No time for Romney

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Syndicated Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank thinks that Mitt Romney should stick his nose in the "fiscal cliff" war in Washington because "Romney's voice could be enough to return his party to reason" ("Romney can retire later," Opinion, Dec. 6). How can anyone believe that?

Would Republican House Speaker John Boehner or even Romney's vice presidential mate, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, welcome an outsider to the House telling them what to do? Hardly.

And is there any chance that Romney could rally the dispirited and disorganized Republican masses to a consensus opinion? Not at all.

If Romney did stick his nose in the tent, there'd be an uproar and backlash. And then I bet even Milbank would be pontificating that Romney should have known better.

Romney has much to give this nation and I hope he stays in public service. He shouldn't waste his talents sitting on corporate boards. Still, this is not an issue and now is not the time for Romney to have such an impact.

It's clear the House Republicans have moved past the November election (except for accepting the election's verdict to raise taxes on the rich). It's amazing that an esteemed pundit can't.

Jake Andrews

Sugar House