Sarah Palin Says She’d Vote for Newt

Hooah_Mac

The problem with this -

“Rick Perry will rightly be remembered as the spoiler who handed Mitt Romney the nomination.

If Rick Perry and Sarah Palin both throw their lot behind Newt Gingrich, well, the Republican nomination might actually turn into a race instead of a coronation.”

Is that some of us do not see Newt as a better choice than Romney. With Newt we give up the “electability” positives of Romney(primarily the organization and executive experience), but do not gain anything substantial in the consistent conservative area. Newt may be an anti-Romney, but that does not make him a better choice in the opinion of many.

http://www.sunshinestatesarah.com SunshineStateSarah

…but I am definitely sold on the idea that it is way too early to declare the race over yet.

I have the video, some comments, and a bunch of links here:

http://www.sunshinestatesarah.com/2012/01/sarah-palin-sorta-kinda-almost-endorses.html

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

…to say that she was not endorsing.

She said, simply, that she would vote for him based on his performance during the debate.

Perry was superb by all accounts [although the black-out continues] and must hang-in there…if for no other reason than to expose Santorum’s hypocrisy.

This is a process, and he could continue to say–emphatically–what others haven’t said [such as his Turkey-reference].

Indeed, if he could overcome Santorum on Saturday, for example, he need not drop-out; does anyone remember The Newt’s baggage?

Guzzardi and I have come to the conclusion that much of the opposition to Perry–since August–has been from those who are threatened [and those who have been “educated” by those who are threatened–by his “let’s clean house” approach to D.C.

He has a strong unique message…and must continue to find a seat during this game of musical-chairs.

Does anyone remember that it takes more to govern than to debate?

Let’s see how it shakes-out after the CNN debate, OK?

arizonaoldfart

The reason Romney is the front runner is because he is the one that the Washington DC elite establishment is supporting! He is also the one that the LSM (even the majority of FOX NEWS talking heads) is supporting!

Everyone keeps telling us that he is the only one who can defeate Obama! They keep telling us that Romney has pretty much wrapped up the nomination already! It’s a done deal, they say! When was the last time either of those groups told us the real truth?

Ask yourselves WHY? Here’s a clue! They believe that Romney will play their game! They don’t want real change that would interfer with their agenda, which is to continue with the status quo!

Obama has a billion dollar monster fund that he can use to smear whoever runs against him! If that is Romney, then RomneyCare will be the main point of attack and let’s face it; it isn’t all that different from ObamaCare!

I personally believe, of the remaining candidates, Romney is the least likely to beat Obama (with the acception of Ron Paul).

Newt, on the otherhand will destroy him in the debates! The whole country will see the debates, because the LSM will have no choice but to show them! They can’t conceal those the way they have concealed Obama’s big lies and flawed policies! There will be no place for them to hide!

http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/ reaganiterepublicanresistance

Now she needs to get out on the campaign trail for Newt in Florida!!!

This latest SC debate performance is precisely the type that fueled his initial surge

I’d like to say I’m looking forward to some fresh polling data…. but it’s hard to trust a one of them this cycle, some are downright fishy

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

…which commentators on O’Reilly suggested reflects a basic weakness in his candidacy.

As Sarah said, let’s keep those debates going as we vet our candidates.

Perry will need to highlight distinctions-with-differences when responding to each/every question.

sunshinek67

and “She said, simply, that she would vote for him based on his performance during the debate.”

I didn’t see the Palin segment on Fox News, but these two statements are not reconciling. Is it a tacit endorsement, or simply kudos for an outstanding performance in one debate?

I do know that the last limited government true conservative in this race has a percentage of his core support, many of whom believe in every fiber of their being that their candidate has the best record and has delivered extremely well now in 8 debates in a row, are very disaffected by this whole process, especially when revered icons go forth and willing to compromise the very positions that garnered them respect and admiration to begin with. To say, beat Obama, that’s the goal will fall on deaf ears. It is a belief system.

In a year when conservatives did not have to settled, some have.

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

…that The Newt supports the Individual Mandate [documented repeatedly here on RS, as per his recent books].

Do we want to play the D-game of acceleration of any process-of-elimination…particularly regarding the ideal candidate?

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

…and, predictably, is being ignored on PMSNBC.

She explicitly said she was not endorsing.

onenationundrgod

Than an endorsement..

“If I were a South Carolinian,I want to see this thing continue, because iron sharpens iron, steel sharpens steel.
These guys are getting better in their debates, they’re getting more concise, they’re getting more grounded in what their beliefs are and articulating what their ideas are to get the country back on the right track and get Americans working again.
If I had to vote in South Carolina in order to keep this thing going, I’d vote for Newt, and I would want this to continue, more debates, more vetting of candidates”.

tricianc

Actually Sarah Palin didn’t endorse Newt. If she had, she would have said it. Newt has been commenting he may drop out if he doesn’t win South Carolina. What Sarah was doing is saying she is wanting EVERYONE to stay in to keep the vetting and debating going.

She even made subteties towards Rick Perry with “getting good at debates” “getting a chance to get their messages out more” and “to get America working again” which is Rick Perry’s platform line.

The way Sarah harped on Death Panels, it’s pretty hard to believe she would endorse Newt whose Center for Heath Transformation was advocating, promoting and lobbying the White House and Congress for National Health Records and Comparative Effective Research (Death Panels) WHILE the Teaparty was out fighting it.

So please read her whole statement without the … you’ll see on some sites.to cut out parts of what she said or only putting up part of it. Or just a headline, as these sites have been doing this long enough to know most people just read the headlines and run with it.

bzip

Erick I think you need to get your ear plugs out of your ears.

Palin did NOT endorse Newt, she simply wants the race to continue and “suggested” she would vote for Newt in SC – that is NOT an endorsement and in fact it could be look upon as a negative. In that she isn’t willing to actually come out and fully endorse Newt but merely wants the race to continue.

In addition, I strongly disagree with you about Perry taking the blame. Look, Santorum is the one that is keeping Newt from winning based on polls, Perry isn’t. If Romney wins and Newt is close it will be Santorum preventing a Newt win.

Personally I don’t think anyone should ever get out of the race till they want or their money dries up. Let the voters in the other 48 states have their say. For people to be asking others to drop out is plain wrong.

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

…that the Evangelicals would need to reassess their endorsement were Santorum to drop-out; Perry can be there as “the other Rick” drops in the polls [as people get to know him].

“marathon” vs. “sprint”…

chuckcain

It seemed clear that she was doing this to keep Perry viable. Somehow if Mitt can be slowed by losing SC, Perry can stay alive and regroup during the February off month. Recall how few delegates are actually with Romney even after FL. I think Sarah said she would vote for Newt on Saturday so that she could still vote for and support Perry down the road. She used the word MATH 3 times in that interview. Do the math … Only way to slow Romney and keep a path open for Perry is to vote for Gingrich on Saturday in SC

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

…that Newt is rising after his second/third look; Perry has yet to receive his second one…which would be far easier to envision after Santorum predictably drops.

sowa1

until people do some research they should keep their opinions to themselves. Romney’s tax return is no ones business until he is the Nominee. He has money that he pays 15% on and should not be punished for it. I am glad he has money. Obama, Pelosi, Reid and other memebers of Congress also pay 15% on some of their money. That is why they will not vote for a 15% Flat tax. Get real people and worry about Obama getting four more years to finish destroying the U.S.

Adjoran

spending tax money upon for no tangible benefit to either the taxpayer or the environment.

He’s a nasty little man who is good at throwing the red meat to the base, but even better at turning everyone else completely OFF. The guy is toxic and has been since his prima donna days as Speaker (you remember, back before the conservatives in the House GOP Caucus threw his worthless butt out).

Anyone who thinks he would win against Obama is fooling themselves. Even the debates would not go as you think: Obama isn’t going to agree to 90 second answers, his own favorite tactic to avoid answering is to run out his clock. With shorter answers and strict rules to prevent Newt from ad-libbing or speaking out of turn, the media personalities will be able to cover Obama well enough.The questions will be mainly about why Newt wants black children to be janitors and people on food stamps to starve.

Meanwhile, you’ll know ALL about his ethical investigation if you don’t take the time to read the report now.

sunshinek67

Apparently, Mr Erickson is “running” with it. Heard his program last night on WSB. Apparently he was moved by the evangelical meeting, and has settled with Newt. That is…unfortunate.

Meanwhile, Governor Perry received a standing ovation yesterday at the Faith & Freedom prayer breakfast. Last night at the Response he delivered another powerful moving message of a “personal God” that is calling on all of us to “seek Him”.

Team Perry in my heart. Outside of Perry’s core support that will not ever settle, I say to them, good luck in November.

tricianc

I’ve been in South Carolina all week, drivng back and forth every day. This is how much I believe in Rick Perry.

I’ve seen people and families coming from Texas, Florida, Kansas and elsewhere to help as well. I even met a fellow Redstater you all know well. She’s terrific.

When we bypass the media and talk directly to people, they get it. They are very receptive to Rick Perry when they actually get to hear his record. I ask them to ask me questions and to tell me what they like about Rick Perry. I take it point by point. When certain questions are asked about Perry’s platform or we talk about it, I give them specifics as to how he’s done it in Texas and the success rates. When they hear he’s not all talk, they love it. I also make sure to ask for their vote.

I’ll be going door to door today, helping out at a Governor Perry event, going back out door to door and then to a Griffin Perry event.

bzip

What I find very concerning is this: Romney is going to win Florida now matter what happens in SC or no matter who drops out – it is a forgone conclusion. So if we listen to people like Erick that want Perry to drop out, what good does it do.

Seriously, Newt and/or Santorum won’t change the out come in Florida no matter what. So what happens after Florida – Does Newt and/or Santorum have the resources and organization to stay in after Florida – I don’t think so so my guess is they will end out dropping out shortly after Florida. In the mean time people like Erick have thrown Perry under the bus who is the most likely candidate the be able to compete in the long haul

So I would argue that people like Erick who keep asking for Perry to drop out are only ensuring that Romney does win in the end.

http://www.planettron.com NickDeringer

Millions of conservatives view Palin as a sell out for not running. This is just a reminder. Newt has peaked and has dropped back to Earth like the proverbial 50 pound pigeon.

InTrade after Palin’s endorsement:

Romney 93% (up 3 points since yesterday)
Gingrich 7%

The American voter has lost the ability to distinguish between reality political theater.

sunshinek67

If you want to talk about Romney’s tax evasi…er tax returns, I’m sure there is current diaries where your rant might be more appropriate. Speaking of Romney though, stuttering and stammering over the tax return submissions was very entertaining;

TPM: “Is it even 15%?” Josh Marshall
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2012/01/is_it_even_15.php

Sure thought he looked like a deer in headlights on the guns Q, wow, even turned to Governor Perry for a lifeline. Mr Inevitable Electable?

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

…the commentators have noted that, compared with others, Perry’s personality was glistening during the debate.

Tomorrow-p.m., when he sharpens differences between himself and the others, he will do so with a smile and as tersely as has been his pattern.

Each has an enlarged Achilles’ Heel, and Perry remains unique; it would be difficult to envision any other candidate encompassing his message, whereas he could engulf theirs.

Adjoran

She emphasizes that, and that her choice is because it is the “way to keep things going” after SC. She is probably right because the money WOULD dry up quickly for all the Not Romneys if he wins the first three (and no, nobody cares if Iowa now decides Santorum won, the perception is set and both won a whopping six delegates either way).

This is Florida’s fault – their attempt to leap-frog to the front of the line like in 2008 caused the others move up like in 2008 so the campaign is a full month or more shorter than it should be – like in 2008.

Maybe y’all will take the halo off the Rubio portrait when you realize he was the original engineer of the move as well as a sponsor of the P-ID Censor the Internet bill. Whenever a politician looks too good to be true, you’re just not looking close enough.

tricianc

i just wanted to clarify that I just won’t be there today. I’ll be there every day. I will keep fighting as long as Governor Perry does.

superrooter

endorsing her husband Todd’s endorsement of Newt. Perry is not going to be the nominee for the GOP. The grass roots have been mowed down by the establishment republicans along with everyone else that have thrown their hat in the ring. Santorum is not going to be the nominee. Ron Paul is not going to be the nominee. The choice for us all is either Romney or Gingrich. Everyone may not like this cold hard fact, but SC is the last chance to stop Romney if that is what you want to do. “Pillow talk from my home”

http://www.changeforrickperry.org louisianapatriette

And Erick and all the other doom-and-gloomers will crucify him. But they’ll be glad down the road he didn’t drop out. Just watch. He is the last Tea Party candidate left. He knows that. And for him to give up now would be just as cowardly as these who are running scared to the most “electable” candidate whether that’s Newt or Mitt. But Perry is no coward and he’ll show it.

Yesterday the crowds at both Romney and Gingrich events were shockingly small; they were actually pulling chairs out of the Gingrich auditorium because there was no one to occupy them. Perry’s townhall, on the other hand, was packed. Can everyone just take a deep breath and wait without descending into this spirit of fear?! You’re all freaking out when Romney has only 25 delegates. For crying out loud–Gingrich has 3 while Perry has FOUR! And they need 1,144 to claim the nomination!

Sheesh! There’s a long way to go! And Sarah didn’t endorse Newt, she was advising a strategic move. She spoke very well of Perry and has done so for the past week.

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

[If citing four dimensions allows for the need to encompass "time" along with height/width/depth]

phillv

Newt is not our man, he is a known anti-gunner

greenpoint

Perry has to get out now. He has improved his debating skills but the first impressions are indelible.

Todd Palin openly endorsed Newt weeks ago and Sarah says if she lived in South Carolina she would vote for Newt ” to keep the process going.”

Technically not a full blown endorsement but you don’t a weather Vane to tell which way the wind’s blowing.

citizenkh

but by Tea Party members themselves who have proven to be a paper tiger.

circlegranch

I, for one, am weary of Mrs. Palin continually playing cat and mouse with conservative voters. Since Obama’s inauguration, she has appointed herself as Chair of the Tease Party. She has never come clean and said straight up that she would not run. Within the last month she’s stated that its not too late for another candidate to get in the race. Her husband’s endorsement of Newt indicated his wife would not run, but who knows?

Clearly, Sarah Palin does not want to see Mitt Romney become the nominee. For a woman that took the national political stage by storm with plain-spoken, no holes barred rhetoric just a few years ago, she is not doing so these days. If she can’t decide whom to endorse; if she can’t decide for sure if she should still get in the race or not, perhaps she should be quiet. She can’t have it both ways. She cannot expect conservatives to rely on her advice or be swayed by her opinions when she has no clarity in either.

She said if she lived in SC, she’d vote for Newt but then claimed that wasn’t an endorsement. She went on to say, in essence, voters need more time. Candidates need more thorough vetting. The race to get Mitt nominated by the time FL is over needs to slow down. As a Perry supporter, I could try to glean that she may eventually come around and be at least somewhat supportive of him, but that’s a stretch. Perry has never quit as governor; Palin quit when her job got very difficult. She can’t identify with the courage and fortitude it takes to hang in when things are tough.

For the past 3 years, she’s left voters grasping for interpretation of her so-called sage advice and vision, trying to unwind her comments to see if maybe, perhaps, somehow she’s saying what we want her to say. That is not leadership; its game-playing and condescension to a block of voters that at one time would have followed her off a cliff.

nocontest

Talk about supporting your candidate. I admire people like you very much.
Gov Perry is lucky to have you in his corner. Cheers

circlegranch

according to some polling reported this a.m. on MSNBC. A small ray of sunshine from the Sunshine state.

superrooter

mainly because Half of the country are not political junkies like us and perception is the rule with the generation of young voters we have now.If they get to see Newt debate Obama, then Obama is TOAST by perception alone. ncoldfart

texastory63

Wow, when he finished way back in Iowa and others said he should get out and endorse either Gingrich or Santorum you said he must stay in. Now that it is too late to matter you suggest that he withdraw and endorse Gingrich. Are you secretly still for Romney?

bzip

“You?re all freaking out when Romney has only 25 delegates. For crying out loud?Gingrich has 3 while Perry has FOUR! And they need 1,144 to claim the nomination!”

