He is- see above. He also has been threatened daily by MAGA and Trump threatened to go after his family. I think he had enough and ....see comment below.
Other Republicans did. They too were threatened. The very fact that he was being threatened should have been the reason for him to endorse her. And speak openly - sorry, I didn't do this sooner, I am afraid for my safety and that of my family.
Romney really shows the organized crime element of MAGA. He should be safe when he leaves office, and he should get to be. It will be interesting to see what happens to the people the MAGAts target
Well, unless the Orange Zit makes murder a capital offense, that will not happen. But, I can't say the same for MAGA assaulting "the enemy within." And, because those from "the enemy within" have very much been in the public eye, making them "disappear" would be quite difficult. The Orange Zit may think he's above the rule of law, but to order a hit is a line he will never be allowed to cross. Let's not forget that at times - one too many - he has seen himself as a Mob Boss. Maybe I'm talking out of my backside, but the Orange Zit is so full of hatred, his need for revenge blinds him to everything that is good. Makes me wonder if some will the need to hire private security. Or, like Adam, will tell them, "Bring it." Good for him, but he'll still need to watch his six. The MAGA Loonies are out for blood.
his view was there needed to be someone to clean up the GOP after Trump was defeated....he, like the rest of us, didn't expect Musk's $200 M digital communication lying machine to push Trump to victory.
I agree. I’m not sure what moral or ethical issues prevented him from doing so but, it wouldn’t have moved the needle at all. It just turns out that Romney was squeaky clean enough that Putin’s OPPO team couldn’t find enough dirt on him.
Mitt Romney was the only republican who Voted to convict Donald J Trump in both impeachments. If Romney had endorsed Kamala how many Republicans would have said "wow I did not know Mitt opposed Trump maybe I should too" the number is 0.
I don't think his decision not to publicly endorse Kamala negates or diminishes all the ways he served our country humbly and honorably. I think that is what Adam was highlighting in this post.
I doubt that his endorsement would have improved Kamala's chance of winning. I do not think Adam, Liz or the numerous people who were in his first administration who endorsed Kamala were much help. The people who were impressed by the endorsements were already going to vote for Kamala. Mike Pence, and John Bolton both said they would not vote for Trump or Kamala. They probably cost Trump more votes than the endorsements added to Kamala. The republicans who do not like Trump also do not like RINO's
General Patton said “No dumb bastard ever won a war by going out and dying for his country. He won it by making some other dumb bastard die for his country.” symbolism does not win the war.
That's why the Orange Zit claimed the bone spur excuse to keep him out of the military. Yet, he holds no deference to those who have fallen. Is jealous of those who received the MOH - both posthumously and living. Wants to court-martial retired Generals who spoke out or acted on the Orange Zit's malfeasance during his occupation the first time. Arlington Cemetery will never become an afterthought in my memory. It will forever remain front and center.
I am not questioning their bravery, just the tactics. Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg was executed by brave solders, but it was a tactical mistake that lead to a confederate defeat at Gettysburg. I just do not think those endorsements moved independents to Vote for Kamala. I just think Liz and Adam did not add many votes endorsing Kamala. Mitt Romney was the only republican who Voted to convict Donald J Trump in both impeachments is that spineless?
It's not about how many votes you would get. It's about standing up for what is right in the face of a danger to the country. If those in powerful positions capitulate because of pressure or threats, strongmen win. It also gives the average citizen a feeling of hopelessness. If the leaders give in, what hope is there for them?
They are not RINO's. RINO is just a type of term that a group use to label another group they feel threatened by and want to delegitimize. WE must not buy into that. It gives them power. They are Republicans. The ones who do not like him are MAGA's not Republicans.
A Romney endorsement was irrelevant. Kamala lost because she had no meaningful popular support beyond dyed in the wool Dems (like me). She shot an airball in the 2020 Primaries, and did so again with ambivalent voters in 2024. The absence of a Primary process was fatal for the Dems.
Adam, you seem to be cut from the same cloth as Romney. Many of his desirable qualities in a politician could be describing you. He certainly was one to get things done as your examples point out. We need more like him (and you) leading this country.
You speak to truth! We keep losing those who truly believe in their oath to the Constitution and love this country. The potential "good" ones, such as this current Republican Senate under tremendous pressure to answer to the Orange Zit, and those to be sworn in soon, remain. Their about face to him, with their backs to the Constitution will create untold problems. This will be on their conscience for a long time.
