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There’s been no shortage of establishment-minded Republicans and members of Congress to have served in the 1990s that have come out and endorsed Mitt Romney for president, or raised concerns about Newt Gingrich’s candidacy.
But perhaps more unexpected has been the emergence of outside-the-Beltway conservatives to bolster Romney’s candidacy in the few weeks before primary voting begins Jan. 3 in Iowa.
A surprising group of conservatives have lined up for Mitt Romney – or, at least, against Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker who’s zoomed to frontrunner status on the strength of his support from anti-establishment Republicans.
Take, for instance, the endorsement of Romney this week by Christine O’Donnell, the former GOP Senate candidate from Delaware who was maybe the most visible example of the anti-establishment crop of Republicans in the 2010 election cycle.
"I am endorsing Gov. Romney because I trust him to do the right thing," O'Donnell said Tuesday night in a statement that sought to combat conservative suspicion of Romney, and drew heavily on O'Donnell's experience as a Senate candidate last cycle.
"The day after I won the primary in Delaware, after the Washington establishment had gone on national television to say that I had no chance, Mitt Romney was the first to not only encourage me but to contribute to my campaign and to tell me that it was a worthy fight," she said.
That endorsement turned heads given the dividing line that’s emerged in the Republican primary. Romney is seen as the candidate of the Republican establishment, and has attracted support from figures representing that camp. By contrast, the series of challengers who have emerged to test Romney – first Donald Trump, then Rep. Michele Bachmann (MN), then Texas Gov. Rick Perry, then Herman Cain, and, now, Gingrich – have seen their fortunes rise (and fall) on the strength of support from anti-establishment, Tea Party types within the GOP.
But as Gingrich surges in the polls, Romney’s gotten cover from prominent conservatives, too.
Conservative radio talk show host Michael Savage, who’s not exactly known as a wallflower of the right, offered Gingrich a million dollars to drop out of the presidential race.
And conservative lightning rod Ann Coulter, who had previously said she thought Romney couldn’t beat Obama, has now reversed herself, calling the former Massachusetts governor “the strongest candidate” versus the president.
“I have a problem with Newt Gingrich’s big government conservatism,” Coulter said this week on Fox News. “I think that of the candidates on the stage, Newt Gingrich is tied with Ron Paul … as the least conservative candidate on the stage.”
For as much as Romney’s had trouble winning over conservatives, the groundswell of late may say just as much about Gingrich, too.
“Gingrich has always said he wants to transform the country. He appears unable to transform, or even govern, himself. He should be an adviser to the Republican party, but not again its head,” the editors of the conservative National Review wrote Wednesday in a scathing anybody-but-Gingrich missive.
Glenn Beck drove a same line of thought during an interview with Gingrich earlier his month. Beck said he had “serious concerns” about Gingrich, and proceeded to grill the former speaker in the interview.
And as if to underscore the point, the New Yorker’s Ryan Lizza compiled a list of ten conservative columnists to have emerged in opposition to Gingrich.
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Like all good ditto-heads, they are starting to line up & hold their noses!
It really doesn't get any ZANIER than that! lol
Somebody tell the witchy woman, her 15 minutes of fame ended last year!
A witch, a witch!! Please bring her to the debate tonite. :)
What would she turn Newt into? I mean, he's already a Newt.
LoL Feisty -- That was exactly my response.
If this is what passes for conservative "cover," then I think we all need to duck.
Incoming ....
Perhaps she could turn him into a fig leaf Newton.
That would REALLY be cover.
A beached whale? He kinda reminds me of the one I saw beached a while back (fortunately, the whale I saw survived and is living at Sea World, rehabbing)
What can I add to this? LOL or as Albany Joe would say....HAHAHAHAHA!
Glenda to Christine: "Are you a good witch, or a bad witch?"
Christine: "I'm not a witch at all."
Glenda: "Sorry, honey. I bought that from Dorothy, but not you."
Doesn't it say something about Mitten's judgment that he would back someone as stupid as the Witch?
Paul M.,
You've got that right! Man, this is going to be fun no matter who gets the nomination!
Glinda knew right away that Dorothy was smarter than the witch of the west.
O'Donnell not so much. She reminds me of a high school friend -- a very sweet girl, but who lacked a certain something in the brain power category -- who looked at me across the lunch table one day and said, in all sincerity -- "I'm not as dumb as I am."
My reply -- "That's okay, dear, no one is."
Actually ... I was thinking "bleached whale."
Whiter than white in more ways than one.
Anna Molly, your recent return to these boards and need to line up with and validate most of Feisty's comments has given me a whole new perspective on your ideology.
I am pretty safe, though in knowing that you haven't changed your mind one bit about me.
I'm sure to you I am, and always will be, some nit-wit, greedy, un-compassionate conservative who will just never get it.
Merry Christmas.
Many brainless dems were on the same side in bashing Newt (prematurely).
Huh?
Not one little bit.
Something like that.
Ditto, sir. All the blessings of the season to you and your family.
Did anyone watch the endoursement from Christine? She praised Rommeny on his consistency..... When reminded that he has changed his mind on many issues she reponds that he has been consistant after those flip flops....... Was one of the most painful things to watch on TV, also one of the most humorous.
