Herman Cain wins Florida straw poll.

reaganbuckley

Lots of people are watching and I think Cain’s support is related to his excellent debate performance. Newt’s moving up, but has too much baggage to get elected. Bachman’s toast after the HPV mental retardation thing and I think Cain will pick up some of her support. I agree with Erick, there’s something annoying about Santorum. Every time I hear him respond, I want to punch him in the face. I think it’s because he comes off swarmy and whiny.

DerKrieger

…that the field needs to be cut. The bottom polling candidates IMO, are just sniping at the leaders in any cases to try and get some attention. Michele Bachmann’s Gardasil rampage is an example of this. The debates so far have had me beating my head against the wall, metaphorically of course, because there is no focus on Obama, his policies, his runaway bureaucracies and their destructive rampage through the private sector, energy, or his constant end runs around Congress and the people. The candidates are engaged in a circular firing squad and doing Obama’s campaign work for him. With fewer candidates I think they can better focus on Obama.

http://nerds4cain.com Brookhaven

Historicly candidates like Bachmann and Perry (who have early sudden rises to the top) tend to fizzle out before primary day.

Cain and several others are taking the tortoise route–slowly build support over time.

The election is a long way from over, and it is in no way just a two man race.

vamoose

No two ways about it. I had hoped for more from Perry, but he’s just not a good candidate and people are noticing. The best news for Perry is that there are not any debates for another 18 days.

captkirc

No one could have predicted this showing today and had he been excluded from Thursday’s debate today would have never happened.

Scope

As as usually happens the TV talking heads are already analyzing these results. Someone said that this really hurts Perry because of his immigration position. I disagree, Perry was leading in Fla. polling before the Thurs. debate. The squabbling in the debate was seen negatively, which Perry did participate in. I guess you can only be the pinata just so many times, with willing debate moderators provoking just those jabs, and I really honestly believe wanting to see a blood sport. Fox and Chris Wallace should never do another presidential debate. I am very happy for the Herminator.

Now, finally there are at least a few that are recognizing the fact that this isn’t about who can win the boxing championship with the least blood on them. Thank you investors Business Daily everyone one is sick of the dam circus some are trying to make of this primary.

George Neitz

The whole auditorium went wild when Gov Scott announced the winner of the straw poll, Herman gave an excellent speech to the delegates, Santorum is darn proud to be a “poltician”, Nute is nute and he gave a low key but informative talk, Romney blew off the RPOF (dumb dumb dumb) Mitt you cant win the final without Florida , Perry had a good video prentation but he was not there, RonPaul had a video that was inane he was not there, Johnson just didnt bother,Huntsman left his family behind to talk for him but they were nice and totally ineffective.

jjhlh1

and I will be happy. Watching that video posted here last night of Romney talking about how he was in favor of abortions, including for those less than 18 years old without parental consent, well he lost my vote for good. If he wins the nomination I will actively campaign against him. As a matter of principle I cannot vote for a weasel.

Bravo for Cain, he’s done great so far.

reaganbuckley

nt

Scope

before the Thurs. debate. It absolutely needs to be narrowed now. With 9 people standing on the stage, getting 30 seconds or a minute to answer questions is foolish and damaging to all of them. Then again, the debates have been noting more than to cull sound bites from the candidates that can be replayed and replayed. Does anyone actuall think Gary Johnson’s dog shovel ready comment was useful for anything?

renl57

Santorum performed adequately at the debate. I don’t see how you can demand he drop out now that he gave that performance.

Whereas Huntsman looked like a nonentity as far as this Presidential campaign is concerned. And he’s never looked like anything else.

bs61

He said at the start that he is not the most outgoing guy, but he is who he is.

I agree with you that it makes me want to punch him! And that’s when he is saying things that I agree with!

renl57

so that the impeccably pro-life Barack Obama wins another 4 years.

I’ll say it again: Keep your eye on the prize. The prize is to get Obama out of the White House. By whatever lawful means there are.

bs61

But I really like Cain, and he did an excellent job in the debate! This is great news, especially for those of us who will not vote for anyone who ran last time. Let’s here it four our anti-establishment guy!

reaganbuckley

He needs to go! The only worthwhile contribution he’s made to the debates is his obscure Kurt Cobain reference.

LiveStronger

The next debate is in New Hampshire, where Romney is well-liked and Perry is courteously tolerated. If the polls show a substantial drop for Perry in key states like Florida, California, and New York, Perry should consider dropping out and endorsing Romney.

Scope

Thank you.

nvrepub

nt

LiveStronger

That’s what you should be saying. This has nothing to do with Romney’s position on abortions. All intelligent people know that Romney is proudly pro-life.

There is no way President Romney would put anyone on the U.S. Supreme Court who didn’t swear to uphold an originalist interpretation of the Constitution. The minute someone can direct me to a provision in the Constitution which specifically refers to a woman’s right to have an abortion, I will recognize that right.

Romney feels the way most Mormons do about abortion: it should not be done unless the woman was raped or if her life, or the infant’s life is at risk. I trust Romney’s position on women’s rights far more than I trust Gov. Perry on this issue.

Whacker77

Many like to say debates don’t matter, but tell that to Rick Perry. After just brutal reviews about his performance, he loses to Herman Cain in a straw poll. His fast rise to the top may only be matched by his rapid fall from the top.

Rick Perry will still be in the game because of money, but this is moving to Romney very quickly right now. It’s just amazing a candidate no Republican really likes could well cruise to the nomination. At least McCain had to work for it.

The net result of tonight is the calls for another candidate to jump in the race will grow louder.

http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

So I’m really not sure how much of a role they’ll play, at least this early.

jjhlh1

in my life, but I can’t vote for Romney. He will hurt the conservative cause. We will be stuck with him in 2016 as well. Better to have Obama take all the blame. With a Republican congress Obama’s hands will be tied anyway. The Supreme Court will rule on Obamacare. It is the best path for the long run.

Also, I certainly don’t trust Romney to appoint conservative judges.

smitch61

big middle finger to the establishment. I guess the media’s “two man” mantra is not correct. Conservatives will not put up with this BS anymore.

So I guess we better get used to Cain and go full throttle. The field is set, nobody is allowed in, we have been told by the smart ones that it’s too late…….no more room at the inn.

LiveStronger

Once the Republican Party has chosen it’s nominee, conservatives will show up and vote for that person.

I don’t believe that you are a conservative. I believe that you are either a liberal who has come here to throw a wet blanket on RedState or you are some anti-Mormon bigot. Now which is it?

Tbone

Actually, Romney should drop out and primary Obama.

beach91

Great for Herman Cain. He is the one who has been laying out a simple plan in the debates and it looks as if that has had a positive effect for him. Imagine Cain versus Obama in a general election? How will the media be able to spin the racism card in that scenario? Again congrats to the Cain team!

NeoKong

9-9-9
The Chill-layen model.

When you think about it Cain has just as much business experience if not more than Romney.
Plus he got the Tea Party street cred.
He has been in the trenches with us.
Being black doesn’t hurt either.
The man can certainly give a great speech.

Uh hoh my god…I would LOVE to see Cain go up against Obama.
How could the media possibly go on with no one to call a racist…?
How could they possibly question if he is qualified after Obama…?

Right now he is the most dangerous man in politics.

jjhlh1

“All intelligent people know that Romney is proudly pro-life.”

What? I saw the video that was posted here last night (I think it is still up) of Romney during his 2002 gubernatorial debate in MA where he said he was proudly pro-choice and would never interfere with a woman’s right to have an abortion, including for those under age 18 without parental consent. Did you see the video. Look at it. Or go to YouTube and search for “Romney on Abortion – 2002″. The man is a weasel. It’s sickening.

I will enthusiastically support any of our nominees other than Romney. If he wins I will definitely campaign against him.

skponggol

After spending so much time and money on the Florida straw poll, this is all Rick Perry gets ?

So much has been lost for so little in so short a time. Rick Perry is done.

Feel sorry for those Perry supporters who are conned and misled into the Perry bandwagon by those Establishment, anti-grassroot pseudo- conservative bloggers and pundits who are touting and hawking their favourite crony capitalist for their best corporate interest. Sorry you’ve been snookered.

Scope

actually conduct more than a sound bite moment, without pitting one candidate against another I’ll agree they are helpful. There haven’t been any debates both from leftists with an agenda, and Chris Wallace with an agenda, they are noting more than who’s hair looks the best that night.

jjhlh1

his policies have failed. He deserves to be fired. But I won’t support Romney after watching that video. Sorry, it was posted here and that’s where it first came to my attention.

LiveStronger

Remember “Fred ’08″? Remember Buchanan ’92?

Insurgent candidates like Rick Perry, Fred Thompson, and Pat Buchanan generally help Democrats to frame their arguments against the Republican nominee more than they help conservatives get elected.

The people who don’t like Mitt Romney this year would have hated Ronald Reagan in 1979. Reagan was a former Democrat who had increased taxes in California. No one knew for sure what kind of president he would be.

1980 was a pivotal election. We voted in Reagan to confront the Russians rather than continue Jimmy Carter’s policy of appeasement on nuclear issues. (I do give credit to Carter for secretly confronting the Reds in Afghanistan, though.)

We voted in Reagan because we were tired of Democrats taking money from hard-working Americans through taxation and then causing rationing of gasoline through their socialistic price-controls.

Reagan worked across the aisle to cut every American’s taxes. He got tough on the Soviet Union and helped America to win the Cold War.

2012 is also a pivotal election. We can’t allow an insurgent candidate to convince the most conservative element of the Republican Party that the election is between Obama and his clone.

In reality, Romney and Obama disagree on every major issue. This is why Obama is hoping that he won’t have to face Romney. Romney polls better than Perry against Obama in every state. Romney can beat Obama and send him back to Chicago.

Perry can’t beat Obama.

florida772

It seemed that many delegates were upset that the perry, romney etc didnt participate and sent a message through a protest vote

LiveStronger

Send me a message.

Until then, post an actual reply to what I’m saying rather than telling me what I can and can’t do.

http://www.usdebateboard.com usdebateboard

Do you know?

Screw the mantra that is is between Perry and Romney, and if you don’t line up behind Perry we’ll get stuck with Romney.

I hope the so-called money people waiting for Christie will get their heads out of their arses and support someone like Cain.

gekster

Romneycare, Obamacare.
The government must manage healthcare because the free market can’t do it.

onemovoter

Romney the finger wetter.

Romney the chameleon.

Anyone other than Romney will be the calling of the primary season.

http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

You don’t feel sorry at all: you’re actually enjoying yourself, in a somewhat creepy passive-aggressive sort of way.

Moe Lane

PS: Don’t get stuck on stupid, Sparky. And don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about, either.

Justin Spagnolo (standardcandle)

you try to down play the ‘hill to die on’ expectation for other candidates, because it usually comes around for yourself…. the reason they only become hill’s to die on, because they suggest that there is no option but to win, or die… its a matter of expectations…

With your comment here, I must assume that if Romney is flat in the polls after NH, then you’ll concede defeat then?

http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

When it comes down to the general election, we’re going to be supporting the Republican candidate.

lottoj

Nt

gekster

Romney is a Democrat in sheeps clothing.
The poster said nothing about religeon.

And the way you post, the same liberal tag could apply to you.

http://www.usdebateboard.com usdebateboard

we’ll be asked to overlook a lot of what’s wrong with Christie because “he’s the only one who can beat Obama,” and the only alternative is Romney.

Bull.

onemovoter

here like you did in another post lower down.

“I believe that you are either a liberal who has come here to throw a wet blanket on RedState or you are some anti-Mormon bigot. Now which is it?”

That kind of talk on the boards here is treading real close to breaking the posting rules.

If you want to be taken seriously here, post decent reality based info, instead of the fantasies you’ve posted so far.

carolina

Of course, I am anti-establishment all the way!

blutarsky

The talking heads on TV, talk radio people like Ingraham, and yes, conservative bloggers have been so cock sure that the “also-rans” like Cain never had a shot. Hopefully, a little humiliation will make you all think twice about so quickly discounting a man like Herman Cain. The pundits did the same to a guy named Ronald Reagan years ago.

blutarsky

People like Laura Ingraham and lots of conservative bloggers have made it a point that Cain never had a shot. Time for some apologies.

http://whattoreadtoday.blogspot.com/ Paula

Let’s not fall into the trap that the media is setting for us.The media (Fox included) LOVES the idea of a Romney/Perry showdown because Romney and Perry have millions to spend on ads. Media outlets have no use for Santorum, Johnson, or even Cain to stay in the race because they’re not going to pour boatloads of $ into ads on their stations like Perry and Romney will.

And for what it’s worth, candidates’ consultants don’t have a lot of use for grassroots campaign activities because they make a hefty 10-15% commission on their media buys. Where do you think they’re going to focus their resources?

Why should we aid and abet this predictable process?

Let’s think through this…

1. Almost no one here likes Romney. Most of us would hold our noses and vote for him, but very few here would passionately support him.

2. Those who support Perry have some very serious concerns after the recent debate. His views on immigration are at odds with the views of a lot of conservatives.

Other than the fact that these two have the most money, there is no logical reason those of us who are conservatives should be sold on them as the OWNERS of the front-runner positions.

Someone needs to stay in this race and keep asking the hard questions that the media won’t ask. I don’t know why people here dislike Rick Santorum so much, but at least he’s willing to challenge faux conservatism when he sees it and give a cogent, articulate case for constitutional conservatism. Mitt Romney sure isn’t doing that and Rick Perry seems incapable of it right now.

I agree that Ron Paul and Gary Johnson need to go – they’re confessed Libertarians. They are off the reservation and shouldn’t have been allowed to participate in the first place since their loyalties lie with another party.

The same could probably be said of Huntsman.

While I think Herman Cain has an encouraging, positive populist message, I think participating in further debates will show that he (still) has no foreign policy. He has no chance of winning a debate with Obama by saying, “I’ll figure it all out once I get in office and have all the intelligence available to me.” Frankly, that scares me. I’m for ABO, but I’m not for putting a rank amateur in office.

Bottom line, it’s too early to cut and run and settle for the candidates the media has chosen because of the size of their bank accounts.

Scope

with your statement that it doesn’t hurt that Cain is black. Cain deserves much more than that. Cain sees himself as red and white with blue stars, unlike the current occupant in the WH.

jjhlh1

but please let me make my case before we choose the wrong nominee.

digitalhap

I remember when Rubio was an “unknown” with single-digit poll numbers. The conventional wisdom was that Charlie Crist would steamroll to the Senate. What happened there?

There hasn’t been one single vote cast in the primaries yet, and people are writing off Cain the same way. Why even allow some people to run if polls can predict everything?

dirlie

several blogs and several articles today and yesterday. It is obvious that as bad a debate performance that Perry had, that is not what has caused the loss in his support. Overwhelmingly people, on just about every site, are saying outright that they will not vote for him because of his stance on immigration. If I am a Romney strategist, a Democrat or even just a media guy, I make sure that Perry is asked over and over about immigration. He has doubled down on his anti conservative, not even nuanced, immigration stance and he will continue to loss support because of it.

lottoj

The speed with which so many around here donned their Perry colored classes and became oblivious to anyone not named Perry or Romney is frustrating. I’m sure the same would happen with Christie if he were to take the lead.

Christie is great with unions and financial issues but a non-starter for me with his less than conservative positions on the 2nd amendment and AGW.

I’m officially on the Cain bandwagon (hadn’t really committed prior to this).

Locke

nt

http://www.usdebateboard.com usdebateboard

Nuh uh.

jjhlh1

for bring me to a level of sanity. That video really disturbed me.

http://whattoreadtoday.blogspot.com/ Paula

His views on Iraq?
Afghanistan?
Iran?

You don’t know what they are? He doesn’t have an opinion because he doesn’t have all the information and intelligence yet? Nothing on his website? Good if you’re running a pizza shop, I guess, not good if you’re running for president.

http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

Thank you.

Scope

If you looked around all of the media, there is negative after negative stories about Perry, while giving Romney kudos. Then there are those that are pitting Romney against Perry in order to prop up what the Republican elites like Rove et all, are trying to do to push the next candidate in line to the forefront, Romney. You don’t have to listen to them or believe them. You surely can’t not see the media game in choosing our next canddate Romney. Perry has had much more negative written and spoken about him, and yes, it has sucked much oxygen for a fair race.

