This Won’t Play Well In South Carolina

By: Erick Erickson (Diary) | January 4th, 2012 at 10:43 PM |

RESIZE: AAA

Rick Santorum has some pent up issues with Jim DeMint.

Just a few weeks before DeMint stood for re-election on South Carolina’s ballot, Rick Santorum showed up in DeMint’s neighborood to tell everyone Jim DeMint was wrong on earmarks. “Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania said the Constitution gives Congress control of the purse strings and that he supported earmarks for port deepening while a senator – the opposite of the position that DeMint is taking. But former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia said DeMint has shown “moral courage” in refusing to support any earmarks, including one that the State Ports Authority says is needed to study the deepening of Charleston Harbor.”

Santorum went on John King USA on CNN tonight and again defended earmarks claiming “Jim DeMint did it too” without acknowledging DeMint repented and has since led the fight against earmarks. When asked about what he may or may not have said about black welfare recipients, Santorum defended himself by claiming he got earmarks for a black community in Pennsylvania.

Get ready for conservatives to have to refight this critical fight against the gateway drug to big government spending.

It’s not just Rick Santorum knocking Jim DeMint (!!!) when not hiding behind DeMint to claim tea party bona fides, Santorum is also going to have trouble in South Carolina because of his voting record. He opposed National Right to Work legislation.

In the 104th Congress Sen. Santorum joined all Democrats and a minority of Republicans in voting to filibuster the bill S. 1788, the National Right to Work Act of 1995. (“On the Cloture Motion (motion to invoke cloture on motion to proceed to consider S.1788),” Senate Bill Clerk, Vote Number: 188, www.senate.gov, 7/10/1996)

During that same congressional session, Santorum also voted to retain the 1930s-era Davis-Bacon Act that forces taxpayers to pay union wages in government-funded construction and gives Big Labor an unfair advantage over non-union companies and workers (“On the Motion to Table (motion to table Kennedy Amendment No. 4031 to S.Amdt. 4000 to S.Con.Res. 57),” Senate Bill Clerk, Vote Number: 134, www.senate.gov, 5/22/1996)

Santorum supported Arlen Specter over Pat Toomey in 2004 helping Specter secure the nomination. Specter went on to cast the 60th vote for Obamacare and then lost, in 2010, to Pat Toomey. Toomey, now in the Senate, is con-sponsoring Jim DeMint’s National Right to Work legislation — the very legislation Rick Santorum filibustered.

Santorum being on the wrong side of National Right to Work and Jim DeMint will do him no favors in South Carolina.

Tags: Rick Santorum

COMMENTS

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jakeofalltrades

How would Santorum run the NLRB?
clowngirl

I had assumed he was an across the board firebrand conservative. (just one without any executive experience and who wouldn’t beat Obama) That seems to be his image.

If I’m at all typical then once Sanrtorum’s been vetted a bit he’ll have a lot of trouble maintaining his “surge”.
http://www.RightFace.us dkolonia

Just like every other candidate that zoomed to the top, Santorum will now find himself being attacked from every corner and he too will fall. How interesting it is that everyone who rises to the top then quickly falls again. What does this tell us? The real question is not if Santorum will fall but how soon it will happen. Also,’who’ will make a comeback and actually end up challenging Romney?
nancysabet

I just can’t wait to see Santy goes down.Santy is one of the candidates that leave me scratching my head wondering what made him think he could be legitimate Presidential contender.
momac

he just wasn’t high profile enough to bother with until now. but he’ll burn fast.

what sucks is that now rush and levin are invested in santorum. i stopped listening altogether until santorum burns to the ground.
goodolboy

Could we get a good definition of what an earmark is? To me it means something put in by a Congressman or Senator that went directly into the budget without getting vetted in committe by being put in the hopper as a normal request…sort of a good ol’ boy procedure. The term “earmarks” is thrown around so much no one knows what it really means.

I think Newt will win SC big time regardless of Gov Haley’s support of Romney. DeMint and all the true Consevatives will back him. I think he will also win FL but not as a runaway. This latest end run by Obama shows why we need someone who has a deep understanding of history and the Constitution as President. That being said, I will strongly support Romney if he is the nominee. I don’t think Santorum will be a factor in NH or SC.
momac

just imagine how easily they’ll tear apart his crappy “it takes a family” book and his family values push in the middle of a disastrous economic episode.
d_lamar

Both Romney and Gingrich are on the record in support of this outrageous mandate.

Perry is against it and in favor of repealing the mandate requiring the blending of ethanol in gasoline.

In my opinion, not many in South Carolina are in favor of this legislation.
http://www.erickerickson.org Erick Erickson

Gave Santorum a perfect score and Perry a zero.
windwaker24

But he’s for it now.

http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/iowa-ethanol-industry-celebrates-romney-santorum/291411
sta46

Re this post and the next one down (Can Rick Perry Come Back?):
Would it be possible for you to zip over to SC when Perry gets there and have these conversations with him face to face? Sending these very helpful hints to him either by fax or in the mail wouold be an exercise in futility since as you rightly point out half his staff has to go. Presumably they would see this information before he would thus there is a distinct possibility it would all go in the circular file and he woould never see it at all.
Actually, I would really like it if you took a leave from your job and went to work for him… like in the morning, thank you very much.
carolina

Force spending on particular projects by the Agency that gets the authorization. For instance: a particular bridge has to be built with some of the funds authorized for the Dept of Transportation. This does not increase total budgets, but it does force spending on particular projects within the budget. Congress complains that this will give the Administration the opportunity to designate specific projects for their cronys, while cutting them out of the process (to take care of their buddies).
Remember, the big pots of money for each agency are “baselined” with an automatic increase from the previous year (for ‘inflation’). The entire budget process needs to be changed. The automatic increases in the baselines each year is a fairly recent change. Congress can argue for days over cutting a few $ million while the automatic baseline increases are adding $ billions in more spending every year. That is how they ‘cut’ the budget, yet increase spending. Meanwhile all of the govt agencies follow the “use it or lose it” approach – so they make sure they spend it ALL every year. No wonder federal salaries have gone up so much.
And, remember, the bulk of the spending is for mandatory programs like medicare and agricultural subsidies. Those bills just get paid, no matter what.
septembergurl

down-the-line conservative, but he is a big labor guy, this is kind of the problem with rust belt Republicans. Thad McCotter was another, he was a real conservative except when it came to the auto bailout.

