Mitt Romney is doubtless capable of forming a coherent argument in response to any question that requires knowledge, analysis and judgment. His problem just now is that his current positions are predetermined by his need to pander to the GOP base -- which in itself would leave him with the relatively simple sophist's task of making the weaker argument seem stronger -- and then further contorted by his need to justify past actions and positions, which were less distorted by a less extremist constituency.