Scope

n/t

earlgrey

We don’t nt

earlgrey

I meant to simply say ditto to Scope.

strangebuttrue

The problem is not that Romney is a Democrat in sheeps clothing… He’s a Republican in unfamiliar clothing. I believe most people’s problems with Romney is how he comes across. A lot of folks are most familiar with Republicans who are Southern and/or politicians. Romney is neither.

Locke

from disaffected blacks who would never vote for a white Republican.

Whom do I favor now? Let’s see how things look if Perry’s collapse brings Palin in.

http://www.usdebateboard.com usdebateboard

I hope todays’ poll is a step in the right direction for you.

strangebuttrue

Although what people say is important, what people do is even more important. By all accounts Romney is a man of integrity in his personal and business lives, and it is illogical to believe that he would not be a man of integrity as President.

His conversion to pro-life is well documented, and I don’t believe we as pro-lifers help our cause by bashing those who were formerly pro-choice.

strangebuttrue

I think Romney is solid in what he believes. You can look at almost any public officials record and see some shifts in opinions, but if Romney was the panderer people believe him to be, he would have certainly “apologized” for Romneycare as many wanted him to do.

http://whattoreadtoday.blogspot.com/ Paula

Except that I can’t support Romney, though I would hold my nose and vote for him like I did McCain. As I said in my earlier post, ABO.

I’m in the camp that thinks the vetting process is good. A month ago I was pretty keen on Bachmann. Some of her recent statements have given me serious concerns. A week ago I really liked Perry. Go figure. I’m an obsessive-compulsive researcher, but what looks good on paper doesn’t translate to a flesh and blood candidate.

Vegas_Rick

during the campaign. And then, when he received his first classified intelligence briefing, he said, “Oh, s***!, I had no idea!” That’s why he flipped to the GWB school of foreign policy so quickly. I don’t think Cain has responded well to the foreign policy questions, but I do believe him when he says he doesn’t feel he has enough information to give specific policy plans.

strangebuttrue

Even healthcare. Romney is fully opposed to Obamacare and, like every other Republican candidate, will work to repeal it.

Romneycare was a Massachusetts solution to Massachusetts problem. If Romney had been governor of, say, Texas or South Carolina, his solution would’ve been totally different and tailored to the needs of those states. Incidentially, the current Massachusetts plan was not exactly what Romney wanted, but several of his vetoes were overturned.
And…the plan had the support of many conservatives (at the time, some of whom have “flip-flopped_.

http://www.usdebateboard.com usdebateboard

p.s. The pizza shop thing is a left wing talking point.

dsmurf

Great for defense and great for cutting spending and reforming and/ or rewriting the tax code.
Cain will get rid of the Romnecare modeled Obamacare. ‘Nuf said.

victrola

What’s even more amazing is that Perry put the full weight of their campaign behind this straw poll, with the candidate saying himself how important it was.

Herman Cain would be a shoo-in if he had some elected experience under his belt, but even still, I’m somewhat open to the idea of him being our nominee. I see him being MUCH more electable than say a Bachmann or Palin.

Everyone is now waiting to see if a big name decides to take advantage of this vacuum.

Vegas_Rick

Really? It seemed to me he was merely commenting on Perry’s press coverage.

lepelerin

Chris Christie is the man to beat if he gets in this race. He’s about the only one that SOUNDS credible and would make Obama look like a man child!

http://www.usdebateboard.com usdebateboard

And implied that the attack on Perry was a concerted effort to save or embellish Romney.

clintonformccain

…that’s a lovely dress you are wearing today.

Why, thank-you Eddie….

txchick57

By the way, here’s a blast from the past. https://webspace.utexas.edu/seanmt/medina.pdf

Perry was going to lose the primary to that loon too and then of course had no chance against Bill White.

Romney? No thanks. If he’s the candidate, I will vote for Obama as punishment to the party.

txchick57

By the way, here’s a blast from the past. https://webspace.utexas.edu/seanmt/medina.pdf

Perry was going to lose the primary to that loon too and then of course had no chance against Bill White.

Romney? No thanks. If he’s the candidate, I will vote for Obama as punishment to the party.

Scope

at least for one states voters, is that I heard that no candidate was allowed to bus in supporters, and that no one was allowed to buy tickets for their supporters. I don’t know how they did that, but it seems to have worked. Although I know Perry gave a speech there this morning, I also noticed that Paul, Romney and Bachmann either hightailed it out of there quickly, and some decided to not really engage, and put much effort into the poll.

Vegas_Rick

Who else is meant to embellish? The also rans?

http://www.usdebateboard.com usdebateboard

And the implication that if I have a problem with Perry, I am simply enabling Romney, or those who are scheming to get him the nomination.

Robert A. Hahn

If they were protest votes, they would have been sprayed at random among Cain, Newt, and Santorum. But they weren’t. They were heavily skewed toward Cain.

The buzz for Cain had been building since the debate. Friday night Cain had a “meet and greet” at the hotel across from the Convention Center. Twenty minutes before the doors were due to open, the line went around the corner, half the length of the hotel, around another corner, and through the woods to grandmother’s house. They had to go get a bigger room. And this was not a free breakfast like Perry organized. It was free nothing. Just a chance to come and hear Herman.

Remember, we live in a state that elected a Governor who was a businessman with no prior political experience. Cain doesn’t look as unelectable to Florida Republicans as he does to reporters from DC.

runner12

my only hesitation in supporting him 100% is his lack of governing experience. If it us a leap for House member like Bachman or Ryan to win, how much more so for someone who has no governing experience?

This makes me nervous regarding how that issue would play out in the general election. As for me, I would be fine with a little more common sense and a little less Washington insider on domestic issues. But foreign policy makes me nervous with regards to Cain.

I just find myself wishing that he had just one ounce of governing experience. It is really his only Achilles heel. But it is a big one.

blutarsky

Cain fully articulates the philosophy that would guide his foreign policy decisions – essentially Ronald Reagan. That, and only that, is what people want to hear from someone at this point in the race.

From his website:

The primary duty of the President of the United States is to protect our people. In fact, it is the principal duty of a limited federal government. They must ensure that our military and all of our security agencies are strong and capable.

Unfortunately, national security has become far too politicized with our elected officials using the issue as a means to polarize our country as the ?war hawks? and the ?peace doves.? In response, the safety and morale of our brave men and women in uniform are often at risk for political gain. The judgment of our military experts on the ground is often underutilized in exchange for political purposes. National security isn?t about politics. It?s about defending America.

While diplomacy is a critical tool in solving the complex security issues we face, it must never compromise military might. Because we are such a free and prosperous people, we are the envy of the world. Many regimes seek to destroy us because they are threatened by our ideals, and they resent our prosperity. We must acknowledge the real and present danger that terrorist nations and organizations pose to our country?s future.

Further, we must stand by our friends and we must not be fooled by our enemies. We should never be deceived by terrorists. They only have one objective, namely, to kill all of us. We must always remain vigilant in dealing with adversaries.

We must support our military with the best training, equipment, technology and infrastructure necessary to keep them in a position to win. We must also provide our men and women in uniform, our veterans and their families with the benefits they deserve for their tremendous sacrifice. These heroes have served us. We must never forget to serve them.

Vegas_Rick

But that doesn’t change the fact that the media has ganged up on Perry. How many article in the mainstream press have you critical of Romney, Cain, or Huntsman? Not many if any.

clintonformccain

Those of us in Massachusetts watched his conversion, His convenient conversion that took place on or about the day he decided he would run for the Republican presidential nomination instead of re-election in Massachusetts.

Mitt Romney is as slick as they come. He doesn’t have a conviction in his body. Weasel in a good word. I would still vote for him over Obama. Heck, I’d vote for Charles Manson over Obama and Romney is probably better than Charles Manson.

fredforamerica

…after all, it was just a few short weeks ago that all the pundits were saying that Herman Cain was done because of his comments regarding Muslims. It can change again in Perry’s favor before the race is over. This weekend’s events, however, underscore that Perry’s got to find his A-Gam,e, and fast, if he wants to have a serious chance at the nomination.

Scope

also causes you to post in a rational manner, without calling everyone out that you don’t agree with. I still think you are a liberal trying to interject in our R nomination process.

Vegas_Rick

and I’m sure will have many more in perfect harmony with the political winds.

gekster

He said he would grant waivers to all 50 states on the mandate.
That sounds good, but it still leaves in place the taxes and regulations associated with it.
Big difference between repeal and waiver.

blutarsky

Believe me…he’ll murderize Obama in the general election.

dsmurf

Should not be an issue with any of the GOP candidates save for the those that cater to the jihadists like Paul.
Who does have the foreign policy expertise other than Condoleeza Rice and her expertise with the Russians and others under GW?

dsmurf

Should not be an issue with any of the GOP candidates save for the those that cater to the jihadists like Paul.
Who does have the foreign policy expertise other than Condoleeza Rice and her expertise with the Russians and others under GW?

blutarsky

I’d love to see Cain against Obama because it would truly be demonstrated that the racists are on the left. Perhaps he could undo some of the colossal damage that Obama and the dems have done to race relations in this country.

vamoose

I am more interested in executive experience than governing experience. Cain has executive experience. Obama has governing experience from the last 2.5 years, but what good has it done him or the country? Give me a good executive any day.

strangebuttrue

It’s easy to type the word “weasel” but do you really believe that? In his day to day life, in his dealing with his wife, his family, his church, his business, do you that he acts “weaselly” and without conviction? And if so, please say so!

To my point, the way you live your life speaks volumes more than the words you say.

I appreciate you believing that it was “convenient timing,” but we can only speculate about someone’s motives, only God knows for sure.

http://lukos.com Ed54

precisely because it is bad news for Perry.

Romney has been following the front runner strategy, hovering above the fray while the challengers vie against each other to break out. Any time one threatens to break out, the others pull him or her back down, like lobsters in a barrel.

Perry had broken out and threatened to become the front runner, based mainly on the excitement and momentum of his late entry into the race. The consensus was that Romney could not afford to ignore Perry any longer, and would have to go negative. Now the debates and straw poll have broken Perry’s momentum, and he’s back in the barrel with Cain, Bachman, et al, Romney can go back to hovering over the fray, and he barely got his hands dirty.

Perry shot himself in the foot. Emphasizing that straw poll was a very poor tactical move, an unforced error leading to an own goal. Coming on the heels of the debate, Perry is showing that he is not ready for a national campaign. He’s the Fred Thompson of 2012.

Anything that keeps the other candidates competing with each other is good news for Romney. If his challengers keep taking turns peaking and fading, he can ride that wave all the way to the nomination.

http://www.usdebateboard.com usdebateboard

means nobody really wants him.

The fact that he (or you) thinks he can win merely by wearing everyone else down rather than with a winning message shows how flawed Romney is.

Scope

There is no doubt that Obama was shooting his mouth off with little knowledge to do so. I would be happy to go and vote for Cain if he was the nominee. I don’t like or agree with his support of the fair tax, and I see one of his 9′s to be similar to that, but I understand that he can’t just enact that legislation on his own. Same for the rest with all their promises. I’ve said over and over that I really like the Herminator, but, I still don’t see him in the number one roll. He must must be in the next admin. though, and at a very high level.

strangebuttrue

It’s a given that Romney has “converted” from what one would call pro-choice to pro-life (It’s my understanding in his personal life he’s always been against abortion.) I’m not so sure that there have been other “conversions.”

I believe Romney’s problems to this issue are two-fold. First of all, Romney was running in doesn?t Massachusetts, so even though as a conservative he had to sell himself as generally palatable to that electorate. Secondly, Romney’s life was not politics and he had not immersed himself into politics, and some of his views on specific issues were not fully developed. (Much like Herman Cain’s foreign policy views this cycle).

blutarsky

His Florida straw poll win will now encourage those who like Herman Cain to believe he actually CAN win. I know all the pundits are saying you can’t read too much into straw polls, but I believe in this case it is a game changer. Hoards of people have been waiting for a good reason to jump on the Cain train, and this will be it.

By the way, since the debate, the Cain campaign has had their best 48 hour period ever for campaign contributions. The train is rolling!

Vegas_Rick

I was leaning toward Perry until the debate. He can win me back by showing that he has the ability to communicate his policies in a way that will convince skeptical voters. GWB didn’t fight for his ideas very effectively, and we saw how well that turned out for the country and the party.

http://lukos.com Ed54

The president may be the Chief Executive, but he is also the head of government and the lead politician of his party. He cannot manage like a CEO unless he understands how government works. He also has to deal with the other branches of government. To be effective, he must continually persuade Congress to follow his agenda and build public support for his policies.

In short, the President does not just manage. He GOVERNS. And that is why 3 of the last 5 Presidents have been Governors. They have direct experience governing. Look at how lousy Obama has done with no previous governing experience.

Scope

to Perry, but more of a strong message to all of them to stop the negative attacks on one another, including the pot shots that Palin has been taking from the cheap Greta seat. There are no big names that have any chance of getting in this late in the game and gaining much of anything. That you can take to the bank.

rbdwiggins

Bachmann would have received more than 1.5% of the vote from random selection alone.

Cain’s victory was so decisive because his grass root campaign and no-spin message appeals to Florida voters.

Good to hear from you Nick. Hope all is well.

Vegas_Rick

but I’ve met used car salesman that came across as more sincere and trust worthy. But, I’ll keep my mind, eyes and ears open. Perhaps he will convince me.

http://lukos.com Ed54

which, as the saying goes, is what it is.

strangebuttrue

“Our next president must repeal Obamacare and replace it with market-based reforms that empower states and individuals and reduce health care costs.”- Mitt Romney
http://www.mittromney.com/issues/health-care

He talks about the waiver because that it what he could do, by Executive Order, on the first day of his administration. That would start the process of killing it and allow states to opt out. Repealing it would take a little more time than one day (obviously no President can’t repeal a standing law on his own), but he would make sure Obamacare is gone as soon as possible.

sisquinanamook

Herman Cain wins FL straw poll, Morgan Freeman hardest hit…

http://www.usdebateboard.com usdebateboard

And “our bad” for not rolling out the red carpet for Perry?

Vegas_Rick

That’s your answer to every comment? Get over it, dude.

txchick57

Scope

please watch whatever speeches Perry has given that you can find. They are great, uplifting, and really do give you are sense of leadership and inspiration for this country. Also remember that when Obama is off teleprompter, he is tongue tied, stuttering, and his inner marxist comes out in full display. I reject the idea that Perry wouldn’t come out and forcefully defend himself, and his ideas/positions as Bush had done. Hasn’t he been called wrong for being forthright by many? As president he would never allow the media to define him as Bush did. What do you think?

strangebuttrue

…that you’ll keep your eyes and ears open. That’s awesome and all anyone can ask. I do acknowledge a lot of his problem is how he comes across to people, but I think he’s getting better at that.

lightspeed

The left wouldn’t know what to do with themselves. It would be hard to push the “racist Republicans” angle, not that they wouldn’t try. If it comes to pass, expect the Dems to get really, really down and dirty. It will make the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings look like a lovefest.

http://www.usdebateboard.com usdebateboard

That’s the ony response I seem to get whenever I ask hard questions about Perry.

septembergurl

2007 straw polls have been won by Cain or Paul. These are activists, the base, the enthusiasts who are motivated by issues. In general, this is a good thing. It points up issues and candidates who have been overlooked by the pros/elitists, so, all good.

The Presidency 5 in florida (convention, straw poll) has, historically, been accurate in predicting the eventual Rep nominee. In 2008, IIRC, the McCain people succeeded in having the Florida GOP cancel the straw poll. Doubtless it would have exposed some weakness for McCain, who went on (w/the Crist endorsement) to win the primary and the nomination.

So it’s expectations and performance. Going into the weekend, Romney had played it safe by deciding early not to participate in the speeches on Sat, tho his name would be on the ballot and his peeps would be active. This was back when Romney was the frontrunner and he was protecting his lead by not competing in places where he would probably lose — eg, Ames Iowa and Florida.

Michele Bachmann also pulled out after it became clear she could not really compete anywhere except Iowa. On the ballot but not speaking an not competing.

Less understanable is the decision by Perry not to give a speech but to appear at a breakfast before heading out to Michigan for the Mackinac Island GOP straw poll. Um…..Michigan is one of Mittens’ home states, along with Massachusetts, New Hampshire, California and Utah. You’re going to win a straw poll there? No.

