In re height: I would submit that we don’t know how her height will affect her chances. Yes, Americans have traditionally favored a taller man for President… when running against another man.

Bachmann is 5’2″; Hillary Clinton is 5’8″; Sarah Palin is 5’6″. Imagine them sharing a stage; how much do you see relative height as a factor? For that matter, President Obama is 6’1″, nearly a foot taller than Bachmann; now imagine them debating on a level stage, with him looking down his nose at her and her glaring steely-eyed at him, and wiping up the floor with him in debate. How much will height figure into your feelings about that?

In more ways than one, the 2012 election will be one for the books.

Here’s what I can say in extenuation:

First, there is one advantage in having someone who is a pure opportunist as opposed to an Alinskyite such as Obama, who is an opportunist in pursuit of his long-term goals. The advantage is that if enough pressure is put on him to go one way, he will probably go that way. Consequently I do believe there is a decent chance that Romney will at least try to repeal Obamacare. If he doesn’t, then I’m done with him. This will depend on us – the Tea Party and Congress.

Second, he will almost certainly be an improvement over Obama in foreign policy, if for no other reason than it’s hard to conceive of being worse. Romney won’t be bowing to foreign autocrats or apologizing for America before fawning French audiences.

The rest is a question-mark. I can’t argue passionately in favor Romney, so I’ll be a church mouse during the campaign (unless I’m attacking Obama, which is different), but I think there are enough areas where Romney will be an improvement over Obama that I could silently pull the lever for him.

Also, my dislike for Obama is so intense that it makes my dislike for Romney seem like playful needling. If I feel that I’ve in any way contributed to an Obama second term, I would feel more than rotten.

Of course, I don’t think Romney can beat Obama, because his problems as detailed are so enormous that it’s impossible for him to run against anyone except himself. Obama’s strategy in the event that he faces Romney is so obvious that it blueprints itself: Guide Romnay into fighting Romney, and then coast to victory by actually addressing the American people. Let Romney stew in his own cesspool trying to rebut every stupid thing he’s ever done or said – his hubris prevents him from simply admitting he made mistakes and apologizing – and then bask in the smell of roses by contrast.

Romney has no business being the front-runner. He has no business being the nominee, and no business being President. But Obama has less business still being President, and in view of that I can vote for Romney. As my nose shatters between my fingers.

He’s a political chameleon, almost as bad as Obama. He’s a statist through and through. There is absolutely zero chance that he would roll back the Almighty State. You may as well expect water to flow uphill.

You had me up until your last paragraph:

I’ll vote for him if he’s the nominee, or rather I’ll vote against Obama whoever his opponent is.

I’m not at all sure I could choke down a vote for Romney in that scenario. Not at all.