegn policy and not just business. I would trust an experienced public servant over a CEO anyday. And what is up with Rush/Hannity/Coulter/Ingraham? Why do they have this urge to destroy decorated veterans because they have positions that do not agree with their own bigoted views?

It drives me absolutly crazy, how McCain always thinks since he served in a war that he deserves everything..and because Dole was a WWII vet which is a very noble thing, he should apologize....I think the war affected his head!

I guess being a military veteran means your opinion is worth more than others. Who cares who Bob Dole endorses? Not me. He's completely irrelevant and Romney knows it. Perhaps Romney shouldn't have said anything, but at least he recognizes that Dole's endorsement is worthless.

That's better than McCain.

CNN, please post the full text of Mitt Romey's comments so that your readers can see that McCain has, once again, taken a small snipet of Romney's comments and spun them into something that they are not. When Romney was asked about the letter that Dole wrote to Limbaugh he stated that, in light of Dole's own failed presidential bid, he is not the best spokesperson for McCain. 12 years ago we nominated Dole because he was old, and he was "due" and it was somehow owed to him. He went up against a wildly popular Bill Clinton and got crushed. Can anyone see history repeating itself here if we send McCain against Obama or another Clinton? We should not nominate McCain simply because he has served for so long and this nomination is somehow owed to him!

Since when has it bothered any Republican to attach a war hero?? And if this is so terrible and awful to attack a war hero where were you when they were doing it to Kerry?

McCain talks out of both sides of his mouth...he is no Conservative to me. He must be using Slick Willy & Hillary's playbook. Romney's the man for the hour...not perfect but more Conservative than the rest.

The more I think about it, the more I start to wonder if it would help, rather than hurt, our political process to just go the rest of the way and make it into a reality T.V. show.

.What would McPain do if he were President and a foreign leader said something he didn't agree with? Talk about slimy, he definitely is. I think that everyone agrees that our service men and women deserve our respect for their service, but McPain uses his service and being a POW as an answer for everything. In his mind we OWE him the presidency because he was a POW. He is a snide, hateful, deceitful old man. Romney would be far better at leading this country. McPain says Romney bought companies and people lost their jobs. If these companies were already in trouble they would have lost their jobs anyway. The man did not make his fortune by leaving his disabled wife and marrying a rich heiress like McPain did.

McCain has been exposed on his slimy politicking on this issue. Romney never criticized Dole personally nor as a military hero, as McCain claimed.

Romney was making a statement about the way the "establishment candidate" is sometimes selected and supported and given the Republican nomination. Exactly as Dole was put out there in 1996 to flop as a candidate, Romney wonders why McCain would be heakening back to those days, seeing how this is such a similar case, with McCain being praised because it's HIS TURN.

This stuff happens all the time, everybody makes mountains out of molehills. Aside from that, I can only hope Romney beats McCain!!

"this is no way to end up this campaign, by attacking a genuine American war hero."

Someone tell that Karl Rove who killed John Kerry's chances in 04!!!!

Romney is correct. The media has been carrying John McCains water for too long. Why wasn't CNN reporting the fact that McCain lied about Romney's stance on the Iraq war after Romney called him out on it? McCain makes a statement and its the front page of you website. Typical.

Bob Dole is a disgraceful traitor and a sell out. Has everyone already forgotten Dole's efforts to transfer our port security to a Dubai firm?

McCain is of the same ilk. People can go bad, and just because those two old men served honorably in the past does not mean they are honorable today.

Another Romney flip-flop.

How can the public trust someone who say one thing, and then changes his tune if it proves to be unpopular?

This ain't leadership folks.

What Romney said was rude and tasteless, yes. What McCain said was very Kindergarden-teacher-like "go say you're sorry to bobby!" Decide for yourself which is worse or w/e you want to take out of this but the fact is that we've tried a so-called conservative president for the past 2 terms and it may go down as the worst presidency in the history of the country. Romney seems to me as though he'd be happy to pick up where Bush left off. McCain may not be building his 'house' with a foundation of conservatives, but he's successfully building his foundation with a wide variety Americans that include liberals, conservatives, and moderates alike instead of the blind ignorance of one type alone. It's called unity... shame on him.