Going in to this weekend, Perry had a head of steam — he led in the most recent poll of Republicans. After his lame debate performance, his campaign obviously decided that it would be better not to compete totally in case (as happened) he might lose. This was a very poor decision. He should have fought for it rather than sending someone in to speak for him..

Finally, Huntsman also bailed on Saturday. After putting his campaign his campaign HQ in Florida (another dumbass move by his idiot advisors) he spent the day campaigning in New Hampshire, where he’s putting some numbers up.

This left four actual camdidates making speeches in person on Saturday to the convention: Cain, Gingrich, Santorum and Paul..

Am I the only person not surprised by these results? Cain had a great debate on Thursday, gave good speeches Fri to CPAC and Sat to the FL GOP. News flash: The base does not like Mittens. Even more they really don’t like Perry’s position on illegal immigrants amnesty.

What really surprises me is the low votes for Santorum and Paul. Paul has won some of the straw polls in the past. Where are his bots? Weak.

Santorum has been le to believe by some neocon websites that he won the the debate Thursday. No.

Finally, a data point that I have found to be ueful: rasmussen does a head-to-head of Republican candidates vs Obama. Right now Obama leads them all but not by much. There are five, and only five, who can match Obama (ie, within single digits): Perry, Romney, Paul, Cain and Huntsman. That’s it.

aesthete

It’s an axiom of conservatism that conservatives all show up, vote, and work vigorously for the Republican party? I didn’t see that in the Edmund Burke cliffnotes, but OK.

Vegas_Rick

I am keeping an open mind about all of the announced candidates. And will enthusiastically support and work for whomever the nominee turns out to be.

Scope

He has absolutely deserved more attention.

runner12

I would like to see how Cain polls against Obama. I think that will be telling as to whether or not this will be what keeps Cain from the WH.

aesthete

Gitmo’s still open, we’ve opened up a third war, Bush tax cuts were extended, and Obama’s only major achievement is a bill that’s very similar to a Heritage Foundation-written corporatist bill that enriches insurance companies. How well did that work out for them, again?

http://www.usdebateboard.com usdebateboard

Why make him look good on health care and immigration concede those issues with Republicans who have the same ideas he does?

Nominate someone who will fight him every step of the way.

http://whattoreadtoday.blogspot.com/ Paula

You may philosophically believe that abortion is wrong, but that tells me nothing about whether you would work to overturn Roe v. Wade.

You may philosophically believe that education is a state issue but that doesn’t tell me if you would actually fight to repeal NCLB or de-fund the DOE.

You may philosophically believe that Iran shouldn’t have nukes but that doesn’t tell me if you would proactively prevent them from obtaining or arming them.

Do you see the difference?

I need to know that from a presumptive nominee.

Vegas_Rick

You cannot read these comments objectively. Quote me the relative statement.

dirlie

have not thought this out. I do not like Romney and I would have to literally put a clothes pin on to vote for that flip floppy Rhino but I would do it. Romney is streets ahead of Obama in every category. Obama is a disaster, actually a disease, that needs to be eradicated immediately. I understand your distrust and dislike of Romney but really, Obama? never !

aesthete

and didn’t beat his mistress. His conduct in his personal life was not wildly indicative of the great evils that he perpetrated. People (especially men) are very good at divvying up their lives and applying wildly different standards to different sub-categories of life — it is completely believable that Romney is a good business associate and father, but that he has trained himself to be a spineless weasel in political life. In fact, that is one of the things that repels me about Romney.

aesthete

I’m glad I was able to Godwin this thread before anyone else.

Vegas_Rick

How, exactly does that punish or anthing but the Country? It was exactly this type of moronic thinking that put the Bozo in Chief in the White House.

aesthete

“There’s no way he’d swindle us conservatives, he’s on our side.”

“Are you sure about that? What has he done to make you think that?”

“Well, he told me he was on my side at the Presidential debates.”

*Bangs head against wall*

Kyle-MI

While we should regain control of the Senate, it would take everything falling in place just right to get that filibuster proof majority. In other words, outright repeal of Obamacare after the election is an iffy thing.

That is where Romney’s EO comes into place. It will effectively repeal Obamacare and temporarily get around a filibuster. The danger, of course, is that it is only good as long as the White House is under GOP control. We would eventually need an outright legislative repeal.

dirlie

And now all Mitt’s team has to do is make sure Perry is asked about immigration by the press. Mitt will not even appear to be involved at all. The press will willingly keep this immigration issue on the front burner and Perry has doubled down on his decidedly non-conservative position. Perry is done, and he did it to himself.

victrola

That’s the primary reason his campaign is in this precarious position, it’s not the attacks from Bachmann or Romney. It’s Perry’s horribly bad debate performance(s) and his very bad policy decisions regarding illegal immigration. Both are fair game, that’s why we have a primary.

I have a hard time believing Cain’s win was because voters wanted to send a message for the GOP field to stop attacking the front runner. If that’s the message they wanted to send, wouldn’t they simply vote for Perry as a protest? Or they would simply spread their vote out to other candidates like Gingrich.

There are absolutely big names out there that could quickly eclipse both Perry and Romney, like Chris Christie, that would instantly catapult to the top.

aesthete

Romney has opposed Romney on “every single issue”, so I’m quite confident that if you cherry-pick his statements from various years, you can find that he has indeed opposed Obama on “every single issue” as well.

lightspeed

Cain is riding high now, but I think New Hampshire will tell the tale. I am sure we all agree that Romney will win in New Hampshire, but Cain needs to finish in the top three to really make a splash. If he does, look out. I think Perry is done.

Vegas_Rick

until he had to defend his gun rights and AGW positions. And should he back-off or equivocate on those two positions, he will minimize the one quality we all admire in him, namely his willingness to stand his ground.

aesthete

It could have something to do with the fact that he worked in tandem with President Bush to pass the most noxious, costly, “compassionate” big-government parts of his agenda that he has absolutely no clue what “constitutional government” or “fiscal restraint” entails, and that he supported a plethora of government regulation and programs too unrestrained for even Bush-era Republicans.

It could also have to do with the fact that he’s an aggressive, arrogant jerk who has problems relating to people who don’t think like him.

It might also have to do with the fact that his bailiwick is being Chief Apologist for whatever we’re doing in Iraq/Afghanistan, and that his other focus is social issues that no one cares about.

http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

That’s fine.

atlracer35

Now that his boy Perry is sucking wind maybe he’ll add Herman back to the Horserace! No career politicians in 2012….GO CAIN!

Vegas_Rick

nt

lightspeed

If voting for Obama is even a fleeting though in your mind, you are psoting on the wrong website. Romney, RINO, squish, flip-flopper, whatever you want to call him, is far, far better that a wanna-be dictator who is running this country into the ground. You sound like a child throwing a tantrum for not getting his way. I don’t want Romney to be the nominee, but if he is I will work as hard as I can to get him elected. Don’t you get it, man? Obama is committed to turning us into a European social welfare state–or worse. He must be stopped.

victrola

And Rick Perry is perfect proof of that, he’s certainly not my ideal of a conservative since I take the issue of illegal immigration very seriously. That was my biggest problem with McCain. I also want a better communicator to champion our causes, and I just don’t see that with Perry.

I’m not a huge Christie fan, and I doubt he’ll enter, but I would take him (warts and all) over Perry any day.

atlracer35

He’s still pretty accesible & would probably address your concerns. He is not a career politician so you’ll atleast see he is sincere. I think you’ll also sense his great character….unlike many of the others on the Republican ticket. He’s just like you and I so if you’re a serious researcher, just keep him in mind. We’ve got a long way to go so there is plenty of time.

aesthete

“The generals” are far from unified in matters of strategy or tactics — they are not some hive mind that any candidate can turn to for guidance. For example, Admiral Mullen has made clear his preference for allowing gays to serve openly in the military — given that his position and that of the Republican party are at odds, do you include Mullen in the sainted category of “the generals” whose advice Cain should be uncritically taking? If not, you’re going to have to give a compelling reason for why the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs should not be in this category — and right there, you get more complicated than the one-sentence hand-wave of “he’s got the generals to advise him”.

I like Cain, but experience in government is very important — it tells us how the candidate behaves under pressure, and gives the candidate some experience to deal with the operations of government.

wwwhank

This is not the first time Herman Cain has beaten Rick Perry in a straw poll and probably will not be the last. – Hank

GregInFla

John Bolton for VP. Cain/Bolton 2012

Scope

in unfamiliar clothing, as many know exactly what Romney is, and it is no longer unfamiliar. The problem is that no one knows for sure what Romney is going to show up today, or tomorrow. I agree that many have big problems with how he comes across, no question. He brings his gucci loafers to a corn dog fest.

atlracer35

Career politicians on both sides governing (aka. Pandering to special interests) is what got us in the trouble we’re now in. Definition of insanity if we expect any difference in Washington from any of the others. Trust me…you’ll have enough politicians governing in Congress so why not give them another check & balance!

Vegas_Rick

Anybody but Obama. I live in Nevada and I take illegal immigration very seriously as well. The Texas legislature and the people of Texas wanted the tuition statute. Perry obliged. Over 10 years ago by the way. I respect a polititian who listens to his constituents. You’re certainly welcome to write Perry off over one issue. I wouldn’t do that to Christie, however.

http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

It’s very, very easy to check to see that Erick has been including Herman Cain all along.

http://www.redstate.com/tags/tag/horserace/

http://www.redstate.com/erick/2011/09/22/horserace-for-september-22-2011/

Now, you may not like Erick’s conclusions about Cain, but don’t pretend that Cain’s been dropped from the thing entirely. Grok?

gekster

1994 ran for Senate.
2002 ran for Govenor.
2008 ran for President.
2011 running for President. (never quit runnung for President after 2008).
17 years in politics and you say he isn’t a politician.

Scope

so that you can view the world as it really is, rather than how you want it to be.

trickamsterdam

“I agree that Ron Paul and Gary Johnson need to go ? they?re confessed Libertarians. They are off the reservation and shouldn?t have been allowed to participate in the first place since their loyalties lie with another party.” – Paula

The Libertarian movement started as a part of the Republican party. Only later did they get to their own party. Paul and Johnson reached high-level office as Rs, and actually reflect the original concept…

That being said, I favor Johnson going because he’s unpopular. If Paul doesn’t do well in NH, then we can start thinking of removing him too. I don’t like the time being carved up too many ways either.

As far as Romney, if he gets the nomination, he’d probably be the third most conservative candidate since WWII. Seriously, he’s more conservative than Dewey, Ike, Nixon (only considered a conservative because he was hated by liberals), Ford, both Bushs, and McCain (IMO).

Not saying anyone has to love him, just saying the extent of the charges of liberalism against him are perhaps a bit hysterical.

Loved Perry when he first got in, because he seemed like an old-school Taft conservative. But I no longer think he’s electable. It’s not just the debates. If you think SS is unconstitutional, you either have to back off it, or defend it hard and well. He just dangles out there. Honestly, I’m not sure he’s even smart enough to understand the points Romney is trying to make on it (SS) half the time.

Cain is interesting, and could possibly go on a run like Huckabee.

Vegas_Rick

Not a politician! ROFLMAO

cwilson

So, only 3 candidates spoke in person…Cain, Santorum, and Gingrich. Also, there seemed to be a lot of Paulbots in the *nonvoting* guest section, but the voting delegates were, by and large, Precinct Comitteemen…not something engaged in by Paul’s cult-of-personality supporters. I’ll have more in a diary tomorrow.

noislamocommie

The voters know who the alien-huggers are. In the current field,Perry comes in first place. Cain’s views on the alien saturation problem are known from his radio spots.
Thank God!
Maybe we can save the Republic.

strangebuttrue

Your Hitler comparison is a little over the top, I don’t think anybody would say he was a person of integrity of good character. I don’t think it helps your argument to compare the two.

I understand why you wouldn’t like him if you think he is able to divide his life in such a way to be honorable in one way and another to be a “spineless weasel.” I would submit that that’s simply not true.

Which makes more sense? That’s he’s a good man, good dad, good father; but turns into a monster when he enters politics. Who is spineless, yet suddenly grows a spine when asked to apologize for the unpopular program he helped develop.

Or that he’s a good man, who spent most of his life in business and not in the political world, and who started his political life as a pretty unskilled politician and with some undeveloped political views.

http://whattoreadtoday.blogspot.com/ Paula

…who recently referred to the 9-11 terrorists as “transnational extremists.” A president needs to have some deep convictions about policy matters before assuming office. Otherwise, they’re going to be easily manipulated and will make poor decisions under pressure.

Vegas_Rick

Ship all 20 million of them out of the country, huh? What a simpleton!

nvrepub

He also has that grin while others are talking, which does him no favors.

Kyle-MI

They are not the same thing even if a lot of people are assuming so. Perry seems to be bungling on a portion of the illegal immigration issue, but he could still pull out of his stall if he can reshift the focus back to the major parts of the issue: border control and amnesty.

gekster

17 years in business,
17+ in politics.
Try to get your facts straight.
We won’t mind, really.

strangebuttrue

Romney has NOT had multiple positions on ?every single issue.?

True, the label of “flip flopper” has stuck with a lot of people. But take any person with a record of political statement over years time, and you can, to use your term, cherry-pick, different statemnts to show some inconsistencies. Many, if not most, of the ones used to attack Romney’s “flip-flopping” are distortions and/or falsehoods.

Vegas_Rick

He could deflect back to the main issue with a variant of the following,

“The state of Texas wouldn’t have had to make tough decsions regarding our illegal immigant poplulation, if the Federal government had done it’s job to control our borders. As President, I will ensure that all Federal immigration statutes are vigorously enforced. Then the states can spend their time and money focusing on local problems, instead of dealing with illegal immigration issues.”

Scope

and you are certainly welcome to vote for who you choose, just as everyone else is. If you don’t like Perry’s position on immigration, then don’t vote for him, or support him in any way. It is your own personal opinion that his debate performances, and his immigration stances are hurting him, many others have different ideas, such as I.

I’ve lost you on your logic about voting for Perry as a protest against the frontrunner. Hasn’t Perry been the frontrunner for the last few weeks?

If Christie wants to jump in the race, hey no problem. He will only take votes away from Romney, as they both will be competing for the moderate votes and money. Christie has been much smarter than those that are begging him to run. He knows he couldn’t pass the smell test with his many positions, some leftist as his support for Global Warming, which Romney also supports. His major project for a windfarm off the NJ coast is just the most visible, there is more where that came from. And, while he cut the education budget, he took some of those savings to put into the windmill farm. Huh, not very frugal or wise with conservatives.

Christie “may” catapult upword, but his day on the pedestal would not last a week, if even that.

timkellogg

and I don’t intend to start by voting for Clinton…oops! I mean Romney…

strangebuttrue

He’s certainly hasn’t made a career out of politics.

And what did he do between 2008 and 2011? He spent those years working to get conservatives such as Marco Rubio and Nikki Haley (and many others) get elected. Regardless of what you think of him, how he’s spent the past 4 years is certainly commendable.

acat

Which generals, the straight guy asks?

General Electric
General Dynamics
General Motors
..

In short, the schtroumphs* post above is a slap at war profiteering.

Mew

* What, you didn’t know where the word Smurf comes from?

Robert A. Hahn

“The way they did that” is that all the voting delegates were elected officials. In Florida, even precinct committeemen (the shoeleather that walks the precinct) are elected to four-year terms. You can’t just walk in and become a voting delegate. To stuff the ballot box at the straw poll would take years of careful planning, of moving your people into open committeemen slots as they become available, and even then in the larger counties your guys might not be picked as delegates.

Scope

how long do you think it will be before the MSM pulls all of Romney’s flip flops on illegal immigration out of the closet? Actually, they only need to go back to the Iowa debate that Perry did not participate in where Romney almost said the same thing as Perry, though much less articulately? Oh, I promise Mitt’s hands will be all over his flips and flops. He can’t hide from it.

strangebuttrue

If you guessed 0 dollars, you’re were right. Romney did not take a salary while serving as governor of Massachusetts.

Technically of course, Romney is a politican. Is Herman Cain a politician? Technically, although I would really call neither politicians. Both have ran unsuccessfully for office twice, the difference is Romney won one election and served a term as governor.

