The Wall Street Journal did no favors for presidential hypeful Mitt Romney (R-Newt Gingrich? Really?) in this Friday front-page piece:

To win election as governor of Massachusetts in 2002, Mitt Romney made a truce with liberal activists and cast himself as a moderating force within the Republican Party. If he becomes the GOP nominee for president, it may be because of steps he took to change those alliances during a few months of 2005.

Mr. Romney had once said he didn’t “line up” with the National Rifle Association, but in May 2005 proclaimed “The Right to Bear Arms Day.” He had rejected the label of either pro-choice or pro-life, according to an abortion-rights activist, but in July 2005 wrote: “I am prolife.” He helped lead talks on a pact to control emissions but in December 2005 surprised some staff members by pulling out.

A “flip-flopper” tag has long dogged Mr. Romney. Less known is that his reputation as ideologically elastic was cemented over a 10-month stretch in the second half of his term as governor. Conservative interest groups that had once received a cold shoulder were extended a glad hand, while liberal groups often got iced out.

Money quote:

“You have to understand, Mitt Romney is very pragmatic, and I think what happened was the issue became, ‘How do I win the presidency of United States?'” said Rob Garrity, a Republican environmentalist and Romney supporter who served in his administration. “Positions changed.”

Oxymoron Watch: Republican environmentalist.

Total Moron Watch: Positions changed.

All by themselves, apparently.