I, for one, would love to have someone in the White House with military experience. They, at least ,know what war is really like and not some stupid game to be played to keep our leaders amused. President Eisenhower warned us against a Great Military machine that could run our country. We now are fighting a war that has companies such as Black Water making a profit off of our dead soldiers. Maybe someone with real military experience could see thru the war complex lies.
This is another reason why all American should get a say not just a few states. I still believe that we had a good candidate in the last election - Wesley Clark. And this time - John Edwards. But since I'm from a little state that doesn't have a say until May it's all over by then.
As far a McCain is concerned I think he is getting the support of Americans who are sick of both parties and their stupid rhetoric.
Rush Limbaugh is pathetic at best and no one with any sense should believe a word he says about anything. He just likes to whip up a crown into a frenzy.

I guess I should have fought in IRAQ so I could become a hero and do or say whatever I would like. McCain needs to grow up... ok maybe that would not be a good idea it would probably kill him if he were to get any older.

Timothy McVeigh was a war hero too. That's not to say that Bob Dole is a Timothy McVeigh, but it is to say that "war hero" does not equate to "unquestionable respect." Stop the posturing drama queen. By the way, I'm a Republican.

Romney was right on-point that Dole thinking that someone's years in Washington makes them the right guy for the job is absolutely wrong. Reagan wasn't chosen because he had been in Washington forever - he was chosen for change. And Romney is the one who can drive positive change -- NOT McCain. Dole's mindset about McCain was wrong, and that sort of mindset is not the sort of mindset that is needed to support change in America. Sheesh....the press will twist anything Romney says, because they don't want him up against their precious Dems. McCain will get clobbered in the general election, and they know it...so they protect him now, but they'll turn on him if he's up against Dems. If you support McCain instead of Romney, then you've swallowed the media's picture of Romney - hook-line-sinker. You've been fooled. The TRUTH is that ROMNEY is the right one for the Republicans - the one who can win the general, the one who embodies Republican values, and the one who can actually GET THINGS DONE once he's in. GO MITT!

Romney is right. Dole came in because it was "his turn" and lost badly to Clinton. McCain has the same sense about him that it's his turn, and thus he gets really angry that someone like Romney is challenging him and may beat him. He therefore allies with sycophants like Huckabee to "take out" Romney. Romney is level-headed, intelligent, respectful, and maintains presidential bearing like no other in the race. I pick him!

McCain is once again twisting the truth in a Clintonesque way that shows his true colors. He is NOT trustworthy. He is a disaster and his partner in crime the Huckster, have cooperated in a secret deal to help beat the only honest man in the race. That is of course Mitt Romney.

Rush Limbaugh said this morning that McCain is playing "dirty" and making FALSE CLAIMS about the Bob Dole email that was sent to him.
Limbaugh says McCain should be ashamed of McCain!
IN NO WAY DID DOLE EVER; EVER GIVE ANY ENDORSMENT TO THE LIBERAL McCAIN!

I wish the extreme right-wingers would just vote for Romney and leave the rest of mainstream, moderate Republicans and Independents outside their petty quarrel. The far right-wingers are not the base of the Republican Party and never have been. They are just as bad as the extreme left-wingers of the Democratic Party. Thank goodness there are moderates in both parties willing to do what is best for America and not their own personal agendas. When the extremes (Romney and Clinton) fail in their goals, perhaps this nation can begin some serious rebuilding and changing for the better.

There goes Romney shooting off at the mouth again; he will insult others, but when someone comes after him, he cries how unfair they are to him. See, Romney, as a draft dodger, who is trying to portray himself as a "wannabe" veteran. It is an insult to our veterans who have served or are still serving for him to even be considered our "Commander and Chief" of the services.....can you imagine, a "draft dodger" laying the wreath at the grave of the unknow soldier – he would be rolling in his grave.

Kaite February 5, 2008 12:14 pm ET

Romney is so slimmy. He will say whatever works best at any particular moment.
___________________________________________________________

Yes, Kaite, and no other candidate has ever done that, have they. Get real. They're all politicians trying to get your vote.

Rush Limbaugh is chastising the loser liberal McCain right at this moment!

HA! It's great!

Rush says in no way did Bob Dole give any endorsement to the liberal McCain in the email he sent yesterday!

What a fitting end for such a complete jerk. Romney goes down taking the low road reversing himself within 24 hours. Perfect.

I wouldn't vote for a republican with a gun to my head but of the pathetic crop they've turned up this year McCain is certainly the only one I could even imagine living with as president. Of course according to the "agents of intolerance" that makes him their worst choice which only goes to show what little interest the far right has in any kind of consensus. Not that the far left is any better.

McCain hates Republicans deep down. We all know it. And being a POW doesn't mean you get to be President.

McCain is a lier.

How is Romney the conservative in this race? I don't get it. He is just another northeastern liberal just like Bush. All it takes is conservative rhetoric to become a conservative, no action necessary???