That is my feelings. Good grief, Erick get a handle on yourself. Look, only 2 states have voted yet and only a fraction of delegates have gone out. Could we please let the voting process play out and let other states go and voters have their say. This isn’t winner take all.

You know, everything someone ask for a candidate to drop out (pundits, other candidates, commentators like Erick) – they make me sick and only make the process look even more corrupt.

Erick, get a handle on yourself.

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

…and is still pressured, he can simply say that he doesn’t hear the other candidates conveying the message he is conveying.

The MSM/LSM/ELM pundits will turn on him more fiercely, for their predictions will have been spurned, but he can loiter as others self-immolate.

TopGun

in public, but shilling for BIG Government in his actions.

Why does Palin support a big government type? Miss self-anointed Tea Party spokes person isn?t so Tea Party after all.

The following quotes below, from the article link, expose Newt for the big government person he truly is. The article provides an excellent accounting of Newt stabbing conservatives in the back and forcing through big spending, while cancelling out ?The Contract with America?s? action points they promised the American people during his time as Speaker.

?Gingrich?s goal was to humiliate, and he derisively referring to the dissenting members as ?you conservatives,? as if they were a distinctly different and unacceptable breed of Republican.?

?But instead of negotiating in good faith with the conservatives, Gingrich used that delay to cut deals with a handful of Republicans eager to increase spending.?

http://www.conservativeactionalerts.com/2011/12/how-speaker-newt-gingrich-betrayed-the-republican-revolution/

http://www.plumbbobblog.com Plumb_Bob

You need perhaps to consider where the notion of Romney’s “electability” came from. It did not come from any sensible evaluation of electoral mathematics, that’s for sure. It probably came from the mainstream press, who appear to like Romney because he is not friendly to the Tea Party.

It may even have come from David Axelrod, as Mitt Romney is virtually the perfect candidate for Barack Obama to run against if he wants to be re-elected. The Obama campaign cannot be about Obama’s record, so they will try sell the nation on just how scary the Republicans really are. They key points in this demonization will be that Republicans are protectors of the wealthy, Wall Street fat cats who caused the collapse in 2008, that they’re racists, and that they’re run by scary, religious fanatics. Mitt Romney is the Poster Baby for all three.

Today’s America is not going to vote for a nice white boy who graduated Andover and campaigns politely in a button-down shirt. They will, however, vote for the guy who pounds a weak opponent with incontrovertible facts. Gingrich will make Pres. Obama look like the fact-challenged frat boy that he is. THAT will win the 2012 election. Romney, by contrast, won’t even get the votes John McCain got.

Aaron Gardner

I disagree with Erick on this one. I see no need to go into details on why this is a bad strategy, but I will note that no politician in their right mind will ever answer our calls for them to run again when in the end they can count on us go wobbly instead of stand fast.

I’ll also note that if Palin wanted to be king maker she should have done so when it would have mattered, before Iowa.

WillWong

In the eyes of many as well! Romney’s upside is limited despite all the advantages in money and organization.

Newt’s potential is much higher…especially if grassroots coalesce around him.

Newt is more than simply an idea man…..he can arouse passion in the grassroots!

Rather than going for Mitt who is a sure loser against Obama (just my opinion) I would rather go for someone who at least has a fighting chance.

LoneStarSon

…in public when advocating we help those on unemployment get a bachelor degree…How much more will our debt increase if we not only pay for these 99 weekers to stay unemployed, but also pay for them to go to a bastion of liberal beliefs, a.k.a. a university? Geesh. I wish Perry had ripped him a new one during the debate for that…I mean seriously, how much more do we have to do. The correct thing to do would be to stop the regulations and lower corporate taxes to get businesses back here to hire people…not give them a college education. Seriously, what does it matter if they have a degree or not when there aren’t businesses to hire them…I guess they can just move to India or China and work over there further depleting our tax base.

WillWong

Nothing against Perry personally but if I want to start my day with a good laugh, this is surely it!

LoneStarSon

why people get so emotional about these things. As it has been stated previously by other members, people need to get a grip. Governor Perry is the most logical choice. I’ve never been one to give up and I’m not about to now. I will not allow the illogical musings of some to cause me to question my own beliefs. I will not support any of the candidates, besides Perry, with my money or my hard work. I’ll vote for the eventual nominee (it’ll be easy when it’s Perry), but only Perry gets my money and my work.

WillWong

An ostrich with head buried in sand….just an uptick and you are so excited……i will give you the benefit….you are an optimist because with the abundance of info around you, you cannot be an ostrich for long! I hope!

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

…to American foreign policy.

TRUST must be treasured, if credibility is to be maintained.

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

[sentiments that reflect what prompted "the bob" (Guzzardi and I) to travel to Charleston (with my son) and to Des Moines (where we spoke at-length with Anita, a truly charming/authentic force who obviously mirrors the values of her husband) to lend on-site support]

circlegranch

at www.dailycaller.com EE referred to portions of it here some time ago. Supposedly, it was prepared by McCain’s people in ’07-’08 but never used most of it. As The Daily Caller surmises, now that McCain has endorsed Mitt, he will surely try to distance himself from the document since its not at all complimentary to Mitt.

WillWong

since she did not say she would vote, not endorse your guy, Perry.

Why go into a diatripe about why you think she is such a lousy person? Can you not take her at her words….that if she could, she would vote for Newt in SC in order to prolong the process for the stated purpose of allowing a longer vetting purpose?

greenpoint

For Pete sake- she said if she lived in South Carolina she’d vote for Newt. This is tacit? She would vote for Newt- not Romney, not Santorem and not Perry or Paul.

She added the phrase about it being too early to end the process just so she wouldn’t have to explain her dislike for Romney in case he ends up as the nominee which, would end up being played in Obama commercials in the fall.

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

…and was sensational, as usual.

He discussed the IRS-release by Mitt in broader terms than was invited by the interviewer; he remains refreshingly candid.

WillWong

and realized it is a hopeless proposition…..i can be here all day……can’t do that….Like Newt said, I have a job to go to and that is a good thing!

EE happens to call it the way he sees it and he is getting crucified…..politics is a tough thing! Have a great day everyone!

jswolter

For every article you bring out that claims Newt is not conservative, I can find three that claims he is. In fact, here are three right now:

http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/07/gingrichs-unimpeachable-conservative-credential/

http://rightwingnews.com/john-hawkins/the-conservative-case-for-newt-gingrich/

http://www.escapetyranny.com/2011/12/17/the-case-for-newt-gingrich/

This last one compares the 1998 ACU ratings for Gingrich, Paul, and Santorum in which Gingrich comes out strongly ahead.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2815398/posts

snappy101

Sarah Palin said she’d vote for Newt IN SC to extend the race so all candidates could be vetted longer. She explicitly said she wasn’t endorsing Newt. She just wants to make sure it’s a long race.

Aaron Gardner

And you are crucifying them.

We can disagree and still be allies.

Enjoy your day.

gettingsl

Well said. All the wrong people are the ones telling us Mitt is the guy. And it has the same feeling as 2008 when we were stuck with McCain. And I don’t want to be stuck again with a guy who has no ideas, isn’t conservative and has no real plans to seriously change Washington. He’s far too happy to compromise, present judges he thinks are acceptable to the opposition and sign legislation that is just plain wrong, i.e. Romneycare. He just wants to be president and he thinks it’s his turn to be the republican candidate.

I don’t agree with some past positions of Gingrich but he is the only one successfully talking about actually changing some of the departments in the administration, speaking to conservative principles. Perry is a true conservative too but his message isn’t connecting. Santorum speaks about means testing social security! Isn’t that our property that we paid into the system? Is that a conservative principle….confiscation of personal property?

Scope

until she knows it’s close to a given. She did the same with some of the candidates in the 2010 races, she waited until they were high enough in the polls, and the race was coming down the home stretch until she endorsed. Of course Gingrich will probably do well in SC, coming in first or second, and so it is a safe bet for Palin to stick her neck out now. That’s like betting on a horse race when the horses are almost at the finish line. It’s meaningless and useless, but keeps her air of kingmaker alive for those that can be fooled.

westcoastpatriette

And I don’t see Sarah’s move as a full-on endorsement.

Wish all the people who think they are so influential would keep their mitts off of trying to pressure anyone to get out. Why not let the people vote for whoever they want for as long as they want and just trust the process?

clowngirl

In addition to being Speaker of the House he’s run several companies.

whether or not Newt has been 100% conservative in every statement he has made in the past 3 to 4 decades his actual achievements are very conservative (and you shouldn’t need reminding of them) Romney’s are very much the opposite.

Romney’s “electability” is based on being propped up by the media, which routinely savages the other front runners. He polls about even with Obama now 10 months out, without having been vetted or subjected to any hostile media,

(he does one fox news interview and complains that it was too tough and now is wanting to quit debating b/c he’s starting to get scrutinized — he’s obviously not remotely ready for the insanely hostile media he would face the minute he was declared Republican nominee and is living in a fantasy world)

The only election Romney has actually won was by a plurality against a candidate who spent most of her money in the primary, had little time to transition to the general election (while Romney ran unopposed in the primary and spent $6 million of his own money), had some scandalous baggage. and had a Green party candidate to contend with and a couple of other left wing third party candidates.

Once he got in office he started with a ton of good will ( I believe a 61% approval rating) but his approval rating quickly dropped to the 40s and then the 30s.

Even if we take this model of Romney’s political “success” — let’s say for the sake of argument he could somehow beat Obama ( a contention I believe to be egregiously wrong) but let’s say he could. Then — if he’s true to form – we could expect him to be so unpopular that Republicans would lose the House in 2014, (and the Senate if a majority were achieved this year) meaning Romney would have a Democratic Congress within 2 years and would start passing liberal policies as a result. Then, in 4 years, we’d be back to having a Democrats controlling Congress AND the Presidency.

TopGun

for you that you are not able to accept the facts as they really happened back in the 90′s.

And no, I did not bother reading your posted articles, being I like using the true facts, as they actually happened, as my ruler.

And I didn’t even bring up Newts hate for guns, but I am quite sure you are capable of overlooking that too, based on your ability to overlook Newts hate for Conservatives while Speaker.

TopGun

when they start slipping in public, and start exposing their true self?

lizzie

2012 is a turning point in US history.

Nothing should be inevitable because of a pattern in SC since 1980.

If Romney has one more Mitt Fit on Thursday, and the drumrolls continue to batter him on his tax returns, etcetera, then a Perry surge into 3rd place would become the MAIN story.

Just hope Perry’s Florida team is still in place because February is going to be tough what with Nevada and Maine caucuses as the only contests on the calendar after Florida. Fortunately, “Act of Valor” opens in movie theatres on Feb. 17 – starring real Navy SEALS in action.

Finally decided last night that Perry’s plea for $250,000 for SC was a covert op to stop the pundits from saying his sole reason for staying in was because of money.

and, I assume Veterans for Perry have been working SC since January 2, 2012.

Just wrenches my heart that Marcus Luttrell has to return to Perry’s side. Marcus’ courage is remarkable because it is so hard for him to speak in public. Never Quit!

Dr. S – despite your disdain for me, I hope your confidence is partly built on knowing there is money for Perry to compete in Florida.

clowngirl

Surely Sarah Palin is aware that by saying she’d vote for Newt if she lived in SC — there’s a strong likelihood that anyone who’s going to be at all influenced by her opinion and is debating whether to vote for Gingrich or Perry is likely to be tipped towards voting Gingrich.

She must know that such a thing would mean fewer votes for Rick Perry and that fewer votes for Perry would not be the best way to make the case that Rick Perry should be the nominee.

If Sarah Palin wanted to give Governor Perry a lifeline – endorsing him would be a lot more help — or saying she’d vote for him this weekend.

It’d help Perry a lot more than saying she’d vote for one of his opponents.

Scope

in using the front pages of what is reputed to be one of the premier conservative sites on the web, to play armchair general, in telling any of the candidates how they should run their campaigns, who they should fire, what tactics they should, and then asking them to get out of the race when those suggestions are ignored.

Hel1, It’s gone from fervently hoping that all of the candidates remain in the race, in order to get to a brokered convention, to now asking 1/5 of our troops to take their units and leave the battlefield, wave the white flag, and go home in defeat. Ducky!

jswolter

…that everyone claiming that the end is near are acting pretty goofy considering the primary season has a long way to go.

However, I think all the Perry supporters here at RS need to come to terms with the strong possibility that Perry is not going to get anywhere close to the nomination.

The fact that Romney is easily able to lock down not only his own state of Massachusetts but the neighboring state of New Hampshire as well:

http://argojournal.blogspot.com/2011/09/poll-watch-ppp-d-massachusetts-2012_22.html

While Gingrich easily locks down his own home state of Georgia:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/ga/georgia_republican_presidential_primary-1602.html

and Perry cannot even come in SECOND in his own home state:

http://race42012.com/2012/01/17/poll-watch-ppp-d-texas-2012-republican-primary-survey/

…shows that Perry has serious problems. I agree, on paper Perry is a great conservative. However, in person, he comes off as a complete rube who has no idea what he’s talking about beyond a couple peripheral issues (such as building a fence across the southern border). He has to boil things down into an easy soundbite (think: I want to make the federal government as inconsequential…”) to be able to get his point across. If he tries to nuance his comments or talk in detail he starts sputtering and staring at the lights for angelic help.

Many conservatives are still frustrated with the fact that we had a nominee (McCain) last time who had no clue how to act or talk about world events such as the financial meltdown that derailed his campaign. Perry seems like he could be just as easily caught off guard by an unexpected tectonic shift on the global scene. My guess is that this is the reason why he cannot and most likely will not get any momentum. That is, unless he can address this issue directly which he does not seem able to do or even want to.

clowngirl

She hasn’t officially endorsed yet – but that doesn’t mean she won’t endorse Newt eventually. Sarah Palin just takes forever to make up her mind.

Even though she’s not endorsing yet, her singling out Newt as the candidate she’d vote for in SC suggests:

1. She’s currently most impressed with Newt

and

2, She sees Newt as the candidate who is most likely to actually win in South Carolina and the best choice for conservatives to consolidate around.

So, I guess you could say she’s saying essentially “I haven’t totally made up my mind up — but if you haven’t either — vote Newt, otherwise we’ll be stuck with Romney before he’s even been vetted”

But choosing Newt over the others is still a positive for him.

Incidentally bzip – you say you want everyone to stay in as long as they have any money to do so. — but you’ve posted previously that you’d take Romney over Gingrich and it sounds like Romney is actually you’re second choice.

So you’re not really on the same page as others who are “Not-Romney” and feel strongly that Romney shouldn’t be our nominee even if it also won’t be their first choice candidate.

lapert

Who is the one being emotional instead of rational here? Perry may be the best choice but he hasn’t convinced the people of that and, while nothing is impossible here, the idea that there will be some precedent breaking miracle where the person polling in mid single digits behind four other candidates is going to jump into the nomination is not rooted in logical, realistic thinking. And asserting that you won’t put in the effort to elect the nominee unless it is this fifth place Governor polling in mid-single digits exposes you for the unserious contributor you are – really, people who assert that are no different than Paul’s minions with the exception of I don’t think they believe he could win at all.

hls87

It doesn’t matter whether Gingrich wins SC; he can’t win the nomination or the election. He’s been a national laughingstock for 15 years and he isn’t a real presidential candidate, he just plays one on TV. If the contest is Romney v. Gingrich, it’s a grotesque mismatch and the game is already over. If Sarah Palin thinks voting for Newt is a good way to prolong the nomination contest, she really is as dumb as the Tina Fey caricature.

