The problem is not that Mr. Romney is willing to reconsider his former thinking. Nor is it so much that his apparent convictions always seem in sync with the audience to which he is speaking at the moment. (Think $20 billion in corporate welfare for Michigan auto makers.) Plenty of politicians attune their positions to new constituencies. The larger danger is that Mr. Romney's conversions are not motivated by expediency or mere pandering but may represent his real governing philosophy.Yes, well, we know. Unlike the sort of conservative many of us on the Right would prefer, Romney is more dedicated to "fixing problems"--a buzzword for making compromises that feel good, sound nice, win popularity, and punt the problem to the next generation--than to liberty. This only highlights what a tragedy Thompson's failure as a candidate was.
But the choice is down to McCain and Romney. There are two issues on which I base my preferences: 1) What are the candidates' policy positions or their underlying philosophies, and 2) What would the effect of this candidate's election be on the conservative movement? The second criterion immediately cancels out McCain: he reserves his greatest hatreds (and this guy can hate!) for conservatives, not liberals, and as the leader of the Republican Party he would leave conservatives without a home. He doesn't score too well by the first criterion, either. I'd maybe rate him a 6 out of 10 in the first, a 3 out of 10 on the second, for an average of 4.5/10.
So, on to Romney. I'd give him maybe a 7.5 on the issues; not good, not great, basic balance between strong conservative and mushy conservative. At the very least, he seems like the right personality to reform massive federal agencies and find decent solutions to entitlement programs, and has shown a federalist streak from what I've heard of him. As for a Romney administration's effect on conservatism, I would perhaps give him a 6. He's shown an ability to resonate with and listen to conservatives that is attractive in any presidential candidate. Score him at an average of 6.75, and we have ourselves a clear front-runner.
(Incidentally, Hillary would score maybe a 4 on the issues and a 8 for effect on the conservative base, for an average of 6. Ahead of McCain! Barack gets maybe a 2 on the issues and a 6 for effect on conservatism, for an average of 4. Worst case scenaro: Obama presidency. Have a care.) (Thompson: 8 and 8; average = 8. *large sigh*)
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