Fuzzy...that was priceless. "He's already a Newt." That whole scene from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" is stuck in my head now. "She's a witch, burn her!" "But how do you know she's a witch?" "She turned me into a newt......well.....I got better."
But seriously folks.....Savage....Coulter.....National Review......Beck......do we need any further proof of the blatant collusion between the GOP and so-called "Conservative Radio." Overnight they went from being the mouth pieces for the Tea Party to the mouth pieces of the establishment GOP. What a coincidence that they should all be singing the same song off the same sheet of music today. What are the odds?
Gimme a break. I"m telling the Justice Department needs to look into this. "Conservative Radio" is nothing but the propaganda arm of the Republican Party and that's down-right scary when you think about it.
But, back to Romney, now, more than ever, he's the guy. Bless his little Moderate Mormon heart, and the President's re-election is assured.
Obama/Biden 2012
WCA,
That's the kind of statement that gets you in trouble on this board. Do you have any idea how insulting that comment is? It implies that Anna Molly is Fiesty's mouthpiece; that she doesn't have a brain of her own.
In fact, Anna Molly is one of the most intelligent posters on this site. She does her own research, and does it carefully. She's also not mean-spirited or vindictive. And she has more patience than is warranted with posters like you. I think you owe her an apology.
The leading sentence of the article says, "There’s been no shortage of establishment-minded Republicans and members of Congress to have served in the 1990s that have come out and endorsed Mitt Romney for president, or raised concerns about Newt Gingrich’s candidacy."
Gingrich is going to be stalked by the throngs of skeletons that are coming out of his closet until his bid for the presidency inevitably fails.
@ Jack --
Thanks, but it's okay. I just consider the source.
I would, however, be remiss if I didn't offer you holiday greetings at least as warm as those I offered WCA.
Merry Christmas, Jack. All blessings to you.
Thanks, AM. And to you, too.
I understand Romney's PAC is buying endorsements now. lmao...
Newt Gingrich totally reminds me of Eric Cartman (South Park), in fact, I can see Cartman as Newt in adulthood.
This is not such a surprising assortment. After all, Gingrich would be slaughtered in the election, and these nutjobs want to make sure they maintain their connection to power.
awww I want Jon Huntsman, why can't we republicans back anyone sane?
I pray they don't retain "connection to power" since they have lost their connection to reality...
Newt does best when he is being attacked - look at his counter-punch against Mittens on the $10,000 bet. I say to the Rs - bring it on. That will keep Newt from saying something stupid or self-destructive.
Surprise Surprise ... Romney is the only one that fits the bill ... knows how to play with money ... has those white looks ....
If only he was a proper christian ... and he didn't care about the common folk having health care (damn commie) BUT ... he's not black and we won't have to hear about Bush anymore!!!!!!!!
Thanks to Skip and Fuzzy for the Monty Python references. I can't see Newt without thinking about that scene.
Thank goodness there are some Conservatives with a level head!! Newt will kill the GOP. And just contemplating Blingrich as President makes my head EXPLODE!!!!
If any one here would read some of Newt's books and actually listen to what he has to say they would see he is the smartest man in the room! And would turn this country around! I think the fact that the media is so bent on getting Romney to be the Republican canidate should scare everyone!
Go Mitt ! Go !! Romney 2012 !!!
So the Republican choice comes down to White-Obama... oh, I mean Mitt... sorry, I keep forgetting they are different people. Or the literal poster-boy for lobbyist control, political corruption, and "politics as usual"... good 'ol Newt.
This is going to be the biggest joke, pointless, waste-of-time election in history. Seriously, they had one of those candidates sign a pledge saying he would not cheat on his wife if elected. Really? The best guy you could find was someone who has to sign a pledge to be faithful... a signed pledge. That is the best you can do? This, from the "family values" party?
Is this a f---ing joke? What the hell is wrong with the people in this country? What the hell happened to the GOP?
Mitt or Newt, what does it matter. If the election were today, either beats Obama without even having their entire party united behind them. Obama can't get above 40% in the polls, and he's the sitting POTUS. Both Republican Frontrunners beat him in the critical Swing States. He's had almost three years to 'fix' the economy and has only dug us a $4.5 TRILLION and counting bigger hole.
During the '08 race he said this was "the worst economy since the 30's" (FDR's 'Great' Depression). Then after his 'Stimulus' failed miserably he said that he "didn't realize just how bad things were." So any reasoned person merely expects he should admit, as did Joe Biden, that "the Stimulus failed;" and it is his failed policies, not anything George Bush did in the past, that are the reasons millions fewer people have jobs today the did so when he took office. But we all know that reason is an anethma to the left.
So all of you Feistybots just keep right on marching to that Marxist Music. After all, you still have 10 1/2 months till D-Day.
But, it sure is entertaining to watch all of your spin in your bloomers. Bloomers are safer for you guys since one sneeze in a thong and you have to call out a search party for a two week search and rescue party.
I was just going to say that I haven't seen a single voter who actually wants Romney. Then the one guy above showed up.