The powers that be have been angling for a Romney v. someone utterly implausible contest from the start. Bachmann, Cain, Santorum and Gingrich were all suitable candidates for playing the role of patsy. The thrice-elected governor of the largest red state is not. Perry is the last plausible candidate other than Romney in the race. The moment he drops out, Romney’s odds of winning the nomination go from 98 per cent to 100 percent. Gingrich is not now, never has been and never will be a factor.

Santorum tied in Iowa; it didn’t make him a contender. Similarly, Newt could win in SC, and it would do nothing to derail Mitt. Newt will not be the nominee no matter who drops out. If all the candidates other than Gingrich were to die in some hideous common disaster, Newt still wouldn’t be the nominee. The party would find somebody America might be willing to accept as President and nominate him or her intead.

Newt is fools’ gold for conservatives and any time spent talking about him or his candidacy is wasted.

josephmn

We were with Sarah and Michelle in Minneapolis, we constantly supported actions, community involvement, and candidates with our voice and our money. Americans for Prosperity conference with both Sarah and Michelle and others of our Tea Party I never saw Newt around then.
When we were locked in battle with obama and the democrats over debt limit increases and budgets Newt kicked us all in the groin, Then his “Dancing with Nancy” glowbull warming support.

We want a conservative candidate and will support the republican nominee, but Newt does not deserve Tea Party support.

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

…can you find one that disclaims it?

irishgirl

just like you said, gettingsl. And it’s a sick feeling.

arthurjake

accomplished so much since Newt has not been speaker(insert sarcasm).

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

…because it is necessary to observe trends [not just snapshots] and awareness of the candidates.

Here, Santorum would predictably suffer the same fate nationally that he experienced in PA, after people got to know him.

Then, his supporters [late of Cain/Bachmann, etc.] would seek another home….

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

…as evidenced by Haley.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/37225.html

“Haley, the first Indian-American elected to the South Carolina legislature, trails Attorney General Henry McMaster, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer and Rep. Gresham Barrett in recent polls.”

Nevertheless, she is being cleverly evasive, sending a larger message [anti-Romney] that most everyone has received.

texasroots

supporter. I support Perry all the way. Godspeed.

bzip

I will make it very clear, if Perry drops out it makes no difference to me. Though I can see where Romney would be the better choice out of: Newt, Santorum or Paul.

Newt, big gov’t guy who wants gov’t for solutions and has so much baggage that if he wins the nomination he will be eaten alive in the general. Oh sure, Newt might bloody Obama’s nose in a couple debates but sorry there is far more to winning an election than just the couple debates. With the massive amount of baggage that can be thrown on Newt he is not electable in the general, period. I sure wish people would look beyond the “bloody nose debate” part.

We then have yet another big gov’t guy Santorum who is a light weight that will turn the general election into nothing more than gay rights and social issues and will be the laughing stock of the republican party. Thank goodness I don’t see any way he could win the primary nomination.

Then we have the flip-flopper Romney that nobody knows what he will end up doing once elected, if elected but I think he stands a better chance in the general election than: Newt and Santorum.

The field is a disaster if Perry leaves the race, period. I don’t have this obsession that others have against Romney since I few both Santorum and Newt equally as bad. It is disastrous once Perry leaves, if he leaves the race.

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

And I greatly appreciate the data you provide us.

{I can’t imagine where you got that mis-impression, perhaps your thoughts wandered during those long car-rides between NH and the Bronx?}

WillWong

No information to back this up but could it be that in line with their mantra….we report, you decide, there is a clause which forbids their talking heads from endorsing anyone?

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

…when compared/contrasted with the mood @ the RS-Gathering.

jakeofalltrades

That doesn’t mean I want them to run against him.

irishgirl

n/t

LoneStarSon

It’s rare that someone posts something on here that makes me laugh…

tyman

nt

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

{recalling the prior “4-dimensional” assessment, this is enhanced into unknown/undefined dimensions of gravitational-pull….}

jakeofalltrades

Newt has never been in the hot seat. Neither has Santorum. Get serious or get 4 more years of Obama.

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

…why the FNC black-out/dissing has been so intense.
…why the TEA Party Movement has been so quiescent.
…why people can’t seem to note vital/unique Federalism-message that only Perry conveys and has “lived.”

Perhaps you could enlighten?

hls87

He’s a media figure, an entertainer. He would do well subbing for Rush. But the skills that make a good entertainer and those that make a good politician are very different, which is why Rush isn’t running for office. If Newt is the rallying point of last resort for conservatives, we’re already beaten.

tyman

I think it’s just too simple to say that if Perry stays in that he costs Newt the nomination.

If…if the polls are correct, Santorum would be the one doing this.

Perry is STILL the only one for limited government. For all of Newt’s applause in the debate, he gave no specifics for all of those things. Are they new government programs to help people get their associates’ degrees?

Were people applauding simply out of emotion? There is such a thing as that.

I think the libs will have a field day with either Romney or Newt. I know they’ll try to portray Perry as dumb, but I think it would be much harder for them to run against his record as well as the regulations that Obama has put in place to slow the economy.

If Perry is able to run ads like that and SHOW what Obama has done and how he knows what to do to overturn it, that is something the Dems just don’t want to have to run against.

Is Newt even able to stay in it until the end? If Santorum drops out after SC, what does that do?

As I said in the beginning, I think it’s too early and too simple to just say that if Perry gets out, he keeps the nomination from going to Romney. Still way too early.

And I don’t believe the polls that show Romney beating Perry in Texas. I just don’t.

aj_0000

Perry’s poll numbers are non-existant, and they have been for months. You Perry supporters are completely delusional at this point. You think you’re working for Perry, but all you’re doing is working for Romney.

JSobieski

Three big aspect of executive experience in the context of government (and the reasons why being a governor is such valuable experience):
(1) Negotiations
(2) Dealing with the legislature (i.e. herding cats)
(3) Individual accountability with respect to (1) and (2)

Newt’s time as Speaker was a unique time in modern US history. He essentially functioned as a Prime Minister in many ways. Unlike just another member of the House or Senate, Newt really was held accountable for the aggregate result of government in 95-97.

I don’t think Obama would attack Newt in this way, there are so many other more fruitful grounds for attack that would avoid the question of exactly what experience Obama had prior to 2009.

In addition to all the normal D attacks, against Newt the attacks would likely focus on GSE money, old white establishment DC guy from the past, personally unreliable/bad temperment.

aj_0000

That it had to get behind one candidate as soon as possible. The base still hasn’t figured it out. That’s why the establishment is winning even though they’re the minority.

jakeofalltrades

You’re bringing in the big guns!

jakeofalltrades

Newt would be the first representative without Senate or executive experience to become President since Abraham Lincoln. I think that says something, but correlation != causation.

jaykali

If having great 1 liners at debates was all you needed to become president Newt would be the greatest president of all time.

superrooter

to beat up on Newt in a debate or by the use of his LSM?

jswolter

…which is the article you posted by Slivinski is someone’s interpretation of events. Not the “true facts” you claim it to be.

Hate for guns. Pretty funny. I forgot that to be conservative you have to be against all gun laws. A true conservative believes that we should sell fully automatic machine guns in convenience stores to 8 year old children. A true conservative believes that people should be able to fire their guns at any time and place for any reason. It’s time for target practice in the Wal-Mart parking lot!! [/sarcasm]

tjms

gets to make this decision? Would it not be up to the voters by casting their vote for their preference? Who has the right to say who is most electable? Does this decision get made by a small few or by at least 1/2 of the voters? Or do most voters even get a say in who it will be?
Why does the majority of voters only have a choice of candidates that only 3 states choose? Is this truly the way our founders meant for elections to be run?
Who knows, but I for one am sick and tired of it. I am tired of having candidates dwindled down and pre-chosen for me. So I refuse to do it anymore. I know exactly the replies, your non vote will be a vote for the incumbent. So be it. Every election I get to vote for someone elses choice. I will vote down ticket for my statewide elections. And stand up for my principles, no more going along to get along.
Could people please just compare actual records, we do have records of the people running this year. Could we please just nominate someone that has actually been walking the walk and not telling us that the things in their past were mistakes and they regret them. I fear most Americans are going for the big rhetoric, instead of the actual records or non records on legislation. It is easier I suppose to believe a tiger will change its stripes than to see that someone has actually proved how they will govern. That’s it lets just let 3 states, the pundits, the endorsers, the super pacs tell us who is electable, who should withdraw and in the end who to support. Go ahead, follow the Pied Piper. Myself, I prefer to turn around and go another direction. One big request however, May God have mercy on us.

cacharlie

Must not misunderestimate Palin’s strategy! Does anyone besides me see a correlation between her “polling numbers” and the extraordinarily well broadcasted info by O’Reilly in “Killing Lincoln” that it’s a mark of productive courage to be hated by some and respected by others?

Has anyone here seen this? http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/bain-capital-owns-clear-c…
?
Despite this info (and the scary movie “Margin Call”) Newt and Palin and Perry and other military stalwarts like Allen West show us it’s not all about moneyI What do you think, Erick? You’re my go-to guy for getting down to the nitty-gritty. Hang in there for the gold!!!

- from article linked above:
“Clear Channel owns more radio stations (850) than anyone else in the United States. They also own Premiere Radio Networks, the company that syndicates the radio shows of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Glenn Beck, among others. Needless to say, Clear Channel basically owns conservative talk radio in the United States. So who owns Clear Channel? Well, it turns out that Bain Capital is one of the primary owners of Clear Channel. Yes, you read that correctly. The company that Mitt Romney ran for so long is one of the “big bosses” over virtually all conservative talk radio in America. Of course Mitt Romney is not running Bain Capital anymore. He is a “retired partner”, but he still has a huge financial stake in Bain Capital. We’re talking about millions upon millions of dollars. . . So if you have been wondering why so many conservative talk show hosts are being so incredibly kind to Mitt Romney, this just might be the answer.”

jswolter

I don’t doubt Perry’s conservatism. I just doubt his ability to fully understand how conservative principles translate into reality, his ability to articulate conservative principles coherently, and his ability to win over independents to a conservative perspective on life. That’s all.

http://www.changeforrickperry.org louisianapatriette

My thoughts EXACTLY, I agree with every single blessed point EXCEPT that Romney would be better than Newt, Santorum, or Paul. IMO, they’re all equally bad with Santorum MAYBE being the somewhat-superior candidate, but just barely, and I say that with great hesitation.

If Perry drops out then I’m all for a brokered convention, and my short list consists of Perry, Palin, and (*cringe*) my own governor. Until then I’m ready to give forth blood, sweat, and tears for Perry because I know he’s the only true conservative left in this race. And thus far I’ve done all but bleed for him and his campaign: I’ve done my share of crying and I’ve done my share of sweating (or rather clenching the arms of my chair during the debates). And I don’t have one single regret.

We must NOT sacrifice our principles for the sake of electability and we must NOT be ruled by a spirit of fear. Because that’s all this is, this article by Erick Erickson. He and so many others are scared of what will happen if Romney gets the nomination, so they’re willing to put their support behind a serial adulterer and a traitor to the conservative cause who has more baggage and just as little principle as Romney–as though Newt would be any better than Romney!

Go forth and conquer and don’t listen to all these naysayers who prophesy only doom-and-gloom. Where there’s a will there’s a way. If we give up now then we have zero chance of winning; if we press on there’s always hope.

hls87

but I think the voters heard Perry’s message loud and clear. Unfortunately they decided it wasn’t their cup of tea.

For a brief shining moment in 2010 it looked as though America was ready to turn away from the progressive consensus that has dominated our politics since 1913 and is now on the verge of bankrupting us. That’s what the tea party movement seemed to be about. There was hope that in 2012 we could pick an anti progressive leader who could begin the hard work of redefining the proper functions of government and restoring constitutional limits on its scope.

Unfortunately, when such a leader finally stepped forward correctly identifying Social Security as a Ponzi Scheme, Republican voters chickened out. When push came to shove they thought big government might be comforting rather than smothering after all. They gravitated toward candidates who seemed unlikely to threaten the status quo in any serious way, and Governor Perry’s candidacy withered.

The media, including Fox, is thoroughly part of the old progressive consensus. It will ignore and minimize any challenge to that consensus.

So there you are — voters aren’t ready for a serious change of course; the media and political establishments are firmly opposed to one. We lose, again. Circumstances being what they are, we may never get another chance.

jswolter

…but a president does need to be able to handle a hostile WH press corp for 4 long years. I think Gingrich would be awesome at point out the the faulty premise that most questions are based on by the WH press corp.

Lucas Black

Perry did get a second look. No one was interested, which is why he’s still pulling in the rear in the polls. He’s only polling third in TEXAS for Pete’s sake!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVwL8vTysKs

jbritterjr

Newt, at this point, does it better than anyone with articulation and authority. He puts Obama and Libs off kilter. Their comebacks are tired and condescending. I want this election to be about ideas and issues. When Newt?s at his worst, he?s attacking opponents. When he?s articulating Conservative solutions with the wit and clarity he?s shown in debates, he inspires people. Conservatism is in the heart of the electorate and it?s rallied to fight and knock Obama out, not just bloody his freakin? nose.

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

do you foresee any possibility that Perry can remain in-the-race long enough to watch Santorum fizzle and The Newt self-destruct?

http://www.changeforrickperry.org louisianapatriette

Let everyone know we’re still with them 100%!

superrooter

one news show at a time. This morning on Fox & Friends Brian questioned who Mitt would pick for his running mate. They obviously fear a movement in the poles away from Mitt this morning to up their brainwash anty to this level. You should (we all better realize) that Romney is who they (RINO’s) want inside the beltway (their circle) to continue the madness. Listen close to who they say recently stomped some puppies into the ground, that is who they fear and don’t want running against Obama. If Romney is chosen (we fall for the Only He Can Beat Obama BS) they get to keep everything like it is and has been for the last 100 years. Pay Attention

http://www.changeforrickperry.org louisianapatriette

because Perry still has the money to continue. My personal opinion. But I think hls87 hit it on the head. Republicans chickened out. It’s up to us to try and rouse them from their stupor before it’s too late.

jbritterjr

Newt, at this point, educates the issues with articulation and authority. He puts Obama and Libs off kilter; (see Carney and Clyburn respond to “Food Stamp President.”) Their comebacks are tired and condescending, and frankly, left wanting.

I want this election to be about ideas and issues. Newt?s at his worst when he?s attacking opponents. When he articulates Conservative solutions with the wit and clarity he?s shown in debates, he inspires people. Conservatism and Liberty is in the heart of the electorate and it can be rallied to fight and knock Obama out, not just bloody his freakin? nose.

cacharlie

from a grateful Perry diehard in CA

jakeofalltrades

IMO

jbritterjr

nm

aj_0000

1994, the Contract With America, Welfare reform, balanced budgets and tax cuts. Yeah…Newt is all about 1-liners. Forget about the massive electoral success and policy achievements.

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

If you find yourself talking up Barry in your argument against a Republican, you’re not making a conservative case anymore.

superrooter

So they are trying to beat us in the primaries now by helping trick us into putting up a candidate they think is the weakest.

JSobieski

Don’t focus on the title, focus on what makes an executive an executive.

Executive experience in government is primarily (not exclusively) just another way of saying that your decisions mattered—that you weren’t one of many.

Things like government shutdowns, 1 on 1 negotiations with adversaries, etc. are things that governors have to deal with and are held responsible for one way or another.