Better to go with Sunbelt, Western or Southern Republicans. Perry and Huntsman are staunchly anti-NLRB re Boeing in SC. This is a big issue there and it will kill Santorum off if he doesnt get taken out in NH.
runner12

DeMint is the most courageous small-government in the country today. He is an icon to those of us who desire fiscal responsibility and smaller government. Taking an opposing view on earmarks from DeMint is the kiss of death for Santorum in SC and nationally among Conservatives.

I will also add that supporting earmarks is not very popular among Independents either.

So long Santorum, it was a nice little surge you had there.
andystone

I don’t see what the problem is, Erick, you did say you were endorsing non-Romney.
shadowtax

And that is a major issue compared to defending Jim Demint’s honor. When I heard Santorum on Beck’s radio program it was clear that by referrencing Demint he was pointing out that earmarks were not considered an important issue when he was in the Senate, but he admits that they are now.

The causal link between Santorum’s endorsement and Specter’s victory and the passage of Obamacare is fantasy. President Bush endorsed Specter. Specter was the senior Senator, the people of Pennsylvania knew him better than they knew Santorum or Bush. And I for one am grateful for the confirmations of Justices Roberts and Alito.

Surely there are better lines of attack than this.
nancysabet

Eric we need you to work for Perry, part time! We need you here too! and CNN…well I know we’re asking toomuch.
lineholder

what would be defined as socially conservative, fiscally moderate (leaning liberal at times).

And yes, his social Conservative positions can mislead people to think he is fiscally Conservatives as well.
WY_Cowboy

Probably doesn’t help in any right to work state.
votemout2012

Santorum looks like the type of republican we have been try to get out of Washington. Geezz ppl Perry only conservative in the race. Perry a few negative but ALOT of positives.
goodolboy

The establishment Republicans’ actions toward DeMint are a classic example of why we need a change in leadership up there. They refuse to put him in any position of power/influence or on any budget/spending committee. I believe if he were the Majority leader we would really get something done if he had 59 other cohorts. Why do the Republicans keep electing wimps as Senate Majoriy or Minority Leaders? I’m 68 and cannot remember a strong Republican Senate Leader in my life time. The Democratic Senate Leaders sound as if they should be wearing dresses but they seem to have cahones to get their way no matter if they are in the majority or the minority. I’m sorry to say the current leaders in the House don’t seem to be much better; however, they seem to be thinking about trying. I hear rumblings many in the Tea Party representatives are getting fed up with the leadership and are going to try to do something about it. Good luck.
goodolboy

The establishment Republicans’ actions toward DeMint are a classic example of why we need a change in leadership up there. They refuse to put him in any position of power/influence or on any budget/spending committee. I believe if he were the Majority leader we would really get something done if he had 59 other cohorts. Why do the Republicans keep electing wimps as Senate Majoriy or Minority Leaders? I’m 68 and cannot remember a strong Republican Senate Leader in my life time. The Democratic Senate Leaders sound as if they should be wearing dresses but they seem to have cahones to get their way no matter if they are in the majority or the minority. I’m sorry to say the current leaders in the House don’t seem to be much better; however, they seem to be thinking about trying. I hear rumblings many in the Tea Party representatives are getting fed up with the leadership and are going to try to do something about it. Good luck.
votemout2012

That is Romney plan unelectable conservative. Perry fiscal and social conservative w/ record to back it up. What is so hard to see. Obama has zero to go on. Debate? What does obama have to say? 9% unemployment 5 trillion more debt? Fast an Furious, NLRB, Solyndra WE DON’T HAVE TO SETTLE FOR 3RD TEIR LOSER SANTORUM.
WA_Cowboy

until Herman Cain was gone too. They beat that dead horse pretty hard.
WA_Cowboy

…
stumpy

New Hampshire is a good one. He was likely to finish sixth anyway. By skipping he gets the pass, like Huntsman got in Iowa. Obviously his last stand has to be SC, with a competitive third or higher. He can use the time to focus on message.

Perry needs to stay positive and hit on his ideas and biography, especially small government ideas and his job record. Newt and Rick S. will hit Romney, Romney will hit Newt, everyone will ignore Huntsman, and the media will likely hit RS along with Romney and some true small government conservatives. This will soften everyone and let Perry make the final sale.

If Perry can’t perform well over the next few weeks, he is done regardless of message, staff, etc. I don’t see the volatility leaving the field just because Iowa bought a pig in a poke. After SC and certainly after FL, there will likely be two (three at the most) candidates left (not counting Paul). Perry must surpass Newt or Santorum in Iowa and prevent a Romney win.

Santorum and Romney are in to FL by winning Iowa and NH. Gingrich must run a strong second in NH or SC and be respectable in the other. Perry must be at least 3rd in SC and rising with at least 20%. Romney must not win SC or its over with a sweep of the first three (unless only one viable non-Romney exist. If all stay in and compete, it could take a while.
stumpy

the last sentence, third paragraph: Perry must pass RS or Newt in SC, not Iowa.

Perry’s viability threshold is lower than Newt because of their trajectory (Perry rising, Gingrich falling).

The way this race is going, Roemer may win SC
katem

Huntsman is the only viable, conservative non-Romney. Perry should not have changed his mind and gotten back into the race today. Perry is only helping Romney by dividing the conservative vote. Time to support Huntsman.
pttx333

left the race. He’s always been in since the day he first announced.

Thanks.
marktx

…Romney might win South Carolina. Especially if the conservatives split the vote like they did in Iowa. In fact, that’s been Romney’s strategy all along.
goodgovernance

I really think it’s time for the conservatives to rally around Huntsman.

Most of the GOP Establishment thinks Romney’s already got this thing in the bag, given his extensive resources and long-term game plan. InTrade is putting Romney’s chances at clinching the nom at 80%.