Who would have thought that it was possible to convince Republicans to line up behind Romney. But, somehow Mr Gingrich managed it.
If you make less than 250 thousand dollars a year, your not going to do yourself any favors by voting for the republican/ tea bagger party.
Happy Holidays!!!
Joe- I'd really like to see your wash machine when it hits spin ... man oh man....
Can't be worse that the last "waste of time" election when the media help Odrama destroy everyone in his path to the United Socialist States of America. Freedom of the press is a joke.
I'm thankful that Mitt is on his way. As a former Obama supporter, I voted for him because I did not want Palin a gunshot away from being POTUS, this guy unfortunately is having to kiss up to the far right of the party. If you gets the nomination he will beat Obama and become the pragmatic leader than this country needs. It's quite clear to everyone that President Obama, who has aged 10 years in 3 years, is clearly not up for the job. He's an amateur.
Not because they like Romney, but because Newt can't win.
newscover,
It's awesome. But you'd be agape just watching it sit idle. Please refute one thing I posted.
What is it about Ron Paul that everyone so easily dismisses him? Has anyone listened to this man? He is sharp, intelligent, has integrity (no flip-flopping) and is right on the money regarding the dangers of the Federal Reserve. Past presidents warned us of the dangers of allowing banks (Federal Reserve) to controll the issuance of our money. And what they warned us about is happening! Ron Paul is the ONLY one out there who is focused like a laser on what the issue is, and the bought media is doing everything possible to marginalize him because he is a clear and present danger to the current system (that is impoverishing us all)!
So any of you here that dismiss Ron Paul out of hand... WHY?!? Have you heard this guy? His intellect and sharpness blows all the others out of the water. He is the ONLY one who can even hold a candle to Obama's intellect. I dont care if he is a "funny looking little old man". This isn't a beauty contest. Its the future of this country, which is in much bigger trouble than I honestly think most of you here fail to truly grasp. We are on the precipice of hardships never before seen in this country, hardships that may very well dwarf those felt at the height of the Great Depression.
We really need big change and fast. NONE of the candidates offer anything of substance. All groom their messages to what they think we want to hear, with no intention of follow-through, except Ron Paul.
Why is he marginalized? And I pose that question to all on this board very seriously. If YOU dont take him seriously, WHY? And please, dont say age, dont say because he is a "kook" Please give specifics.
I find it very frustrating to see a true statesman being entirely rejected out of hand while these pathetic status-seekers- with no ideas or suggestions for solutions, get so much undeserved media attention.
You don't have to be too bright to see Newt is unelectable. And of course the corporate arm of the Republican party can't allow the nitwits in the rank and file to vote him into the nominee which is where the polls say they are headed.
I'm actually surprised it's taken them this long to pile on trying to turn the tide.
I usually think of them as being more adept at public manipulation than this. Perhaps I've endowed them with too much power over the years.
Anyway, no worries. I watched the same thing happen with Barack Obama 3 years ago. The media or the Democratic arm of it, picked him, set him apart, nominated him then elected him. It was a massive show of what can be done to sway people in the direction Big Business wants. And they have well and truly gotten their monies worth.
Strength,
Paul is sound on the Constitution and our economy. The reason he gets dumped on is he has idiotic 'Blame America' Foreign Policy Positions. No doubt he'd make a fine POTUS. Certainly far better then Obama. But then again, so would Donald Duck.
As for intellect, Obama's is myth. He's just a typical media-hyped 'genius' who is stupid enough to go on TV and admit that we actually "asked" Iran to give us our drone back. Looked the the weaking doofus that he really is. The freaking Iranians must have laughed so darn hard that they are still shiiting their pants. The brains in the game belong to Gingrich. He has some bad positions, and can be prone to blurt out some nutty things sometimes, but in a one on one debate he is par excellence.
We're getting the attack mode from the far left again, but this time obama has to run on HIS record of spending a trillion per year in the red and passing social issues when he should had been working on the economy. A yellow dog turd would beat obama this time. And don't forget what happened with the congressional election LAST TIME...instant replay THIS TIME!!!
Thank you Newt Gingrich for rallying the GOP behind a single candidate. While you are truly the smartest man in the room you have far to much baggage to garner the trust of the American people. That said, it took a man with your experience and political savvy to get the GOP to open their eyes and recognize the only man in the race that can beat Obama. While I take issue with some of Romney's stands on some subjects He would certainly be a drastic improvement over the lying sack of s__t currently occupying the White House. Again, Thank You!
well, it's good to see the Liberal Democrats are showing class and acting like adults. Oh, wait, they aren't, never do. They are best at name calling, and somehow it's "ok" for them, but if a Republican or conservative do it, it's racist/sexist, ageist and politically incorrect. That's ALL Democrats have left, bashing the opposition, can't run on your own record anymore can you...LOL...LOL...LOL...
Let's see.
Name the President that has had ZERO accountability for anything in 3 years...OBAMA.
Name the President that failed to get anything done for 3 years to fix economy...OBAMA.
