Yep. His progeny can rest easy, now. No more $$$ going to a lost cause. He's speaking now at CPAC (no, I'm not there live-blogging...what kind of a masochist do you think I am?).
As was written on this site in a beautiful adieu to John Edwards, about how Johnny, we knew you...um, Mitt, we knew you -- all 97 versions. And we know McCain -- both sides of his face. And, gee, Mitt, are we sad to see you (and your $) go.
UPDATE: New and Improved w/ links:
CNN
Halperin's THE PAGE
Here's Mark Halperin's take on what Mitt could have done to win:
- Could have run less as a social conservative and more as a can-do technocrat.
- Could have delivered his religion and faith speech earlier in his campaign.
- Could have run negative ads against McCain (backlash and ire be darned).
- Could have recognized that his biggest problem was a perceived lack of humanity, and addressed it with humor, purpose, and authenticity.
- Could have put his wife and sons more front and center in the campaign. (just kidding)
- Could have taken a risk and separated himself more from President Bush.
- Could have identified Huckabee as a genuine threat before it was too late to stop the Arkansan’s momentum — in Iowa and beyond.
- Could have consistently presented his own personality—disciplined, ambitious, take-charge, impersonal, passionate about his family and his religion—rather than tried to fit himself into a series of established Republican templates.
- Could have insisted his warring advisers either make peace with each other or quit the campaign.
- Could have regularly addressed one or two policy issues and/or themes that he really believed in — like change, anti-Washington, the economy.
I'd add one more: All you future Pols take note...Don't tie your dog to the top of the car. Get the poor pup a paraglider.