If things keep on stumbling forward like they have, Romney wins! I don’t think we’re at the “inevitable” point yet – but we don’t have much time, and we have to shake things up in a major way, in order to change the game against Mitt’s favor.

As for Perry… I respect the guy, but I can’t comprehend why he decided to announce a retreat back to Texas last night, if he wasn’t planning on getting out of the race. That move just made him look weak, and now people who aren’t die-hard supporters are wondering about his level of commitment to this thing.

Perry’s a good man, I think, but he has not performed well in this campaign.
http://www.thehayride.com MacAoidh

LINK

Santorum went hard after the ethanol vote. Shamelessly so. So much so that the ethanol lobby was touting him today (same folks who distributed anti-Perry flyers at a lot of the caucus sites).
marktx

And let’s not forget that Arlen Specter opposed the nomination of Robert Bork.
usedtobelib

“Sending these very helpful hints to him [Rick Perry] either by fax or in the mail wouold be an exercise in futility since as you rightly point out half his staff has to go.”

This is the thing that has turned off those who thought Perry might be a good candidate: he wasn’t ready for questions from the press, for the debates, and his staff, appointed by him (I would think), isn’t ready for Primetime either.

You want the guy to run a huge bureaucracy and he can’t even appoint a decent staff?

His has been a fly-by-the -seat-of-his pants campaign. What did he think would happen? That the women would swoon over his rugged good looks and men would wish they were he?

I don’t like the idea that a guy who didn’t even think about the Presidency gets talked into running and doesn’t have his ducks in a row. It doesn’t make me comfortable with his ability to get things right, and it appears this is, among his inability to be articulate, is bothering others as well.

He has to do more than repeat, “I’m an outsider and I’ll cut in half the time Congress is in Washington.”
gekster

He is in the NH debates, and is going to SC.
He’s taking a look at what didn’t work, and see what to do to fix it.
Reasess is just that.

He hasn’t been known as a quiter, and I don’t see it now.
pttx333

quitter – not Perry.

On another note, I did the clean-up that you reminded me to do, downloaded Firefox, and things are humming along! Man, the craziest things were happening, and it was so exasperating.

Thanks again!

Mom
marktx

I think voters should give Huntsman a second look…or maybe even a first look. He had a pretty good record in Utah, as well as extensive foreign policy knowledge. But before he can run, he needs to walk. And that means Jon Huntsman must do well in New Hampshire. He’s spent most of his campaign in that state and needs to finish a strong second to make a real impact moving forward.
katem

gave the pundits and viewers every indication that he was going to withdraw. He said he would reassess his campaign. That’s not something you say unless you are seriously considering withdrawing. And that’s how it was interpreted. He looks indecisive.
goodgovernance

I really like the guy, but if he doesn’t place at least second on Tuesday it’s game over for him.

There is a LOT hanging in the balance right now. Guess that’s what makes politics so exciting.
katem

we’re not at the inevitable point yet. If not, it’s pretty close, given how quickly NH, SC and FL are approaching. Mitt will take an early victory lap if the other candidates keep splitting the conservative vote.
gekster

He did say reassess.

reassess-evaluate or estimate the nature, quality, ability, extent,
or significance of;

He did not say suspend.

suspend-To cease for a period; delay

He did not say quit.

quit-To depart from; leave

And if you would have read his tweets, he did say he would be in the debates and SC.
kamiller42

nt
joeptak

RUPERT MURDOCH say’s he is endorsing SANTORUM…what he is actually doing, is making sure the CONSERVATIVE VOTE STAY’S SPLIT…long enough for RINO ROMNEY to string some victories together, while knocking out other candidates. MURDOCH can then offer SANTORUM a lucrative contract as an analist for FOX.

The lame liberal MSM is being played by MURDOCH, FOX, and Karl Rove w/his Bush surrogates. The TEA Party Conservatives are being blatantly stuck-in-the-back, lied too, and double-crossed.
pttx333

that way. The definition of reassess is not “I withdraw” or “I quit.” But, if you prefer to look at it the way you said … indecisive … guess that is the way you choose to look at it.
katem

if second, third and fourth are pretty tight.

Huntsman needs much more support from the base. People (not you — I mean folks in general) don’t seem to get it that this race could essentially be over in a week or two. There is no time left.

I will never understand why the base has been willing to give this election away to Romney or Obama because of disagreement over Huntsman’s view on climate change or his service in China. So, it’s OK to flirt with serial flipfloppers, inexperienced and amateurish candidates, at least one of whom was on a book tour and not really running for president, panderers and the like but it’s NOT OK to consider the serious candidate with the best qualifications who also happens to be a conservative? Crazy. If it’s Mitt, we deserve what we get. I voted for Mitt for senator and governor (he was better than his Democratic oppionents) — Mitt was no conservative.
joeptak

Get real with Huntsman, he reminds me of…EDDIE HASKELL!!!
marktx

If most of the candidates drop out after Florida, there’s still over forty states in play. With voter apathy towards Romney remaining high, it might be wise for someone like Gingrich to stay in the race no matter what happens in January. If it comes down to only Romney and RP after Florida, RP could start picking up a junk of delegates which would cause a problem for the party at the convention.
joeptak

In my humble opinion, GOV. RICK PERRY is most qualified to
be the next POTUS, Commander-in-Chief, and leader of the FREE WORLD.

No other individual running for POTUS is better prepared, tested, and PROVEN to be the REAL leader that America needs in this juncture of our history. We are talking about electing a man that will lead and govern a nation with the 3rd largest population in the world…over 300,000,000 Americans. Furthermore, we are talking about electing the leader, of the WORLD’S LARGEST ECONOMY, and the world’s ONLY SUPERPOWER.

For the last 11-years, GOV. RICK PERRY has successfully governed the state with the 2nd largest population in our country…a state with 25,000,000 people. In addition, Texas is the world’s 16th largest economy…bigger than a majority of the countries worldwide (including Israel). Texas has a 1200 mile border with a foreign country, it has coastlines and seaports, produces oil in vast quantities, it has more clean energy windmills than any other state in the country, it has 20,000 National Guard/Reserves troops…including numerous major military installations, and Space Center to boot.

