This is one reason people don't want to get involved in politics and government. I don't know the whole story (from Romney's side). And, don't get me wrong. The Mrs. and I have 3 dogs which we treat better than some people treat their kids (they are presently sleeping on their down beds in the air conditioned house because the shade tree by the pool where they usually spend their days is a trifle too hot today). But, to drag up some story about the alleged mistreatment of the family pet from 25 years ago is just ridiculous. I'm not a Romney fan, but he ought to be judged on his record in government and ideas to deal with serious problems we face as a country. I suppose some recent family matters might also be relevant. But, digging up skeletons, which everyone has, keeps good people away.

Partly right. But let's see. We've made Character an issue. Blue Dresses. Restoring dignity to the White House. Swiftboating. Cut and run cowards. "Call Me". Etc.

But there's nothing terribly wrong with that, if you think about it. Why wouldn't we want to elect people with "good character"?

So, it seems appropriate to look for clues to a candidates "good character". This is not one.

drag up some story about the alleged mistreatment of the family pet from 25 years ago is just ridiculous

Drag up? Alleged? Digging up skeletons?

Romney's son bragged about the story to a Boston Globe reporter. It's supposed to be an example of "emotion-free crisis management."

To be fair, though, Romney did jerry-rig some sort of windscreen after lashing the dog to the roof.

He must be one of them "compassionate conservatives."

From 1978 to 1984, Romney was a vice president of Bain & Company, Inc., another Boston-based management consulting firm. In 1984, Romney left the company to co-found Bain Capital, which quickly became a highly successful private equity investment firm.[10]

He was 36 at the time, apparently doing very well financially. I guess he just didn't have time for compassion. The President has to be able to multi-task.

But, to drag up some story about the alleged [insert anything accused of Democrats] from [insert statute of limitations for GOP only] years ago is just ridiculous. I'm not a [insert any Dem candidate's name] fan, but he ought to be judged on his record in government and ideas to deal with serious problems we face as a country. I suppose some recent family matters might also be relevant. But, digging up skeletons, which everyone has, keeps good people away.

Thanks for the perspective.

Looks like good training for the up-coming election to me. If Mitt was smart he'd tie a cage with an elephant atop of his election bus. Then the circus could really begin!

Har har.

At what point is tying a pet carrier, with a pet in it, to the roof of a station wagon a good idea? That just shows a serious lack of judgment. I don't care if it was yesterday or 25 years ago. Maybe putting the carrier in the back of a pickup, if the dogs are used to it. But tied to the roof of the car? That dog must have been terrified! The dog has no concept of travel.

I hope TBogg runs with this.

Was it the family truckster?

I love the truckster photo.

As for Kerry, I was against that snooty stiff, regardless of Swifts or his military record. I don't want anyone who talks like Thurston Howell, III to be President.

That just shows a serious lack of judgment.

Yes, especially since he kept going.

That said, I'm sure every family has skeletons like this in their closet - mine sure does. The really weird thing is that this family believes this story is a point of pride.

Update: yikes.

I don't want anyone who talks like Thurston Howell, III to be President.

Yeah, that could be a real disaster. Especially when we need a war decider who knows how to put food on our families.

Geez Steve, it's a joke. Kerry's speaking voice is irritating (to me anyway), but I don't particularly like to hear Rudy speak either. Every time I heard Kerry speak I felt like he was talking down to us idiot Amerikans. I expected every sentence to start out 'I say old man', as in 'I say old man, how's the yacht purring today?'.

You're right, Bush is Ivy League too. He came from a wealthy family. The same can be said for Gore, Frist and dozens of others on the right and left. And not all of them have that Thurston Howell sound. Some even sound like they're from...well...where they're from.

Geez Steve, it's a joke....

Ah, the Ann Coulter defense. Say something stupid, off topic, and probably offensive and then wuss out and say, "It's only a joke...." Now you can play the victim!

I never got that feeling from Kerry's speaking. Even though I'm a poor uneducated Black kid from East Knoxville,...

Neither did I, even though I was a middle class, underachieving white kid from Oak Ridge. But I could see how people got that impression from Gore, whose problem isn't arrogance, but just discomfort talking like car salesmen as politicians must. Kerry's oratory is just too anachronistic and, of course, wordy. Though it hurt his ability to connect, it never sounded off-putting to me.

Good point about Dennis Miller. I stopped being a fan when he stopped being funny AND he became a loon for W--pretty much the same time. There was talk about comedians on the left. Jon Stewart is really pretty equal opportunity, but--hey--you gotta admit that for the last 7 years almost all such opportunities have come almost exclusively on a stream of silver platters from the right. And Stewart can out-serious just about anyone in real debate without calling anyone a faggot or wishing someone a tragic fate.

If that's how he treats a helpless "family pet" I'd hate to see how he treats a senile grandma.

"That which you do to the least of these, you do unto me."

Men were supposedly given a mandate by the Creator to be good husbands of the earth and to care for all it's creatures. To mistreat an animal makes you less than an animal, and much less than human.

I don't want any President that cannot find it in themselves to be kind to all creatures, great and small.

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"You can't fix stupid..." ~ Ron White"

"I never said I wasn't a brat..." ~ Talidapali