I said “not a politician” to mean he hasn’t lived his entire life in the political world, and hasn’t made his money off of the political system.

timkellogg

Right here: “…the label of ?flip flopper? has stuck with a lot of people. But take any person with a record of political statement over years time, and you can, to use your term, cherry-pick, different statemnts to show some inconsistencies…”

That’s because, unlike where you were going with it, the fact is that any person with that much time in politics is that much of a politician, which is to say that he cares more about getting elected than standing for anything. A principled person would not change positions like that over a long political career, but then, a principled person would not have a long political career.

Vegas_Rick

The only reason he isn’t a Career politician” is cause he’s lost so many elections. And even if he’s not one, he is the favoured candidate of the rich, inside the beltway elites. He’ll fit right in.

strangebuttrue

…if you don’t know them. Truthfully, unless we know these people personally we really don’t know who they “are.” We may like or dislike their positions or their image, but the fact is its just plain wrong to judge someone who don’t know.

“The problem is that no one knows for sure what Romney is going to show up today, or tomorrow.” – But I we can and do know which Romney is gonna show up. Romney’s positions are laid out in his book No Apology, and haven’t changed since he ran in 07-08.

“He brings his gucci loafers to a corn dog fest.” – Yes he’s rich and has been successful. Being rich and successful are not bad things, and in fact many would argue that that having a successful executive in the White House would be a very good thing!

Finrod

Cain is definitely my favorite amongst those running, easily.

gekster

In contrast, Perry has been runnung a state, and quite succesfully.

carolina

I also suspect (more than) a few FL strawpoll voters thought about this also.
Kinda fun to ‘shut up’ some of the racial nonsense.
It will be interesting to see how much more heat Cain will get from the lib-o-sphere now.

Scope

Romney has made the most of his money by being a globalist. I’d love to know how many American jobs he created as opposed to overseas jobs.

acat

Sorry, Romney’s just another northeasatern waffler, the John F’n Kerry of the GOP.

Cover him in butter and syrup, then stick a fork in him. He’s done.

Mew

strangebuttrue

Romney has few connections to Washington, and owes no one there is anything. One of the reasons you hear the Establishments chatter about Mitch Daniels and Chris Christie is because Romney is beholden to no one. He is not tied to the “Bush people,” although they may eventually come to support him.

He is rich, but his wealth was not achieved through political connections.

And I don’t winning 1 of 3 major elections is so bad!

http://www.usdebateboard.com usdebateboard

It doesn’t gut the underlying bureaucracy and leaves the door open to to court fights, which would probably end up in injunctions.

Think Democrats would not do that?

Al it take is a majority in Congress with the cojones to defund it.

septembergurl

but yes, half the field bailed. so, while a nice win for Cain

a not a surprise
b not meaningful in any way

Otherwise quite the media event!

strangebuttrue

Look, I’m not gonna knock Perry here. But by anyone’s standard Romney’s Free and Strong America PAC was very successful in electing many conservative candidates in 2010. He has done a great job for the conservative cause in this regard.

Darin_H

Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Scope

can never be big enough to buy him the WH. Karl Rove may think so, but the voters have all but told him to go back and get his gucci’s out of the race. He doesn’t have much positive intensity among his supporters, and they are abandoning him as Obama’s supporters are abandoning him. Obama won the election mainly on his style and spin speeches. Romney’s nose sits at about the same level as Obama’s. No, no, no more of that junk.

http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

NT

timkellogg

Good one!

strangebuttrue

But I think its fair to say that on the whole he did a pretty good job helping create jobs in America. I think those at Staples, Dominos Pizza, and many others would agree…

dio55

so i undrestand your defending him but this goes far beyond bad debating skills and rough around the edges . look i loved the IDEA of perry strong governer straight talking no nonsense . But never saw any of that all i kept seeing is rambling incoherence and an inability to defend his easily defendable positions and then it hit me . If this guy cannot defend himself here how is he going to withstand the relentless and ruthless obamabot media onslaught. and if a man cannot defend himself how is he going to defend America . answer .. cannot take that chance, too much at stake

acat

Gingrich has decades of history to overcome. I don’t think he can do it, although I’d like to see him either running for Senate – where we could use another great debator to hamstring McConnell’s moderates – or as a cabinet-level wonk.

Santorum is likewise trying to run counter to his history; in his case, his history presents a strong match for religious, rural social conservative America*, the same America Barak Obama hates, but .. the primary isn’t going to be won in Fort Deposit, AL alone.

Of the three who showed up, Cain’s got the advantage of not running against his own history, and he’s also a better public speaker.

Mew

Note – this is not meant to further insult the citizens Obama accused of bitterly clinging to their guns and bibles, it is merely that Santorum mirrors their social position closely. While I disagree with rural social conservatives on some issues, I fully respect their right to their views and am willing to seek common ground and compromise.

strangebuttrue

Again, yes he’s very rich, but I just don’t see what’s wrong with being successful in America.

I think his supporters have plenty positive intensity. Maybe not as much as some, but he there’s a lot of folks who think he’s the best person for the job. I really don’t think his supporters are abandoning him; I haven’t seen evidence of this.

You seem to be saying Romney is all style and no substance; I think its the other way around. He’s got lots of substance (witness his jobs plan and detailed proposals). I think his style has been lacking, but I think he’s getting better.

acat

(nothing further)

aesthete

Sounds like an especially bad marketing blurb on the back of a GI-Joe box, made up to avoid copyright infringement. I guess “filthy terrorists” was already taken. It’s funny just how Orwellian the language surrounding military use has gotten to be lately. Lest I forget to say it in my meanderings, I completely agree with your point vis a vis Cain.

traversecityconservative

will finally get a clue. He IS our best shot at turning the country around and has support at the grassroots level. This will give confidence to the Iowa caucus people to stand up and vote for him and it will continue from state to state. For those of you who keep saying he can’t win, blah, blah, blah…you have no evidence to support your claims. This vote was just a foreshadowing of the primary voting to come. Why should we have to settle for our second and third choices (Romney, Perry, etc.).

strangebuttrue

2+ years as a missionary
About 25 years in business (1975-1999)*
4 years nonprofit management (Winter Olympics (1999-2002)
4 years as governor (2003-2007)
2007-present ran for President, worked hard fundraising and campaigning for many conservative candidates nationwide.

*He ran for Senate in 1994 but was not heavily involved in politics before or after this, until running for governor

aesthete

Before my time, to be sure. Forget the Vietnamese — it seems like General Electric hasn’t ever stopped getting rich at my expense, given Obama’s largess!

http://whattoreadtoday.blogspot.com/ Paula

and he has a history of vigorously defending liberal policies. Saying charges of liberalism against him are “hysterical” is a bit….hysterical. : )

eugenio

Herman Cain won because he passionately and emphatically expressed authentic conservatism. Romney and Perry failed because they are not authentic. They are career politicians without a philosophical core. As terrible as the debate was, it was also very educational. We saw how big a man Cain is and how small his competitors really are.

gekster

fatcs:
Romney was good in the debate.
Why not. He’s been practcing for 4+ years.

Perry didn’t do so well in the debate.
He hasn’t been practcing to be a smooth, slick talker.

That said, why did Romney poll 1.4 points lower than Perry.
If Romney was so great, and Perry so bad, then why.

Just a question.

acat

Look up Jim Oberweis in Illinois. Romney is Oberweis with a slightly larger budget, and without the ice cream. Mmmm. Good ice cream.

Mew

dirlie

if the press wanted to pummel Romney now, they don’t. They are scared of Perry but not Romney and they would rather Romney get nominated. Unfortunately for Perry, Romney seems Teflon now on every issue. Perry has stepped in it on his own and Romney just has to sit back and let things happen. Don’t get me wrong, I basically distrust and despise Romney, in fact, I do not know Romney’s position on any major issue, the guy is a shape-shifter and goes out of his way to use lawyer speak to make his positions like shifting sands. I challenge any Romney supporter on this board to definitively explain Romney’s position on Illegal Immigration. Unfortunately, we know Perry’s position better and to top it off, Perry resorted to the Liberal cliche that you are heartless if you don’t agree with him. Romney is playing the political game better and the media and Republican establishment are helping him.

strangebuttrue

its what the President CAN do by himself to work to kill the program. Its a specific action the President can take to eliminate Obamacare. Allowing states to opt out, would effectively undo Obamacare, even if the Republicans don’t control Congress. If they do, then of course, Obamacare repeal will be passed and Romney will happily put pen to paper that offically ends it for good.

Leopard1996

I don’t think it is personally fair to have someone state policy position after policy position for every single thing especially when as he said, he doesn’t have all the classified information in front of him. Especially in this media environment when anything that could be said could be used against him.

Personally, I would rather him tell the Chris Matthews, Brian Williams. et. al at CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, CBS, and some on Fox News to go spit until they can cover the whole political process without giving oral favors to Obama and the liberals/democrats.

macbookben

are moderates. Any questions?

acat

Can you provide a cite or two showing Romney contributing or campaigning for folks who won in 2010?

Mew

publiussteve

Is making him look even worse.

Bottom line: this is embarrassing for Perry, especially after all the resources he poured into this and his disastrous and ridiculous “heartless” comment at the debate.

Pretty good news for Romney as Hermain Cain will not win.

strangebuttrue

Ronald Reagan is one of my personal heroes. He was “in politics” for much longer than Romney has been. I truly believe he was a principled person. I believe he did stand for conservative principles. And, yes, even Reagan changed his mind about several key issues over his career.

No, I’m not saying Romney is a Reagan or Reagan is a Romney. I’m just saying I totally disagree with your points that a) anyone that has been in politics for a long time cares more about getting elected than principles, and b) a principled person does not ever change positions.

runner12

I am as sick of the insider Washington politics as you are. As I said I do not have any concern with Cain on domestic issues at all. But foreign policy and a leader with no governing experience will make people nervous, it even makes me a little nervous. Something that I hate admitting, because I like Cain so much.

Please understand that I am in no way slamming Cain. All I am stating is what is the political reality right now. It is not something I necessarily like, but it is what it is.

NeoKong

I always liked Cain.
I saw him speak in Austin.
He got a standing O.
He’s awesome.

I’m sorry If this sounds bad but the black thing is a bonus on top of everything good.
Obama had no problem riding it to the White House.
Why can’t we…?

dsmurf

field independent of Generals?
Maybe Perry would probably be good for his military experience on the Mexican border with troops under his command and a brutal drug war on the Mexican and American side, yes?
Either go with what the Generals say, lets say the Presidents guidance is “Destroy jihadists’ wherever you find them.” What would the General’s response be? Support the generals response and not give some half hearted effort to appease them and the left or some other constituency back home. Just don’t try make Gay troops the special class, because any and all not monogamous behaviour leads to higher risks of non deployability status, which would lead to the highest prejudice amongst military colleagues, the nondeployable status in the case of contracting HIV/AIDS. Just don’t think the Gays who don’t deploy want to be known for their risk taking accomplishments or singled out in a Warrior Transition Units for those wounded on the front lines.

dsmurf

field independent of Generals?
Maybe Perry would probably be good for his military experience on the Mexican border with troops under his command and a brutal drug war on the Mexican and American side, yes?
Either go with what the Generals say, lets say the Presidents guidance is “Destroy jihadists’ wherever you find them.” What would the General’s response be? Support the generals response and not give some half hearted effort to appease them and the left or some other constituency back home. Just don’t try make Gay troops the special class, because any and all not monogamous behaviour leads to higher risks of non deployability status, which would lead to the highest prejudice amongst military colleagues, the nondeployable status in the case of contracting HIV/AIDS. Just don’t think the Gays who don’t deploy want to be known for their risk taking accomplishments or singled out in a Warrior Transition Units for those wounded on the front lines.

carolina

I think they just embarrassed themselves.

jaykali

Remember when McCain was called McSame…we conservatives all look alike to liberals..

Like me some Cain, he’s very ‘Mr. Smith’ goes to Washington. So I guess Floridian conservatives are not racist? Or maybe they’re SOOoo racist that they have to vote otherwise to hide the fact that they really super-secretly ARE racist.

I would like it if Cain becomes the Huckabee of this year’s primary. Bachmann really irritates me and she has less experience than Rick Santorum…

I feel like Cain would get swallowed up in the political game if he somehow magically became president but I would like to see him to well bc I want more candidates like him. We have too many slick politicians who love to stick their finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing. He is very refreshing.

aesthete

but it does have a lot of truth to it. There’s no way to prove that Romney has flopped on “every single position” (or that he opposes Obama on “every single position), but he’s flopped on a good many.

On illegal immigration, Romney most definitely flopped on amnesty. While in MA, he stated that those illegals currently paying taxes and not receiving government benefits should begin a path towards citizenship. He also did absolutely nothing about sanctuary cities. Contrast that to his statements from Thursday.

Abortion: I really shouldn’t have to say anything about Romney’s noxious about-face and why it should leave any conservative with a queasy feeling about the guy. First of all, he explicitly states his support for choice, and reverses himself on this count just in time for the election. RomneyCare (Romney’s pride and joy, until last year) publicly finances abortions, so I guess Romney wasn’t too torn up or “conflicted” about the little guys when he passed the bill. Huh, if I was a politician, and I was the main driver of a bill that I later came to believe financed the butchering of children, I wouldn’t be looking for a promotion — nor would I look back on the program fondly, as Romney appears to.

On gun rights, the guy went from supporting the Brady Bill and the Clinton “assault weapons” ban to, quite hilariously and improbably enough, supporting the GOP’s current stance on gun rights and becoming a member of the NRA.

He went from generalized support of many of McCain-Feingold’s more execrable parts, to becoming a Conservative Warrior, penning op-eds left and right denouncing the bill.

RomneyCare/ObamaCare: This one’s not a flip-flop, persay, but it sure is hypocritical. (And hey, my palpable disgust with Romney is such that I could really care less; at this point I’m just unloading on a terrible candidate.) Almost everything that Romney supports is a violation of the 10th Amendment; it is beyond laughable to believe that he is arguing in good faith when he argues that RomneyCare was great/ObamaCare was bad from a 10th Am standard, and subsequently cordons off the implications of the 10th from impacting his other policies — to pick one at random, his support of federal subsidies for alternative energy at the federal level.

To cover some of the others more briefly, he has also reversed himself on employer mandates, DADT, “gay rights” in general, and the Bush tax cuts. These flips, and their correlation to his decision to run for another office, are not going to be hand-waved away. Every pol flips, but there’s flipping and there’s John Kerry. Romney is in John Kerry territory.

rbdwiggins

1781, that is. Didn’t work out so well for us.

Conservatism was the solution.

223 years later, it still is.

antisocial

Romney was the last person to endorse anybody. He waited for others to get in. So again you see a guy who isn’t a leader. How many campaign events did he attend for other candidates? How much money did he raise? 2010 was a Tea party game. You could include grassroot activists too. Mitt Romney probably did the least. Jim Demint, Sarah Palin, Conservative blogosphere had a far greater impact. You may not have noticed but this site was probably among the first to support Nikki Haley, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul…. even Scott Brown.

If you are a Romney supporter that is OK. But don’t try to make him into something that he isn’t. He is a flip-flopper par excellence. Mitt Romney is for Mitt Romney. He has no other position. He lost to The Maverick in 2008. The incredibly weak candidate that we ever put up. That gives you an idea of where he is placed in the grassroot activists mind.

As Moe said in his post – “the GOP base is more or less in agreement that they?d like not-Romney”. And he usually has a good pulse of the base. I won’t bet against

If Romney is indeed our nominee what are we going to do? Vote Obama? No. But we’d like not-Romney.

aesthete

There is concrete evidence of and precedence for the former both as a trend in politics in general (Obama seems like he’s adequately fulfilling his duties as father and husband, for instance), and when applied to Mitt Romney’s public statements and actions in specific. At any rate, I have no idea what makes you think that the Presidency is the right place to mature one’s views on political philosophy.

strangebuttrue

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/16/romney-backs-rubio-in-florida-primary-battle/

From the article:
The two Republicans will campaign together in the vote-rich Tampa area on Monday and Romney’s Free and Strong America PAC will contribute the maximum $5,000 to Rubio’s primary campaign.
“Over the past many months, Governor Romney has spoken with both Governor Crist and Marco Rubio,” a Romney adviser told CNN. “Both of them asked for his endorsement. While Mitt Romney respects Governor Crist, he believes Marc Rubio’s record of conservative, principled and idea-driven leadership is what Florida needs now.”

http://www.nikkihaley.com/romney

gekster

It is supposed to be,
Saturday Night LIVE.