GOVERNOR RICK PERRY has served his country as a military officer and pilot in the USAF. Very importantly, there will be NO DOWN TIME in our country for any ON-THE-JOB TRAINING with GOV. RICK PERRY.

RICK PERRY’S moral character, belief in God, and CAN DO attitude…will guide him well…as our future POTUS.
Adjoran

IMHO no Republican who reads them would ever vote for the guy for dogcatcher.

http://tinyurl.com/3txdetq
Adjoran

about DeMint, but he is correct that the problem isn’t “earmarks” themselves, it is the process of putting them in secretly at the committee level like Ron Paul has done for years (before voting NO when the final bill is sure to pass and pretending to be against spending).

Banning earmarks just gives the Executive and bureaucracy more authority and power, and will tend to cause overall spending to increase in order to get those projects funded (whereas the earmarks designate how funds already appropriated are spent).

Unfortunately, this is too complicated for most voters to understand after forty years of federal control of public education. Politically they are toxic because of the demagoguery over bad ones.

Santorum’s biggest problem in SC will be the union stuff and opposing right to work. After the Boeing debacle, SC Republicans aren’t loving union thugs or their useful tools in Congress.
buddyp

Santorum has an electability problem, and I mean in the general election (not the substantial challenges he faces in seeking the nomination, which is another matter).

I see an electability problem based on my assumption that many social moderates among swing voters will be turned off by the intensity of Santorum’s past rhetoric and efforts in the Senate against equal rights for gays. Even some who are iffy or even opposed to equal marriage rights will probably find his focus and passion on gay-related issues creepy. And it doesn’t help that he has a look (hairstyle, clothes) that to many (I think) seems conspicuously…well, proper, for lack of a better word (and I wish I could think of a better word). Kind of a creepy schoolboy look when coupled with what seemed to be an anti-gay obsession.

So there’s the creepiness of a guy who seems like a man who “doth protest too much”, if you know what I mean.

And I do NOT mean that social moderate swing voters will be turned off because they think he might be gay, but rather that they will think perhaps he’s got a psychological problem stemming from some feelings he has that he has long-repressed. I’m not saying I think that’s likely, but I think the total picture does plant the idea of that possibility in the heads of many.

Add to that the intensity of his efforts and rhetoric themselves (regardless of the other factors in his creepiness), which I think will turn off many social moderate swing voters who either favor equal marriage rights for gay couples or who at least don’t like to see someone so focused and passionate about what comes across as gay-bashing, even if at times couched in careful language to sugar coat the basic underlying argument of his (and others opposed to equal marriage rights), which is that the law should clearly imply that homosexual relationships are inferior and immoral. Even Obama opposes equal marriage rights, but he doesn’t go out of his way to spend a great deal of focus and time and energy passionately making the case that letting gays marry poses some grave threat to our society.

I’m speaking as someone who favors equal marriage rights for gay couples even though I’m a straight guy who is very uncomfortable with the thought of two men being intimate or even affectionate. I’m not saying I’d vote for Obama over Santorum, but I am saying that for those who are more in the middle than I am on economic, fiscal and Defense/foreign policy matters, as well as some social issues (e.g., law & order; anti-affirmative action; school choice; anti-union; etc., on all of which I’m conservative), that could be a factor that could cause them to either vote for Obama or not vote at all rather than vote for Santorum.

Santorum could come across to many as, at best, a mean potential bigot, and at worst, a mean, thinly veiled, creepy, psychologically-disturbed bigot.
becky5

Specter then went on to switch parties & cast the deciding vote in favor Obamacare. I don’t see how Santorum survives that.
itsjoanne

That would give him a huge boost.
lizzie

endorsement in Iowa, although King has a new CD that has more dems, and Christie Vilsack is challenging him. Possibly most high target House seat for 2012..

and everyone else who had not endorsed before that idea became Perry’s big idea in Iowa afterhe tested it in NH..

I know it got great applause, but …

Also, DeMint is shunning Tom Coburn for being Gang of Six.

And Perry embaced Coburn’s serious cost cutting “Back in Black” even tho Perry barely mentioned it.

some species devour their offpring.
bzip

I truly think Santorum isn’t planning or trying to become President. Santorum didn’t file for DC ballot, keep in mind Santorum didn’t even try to get on the Va ballot (Perry and Newt did try, failed though).

Santorum doesn’t file for D.C. ballot
http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/01/santorum-doesnt-file-for-dc-ballot-109647.html
bzip

Good grief, Santorum is the person I thought conservatives wer trying to keep out of Washington. Santorum, the earmark defender and lover. I didn’t know Santorum opposed National Right to Work legislation, I don’t think that will go over too well in SC either.

This issue on Santorum’s mention of “blacks” isn’t going to go over too well in SC either (or elsewhere for that matter).

Santorum addresses answer of black’s entitlement reform
http://youtu.be/tb8dXD5LWZw
Santorum targets blacks in entitlement reform
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57350990-503544/santorum-targets-blacks-in-entitlement-reform/
annie54

conveniently, so you could bring up Huntsman – your what – apparent first love? Go with him – who cares – but don’t try to start talk against Rick Perry. Okay?

So Perry slept in his own bed for once and ran his familiar trail. Sometimes, one has to go to his own comfort zone to “reassess”.

‘better vet Huntsman, Katem. He’s full of holes and can’t hold water.
paco12348

Erick, why don’t you come right out and say it. You don’t want Santorum.

In this piece are you being the attack dog for Romney? Perry? Which one?

I would much rather just have information I can be pointed to instead of being spoon fed because the writer thinks I’m “too stuuuuupid” to suss it out myself.

This piece reminds me of Wasserman-Schultz and I despise her and Sally Kohn. Both are attack dogs for Obama.
jkines

about the fact that aside from social issues there is little, if anything, conservative about Rick Santorum. He has a clear record as a protectionist and an apologist for big labor, both of which are untenable given the present exigencies of economic growth and free market reforms.
sta46

nt
williamjameson

While I find Santorum likeable he also has ties to Jack Abramoff and we can expect Abramoff to go public soon. Many facts are spilling out already.