Romney's a fairly decent guy, although he'd be one to "trust, but verify" - at least he's been a successful businessman. His major "Ooops" when back in 2012, this from NPR: "there are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what" because they are "dependent upon government ... believe that they are victims ... believe the government has a responsibility to care for them ... these are people who pay no income tax." But his career as a senator prevailed. Although I was pro-President Obama, I did not deem Senator Romney as a threat in the same way I do the crazy MAGAs both in Congress and their constituents of today. This is chaos run completely amuck. Of this we can be certain.
We lost Liz, Adam and Romney. I'm 99.99% CERTAIN these three would not have kowtowed to those about to occupy the WH. Adam I trust 100%. Like Adam said many times, "Bring it!" Which also happens to be one of my favorite phrases I use when challenged.
Great observation! Romney is a class act. I so wish he had stayed in the senate for another term. We need sane republicans more than ever as they are a shrinking group.
Very nice post, Adam. I am old enough to remember Mitt Romney’s father, George Romney, as a man of principles and integrity. I would say that Mitt Romney had an excellent role model.
That was a wonderful article! Much of it I didn't know. Hopefully, he will continue to speak truth. Thanks, Adam but in my book he was not as courageous as you!
just think of where we would be if he, not Mitch led the GOP Senate! Trump would have been held accountable for the traitor he is and Romney would be president elect, and the US in safe hands.
Thank you Adam. I have always respected him for his competence and his humanity. It's not comforting to see people like Romney leaving government, but it's entirely understandable. However, it feels like a soft purge before the forced one to come. Like obeying the fascists in advance.
Your soliloquy of Romney is filled with truths. Romney is a man of character, thoughtful and effective. Nevertheless I still do not understand why he was unwilling to speak against the lies and hateful rhetoric pumped to our citizenry by the narcissistic, misogynistic soon to move into the White House re-elected president. A person who earned such respect, ie., Romney, could have turned the tide with truths. Yet, he’s not alone among the few remaining-republican leaders who lacked spine to speak truth and oppose the extreme MAGA movement. Thus, we now hold an ever weakening rope of democracy.
He did speak out, numerous times. And most importantly, he voted to impeach Trump, the only Republican senator to do so. I think he didn't speak out more in the end because 1) as has been noted, he wanted to help rebuild the Reublican party (although I think it's dalready dead) and 2) he had to think of his family. Previously he spent many thousands (I think more than a million, but can't be sure) of dollars to provide security for his family members. He stated not too long ago that, because his family is so large, he can't protect them all. I don't know how much those things influenced him but may be part of it. He is my Senator and I wrote him numerous times asking him to endorse Kamala and was so disappointed that he wouldn't. I still can't understand why he couldn't be like Adam and speak out one last time. It's very disappointing.
Mitt Romney was the only republican who Voted to convict Donald J Trump in both impeachments He probably thought that the endorsement from a retiring senator would not get Kamala any votes, and he was probably right about that. It would have lead to harassment of him or his family. Back in January 2021 six people harassed him on a flight from Salt Lake City to DC. The six were put on the no fly list. They chanted “traitor”. That shows how much influence he has in the MAGA republican party.
Yeah, absolutely none. That's one reason he had nothing to lose by endorsing Kamala. (I forgot about him voting twice to impeach Trump. Thanks for the reminder.)
How quickly we forget; politics like everything in life is mutable, and I don’t blame him for not endorsing. Until people learn to respect people who don’t agree with them and not call them names and harass them, we have a big mess on our hands, and only we can fix it one person at a time by actions and kinder words!
"Until people learn to respect people who don’t agree with them and not call them names and harass them" I call that 'the trump effect'. Civility and ethics don't matter. win at any cost.
A wonderful tribute to Romney. I didn't know all of his accomplishments and especially the fiscal ones that are a credit to his business acumen. A real business man! And, a man of true moral character. Rare in deed. Sorry he left the Senate.
Mitt Romney represented an era that, sadly, seems to have ended. He believed that one could disagree without being disagreeable. Today, the very opposite approach is championed.
I read the biography of Romney by McKay Coppins and was left with great admiration for the senator. He would have made a fine president, but it's a different era now, and it seems the meaner and stupider, the further you go in politics. The evangelicals always say that Mormons aren't really Christians, but Romney displayed more Christian ethics than all his evangelical colleagues put together.