How was Newt’s role as Speaker materially different in those respects?

hls87

Perry doesn’t seem to be benefiting much. My guess, for what it’s worth, is that Romney would win a head-to-head with Perry even if we could engineer one. It wouldn’t be the ludicrous mismatch that Romney/Gingrich woulld be, but I don’t think there are enough conservatives in the Republican Party to nominate a conservative, barring a lucky fluke (as in 1980).

Republicans dislike Romney, but I fear they dislike him for the wrong reasons. I used to think that the conservative Governor of Texas would easily beat the progressive former Governor of MA. Now I suspect poeple dislike Mitt for personal rather than ideological reasons. Republicans seem to want the sort of ideological mush that did so much damage under Nixon, Ford and both Bushes. If that’s what they want, Mitt’s their man.

There isn’t much hope of stopping him, but without Perry in the race, there’ll be no hope at all.

aj_0000

He’s not a conservative. Conservatives are considered “too extreme” to be elected. Moderate/liberal Republicans are the only ones considered able to woo swing voters. Never mind that the Republican Party’s biggest electoral successes (1980, 1984, 1994, 2010) all happened because they were led by strong conservatives.

The reality is that the elite just want to be led by one of their own, a phony liberal RINO in sheep’s clothing, and they’ll do whatever they have to to make sure the “ignorant hicks in flyover country” (i.e. “We the People”) don’t run the show.

acat

Seriously.

Newt will rip Obama a new one, even if Obama is allowed to have the Harvard debate team running the teleprompter-in-chief.

Mew

acat

I would rather not repeat the embarrassment of having to support another inside “it’s my turn” hack for POTUS.

Mew

aj_0000

Conservatives are 40% of the entire population. They are over 70% of the Republican primary electorate.

cacharlie

Hang in there with these kids from CA who are planning to show up for Perry in Florida. Meanwhile, send Perry money – if nothing else as a vote of confidence. We ain’t dead yet!!!

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

Self-identified conservatives are what you say.

But Mitt Romney is a self-identified conservative.

Finrod

http://legalinsurrection.com/2012/01/mccain-opposition-research-book-on-romney-published/

jaykali

His 15% tax plan is now the Romney flat tax plan which to me seems to borrow from the ‘Buffet rule/tax’ type rhetoric.

tjms

though that wants to ignore most of the people’s right to chose their candidate? Aren’t you asking for candidates to drop out? So are you not guilty of trying to chose who is electable and who is not? Have you looked at records or listened to rhetoric and believe candidates when they say they made a bad decision, and hope they will not make those same decisions? Just wondering.

aj_0000

Nationally, not just in SC. First post-debate poll from Rasmussen:

Romney: 30%
Gingrich: 27%
Santorum: 15%
Paul: 13%
Perry: 4%

Perry dropping out could put Newt in first place. Santorum dropping out could annihilate Romney in a blowout. But SC and FL must go for Newt.

Finrod

I’m sure as **** not going to take your word on this. Links, or you’re just blowing smoke.

Common_Cents

Especially w/ Perry announcing at a RS event.

Sarah Palin told people she would vote for Gingrich in SC. FACT. She didn’t say Perry, she didn’t say Santorum. Why?

She did not fully endorse, which I believe is a mistake. Who here can tell me anyone will have a chance if romney wins SC and FL? What Sarah Palin is not considering is that 3 non romneys cannot build a big enough ground game and get enough money to fight fair. It’s not about delegates, its about building an organization, fundraising, and momentum.

Perry and santorum supporters here should be throwing their support towards Gingrich in SC at the very minimum. why? Because it’s good for your candidate. If they don’t drop out(preferable based on REALITY) but at least hand defeat to Romney in SC. That will let the race continue for a short period of time.

A vote for Perry or Santorum is now a vote for Romney. You might as well support/vote for Romney and get this over with then.

Remember Buckley’s rule. Find the most conservatives that can be ELECTED. It’s time to face reality here folks.

ceili_dancer

Certainly not during any Fox News or commentary show. How about the debates? … Nevermind, lets see how talk radio is doing with their second look. Rush, Hannity, Levin, Roger? Beuler? … Beuller?
Nope haven’t seen any real press and mentions of him (when they actually happen) are in a derogatory fashion. The embargo is doing it’s job, if anyone looks at his record, you can see a small government honorable man with some great plans (with most of them executable) and a vision for growth and opportunity for this nation.

hls87

It was effective marketing, but also almost entirely trivial. Newt’s tenure as Speaker did absolutely nothing to change the trajectory of the federal government. We were on course for disaster then and we’re on course for disaster now. The only difference is that we are much closer to our destination.

Newt Gingrich could pass for a conservative in 1994, but a 20′th century conservative is no use to us now. Times have changed and we urgently need something quite different. Newt’s political career is a thing of the distant past, and it will remain so.

rickperryreport

If you want Perry to quit prematurely, as in before the SC primary votes are taken, that’s a sacrifice for Perry and (especially) Perry’s ardent supporters like me.

So if you want me to fall on my sword, or put another way, if you want Perry to have his supporters fall on their sword for Newt, what’s in it for us?

So far, no one’s got an answer. So until you do, please….(stfu!)

Go SC, Go Rick Perry in SC. All the way!

Joe @ The Rick Perry Report

Finrod

TMQ has a feature where he loves pointing out politicians hiring bodyguards not for their protection but to puff up their own ego.

The worst offender? Rick Perry, who takes an entire entourage of Texas Rangers with him whenever he leaves the state.

Put ‘site:espn.go.com TMQ Perry’ into Google and you can see what I mean.

lapert

What positive trends are you observing for Perry? His polling has been fairly flat both in individual states and nationally. His close in Iowa did nothing to move people in his direction and while Santorum’s hasn’t demonstrated any momentum in the last couple of week, he hasn’t really dipped much either.

You are hypothesizing something, but what evidence is there of it happening? Better yet, what evidence would you expect to see – how do you plan to test this hypothesis?

lapert

I see posts here that make me laugh all the time. On the other hand, I’m not sure what you find funny here, maybe it is symptom of the denial you are living in.

jakeofalltrades

I can’t do that if I can’t compare candidates. The primary argument for Newt as I see it is that Obama is a great debater and Newt will destroy him. Which is true.

But there I went and talked up Obama again.

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

Who do you think you are?

macbookben

…passion, let alone fake it. You’ll never here him say things along the lines of “I don’t want to just bloody [Obama's] nose, I want to knock him out.”

sunshinek67

Of followers sending an emergency call of sorts to all other fellow Perry supporters to vote for Newt Gingrich in South Carolina to stop Mitt Romny. She says that the two can later “work it out”

I’ve never seen anything like this in my lifetime.

sunshinek67

my bad,dropped iPhone yesterday, serious cracked screen now lol

hls87

40 percent of the population may self-identify as conservative, but most of those people have no idea what the term means.

A conservative is someone who wants to restore constituttional limits on federal power. We are currently having an experiment to determine what proportion of the Republican eletorate is prepared to consider beginning to do so. We have one conservative candidate and several candidates who are, in different ways, entirely comfortable with the big government that Wilson, FDR, LBJ and Obama constructed. People who prefer non-conservative candidates to a conservative are not conservative in any meaningful sense, regardless of how they describe themselves. Most Republicans prefer a nonconservative to the only conservative in the race. There aren’t enough conservatives in the party to swing a nomination. QED.

Common_Cents

But here is reality if we don’t do something:

Spartan4Life

Right now there is a movement out here that has a leadership void. If Gingrich is just now figuring that out and taking up the mantle, then so be it.

I would have loved for someone else with more ideological purity to come along and lead but it hasn’t happened. So, I will forgive Newt his transgressions and pray that he will stick to our Conservative message and govern as one, too.

bonnman

and the Gun Free School Zone Act which made it illegal to be in possession of a gun while in a school zone. This was in the 1990s while he was speaker so thats the type of leadership you’ll get from Newt on 2nd Amendment rights.

jakeofalltrades

Apparently, I’m the only one bothered by the fact that no person who has only been a representative has become president in the last 150 years.

cacharlie

Thanks for update, Erick – Rubio’s phone mail is full and website temporarily flooded. Maybe you can thank him for me? I’ll try again later.
Go Rubio, Go Perry – a ticket to ride us into a brightly lit new day for America!

krish

Even if it is a not a full fledged endorsement of Newt….it is a welcome sign for conservatives & Tea Partyers that Sarah cannot bought with future cushy jobs or her arms twisted! – a lesson for Nikki Haley.

I am from Texas & I really like Perry…but for the greater good, he needs to get out NOW! I feel that Newt & Rick should be brought together to have one on one conversation by bonafide conservatives…may be Newt as the older one should get the shot now & Rick could be an integral part of his campaign & administration.

It is time to UNITE behind One conservative candidate – most likely Newt because we need to stop not only Obama but also Romney! This is the last chance.

To conservatives in South Carolina, vote for Newt, that way going forward, we have a moderate, liberatarian & conservative. I am in no way saying that Newt is model but he is the best of the lot at explaining conservatism & will not be bashful about attacking Obama’s socialistic policies!

tjms

Texas. And you doubt his ability to translate it into reality? Is the economy in TX not a reality?

irishgirl

And I think you’re right. I’ve been perplexed as well as others and can only come up to the same conclusion. That’s why I have this sick feeling this golden chance is going to be blown.

http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

because I agree with you on that, you believe it’s wrong to prevent domestic violence offenders from obtaining guns? Are you also in favor of felons being able to purchase them? Are there no limits to gun ownership?

submariner45

Newt supported the individual mandate, but he went even further with a federal mandate for all 50 states.

Gingrich supports Amnesty.

Newt bought into the global warming hysteria, even cutting a commercial with Nancy Pelosi to push legislation.

Newt was a lobbyist for Freddie Mac that was paid $1.6 million to try and convince conservatives to support Federal mortgage loans that caused the financial crisis.

Do we really need to go into detail about all of the seriously ill wives he’s left over the years for younger mistresses? That’s really going to go over well with female voters. And how does Newt make the case for social conservatism and the importance of family with his history?

But because he’s not as rich as Romney, he’s more electable?

Gingrich is a train wreck that would cause the GOP to lose both the White House and our majority in the House.

Palin is an idiot, and she’s only in this to make waves and get attention because she knows she’s quickly becoming irrelevant.

greenberetranger1966

If the strategy is to oust President Obama an all of his Liberal Administration then it would be wise to take the proper course of action to so. Thus, I must concur that Gov. Perry should bow out before the Weekend so he does not take any potential Gingrich votes away from the former Speaker of the House, and furthermore, Mr. Romney was not all that “electable” four years ago, so what really has changed?
If Mrs. Palin thinks that Mr. Gingrich is just as viable a Nominee as Mr. Romney I am inclined to agree. We have to look at the scope an size of experience we are comparing here. It is bigger than Apples and Oranges, as is so often used in these debates. Former Gov. Romney held court in one of THE most Liberal states in the Union. His policies and “execute” administration of his policies were just as Liberal. Hence, he is inclined to be more Left leaning and at best, Moderate with a dash of Liberalism mixed in for flavor. That combination falls right into the hands of President Obama and thus will hand him a second term.
Mr. Gingrich, however, perceived in terms of his personal life has a much better track record in dealing with and standing up to the Left side of the Democratic Party and would, in my humble opinion be better suited than Mr. Romney if it came down to those two individuals. In short, we are not going to find another Ronald Reagan ever. So, do we settle for the spit and polish of Romney or the more down-to-Earth, take it by the reins approach of Gingrich? I would have to say the latter is the better choice and perhaps throw a little Santorum in there to make the ticket.
Again, that is my humble opinion. However, having served under 5 Presidents in my time in the military, (Army), I think I would prefer a CINC with the mindset of a Gingrich as opposed to someone like Romney who is still not too far from a Ted Kennedy, only without the name or recognition, or rather, infamy attached.
So, in this instance I agree with former Gov. Palin. That is all. SFC DLD, USA, ret.

jakeofalltrades

Romney is my second choice, but Newt’s conservative credentials compared to Mitt’s are pretty unimpeachable.

JSobieski

Big difference in terms of those roles.

Contrast Newt with Bachmann. Bachmann can afford to always say the right things, vote in a “pure” way, etc. because nothing she does matters. She is one vote of many. She is not held responsible for anything because her vote doesn’t matter.

For good or ill, Newt was held responsible for both the good and bad things that happened in 95-98. He was forced to make decisions that matter, negotiate knowing that what he did mattered, etc.

You are focusing too much on labels, and not enough on rolls.

Common_Cents

She is assuming there is more time after SC and poss after FL. Sarah is not realistic in keeping 3 non romneys in the race and their ability to raise money and ground support/organization. There will not be enough resources for 3 candidates to wage a fair fight. there is no time, 3 non romney’s will just starve and it will be too late by the time 2 of them drop out down the road.

jakeofalltrades

But there are fewer examples of them, I confess.

tjms

think it is wrong to ask a candidate to drop out? Why not let all voters have the opportunity to vote for the candidate of their choice? If voters feel that a candidate is their best pick let them pick it. Otherwise can we not just let the election just play out? Let them all stay in the race and at the end the voters will pick their choice.

laura211

1) I’m tired of being told a vote for Perry is a vote for Romney, Santorum or Gingrich, My vote FOR Gov. Perry is FOR Gov. Perry, plain and simple
2) I will ALWAYS support Gov. Perry
3) I will NEVER support Newt (and I’m from GA)
4) Newt talks small gov’t but doesn’t believe in it
5) If the tea party truly believes in the 10th amendment, then the only candidate they can back is Perry
6) I’m tired of hearing how bad Perry did in the first few debates, get over it and move on
7) I’m tired of hearing how great a debator Newt is, we have a great debator in the White House and it hasn’t worked out to well for us.
8) There is no reason for any candidate to drop out before Super Tuesday, no candidate has even a tenth of the delegates needed to secure the nomination
9) I’m tired of hearing that Newt can make a comeback but Perry can’t??????
10) I can no longer watch Fox News (or as I like to call it the Romney Press office) and have now had to resort to watching reality t.v.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U..S. Congress” – Ronald Reagan

greenberetranger1966

Firstly, people need to educate themselves on the difference between a paid consultant and a lobbyist. Once they have done that they can comment on the facts of who actually caused the Housing downfall.

Secondly, the ex-wives issue is not an issue at all. It is in no indicative as to who is more suited to run a nation than it is to say that Ike was more a politician that a General. If that were the comparison General Patton or MacArthur would have been a better President due to their leadership skills.

Thirdly, Palin is not an idiot, nor is she irrelevant or her opinions would not still be posted on sites like this or other Conservative Forums. The fact is, Mr. Romney is simply not too far from the Left as he would like people to think. Just because he has the same hair style as President Reagan does not make him have the same idealistic approach to leadership as Reagan did.

If that is the need for comparison then Mr. Gingrich wins hands down. Eloquence and silky rhetoric is what got Mr. Obama into the White House. If that is all the substance you require then Mr. Romney is your man. He is just another Obama who just happens to call himself a Republican now as opposed to the former Governor of Liberal Mass. and several of the policies very similar to President Obama’s.

Mr. Gingrich would not lose anything since he is still more Conservative on the whole than a very cagey Mr. Romney.

jakeofalltrades

And he was a state governor.

JSobieski

My point though is that what matters is the experience, not the title.

What makes governors a good pool to pull from isn’t the letters g-o-v-e-r-n-o-r, its the experience in negotiation and herding cats, while being accountable for the outcome.

Dr. King was essentially a community organizer, but he had more executive experience than Obama had in 2008 even though Obama was a Senator. MLK had to negotiate all sorts of obstacles, couldn’t vote “present” on anything, and was held accountable for the good and the bad.