Hydrofracking support will send enviro-fascists out in numbers, yes i support fracking, fyi. Lobbyist ties to K street are more elaborate than Newt’s smaller issue that has been proven as benign by fomer Congressman JC Watts.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/05/us-campaign-santorum-idUSTRE8032A020120105
bobguzzardi

Rick Perry opposes the national ethanol subsidies and mandates and special incentives to selective energy produces.

As I understand it, he does not oppose routine and economically real deductions for cost of producing energy which EVERY business uses.

Rick Santorum Mitt Romney pandered to the Iowa voter on this issue.
williamjameson

know so we can make intelligent decisions. Don’t take offense to truth about candidates, the good, bad and ugly are all part of the vetting process. Plus we can say we knew most facts while libs still don’t have a clue who they voted for or why.
annie54

in several states, but PERRY IS RIGHT. My brother in Ohio brags to me constantly how much he gets for a bushel of corn (to add to his millions of $). Yeah – the farmers get the $ for their bushels of corn while we pay more in the grocery store and at the gas pump.

I refuse to pump it. I don’t like the smell, anyway.
http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

…is the absence of competitive bidding.
http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

…Guzzardi and I concluded his staff was highly-professional/efficient.
wbf

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100127066/whatever-the-answer-is-its-not-santorum/

Now Rick Santorum is getting the scrutiny the other candidates have gone through…even from across the pond!!
http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

…because of the strong union support he received while a PA-incumbent.
http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

…to the chair of the judiciary committee.

He opposed a movement-conservative who would probably have won the squeaker-primary [particularly noting how Specter had to use general-election $...illegally...to win it].

Toomey would have been an incumbent, six years earlier, and anyone watching him now would know that he was just as prepared @ that time to shake-up the status quo.
http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

…because there are 50 states, remember?

For example, let’s assume the new-vetting forestalls Santorum in NH [after we assess the weekend debates] and Mitt/Newt trash each other…and Huntsman still doesn’t catch on…and Paul plummets.

Anything can emerge from NH, which pundits say likes to “surprise.” And the expectations-game then emerges [remember, McCarthy LOST NH in '68, although he threatened HHH] could maintain the volatility of the race that has become the norm.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/12/11/171198/-McCarthy,-Humphrey,-and-the-Democrats,-1968-

Then, the spurt for Santorum will have been too brief to have yielded sufficient $ to carry into Florida [assuming, reasonably, that he doesn't dominate SC].

If The Newt remains plucky, he says in…if only to hurt Mitt [and, then, to help Perry].

Reasonable?
http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

…noting, also, that he opposes enhanced interrogation “because it’s vital to remember how important it is that America look good internationally.”

Another elitist/statist….
http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

[with The Newt as Wally Cleaver, Mitt as Ward Cleaver, Rick Santorum as June Cleaver...and Rick Perry as 'the Beaver'!]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Leave_It_to_Beaver_cast_members
bobguzzardi

After 2004, Santorum’s voting record started to closely resemble Arlen Specter’s. Rick Santorum was Union financed in 2008 campaign with help from Arlen Specter and his numerous union support network.
http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

…to minimize potential Mitt-win in Iowa.
http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

…Guzzardi noted that a lot of his supporters awaiting this 11 p.m. announcement were uniformed-military.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Luttrell

This is a man who analyzes post-”action” reports and reassesses accordingly.
http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

…for the union-issue will be huge, but the earmark issue can’t be rationalized-away.

The proper enhancement of executive power emerges from a needs-assessment and competitive-bidding…not the exercise of political/costly favoritism @ the initiation of this process.
http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

…nor did his CNN-effort to walk-back what he’d said, last night.
http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

…for his de-regulation would yield a work-load shift to the states.

When there are no Departments of Education/Commerce/Energy and their statistical functions are shifted elsewhere, the responsibilities of the related committees [and the lack of any need to appropriate gifts/grants] would diminish commensurately.

No unfunded mandates would result, and NCLB-type legislation would become anathema. And anyone worrying about whether such feel-good programs as “let’s get more kids to study science” could be lost [assuming that the overlapping federal efforts had already been streamlined] would be reminded that the STATES could enhance competition by creating such efforts in conjunction with their businesses.

As Perry says, this would be another step towards ensuring D.C. would become irrelevant in the day-to-day lives of the citizenry.
uncmike

the other? She seems to be very popular in SC among conservatives and I think her endorsement, like that of Demint would be highly valuable?
http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

…in an effort to ignore the impact of what has been written.
westcoastpatriette

the Tea Party supporters who got her elected.
http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

…but the input of DeMint would be HUGE [even if he were to discount Santorum, rather than endorsing Perry].
bzip

Gov. Nikki Haley endorsed Mitt Romney a while back causing a big firestorm among Tea Party people.
bs61

for me, but I didn’t know all of this! Thanks RedState!

A IA guy was on Fox or CSPAN saying all them wanted to get together to support one person who could win the anti-Romney vote, so now I’m feeling quited screwed over by Iowans!
Scope

and from what I’m reading she is losing support among the Tea Party crowd that helped her get elected. That started happening even before her endorsement, but has only intensified since her endorsement. There are some big Tea Party people in SC who will most likely work to find a primary candidate to go against her when she is up for re-election. Romney does not have much if any support from the Tea Parties or there members.

A DeMint endorsement would go a whole lot further than a Haley one, though I believe DeMint said he won’t endorse.
http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/nikki-haley-to-join-mitt-romneys-campaign/896131/
Repair_Man_Jack

http://bigjournalism.com/driehl/2012/01/03/npr-cbs-mischaracterize-santorum-stumble-as-racist-remark/
http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

…compared with Perry’s friendliness.
Scope

I just an article where Santorum said his solution for SS would be to means test, increase the age, and increase SS taxes.
http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

…and his policy-advisor told me that his opposition to e-verify is based on logistics, not ideology; he referenced a WSJ piece documenting its faults.
http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

…and Santorum clearly played the idiot, rather than simply saying he’d misspoken; instead, he mumbled something like “I was starting to use a word and slipped into using another word.”
westcoastpatriette

And one of the reasons I have a hard time listening to him.