Name the President that forgot he didn't want the war, then continued to do, nay escalate Bush policies that he was against, which led to Osama being killed...OBAMA
Name the President that couldn't acknowledge that Bush's timeline was followed...OBAMA
Name the President that couldn't recall the issues with debt ceiling during 1st 2 years in office, while Democrats had control of Senate and Congress...OBAMA
Name the President that "SOMEHOW" after 2010 elections led to Republicans taking control of House, somehow THEN recalls debt ceiling...just in time to BLAME Republicans...OBAMA
Name the President that chastised Republicans about said "debt ceiling" but voted against SAME issue as a Senator...OBAMA
Name the President that chastised Republicans about declining to follow HIS "jobs bills" while all the time forgetting to acknowledge 17 "jobs bills" presented to Senate, led by Harry (JUST SAY NO) Reid. In which Harry refused to allow open floor discussion, much less a straight up and down vote...OBAMA
Name the President that continues to BLAME everyone "bad" and take credit for anything "good"...OBAMA
This is something Liberals don't like..FACTS...NO these isn't from Fox News, which is the pathetic Liberal response any time someone presents data..This is from MSNBC, CNN, Politico..WHY...because it's public record.
You clown Liberals bash Republicans, but somehow dismiss these facts..and again, they are real...spend five minutes and you can research, but again, that's "against" the "liberal" agenda
Last note, though by now I've lost the typical Liberal's attention span...
Obama is out DEMANDING tax increases on "wealthy" and you libs are demanding it too. Why NOT ask Obama, Democrats and Republicans to complete an audit of entitlement system, as well as tax system. FIX the corps that are using loopholes. Fix the abuse of Medicaid/entitlements..such as people selling foodstamps for drug money...living in mega-houses while collecting gov't money....ETC...THINK...Obama and Democrats are requesting more money, yet Democrats, Republicans AND OBAMA are NOT even talking about fixing the corruption. I guarantee that IF they'd address the corruption, they would not need a dime more of our money, likely we'd get some back...
THINK...neither side is addressing this, but at least Republicans are not asking for more w/o engaging and addressing the corruption...
Now, let the Liberal bashing begin...LOL...
Wow - got a burr up yer bum, little fella?
Jerry who pays you? Do you get paid by the word or sentence? What part of the republican/tea bagger cesspool did you get your information from. Don't you get tired of writing your slime on here. Here is some news for you, your not the first to post this sludge on here. You know your not going to be the last. Enjoy your moment it won't last. You know you sure told me allot of nothing.
If Romney is the nominee, how is the Republican Party going to hit Obama on "Obamacare," since getting everyone covered for health insurance using the individual mandate was Governor Romney's signature legislation?
Amy, Mitt will simply say "that was the old Mitt talking" Vote for me, NEW, IMPROVED, SUPER CONSERVATIVE MITT, LMAO
Sounds like one of those infomercials you see in the middle of the night - $19.95 plus shipping and handling.
That's right, Amy, if Romney is the candidate, the GOP can't talk about ObamaCare let alone repealing it. No doubt the Obama Team is ready to make sure Mitt has to talk about it.
What should concern E1, not only here @ 1st Read, but across America is the Fact that 1 in 2 of our Fellow Americans are considered Poor or barely living above the Poverty line! That was a Real Eye opener to see this morning!
For 10 years now, we have been Demolishing stuff overseas & then asking Americans to pickup the Tab to rebuild the same Demolished stuff.When are Real Americans going to Standup & say"Enough is Enough"?
Come next November, if We don't get out & Vote for people who are more concerned with America's well being than those folks overseas, then "We are Doomed".Vote Out the ones who think American Military Might is More Important than Actual Citizens of our United States of America. The American Dream is quickly slipping away!
Occupy SoggyBottom!
Newt was for the individual mandate before he was against right wing social engineering too!
Mitt changed his mind about that... Mitt changes his mind a lot... Mitt changes his mind, his opinions... his morals... whatever it will take to get the GOP nomination... what how many times he will change his mind once he has to convince the general electorate they should vote for him... he's a real salesman and huckster.
Vise Versa Obama can't talk about Romney Care. Anyways! Romney is the best for the job. People do not like him personally, but logically he is the person needed to fix the US economy and knows what to do to get the country back on track.
Romney should get the Republican spot on the ballot. He not only has experience in the business world, but has also passed legislation that actually worked. He also has the benefit of being pretty much untouchable as he is one of the few candidates with a normal social and family life. I say he is the best man for the job, and has lived in the real world as opposed to others who were born with a silver spoon. And for all those who says he is a flip flopper: listen to any politician speak. Especially our current President who has failed to accomplish anything solid besides the end of "Don't ask don't tell." Great four year term...
Yup, Romney has it in the bag for sure now that he has goofball's endorsement. Sewn up. Done deal.
You guys still don't get it. This is all about States Rights in regard to Health Care and Mitt was acting as governor of the state of Massachusetts. He has come out and said what is right for Massachusetts may not be right for some other state. He is against a UNIVERSAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTROLLED HEALTH CARE PLAN. The fact that you can't get that is absolutely astounding to me.
Blingrich IS dangerously zany. I'm glad Romney pointed this out to a wide audience. Also needed to be pointed out:
YES please point these things out to the idiots who would vote for him!!! Sheesh!!!