The main thing that bothered me about Romney's 2012 campaign against Obama was his secretly recorded speech at a donor event where he said that 47% of the country are 'takers' (end up not owing any taxes or end up getting refundable tax credits) and would never vote for him (something along those lines) and the hint (or more?) of disdain for a large fraction of the lower-income class that the remarks betrayed. Whether he said it because he believed it at the time or because he was expected to say that in front of rich donors almost doesn't matter. Ironically the remarks were recorded by a (presumably low-income) waiter at the event. Also, having described himself as 'severely conservative' earlier (I think during the GOP primaries in that campaign) and taken traditional conservative positions on fiscal matters (despite getting Romneycare done in MA, etc), he found it hard to pivot to the center during the campaign as the GOP nominee.
Having said all that, I have tremendous respect for Romney as the only Republican in ALL of Congress (HOR + Senate) who felt Trump was guilty of at least one impeachment count over the 'perfect' Ukraine phone call in May 2019 and voted accordingly at the Senate trial in early 2020.
I also wish (as others have stated) that he had endorsed Kamala in the fall campaign; I feel it would still have given him influence to shape the remains of the GOP afterwards if Trump had lost and the House had flipped... although in hindsight it's clear that such an endorsement would not have made a difference at all.
Overall, Romney was a class act, certainly in comparison to what the GOP has now become,
Thing is, D-A, he also could’ve been talking about the rich, because a lot of them are able to find loopholes and deductions the rest of us don’t get, and as a result they don’t pay any taxes, either, like trump.
Disappointed he wouldn’t endorse Kamala.
Yeah, it bothered me. Because he did seem more the country over party kinda guy.
He is- see above. He also has been threatened daily by MAGA and Trump threatened to go after his family. I think he had enough and ....see comment below.
Adam endorsed her and he is also being threatened, Diana. Mitt is no profile in courage.
Other Republicans did. They too were threatened. The very fact that he was being threatened should have been the reason for him to endorse her. And speak openly - sorry, I didn't do this sooner, I am afraid for my safety and that of my family.
Romney really shows the organized crime element of MAGA. He should be safe when he leaves office, and he should get to be. It will be interesting to see what happens to the people the MAGAts target
Well, unless the Orange Zit makes murder a capital offense, that will not happen. But, I can't say the same for MAGA assaulting "the enemy within." And, because those from "the enemy within" have very much been in the public eye, making them "disappear" would be quite difficult. The Orange Zit may think he's above the rule of law, but to order a hit is a line he will never be allowed to cross. Let's not forget that at times - one too many - he has seen himself as a Mob Boss. Maybe I'm talking out of my backside, but the Orange Zit is so full of hatred, his need for revenge blinds him to everything that is good. Makes me wonder if some will the need to hire private security. Or, like Adam, will tell them, "Bring it." Good for him, but he'll still need to watch his six. The MAGA Loonies are out for blood.
Proud to be an enemy within.
And on Jake Tapper’s “State of the Union” show this morning, Mitt Romney gave JD Vance a glowing review as the future of the Republican Party.
Wow! Just wow!
his view was there needed to be someone to clean up the GOP after Trump was defeated....he, like the rest of us, didn't expect Musk's $200 M digital communication lying machine to push Trump to victory.
Diana; His view is lame. Why couldn’t he endorse her and still clean up the Republican Party?
The same is true of W!
💯
Yes, that was extremely disappointing . Romney epitomizes the country over party politician and it surprised me that he was unable to endorse her
I agree. I’m not sure what moral or ethical issues prevented him from doing so but, it wouldn’t have moved the needle at all. It just turns out that Romney was squeaky clean enough that Putin’s OPPO team couldn’t find enough dirt on him.
Mitt Romney was the only republican who Voted to convict Donald J Trump in both impeachments. If Romney had endorsed Kamala how many Republicans would have said "wow I did not know Mitt opposed Trump maybe I should too" the number is 0.
I don't think his decision not to publicly endorse Kamala negates or diminishes all the ways he served our country humbly and honorably. I think that is what Adam was highlighting in this post.
I doubt that his endorsement would have improved Kamala's chance of winning. I do not think Adam, Liz or the numerous people who were in his first administration who endorsed Kamala were much help. The people who were impressed by the endorsements were already going to vote for Kamala. Mike Pence, and John Bolton both said they would not vote for Trump or Kamala. They probably cost Trump more votes than the endorsements added to Kamala. The republicans who do not like Trump also do not like RINO's
mark, I believe the symbolism of standing up for what is right, supersedes any political calculation, at this moment in history.
General Patton said “No dumb bastard ever won a war by going out and dying for his country. He won it by making some other dumb bastard die for his country.” symbolism does not win the war.
