Why don't I support Mitt Romney? Well, there is the obvious fact that if he weren't Mormon, virtually zero Mormons would support him. So perhaps the better questions is why do so many Mormons support him? Is being a Rockfeller type who talks like a social conservative for a couple exceedingly convenient years a formula that would work for LDS voters? Tell me if I'm wrong.

I would have a lot more respect for the guy if he did have real principles, and would be the more maverick self that I think he once was, like his father. How many Mormon men in their 40s and 50s reach a position of conviction on abortion or gay rights and then change their mind? 1 in 6 million?

The idea that "we need a businessman for a change" is idiotic, whether you think businessmen are a good idea or not, given that it would be no change to have businessmen running Washington. Even more idiotic is the "Man of conviction like Gorge W. Bush, not a pandering politician like Clinton or Kerry." Kerry has nothing on Mitt as a flip flopper, nothing. "Americans don't like those who jettison their principles to gain even the whole world", Mitt says. Let's hope so.

His speech this morning, 20-25 minutes, on ksl.com to watch or listen, was decent I guess. His tone of voice is sort of silly, half "Golly gee, aren't I just so astonishingly reasonable?" and half exclamation mark every 3 words. He doesn't say "It is our freedom that gives us liberty, and our liberty that gives us freedom", although a sentence like that would be bad enough. He says "It is our LIBERTY!! which gives us our FREEDOM!!! which gives us our LIBERTY!!!" And he once said "generation" about 12 times in 20 seconds.

The speech, to begin with, was an excuse to put himself on the front page at a very opportune time.

The idea of a political party based on joining together all the religions because "we all share the same moral principles" doesn't sit well with me. Scapegoating gays and hippies in tandem with Bob Jones and Pat Robertson is not leadership.

The 6 words "We're a long way from perfect" is supposed to be adequate cover for a campaign based on a family portrait- We have kids, we're white, we go to church, we have lots and lots and lots of money so we're going to heaven (regardless of what Jesus said), we wear ties, we don't look gay, we shave, we get our haircut regularly- so vote for us!