THE ROMNEY ATTACK - AT 9:41 A.M. ET:  Having Barack Obama in the White House seems to have brought Mitt Romney alive.  He gives every sign that he'll run in 2012, and his performance at the Values Voter Summit yesterday was strong:

WASHINGTON (AP) - Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney reflects conservatives' growing confidence when he taunts Democrats, saying "I'll bet you never dreamed you'd look back at Jimmy Carter as the good old days."

Republicans at the Values Voter Summit Saturday talked of a growing political rebellion in the country, even as they acknowledged Democrats currently have the upper hand.

Romney recalled the euphoria among Democrats at the time President Barack Obama was elected.

"A year ago, there were quite a few people who were ready to write off this movement. They were enthralled by Barack Obama's promise of near-Biblical transformations," Romney said in comments prepared for Saturday's meeting. "Well, he can still spin a speech, but he can't spin his record."

COMMENT:  That's just fine, but, as we've said here before, Republicans must come up with an attractive alternative.  Never underestimate the political abilities of this White House and this president. 

September 20,  2009