Neither does spinelessness
That's why the Orange Zit claimed the bone spur excuse to keep him out of the military. Yet, he holds no deference to those who have fallen. Is jealous of those who received the MOH - both posthumously and living. Wants to court-martial retired Generals who spoke out or acted on the Orange Zit's malfeasance during his occupation the first time. Arlington Cemetery will never become an afterthought in my memory. It will forever remain front and center.
I am not questioning their bravery, just the tactics. Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg was executed by brave solders, but it was a tactical mistake that lead to a confederate defeat at Gettysburg. I just do not think those endorsements moved independents to Vote for Kamala. I just think Liz and Adam did not add many votes endorsing Kamala. Mitt Romney was the only republican who Voted to convict Donald J Trump in both impeachments is that spineless?
It's not about how many votes you would get. It's about standing up for what is right in the face of a danger to the country. If those in powerful positions capitulate because of pressure or threats, strongmen win. It also gives the average citizen a feeling of hopelessness. If the leaders give in, what hope is there for them?
standing up for what you believe in and taking the punches for doing so is not symbolism. it IS fighting for a cause.
Then YOU stand up and YOU take the punches, just don’t expect Mitt Romney to do it for you.
mark;
When Mitt Romney entered politics, he accepted the challenge to defend us. You seem to have lost sight of that fact.
They are not RINO's. RINO is just a type of term that a group use to label another group they feel threatened by and want to delegitimize. WE must not buy into that. It gives them power. They are Republicans. The ones who do not like him are MAGA's not Republicans.
A Romney endorsement was irrelevant. Kamala lost because she had no meaningful popular support beyond dyed in the wool Dems (like me). She shot an airball in the 2020 Primaries, and did so again with ambivalent voters in 2024. The absence of a Primary process was fatal for the Dems.
Nope. Racism and sexism tanked her candidacy. Bald, true fact.
Adam, you seem to be cut from the same cloth as Romney. Many of his desirable qualities in a politician could be describing you. He certainly was one to get things done as your examples point out. We need more like him (and you) leading this country.
You speak to truth! We keep losing those who truly believe in their oath to the Constitution and love this country. The potential "good" ones, such as this current Republican Senate under tremendous pressure to answer to the Orange Zit, and those to be sworn in soon, remain. Their about face to him, with their backs to the Constitution will create untold problems. This will be on their conscience for a long time.
Romney's a fairly decent guy, although he'd be one to "trust, but verify" - at least he's been a successful businessman. His major "Ooops" when back in 2012, this from NPR: "there are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what" because they are "dependent upon government ... believe that they are victims ... believe the government has a responsibility to care for them ... these are people who pay no income tax." But his career as a senator prevailed. Although I was pro-President Obama, I did not deem Senator Romney as a threat in the same way I do the crazy MAGAs both in Congress and their constituents of today. This is chaos run completely amuck. Of this we can be certain.
We lost Liz, Adam and Romney. I'm 99.99% CERTAIN these three would not have kowtowed to those about to occupy the WH. Adam I trust 100%. Like Adam said many times, "Bring it!" Which also happens to be one of my favorite phrases I use when challenged.
Absolutely!!
Another sign of a ‘real man’, they have the self confidence to admire/compliment, recognize the achievements of other men.
Great observation! Romney is a class act. I so wish he had stayed in the senate for another term. We need sane republicans more than ever as they are a shrinking group.
Lovely tribute, Adam.
Completely agree!
Very nice post, Adam. I am old enough to remember Mitt Romney’s father, George Romney, as a man of principles and integrity. I would say that Mitt Romney had an excellent role model.
That was a wonderful article! Much of it I didn't know. Hopefully, he will continue to speak truth. Thanks, Adam but in my book he was not as courageous as you!
Amen!
just think of where we would be if he, not Mitch led the GOP Senate! Trump would have been held accountable for the traitor he is and Romney would be president elect, and the US in safe hands.
Aren't daydreams wonderful? As opposed to our looming sad reality?
Thank you Adam. I have always respected him for his competence and his humanity. It's not comforting to see people like Romney leaving government, but it's entirely understandable. However, it feels like a soft purge before the forced one to come. Like obeying the fascists in advance.
Your soliloquy of Romney is filled with truths. Romney is a man of character, thoughtful and effective. Nevertheless I still do not understand why he was unwilling to speak against the lies and hateful rhetoric pumped to our citizenry by the narcissistic, misogynistic soon to move into the White House re-elected president. A person who earned such respect, ie., Romney, could have turned the tide with truths. Yet, he’s not alone among the few remaining-republican leaders who lacked spine to speak truth and oppose the extreme MAGA movement. Thus, we now hold an ever weakening rope of democracy.
