I agree that if it were a /Democratic/ candidate that there would be remorseless pursuit until the candidate gave in in one form or another thus ending his candidacy. A Republican? No, I don't think so.

sPh

People will see it as a joke story, not as anything substantive.

Besides, people like to put weird things on top of Romney. 747s on his shoulders, dogs on top of his car...

thosethingswesay.blogspot.com

God, I want this story to explode in his face so badly.

I'd bet that Cheney has already been in contact with Mitt to get the specifics about how the rig worked. Cheney is certain to add this to the list tools made available to interrogators.

All Romney has to do is claim he had hard evidence (like, say, something he read in his tea leaves one morning) that his dog was actually a covert Al Qaeda operative. That and a little bit of blather about "enhanced canine interrogation techinques" should see him through this flap in fine shape.

We are talking about the GOP primary electorate, after all.

I'm not so sure this story won't get traction. For better or (more likely) worse, we Americans sometimes hold our pets in higher regard than fellow humans. You only have to go to the movies to see that psychological dynamic in action- shoot and blow up as many people as you want, but don't you dare kill a dog, or at least not onscreen.

On the other hand, our media always has that IOKIYAR tendency, so we'll just have to wait and see which of these dynamics wins out. Watch to see what the line producers at CNN and MSNBC decide...

The dog has just issued a statement, which should be hitting the wire shortly, apologizing for the stress and embarassment he caused the Romney campaign by being involved in this fiasco.

You THOUGHT you were being ironic.

This is gonna stick. [irony]You're obviously not a dog owner.[/irony]

What I've been saying over at Swampland is that what is interesting here is he thought this story portrayed him in a positive, manly light. That he puts his luggage with his children and his dog in his luggage rack is seen as deft problem-solving. And then, when the dog freaks, and soils its own pen in distress (which dogs only do in distress), he hoses the poor dog off, and PUTS IT BACK ON THE ROOF.

Now, this is obviously cruel and idiotic behavior. But Mitt doesn't understand that. He thinks he's solved a difficult problem, cut through a canine Gordian knot.

You can't let a guy like this near the Mid East.

This is the kind of story that sticks like dog-shyouknowwhat to a campaign. Late night talk show opening material. Lots of potential for debate one-liners. The Mitt solution: stick it on the roof and hope for the best.

(And while PETA is known for stunts, the response this time is pretty much that you'd expect from anyone concerned with animal welfare.)

Whether the queen bees of op-ed land use it like they would 'earth tones' is another matter. But that doesn't stop the rest of us.

So was I.

But anyway, the story won't gain any traction because, as everyone knows, all Republicans treat their dogs cruelly.

The lone exception to this may be Bush's treatment of Gonzalez.

I agree that this story may have traction. Watch the pet owner blogs like Itchmo and Petconnection. They drove the melamine/China/food safety issue, not the MSM.

This does not reach the level of Frist adopting cats as pets only to use them for medical research and dissection. But it sullies Romney's perfect FAMILY MAN image and it reveals his stupidity. He didn't clue in that the dog soiling its cage is an indication of deadly fear and panic. What a jerk!

I think it's weird and creepy to have done this, even if the dog liked it. That being said, I'd prefer people to distrust Mitt ("Get me another Getmo!) Romney for other reasons.

Nonetheless, if this sinks his campaign, or does damage in any way, then let's have a toast to Seamus...

What about the research that shows that being a conservative Republican candidate for office demonstrates mental illness?

Seriously, I am a dog owner and this behavior makes me wonder about his mental state. John Hinkley and George Bush mistreated animals, also. Now, combine that feeling of discomfort and suspicions from this story with a bunch of Social Conservatives who don't consider Mormonism to be Christian, and it gives them a real escape route.

This story may allow them to vote against him without being seen to vote against his Mormon religion.

Are you suggesting that voters tend to vote emotionally rather than rationally?

Surely not true! Republicans have such a sterling reputation for rationality, and especially movement conservative Republicans!

And the line that distinguishes irony from truth is drawn --- where??

Jay:

You must rmember that it is more sensible to keep the clothes protected from the elements. A simple cost/benifit analysis would show that not having clothes could lead to income loss as well as personal embarassment. Dogs, on the other hand, are a dime a dozen at the SPCA.

I predicted months ago that the Repub field was weak and did not have a True Corporatist water-carrier in the field. They were all vying for the title, but none had the connections and trust of Big Business. Fred changed that. No idea why he becomes the BB darling - except he has been the consummate insider (libby defense fund, Alito rabbi, Roberts Rabbi) and a corporate lobbyist.