I allways thought it was a live show.

powertothepeople

nt

powertothepeople

jeeeez……….

Sarcasm off

antisocial

Did you eve hear to a creepy character called Bill Maher?

gekster

….

acat

although as history is my hobby, I’m often the guy leafing through old magazines and books at flea markets.

A friend accidentally sabotaged me for a semester in college by handing me a box of 1960s-era Time magazines. They were a lot more interesting than the lectures, but didn’t help with the exams at all!

Mew

rkcon

How many more posts whining about how unfair it is that there’s a campaign going on and candidates attack each other?

Yeah, Perry would do much better if there was no campaign: he could keep his record as crony capitalist in chief and his lack of ability to articulate his positions on the fly under wraps.

strangebuttrue

Sorry to be so blunt, but I live in South Carolina, and Mitt Romney was the first national figure to endorse Nikki Haley (before Palin). At the time she was running 4th in the polls so she was hardly a lock to win.

Admittedly, Romney endorsed Rubio after many Demint and Huckabee did so.

aesthete

Cheap reference, I know.

antisocial

Please enlighten.

acat

There’s a delay to give them time to bleep or blur anything that would cause them to have to pay an FCC fine, like a wardrobe malfunction or a star going off on a major F-bomb rant.

Also, some bits like Samberg’s digital stupidity (Laser Cats? Really?) and the Justin Timberlake {blank}-in-a-box videos are taped.

Mew

gherkin

I interpret this as a direct chastisement from the Florida strawpoll voters for this “have no heart” comment (although frankly I agree with Perry on that particular immigration issue and personally I agree with the assessment). That said, it was rather foolish to insult the audience in that manner, and I think the vote (or lack thereof) is a direct consequence of same. I’m pretty sure he would take a mulligan on that particular statement if he could.

With that said, I’m a Cain guy, so I am encouraged by the result. However, this IS just a straw poll, and as we all know, the “mainstream” republican voter doesn’t pay nearly as much attention to the candidates and issues as the strawpoll voters, and still tend to take their cues from the MSM, so I will take my optimism with a bit of salt.

strangebuttrue

I’m not sure which poll were you referring to, regarding Romney polling 1.4 points lower than Perry.

Frankly, every poll I’ve seen (except for some state polls) have seen Perry ahead of Romney by more than 1.4 points.

My answer is that I believe a lot of people like what they saw and heard about Perry when he announced. Will they continue to like what they see and hear? I don’t know.

strangebuttrue

A lot of people are dead set against him, for whatever reasons. Money is not going to change that. We’ll see if Mitt Romney himself can.

SoFiMil

…he’s hiding out in Mittness Protection. Another term for his avoidance of solving problems and getting his hands dirty (with the inevitable criticism) is “voting present.”

At least Governor Perry is out there and not leading from the rear.

acat

If you’re a Romney supporter, you’d better figure out how to explain it away.

I’ll give you two hints. Illinois Combine. Chicago Tribune columnist Kass.

Mew

rkcon

In regards to GW, his most significant and consequential decision was to make New Jersey the FIRST state to withdraw from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, reckoning that government intervention in the GW issue isn’t doing any good.

Conservatism isn’t a scientific doctrine (just as it isn’t a philosophy of life). There are no conservative positions on scientific issues, that’s absurd.. The only thing that matters for a true conservative is: what’s the role of the (federal, in this case) government about this issue? I think that Christie will have the same position of any true conservative.

In regards to guns, I trust him to nominate impeccable judges for the SCOTUS.

I want someone who will GOVERN as a conservative – and it will be very important the ability to articulate and sell conservative ideas to the public. Christie is leaps and bounds better than anyone else in the race when it comes to what really matters.

aesthete

Some of them have developed views on what they would like to do, or what their general instincts are. Love him or hate him, Santorum has been quite clear as to what sort of broad-based actions he would like to see in Afghanistan. The same can be said for Ron Paul, and some of the other candidates in the race. Cain has floundered on that count, ditto Rick Perry. Mitt Romney obfuscates (not surprising). I like Cain, but hiding behind “the generals”‘ skirts is not Presidential, or wise: I like hearing some humility (i.e., that Cain’s ideas are a WIP), but can I at least hear what his general inclinations are? Does he support attacking Iran if it is close to getting the bomb? Does he support withdrawing from Afghanistan if we are primarily engaging in nation-building, as opposed to eliminating threats to US soil? That kind of question requires no prior knowledge or input on the part of “the generals”, and would let the voter know what kind of leader Cain (and Perry, and Mittens) are on foreign policy. (But hey, if “the generals” would really help, I’ll send Cain my copy of Clausewitz’s “On War” and we can call it even, OK )

strangebuttrue

who don’t already have a distaste for Romney on their palate.

“At any rate, I have no idea what makes you think that the Presidency is the right place to mature one?s views on political philosophy.”

Sorry if you misunderstood what I said. I simply meant that prior to 1994, Romney had been busy in the private and not political section. He hadn’t spent days and nights thinking about politics. Even in 2002 when he ran for governor, I would say he was an expert executive, but still hadn’t immersed himself in politics. No, in 1994 or 2002, he was not ready to be President!

I think he certainly has a mature political philosophy, and probably more specific proposals and views than any other candidate in the race.

http://teapartisan.wordpress.com Loren Heal

It’s September. The primaries are months away.

I want the field as big as possible, and the result to remain in doubt right up until the convention.

gekster

You know, the one you’ve been commenting on.

The one on Cain and the Florida Straw Poll.

strangebuttrue

I don’t think I have to explain it away. Seems to be unethical guy that was a Romney backer in 2007.

dirlie

No one in their right mind thinks we are going to physically deport 20-30 million. The right thing to do is to cut the gravy train off at every juncture. At the Federal and State levels. No rewards for being illegal. If someone applies for aid of any sort, registers for school, applies for a Kroger card, the flag should go up and the person should be put on notice to immediately leave the country, do not pass go, do not collect my $200. Every time a person is arrested and they are determined to be illegal, immediate deportation. Every time an employer is found to hire illegals, harsh fines and repeat violations -jail time. This would lead to self deportation on a massive scale in a short time. Heartless, no – logical. Heartless is keeping the status quo with the horrid exploitation of illegal immigrants that leads to the associated murder, rapes and mayhem.

aesthete

It was a defining moment in Romney’s term as governor, and something that he invested a lot of time and effort into. The fact that ObamaCare looks so much like it puts egg on the face of the many conservatives who supported this plan and others like it, but Romney’s the only one running for president. That, in addition to the fact that he comes off as extremely disingenuous in his presentation of himself, has soured him to a lot of people. I won’t deny that there’s probably some class warfare element at play, but I’d say that of all the candidates who are supported or opposed, Romney’s detractors tend to have a very substantive reason in the form of RomneyCare.

Romney supporters are going to have to deal with this. You seem like a polite and well-informed person, but you’re going to have to find better rationalizations, and better reasons to vote *for* Romney, than have been presented thus far. Can’t say I wish you luck in the endeavor of becoming a better salesman for Romney, to be perfectly honest.

timkellogg

a) I stand by
b) is not what I said at all. To quote Churchill “I’d rather be right than consistent”, but a principled person who has significant intelligence does not change positions “like that” meaning THAT OFTEN.

And I’ll take a little risk here and say, I really loved Reagan on foreign policy, and believe that’s a huge part of what got him elected president and got him re-elected: Americans love to be proud of their country and hate being “led” by folks who make us look weak and apologetic around the world. However, he was FAR from perfect and I refuse to make an idol of ANY politician, even if he was the best the Republicans have gotten into the presidency, by-far, in a long time. I’m not out to trash Reagan at all, but I have a problem with making anyone a god, ESPECIALLY a politician.

A principled politician compares to a principled businessman an honorable thief compares to an honorable minister.

strangebuttrue

Well I knew about the straw poll but I thought it was a given that those who put effort into competing in that type of polls typically do much better than those who don’t. (witness Ron Paul’s many straw poll wins and even Romney’s 2007 Aimes win ) Perry put a lot of money and effort into the straw poll and Romney didn’t, so the fact that they polled about equally is great news for Romney supporters.

septembergurl

The idea that it comes down to Perry v Romney is the kind of simplistic swill the media peddles.

We are now at the point where our candidates (a great field by the way) are beginning to fill in the details on the canvas of what the post-Obama America will look like. This picture will have to be clear and detailed for the mass of Americans to turn away from what they know (Obama) to the unknown.

So far, an excellent job!

rkcon

He was the first – and hopefully the last – presidential candidate to apologize for having called the construction of a religious temple “an infringement and an abuse of our freedom of religion” admitting to “have betrayed my commitment to the U.S. Constitution and the freedom of religion guaranteed by it.”

If you aren’t smart to figure out the First Amendment after a few decades of life and a few months of running for President, then you aren’t smart enough to sit on the oval office.

timkellogg

Please insert the word “as” right before “an honorable thief”, and I would like to be very open and admit I have a prejudice:

I will NEVER support anyone liberal enough to get elected in Massachusetts for national office or even anyone liberal enough to want to live there. Same goes for present-day California, which has already driven-out most of the types of folks who voted Reagan for governor. Some places are just lost, and our only hope is to bring back some states’-rights, surround them with superior models for examples until all the producers leave, all the consumers move-in, and they figure it out for themselves because the nation no-longer feels obligated to support them just because their wretched state no-longer can.

This prejudice developed early, as I noticed that, reading many of my favorite catalogs, all the cool stuff was “not legal for sale to residents of California or Massachusetts”.

strangebuttrue

I don’t know if I’ve given any reasons to vote for Romney in my comments- I think all of my posts have been defenses of something someone has said against him.

I know there people who will always believe Romney is spineless and will dislike him for Romneycare, but there are those who dislike the other candidates just as strongly.

I firmly believe Romney will be able to win many over. I think when several respected people endorse Romney, then those who may distrust him may take another look.

aesthete

He “matured” and developed them political philosophies and stuff just in time for the Presidential election. Interesting how “maturation” looks so much like agreeing with a core audience that you have to win in the Republican primary. I understand and reward strategic flips: I don’t require an ideological twin. (Most conservatives probably aren’t as forgiving.) I don’t support in any way something as total and crassly opportunistic as the makeover Romney’s given himself from 2006 onwards — and many of the things that Romney has said can’t be described as anything but pandering.

As far as Romney’s record goes, it can at best be characterized as decent in the first year, and dominated by the Democratic legislature in all other years. “I did some good budgetary stuff, and got rolled by the Dems after that point” doesn’t exactly make me stand up and shout, “Make this man President, posthaste!” Sorry, but Romney’s record is really, really lousy: so were the cards he was dealt, but the President in 2013 won’t be dealt a good hand, either. Should I be bracing myself for Romney apologists to say, “at least he cut the rate of growth for the first year before setting up a large and easily-subverted entitlement” in 2016?

(To be clear: the sarcasm above is not directed at you; you’ve been darling in your responses.)

http://whattoreadtoday.blogspot.com/ Paula

by your description of “a strong match for religious, rural social conservative America*, the same America Barak Obama hates….”

You could almost suspect they were switched-at-birth twins if you were just comparing their views on religious/social issues.

http://whattoreadtoday.blogspot.com/ Paula

nt

aesthete

as did many highly respected conservative luminaries. I think most conservatives opposed to Romney will either ignore or write off those endorsements as tactical or political when making a selection in the primary.

powertothepeople

in your answer Acat. Most people know that most live shows have a small delay due to regulations and the danger of being fined for something said or done. Even football halftime shows are on a small delay now due to the Janet Jackson episode, but that does not mean they are not considered live.

And we also know that the “extras’ such as Samberg videos are taped. The only point was that the live shows are considered live and that the opening skit was not filmed prior to the Fla Straw poll.

http://whattoreadtoday.blogspot.com/ Paula

Maybe this is a bit OT, but I’d appreciate it if you would care to expand on how the two fit together. Clearly, it’s some sort of stereotype, and I might be willing to own it since I am a So-Con and live in a rural county in Ohio (though I was raised in the suburbs and don’t even have so much as a tomato plant in on my property!) But I’m wondering if you have a really limited view of So-Cons that might not be accurate.

I do appreciate your gracious disclaimer at the bottom of your post. : )

strangebuttrue

…those will go to whoever is considered the anti-Romney (or if Romney is lucky, anti-Romney’s.

I was thinking about those on the fence about him, or those who simply have reservations about him or Romneycare.

kcdude

You are spot on.

profnickd67

they fizzle because the are nitwits — as is anyone who supported them initially. Really, does anyone think that a contemporary governor of any state could possibly be acceptable to a conservative? Governors use eminent domain, favor lobbying groups of cronys, and are in general just short of mental retardation.

Perry just demonstrated that.

http://www.usdebateboard.com usdebateboard

Why settle for a conservative poser?

LiveStronger

something, back it up.

Whom did I “call names” on?

Please. I thought you had to be an adult to post here.

LiveStronger

than Dubya. I watched every single Dubya debate with trepedation that Dubya would say something that the gotcha crowd could dig his grave with. And I noticed how in 2000 and 2004, his poll numbers shot up after the last debate. There was no more fear that he would bury himself by getting China confused with Japan or some nonsense like that.

I can’t sit through another presidential election like that. I will never, ever put a Perry bumper sticker on my care or a Perry yard sign in front of my house. The guy just scares me too much.

LiveStronger

who told me to stop being so negative.

If so, you are the mother of all hypocrites.

LiveStronger

Obama will lose in 30-40 states next year.

Romney puts Michigan, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, Indiana, North Carolina, Virginia, and even California in play.

Forcing Obama to defend states that Obama doesn’t want to have to defend will make it impossible for Obama to run out and try to help incumbent democrat senators in states like Nebraska, Florida, and Missouri.

Obama will hang around the democrat party’s neck like an albatross. Whenever I see the guy on TV, all I can think of is Steve Erkel with a nerdy smile on his face saying, “Did I do that?”

Adjoran

All this baloney being tossed about – who you won’t ever vote for, etc. – is only helpful to Obama.

I intend to vote for the nominee, whoever it happens to be will have won the Republican nomination in the primaries. That’s our system.

SoFiMil

And although he’s not playing politics, this can’t hurt him if he survives the primary and makes it to the general election. Sure, the left will still make him out to be a heartless racist, but the vitriol will be a smidgeon less, and he’ll peel in/not lose a significant amount of independents and Reagan Democrats.

Still waiting for the MSM and the left, including the President, to come to Perry’s defense re in-state tuition for illegals, or to have the question asked.

SoFiMil

Inarticulate, yes. But he’s a true conservative despite not having a 100% conservative record.

SoFiMil

This was supposed to be a reply to another comment.

kevinj84

of the nation claiming he has “Stockholm Syndrome”, and the Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson crowd calling him a sellout.

On the other hand, it would give the conservative portion of the A.A. community somewhere to go besides where they’ve been.

That is definitely a plus.

kevinj84

Personally i would love to see a return to the Reagan/ Weinberger policy of peace through supperior firepower. The rebuilding of a 600 ship fleet, complete with a submarine force second to none, should be one of the next administrations priorities. It could be partially paid for with the end of foreign aid to those who hate us.

The left and, amazingly, some on the right have decided that since the USSR is dead (I don’t agree, but they didn’t ask me), that we have had no need for the projection of power afforded to us in the “80s. They have accepted the myth that China is not an enemy to the US. All the while, china builds it’s forces with money derived from “free” trade with our nation. We will never regain our economic dominance without confronting China and holding them to account.

When I see a candidate (any of them) make a declaration of a return to the Reagan defense policy, they will have my full support. Until then, I guess I’ll just have to vote for the eventual nominee and hope for the best.

defenseconservative

Romney is a genuine Republican. I don’t like him.. But I don’t dislike him,, either. I just know that if I were unfortunate enough to run for a statewide office in Massachusetts, I would have to be very careful about what I say and do. Romney is not a RINO, he’s a moderate.

On the other hand, I wouldn’t trust Perry even if he promised to polish my shoes. Perry is a scoundrel, a RINO, and a Democrat in disguise. He switched parties only because by 1989 it became difficult for a Democrat to win statewide office in Texas. But although he has changed the D after his name on the ballot to an R, he never ceased being a Democrat.

defenseconservative

Actually, Romney polls against Obama (in every state as well as nationally) better than any other Republican, except a few states in which the resident candidate from state polls better against Obama on his/her home turf).

