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Romney Can Win—if He Goes Beyond Applause Lines

Peggy Noonan: He needs to figure out the 'meaning of his run'

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 22, 2012 1:16 PM CDT

(Newser) – There's a school of thought out there that Mitt Romney can win by not saying or doing much of anything. In fact, Romney himself seems to have bought into the philosophy judging by his recent speeches, writes Peggy Noonan in the Wall Street Journal. They're filled with superficial "applause lines" and not much substance. "It's working, but won't for long," she writes. "People want meaning, a higher and declared purpose."

That's especially true in a time of crisis, and 2012 certainly qualifies. Romney "has to start pulling from his brain and soul a coherent and graspable sense of the meaning of his run. 'I will be president for this reason and this. I will move for this and this.'" He must convince Americans of his "larger purpose." Obama keeps stumbling of late, but Romney is making a foolish mistake if he thinks he can just sit back and watch. "That won't do this year." Read her full column here.

Mitt Romney speaks in Holland, Michigan.
Mitt Romney speaks in Holland, Michigan.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 139 comments
USLady
Jun 24, 2012 3:10 PM CDT
Romney! is for America and the people! he has been a business man and a leader in business and has made good decisions in his career.I realize being a business man you have to make all kinds of decisions that are for the best interest of the company.Future President Mitt Romney is rich,and people seem very jealous of this issue.That is not wise! Mitt Romney worked hard to have what he has,that is what America is about! making it! without limits! I happen to believe he would be a good president.I wish he was in office right now! 
USLady
Jun 24, 2012 3:05 PM CDT
Romney will WIN! IJN!
Nocturno
Jun 24, 2012 10:20 AM CDT
Mr. Romney is probably the US enemy number 1. Person who believes outsourcing our jobs and raising taxes to middle class is way to improve economy must be either uneducated, not very well informed or country's enemy. That's the way to go if we want to see US becoming what was Soviet Union back then equals good place to be but for 2% of it's people only. There is no single way US will remain superpower in anyway if Mr. Romney's policies win. US is world economy number 1 so the economy is not the problem. The problem is how our society is organized. We do have enough money in this country to have the most powerful military in the world plus the best living standard. Right now, we have only the strongest military but our standard of living does not put us even among top 10 countries in the world.  With Mr. Romney, we could actually lose even that military power. With Mr. Romney we will have the same number of rich people just richer. We are capable to remain the strongest military power plus best place to be in the world but not with Mr. Romney.
 

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