Newt is a rare example of someone from outside the executive branch having real executive experience in a way that even other Speakers and Senate Majority Leaders do not. Its still not as good as being a governor, but it is closer to being a governor than being an isolated House Member.

arthurmanger17

It is the sole reason for the Mitt Romney push. To diminish the grass roots movement, (tea party). The response that Gingrich gets from the audience at the debates is what the left, the press, the pollsters and the remaining so called Republican leaders fear. A spark that reignites Americans. Election results like those in 2010.

bonnman

If you’ve been convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor, no gun ownership for you, this includes police and military too. If you have a restraining order out against you, they can take your guns. This isn’t about a felony, its about misdemeanors and restraining orders. What’s next a parking ticket?

JSobieski

Jake:
I don’t think you are getting my point, but I will try one last time. I am not saying that as a general matter, a Speaker of the House is a good stepping stone for becoming President. It isn’t.

Newt was however a unique Speaker. He was far more well known as Speaker during his tenure than any other Speaker in my lifetime. Why? Because he nationalized house races and exerted leadership and influence over events in ways that other Speakers in modern times have not.

Usually the President initiates, and Congress reacts. During 95-98, that rule was flipped—Newt was setting the agenda and Clinton was reacting and trying to say that he was still relevant. As any initiator of an agenda, Newt had to navigate government in the same way that an executive would—while receiving the same level of scrutiny and accountability. In part, that is why he was eventually brought to his knees—the inherent power of the Speakership was not designed to function in the way that the Presidency is designed to function.

In particular the 95-96 time frame was unique, at least in modern times. Not sure how old you are or how much you remember from that time frame, but I don’t think the point can be objectively refuted.

hls87

Nobody has ever won a major party nomination with Speaker of the House as the top line on their political resume. Only one former Speaker has ever been President and he was Governor of Tennessee after he left the House and before he ran for President. Only one other former Speaker ever won a major party nomination and he was Secretary of State and a Senator before his run for the White House.

One can argue that Speakers should be viewed as potential Presidents. They aren’t and they never have been.

Worse yet for Gingrich, any experience more than a decade old doesn’t count for purposes of a presidential candidacy. Parties choose presidential nominees exclusinvely from the ranks of those who have recently been major political players. Wendell Wilke is the only modern (broadly defined) exception and he was a special case. The GOP couldn’t run any of its heavy hitters in 1940 because they were all isolationists and war was breaking out. Gingrich left public office 13 years ago. His experience is as remote from present circumstances as that of the Gracchi. He might as well be Herman Cain.

There’s no point in arguing the merits of Newt Gingrich. He’s a nonstarter. Repubican voters will reject him as predictably as night follows day, no matter how much they distrust Mitt Romney.

jakeofalltrades

This could all be superstition. And Newt is the kind of brilliant guy who could buck history. Still, it doesn’t bode well, which is why Romney is my second choice.

Finrod

September 28, 2010:

Last week a reader noted Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who pounds the table demanding the federal government cut costs, spends taxpayer money lavishly on multiple bodyguards to follow him around making him seem more important. Cost-cutting is for the little people! Peyton Lowrey of Houston reports last week’s column didn’t know the half of it: Perry just wasted $129,000 of Texas taxpayers’ money to have a large security detail accompany him on a 12-day trip through Asia. Even his wife had her own taxpayer-funded bodyguard. “Lawyers for the state have fought in court to keep secret the details” of security spending for the Perry trip, Kelley Shannon of the Houston Chronicle writes. So add to that $129,000 the cost of lawyers trying to prevent the public from finding out how the governor was wasting money.

Given the Constitution forbids states from involvement in foreign policy, the whole trip (a “trade mission”) was a junket in the first place. Being surrounded by bodyguards would, however, have made Perry appear to be a visiting head of state, stroking his ego at taxpayer expense. “It’s unknown how many security officers traveled with Perry’s entourage or where they stayed because those are the kinds of details the Texas Department of Public Safety [the state police] wants to keep from public view,” Shannon reported. Government agency wants to keep the public from knowing how money is being used — exactly the sort of thing Perry denounces in others.

October 19, 2010:

Randall Emmons of Houston notes this story from the Houston Chronicle — Texas taxpayers have been bilked of nearly $1 million for security details to accompany Gov. Rick Perry and his wife on overseas junkets during Perry’s years in office. Considering that states are forbidden by the Constitution to engage in foreign relations, when governors travel internationally — usually with the cover story of a “trade mission” — it’s generally a taxpayer-provided junket.

Suppose the trip was an actual attempt to promote trade between Texas companies and another country — setting aside why the governor, rather than the companies’ officials, would do that. Why would the governor of Texas, or of any state, need to be surrounded by taxpayer-funded bodyguards to meet with another nation’s commerce secretary? No one in Italy or Argentina knows or cares who the governor of Texas is — he stands no risk of being harassed as he walks the streets or enters a government office. No one overseas knows or cares who the wife of the governor of Texas is, yet she gets a taxpayer-funded bodyguard, too. Obviously the purpose is to allow Perry and his wife to strut around as if they were visiting heads of state, with bodyguards ensuring they receive the VIP treatment. Taxpayers’ money is wasted for a governor’s ego fantasy — and this by a governor who regularly accuses others of wasting tax money.

Check this section from the story: “The Perrys have traveled together to the Bahamas, Italy, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, Grand Cayman, Israel twice — once in conjunction with a trip to Jordan — France and Sweden, and China. Perry also has traveled to Mexico five times, Iraq three times, Afghanistan, Turkey, and to Taiwan and Korea in conjunction with the China trip. Mrs. Perry has traveled to England three times, once in conjunction with a trip to Slovakia, Mexico, Japan twice, Germany twice, Malta, Italy and France, the Czech Republic, Azerbaijan (after France and Sweden with Perry), Canada, Spain, and Brazil and Argentina.” Clearly all those trips were essential to the administration of Texas state government!

JSobieski

Am saying that Newt’s time as Speaker was unique, and included many of the experiences that one generally characterizes as executive experience.

Nobody has spent as much time and energy thinking about ways to throw market-based reforms into the machinary of government than Newt has.

If that isn’t useful in 2012, I don’t know what is.

jakeofalltrades

He defied the President and shut down the government. He may have been, in effect, one of the most powerful Speakers in history.

Maybe he can buck the trend. He has a shot.

But I don’t want anyone getting ideas that the Speakership is the cradle of Presidents – it isn’t. Not that you said that it was.

JSobieski

nt

acat

As I’m refusing to support the fruitcake under any circumstances, and won’t support the inside-establishment types in the primary, that leaves me with Perry – who is struggling – or Gingrich.

As much as I’d rather have government-executive experience on the resume, I’m forced to conclude Newt would be better than Romney or Santorum.

(and Becker’s dead white cat would be better than Ron Paul)

Mew

jakeofalltrades

He has done it before. I have not given that fact the due consideration it deserves. This doesn’t speak to the smaller issue of experience and electability, but it does go to the larger issue of experience.

If elected, he perhaps has the best shot of balancing our budget against the cleptocrats on Capitol Hill. The operative word there for me is “If”, as I do not like his chances.

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

…and we should all please take a deeeeep breath and hope for pivotal events to transpire tomorrow-p.m.

hls87

principally because the Clinton’s decided to make him the object of Democrat and independant hatred. It worked. He is indeed quite different from the run-of-the-mill Speaker. He’s a much weaker presidential candidate than, for example, Dick Gephardt, who never a national laughing stock or the all-purpose boogey man for his opposition.

Newt may be as well-prepared as anyone to be President, but that doesn’t matter. He can’t sell his experience even in the primary. In a general election, he’d crash and burn. American voters aren’t going to install a has-been who was Speaker of the House in a bygone millenium, especially one who left office under a cloud and is widely (if dimly) remembered as repulsive and ridiculous.

LoneStarSon

That you believe I’m not a serious contributor. I’m very serious in my positions and my beliefs. Perhaps you were talking about the fact that I don’t have many posts. If that is the case, I have been here since 2007, but haven’t posted much since Obama was elected. During that time there was a change in platform and apparently my previous postings were removed.

While I do get more vocal on this site during presidential elections, I do not post a lot during the off year cycles.

I wonder if you think Governor Perry or Mitt Romney or Newt Gingrich are serious contributors…

http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

Are you equating a domestic violence conviction with a parking ticket? Seriously??

As for restraining orders, if it’s temporary and unfounded, they’d get the guns back. If it becomes permanent, then there’s sufficient reason to keep them.

I’m really not seeing a problem here except for your odd support for wife beaters.

lapert

Sorry, that wasn’t what I meant by ‘unserious contributor’ – I should have used better language.

What I meant was people who insist they won’t contribute money or time to support the nominee chosen by the party are really seriously contributing to the party or to the only vehicle for driving conservative policy in our federal government as it exists today. It generally reflects a cult of personality (or in Paul’s case I don’t know what it is a cult of) rather than a true commitment to the ideas which go beyond any one individual politician – particularly one who is at the back of the pack in a weak nomination battle.

JSobieski

Newt conceptualized of nationalizing house races, and did so despite conventional wisdom that said it would never happen. Newt did make himself a target, for some substantive reasons that conservative would support and for some reasons based on his personality.

At a time where even independents what to bring the government leviathon under control, Newt is one of the few people currently on the stage who had a significant role in doing that.

Who has done more (not merely said more) for the purpose of limited government in DC?

Newt made 1994 happen. He gets the credit and the blame for 95-98. On balance what happened was good, although there were clearly missed opportunities.

Was there time a period since 98 that was better on basic fiscal matters, such as spending and deficits?

Many independents have internalized favorable feelings for Clinton, and Newt is the only Republican who can benefit from those inclinations.

JSobieski

is really about how the legislature is handled. How own negotiates with the legislature over budgets, deals with things like shutdowns, and otherwise handles being accountable for what actually happens.

I prefer Perry to Newt for a variety of reasons, but executive experience is not a big difference with respect to that particular comparison.

tjms

dui’s. should they not be allowed to ever own a gun again? Some are drug possessors, do they deserve to ever own a gun again? I think only felons convicted of a violent crime should have any restrictions. There are felons that are non violent and I cannot say that they should lose their right to own a firearm.

carolynr

Dr. Bob….I love Perry…this guy has the answers to all the problems. Being a governor of a state gives a potential POTUS a step up from Senators or Speakers. But…it seems that every campaign has become a Hollywood production. Subtle manipulations and some obvious. We know that Perry has been blacked out. This crap…and I mean that from the Evangelicals supporting Santorum was a slap in the face to Perry. It’s fine to have a pious outlook on life…but it must be followed by deeds…and Santorum is a spendthrift…one could even go as far as to say…he is a thief…because he has stolen by way of tax dollars my money for his political gain. But…that for another day.

So…with everyone focusing of the glitz and not the substance…because that’s what a good majority of our society has become..glitz oriented…how do we get rid of Romney?

The two contestants are Gingrich and Santorum. The public is not listening to the “record”…and proof. They are enjoying the Hollywood Production. So…who will fair better..I believe Gingrich.

I will continue to call for Perry. People really like Perry and what he stands for…but the media has persuaded them that he is just another GWB or he is stupid. Their goal…beat Obama at any cost. So…when I call, they ALL agree with his stance on all the issues..I can even explain in-state tuition to them…But Perry is JUST TOO NICE OF A GUY and Gingrich and Santorum have too much Glitz. That’s the long and short of it.

jaykali

Altho he got removed by his own party a short time afterwards and it doesn’t appear that his peers have given him much of a vote of confidence. I have heard a bunch of congressman say they don’t think he’s qualified so that is a bit troubling. To me his conduct has been what’s the most troubling. His campaign has derailed a few times due to his goofy mouth. Need I remind you of him throwing Paul Ryan under the bus?! And the Bain capital nonsense did it for me, I threw in the towel after that.

carolynr

nt

flgal208

Not only did I hear from him, but also the Deputy Political Director. Two emails in two days and they were about FL. I think he’s pushing ahead. And Sarah did NOT say she was endorsing Newt, just that after the last debate, she’d vote for him IF she lived in SC.

If she was full bore for him, why NOT just go all in? It’s because she’s not sold. There’s a debate coming up in FL (I’m going!!) and if Perry does well AGAIN, she could then say, she’s jumping behind him.

One last thing, whomever is at the front, gets the most dirt thrown at him. Imagine the attack ads Romney is going to throw now at Newt…IF I was the devious sort, I might think she pushed him under the bus…questioning, does he get run over leaving Perry standing unscathed??? or does he manage to miss the wheels of the Romney death bus and survive? If he survives unscathed, then she endorses him, but if it flattens him even more than the last ads against him by Romney, then she crowns Perry.

runner12

I know that Erick is only speaking what is considered conventional political tactics, but this is not a “conventional” election. When many on the GOP side are either hoping and/or pushing for a brokered convention, you know this is not just another typical election cycle.

My question to those who are clamouring for Perry to drop out is: What makes you so certain that Newt can defeat Romney, much less Obama? Would it not be a better option to keep everyone in and ensure a brokered convention? Because the only way that we do not end up with Romney is a brokered convention or a resurgent Perry campaign. Perry dropping out may actually ensure that Romney is crowned the victor.

I may be wrong, but I do not see any way that Gingrich can beat Obama. He is intelligent and a policy wonk, but unfortunately we have an electorate who supports candidates based on the American Idol idealogy. Newt’s personal baggage would sink him in the general. I do not know who would be worse, Newt or Mittens.

I say stay in, Gov. Perry. Only two states have voted so far. The rest of the country deserves a chance to have their say.

aesthete

Perry’s campaign thus far has been disappointing, and it does not appear that he will do well enough in SC to be able to continue on as a viable candidate for the Presidency. Erick has made his peace with this, as have many Perry supporters (myself included). There’s nothing wrong with talking about what is a highly likely probability, and encouraging conservatives to join forces.

carolynr

Yes…this is something that Perry must seize upon. The main objective is to defeat BHO. Guess who appointed a Bain Capital exec to head up Office of Management and Budget…Obama. And….I might add this guy was in BHO’s administration for a while.

Fact: Obama’s ENTIRE GOVERNMENT is corrupt, has circumvented the Constitution and is full of communists…and I mean that word..look at the czars…which set the policy. The cabinet…they are socialists…or corrupt. Dr. Bob…Get this over to Perry…ASAP. I will get my contact also. This has to be front line news.

It’s on Drudge…Obama appoints Bain Exec to head up OMB.

Help the sheeples connect the dots.

http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

For DUI, it’s usually multiple offenders or those involved in an injury accident (that’s not violent?).

For drugs, it almost always has to be above a personal use amount to be classified as a felony.

I wouldn’t want people in either group to possess a gun.

runner12

As to Palin’s endorsement/ non-endorsement, I put little weight into it. Unfortunately, Palin has made herself unpopular by some of her antics. She has been both unfairly and fairly criticized, thus making her a polarizing figure.

I hope that she can rebuild her image and become more substantive as she was when she first burst into the political arena. But for now, there will be no hand-wringing on my part regarding her comments.

aesthete

qualifies as the sort of felony/misdemeanor that you’re talking about.

No Longer For Perry

It is possible that one (or even two) candidates drop out in the next day or so. I do believe that an announcement from Tea Party is imminent. That also may muddy the waters. I also think that Perry will not drop out until late Saturday night … Actually not that late. I am predicting Perry will drop of the race on Saturday at 9:31:38 CST exactly. We could make this a game – like guessing how many jelly beans are in a jar. Santorum will exit at 10:13:22 CST the same night.

clowngirl

Newt has some serious conservative achievements– I know I don’t really have to tell you that and he’s truly a fighter. We need a candidate who can survive and thrive in an intensely hostile media environment and Newt showed Monday night that he is that candidate.