Listen, I’m curious. Were you able to discern what kinds of things held people back from supporting Perry while in Iowa? Just wondering what the perception is and why Perry seems to be lagging in support? (Hope this isn’t thread jacking.)
Scope

was just covered on CNN. They played the portion of the video where he made the remark, and there is no stumbling over the word black, it was as clear as a bell. Then they played a portion of an interview when he said he didn’t think he used the word black, and that he just was stumbling over the word and it came out that way. So instead of just backing up what he said, and why, he tried to weasel out of it by saying he didn’t say it. Not good, especially when both videos were played side by side.
http://908StraightSt.wordpress.com/ mbecker908

The college plan that they have in Texas is a good solution for Texas. He’s got a good record when it comes to enforcing the law regarding immigration using Texas Rangers. I’d trade his policies and leadership in Texas for the buffoons we’ve got making headlines in Arizona in a heartbeat.
carolina

Rove just reported that Santy missed the DC filing date. He also thinks Santy will have trouble with the IL, and other, state ballot filings.
If he really has as small an organization as has been reported, he is doomed.
It was interesting to hear about how many states have requirements to get signatures from each Congressional District within each state. VA doesn’t sound all that unusual after all.
bobguzzardi

dr. bob and I spoke to Iowa Caucus voters and their views seems shaped by conventional Establishment media and did not seem to be aware of the records of the candidates for job creation, Earmarks, Spending, Borrowing, etc.

The Conventional Establishment media did not talk about issues at all as far as I can determine. It was all about process so voters did not have much of an idea about substantive issues.

The voters we spoke to did not seem to spend time with Internet media and information.

They liked the idea that candidate shook their hands…twice. They didn’t seem to take too much note of what he spoke about.
bobguzzardi

dr. bob and I had a memorable experience in Iowa and the Perry Staff was highly professional competent responsive friendly and most definitely committed to Gov and Anita Perry. This is a mission for them. Great bunch of people and that says a lot about Gov. Perry.
bobguzzardi

After endorsing Specter in 2004, Union money flowed in including $50,000 from John ‘Johnny Doc” Dougherty’s Philadelphia Electricians’ union IBEW 98.

Rick Santorum was supported by Unions until Bob Casey, Jr. siphoned off almost all union money. Bob Casey is UNION.
westcoastpatriette

But I get the same impression — I don’t think most people take the time or have the time to vet like we do here and that is a little bit frightening. To those of us who are more informed, it makes them look naive and a bit irresponsible. It also explains why the media has so much power to influence the ill-informed.
bobguzzardi

Commander in Chief Rick Perry will protect America from anyone who tries to hurt her.
bobguzzardi

Focus on Rick Santorum’s real world record, which Establishment Leaning Conventional Media, did not do and you will soon see that he is Big Government Bush Republican.
That model did not work out for the Republicans in 2006, did it?

Rick Santorum’s arrogant obnoxiousness to Toomey conservative base was truly disgusting. I was there and saw it.
Scope

that at least some of it might be selective inattention? From what I’ve read Santorum, during his year that he spent there visiting every county, told the Iowans that he supported ethanol subsidies. Then Vander Platts endorses him as the solid christian. Combine ethanol subsidies and the evangelical vote, and they had their perfect candidate, and possibly didn’t want to hear anything from anyone else.

I’m still perplexed at Perry drawing such large crowds, and then coming in 5th. It would seem that the small Santorum crowds meant that they already saw him and knew what he would do for them.
irishgirl

vetted now. Wasn’t before since he was so low in the polls. Plus, people will see that his demeanor is somewhat whiny and petulant. My sister (who never pays attention to politics) noticed that first thing and mentioned it last night. But we sure don’t need another fiscially moderate in the WH.
uncmike

Thanks to you and the others who answered my query here. I had high hopes for Haley and thought she’d at least remember the Tea Party was instrumental in getting her elected. So she’s gone for Mitt already. We can still hope that DeMint either endorses Perry (probably a long shot) or at least discount Santorum as Dr. Sklaroff puts it.
carolynr

and Rick Santorum has a problem with both of them. I put this on another thread..but it bears repeating. Perry’s remarks that there is a direct correlation between Washington and Wall Street needs to be elaborated on BY HIM…specifically, i.e. examples…otherwise it is just rhetoric.

Oh how terrible we condemned Chris Dodd and he retired because of his inside deals with Countrywide Mtg…sweetheart deals. Well, Hello Ricky Santorum…it seems you have the same proclivity. You get a half million dollar loan for a house you bought which costs $643,361 from Philadelphia Trust Company…and I will be dipped…they contributed to your political action committee. Is there really a difference between Greedy Republicans and Democrats?

Then, Rick Santorum had to make an impression on his good heart. So..he started Operation Good Neighbor…doesn’t that sound nice…warm and fuzzy. It illustrates is compassionate conservatism…and people…we know that that cost the taxpayers. Anyway…the board members of his Good Neighbor deal were lobbyist with millions of dollars of business before the Senate…and they got it. Golly Gee.

Federal funds went to RE developer who backed his charity (isn’t that such good cover…Charity)…his top donor got an $8 million earmark. He (Santorum) got a slap on the hand for violating Senate gift rules.

So…it seems that Santorum not only likes to spend our money…when spending it is, at the very least unethical…and all the while he held himself out to be a purist concerning religious values. Hey…how many of the 7 deadlies do you think he violated…Pride (Yes…he has a problem there), Anger (not sure), Greed (Yup) Gluttony (well he not fat…but he takes more than his fair share of our money), Sloth (I don’t think so). Lust…(don’t know about that and Envy…(I’m not sure about that either because it is a twin of Pride.