He did speak out, numerous times. And most importantly, he voted to impeach Trump, the only Republican senator to do so. I think he didn't speak out more in the end because 1) as has been noted, he wanted to help rebuild the Reublican party (although I think it's dalready dead) and 2) he had to think of his family. Previously he spent many thousands (I think more than a million, but can't be sure) of dollars to provide security for his family members. He stated not too long ago that, because his family is so large, he can't protect them all. I don't know how much those things influenced him but may be part of it. He is my Senator and I wrote him numerous times asking him to endorse Kamala and was so disappointed that he wouldn't. I still can't understand why he couldn't be like Adam and speak out one last time. It's very disappointing.
Mitt Romney was the only republican who Voted to convict Donald J Trump in both impeachments He probably thought that the endorsement from a retiring senator would not get Kamala any votes, and he was probably right about that. It would have lead to harassment of him or his family. Back in January 2021 six people harassed him on a flight from Salt Lake City to DC. The six were put on the no fly list. They chanted “traitor”. That shows how much influence he has in the MAGA republican party.
Or maybe she was just too liberal for him or maybe he was tired of MAGA threats and harassment
I agree, There are 77,269,255 voters who disappoint me more than Mitt Romney.
He hinted very strongly, though, that he was voting for Kamala.
Yeah, absolutely none. That's one reason he had nothing to lose by endorsing Kamala. (I forgot about him voting twice to impeach Trump. Thanks for the reminder.)
How quickly we forget; politics like everything in life is mutable, and I don’t blame him for not endorsing. Until people learn to respect people who don’t agree with them and not call them names and harass them, we have a big mess on our hands, and only we can fix it one person at a time by actions and kinder words!
"Until people learn to respect people who don’t agree with them and not call them names and harass them" I call that 'the trump effect'. Civility and ethics don't matter. win at any cost.
Amazing how Trump has changed the level of how "bad" a GOP guy could be as POTUS, huh? How fast would we take a "Romney for Trump" deal?
As fast as we'd take Adam for President!
All true! Seems like the last “upstanding”
Republican left …. And now out of the Senate. God help us all.
A wonderful tribute to Romney. I didn't know all of his accomplishments and especially the fiscal ones that are a credit to his business acumen. A real business man! And, a man of true moral character. Rare in deed. Sorry he left the Senate.
I lived in Utah during the Olympics and he was great! Adam hit the nail on the head once again! Both are great.
👍
Romney is a true Republican. I know he loves country over party, but he is not a Hero like yourself, Liz Cheney, and John McCain!
Mitt Romney represented an era that, sadly, seems to have ended. He believed that one could disagree without being disagreeable. Today, the very opposite approach is championed.
I read the biography of Romney by McKay Coppins and was left with great admiration for the senator. He would have made a fine president, but it's a different era now, and it seems the meaner and stupider, the further you go in politics. The evangelicals always say that Mormons aren't really Christians, but Romney displayed more Christian ethics than all his evangelical colleagues put together.
Absolutely, Lisa.
The main thing that bothered me about Romney's 2012 campaign against Obama was his secretly recorded speech at a donor event where he said that 47% of the country are 'takers' (end up not owing any taxes or end up getting refundable tax credits) and would never vote for him (something along those lines) and the hint (or more?) of disdain for a large fraction of the lower-income class that the remarks betrayed. Whether he said it because he believed it at the time or because he was expected to say that in front of rich donors almost doesn't matter. Ironically the remarks were recorded by a (presumably low-income) waiter at the event. Also, having described himself as 'severely conservative' earlier (I think during the GOP primaries in that campaign) and taken traditional conservative positions on fiscal matters (despite getting Romneycare done in MA, etc), he found it hard to pivot to the center during the campaign as the GOP nominee.
Having said all that, I have tremendous respect for Romney as the only Republican in ALL of Congress (HOR + Senate) who felt Trump was guilty of at least one impeachment count over the 'perfect' Ukraine phone call in May 2019 and voted accordingly at the Senate trial in early 2020.
I also wish (as others have stated) that he had endorsed Kamala in the fall campaign; I feel it would still have given him influence to shape the remains of the GOP afterwards if Trump had lost and the House had flipped... although in hindsight it's clear that such an endorsement would not have made a difference at all.
Overall, Romney was a class act, certainly in comparison to what the GOP has now become,
funny how that one line possibly cost him an election but nothing trump says or does cost him anything
Exactly!!!
Thing is, D-A, he also could’ve been talking about the rich, because a lot of them are able to find loopholes and deductions the rest of us don’t get, and as a result they don’t pay any taxes, either, like trump.