Rasmussen has him back to being within the margin of error for the lead in national polls. To come back twice under intense media scrutiny (and, let’s admit it, outright bashing) against a candidate with huge advantages is not a feat accomplished by a mere entertainer.

I respect your support for Perry (and also admire Governor Perry myself) but Newt’s conservative accomplishments and his abilities deserve more respect than you’re giving him.

As to baggage — Romney’s looks to be more serious than Gingrich’s. After a series of scandals including the William Kennedy Smith rape trial (regarding which Teddy’s constituents thought – by a 2 to 1 margin – that he gave misleading information to the police) and in hypothetical race between Ted Kennedy and William Weld (I’m guessing in 1992) had Kennedy losing by 25%.

William Weld ran for re-election as Governor instead and won with 70% of the vote which would, you would think, provide a favorable climate for Romney.

Romney was within the margin of error with Ted Kennedy with a month to go – but ultimately lost (by 17 points) after Kennedy hit him on Bain.

Romney is not more electable.

flgal208

He needs one thing to survive—MONEY. We need to give whatever we can because it isn’t over until the last delegates are counted. The longer Perry stays in, the more his message will get across by circumventing FNC. He needs 2 things for that to happen–US spreading the word and MONEY. IMHO, Newt can have all the money in the world, but he won’t have enough to erase his flawed past and the fact he hasn’t done anything THIS CENTURY!

Sarah didn’t endorse Newt, she shoved him in front of the Romney death bus. I bet the anti-Newt ads start airing tomorrow all over SC. 3 days of pummeling…If she really wanted to help him, she would have done so BEFORE the absentee ballots were mailed

In Jacksonville Beach, The First Coast Tea Party is holding a mock caucus, where citizens can stand up and tout their candidate. I plan on being their with my list that will wipe the floor with the others’ records.

tjms

dwi served their time, possibly stopped drinking has no right to own a firearm? And on the drugs “almost always” is a good excuse to ignore our rights? I still say only those convicted of a violent crime should lose their right.

LoneStarSon

…to a candidate that I don’t support? I’ll vote for him, but my money will be sent to those running for positions in the House and Senate to stop the junk that could get signed into law by Romney or Obama. Perry isn’t afraid to veto things, but I don’t think Romney will be as apt…The only that would veto things more than Perry would be Paul and he scares the daylights out of me. Nope. I haven’t forgotten the importance of the other elections, but right now, I’m working/supporting Governor Perry for the nomination and will gladly send him money…However, if he’s not the nominee, my money will go to more candidates that are running for the other elected positions. They’ll need it more if we don’t get Governor Perry as our nominee.

tjms

why do you ask for some to drop out so the “chosen” one can be coronated?

http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

And possibly stopped drinking? Are you freaking kidding me?

As for the drugs, I put “almost always” because there can be other circumstances (e.g. multiple offenses, other associated crimes, etc.) that can make it rise to a felony.

We aren’t talking about regular folks that made a one-time bad decision. We’re talking about people that have shown they don’t have normal reasoning abilities. These people shouldn’t be able to own guns.

We aren’t ignoring their rights. They gave them up with their severe and/or repeated actions.

conservativemusician

All the polls I have seen have Perry in last place around 4% at the most.

flgal208

yes, people RIGHT now, maybe some are swinging toward Newt, but Romney has 3 days to spend tarring Newt and they don’t have to work too hard doing it. While Newt & Mitt duke it out, Perry just keeps on motoring getting his message out, mud-free. That could be priceless in FL….

And then bring this up…
So, if ALL capitalism is good and a sacred cow, then why not nominate Jon Corzine? He’s a former New England Governor. He’s an “investment” business man. He ran Goldman Sachs, the biggest financial supporter of Obama & Romney. Both presided over companies that lost money and jobs. Both have MBA’s. Neither has done anything illegal. Both have been touted as great businessmen (especially by themselves). I know Jon is lacking hair, but if we slap a purdy wig on him, I’m sure he can pass muster with Sean and Rush and FNC/GOP–Jon actually served his country as a Marine and he was a senator, too, something Romney never did…on paper, Jon looks like the better candidate.

bzip

Thank you flgal208 for standing up for Perry in Florida. That is what we need, folks to get out to these Tea Party outings and start standing up for Perry. Thank you for your efforts.

No Longer For Perry

only two of the five (lowest poll numbers, i.e., lowest chance of winning) candidates would drop out. 47 more states to vote yet (after SC) for the top three candidates. That’s all. Nothing confusing here.

tjms

McCain. I know how everyone just loves him. She is pretty reliable for picking conservatives I guess.

aesthete

As far as I’m concerned, convicted felons are a great place to start reducing the rolls of idiots who get to vote on how politicians get to dispose of my life, liberty, and property.

tjms

rec’d 4 dwi’s before he was 29. Served time as a felon. He is now 56 does not drink and drive. Barely drinks but is not allowed to own a firearm. He never did anything besides drink, while young, and now can’t own a gun to even go hunting. You think that is right? Even though he has not been in any trouble since?

lapert

If you needed any evidence that the broad attacks on Bain Capital will lead even conservatives to attack all business here it is.

Now anyone who ever worked as a consultant at Bain & Company (not Bain Capital even) is a target.

Sheeples indeed.

jakeofalltrades

“I respect your support for Perry (and also admire Governor Perry myself) but Newt?s conservative accomplishments and his abilities deserve more respect than you?re giving him. ”

I didn’t specify that I was responding to the “bloody Obama’s nose” meme – not all of Newt’s record. The only problem I have with Newt’s record is that it is exclusively in the House. Also, he panders to the left as a hobby, which is a serious problem.

http://formidablecourage.wordpress.com louisianapatriette

We so appreciate you! Keep up the good work in Florida. One of my Twitter friends (who is also a wonderful RedState member we all know and love) took initiative yesterday: he grabbed a Florida phone book and started calling people he didn’t even know, telling them about Rick Perry. I know from his tweets that he was converting people to Team Perry! It was encouraging. Give ‘em what-for at the mock caucus–and everybody please remember flgal208′s first paragraph! It’s VERY important!

jakeofalltrades

As in, those who pay more in taxes than they receive in direct benefits.

pttx333

death of hearing all of those things, I have been ignoring such and will continue to do so. I made up my mind years ago and am not changing it. What other folks say has no impact on me. Those who go to supporters of a candidate other than theirs and say that the other person’s candidate should drop out are nothing more than rude, crass, obnoxious people who will never get my ear. What part of “I am standing by my candidate” do they not understand?

http://formidablecourage.wordpress.com louisianapatriette

and he’s already talking about it in South Carolina.

hls87

His gig is dressing up big government to make it look market oriented. That’s what the individual mandate and cap and trade were both about, along with a lot of other terrible ideas Newt has championed.

clintonformccain

has a campaign that is at least professinal enough to get on the ballot in 50 states — unlike the amateur hour efforts of the other candidates.

acat

Plenty of reducing government overreach in there.

Bear in mind that Newt’s definition of a “mandate” looks a lot more like “pay your bills or else”, and Gingrich wasn’t “for” cap-and-trade, he was trying to get a seat at the table discussing it. (Remember, prior to the East Anglia leak, conservatives were still struggling to make the case that cap-and-trade was about political power and control, rather than climate change…)

Yes, Newt has warts. Far fewer than Romney, though.

Mew

clowngirl

and it put her over the edge on publicly saying she’d vote for him at least in South Carolina.

a lot of people were apparently swayed by Monday night’s debate. Newt just picked up 11 points and is now within the margin of error in Rasmussen’s latest national poll!

So I don’t think Sarah Palin spoke well of Newt in some devious plan to hurt him.

As to Governor Perry – I think he can be counted on to get out of the race if and when he sees no plausible path to victory and I get the distinct impression he’s no fan of Romney and would prefer Newt over him..

I do agree with Erick that Perry endorsing and actively campaigning for Newt would make things much more difficult for Mitt Romney.

Common_Cents

nt

http://formidablecourage.wordpress.com louisianapatriette

People are fired up this morning and I’m loving every bit of it!

acat

Wouldn’t cut out all the leeches, but it’d cut *enough* leeches and the dead….

Mew

hls87

That’s laughable. It was nothing of the sort. Conservatives of that era had long-since reconciled themselves to big government. They nibbled around the edges (eg. Welfare Reform) but they didn’t try to change anything substantial. When Newt took up the Speaker’s gavel the federal government was faithfully following the progressive playbook. It was doing exactly the same thing when he gave the gavel up.

Circumstances are radically different now. What passed for conservatism in 1995 is anachronistic now and Newt is as outmoded as the high buttoned shoe. If we think as we did in 1995 we’re doomed to decline and collapse. Newt has shown no understanding whatever of our current circumstances.

But the more important point is that Newt isn’t really on the menu. There is no set of circumstaces under which he can win the nomination, so it doesn’t matter how good or bad he would be, either as the Republican candidate or as a President. He will never be either.

jakeofalltrades

I’m curious, which is normally your department.

jakeofalltrades

was breached?

Do you think Newt has a pattern of breaking solemn agreements?

carolynr

Why do you think that Romney will not release his income tax?

Look…I am a capitalist. I am not jealous of people that work hard for their money and become rich. What I am against is the direct line between DC and Wall Street…and I didn’t need Perry to point that out.

Look…we went from “venture” capitalist to “equity” investor. There’s a reason for that…venture capitalist do not do what Romney’s business, Bain, did.

Yes…there are vulture capitalist…just like OUR VERY OWN GOVERNMENT played the same role with TARP. No different…only in this case the American public were the ones out of work. The banks are still perking along, doing the same old crap…and notice where BHO gets his big donations…from the “fat cats” he uses to manipulate the public.

No…there are lots of good businesses out there. However…GE didn’t hit the top of the hit parade with 0 taxes for the profit they made. Again…who took up the slack…we did. Instead of bilking the employees…GE bilked the taxpayer.

Direct line between Wall and DC.

Common_Cents

With all those credentials you list why isn’t Perry dominating the entire primary?

http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

So where’s the breach?

http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

Show us the votes.

Dave_A

and have only what privledges the law-abiding members of society feel fit to give you.

The concept, should be that ALL felonies carry a LIFE sentence – but only part of that sentence is served in prison. The debt can NEVER be paid.

I am quite fine with NO firearms, NO public office, and NO voting. I’d even extend this to limited 4th & 5th, for convicts.

If you are really a ‘changed man’ then you can get a pardon, but rights restoration should be the exception to the rule, NOT the rule.

The question to be asked is what crimes should be felonies vs misdemeanors. And yes, multiple DUI should be a felony. It’s inexcusable to have ONE, let alone MORE THAN ONE.

bzip

Why does Newt have to have someone drop out to win, Common Cents? Can’t Newt close the deal himself? Sounds like you are back to your pinned up hyperactive mole impression again.

acat

Every single item came up for a vote in the House.

Some passed, some didn’t, some made it to Clinton’s desk, some were enacted.

As for your above comment, again, I don’t see where Newt sold us out. He, like a lot of otherwise-conservative folks, missed just how big a scam climate change is, but “sold us out” isn’t what I’d call it. He traded on his fame to get a seat at the table, not on conservatives.

I trust Gingrich to do the conservative thing a lot more than I trust Romney.

Mew

WillWong

Sarah Palin voted for Huckabee in ALaska’s primary. She was picked by McCain…..is that what you meant by she endorsed McCain? At that point, McCain was already the nominee. What was there to endorse? What other choice does she has at that point? Obama?

http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

no-text-

jakeofalltrades

Except when it comes to defeating Obama.

acat

Drew M (of Ace of Spades) asks the question “Why do some give Mitt Romney the benefit of so many doubts?” … which is the same question I’d like you to answer.

Mew

hls87

So what. We can’t tweak ourselves out of the hole we find ourselves in. I would have no more hope for a Gingrich administration than I have for a Romney administration, which is to say that I would have none.

But the more important point is that we don’t have a choice between Gingrich and Romney. Gingrich isn’t going to be the Republican nominee. If he’s the only alternative we can put forward, then we no longer have a primary contest. We have a sparring contest that serves only as a warmup for Romney’s race against Obama. Nobody remotely like Gingrich has ever won a major partty nomination. He won’t be the first. He’s a preposterous candidate and every ounce of energy spent on his campaign is wasted.

WillWong

Fred Thompson and Huckabee couldn’t close the deal in 2008….the conservative vote was splintered!

http://formidablecourage.wordpress.com louisianapatriette

When the dream candidate they’d been talking about in 2010 actually walked on stage and called Social Security a Ponzi Scheme, and when he tried to explain the impracticality of a border fence, and when he proclaimed his Christianity from the rooftops–they got cold feet. They realized they preferred someone who would maintain the status quo to an outsider who would, as Dr. Jack Wheeler said, “castrate” the Federal Government.

The American people are obviously not ready for a true Tea Party candidate, even though they moaned and groaned for one two years ago. Sad. We’ve got to make up for all that lost time and (hopefully) wake them from their stupor before it’s too late.

acat

Seriously, on the national stage, Willard lost to McCain, while Gingrich got the dittohead caucus elected and threw out 40 years of Dem control of the House.

Further, we have barely begun to vet Romney .. he’s been the presumed frontrunner for so long, it’s just not .. happened.

Brookhaven has a diary up that you need to read. Seriously.

Mew

JSobieski

Yup, there was plenty of smaller government in their. Moreover, they actually passed stuff, took heat for it, and shut the government down for weeks.

A better question would be: is there a recent time period where more was done?

acat

It’s not too late to replay 1980.

Mew

Common_Cents

Gee, one candidate is surging and w/in margin of error of Romney and one is in single digits in both SC and FL. Can you name them? you can call a friend, poll the audience or ask Regis if you need help.

If romney wins SC and FL, how is a non romney going to get enough support to mount a serious challenge?

jakeofalltrades

nt

http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

Santorum will drop out soon enough without sufficient funds to continue, especially with his sudden drop in the polls.

Perry’s 4% doesn’t really matter much anyway, so he doesn’t really need him to drop out.

Newt will win SC or not based on whether people really want him, not because someone else is dropping out.

goodgovernance

Look, I’m very much against Romney becoming the nominee and from the beginning I questioned what it was about his experience at Bain that made him a “jobs creator.” I still hold that Romney’s weak in terms of his Bain record and that he’s going to get swift boated by Obama on this score. I think the Establishment went overboard in equating any criticism of Romney with criticism of the capitalist system.

But this is just ridiculous.

To say that somebody is a corrupt sleezebag just because they happened to work for Bain at some point is absolutely out of the Occupy playbook. It boggles the mind.

This is NOT going to help Perry in a Republican primary. Quite the opposite.

snowshooze

Nice snipe, Acat!

WillWong

Hastert, Pelosi, and Boehner…..Mighty great company there!

JSobieski

back when Paul Ryan was an intern.

Newt was the first prominent DC politician to ever bring up market-based Medicare reform in a non-academic setting.

“HCFA withering on the vine” means something very specific-it means that markets, and not HCFA would determine prices for health care.

That is not nibbling—that is the CRITICAL aspect of Medicare reform, and healthcare reform generally.

lapert

For starters, you need to understand that Bain Capital is not Bain & Company – so when you say ‘what Bain did’ you probably need to be more specific. Of course Zients never worked at Bain Capital so the association of him with it is a reflection of broad populist attacks on business without any sense of the facts involved.