I don't think by Romney saying Dole, "...is the last person I'd want to write a letter for me" is disrespectful to the 'war hero'! Dole, even though a war hero, was a political loser and I wouldn't want him writing a political letter for me either! McCain is shameless in his attempt to slant the quote to his advantage...must've been too many years in the POW camp, which has clouded his reasonable thinking...or can't anyone opinionate about any 'war hero' without offending? If offended, perhaps the 'war heros' should stay out of politics! Go run the Veterans of Foreign Wars or something! Besides, McCain WILL NOT beat Clinton, meaning we're all in deep, deep trouble.

All McCain knows is war. I don't care if Bob Dole is a war veteran. If someone doesn't support his views, they should be able to speak out against them no matter who they are.

On a side note, we need someone that is above and beyond all this junk and really is discussing issues and not fighting with rivals over stupid things they said. That is Ron Paul. A real politician, with real ideas that will do something to help this nation instead of keeping it on its steady decline

I wouldn't back off the comments – and I will be changing my party from (Rep) to (Indep) tomorrow. I am a anyone but McCain! I wanted Fred or Mitt – now I am left with Obama!

One last thought – McCain, I don't care who you get your support from. They are all freinds or have been bought. Anyone who has supported McCain has betrayed the (R) party and I will remember who they are and never vote for them in any office from here on out.

Sorry – one last thing. Huckabee you should be ashamed. Atleast my guy Fred understood when you should bow out – now I am left with McCain. What a sad day for America!

McCain is such a whiner! This is the same sort of tactic he used in Florida, of COURSE Romney wasn't criticizing Dole! Get over it! McCain, your so deceitful I can't stand it! I can't believe your ahead in the polls and FINALLY everyone is recognizing this deceit that you've had for such a long time! You attack personal character, you've been involved in a scandal, you lie and you think it's okay for America to ignore it. You take whatever you want way out of context like you did with Romney about the troop timetable, and you're so gullible! How can you lead our country with your attitude and ignorance!?

Mitt is a true creep, he would have never lasted this long in the Democratic primary, he would have gotten less than 2% of the vote.
Only Republicans!

John McCain tries to pretend he takes the high road and isn't negative, but he always seems to be coming out with interesting words to describe his opponents, like "disgraceful." I will NOT be voting for that man because he seems arrogant and that is surely not what kind of person we need to lead our country right now. Haven't we had enough arrogance?

BA and other Romney apologists. How can you stand up for him or denigrate Dole when he came out and essentially apologized. Which stance of your candidate are you supporting, his first or second?

Sorry – just a case of Mitt being Mitt.

Romney is so slimmy. He will say whatever works best at any particular moment.

Both McCain and Romney are showing their very, very ugly sides in this race.

So far, the only candidate out of all of them who seems to be consistently civil is Barack Obama, who isn't perfect himself but is generally an honorable candidate.

Grow up McCain! Bob Dole can speak for himself. He said last night that he doesn't agree with McCain on a number of issues.
I'm sorry, but sending any of the three Senators (McCain, Clinton,or Obama) back to Washington is not the answer that America needs. America will get a lot of the same or worse than what it has right now. They have been in Washington and haven't gotten anything done. America will go no where on any stance, whether it be militarily or otherwise, if it doesn't have a strong economy. As much as a lot of people don't like Mitt Romney, he is the only one that can expose Washington for what it has done to this nation and turn it around so we, as a nation, can get back on track. Mitt Romney understands what kind of nation we will be living in if any of the Senators go back to Washington, that is exactly why he has put his money where his mouth is. He won't have anyone to payback but himself. None of the other canidates, Democrat or Republican, can say that.

Romney has that problem that most politicians have, the inability to shut up.

Hey Mitt, please salvage the rest of your millions and go home. Or give to it to Bill Gates. Both better options than what you are currently doing.

McCain's true colors are coming out...time will tell just what a straight shooter he really is OR will he be the typical GOP HYPOCRITE.....I'll bet on the hypocrite....

Romney is absolutely right! No builder tries to construct a house without a base yet John McCain is trying to build his campaign without the conservative base. If John McCain gets the nomination, his house with no foundation with easily collapse.

Conservatives need to join Romney to prevent McCain.

This insinuates that someone should apologize to someone because they are a WW2 vet. Does being a decorated WW2 vet automatically make someone unable to do wrong or something?
I hate it when people throw up patriotic buzzwords to defend themselves rather than answering for what they do.

I think highly of Dole, he is one of my favorite Washington insiders...