Unlike the Dem field, the republican field is never more than ONE candidate deep. The others are window dressing. The BB favorite will be the ONLY one with a chance. You'll see. Remember how Bush cleaned up once he was anointed? The rest of the field evaporated or was SwiftBoated (McCain).

Bush couldn't talk, had no good record, had plenty of skeletons, was not well liked, was the son of a Not-Liked prez, had no mental powers, and he SAILED thru - once he was the Anointed Establishment Candidate.

Think Regionally. Act Regionally

Here I thought you were finally showing some political common sense, and you ruin it by saying you were being ironic!
Of course this story would be a nail in the coffin of anybody's campaign. How many dog owners are there in the US? Ask every dog owner you know if he or she would EVER vote for ANYBODY--Rep or Dem--that would strap their dog to the roof of a car and hit the Interstate for 12 hours while it shit and pissed and howled all over the car. Go ahead, ask them.

It's quite rational to vote against someone who exercises his power as a dog owner in this fashion.

It's not a sign of the times--the times were ever thus. Presidential campaigns have nothing to do with issues, they have to do with image, marketing, and personality.

This may not say much about Mitt's integrity (I think we already have learned plenty about THAT), but it says a lot about his humanity. Who would even THINK of doing this? My cat likes to sit on the hood of the car while I inch along the driveway, but I'm not going to drive to the supermarket with her strapped to the fender!

This absolutely is death to any campaign. Women might forgive Bill for his adulterous escapades, but pet owners (i.e., most Americans) would never forgive animal cruelty. Romney's a cold-blooded dick anyway. I can see him doing this easily.

I'm a dog (and cat) owner, and this is the sort of thing where you scratch your head and say "Christ, what a sicko!"

As I said earlier, I'd prefer people to distrust Romney for what he's doing now. But I'll take revulsion at something from 24 years ago if that's what it takes to wake people up.

One thing that isn't getting mentioned much: this was a 12 hour car trip (Boston to Ontario). I would never put an animal on top of my car. But it would be one thing if the family was making a quick 1 hour jaunt out to the Cape, but keeping an animal strapped to the top of a car is crazy!

Not only that, the dog pissed and shit itself all over the car, and Mitt coolly hosed off the car, hosed off the dog, AND CONTINUED WITH THE DOG STRAPPED TO THE ROOF!

Think his kids got the message? ("You're next up there if you don't watch it!")

How many of the folks who might worry about this drive pickups with their dogs in the back?

Mitt Romney? Isn't he that stepford husband looking guy that flip-flops and hates dogs?

Nice image, Mitt, better loan yourself another couple of million.

You know, I'm all for pushing this story, but where'd he get the hose to hose the dog off? Do filling stations routinely have hoses? Or did they? I've never noticed that.

I'm fairly certain that my Republican dog-owning parents, if they were ever inclined to vote for Mitt (not likely, considering his Mormonism), they certainly won't vote for him now.

They love their dogs. They take them everywhere - inside the car, in special carriers so they won't be injured in a car accident.

Anyone who straps a dog carrier to the roof has no appreciation for the doggy missile the pooch will become in the event of a collision.

They did in 1983. There use to be a hose between the pumps, so people could fill up their radiators.

You can still find hoses as some places. Usually by the 50-cent air hose.

I think one metaphor of this incident that's been missed is that when the shit hit the fan, Mitt showed his cool management style by hosing down the fan so it could be driven into more shit.

Rather than, you knowing, stopping either the shit or the fan.

It's all about appearances to Republicans. Clean the dog rather than move him to a safer location.

Headline:

Mitt Screws the Pooch

I sincerely hope he's NOT toast. I want him to get the Republican nomination, based on the fact that there's no chance in hell he'd win the election. Let's stop picking on him until after the primaries.

Hilarious. When I first saw the dog-on-roof story, I skimmed it and thought it was some urban legend or Onion-like satire.

Oh, I think this would probably sink a German, British, or French politician too. Not to mention Irish (isn't Seamus an Irish setter?).

Dogs and cats will trump issues every time. Frist's ridiculous presidential aspirations ground to a halt because he was found to have "adopted" cats from animal shelters, then killed them in the lab.

I'm open-minded on animal research, but Frist broke the law doing that, just as Mitt did when he strappadoed poor Seamus to the roof. Worse, he violated people's sensibilities.

.

Too bad.

I kinda wish the reason for Mitt getting dumped would be the truth coming out about the influence of and, more likely, his collaboration with the men-only leadership of the Mormon church.

The insidiousness of the LDS's intrusion into the daily lives of its members is in stark contrast to the outward gaiety and cheeriness of its members.

