I'm stunned. I shouldn't be, but I'm stunned. Mitt Romney's was among the more bizarre, craven, circuitous announcements-non-announcements in the history of American presidential politics. Which made it classically Romneyesque. Which is why I shouldn't be stunned.
"I’ve decided it is best to give other leaders in the Party the opportunity to become our next nominee." The opportunity, mind you. And "I’ve been asked … if there are any circumstances whatsoever that might develop that could change my mind. That seems unlikely." Therein lies, of course, Romney's announcement that he's still in the game — that of a brokered convention. Once the others collectively blow their "opportunity" and GOP delegates are scattered hither and yon, Mitt shall await his call to greatness.
What a cheap, cowardly shot at the nomination.
But that's Mitt Romney for you. Today's announcement was merely an extension of his cheap, cowardly politics of 2012. And that, naturally, is why I was hoping he'd throw his hat in the ring with unmistakable directness. Indeed mine was more than a hope, it was a comforting certainty he would. Now this — Mitt's cowardly attempt to win the nomination on the cheap, which deprives us all of his dazzling demagogic acrobatics in at least a dozen GOP primary debates. I. Am. Fucking. Crestfallen.
I would say, You can't do this to us, Mitt. But he just did. He is leaving us with Jeb Bu … Oh Jesus! I can't even write it; my brain and emotional constitution can't bear it.
I must seek refuge in wishful thinking. Hey, I've got it. Mitt's announcement-non-announcement today was merely one of those Ross Perot things: He's in, he's out, he's in, out, in …