Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) is a gentleman. He's polite, engaging and truly a nice guy, which is why I can't understand his continuing attacks on President Trump. Quite honestly, it's baffling to me. They started before the 2016 election and have continued until as recently as yesterday, writing in a Washington Post op-ed that "the president has not risen to the mantle of the office."

Granted, I only met Mr. Romney once, when I conducted a short television interview with him in 2002. But I was so impressed in those few minutes that when he ran for president ten years later, I thought he would be great for America. I was sure his victory would usher in a level of civility that hasn't been seen for quite a while — one that's desperately needed.

He lost. Mostly because he was too nice of a guy.

Romney wouldn't (or couldn't) "go for the jugular" when needed. Take, for example, his final presidential debate with Barack Obama. The sitting president mocked the former Massachusetts governor for stating, correctly, that Russia was the United States' "number-one geopolitical foe." Instead of objecting to Obama's snide remark that "the Cold War has been over for 20 years," Romney just sat, smiled, scribbled a few notes and said nothing for nearly two minutes. Two minutes. That's an eternity in a presidential debate.

Obama went on to win the debate and the election. Romney lost to a president who lied to the American people about Benghazi, health care, Iran, Syria and so many other things. He lost to a "Commander-in-Chief" who weakened America on the world stage and was the ONLY president NOT to achieve at least one year of three-percent GDP growth during his time in office.

Fast-forward four years to Donald Trump.

He's impolite, combative and certainly no "Mr. Nice Guy." But he has what many conservative Americans want: guts and a spine. Many GOP politicians have been missing those two crucial items for quite some time. Mr. Trump is a business and media "mogul" who says what he thinks and does what he wants, regardless of what other people (especially Romney) think or want. As abrasive and regretful as it must be to a gentleman like Utah's junior Senator, that brash demeanor and in-your-face personality drove the President to the Oval Office.

Is Romney's criticism of the President his way of urging Mr. Trump to change? Are the attacks rooted in a desire to no longer be seen as "Mr. Nice Guy"? Maybe he's trying to cultivate a new image for another attempt at the presidency — a challenge to Mr. Trump in 2020? Or maybe he should hold off until 2024 to run again? We'll have to wait and see.

Grassfire wants to have a little fun by hand-delivering a Donald Trump Talking Pen to Sen. Romney's office in Washington, D.C. (He has a sense of humor; he'll get the joke.) But in order to do that, we're asking team members, like you, to help. You can support our grassroots efforts by requesting one or two Donald Trump Talking Pens for yourself. Our warehouse says we only have about 100 left. So click here now to order, and help us hand-deliver one to the Senator's office next week.

For liberty and limited government,

Brian Connor
Grassfire Program & Communications Director