Judging from Mitt's outward demeanor, I gotta believe he's near the top of Gordon B. Hinckley's speed dial list.

.

As a pet owner, I'm generally horrified by the story, but am willing to take into consideration that pet welfare wasn't as big an issue a quarter-century ago... not too long before that, everyone thought my parents were crazy for paying almost $300 for our St. Bernard's hip-dysplasia surgery, which wasn't a life-or-death issue. Hell, a mere ten years ago my boss had the same reaction when we paid $1200 for basically the same procedure (different dog, of course). What creeps me out is, as someone has mentioned, the fact that he seems to see nothing wrong with boasting about those actions now.

But PETA didn't publicize this, they just jumped on it in their usual fashion. Earlier this week Ingrid Newkirk was calling Michael Moore fat because he eats meat, just as his new movie comes out. Not a coincidence. I'm sure they think they're being clever.

Cruelty to animals is a serious issue but these kind of actions aren't serious. Animals deserve better than what PETA offers.

This is the ultimate "Man bites dog" story. Did the dog survive with a permanent smile etched on its face?

All the republican candidates are DOA this election cycle. The pyrrhic victory of the party's nomination will hopefully stroke the ego of the "winner".

This story is the WORST news for Romney that I have seen. Would we even know about it if he hadn't bragged about it? Isn't this his own doing? It's not like some meth-dealer manwhore went public with the info (see Haggard, Ted).

The fact that Romney didn't even see the damage coming is telling. Wonder what else he'll be bragging about? Pride cometh before the fall?

Enjoy.

Mom always said I was special and I believed her.

Sorry, this won't wash. 1983 wasn't the Dark Ages of the pet welfare movement. People knew the basics of humane treatment of animals. Hunters or farmers may have lugged their dogs around in the back of pickups, and no doubt still do, but that tends to be on back roads and not for twelve hours without a break on the interstate. The question of extraordinary medical measures to save a dog or cat is quite a different question.

I agree with you that what is extraordinary is that he finds nothing wrong with the actions then or now. Another thing to note is what a control freak he is. He mapped out exactly what pit stops they going to take along this route and basically declared there would be no deviation. This with FIVE kids in tow. If I'd been his wife, I'd have just canceled the trip at that point. This man is no husband and father. He's the CEO of his family. He must have been ghastly to live with, and not just for the dog.

Some thrill-seeking kids might like it too. But it's inconceivable that anyone would accept a parent's saying that it was OK to put the kids on the roof for 12 hours because the kids thought it was cool...

Dogs are not people.

I'm not sure what you're getting at. I'm not sure you've ever been around a dog. Many dogs love riding in the back of open pickups. Many dogs love busting into garbage cans and drinking from the toilet.

As their human owners, we have responsibilities to keep them from doing these things. We should not subject them to abuse. However, I stand by my statement:

Some dogs would love riding on top of the family car.

How could the dog have loved it?

The poor animal emptied his bowels. A clear sign that it was absolutely terrified.

Yeah, and some people love being whipped.

Have you ever known a dog that LIKED being in a pet carrier? Why would they "love" being isolated in one that's blasting along an Interstate, surrounded by howling wind and blasting trucks? It's nonsensical.

The point, since it seems to elude you, is that riding in the back of a pickup truck is neither painful, obviously abusive, or frightening. It's illegal because it's dangerous in case of an accident.

And even if Romney had the only dog that ever lived that "loved" riding in a pet box on top of the car at 70 mph, it's STILL abusive because it's dangerous for the dog.

Being put in a box and then strapped to the outside of a speeding vehicle is just obvious abuse. No dog would love it and certainly not for 12 hours.

Why not stick your dog in his carrier, strap it to the roof, and blast along the highway for a few hours. The report back.

Some dogs would love riding on top of the family car.

I suspect ours would though we will never get the chance to find out.

Best, Terry

...it's not a wing-nut position not to consider them Christian.

Frankly, I consider the Fundamentalists to be a cult and heretics to Christianity. "Intelligent Design?" "Biblical Inerrancy?" That's not Christianity. That's just sick. But the wingnuts for the most part don't agree with that. [One more way they are wrong.]

It's the political ramifications that are important here, not the religious ones.

I checked with the cat who dominates our household of two people, two dogs and a cat with her iron paw. She agrees. Vote against him

You are most fortunate to be able to discuss such matters with your cat. Ours only screams at us when he's hungry and wants fancier vittles. But while he is nearly as incoherent and dumb as Bush, I am certain he will never vote Republican. Even he's not that stupid.

Best, Terry