Romney and Perry are the ONLY candidates who stand even the slightest chance of beating Obama in a general election, Cain, Palin, Gingrich, Bachmann, Santorum, Paul, Huntsman, and Johnson do not.

red_oakster

You think Bachmann and Santorum are going to voluntarily end their 15 minutes of fame? Not likely.

Perry is toast and Romney’s 14% says that conservatives want someone else. Daniels is not getting in, and I think Christie won’t run either. And even if Christie does, his stances on global warming and his Hamas-connected judicial appointment will sink him.

Paul Ryan almost got in, but stayed out in deference to Perry. He should reconsider. He could run well in all of the early states.

I have to think Palin is looking hard at running given the vacuum. And Guiliani always has predicated a run on a field that includes Palin.

So on a net basis, widening seems more likely than narrowing at this point.

rdm42

I _Do_ trust Obama to appoint blatantly LIBERAL judges. ROmeny MIGHT not appoint a conservative justice, Obama WILL appoint a liberal one.

rdm42

I will flat out say I have problems iwth ROmney. . that being said. . .

He is light years, night and day, no comparison first round TKO better than Obama.

annas

With tiny sound bite answers is demonstrated here. I am from Texas and just about as rabid a conservative as you can imagine! BUT before you throw Perry out for RHINO Romney, I would recommend to take a calm look at what Perry and the entire legislature actually decided about illegal kids. The kids allowed to pay in state tuition ( not get a grant) graduated from a Texas High School after 3years. They have already applied for American citizenship. This involves a relatively small number of kids! His stance on illegal immigration is not weak. You are just hearing the snipets from the bottom tier who are trying to get some traction. If you are waiting for the perfect candidate, you are going to be skeletons on a park bench before that happens!

acat

Kjellander was picked – by Romney – to chair the campaign in Illinois.

Had Romney won the nomination, Kjellander would have been the go-to-guy for the State. All the Romney campaign finances would have gone through a politician who the ethical GOPers in the State were trying to get rid of.

That’s the kind of bad judgement call that Romney keeps on making, and why I will not support him.

I find it ironic that you’re proposing to defeat a corrupt Illinois politician with a guy who has ties to another corrupt Illinois politician… and think you can win.

Mew

acat

See, I’m not just comparing religious/social views. Using the Reagan “three legged stool” analogy….

Cain is strong both on social (pro-family) issues and economic (pro-growth) issues, and I suspect he’d pick up pretty quickly on pro-defense. Cain comes across as arguing the pro- side, i.e. pro-traditional-marriage, pro-growth, pro-business.

Santorum, on the other hand, has always been strongest on social (pro-family) issues, but .. interestingly, most of his speechifying on the topic that I recall has been phrased in the anti-, i.e. anti-gay-marriage, anti-corporate-tax.

Taking the anti- side is an inherently weaker argument.

And ‘m quite aware that rural America is not a monolith, any more than any other broad-brush. I was using the term specifically to let me use Obama’s bitter clinger quote.

Mew

LiveStronger

Cain won an important straw poll in Florida on Friday. Romney won the Michigan straw poll yesterday (Saturday).

He won it decisively. It wasn’t even close. http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/09/romney-trounces.php

Second place: Governor Gardasil

LiveStronger

Romney’s Massachusetts Health Care Initiative was a commonwealth-run, non-federal solution to a Massachusetts problem: too many people without health insurance putting a burden on both the public and the private sector due to a federal law passed in the 1980′s (Reagan signed it into law) which requires that emergency rooms provide medical assistance to every living person (and some recently dead) who enters their emergency room.

This problem was causing private-sector businesses and non-profit organizations to go out of business.

Romney’s solution did not involve a federal solution. Obama’s idea is that the federal government needs to provide health care for everyone. Obama’s plan involves setting up insurance cooperatives. Obama’s plan would have created a public option were it not for the integrity of one democrat, Senator Joe Lieberman, who said no.

Governor Romney’s solution had no public option. It was a private-sector solution to a problem that affected both the public and the private sector.

You still disagree with my main point that Romney and Obama disagree on every significant issue? Or are you next going to say that they both oppose terrorism?

gekster

Yesterday, one Romney supporter said staw polls don’t matter because Romny came in behind Cain and Perry in the Florida straw poll.

Today straw polls matter because Romney came in ahead of Perry and Cain in the Michigan straw poll.

I wish you guys would make up your mind and get on the same page.

And for what it’s worth, Romney is a household name in Michigan.
But that had nothing to do with it, did it.

LiveStronger

to get this majority in Congress.

Do you think that Rick Perry, as the GOP nominee, will have any coat-tails in states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Connecticut, and Massachusetts?

George W. Bush was elected president in 2000 with no coat-tails in many states. Al Gore had significantly longer coat-tails than Bush in many states. Because of this, we ended up with a 50/50 senate that could not get the oil reservoirs in ANWR opened up for drilling. That meant fewer jobs and higher oil prices.

Rick Perry would have very, very short coat-tails if he got the nomination. We could kiss Michigan and Wisconsin goodbye. Romney, on the other hand, helps Senator Scott Brown in Massachusetts and with the eventual Republican nominee in the above-named states and others.

Romney would need a strong runningmate with strong ties to the evangelical community to win. A southerner would be ideal.

gekster

Obamacare, government solution to a free market problem.
Romneycare, government solution to a free market problem.

Wether state or federal, both these guys have a government solution to a free market problem.

sls3000

people are having with Perry on this immigration issue is not that he just let a few kids qualify for in state tuition, it’s the way he had to denigrate anybody that didn’t agree with him heartless. Wanting a larger border patrol is not the only aspect of someone who is strong on illegal immigration, there is also interior enforcement including aggressive prosecution of people hiring illegals, none of which Perry has convinced me he will support. I think the cover slipped down and we got a peak of the real Perry.

acat

and because, for the majority of those who vote, the separation of Fed and State is something they’ve not really thought about since their last civics classes .. your argument, while superior, is likely to go the way of Betamax.

Mew

izoneguy

Michigan as a state is toast.

acat

As I recall, both Gov. Palin and Gov. Romney were private citizens at the time, so she seems to be a reasonable yardstick to compare Mitt to.

Mew

LiveStronger

Look, if you want to have a serious discussion on abortion, we can have it. But I’m not going to argue in sound-bytes.

Romney’s position on abortion has not changed in the last 40 years. The trouble is that because of the limitations of human language, specifically, the American variety of the English language, a person can truthfully and simultaneously claim to be both pro-life and pro-choice.

Romney wisely decided to never use the term pro-choice to describe himself. Even when he was running for senate in 1994, he realized that this label would stick to him and he would have a hard time running for president afterwards with the “pro-choice” label stuck to him.

Romney has always believed the following: a woman should have the legal right to an abortion if she was raped, or if her health, her life, the health of her unborn child, or the life of her unborn child was in danger.

Question: does this view make him pro-life or pro-choice? If you are an intelligent person, which I’m sure you are. You realize the problem: Romney’s position can be defined as either pro-life or pro-choice.

The Massachusetts Right-to-Life Association gave Romney a leadership award in 2006 for his courageous defense of the right of unborn children to live.

Look at his record. Actions speak louder than words. Romney was a pro-life governor. Whatever that means to you.

LiveStronger

you are unable to fairly judge the accomplishments of someone who served a term as the governor of Massachusetts.

I have no further questions for this witness, your honor. We would like to rest our case at this time and submit our arguments to the jury of RedState readers.

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

Then he’s still pro-abort as he was when he ran for Senate against “Reagan-Bush?”

acat

Killing those whose only crime is being inconvenient – and spare me the “safe, legal, and rare” argument – is the height of barbarism, even if it’s dressed in green gowns and conducted on a quiet suburban street.

What Romney’s statements tell me is he’s ideological kin to Bart Stupak. That is, any stand he takes can be traded if the wind changes direction.

As for his actions, please take a look at the judges he appointed.

Mew

LiveStronger

waited until he was running for president to start saying things like “I’ve always had conservative values” (whatever those are) and “I believe that life begins at conception.” (Therefore, he’s ok with terminating a human life simply because a girl got drunk and neglected to tell the guy to put on a condom.)

Mitt Romney governed the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with the same pro-life, pro-family fervor that any conservative around the country would have had. Jeb Bush could not have been a more conservative governor than Mitt Romney was.

Actions speak louder than words. Don’t like the things that Romney said when he was running for senate in 1994? Fine. Neither do I. If I believed that a President Romney would govern the way candidate Romney talked in 1994, I wouldn’t vote for him. But the Romney of today walks the walk and talks the talk of conservatives like me. He’s truly been a conservative his whole life but had to say something to the Massachusetts voters in 1994 to have a chance at getting rid of that red Communist, Ted Kennedy.

For that, I salute him. The same way I salute Reagan for supporting the anti-Marxist contras in Central America even if he had no recollection of it later. : )

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

See his own flyer from 1994:

LiveStronger

private sector in a way that Obamacare does not.

Romney would not have needed to craft a solution to the health care problem if Reagan had simply not signed the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act in 1986.

Which, ironically, is a pro-life piece of legislation because it minimizes the possibility of poor people having an infant die because they could not afford to have a doctor deliver the baby.

Chew on that for a few minutes. Then respond.

acat

It is not “you are unable to fairly judge”.

It is “you have judged and found wanting”.

Your candidate would be advised to seek new counsel.

Mew

acat

Your argument may be true in the narrow sense, but it’s sufficiently arcane that Joe Sixpack may have a hard time seeing it.

See if you can come up with a sound bite that expresses the difference. If you can, maybe the Romney campaign can start using it.

Hint – no, the 10th amendment defense is not sufficient.

Mew

LiveStronger

They work great. We use them all the time to record our favorite TV shows and watch old videos of the kids when they were babies.

Never owned a Betamax. Never needed one. Betamaxes were not marketed well enough to appeal to mainstream America. Great product for its time. Just not well marketed.

But I can see why you compared my argument to a Betamax recorder. What your saying is that while my argument is superior in quality to the VHS device, it does not have enough resonance with the wider community to develop into the kind of meme that will influence the majority of RedState readers who, apparently, will not be satisfied unless Dr. Frankenstein re-animates Ronald Reagan’s corpse and causes him to run for president next year. (Reagan/Laxalt 2012, anyone?)

Look, I sympathize with you for being tooled by Obama. Obviously, Obama is trying to drive a wedge between Romney and the GOP by saying things like “Romneycare inspired me”. But ask yourself: Why doesn’t Obama want Mitt Romney to get the GOP nod for president? Why is Obama trying to hurt Romney as opposed to, say, Ron Paul or Herman Cain? Maybe because the polls show that Obama can beat any Republican other than Mitt Romney?

Let that marinate for a few days.

LiveStronger

n/t

LiveStronger

of a group of conservative activists who still aren’t convinced that Romney is a conservative.

I’m convinced. There is a reason that James Dobson quietly supported Mitt Romney in 2008 by speaking out against John McCain and never uttering a harsh word against the Latter-day Saint Romney.

There is a reason why Sally Bradshaw, Jeb Bush’s former chief of staff, went to work for Mitt Romney in 2006. There is a reason why Barbara Bush (HW’s wife, not his grand-daughter) loves the guy. There’s a reason why Chris Wallace loves the guy. It is not because these are all closet liberals. It is because Mitt Romney is a conservative who gets things done.

There is a Romney faction of the GOP and there is a faction that is doing everything it can to find a Parcival (“white knight”) to unseat Romney’s position on the top of the heap.

I appeal to the anti-Romney faction: give the guy a chance. You know in your heart that he will be a better president than Obama.

Give him a chance.

LiveStronger

There is one thing that the media hates worse than a conservative woman like Sarah Palin or Michele Bachmann. It is a conservative African-American.

If conservative African-Americans exist, then the media myth that all conservatives are racist is exposed as a fraud. Therefore, they have to create a new meme to explain how a black man could be a conservative and be nominated by the GOP to be president: The media would simply create and market the meme that Herman Cain was an idiot unable to speak anything other than sound-bytes and buzz-words.

We all know that this will be the media’s attack line. Look what the media did to Sarah Palin. They will do the same thing to Herman Cain if given the opportunity.

LiveStronger

Skponggol is telling the truth. Rick Perry is finished. The guy buried himself with his own words. He is not perceived as a bright man and no amount of spin will change that. Can a man who is not perceived as being bright get the GOP nomination? Sure.

Is that the best way to unseat a incumbent democrat who will rely on union labor, your tax dollars, and lots of media help to get re-elected? No.

Don’t accuse anyone of being a liar unless you have some evidence.

LiveStronger

go Romney!

Romney is far more articulate than Mr. Cain. No one without political/government experience has ever been elected president. Herman Cain would not get any help from the media. He would get no more help from the black community than what Steele got in 2006 when he ran for Senate: 8%-9%, same as any white Republican.

He would not fire up the Latino community at all. He wouldn’t score many goals with soccer moms.

We need Romney to get the nomination. Then we need to fix this country.

powertothepeople

change your moniker here to accurately reflect the consistent nonsense you have posted here. I would suggest something along the line of LiveStupid or SpeakBS.

We get it, you like Hairspray Romney, but your repetitive posting of unintelligent and moronic nonsense has been quite laughable. I would get more into the silliness you posted above, but Moe is more than capable of exposing posters pretending to be smart, so he needs no help from me.

gekster

Wether all or in part, it is still a government solution.

nuff said!

clarioncaller

I’m so tired of this Romney will get the nomination if Perry falters banter.Romney will NOT get the votes of those Republicans who vote in the primary’s.Republicans don’t want another John McCain and that what Romney is.

gekster

I could not afford health insurance when my wife had my 4 children, and they did not die because I was poor.

publiussteve

Patiently waiting for the RS post on this, and hoping the Romney Derangement Syndrome starts to subside.

With respect to the above post, Romney is most certainly not another John McCain — especially regarding illegal immigration. In fact, Perry is the squishy RINO on this issue, just like McCain.

And unlike McCain (and Perry), Romney has a pretty good mix of both private and public sector experience that appeals to me.

gekster

Thats like saying Perry wins Texas sraw poll.
Get real.

streiff

government subsidies for abortion while he was governor to understand his views are a lot less nuanced than you would have people believe. Whatever his personal views on the subject, and I, for one, could care less what he believes in his heart of hearts, his policy views and public actions have been resolutely pro-abort.

http://whattoreadtoday.blogspot.com/ Paula

I think Santorum is often forced onto defense on social issues because of the stupid and confrontational questions he receives. Everyone knows he’s the go-to guy on social issues, so of course, in the debate, he alone received the DADT question (though it could have easily gone to Bachmann with the same reaction/result). I wonder how Cain might have put a positive spin on that? I don’t really see a way to say you’re for repealing the policy without appearing “anti.”

Really, did the moderators need to ask Santorum that question? Yawn. Interesting would have been to ask Romney and watch him dance and flop around the stage. Or to ask Perry and have him step boldly and confidently into something he hadn’t really thought about until that very moment. Instead, they asked Santorum, whose answer was predictable. Which by the way, I find an admirable quality. But we learned nothing new.

IDK, I don’t read “angry” in Santorum the way others do. I know someone in CA who also reads him that way. Maybe it’s a cultural thing. Being from the Midwest, we all just talk that way as “bitter clingers” and it doesn’t phase us. I do know when Santorum talks about the sanctity of life, I am inspired and uplifted and I know he means it. It’s not just a talking point for him. That means more to me than tone of voice or sound bites. I realize that doesn’t win elections, but super-props to him for not compromising on that message and keeping it in the GOP conversation and drawing such a sharp contrast to Mittens.

publiussteve

Who, BTW, would make a good Commerce Secretary in a Romney administration.

Romney/Rubio 2012: Axelrod’s worst nightmare.

acat

since, right now, we don’t know where supporters of Bachmann, Cain, Gingrich, Huntsman, Paul, Perry, and Santorum would go if “their” candidate drops out.

Further, support for “everyone but Romney” currently exceeds support for Romney, so .. you’ve got an unstated expectation that – again, in the primary only – they’ll rally to Romney that .. I just don’t see.

Mew

strangebuttrue

Both did a great job and I don’t want to knock either of their roles in that cycle. In terms of numbers, Mitt’s Free and Strong America PAC contributed about a million to candidates, and SarahPac contributed about a half a million, neither is anything to sneeze at! Romney’s PAC supported a good bit more candidates than Sarah’s, but again both an important role.

strangebuttrue

Which is one reason I am a Mitt Romney supporter!

renl57

As governor of MA, Romney vetoed some 250 bills and budget items sent to him by the MA legislature.