That old saying…People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones will come back to bite Santorum. It’s great about his pro-life stance…I am pro-life…but that is not what is going to win an election this year.
sunshinek67

The more I learn about this guy, wondering why he is considered the conservative standard bearer, the family values guy. Apparently he is having some momentum in NH, crowds and $$ flowing in. Where are the ads on this guy? Maybe he will get more Q’s at the next debate and somebody can put the heat on him. Rout him out lol
colonelflagg

Newt Gingrich’s endorsement of Dede Scozzafava will go over much better in South Carolina.

Myth Romney’s blueprint for ZeroCare will go over much better in South Carolina.

Wrong Paul’s 9-11 trooferism will go over much better in South Carolina.

Right now, I’ll take Santorum’s 88 percent lifetime ACU rating, and do so happily. Since moderate Republicans and the media have removed all my other conservative choices.
cwfoster

I’m still up in the air after my guy (Cain) dropped out, but I’m definitely leaning towards Perry, he’s got the best combination of record, fundraising, and organization in the race (besides the guy 75% of us don’t want) My second choice is probably Huntsman, but I think Eric’s right, he shot himself in the foot with conservatives out of the box, whcich is a shame, because his record and plan rivals Perry’s.
cwfoster

I’m still up in the air after my guy (Cain) dropped out, but I’m definitely leaning towards Perry, he’s got the best combination of record, fundraising, and organization in the race (besides the guy 75% of us don’t want) My second choice is probably Huntsman, but I think Eric’s right, he shot himself in the foot with conservatives out of the box, whcich is a shame, because his record and plan rivals Perry’s.
bob08034

Given the recent NLRB play to squash the Boeing plant, there’s pretty much no way a union supporter can win here (at this time). I don’t think the black comment is likely to hurt him any, but it won’t matter.

I don’t think anyone here will care what happened in Iowa, or what will happen in New Hampshire.

Romney hasn’t polled a lead with double digits since August.

For me, a big problem with Perry is he talks like W. Not just accent, but speech patterns and mannerisms. Being governor of Texas as a main qualification? You mean like W?

I think Gingrich will get more than a few delegates in SC. And in Florida too. As long as he continues to rack up delegates, he has the potential to influence the convention.

In mid-December the Winthrop poll had 70%+ likely Republican voters giving Haley favorable marks, while 80%+ of Republican respondents saying they were not Tea Party.
thosjefferson

Haley knows these candidates and she endorsed the conservative who can beat Obama and change the direction of the country.
thosjefferson

Erick is right that Santorum’s past won’t play well in SC, but it won’t play well anywhere. Iowans flocked to him at the last minute before any vetting took place, mainly because the evangelicals thought they could stop Romney through Santorum. But apart from that increasingly irrational demographic, conservatives aren’t going to like what they learn about Santorum’s activities as a DC insider and lobbyist.

Perry has been right all along in his criticism of both Gingrich and Santorum as DC insiders and I suspect that’s the main reason he stayed in the race.
thosjefferson

The final paragraph from this piece says it all:

The truth is Rick Santorum is so left on the issues that matter he makes even Mitt Romney look like a red meat conservative. Be very afraid, Republican America. This is how bad things are.
http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

…which is derivative of the thrust of EE’s essay:

Hi Dr. S,

Just got done reading some Redstate posts. Read some of your’s and Bob G’s. Any chance you could work for the Perry campaign?

Comment: SURE!

I have to say I was very surprised at EE’s article on “Can Perry make a Comeback”. Maybe I am too much of a supporter of the Gov.’s but I thought EE was for Perry. He could’ve pointed out his criticism’s without trashing Perry’s intelligence (played right into Perry’s critics) and how much of the Politico’s story about his staff was true. All that did was make the reporter look more credible and Perry look foolish for challenging his information.

Comment: Disagree. If EE is to be a credible truth-teller [and he provided an example of his concern, which had occurred yesterday], then he must maintain a take-no-prisoners approach. This was mutually-exclusive of the Mike Allen interview, for he was not going to validate MA without his first being provided a reference.

Erick’s insistence in the article of his respect and fondness for several of Perry’s campaign people made me think having Erick’s respect (with his ability to have millions view his opinion) is a career killer.

Comment: Disagree; we need to ensure the ?reassessment? is profound, as might occur following a military campaign.

Why is it that conservatives with a voice continue to magnify our side’s neg.’s instead of rallying around the positive’s. I am so sick of the so called people we are told have the same belief’s that the average conservative has. From my point of view (and I am a VERY strong conservative) if the core of America had a daily platform from which to speak (which I thought was finally The Tea Party) they wouldn’t sound anything like the so-called conservatives who do have a platform. i.e. Mark Levine, Hannity, even Beck who is praising Santorum.

Comment: This is a healthy process, as people gradually are forced to learn of Perry?s unique strengths.

Where is the Tea Party’s support for Perry. I know they say they don’t endorse but that’s a cop out. They endorse locally. Those elections are important but for goodness sakes when there is someone who is finally willing and able (with The Lord beside him) to stand up against the Obama machine and all of his cronies, Repub’s and Dem’s alike, why wouldn’t every American who has been crying out for this not coming to Perry’s aid? I was going to say “Sorry for the rant” but actually I am not sorry. I am tired of us having to be careful of what we say or apologetic for it.

Comment: Concur that the TPM must awaken from its slumber and function accordingly; perhaps this will transpire more overtly now that Michele has departed.
uncmike

I suppose thinking they had things in the bag and Obama on the run. Honestly, I credit Beck (and Sean to a lesser extent) with much of the leadership that made the TPM real and credible. Beck was always highlighting the rallies and led a big one himself. Since then, there has been no focus to the movement, and I’ve seen no evidence it is still coherent. I hope I am wrong as I was depending on those who showed up made as hell at TP rallies and townhall meetings to kick the rest of the bums out, including some of the RINOs and including some who rode into Congress in 2010 with the help of the TPM.

Listening to some of the talking heads today, I get the impression the R establishment is coming to understand Romney is a 25% guy who will not and cannot convince the other 75% that he has real conservative bona fides. They also realize that would be a killer in the general election. My sense is there is some establishment shift toward Santorum because, as a Senator, he was a good old boy and always willing to grace the stages at Fox and smooze Greta. OTOH, I think the establishment sees Newt as a guy willing to throw fire bombs, someone they can’t control. Of course they continue to shut out Perry and belittle him when they do mention his name. It will be interesting to see what the establishment does when they realize both Romney and Santorum are unelectable.
acat

and what separates them from Main Street Republicans, is the Country Clubbers are happier to lose than to support a Main Street Conservative guy.

