Romney’s the former governor of Massachusetts, a very Democratic state. He’s had fairly consistent policy positions for at least 20 years or so. On social issues he’s pretty right wing, he’s a Mormon after all. But, he was pro gun control 20 years ago and has been consistent on that every since. For abortion he said “I will protect a woman’s right to choose under the laws of the country and the commonwealth”, even though he was personally against it. He supported slightly raising the minimum wage, but vetoed a bill that substantially increased it. He admitted climate change was real and supported regulation of greenhouse gases, also supporting wind farms in MA.

Obamacare is basically Romney’s plan for Massachusetts but rolled out to the entire country. So, on health care he was to the left of almost the entire Republican establishment, even to the right of many democrats.

Once the wind shifted with the whole Tea Party stuff and the Trumpization of the GOP, Romney didn’t really shift. He didn’t vote for Trump in 2016 or 2020. In fact, he voted to convict him in both of his impeachments. He marched with Black Lives Matter protesters. He still supports gun control, etc. Not only are these pretty liberal positions for a Republican, they’re pretty consistent with his public life for the last 20 years.

Sure, he’s a former private equity ghoul, but in public life it seems like he’s more defined by his Mormon side than his private equity side. Yes, he’s pro-business, he’s definitely socially conservative, but he believes in the rule of law, and believes in US institutions.

I hate that I’m defending him. I don’t like him. But, I do have some grudging respect for him. He’s one of very few current Republicans who do seem to have principles. And, while I disagree with his principles, his principles are largely old-school Republican rather than new-school Fascist.