Even beyond that specific error, I don’t think you really know what Bain Capital did if you think they played a role like TARP. And of course your concluding paragraph on how GE bilked the taxpayer just exposes the whole anti-business nature of this argument that you would expect to see from the left but is so out of place on the right.

salj

God’s will is more important than your party.
Your party put their faith in Romney and belittled Rick Perry.
Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm,
and whose heart departeth from the Lord.Jeremiah 17:5
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,but have everlasting life.
Luke 6:39
Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power
of God.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; Old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. Colossians 2:3 In [Him] are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 1John 4:4 Ye are of God, little chidren, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. 1Corinthians 1:25 because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. Jeremiah 17:7 Blessed is the man that trusted in the LORD,and whose hope the LORD is.Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.Revelation 1: 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending.John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.

WillWong

that we have to settle for some watered down form of conservatism? Thanks but no thanks!

tjms

I like Sarah, don’t get me wrong.

JSobieski

I am not arguing that 95-98 was nirvana, but I am arguing that along with 1981-1984, it represents a high point for conservativism—as depressing as it is to say.

bonnman

“Are you equating a domestic violence conviction with a parking ticket?” No, I did no such thing. I asked what is next as a justifiable reason to deny people their 2nd Amendment rights. There are felonies, misdemeanors and infractions. You seem to think it is reasonable to deny rights based on felonies and misdemeanors so why not infractions next?

There are those who support the 2nd Amendment and those who want to see it slowly chipped away til nothing is left.

acat

with the same cynical (or, if you prefer, pragmatic) eye you’re using to judge the rest of the field.

Mew

jakeofalltrades

LOL – Next?

acat

Every single thing is going to get used.

Can Romney really win ?

Mew

reggie182

Rick Perry is not going to be the Republican nominee. It’s just that simple, but unfortunately “Da Nile” isn’t just a river in Egypt.

After Newt’s magnificent debate performance he is right back in the race:

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/election_2012_republican_presidential_primary

You don’t want Romney? Then support Newt, otherwise you might as well cast your vote for Mittens.

JSobieski

The same is true for the 2nd Amendment.

Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be concerned about a slipper slope, but unless you are arguing for absolutely no rules and no restrictions, you have already opened the door.

Reasonable line drawing is consistent with constitutional rights. But of course that also requires continuous diligence.

jakeofalltrades

as Newt’s ethical problems and the extremely unprecedented nature of his hopes for victory in the general.

Almost. That’s why I favor Mittens over Newt and neither over Perry.

aj_0000

That there aren’t enough conservatives in the Republican Party to defeat Romney, for one reason: because his idol Rick Perry is flopping in single digits. Perry is clearly the only conservative in the race, and since he’s losing miserably, that means only 4% of Republican voters are conservatives. Faulty logic, to put it mildly.

jakeofalltrades

On the totality of the circumstances, I find that Newt is less electable than Romney. If you want to argue specifics, I have the 200 page document open on one of my monitors.

bzip

You still can’t answer the question. Why can’t Newt with all his wonderful debating experience knock out Romney without asking other candidates to drop out?

Lets put Newt to the true test, if he wants to run on this idea he is such a great debater and will bloody the nose of Obama well let him prove it.

If Newt’s path to the nomination is having other candidates drop out to win then I don’t see much of a difference with Perry staying in and awaiting for a candidate to mess up or drop out or for a true second honest look to come his way.

jakeofalltrades

It has been proposed in more than one Congress. Newt is not that unique.

Melody Warbington (rwm52)

Because I don’t have to use my phone a friend, poll the audience or ask Regis. I know the answer.

hls87

He got beat around the ears with a soundbite which was never anything more than wishful thinking.

Of course nobody has done any better than Newt at moving us away from progressive government. Nobody has done anything at all. We’ve been going with the progressive current for 100 years. Even Reagan failed miserably to move domestic policy in a conservative direction. His greatness rests entirely on the defeat of Communism abroad, not on anything that happened at home. The last political figure to do any good for the conservative cause domestically was Calvin Coolidge, who retired in 1929.

In 1994 it was enough for a conservative to paddle sideways a bit as we drifted with the progressive current. Now we’re about to go over the falls and paddling sideways is pointless. Newt hasn’t grasped this and I very much doubt that he is capable of doing so. That makes him, like Romney, utterly inadequate to the moment.

But even if Newt were the second coming of silent Cal, there’s no point in talking about his candidacy. He’s a nonstarter. He lacks the resume, temperament, mind, personality, voice and appearance of a successful presidential candidate. He can’t keep pace with Romney and there’s no point in pretending otherwise.

carolynr

Jeffrey Zients will serve as President Obama?s new acting director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), but the president?s decision might undercut attacks on Republican Mitt Romney?s career as a venture capitalist, because Zients and Romney are both alumni of Bain & Company.

bzip

Look, you can’t go around blaming other candidates staying in the race for Newt losing. If Newt loses, he lost because he couldn’t seal the deal himself by his own merits.

By your logic I say let Newt and Santorum drop out and let Perry in for a win. If Newt is so great at debating let him prove it and earn his win not by having candidates drop out.

Common_Cents

You know darn well its romney vs. anti romney.
Gingrich is way ahead vs. the anti romney’s and almost tied with romney despite the anti romney splinter.

If your question is why Gingrich isn’t winning now then you should really ask why is Perry failing miserably? Your failed logic defeats your own purpose.

Please, let’s have some honest intelligent discussion here. Not some grade school stuff. It’s time to grow up, put on some big people pants and make a hard decision.

If Gingrich were in last place among non romney’s at this point, I’d ask him to step down as well. Knowing its our last chance for a non romney to succeed.

So do you really think any candidate has a chance against romney if Mitt wins SC, and FL? Please tell me how 3 non romneys put together money and a campaign and excel after Mitt wins SC and FL. This is your premise. I want to see you state it and defend it logically.

lapert

But nowhere there does it say Zients worked at Bain Capital – that you don’t know the difference between the two is just more a reflection of you not understanding twhat you are arguing about.

Though for the record, many conservative blogs did falsely report that he worked at Bain Capital, again a reflection of how this line of arguing has led the right to spout anti-business drivel. It is not good for conservatives to keep it up.

jakeofalltrades

So they want everyone else in the race to play spoiler for Newt.

Well guess what? No one will be doing that for the Republican nominee in the general. If Newt cannot defeat Romney without extraordinary measures, then I do not trust him to defeat Obama.

bzip

CC – you are showing your pinned up hyperactive mole impression again. Come back to planet earth before you explode, please.

aesthete

Newt isn’t my first choice for President — heck, in a sane and just world, he wouldn’t be my 101st choice — but it’s undeniable that the best moments for conservative policy have undoubtedly been the early Reagan Presidency, and the COA Newt-Gingrich “partnership”.

Common_Cents

Because people should be able to win on their own merits, right?

You don’t mind Ron Paul or Trump running for a third party?

reggie182

Perry staying in only helps Mitt. Virtually everyone at this point in the campaign knows that.

hls87

You’re objecting, clumsily, to the premise that Perry is the only conservative in the race. You seem to think that premise is wrong, but you don’t bother to construct an argument to refute it.

In fact, Perry clearly is the only conservative in the race. Gingrich has no ideology. He’s all over the map. The guy who made the infamous AGW ad with Nancy Pelosi is no conservative. Mitt Romney, architect of Obamacare, is certainly no conservative. Rick Santorum, George W. Bush’s main main in the Senate, is also no conservative, unless you distort the definition of the term into meaninglessness. Who”s left? Ron Paul?

The evidence is overwhelming that most of the Republican electorate isn’t prepared to consider a serious government overhaul, and many of the few who are have committed themselves to the asylum along with Dr. Paul. This is an unpleasant fact, but it’s a fact and there’s no point hiding from it.

Rapunzel46

no one should get out yet. She did not officially endorse Newt, she said this race should not be a coronation of any candidate and we need them all to stay in to keep fighting so we do not end up with a repeat of prior years (Dole, McCain, etc,) where the candidate is chosen after one or two races and then the rest of the country discovers they are stuck with a less than desirable candidate. She praised Governor Perry in his debate Monday night and Saturday Forum and said “he was on fire” lately. It really perturbs me people demand Perry get out and crickets about Santorum who lost his re-election in PA by 18 points, has a habit of taking liberal fiscal positions, etc., when Governor Perry has a died in the wool conservative stance across the board, HE is the real deal and should not get out!

irishgirl

after reading all the dismal news this morning, that was a bust out laugh for me.
“doubt his ability to fully understand how conservative principles translate into reality”… Texas has created 40% of the Nation’s job since 2009.
Seriously?

carolynr

government…then this does not look good.

BTW…FYI…please go to Drudge and see what Obama’s new idea is. Treasury is reported to be taking funds from government pensions to cover debt…AND YOU SAY…PONZI SCHEME AND SS. Treasury now denies…but the original story say opposite.

Who is upstanding in the Obama Administration? So…when someone from a company (Bain in this case) agrees to work for a known sleezebag…and no matter how you argue that…BHO and his administration are…then the person agreeing to work under that administration is too. Why do you think that Senator Judd said no to the Commerce Job. They don’t have the same values.

So…this is an insider game…and because this guy agreed and has been working for Obama (how’s his record, btw)…I say..people are thinking exactly what I am. Maybe there is some truth to Gingrich/Perry attack. Besides…these people (former buyout companies) are out of work and it appears that Romney inflated the JOBS CREATED NUMBERS.

clowngirl

Whatever “pandering to the left” you think Newt has done, it pales in comparison to Romney’s.

I would hope that if Perry and Santorum were to drop out, and it came down to Newton vs. Willard, the vast majority of Perry supporters would back Newt.

reggie182

And it did him no good. It would be a miracle if he managed to place third in Florida. He’s behind in the polls in TEXAS!.

There’s an old saying in politics. It doesn’t matter how much money you spend promoting a dog food. If dogs won’t eat it, it won’t be successful.

acat

who Romney chose as a campaign chair for his 2008 run and never repudiated, has ties into the same problematic Illinois cesspool (google “Illinois Combine Kass” for background) that produced Obama.

That’s just one example where there’s likely only the tip of the iceberg showing.

Mew

goodgovernance

CC has embraced reality, and demonstrated an understanding of the political process.

From the standpoint of analysis, and a sober assessment of reality, Perry has the least chance of becoming the nominee. Should Romney win South Carolina, Perry’s chances (and even Newt’s and Santorum’s) essentially drop to zero anyway.

acat

And who got it on the agenda?

Mew

jakeofalltrades

My hazy memory is 4-7 times, but the internet is on strike so I can’t confirm.

carolynr

I’ll see if this posts.

acat

How many are running for POTUS this year?

Again, Gingrich isn’t my first choice, but he’s got much better cred – for me – than Romney, and certainly is miles ahead of Santorum.

Mew

hls87

as seems quite likely —- Game Over.

snowshooze

thanks.

snowshooze

I think I understand that. And SC is not the end of the world.

jakeofalltrades

Not support, mind you. No money until the general. It’s tough call for me to make – it’s real close – but I think Romney has a better shot in the general.

jakeofalltrades

I will say this – I will smile voting for Gingrich – no noseplugs needed. Romney… I may need a shower.

http://formidablecourage.wordpress.com louisianapatriette

.

jakeofalltrades

acat

All a third party does is to steal votes from the more closely aligned of the major parties.

Ross Perot stole enough votes from Bush 1.0 to give us Clinton.
Nader/Greens stole enough votes from Gore to give us Bush 2.0.

Anderson didn’t amount to anything, neither did Ron Paul (any of the times he’s tried) but the point is they’re not just throwing away their votes on some principled daydream… they’re actively helping whichever party is *less* aligned with their “principles”.

Yes, I can see that, if the major party elects a serious loser, there’s an appeal … but it has yet to bear any non-toxic fruit.

Ask yourself this – would we have been better off with a second term for Bush 1.0 or Bubba Clinton?

Mew

clowngirl

You’re supporting Perry who is last in the polls and who would probably poll terribly against Obama at the moment if they were even bothering to poll it (which I don’t think anyone is)

You want to switch to Romney who polls about as well against Obama as Newt does at the moment.

Romney is:

Largely unvetted, propped up by the media, scared to be interviewed by Fox News, unproven in debates that require more than 30 second answers (in his first reduced candidate debate, he was decidedly unimpressive)

Newt has been:

vetted ad nauseum, subjected to extreme media bashing both from the liberal press and influential elements on the right (which presumably would turn around and support him in a general election) willing to be interviewed by anyone and go before any audience and who is starting to show (again) that he can not only survive but thrive under intense media scrutiny.

Oh, and who is a master debater and just beginning to get the chance to give more than 30 second answers.

Not to mention that Romney has only one election (by a mere plurality) was a bust as Governor leaving with an approval rating int the 30s despite catering to the liberals in his state in any number of ways, and Newt easily won re-election what – 11 times as well as playing a vital role in electing a lot of other Republicans.

texastaxpayer

Romney’s failure as governor and his less than ethical business practices are to big a liability in the general. I doubt either cam beat Obama but at least with Newt I wouldn’t feel like I needed a shower after advocating for him. He is truly the lesser of two evils. Just my opinion Jake….

jakeofalltrades

His oppo research has been published for all to see. No Speaker of the House has ever become President without being a governor – and that only happened once almost 200 years ago. The last representative to become President without being in the Senate or at least some executive office was Abe Freaking Lincoln.

My position makes plenty of sense and follows the conventional wisdom.

jswolter

Many agree that the Texas job growth is based on the massive population growth:

http://www.politicalmathblog.com/?p=1590
http://www.factcheck.org/2011/08/texas-size-recovery/
http://www.newgeography.com/content/002386-sizing-up-texas%E2%80%99-job-growth-under-rick-perry

Thus, the argument you have to make for Perry’s influence is that his policies created an environment that attracted job seekers to Texas.

However, the data suggests that the underlying population growth and the subsequent job growth extends back 20 years, long before Perry’s governorship:

http://www.npr.org/2011/08/17/139688463/texas-economy-growing-long-before-gov-rick-perry

I know that under Perry, the Texas government introduced good legislation such as Tort reform. However, there are so many other factors at play in Texas that I don’t think you can directly attribute the job growth to his policies.

Also, I should have clarified what I meant by the statement of how “conservative principles translate into reality”. Reality in this case means the varied possible situations that present themselves on a national and global level. The resultant complex issues require taking classroom theory (conservativism) and properly implementing in such a way that can unite a extremely varied population (America) behind them. I have little faith that Perry can do this.

jswolter

I refer you to my reply above about Texas job growth.

aesthete

(i.e., what each branch of government is responsible for, some very easy current events questions) should be required, in addition to having to be a net taxpayer. In aesthetetopia, I would also allow any non-voters the option to not pay taxes on the amount of income that tops out the bottom income quintile.

WillWong

with Juan Williams as the moderator and I will bet you my last dollar that Newt will beat Romney on his own. In fact I like the odds so much I might even give you a 2-1 odds.

aesthete

this sort of actualization of felonies (“ALL felonies carry a LIFE sentence ? but only part of that sentence is served in prison”) is only workable in a system where 1) all felonies are known and can be averted, 1a) the number of felonies is small and understanding them is easy, and 2) they are felonies that are broadly supported by a large cross-section of the American public. This implies that most non-violent felonies would probably require a lesser categorization (which is fine by me).

jakeofalltrades

Find someone who is interested.

aj_0000

The guy who said anyone opposing in-state tuition for illegals is “heartless” is not a conservative. Anybody can play that game. Mitt Romney is the only candidate in the race who is clearly not a conservative.

Gingrich has a lifetime ACU rating of 90. That means throughout his decades-long career in Congress, with thousands of votes, he voted the conservative position 90% of the time. That rating is higher than Santorum’s (85) and Ron Paul’s (88). Is Perry the MOST conservative candidate in the race? Maybe. But his performance has been so poor that he’s been mired in single digits for months.