Which overrode every one of his vetoes. Every single one.

Even Ronald Reagan or Barry Goldwater couldn’t “govern MA like a conservative” when Dems outnumber Repubs by 4 to 1 in the state legislature.

In Washington, the GOP should hold onto the House and take the Senate too. President Romney wouldn’t have a problem governing the country like a conservative under those conditions.

gekster

ntntnt

rightwingmom52

Santorum didn’t go looking for the DADT question. The moderators chose to hand it off to him, and he answered it correctly. I’m not looking to vote for who is most popular. Rather, I am considering their views, their records, their experience, their plans, etc. and whether or not I believe them.

What I see in Santorum is a deep love of this country and a commitment to many of the same issues that are important to me, e.g., pro life and traditional marriage. I don’t see anger to the same degree that others may, but so what if he is? There’s a lot of people in this country who are angry. Wasn’t that a motivating factor for the tea party?

Like the rest of the field, Santorum has some baggage, but I don’t get why we’re asked to forgive some for their baggage and others not so much. That being said, I think Cain is the stronger candidate. I’d prefer to see Santorum run for Senate again in PA. I would fully support him in that effort.

acat

I don’t think “angry” describes Santorum. I think maybe “frustrated”, because he can’t figure a way to turn the questions around as Gingrich does so well.

My hope remains that Santorum hasn’t spent himself into debt, that he can take a war chest with a positive balance, return to PA, and challenge Casey Jr. for his Senate seat.

Mew

rechts

A lot of conservatives hoped Perry would be that alternative. After the immigration bomb though, not so much.

You now have people unhappy with Romney, but done with Perry. That gives a decent opportunity for candidates like Cain.

strangebuttrue

if Romney is elected President, I think you would be very pleased and pleasantly surprised by 2016! You may even become one of those Romney apologists, if he governs as competently and conservatively as I believe he will.

I think this is a fundamental difference between the pro-Romney and anti-Romney people, the anti-Romney people don’t trust him, and honestly do not believe he would govern as a conservative. One reason I support him is because, of all the candidates, I believe he would be most the effective and successful in governing in a conservative way.

aesthete

Gay marriage is not a federal issue, and a Senator cannot do much about it. Santorum spent a disproportionate amount of time and energy in the Senate talking about it — and moreover, his rhetoric on the topic was a lot less restrained and rational than that of his colleagues. You should look up the statements that got him into trouble: they were by no means manufactured by a hostile media.

aesthete

*Any* conservative would have a very hard time signing a bill that publicly financed abortions, as RomneyCare does. Do you have any evidence that Romney fought the implementation of that proviso in any way? Because a pro-life governor would have.

aesthete

So far, I haven’t seen it, and I expect that trend to continue.

strangebuttrue

I’ll give you that Romney’s 1994 flyer stated that he supported “retaining a woman’s right to choose.”

But on all the other issues, I’m confident that most of us would agree with his 1994 views. This flyer shows he is not the “flip flopper” a lot of people mistakenly claim him to be.

Tax increases? No in 1994 and no now!

Government take-over of healthcare? No in 1994 and no now!

Tougher measures to stop illegal immigration? Yes in 1994 and no now!

rightwingmom52

We may disagree that the fight should be taking place in that arena, but liberals and those fighting in favor of the gay agenda are going to attack traditional marriage whenever and wherever they can. Those of us who support traditional marriage can’t afford to just sit around and point out that they’re pushing their views in the wrong venue.

acat

since Romney and Palin were both clearly eyeballing a POTUS run at the time. Seems to me, Mitt could have gotten quite a lot of mileage out of supporting conservatives.

Which brings us to a key question. Other than Rubio and Gov. Halley, just who did Mitt back?

Mew

http://whattoreadtoday.blogspot.com/ Paula

would propel the issue into the federal realm. Whether or not you agree with that direction, it would make a “federal case” of it.

I think Santorum would make a great VP or member of the cabinet. It would be nice to see someone with his pro-life cred taking over HHS. Or he could start the dismantling of DOE.

kowalski

I think you’re right. From what I recall about this debate and my own research into it, I don’t think he did object to it or at least did not do so in any way that would have influenced the legislation.

It’s very hard to argue backward from Romneycare as Romney is finding out. But I would only say this:

“Romneycare” should more properly be called: “MassachusettsLegislatureCare.”

I also think we risk treading into ThinkProgress territory on this.

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2011/06/01/232665/romney-abortion-coverage/

The big problem for Romney is that he has never disowned any of it and to my knowledge hasn’t given any good explanations about this, in particular.

And I don’t think there are *any* he could give that would satisfy pro-life Conservatives at this point. It’s a big problem for him. ThinkProgress wins.

acat

Merely granting waivers does nothing to remove the tax burden nor eliminate the bureaucracy Obamacare created. It is merely tinkering with the big machine, not scrapping it and starting over.

Mew

kowalski

In the sense of him having been a Conservative with a record real, longstanding Conservatives can look back on and endorse wholeheartedly — let’s say it right now — is and always was a PURE fantasy of the Romney campaign team and Romney himself.

It’s a fantasy. He cannot be – EVER – a real Conservative after his tenure in Massachusetts. The big problem is that he doesn’t cop to it. He just just tell people: “I’m a politician and I was the governor of a state where the Legislature was approximately 9:1 in the other party. I did what I had to do and some of you will never forgive me for it. Some of you might.”

And be contrite about it. But contrition is not something Romney does well.

strangebuttrue

Currently the support for “everyone but Perry” exceeds support for Perry, “everyone but Paul” exceeds support for Paul, etc.

I do see many supporters of Cain, Bachmann, etc. going to Romney if they drop out, especially if Cain and Bachmann endorse Romney as I anticipate they would

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

.

aesthete

since the Clinton administration, and has not been seriously challenged by either the Bush or Obama administrations. Why does already settled policy require so much discussion? It would be as if someone started talking about racism and segregation incessantly, and linking it to one party, years after the CRA had already been passed with bipartisan support.

strangebuttrue

Rick Perry famously said if New York wants to have gay marriage – “that’s fine with me!”

And that’s the answer that’s not too complex to understand.

If Massachusetts wants to ensure 99% of its citizens have healthcare, that’s fine with me. It doesn’t affect me and people of the other 49 states!

Ironically, if more governors and states had crafted state-specific solutions for healthcare like Romney did, there would be no Obamacare.

The 10th amendment defense is the answer!

gracie

A fellow Texan friend of mine just reminded me that huge numbers of ranchers do not want to give their land for the fence by eminent domain, one of the primary reasons being it cuts them off from their only source of water. There was a picture in Texas Monthly showing a proposed fence with huge gaps due to this.

Also, I heard a caller on Mark Levin blame Perry yesterday for letting Houston become a Sanctuary City. Wrong! It was Bill White, mayor of Houston and Perry’s primary opponent in the Governor’s race, who did that.

Let’s blame Perry for what he is responsible for but not for what he was not.

The bill regarding Sanctuary Cities was one Perry chose for the Agenda for the extended special session.
From the Houston Chronicle:
“AUSTIN – In every special session of the Texas Legislature the governor decides the items on the agenda, and of the six issues Gov. Rick Perry included in the just concluded session, four made it and two failed.
Of the four that succeeded, one was a must-pass bill to fund the public schools for the next two fiscal years…
A second bill… reforms the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association….
Another measure… drew the boundaries of the 36 congressional districts in Texas.
The fourth issue passed…reforms the state Medicaid program.
The only items that didn’t make it were a bill that would have outlawed sanctuary cities for illegal immigrants and another that would have criminalized federally-mandated pat-downs at airports.”
This would be from lack of votes in committee or the bell ringing on the time.

It is such a shame to count Governor Perry out. I seriously do blame the Fox moderators on bring up the old news issues instead of what I think most people wanted to hear: the debt crisis, and how to fix the economy. Frustrating!

aesthete

is that you don’t see any gains from what Romney did. Was the MA Republican party built up during his tenure? Not really; he lost seats despite spending a whole lot of time and effort to get Republicans elected. Did his governorship result in a more conservative MA? Again, not really. Given those two things, what did he have to lose by becoming “Governor No”? Yes, Dems in the statehouse were sufficiently numerous as to override his vetos, but a) would they want to do that every time, and b) *could* they do so every time? Maintaining party unity can be difficult in the best of times, and if Romney had been persuasive enough and taken his case to the people, it might have created serious fissures among MA Democrats. I don’t know how likely this was to transpire, but it seems to me less cowardly than just curling up into a ball and passing almost everything that the MA Dems sent to his desk. If Guiliani found a way to successfully implement conservative reforms in NYC (imperfectly, admittedly), then I don’t think that Romney should be held to a lower standard.

strangebuttrue

“He cannot be ? EVER ? a real Conservative after his tenure in Massachusetts.”

If Romney is elected President, after 4 years of him governing as a solid, real conservative, would you still say he will never EVER be a real conservative?

kowalski

The current composition of the MA Senate is 36 (D) 4 (R) (9:1)
The current composition of the MA House is 128 (D) 32 (R) (4:1)

If I’m not mistaken theHouse numbers have changed “whoppingly” in favor of Republicans to a truly amazing 4:1 since Romney was the Governor. Whoopee!

strangebuttrue

are you saying you will never support anyone who would want to live in Massachusetts or California?

aesthete

after 4 years of him governing as a solid, real conservative, would you say he will never EVER be a real conservative?

kowalski

And he’s still trying to appeal to people with it, which says to me that his own internal polling must suggest he’s still getting support from somewhere by doing so.

He’s made his bed on the subject: He didn’t fight hard against the really obnoxious aspects of it and he now tries to use it as an asset. There’s no way he can backtrack on it except to pipe and drum the “states making their own decisions” aspect of it.

I think I summed it up about him not wanting to be “Governor No” when I said that he should just cop to being a pure politician. Absolutely Pure. Most of Mitt Romney amounts to making sure that he is on the right side of the polling in any question he’s asked, and then doing the nuance dance. I’m sure he has some of the best polling money can buy.

He plays the harp very well, I guess. We have to decide whether that’s what we’re going to be stuck with.

He reminds me of Supertramp, the Logical Song. Now he’s trying a second time to take it all the way. I’m not entirely happy about it to say the least.

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

kowalski

Probably the only good thing about Romney being governor here is that I do think he helped a few more Republicans have the courage to run for office in the State House. It’s a marginal effect at best, I have to admit.

acat

Romney has been the “inevitable” candidate since he lowered his banners in 2008, much as Reagan was the “inevitable” candidate in 1980. Too bad they don’t have more in common.

The upside to being the “inevitable” candidate is that nobody looks that closely at you. Romney’s support is predicated not on on what he says or does, but on the inevitability, on the desire to back the winner. Romney deliberately took a low profile, Erick’s commented on it more than once, taking a strategy of not getting into unnecessary fights. It’s worked well so far… but.

The downside to being the “inevitable” candidate is that, if someone does knock Mitt out of the lead, there’s no good way to recover. All those “backing the winner” folk evaporate fast – as Bachmann’s numbers prove – and all of a sudden, the scrutiny gets intense.

In short, Romney has to kill the campaign of any any solid potential challengers – Pawlenty, Perry, etc. – without getting his own hands dirty.

His supporters will tend to go to whoever the strong horse is, but those of us who remember him, who looked closely in 2008, will go for anyone but.

Mew

renl57

If you help re-elect Obama, it’s the country that will suffer for it.

strangebuttrue

people use the granting waivers idea as something that’s a bad thing. It’s a concrete step he could take on the first day in office as President. His goal is for Obamacare to be repealed, but this cannot be done by one man on one day. It will effectively kill the program; most states will choose to opt out.

And I don’t think Romneycare is a government takeover at all.

strangebuttrue

Do you mean if Barack Obama suddenly had an epiphany and started to govern as a conservative in a second term? I’d rather not give him the chance!

Maybe I was unclear. Let’s say Romney is elected President. Let’s say he turns out to be a very conservative President. Let’s say he repeals Obamacare, promotes a pro-growth economic agenda, leads the charge to reform Social Security, appoints conservative judges, etc. Will you still say, I don’t care that he’s spent 8 years governing as the most conservative President since Reagan, he will never EVER be a “real conservative?”

strangebuttrue

Pat Toomey, Ron Johnson, Scott Walker, John Kasich, John Kasich, Rick Synder, many others.

And, strange but true, Romney campaigned for his PAC donated to… Rick Perry.

aesthete

that the likelihood of what you laid out is about as likely in Obama’s case as it is in Romney’s, at least in the eyes of some conservatives (myself included). If it happens as you describe, then I’ll have to buy you a drink at the bar of your choosing — heck, I’d be thrilled to do it, because it’d mean I was dead wrong and that the country under Romney is OK. I just don’t see that as likely, given the makeup of the Republican Senate and what I’ve seen in Romney’s record.

arthurmanger17

The only way he could win with a performance like that mild debate as attacks go, in the general election is if the main stream media dropped dead. Or maybe some weird power outage that only effects them every time their about to broadcast something. Maybe the upcoming solar flares some are worried about, or space aliens yea that’s the ticket.

jlsankot

where I read that before the first debate after Perry got in, Romney asked Bachmann to join with him in attacking Perry. Bachmann fell for it hook, line and sinker. Now she looks like the crazy. Romney used her, but good.

Nice guy (sarc).

It pays to have (and keep) your own mind. Don’t let others influence what you truly believe. Of course, if you TRULY believe something, you won’t be influenced that easily. Michele is a big disappointment to me in that respect.

davesinsanantonio

He is an Oreo, an Uncle Tom. That he is just a puppet for his white masters. I do not believe any of this, but that is what they will say, either outright or in “code”. Or, with just innuendo. Or, with little cutesy smirks whenever they say anything about him.
They cannot believe that any “real” black person would be a Republican, let alone a conservative one. So, they have to believe he is a dupe.
Why? Because they are all racists. They believe all blacks are dumb and can only do what a white person tells them to do. They do not really believe that a black person can think for him or her self. They refuse to believe that any black person has enough pride in himself to actually work for a living and be successful at it. Since they only use “tokens” themselves, they believe every black person in our party is just a “token”. And, facts will never change their minds on this.

davesinsanantonio

are subject to changes in the wind. I would rather see a person with a sound conservative philosophy but no policies yet than a person whose policies have no principles behind them.
Principles first, the policies will follow.
Tell me what a person truly believes in, and I will know what purposes he or she will want to accomplish with their policies. It doesn’t always work the other way around.

ag8tor

could make up some ground if he would lighten up somewhat. He comes off as frustrated and angry. While passion is good eventually you have to connnect with the public.

davesinsanantonio

That is because, like many of us, they have a lazy streak. And, having just two candidates to cover, question, interpret, etc. will just make their lives easier. But, until we are a couple of weeks from the convention, when people begin to need to make the decision, then a wide field is good, and hopefully they are all conservative enough to help educate the voters that aren’t yet as conservative as this country needs to survive and to recover.

jlsankot

has ever been elected president”?

Even though Obama was a Senator, can you really say he had any experience?

Cain would bring more experience to the position than Obama has in his little finger, even now.

davesinsanantonio

Commerce Secretary in a Cain administration. Or, for that matter, in a Perry administration.
BTW, it is not “just like” Cain’s win since Cain is not from Florida. But, don’t let facts bother you.

ag8tor

to stop attacking Romney and start attacking “O”. All this sniping between the two is only giving the Dems ammunition. The candidates should debate the subjects as to how they would handle the situations rather than continuously attacking each other. We will need a united front to beat “O”. This is not helping.

gallowglass

that Cain is the one who consistently brings specific solutions, doesn’;t indulge in taking potshots at the other candidates, and actually calls out Obama on his destructive policies?

Looks to me as if he’s doing just as you suggested the others do.

LiveStronger

Perry actually attended the straw poll in Michigan for some reason. Apparently, he doesn’t quite get that Michigan is already out of his reach.

SNL had a killer skit on the debate. Normally, I don’t care for SNL political skits because they tend to ignore the stupidity of people like Obama and John Kerry. But the bit they ran before the opening monologue last Saturday was pretty funny.

If you think this kind of stuff doesn’t matter, then you haven’t followed the career bell curves of Sarah Palin and Dan Quayle.

