All politicians lie, bend the truth, or flex with the political wind whichever way it is blowing. People understand this and make allowances (or excuses, if its their man!). But Romney has taken this all to a new level. His ability to change direction, and then deny he has done so, is absolutely unprecedented. His Republican opponents have pointed this out repeatedly, so its not just Democratic propaganda. Not even Gingrich comes close in sheer mendacity.

I used to feel Romney, like Dole, Elder Bush, McCain and his father before him, was the Republican I could live with, a man of moderate conservatism and solid competence who might not be my first choice, but which the country could survive intact, perhaps even prosper under. Consequently, I felt he would be the hardest opponent for a crippled Obama to beat.

But now I am beginning to see he will do anything, say anything, flip-flop anything to win. He is totally unprincipled. And as his deliberately misquoted Obama campaign ad demomstrates, he doesn't just spin or interpret or slant, he lies. He doesn't even care if he's caught lying because he feels one side won't vote for him anyway, and the other will vote Republican no matter what he does or says as long as it serves their prejudices. This demonstrates an utter contempt for his own base. He is truly the profit-driven candidate.

The other Republicans may be crazy, or crooked, but at least you sense there is some core of conviction. Romney has none. He is a dangerous and hollow man.

The Wacky Right senses this about Romney. But the Establishment, the "solid, responsible, reasonable" Republicans, either don't see it, or don't care. And that demonstrates something much worse than the most ideological zealotry and fanaticism: a cynicism of the highest order.

Stand by for heavy rolls.