Unfortunately, the mindset seems to remain strong in the gutless D.C. wing of the GOP…. they’d rather support a loser like Romney or Santorum than a stand-up guy they can’t control.

Pathetic.

Mew
jakeofalltrades
uncmike

Even the folks at National Review are now seeing Romney as unelectable as this post made today by Michael Walsh makes clear:

Simple Arithmetic

By Michael Walsh
January 5, 2012 5:13 P.M.

Some people today seem to have trouble with my formulation that the consistent anti-Romney sentiment (for such it is) of around 75 percent ? reflected in the Iowa caucuses results ? is somehow logically fallacious, and that one could just as easily make the same short-end equation regarding Perry, Paul, Gingrich, Bachmann, et al.

They entirely miss the point. From the start of the GOP race, the contest has been divided between Mitt Romney on one side and Everybody Else Plus Ron Paul on the other, as conservatives examined possible alternatives to the front-runner, Willard. This explains the sine-wave shape of the race so far, with various not-Romneys rising and then falling as they have been weighed in the balance and found wanting.

It?s instructive to note that Romney has gained not at all from the successive collapses of the second-tier candidates, and that while it may have just been dumb luck on Santorum?s part to be the last man standing, sometimes it?s better to be lucky than good. Does anyone doubt that had Rick Perry not proven himself to be a tongue-tied imitation of George W. Bush that he would have put Romney away handily? It wasn?t Perry?s position on immigration that did him in, it was his sheer ineloquence.

The Mittbots might want to ask themselves this: if Romney is so great, why did Santorum ? a guy who barely a blip on the radar screen a couple of weeks ago ? come out of nowhere to nearly nip him at the wire, while Mitt stayed stuck at . . . 25 percent?

As John Podhoretz put it yesterday:

The results last night make it clear that Romney is unquestionably the weakest party front-runner in contemporary political history, scoring fewer caucus votes in Iowa in 2012 than he received in 2008.

As I said on the most recent NR cruise, if Romney is the nominee, he will lose. He has no idea what Axelrod & Co. are capable of, nor of the depths to which they will stoop to destroy him. They will attack him as a flip-flopper, as a panderer, as a rapacious and heartless one percenter, and, yes, as a Mormon. They will damn him with faint praise as a liberal accomodationist, as the spiritual father of Obamacare. He?s a gentleman in a mug?s game, and this is no time for gentlemen.
robertyates

Here’s a link to an interesting article about Santorum’s career. Admittedly, it’s from the the left-wing Reuters, but there is some interesting information in it.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/04/us-campaign-santorum-idUSTRE8032A020120104

Here is the gist of the article:

Rick Santorum practiced law and lobbied for professional wrestling before he was elected to Congress at the young age of 32. He served in Congress for 16 years until he was defeated in his US Senate reelection bid by an 18 percentage point margin. After his 2006 defeat, he stayed in Washington as a lobbyist and consultant. In 2010, he earned nearly $1 million from his political connections.

In short, Santorum has received his paycheck over the years directly from the government or from firms that lobby government. He is the ultimate Washington Insider who is part of the problem–not the solution.
uncmike

I can’t see either Santorum or Romney as credible.
bzip

have you read this one it ties Santorum to lobbying, talk about an insider:

Rick Santorum, ‘Stealth Lobbyist’
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/rick-santorum-stealth-lobbyist/story?id=15298204#.TwYXU_ncBnQ
“He has been, essentially, a stealth lobbyist,” said Bill Allison, editorial director for the Sunlight Foundation, a watchdog group. “He has been hired to try to influence policy on behalf of his clients without crossing the thresholds that would require him to report what he’s doing.”
sunshinek67

to hit each state and find qualified petitioners to gather sigs. **What.A.Joke**
thosjefferson

Makes a lot of sense; the one steady Republican is the one the left doesn’t want to run against.

The so-called conservative candidates in the second tier (all but Romney) can’t stand even a few weeks of scrutiny. Romney’s stood up to years of scrutiny. Watch what happens to Santorum when his big government record and big lobbying income becomes well known.

As long as Republicans don’t eat their own, nothing Axelrod and the DNC can do will bring Obama to victory.
1bunny

for raising the age and increasing SS taxes. Said that was his only quibble with Reagan.
stumpy

I hope your right. It seems like people start backing the front-runner just to be on the winning team as soon as a few votes are cast. If there was a brokered convention with the current candidates, Perry would be the most acceptable to the most people.

I just think Santorum, while I am sure is a nice guy and great family man, is not the candidate we need. I believe most of his supporters don’t really know where he stands. He is strong on all social issues, but is a big government, big spending Washington insider.

Thank you for your work for Governor Perry, Dr. We appreciate it.
kegan05

Rick Perry is the only candidate I truly trust as being a solid and consistent conservative. I had been looking at Santorum as someone I could possibly get behind but I have been disappointed to read about some of his escapades in lobbying and his mortgage loan fiasco. I’m through with all of them except Rick Perry.

I am praying Perry will do well and secure the nomination so I don’t have to hold my nose yet again to vote for a president.

Perry for President – 2012! Go Rick!
kegan05

Rick Perry has the ability and the motivation to restore our country to her previous greatness and prosperity. I have great confidence that he will do exactly what he says he will do, from developing our own energy sources in this country to untying the hands of small business owners by freeing them from the strangling regulations and policies of the Obozo administration. I know he will seal the border with Mexico so we can curtail illegal immigration and allow those already here to fully assimilate, unless they are deported for breaking our laws.

Rick Perry is an honest man and will be a great President. I am praying for his success.
http://www.doctor-bob.biz rsklaroff

…and perhaps someone could lobby for me with the moderators?

A mega-posting is in-preparation….

RS

EDITOR OF REDSTATE

This Won’t Play Well In South Carolina

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