Former Trump advisor Roger Stone, fresh from a presidential pardon, promises a sustained effort in Utah to harass Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) “anytime and everywhere he attempts to appear in public,” the Washington Post reports.
Trump Supporters Harass Mitt Romney on Flight
A video shows Trump supporters heckling Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) — chanting “traitor, traitor, traitor!” — on a flight from Salt Lake City to Washington, D.C. last night.
Washington Post: “The video, which went viral on Tuesday, is the latest sign of a growing divide in the Republican Party over President Trump’s false claims of a rigged election, which Romney has pointedly criticized. The incident foreshadows the rancor expected in the nation’s capital this week as thousands of Trump backers arrive to protest Congress certifying the electoral college victory for President-elect Joe Biden.”
Romney’s Approval Craters Among Republicans
A new Gallup poll finds Sen. Mitt Romney’s support among Republicans collapsing following his vote to remove President Trump from office in his impeachment trial.
Romney’s approval among Republicans is just 23%. When he was the GOP presidential nominee in November 2012 it was 84%.
In contrast, Romney’s approval rating has surged among Democrats to 56%.
Romney Would ‘Like to Hear’ from John Bolton
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) told CNN that “of course” he would like to hear from former National Security Adviser John Bolton during the upcoming impeachment trial.
Said Romeny: “I’d like to hear what he has to say.”
However, when asked if he would vote to subpoena Bolton, Romney stopped short and said he first would want to know what the process is.
Quote of the Day
“It’s not that I don’t have any point of view, it’s just that I’m not willing to share that point of view till I’ve had the chance to talk to others and get their perspectives.”
— Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), when asked by CNN if he wants witnesses at a Senate impeachment trial.
Romney Said Lunch with Trump Was ‘Delightful’
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) told The Hill that lunch with President Trump was “delightful” despite a history of clashing with the president that stretches back to the 2016 presidential primary.
Romney and Trump shook hands at the White House lunch Thursday, and Romney said there didn’t appear to be any signs of lingering tension between the two of them, even though Trump slammed the senator last month as a “pompous ass.”
Romney Faces Backlash at Home
NBC News: “In Utah, many of the more than two dozen Republican voters interviewed… expressed disapproval at Romney’s digs at Trump and his generally receptive approach to the House investigation.”
“About Romney’s shots at Trump, most had harsh words for their junior senator, with many accusing him of harboring feelings of resentment and envy stemming from his failed 2012 bid and the Trump State Department saga.”
Romney Increasingly Isolated In GOP
NBC News: “While that House-side inquiry has put a heat lamp on Republican senators from states where voters aren’t thrilled with the president’s actions — particularly swing-state lawmakers who are up for re-election in 2020 — Romney’s criticism of Trump hasn’t prompted those colleagues to follow him into the political no-man’s land of finding fault with both the president’s conduct and the divisiveness of impeachment.”
“Rather, it has renewed speculation among GOP critics in Washington and in Utah that Romney has ulterior motives — jealousy, retribution, Oval Office ambition or some potent mix of all three. After all, Romney ran for president twice and lost before Trump won the job, and then Trump made him publicly audition for secretary of State before passing him over.”
‘Pierre Delecto’
McKay Coppins asked Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) about the newly-discovered “Pierre Delecto” Twitter account.
His only response: “C’est moi.”
Axios: “As Delecto, Romney liked critical tweets about President Trump, who has attacked Romney on Twitter in the past. The senator also occasionally used the account to defend himself against detractors.”
Romney Calls for Investigation Into Trump’s Syria Pullout
In a fiery speech on the Senate floor, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) called for Senate hearings into President Trump’s decision to withdrawal U.S. troops from Syria.
Said Romney: “So America is diminished, Russia, Iran and Assad are strengthened. And so I ask, how and why this decision was reached.”
He added :”Was there no chance for diplomacy? Are we so weak and so inept diplomatically that Turkey forced the hand of the United States of America? Turkey?”
Romney Is a Lonely Voice of Concern In GOP
“As House Democrats push forward with an impeachment inquiry into President Trump, Republicans have largely rushed to Mr. Trump’s defense, or at least tempered their criticism to avoid his furious reprisals,” the New York Times reports.
“Among the handful of exceptions, though, there has been none louder or more prominent than Senator Mitt Romney of Utah, a figure who once embodied the essence of the Republican Party before Mr. Trump commandeered it, and is now in a lonely category of his own.”
Trump Slaps Back At Romney
President Trump reshared a video of Mitt Romney’s 2012 defeat to President Barack Obama after the senator called for more information on Trump’s phone call with the Ukrainian president.
Romney Gives First Senate Speech
Mitt Romney gave his first speech on the Senate floor, defending the international alliances that have come under attack by President Trump, The Hill reports.
Said Romney: “Alliances are absolutely essential to America’s security, to our future, I can’t state that more plainly. We need to hold our friends closer not neglect them or drive them away.”
He added that such alliances are key to countering China, since the U.S. has “many friends” but “China has very few.”
Washington Post: “Romney did not mention Trump by name in what was his first major address since joining the Senate in January, but his remarks amounted to a gentle rebuke of some of the president’s foreign policy priorities as Trump was in the midst of a trip to Europe.”
Inside Romney’s Trump Strategy
Politico: “With both a pledge to be independent and membership in a party which demands support for President Donald Trump at every turn, the junior senator from Utah faces a squeeze on essentially every major vote he takes and each response to Trump’s controversies.”
“Romney has voted this year against Trump more than most other Senate Republicans, torpedoed Herman Cain’s chances on the Federal Reserve and even defended former President Barack Obama. Yet he still broadly supports Trump’s agenda and is with him far more often than not.”
Romney Rejects Trump Pick Who Disparaged Obama
“Mitt Romney was the only Republican senator to vote against one of President Trump’s judicial nominees on Tuesday. And he did so in part to defend former President Barack Obama,” Politico reports.
Said Romney: “He made particularly disparaging comments about President Obama. And as the Republican nominee for president, I just couldn’t subscribe to that in a federal judge. This was not a matter of qualifications or politics. This was something specifically to that issue as a former nominee of our party.”
Huckabee Slams Romney Over Trump Criticism
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) blasted Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) after the Utah Republican said he was “sickened” by President Trump’s actions in the Mueller report, The Hill reports.
Said Huckabee: “Know what makes me sick, Mitt? Not how disingenuous you were to take Donald Trump’s money and then 4 years later jealously trash him and then love him again when you begged to be Secretary of State, but makes me sick that you got the GOP nomination and could have been president.”
Romney Says He’s ‘Sickened’ By Trump’s Actions
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) said that he was “sickened” by President Trump’s actions described in special counsel Robert Mueller’s report, Politico reports.
Said Romney: “I am sickened at the extent and pervasiveness of dishonesty and misdirection by individuals in the highest office of the land, including the President. I am also appalled that, among other things fellow citizens working in a campaign for president welcomed help from Russia.”
Romney Doesn’t See GOP Breaking with Trump
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) told UtahPolicy.com that he doesn’t know when or how the partial government shutdown will end, and he’s not sure what will break the budget impasse that is now more than 30 days old.
Said Romney: “I think it’s extremely unlikely that Republicans would say they’re not going to follow the president’s lead on this now. I think Republicans are going to say the president is negotiating on their behalf. I just don’t see very many Republicans that would be willing to depart from the leadership of the White House.”
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☑️ Life in the Middle: Marginalized Moderate Senators In the Era of Polarization is available on Amazon. It takes a deep dive into the power of moderates and why we see them behave so precariously.