"Romneycare" was instituted in one state...Massachusetts. So far it seems to be working okay, and if at some point it's no longer popular, the people of MA can vote it down. Romney has no intention and never had any intention of making it the law of the entire nation.
Something wrong with states doing what they like? Thought that's what everyone was screaming about!
Not-Newt is starting to win out against Not-Mitt. Regardless of who wins the Republican nomination, the Republicans will not like that person. The purity tests that the current candidates are going through have scared off many of the better potential candidates the Republicans could have won with. They are currently having concerns over not only their selected candidate losing, but bringing down the rest of the ticket in every state.
I have no problem with a candidate who will (gasp!) make different decisions in different situations for different people! I'm all for someone who "I trust ... to do the right thing" ! Flip floppers all the way!
Yep, his private sector experience will tell him to fire the employees, break up the country and sell the pieces to the highest bidder...that should do it!
Maybe Romney realises that the US does not need a bottle-blond fellatrix as First Lady as well as Newt-the-Beaut as POTUS.
Do you want to win the battle or win the war?
If you vote for Gingrich in the primary - you might win the battle. However, this will most likely insure a second term for Obama.
If you vote for Romney in the primary - he has the best chance of beating Obama.
Here is the most important thing to remember: Your base will always vote for you no matter what. Unfortunately, during the primary season you have to court their votes by selling your soul and a good bit of common sense. It is the independent vote that wins the election. The independents live, work, breathe and vote in the middle. Anything too far to either extreme and you will lose their DECIDING vote. Newt Gingrich is considered radically conservative and would not be as appealing to the middle.
If you vote strictly with your ideals and find yourself leaning well to the right of center, consider the fact that voting to the right of your core principles could guarantee that your choice for President will not be sitting in the White House in 1/2013.
Opposing viewpoints are welcome. Personal attacks are not.
Mitt can just point out that we need more state-level experiments before going to a one-size-fits-all program like obamacare. He can also point out the mistakes mass learned but obama copied. I've heard him talking about some lessons learned.
I'd rather have mitt as potus for the adult supervision and stability. He's less likely to scare the country into paralysis with things like obamacare. I'd put newt as vp. Lots of ideas, knows how to twist arms in congress but too nuts to be in charge. We're already used to vp's who are nuts.
Remember, Mitt is the flip-flop candidate. Right now he has flipped and is against Obamacare. If he gets elected he could easily flop back and say it needs to stay.
Ron Paul is the only one that has a chance of beating Obama. The Republican electorate will file in behind the nominee, except for Ron Paul supporters. They will not compromise for a lesser of two evils. He is also the only candidate that draws democrat voters, independents, while securing the youth vote, conservative vote, military vote, evangelical vote, pro life vote, pro choice vote, LGBT vote, and the green vote. Ron Paul is about 1 thing....Liberty. He stands on constitutional principals and has an undeniable record that Barrack Obama simply can't deny.
It's sad that the GOP is actually trying to get Obama re-elected because he is the best neo-con that they could have ever ended up with.
Just remember, its not about who we'll get from the GOP as the nominee. Its all about who has the best chance of beating Obama - no matter how bad that GOP nominee is. That makes total sense. Just what we need in this economy. Just so long as we keep Mitt and Newt flip-floppin' to confuse the Koch bros on where to throw their money away. Isn't there a new messiah out there for the GOP to consider at this awkward stage of the game. Quick, somebody tell Perry what to say to get back in it and make it a three-way split for the Koch bros dollars. Let's have some more fun with it, please!
why are we still arguing about states rights? we fought the civil war about it and guess what...........states rights lost! so when you make that argument you want to nullify the 630,000 people that died for that cause. in my mind that is treason. that is a confederate talking point and they were found to be treasonist and illegal. stop with the states rights. this is our country and our constitution and if you don't like the way it is then for god's sake leave. the fed trumps all and that is what is in the constitution. go read the damn thing before post. and yes the GOP is for states rights which makes them once again on the wrong side of history.
as for romney......at bain he bankrupted companis layed everybody off packaged them up and sold them. made $250,000,000 doing it. so that's how you want to fix the economy? please stop with all of this. we need jobs not layoffs. this man is a sham as is the entire GOP field and you all know it deep down in your heart. obama will win this thing and then you can all complain for 4 more years.
In the end it all boils down to the weather. If there are snow storms and ice Ron Paul will be the nominee. He has secured the youth vote. They are dedicated and will turn out regardless of weather conditions. If it's -10 the majority of the older neo-cons will stay in because it's nasty outside.
TK: I will disagree with your premise that Ron Paul is the only one that can beat Obama. As much as I would like to see him in the Oval Office, he really doesn't stand much of a chance. For anyone that is really interested in a good man, go to Ron Paul's website and read up about him. Some things are a bit off the wall like ending the Federal Reserve and reverting back to the gold standard, but for the most part - I like the guy. I really like the guy when he starts talking about starting another war. If you want a war, pay for it with cash upfront. That will get you to think twice about the necessity of it.
