California dreamin'? Mitt Romney buys La Jolla home

This story lives at the rarely traveled intersection of trophy Southern California real estate and political intrigue. Is it important? Time will tell.

From the incomparable political blog Top of the Ticket: "Mitt Romney, the former Republican presidential candidate, the former Republican governor of Massachusetts and a current silent candidate to become Sen. John McCain's vice presidential running mate, is also about to become a Californian."

"A Southern Californian."

"The Romneys await closing on a home in La Jolla on the oceanfront, of course. Are there any other kind there?

"According to SignOnSanDiego.com, the savior of the Salt Lake City Olympics and a self-made multimillionaire has decided to pour a few more of his millions into a home in that oceanfront community in the state that just happens to have the most electoral votes.

"Or maybe he just wants to watch the seals sun themselves."

Interesting stuff.

Hat tip: The irrepressible Andrew Malcolm, via e-mail.
Photo: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Mev]

I'll agree that many here thought Mitt wasn't giving his full attention to being governor, I'll make 2 statements in his defense:

1) He was blocked from making greater strides by a super-majority in the legislature that ignored him and overrode him at will. I believe that at some point he decided the best way to help Massachusetts was to get elected president.
2) Lets say he didn't give the governorship his full attention. With that limited attention and legislative road block, he still did a much more effective job than Gov. "Casinos are the answer" Patrick.

This country (or California, for that matter) could do much worse than Gov. Romney. Massachusetts already is.

[Michael]

Kind of nice if you can spend time in La Jolla and pick up some electoral votes!! Smart man, Romney!!!

[Jed Merrill]

Romney for VP, and then President!

There is no candidate that I respect more for his intelligence and preparation to lead a country, let alone this one.

If McCain cares about the future of America and wants to balance his ticket with someone who will appeal to conservatives, Romney is THE choice.

Anyone who says he is selfish hasn't been paying attention. He is a true public servant, and the last several jobs he has taken, including Governor of Massachusetts and head of the 2002 Olympics he has refused payment.

I've been watching him for six years now, and if voters can't see who he really is and that he is really sincere about his hopes for America, they are disenfranchised from the cranium out.

[Craig Jeffcoat]

Talk is cheap when it comes to politics. I would rather look at a politician's resume to decide if he has what it takes to both lead and get things done. Mitt Romney has the best resume both in the public and private sectors. The other presidential canditates were U.S. senators. What do they manage? Probably a staff of 30! They legislate and spend our money. Gee, is that why we have such a huge deficit? They don't govern or manage! Mitt Romney is the only person that understands money. I would trust him with mine! I would probably turn my $1,000 into $10,000! He also has a great personal life and is happily married to his wife. He would also be great with foreign policy. He is the only candidate who speaks a foreign language and has lived in a foreign country. He speaks French and lived in Fance for two years! He is just the person to "unite" our allies. He could bring Europe and the U.S. together as opposed to Bush and McCain who are both devisive! If Romney runs for California's governor, he'll have my vote! I hope he can get something done in Sacramento despite our corrupt senate and legislature and our state government that is run by the state employees unions (teachers, nurses, prison guards, etc). I am tired of these "tails" wagging the dog. If Romney is the dog, I hope he can "wag the tail!"
CJ

[greg]

His son lives in San Diego, so maybe he just wants to be closer to the grandkids?

[Tiffany]

I LOVE reading the comments. It is refreshing to hear from people who have actually lived under Romney's stewardship.

I'm a big fan of Romney. Not so much for McCain, and I too, agree that I will vote for McCain if Romney is his VP and also, I agree they will balance each other out. It would be a smart choice for McCain to pick Mitt.

And this article was dumb. Why are we even talking about where/when someone chooses to buy another home? Who cares?! When Mitt is VP/Gov/Pres, and if he spends PUBLIC money wasteful (curtains?), then I will be first in line to complain, but for right now, Romney is just like us, nothing suspicious of his purchase. Even if he WERE to be doing it to gain voters in Cali, good for him. But life is too short to speculate on something not so important as his home-buying decisions.

[JamesD]

I've lived in Mass. since 1999. Mitt Romney was an outstanding governor. He righted the sinking fiscal ship, stood tall and strong against the judiciary's unilateral move to legalize gay marriage, and accomplished a truly astounding amount while continually opposed by a democratic legislature. I happen to know one of Mitt's sons well, have seen Mitt repeatedly in person (though I haven't formally met him) and am a close friend of his next door neighbor. Their family is among of the best I've ever seen, and the strongest evidence of Mitt's level-headedness, sacrifice for others, goodness, and honesty. In his 30+ years in Mass., he has done enormous amounts of personal community service (this never makes the press for some reason), created thousands of jobs, and helped move a liberal loony-house of a state toward sanity. He has the clearest thinking of all candidates on the range of issues, from foreign policy to domestic. BTW, all the nonsense about flip-flopping is wrong. The only issue he has made a significant change on in abortion, and that he has justified quite well. If you honestly read what his *actual* positions were on other issues, not the way the media has reinterpreted them, and you'll see this clearly. Our nation desperately needs an experienced, intelligent, compentent, successful leader. Mitt is the best choice for VP and president 2012.