For someone who is a conservative first, above their allegiance to any specific individual, the situation is now crystal clear. It’s up to Newt to stop Romney, and the only way that happens is if conservatives unite behind Newt. Otherwise, Romney will win. Any other scenario is pure fantasy and delusion.

cbartlett

is ridiculous! Fox is absolutely ignoring him. Not trashing, just ignoring. Hard to imagine what his numbers would do if they’d mention him even occasionally and if a few courageous Jim DeMint or Marco Rubio types had given him the nod. It’s almost like this system is set up so that someone can only win a primary if they run for 5 or 6 years!! It is freakin’ amazing that this is such a media circus and the sheeple are listening to polls and media pundits instead of studying the candidates values and qualifications. The main thing you’ll hear about Perry is that he’s a true conservative BUT “he’s polling low and can’t win”. Well – duh – if everyone keeps saying that, it WILL become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

And the “polling third in Texas” – guess what? There are quite a few Bush people around here with lots of influence. Some Texans will automatically vote “anti-Perry” because the nasty stuff the Bushes threw at him in the last Governor race against Kay Bailey Hutchison is still fresh on the mind. I would bet that if it was a choice between Romney and Perry in the Texas primary, Texans would overwhelmingly support “their own” over a northern moderate, no matter what they say right now in a poll. I sure hope Perry stays in that long but the Texas primary is now in April – after Super Tuesday – and I’m afraid they are going to dump Romney on us as our only choice – just like McCain. Been there – done that. Sigh.

WillWong

There were 1 candidate running on a Libertarian platform, 2 running on the moderate platform, and 4 running for the conservative votes. Expecting Newt to beat Romney on his own actually requires him to knock out the other three conservatives first. Bachmann dropped out after Iowa and we are left with three. Huntsman is out and Romney is the only moderate left. No one can beat anyone on his/her own. Romney has the entire Republican Establishment behind him. Huntsman quiting and endorsement is another extraordinary event in favor of Romney. Perry had huge organization and money when he first started. Newt imploded in may and had to claw his way back one debate at a time. Fine for you to say you don’t care about debates but for a guy like Newt, that is the only tool he had and he wielded it well, better than anyone else and it resonates well with his “Work is good” banner! It was hard work…..and if nothing else, you should draw enormous comfort from his tremendous comeback….one debate at a time! So it is baloney to say that any candidate can win on his/her own although I would say so far, Newt came closest to that having slogged his way from bottom to a first tier candidate.

cbartlett

As a fellow Texas taxpayer, I certainly want Perry to hang in there as long as possible. But if it comes down to it, I’d take Newt with all of his baggage over Romney in a heartbeat. Obama and his fellow DNC idiots have been setting up, rather successfully for months now, the class warfare scheme. Romney would be killed with that in the fall – just look at what conservatives are already doing to him over the tax return thing. Imagine how all of those Wall Street protestor sympathizers will feel about Mitt’s wealth once Obama and his team gear up against him.

Go Perry! (I’d really rather NOT have to choose between Newt & Mitt…)

avagreen

FOR PERRY!!!

avagreen

And, don’t forget there are PLENTY OF PAUL SUPPORTERS AND DEMOCRATS VOTING IN THIS POLL.

avagreen

But, it’s a nice attempt by the MSM to continue to sway opinion……notice it’s the ONLY poll that’s being hollered about today?

NO one has ever called me on my opinion about Perry……..ever. Of course, I don’t live in Austin, or Houston, or Dallas. Where the liberals live.

Capice?

Samsara

Wait…wait…Perhaps Donald Trump will endorse someone…or Rush…or Hannity…or Michel Savage….or Dog the Bounty Hunter.

Want to know the real reason for this kinda-endorsement she made on Fox?

She is just trying to make amends for snubbing Roger Ailes. He was not happy when she ended her “will she run, won’t she run” fan dance on Mark Levin?s radio show rather than on Fox.

She now needs to generate some buzz for Fox News and earn her keep.

clowngirl

and how well publicized are these unpleasant facts?

Are numerous media outlets emphasizing the weaknesses of a Romney candidacy? Do they faithfully bring up random dirt to mention in articles on unrelated subjects (as many seem prone to do with Newt)

This is the first I heard about Romney’s oppo research being on the internet and I can’t stand Mitt Romney and have paid relatively close attention.

How many voters are really willing to trudge through 200 pages (most of which is probably boring) to carefully evaluate whether to support him.? Most are problem waiting for problems to be brought to their attention and pretty much relying on the media to do that for them.

Unfortunate but true.,

But — from what I read – the 2008 candidates only looked into his record in office, not at his 25 years as CEO of Bain Capital.

Bain Capital is quite likely a fatal liability (it killed him against Ted Kennedy) and we know very little about what he did there.

We don’t know, for a fact, that he earned his profits honestly — and, so far, it sounds as though he didn’t.

As to not thinking shilling for Romney makes sense — don’t take it personal. I’ve always thought the conventional wisdom with regard to Romney makes no sense either.

Back when candidates were just starting to decide to run, Charles Krauthammer wrote a column arguing that we need a candidate who didn’t draw attention to themself. Someone boring who could keep the attention on the issues.

His rationale for arguing this was that what was effective in 2010 would also be effective now.

But 2012 is looking to have a much different dynamic than 2010.

The Weekly Standard wrote an excellent article about how, when trying to take out an incumbent, you generally can’t win with a safe, predictable candidate and need to gamble on a “high beta” candidate who could conceivably get blown out but also could win big.

Romney is the worst of all worlds. He’s boring but not safe (Bain could be a time bomb) unsuccessful as a politician ( a pretty liberal Governor who served one term and left with an approval rating about equal to George W. Bush when he became toxic to all Republicans) and the dream candidate for liberals to caricature.

As to your comments on Newt’s background. He has quite a lot of private sector executive experience and “Abe Freaking Lincoln” was a pretty darn good President.

texasroots

Keep calling in SC.

http://formidablecourage.wordpress.com louisianapatriette

No use quitting now. George Washington and William Barret Travis would be ashamed of us if we gave up.

cbartlett

Love the succinct analysis statement! (“Fruitcake” – bahahahaha!)

pj2012

let Santorum and Newt drop out… neither has the ground game that Perry has in place in other states. Perry is more competitive to Romney in ground game.

Why isn’t Santorum a spoiler? He like Newt has zip for ground game.

As for Sarah Palin’s non endorsement endorsement… what she said was not an endorsement. What she said was she’d vote for Newt to KEEP the vetting going… if that makes sense… well maybe in Palin’s world that makes sense.

I say Gov. Perry STAY in this thing… your debating skills have improve tremendously and you DON’T owe Newt anything.

It’s not over, don’t listen to Erick E or anyone else… listen to your heart. There’s no one in this race that has the conservative record that you have. We are fighting for the conservative soul of America. Don’t give up the fight.

onenationundrgod

Said Last week on Hannity that an endorsement from her might not be so good for anyone. So leading into this week she has not endorsed… but said she would vote for Newt in SC.

So what is the Strategy here?

onenationundrgod

Said Last week on Hannity that an endorsement from her might not be so good for anyone. So leading into this week she has not endorsed… but said she would vote for Newt in SC.

So what is the Strategy here?

Dave_A

Hence my statement that ‘If we look at anything, it should be what crimes are felonies vs misdemeanors’….

That said, under our current system it is VERY hard for the average citizen to be convicted of a felony.

First, you’ll find that most folks who get convicted have had several plead-downs & ‘chances’ before the court stamped them with the big red ‘F’…. Even being CHARGED with a felony offense doesn’t ensure conviction of the same – plea-bargains are quite common unless there’s a record to help make the original charge stick.

Second, while the body of law we have is quite large, the aspects that most citizens deal with are much narrower & generally commonly known…. Hence most citizens never end up on the dock for a felony charge – ‘everyone knows’ not to DUI, use or sell illegal drugs, not to murder, rape, steal, run from the police, etc….

There are some odd felonies out there in specialized areas of law, but the folks who live with said law (eg, postal employees have to know postal law, doctors have to know drug perscription law) generally learn the ‘special’ laws for their business…

Finally, following the well-known lesser laws tends to protect you from breaking the less-known big ones… Get a building permit, and you probably won’t have any trouble with ‘destruction of wetlands’ or similar odd-ball federal environmental laws… Try to save a few hundred & dodge the permit inspector, and you might end up breaking more than just the county building code…

There is ONE glaring exception to this, and that’s the arcane firearms laws of the East Coast, Illinois & California. It is quite possible for a non-politically active ‘average citizen’ (who doesn’t know there are still states that throw you in jail for otherwise-law-abiding pistol-packing) to inadvertently commit a serious crime by bringing their pistol with them to one of these places…

But that’s not a problem with making felonies a permanent stigmata, it’s a problem with arcane and (IMHO) unconstitutional gun laws….

Which brings us back to the ‘fix the laws (things that are misclassified or simply shouldn’t be crimes), don’t go soft on the lawbreakers’…

http://908StraightSt.wordpress.com/ mbecker908

And you’re a troll.

http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

I’ve never in my life imagined someone wanting to stick up for them. You’re the first.

bonnman

I’d suggest looking up the definition of “straw man argument” because you’re making one.

Melody Warbington (rwm52)

here

Note the third sentence.

cbartlett

(Except I will not sit out on the election no matter how bad the candidate is because we cannot tolerate 4 more years of out-of-control Obama.)

I’ve often thought that a well-publicized, very concise, chart showing positions on the major issues would make Perry stand out in the crowd. He really IS the only conservative and VERY different from the others, but the information about him is just not getting out there because most of the others have been running for national office for many, many years. The chart really should emphasize the economic and foreign policy records and minimize the social areas. In talking with my children and their friends (age 25-35), these younger voters, even though they have conservative values, are tired of hearing the rhetoric about social issues. As much as I don’t personally like it, the truth is they are more tolerant of things like gay marriage and don’t think the government should be involved in discussions about gays in the military or even abortion sometimes. They are much more concerned about economy, jobs and getting back to small government, which BTW, they have never truly seen in their lifetime. I heard Rush say that the conservative who can TEACH conservatism and tell voters what they are doing to support it is the one that will prevail. I am a Perry supporter and I dislike a lot of things about Newt, but you have to admit that he does a better job at that than any of the others. Hence the reason he got so much support at the Fox debate Monday – he explained economic principles in plain terms. Not entirely sure he’d follow through with action behind those statements but that is a whole different discussion..

acat

It’d work with the old punch-chad system too, of course.
————————————————————–
Question 1: Who is your current U.S. Senator?
[ ] Dick Durbin
[ ] Barack Obama
[ ] Mark Kirk
[ ] Roland Burris

Queston 2: Who do you vote for next U.S. Senator?
[ ] Dick Durbin
[ ] Jim Oberweis
————————————————————–

Get Question 1 wrong and your vote for Question 2 is auto-voided.

Mew

http://908StraightSt.wordpress.com/ mbecker908

see the link.

tjms

look back at previuos conversations.

Common_Cents

Hinting at Gingrich.

http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

should be able to own guns.

So really, what is it about your support for wife beaters?

submariner45

I guess this was never about nominating the best candidate for President, it was just all about stopping Mitt Romney. Who BTW Erickson endorsed for President in 2004.

So explain this to me, I thought Romney was unacceptable for RomneyCare, yet Newt Gingrich supported Romney Care AND a FEDERAL individual mandate.

How exactly is this an improvement?

WillWong

That is the strategy. Volunteer for Newt and help organize for Florida. Get friends to contribute time and money. Advocate firmly but gently for Newt among your friends.

http://908StraightSt.wordpress.com/ mbecker908

You’re an idiot.

tjms

n/t

aesthete

It definitely has the advantage of being absolutely content-neutral. Really, anything that eliminates terribly low-information voters, or voters who can be easily preyed upon by a class warfarist, is fine by me.

carolynr

On the Drudge Report. ABC has a taped interview from Gingrich’s wife that she says will bring his career to an end. ABC has decided…after they leaked this that they would wait until after the primaries to air the interview.

Now…who do you suppose could be behind that. Well…let’s see…Obama…yeh…that’s in his playbook. Romney…Well, after all, he did start the nasty attacks on Gingrich.

Meanwhile…let’s not consider Perry…after all he has the RECORD TO SAVE OUR BUTTS.

David123

I wouldn’t be afraid of her if she was behind me in an alley.

I don’t think I’m safer because she can’t legally own a gun. I’m not afraid of her voting either.

laura211

Conservatives and the Tea Party for that matter have a clear cut choice this year. If they choose someone other than Perry, then it tells me that they aren’t ready to shrink our government, cut spending and send power back to the states.

If Perry is polling so low, then why should he get out? I mean 6%, he shouldn’t be a threat to anyone. I’m tired of hearing all the other candidates say the rest of the field should drop out. If they can’t win the nomination without everyone else dropping out, then they don’t have a snowball’s chance in you know where to beat Obama. On top of that, Romney has been running for 5 years and he can’t close the deal and Paul has been running since 1988 and can’t close the deal.

I refuse to hold my noise again this year and vote for the non-conservative candidate with an (R) by his name.

The media and pundits that want Perry to drop out can kiss my butt.

Perry 2012

jswolter

Among Tea Party members only, Perry still does not lead. At least he does tie for second though….

Newt Gingrich 31%
Rick Perry 21%
Rick Santorum 21%
Mitt Romney 12%
Ron Paul 8%
Buddy Roemer 0%
Undecided 7%

bonnman

When you ask disingenuous questions like “So really, what is it about your support for wife beaters?” you completely misrepresent my position by replacing my concern with using misdemeanor offense to restrict Constitutional rights with a general support for wife beaters. That’s the definition of a straw man argument. Since I also don’t support the Gun Free School Zone Act you might as well accuse me of supporting the shooting of children.

I also suspect you don’t actually know the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony in regards to domestic violence.

WillWong

Politics is the Art of Persuasion through Reason. Me crucifying those who disagree with me….absolutely not!

At most, i might express my disbelief at some of the reasoning and ability to see something where nothing exist….I guess that is what faith means!

WillWong

Most will take the later!

jakeofalltrades

All ye who disagree with anything that drips from the maw of WillWong, tremble, for you are wrong.

acat

we’ve got now.

Vote Obama out!

Mew

WillWong

The nomination was Perry’s to lose! Speaking as someone who supported Bachmann, Perry, and Herman, i was rather astounded by his Oops.

He had the record, the money, and the organization. So much promise….so little to show….so far. Quite sad to be honest! I remembered the other six candidates feeling his pain and willing him on to recall the third Department to be eliminated.

WillWong

Obama is not a Do Nothing President…..he has done a lot of terrible things too abhorrent to be repeated.

WillWong

I am Will “can’t go wrong” Wong and I approved this message!

http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

I said in my first comment that I agreed with you about schools. As for domestic violence, you agreed that violent offenders shouldn’t have guns. Domestic violence is by definition violent.

So my question remains, and it’s not a strawman.

http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

I said on my first comment that I agreed with you about schools. But you stated your disagreement with taking guns from people convicted of domestic violence. I don’t care whether misdemeanor or felony, you think some wife beaters should have guns just so long as they aren’t real bad about it. I disagree.

http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

Then showed up later. Sorry for the duplicate.

bonnman

They are NOT the same thing. Consider the argument for secession in the prelude to the Civil War. If I were to support a state’s right to secede, you would then ask why do you support slavery? See how that makes no sense? So when you ask stupid questions like “So really, what is it about your support for wife beaters?” you make no sense.

http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

I want to know why you think that’s ok.

RS

EDITOR OF REDSTATE

Sarah Palin Says She’d Vote for Newt

COMMENTS

ALL

COMMENTS

POPULAR

#RSRH

PICK YOUR STATE & GET LOCAL