BOB: You basically said what I wanted to say. Let us also note that the very extensive and complicated Obamacare was not exactly Romneycare. Americans DESERVE some form of Health Security. The devil is in the Details, as they say. Mitt could get Democrats and Independents to vote for him in Massachussetts as well as Republicans, and that's important if he is going to be able to get elected and govern as President. Furthermore, as a Governor of an important State, he gained Experience as an Executive, which is what the presidency is about. In Private Enterprise, he also got executive experience and some understanding of business. Gingrich could be a good Vice President, as he has a lot of intelligence and had legislative experience when he was in Congress leading the fight against the Democrats for a Balanced Budget. The Democrats have hypocritically tried to say that the Balanced Budget came from Clinton, but I remember how they Fought against the proposal in 1995 saying it was "impossible" and "shouldn't be done". President Clinton was smart enough to sign onto it, and now the Dems claim credit ! Wow! What chutzpah! Yes, that means you, Howard Dean! As Vice President, Gingrich could be a liaison with Congress for the White House --if he can control his fierce partisanship. I had hoped that for Cheney, but Cheney was a real problem and a loss for the Bush administration, such as in his deal for Haliburton , his former company, getting a contract in Iraq Without Competition! I never liked Cheney after that, and his hard-line hard-headedness cost many points for Bush and the US internationally. For me, Yes to ROMNEY for PRESIDENT and GINGRICH for VICE PRESIDENT: a Great Ticket.
"states rights lost!"
Thank you. And it's not like states rights has had a glorious post-civil war era right into Jim Crow and into the present... And how bout those states deciding they don't like the new science or books with Evolution in em. Or that people ought to be allowed to openly carry guns into restaurants. Or that states ought to have the right to make it harder for certain segments to vote......Oh those states .....lol
Big difference. Obama care is controlled by the government. The state of Massachusetts insurance is controlled by health insurance companies, not bureaucraps
i am not repub or dem or whatever..i will vote for the person i feel can do best for the country and the people.
somehow i don't feel comfortable with a president named MITT or NEWT. reminds me of a baseball glove and a lizard.
none of the people running for the office, either party, gets me a warm fuzzy feeling.
If Mitt wins the nomination, the Romney team will probably roll out a new ad strategy appealing to the GOP base basically saying:
"He's just like Obama, but at least he's our guy"
That will appeal to GOP supporters who just want to gain control regardless and to racists who'll take it to mean that "at least he's white like me".
The GOP isn't really against the health care plan with the mandate that was rolled out. It's what they've been trying to sell for years. They're just against Obama getting the credit for it. What the GOP really means by repealing it is to replace it with the same legislation except with a different signer so they get the credit. The trick is to convince all the people that have been told Obamacare is evil that the new and improved bill fixes all the non-existent problems.
Bob 42....
The same things were said about Reagan who in March 1980 was behind Carter 58-40. By mid July Carter was still up 50-41, and Reagan won 51-42. Carter was indeed unpopular, but more popular than Obama.
yawn
Gingrich is the only man to have balanced the budget and achieve some real reforms. Leave it to the GOP to mess this up.
Do you want to win the battle or win the war? If you vote for Gingrich in the primary - you might win the battle. However, this will most likely insure a second term for Obama. If you vote for Romney in the primary - he has the best chance of beating Obama.
I thought Christine O'Donnell came up with the perfect bumper sticker slogan for Romney:
VOTE FOR MITT!!! HE'S BEEN CONSISTENT SINCE HE CHANGED HIS MIND.
The popularity of Obama is irrelevant until there's a definite GOP candidate. Just because someone is unhappy with Obama does not automatically mean that he or she will vote for his opponent.
No matter who the candidate, the Republicans will try to make the election a referendum on the economy. The Democrats will try to make the election between Obama and the Republican nominee. The Repulican strategy depends very heavily on taking losses in Afghanistan and unemployment remaining high and the housing industry remaining falling or stagnant. They will also try to capture the single-issue voters --- anti-abortion, anti-gay, racist, anti-taxers, etc.
There are problems I see with the GOP approach:
1) They are depending heavily on the unemployment rate not improving over the next year. There are strong signs that this may not be the case. The GOP cam possibly force more layoffs of federal, state and local people, but that was pretty much a one-trick pony that has already been seen.
2) Romney's religion is going to be a problem. Granted, only about 15% even care what his religion is or if he even has one. But if you look at right wingers who are driving the Republican Party, that number jumps up into the 70's. And the religious right is going to go to churches where any minister or priest who was seminary-trained will tell them that technically, Mormons are not Christians. I have already heard two ministers of my actuaintance say that Islam is closer to Christianity than Mormonism is. I'm not saying I agree with this, I'm just saying that in the South especially it is going to be a problem for Romney. There will be a number of right-wingers who will stay home or vote Democratic to avoid voting for a Mormon. (The same also applies to Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, and some others.)
3) The "new" Romney would be running against the "old" Romney. This could have the effect of making it a three-way race, which would hand it to Obama.
4) And last, but not least, there are a lot of people trying to drum up a third party candidate. Thus far, only weak candidates like Trump, Pul, and Rommer are making these kind of noises, but who knows what is going on behind the scenes. Apparently at one time the Koch brothers were solidly behind Christie as a black horse candidate, but that soured quickly when a number of things happened when the announcement was made (such as bin Laden being killed.) The monied forces could well be seeking someone else, such as Jeb Bush, to run as a third party candidate. This would also through the election to Obama.
