Mitt Romney has decided to take a pass on the debate being organized by NewsMax and Donald Trump for December 27. Romney apparently called The Donald personally to inform him of his decision, saying that he will be too busy campaigning. The Iowa caucus is just four weeks away from today, one week away from the proposed debate. So far, Romney, along with Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman, have declined the offer to appear in Des Moine, Iowa for the debate, which will be televised by the ION Television Network, which generally comes free with most basic cable and satellite packages. Donald Trump′s reaction to Romney′s decision was not as harsh as were his responses to Paul and Huntsman, but negative none the less.
″It would seem logical to me that if I was substantially behind in the polls, especially in Iowa, South Carolina and Florida, I would be participating in the debate. But, I can also understand why Governor Romney decided not to do it.″ Did Donald Trump just call Mitt Romney a coward? He certainly seems to be calling him a failure.
Only Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum have so far accepted the invitation to the Trump debate. While Rick Perry has yet to say anything about it, Michele Bachmann has stated that her campaign is still considering it. However she adds, ″One concern is he′s already leaning toward a candidate, so there′s questions about objectivity.″ It is true that Donald Trump has stated that he is leaning towards one of two candidates. As well as the lingering threat that if, after May and the end of his next season of ″Celebrity Apprentice″, Trump himself could still jump in the race as an independent if he is unsatisfied with the GOP nominee.
The latest series of polls show Newt Gingrich firming up his lead in Iowa, as well as in South Carolina and Florida. Gingrich is also now a solid second place in New Hampshire where Mitt Romney has lost significant support. In Iowa, Romney has dropped to third place after Ron Paul, and Michele Bachmann is beginning a late surge which could put Romney further behind. The old, worn-out argument from Romney supporters that he is the most electable has been torn to shreds as the latest polls report that Republican primary voters now see Gingrich as the most electable and more capable of defeating Barack Obama.
Will Mitt Romney regret passing on the Donald Trump debate on December 27? If he really wants to be president, then he eventually will look back and see this decision to avoid the Trump moderated debate as one reason for his failure. Romney has forgotten, or is ignorant, of the old battle axiom of General Andrew Johnston, the first Confederate commander-in-chief before Robert E, Lee. Johnston recognized that modern warfare is not about occupying territory, but engaging and destroying the enemy′s armies. A strategy of avoiding fights you do not think you can win is an admission of defeat. Weaker opponents can still engage and fight resulting in a positive outcome if they use the right tactics. With time running out, Romney needs to battle Newt and the others more so now than ever, even if the NewsMax-ION Television debate hosted by Donald Trump may be an ambush. As Frederick the Great would say, ″Audacity, audacity! Always audacity!″
December 6th, 2011 at 6:20 pm
Romney has forgotten, or is ignorant, of the old battle axiom of General Andrew Johnston, the first Confederate commander-in-chief before Robert E, Lee. Johnston recognized that modern warfare is not about occupying territory, but engaging and destroying the enemy′s armies. A strategy of avoiding fights you do not think you can win is an admission of defeat.
Andrew has forgotten or is ignorant of the facts that…
(1) his name was Joseph Johnston, not Andrew. (Perhaps you are thinking of Andrew Johnson, VP who succeeded Lincoln?)
(2) Johnston was known for a lack of aggression– constantly taking off before the enemy showed up. Thus he was nicknamed “Retreatin’ Joe”.
(3) He lost nearly every battle he actually stuck around for.
(4) Oh, and his side lost the war.
So essentially, no.
December 6th, 2011 at 6:36 pm
As Frederick the Great would say, ″Audacity, audacity! Always audacity!″
Ya mean Frederick II of Prussia? He might say it… if he were quoting George “Il nous faut de l’audace, et encore de l’audace, et toujours de l’audace!” Danton.
Don’t fret– I mix those two up all the time. Still, nice to see you looking to French revolutionaries for inspiration.
With your command of history, I’m betting you could get a job working for the Bachmann campaign.
December 7th, 2011 at 5:32 am
Yeah, I boo-boo’d on Johnston. I blame myself for having a hangover. But Johnston’s point is one that is correct. As for “Retreatin’ Joe”, bugging out before being attacked is not always a bad thing. Nathanael Greene used it to great affect when confronting Cornwallis. The idea is to stay in contact and force the enemy to react the way you want them to.
Which is the lesson missed by Mitt Romney. He’s been playing this too cautiously for too long. Why do a large number of people like Trump, Palin and others more than Romney? Because they are actually attacking Obama. Bad enough you’re not attacking your immediate competition.
December 7th, 2011 at 7:38 am
Skipping the Trump debate is the only thing I respect Romney for.
December 7th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
s for “Retreatin’ Joe”, bugging out before being attacked is not always a bad thing. Nathanael Greene used it to great affect when confronting Cornwallis. The idea is to stay in contact and force the enemy to react the way you want them to.
But you said:
Johnston recognized that modern warfare is not about occupying territory, but engaging and destroying the enemy′s armies. A strategy of avoiding fights you do not think you can win is an admission of defeat.
Isn’t that the polar opposite of what he actually did?
Oh, never mind.
December 7th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
Well, we can either chalk it up to the old human standard of somebody saying one thing and doing another. Although your assessment that he was a military failure is equally flawed.
Lack of aggressiveness is often tagged on many generals who actually wind up victorious, usually by their political masters. Washington, for example, came under a lot of criticism after New York. Montgomery was criticized even after El Alamein for not going after Rommel fast enough.
Johnston’s largest defeats were later in the Civil War, Vicksburg and the fall of Atlanta. Vicksburg proved to be the attrition machine that ground the South materially out of the war. After that, it was just a matter of time, especially since Grant and Sherman had few compulsions about throwing away lives to get the job done.
Johnston was trained as an engineer and was a logistics guy. This is why he knew that by engaging the enemy, even if to just fire a volley or two and retreat, was more important than capturing territory.