LiveStronger

Look, I don’t know what the odds are of Ron Paul becoming the GOP nominee. But my guess is that they aren’t very good.

Paul does best in straw polls where he can get his people out there. Whenever his name is considered in a primary, like the ones they have here in California, he usually takes 3rd or 4th place, far removed from the top tier.

Herman Cain is like Ron Paul. They are both issue candidates who have less than a 10% chance of winning.

Wanna bet any serious money on either Herman Cain or Ron Paul? Didn’t think so.

Now, when Rick Perry goes to Michigan to attend a straw poll, and he loses to Romney 51% to 17%, that has to hurt. Rick Perry’s insurgent candidacy has accomplished nothing besides the splintering of the anti-Mormon faction that he was supposed to be cobbling together.

His next move should be to borrow a page from the Huckabee ’08 campaign and start using question/accusations during interviews to suggest that Mormons are actually a Satanic cult. It worked so well for Huckabee that I can’t imagine why Perry hasn’t played that card yet.

LiveStronger

then I think that conservatives can trust him.

The Bush family likes Romney. Jeb Bush’s chief of staff worked for Romney in ’08. Barbara Bush is a noted fan.

Conservatives praying for a white knight to show up with razor-sharp debate skills, the ability to persuade conservative democrats like my grandmother (voted for Obama in 2008 but loves, LOVES Mitt Romney), good looks, a very becoming first lady, a pro-life record as governor in a pro-choice state, a record of action against the expansion of gay rights, a Harvard MBA & JD, a proven record of success as a businessman, and a commitment to cut taxes need look no further than Mitt Romney. If he were Catholic, Lutheran, Evangelical, or Jewish, Republicans would be flocking to him.

ihateliberals

I feel the debates are being forced on us way too early and I believe the public is resisting better than I thought the media trying to drive the decision of the people. While I don’t like Cain i am very happy he won the Straw poll. this shows that the people aren’t lined up with the alleged front runners. I pray to God this is true and the neither Perry nor Romney are chosen as our nominee. We have far too many RINO’s now in our government and party nd we need to stop being led around by the media. The first Goal is to pick someone tha tcan beat Obama and not put a loser RINO in his place. A RINO just inslt that much better than a Liberal. Difference in a RINO and a Liberal is tht you can trust the liberal to be just that. You can’t trust a RINO to be anything. I’m not even considering a front runner until we start the primary process. Quite frankly i think the debates are a very bad Idea as a method of choosing at this point. We don’t need more than about three debates total just before the primaries start. In years past we didn’t hve these early debates and the system worked just fine. now by the time we get to the primary season we are sick to death of hearing about it. This debating system now puts the media and the Democrats in charge of deciding the agenda not the Republicans. The debates have turned into a media circus.

cwilson

(a) The Obama administration has instructed the Justice department not to defend DOMA in any federal lawsuit. What effect did this action have, when it was California, Governor Schwartzenegger, and Prop 8?

(b) The left never stops pushing. So you can be sure THEY are trying to get DOMA overturned. There are several ongoing cases I have heard about, and probably dozens I haven’t. Now, see (a) and consider: is this issue “settled policy”?

red_oakster

His religion may hurt him among a small slice of bigots, but the real objection to him is his perceived unreliability as a conservative.

Thus far, Romney has been blessed by weak performances by key rivals (Perry and Pawlenty) and by the decision of several people not to run (Ryan and Pence; (for my money, both Christie and Daniels would be weak candidates)). However the 14% in Florida was weak, weak, weak. He’s vulnerable to a Ryan were he to reconsider or to either Palin or Guiliani were they to run.

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

Oh please. How about an “anti-big-government” faction.

And, as for your last paragraph, thanks for the written proof that you’re an idiot.

barleycorn

Romney would be better advised to stop attacking Perry and start attacking ?O?. All this sniping between the two is only giving the Dems ammunition. The candidates should debate the subjects as to how they would handle the situations rather than continuously attacking each other. We will need a united front to beat ?O?. This is not helping.

rcastonjr

It was pretty pathetic. Perry and Romney each consumed almost 11 minutes each and the rest were far below that with the lowest being Paul and Johnson with a little over 4 minutes each. Looks to me like the media, yes even Fox news, has already picked their favorites. Gingrich and Santorum were under 6 minutes with Bachman at 7 minutes and Cain a little over 6. Nobody will be able to break out as long as the media continues to do its part to keep the rest of the field underexposed.

Danielle Davis (ocleverone)

Unless Romney repudiates Romneycare.

“Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) “would never consider” endorsing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for president again in 2012 unless Romney repudiates the health reforms he sought as governor, a source close to DeMint said Thursday.”

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/150495-demint-wont-back-romney-without-repudiation-of-mass-health-law

rcastonjr

My brother and I were just talking about this very thing last night. I do believe that if Perry is going to survive this and become the nominee he will have to get much better at debating. Furthermore, when he debates, he doesn’t seem to have the gonads to look at the guy he is standing right next to talking about. To me, that shows a sign of weakness. Romney looks right at Perry when he is addressing him. Now make no mistake, I’m not a Romney guy but I will vote for him if he is the nominee since I am of the ABO crowd. He would be far better for this country than the communist, socialist, marxist, or whatever he is, that is currently occupying the white house. But I do hope Perry steps up his game. And yes, the childish attacks on each other must stop.

tlhanger

Cain is the ticket

Romney is a Michigan’s favorite son-he grew up there.

We need Cain and what he has said a along and people are jumping on the bandwagon. Get with it!

rcastonjr

Was smart enough to know that there was no way McCain would get elected.

rcastonjr

I was once pro-abortion. I refuse to call it pro-choice because pro-choice is nothing but a liberals way of making pro-abortion sound better. I am now adamantly anti-abortion. Why? I had children and watched them being born. I watched the miracle of life and the Lord moved me to SEE the miracle for what it is. LIFE. So I urge you all to be very careful about calling Romney a liar or untrustworthy because he changed his mind on this subject. God alone knows his true heart and God changed mine.

Scope

will not stop when the debate moderators set up their questions in such a manner as to provoke some to attack others. In the last debate, Wallace brought up the already beaten to death Gardasil issue against Perry, and invited her to go at Perry for it again, and she made sure to paint Perry as a crony capitalist yet once again, forgetting that she herself has taken many of the same kinds of donations. Wallace did the same thing with Romney with setting up his question with Gov. Romney, a few weeks ago Gov, Perry said blah blah blah, what is your answer to that. Wallace does exactly the same thing to every Republican candidate he has on his Sunday morning show. He can’t help but to let his registered Democrat self come out, just like his good old dad Mike.

scmom

And I believe that we just need to give Cain time to let the rest of the electorate get to know him. I’m getting really tired of the pundits, the bloggers, and the the “insders” deciding who is going to win the nomination or the primary or the general election based on what is going on 15 months out. Give it a rest, and just shut up for a minute, will you? I can hardly hear what the candidates are saying over your blather!

scmom

“Cain doesn?t look as unelectable to Florida Republicans as he does to reporters from DC.”

This is the point that needs to be made, as often as necessary, until the reporters from DC start listening.

If we elect another politician, we will get more politics! Need I remind you of the definition of insanity?

wwwhank

When you give people a choice between Herman Cain and Rick Perry and they have a chance to meet each candidate the people will pick Herman Cain. This is the same result you are going to see as Herman’s name ID increases. This go around I really don’t think the majority of folks are going to be satisfied with the Media picking who our front runner is going to be.

supergirl2911

I think I would probably agree with Santorum on several issues but I can’t get over how annoying he is. Even when others said he did great at the last debate, I was like “What?” To me, he comes across annoying and argumentative. To each their own..

msjallen

Personality Styles, Santorium is an Analytical / Driver who does not have the ability to relate to the public that will reach their emotions. After all, most people DO vote from their emotions and that is sad.

supergirl2911

While you do need to point out differences, people want to hear what you have done and how that connects with what you will do. Together this should be bookended by your overall vision for the country on central issues.

supergirl2911

but I wish we could STOP talking about Romeny. Certainly if he wins the nomination it is on cruise control. Who likes where he stands on the issues? Who likes what he did as a one term governor? Who believes him?

msjallen

RomneyCare is my biggest issue with Mitt along with other things not necessary to mention. He says he will get rid of 0-Care but I doubt that he has anything worthy to replace it. I do not have a clear picture of any of the 9 candidates since the debates don’t give any of them enough time to answer and are too political in their response except perhaps for Cain. After saying that, I do know some I would not want to vote for if they got the nomination but would just to get rid of 0.

csinate

In case Obummer gets re-elected we need more Warriors.
http://secondamendmentwarrior.webs.com

peg_c

and apparently RINOs as well. If it works to their advantage, it matters; if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. If it succeeds, they did it; if it doesn’t, they don’t. And on and on. In my experience, conservatives don’t subscribe to relativisms and moving of goal posts.

supergirl2911

but I didn’t notice him being baited by moderators and other candidates the way the “top two” do. I still think he will be above the fray, but if he is perceived as a front runner, this may change.

mspector

Cain is not an “issue candidate”, whatever that is supposed to mean.

Cain has a vision and a heart. The more people hear him, the more they like him. To me the Florida event was significant for the moment that the entire hall, and all candidates, gave Herman a spontaneous ovation for his recovery from liver and colon cancer. It bespoke the love the man can inspire.

Herman Cain is very electable; all that has to happen is for us to elect him.

acat

Cain hosted a talk show. I haven’t done so, but I suspect EE could confirm that being able to think on your feet is a pretty major job requirement.

I’d like to see what he does with some of the “gotchas”, and more importantly, with some of the hits from the soon-to-be-footnotes.

Mew

acat

Cain hosted a talk show. I haven’t done so, but I suspect EE could confirm that being able to think on your feet is a pretty major job requirement.

I’d like to see what he does with some of the “gotchas”, and more importantly, with some of the hits from the soon-to-be-footnotes.

Mew

freentn

From CNN Latest Poll

According to the survey, which was released Monday, 28 percent of Republicans and independents who lean towards the GOP say they support Perry as their party?s presidential nominee, with Romney at 21 percent. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is at ten percent, with Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who?s making his third bid for the White House, former Godfather?s Pizza CEO and radio talk show host Herman Cain, and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, all at seven percent. The poll indicates that Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota is at four percent, with former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania at three percent and former Utah Gov. and ambassador to China Jon Huntsman at one percent.

mspector

Chris Wallace played “kiss and make up” asking Cain about his colon and liver cancer and Obamacare; the audience erupted in a spontaneous ovation and Cain gave a completely appropriate, measured and tightly reasoned response. All that, and everyone got a chance to see the heart this man has. He is more than viable if only the talking heads will stop asking whether he is viable. I can only imagine the trampling he would give Obama in any face-to-face debate. Herman Cain can be elected; all we have to do is elect him.

supergirl2911

I think conservatives should look at the immigration action in the scope of how it was accomplished. Is the Texas legislature overwhelming liberal? Because this was something they supported overwhelmingly. I would like to hear from representative or senator from Texas who supported/opposed the proposition. And I wish Perry could talk about it in a way that is less inflamatory. I am very conservative, but Perry’s approval of the in-state tuition for illegal immigrants does not concern me. I would like to hear more his economic plans.

mspector

Cain presents plans; agree or disagree with him, he puts specifics on the table. That is being straightforward. When he doesn’t know something (as on the “right to return”), he has no problem saying so. When he makes a mistake (as with the appointment of Muslims) he’s willing to correct it. He is plain-spoken, not because he is simplistic but because he understands his own ideas well enough that he can present them clearly. And he is focused on Obama, not on the other candidates which is as it should be. I like the man, he is more than viable, and he will make a strong President.

Flagstaff

Fervently.

supergirl2911

is a clever campaign and worked for Liberals in 2008 (ABB?) But with all the talk of Reagan, I believe that people want a leader, not to hold their nose and pray.

supergirl2911

show me the record and the vision. I would be preferential to less than 59 points. I might be willing to read it, but it causes a communication challenge for commercials.

msjallen

dirty politics by politicians without morals like the rest of WDC. We need a statesman who truly loves America and wants the best for We the People and not their own ego, I don’t believe this will happen until We the People turn back to God and learn His ways beyond the “Golden Rule” and the one known prayer of “Oh, God, help us.”
I Tim 2:1-2 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
II Peter 3:8? but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity.

Flagstaff

Most of the people who question Romney question his conservative convictions, not his religion. They are also the same people who question the conservative convictions of the Bushes. Bush support, beyond money, doesn’t help Romney with these people one bit.

Flagstaff

Repeal and fuggedaboudit should be the mantra.

msjallen

I totally agree, now “get down to business” and tell us what you would do to help with America’s crisis of no jobs, 0-Care, Israel, freedom to own and use guns, marriage, Mexico and drugs, and the list could go on and on but there is not enough time to debate these things with so many on the stage that give glib answers that we have already heard.

Common_Cents

primary message is take your bad tasting medicine, its good for you, instead of positive emotional appeal of how conservativism benefits you.

Flagstaff

Romney, Perry, Gingrich, and Cain, the broad spectrum of Republican voters would be covered by one or more of them.

We would not miss the other five, for various reasons, and we don’t need Christie or Ryan or Trump, either.

Flagstaff

but my own observation is that Romney, et al, have done much more attacking of Perry, who has unfortunately chosen to defend himself by attacking back. The exchange with Santorum is an example, with Santorum talking over Perry as Perry tried to answer a question (or perhaps to parry an attack). Santorum may believe he won that exchange, but he just came off like a Democrat talking head–unwilling to listen to an answer that would damage his argument, and unwilling to let others hear it either.

Perry has not been artful in his debate performances, but he hasn’t been factually very wrong. He needs to improve his delivery and clarity; his message is what it is.

timkellogg

Especially how fun it would be to watch Obama try to stand up to any back-and-forth with Cain in a debate. Cain schooled Clinton quite well back in 94, and Obama has nowhere near Clinton’s skills or slickness.

soljerblue

OK, bad pun…sorry, couldn’t resist.

But — I’ve never been a fan of members of congress running for the top office. And the current GOP crop — Paul, Santorum, Bachman, Gingrich, et.al may be great where they are, but to my mind we need someone who has actually RUN something, a state or a successful business. That leaves me with Perry(a collapsing balloon), Romney(his ‘religion’ is RINOism and completely unacceptable), and Herman Cain. I’ve liked him from the git-go, as a conservative with character, passion, and judgement. His areas of weakness can be strengthened by choosing good advisors, which — as a successful businessman — I believe he has the judgement to accomplish. What’s the rub? Electability. But Florida proved to me that people like him and will gravitate to him when they see that he has a chance. And I believe others are saying this to themselves today. So, I’m a Cain vote right now and for the rest of this debate/primary season.

You can argue legitimately that he’s weak on foreign policy. That can be overcome by good advisors and good judgement. In addition to which, the mood of America right now, its vital concern, is the economy, jobs, over-regulation, government intrustion in the private sector, and a total lack of workable ideas from the “leadership.” I think that plays to Cain’s strong suit and I believe those of us who like Herman have understood that from the beginning. Obama showed that a black candidate can win at the highest level because of his race and for no other reason. Cain would show that race isn’t even a factor if other qualities are in place.

Plus — it would be positively heart-warming to watch the left and its MSM enablers trying to paint Cain and his supporters as racists. What would they be left with? Calling him a pizza pusher? Good luck! They’d be laughed all the way to the exits.

msjallen

good question. I wasn’t thinking right.

trickamsterdam

liberal a state as MA…

That being said, he did indeed have a history of vigorously defending liberal policies…for me, the most important being roe v wade.

It’s not abortion so much….it’s legislating from the bench and all that.

You’re right…saying charges of liberalism against him are hysterical is hysterical.

God only Knows what happens when he and McConnell and Boehner get together. Probably the debt and economy get together.

But the real reform we want…probably not.

acat

is that Scott Brown is the most conservative the Peoples Republic of Massachusetts can do, while Mitt Romney is not the most conservative the country as a whole can do.

Mew

trickamsterdam

And I honestly appreciate the time to make them…

But really, when it comes down to it:..

We’ve just got to get contain Obama for the rest of his term, and replace Obama in 2012. And if we’ve lost at that…well then, we’ve lost, maybe forever…

RS

FRONT PAGE CONTRIBUTOR

Herman Cain wins Florida straw poll.

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