Sadly, this is going to be the most expensive, the most media-saturated, the most agitprop, and the dirtiest campaign in the history of this country. I can only hope that American democracy can somehow survive all this when the dust finally settles.
Amy B. Portland, ME "If Romney is the nominee, how is the Republican Party going to hit Obama on "Obamacare," since getting everyone covered for health insurance using the individual mandate was Governor Romney's signature legislation?"
Quite simple. What's good for Massachusetts is not necessarily good for California, or Texas.
It's an issue of 'State's Rights', and states can experiment with things, and if they don't like them, they can drop them. That is almost impossible at the Federal level.
Besides, how could Obama possibly use that effectively? Could he claim that Romney's plan was bad, but his is good after saying he used it as a guide for his plan? It would be a non-issue in the Presidential election.
Grumpy61 "Remember, Mitt is the flip-flop candidate."
I guess you never noticed the disconnect between what Obama SAID and what he actually DID when he had complete, filibuster proof control of the White House, the House of Representatives and the Senate during his first 24 months.
"states rights lost!"?
Since when did the Civil War void 'States Rights'? It was only about the ability of states to secede from the Union - a totally different issue. There have been plenty of Supreme Court decisions since the 1860s that confirm many issues relating to 'States Rights'.
Perhaps people should 'Read the Constitution' - I have, and it's not that difficult (Of course, you also need to read all amendments as well, since they modify the Constitution).
MULTI-TASKER "somehow i don't feel comfortable with a president named MITT or NEWT."
Yeah, Barack Hussein is so much more 'normal', isn't it?
lol
Roy Wilson, welcome to the Pig club!!
I know many will argue with me here. Even so, republicans who say Newt is somewhat of a "Leftist Liberal" are correct. If one used a sharpened pencil with an eraser as an example of the two extremes, with the eraser being the conservative, and the sharpened writing point the liberal, one would find Newt uses one end about as much as the other. As with many quasi intellectuals, Newt Gingrich displays an ample fare of political scatter. I would never vote for Newt over the President, yet, I contend, when comparing him to Romney...... Um, well, Romney displays the intellect of a "dead man" lying on a live radio broadcasting an ad for the relief of hemorrhoids.
The Repubs have a bigger problem than Newt or Romney. They are consistently defining themselves as the party of the 1%. If they don't come up with a better platform than cut taxes for the rich and slash spending on government services, regulation, and programs for the poor and unemployed - they could end up with the same 74 dem 26 rep split that FDR enjoyed in the 30's.
My fellow Americans, Obama has already started yet ANOTHER war by sending drones into Iran. The Republican hawks all are calling for another war also....except RON PAUL. There is no evidence Iran is anywhere close to a nuke, just like Iraq was never close, despite calls by both sides they're on the cusp. Ron Paul is also the only candidate that actually wants to make REAL cuts. The US spends 8 Billion a WEEK just to pay the INTEREST on our national debt! We need massive cuts in government spending immediately, and that includes Entitlements, Foreign Aid, and playing world police officer. If we elect anyone but RON PAUL, we're completely SCREWED. The government will either have to default on its debt or will have to print so much money they will make our dollar WORTHLESS! And rest assured, they wouldn't default. Hyper-inflation is in our future if anyone but RON PAUL is our president,.
Does ron paul ever do anything but squeak?
The Republicans can't begin to grasp the fact that President Obama had this all figured out before he even came into office. They have no conception of that level of intelligence and ability.
The O'Donnell endorsement is pure gold--worth 3 votes, I'd say.
Fancy, you're right. It is pure gold - for oppo teams. While you may or may not be right about it gaining Romney three votes, it also will cost him thousands, should he win the nomination. If he does, I absolutely guarantee we'll see it again in Democratic ads.
That O'Donnell line was so funny, I assumed yesterday someone here was making it up out of parody. Didn't even ask if it was a real quote, because I was sure - like $10,000 sure - it wasn't. Would have lost that bet. But I'll go double or nothing that we'll see the endorsement again if Romney is the nominee.
Agree. Christine's comment reinforces the Romney flip flop reputation in one sentence.
Well, any day that puts Christine O'Donnell back in the spotlight can't be a total waste - though I kind of like what Alexandra Petri of the Washington Post has to say about this:
''A more effective strategy might be to seek the endorsement of Anyone But
Christine O’Donnell. Generally when people see that Christine O’Donnell has done
something, it actually dissuades them rather than encouraging them.
Off the top of my head, here are just a few endorsements that might be more
helpful to Mitt Romney than O’Donnell’s:
●that smoking guy with the mustache who ran Herman Cain’s campaign;
●a bag of lightly salted chips, because if a bag of lightly salted chips
starts talking, you know it’s important;
●Donald Trump, which is sad, but there it is;
●Herman Cain;
●Mark Wahlberg — I’m not sure why you’d listen to him, but, hey, he’s not
Christine O’Donnell;
● Newt Gingrich, by accident. He’s a loose cannon. It could happen!"
