CALL ME SNAKE

I want to talk about a man whose name fits him like a glove–Mitt, the governor of the Bay State. (“Shake hands with the gov’nor,” as they say. No need to wash first.) When he ran for the U.S. Senate in 1994 and again for governor in 2002, Romney talked a pro-choice game, playing to the liberal-leaning Massachusetts electorate. But when he’s on the so-called “national stage,” barely able to conceal his ambition for Bush’s job, Romney talks an entirely different game. In a National Review cover story, which came out yesterday, Romney’s top political advisor said that Mitt was a “pro-life Mormon …. faking it as pro-choice friendly.”

Most of us knew that already, that the Mittster was, to quote Mayor Daley, a veritable “faker.” And a phony too. And a lousy governor who could care less about the state he’s supposed to “lead.” This is a guy who thinks he should be president just because he has as pretty good head of hair for a man of 57 and because he’s made a bundle selling paper clips and because he put on an ice capades show in Utah a few years back. You’d think the admission by Michael Murphy, Romney’s numero uno strategist, would hurt, showing the Mittenhead to be an opportunistic hypocrite. But in Republican circles, this brazen lie may only have enhanced his stature. In fact, I can see Karl Rove licking his chops, thinking: “H-m-m… Maybe I can work with this guy after all…”