Anyone know if the Kardashians have weighed in yet?
Oops - forgot to add the link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/post/romney-endorsed-by-christine-odonnell-does-he-think-thisll-help/2011/12/14/gIQA4L18tO_blog.html
Issues anyone? So far all we get is a gossip column. You don't know the issues? How could you. The media reports inanities like "Romney isn't loved" and "Romney thinks Newt zany." That's what determines the course of our history? Good Grief!
The only people Romney has anything in common with is the very wealthy. He has not one clue what it's like to live on a middle class income which is deteriorating at a quick pace. He was handed a crap load of money from his family and did not have to struggle in any way to get to the position he is in. In fact, he had a great time firing people from the companies he gutted and made money on. This man has no real experience that would make him a good president and it's a horrible thought to think what he would do to this country as he bumbles around trying to make up his mind about anything important. He's deaf, dumb and blind to the issues of the real working American. He's about as worthless as George Bush was when it came to dealing with middle American and the poor. They just pretend like they give a crap.
I love the hypocrisy of the GOP. Whereas I could care less about a person's religion or lack of religion, Norquist is married to a Muslim.
"In 2004, at age 48, he married a Palestinian Muslim named Samah Alrayyes." Where is the outrage from you "Muslim haters?"
This guy holds pays money to any candidate that will block taxes on the nation's wealthiest and, in the pledge, they must pledge to not close tax loopholes. It's a Super Pac for the wealthy and 41 of the 47 Senate Republicans and 238 of the 242 House Republicans have taken the pledge.
"As of late 2011, 238 of 242 House Republicans and 41 out of 47 Senate Republicans had signed ATR's "Taxpayer Protection Pledge", in which the pledger promises to "oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rate for individuals and business; and to oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates."
Since Norquist's pledge binds signatories to opposing deficit reduction agreements that include any element of increased tax revenue, some Republican deficit hawks now retired from office have stated that Norquist has become an obstacle to deficit reduction. Former Republican Senator Alan Simpson, co-chairman of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, has been particularly critical, describing Norquist's position as "[no taxes, under any situation, even if your country goes to hell."]
Where's your outrage, GOP voters? Show us your hypocrisy.
What was O'Donnell's reason for supporting Mitt? Oh yeah, she said she 'liked the way Mitt took a stance once he changed his mind'. What? Really? Anybody home in there? Flip-flopping is an admired attribute in a candidate? Typical dumbed down GOP logic has reached a new low on the dumb and dumber O'meter. Then again, its O'Donnell.
NWNATIVE: Oh, you're talking about Romney's being wealthy and that he inherited instead of living the middle class stress? What about similar people like Franklin Delano Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy? I guess you would dismiss them too, or do you feel they had a great knowledge of and great sympathy for the Middle??? You're Class Warfare line is pitiful. What about plantation owners like George Washington, our Greatest President, and Thomas Jefferson (who loved the "common man" from the porch front of his mansion), and James Madison?
O'donnell endorsed Romney because she knows it will cost him rather than help him. T-baggers do not want Romney and that is what the witch lady is. It was a tactical decision, we will have to wait to see if it works or not.
The Delaware Senate race was really interesting. I used to live in Wilmington. It is a strange state in that you can run into the governor at the supermarket or the senator at the train station or the mayor at work. (I did all three. LOL) The Representative for many years, Mike Castle was an extremely well thought of moderate Republican. Delaware is the kind of state where a Democrat will vote for someone like Castle because so many things are much more like county government. But the Tea Party got O'Donnell wound up like a set of chattering teeth and off she went. And she beat Castle in the primary. But the Democrat was a very well thought of moderate Democrat names Chris Coons. He had been county manager for many years and was, at a lower level, just as well thought of as Castle. He was expected to put up a good showing, but not be able to beat Castle. But he wiped up the dance floor with O'Donnell. It was an interesting election to say the least.
But will it work for Romney? Possibly, because there are moderate republicans who probably thinks Newt Gingrich is a loose cannon just as liberals do. The GOP's big mistake in early 2009 was to embrace the far right Tea Party for its "enthusiasm", now they reap the rewards. They have been swallowed whole, we need only listen to Romney, Huntsman to see pandering all over their statements and their positions.
As for Christine O'Donnell, the discussion last night was whether the Romney campaign or his backers promised to pay off her 2010 campaign debt--whether that's true or not, don't know but it sounds more plausible than her choosing Mitt Romney over the more TP-ish candidates.
I guess the old saw "anything for a buck" rings true here!
No doubt Romney will choose a wing nut for a VP to placate the Tea people, but will it be enough? Candidates don't win unless a sizeable number of volunteers are excited about them, and, so far, no one is excited about Mitt.
You only need to listen to any politician, Obama included, to hear pandering. The only difference is you either agree with or disagree with what the pander is saying.
Sorry, Realist, you're wrong about that. I heard a respected Iowa evangelical conservative on MSNBC last night who said that even though he disagrees with President Obama's policies, he respects him because he is honest; that he has tried to do everything he promised during the campaign and that he does not believe either Gingrich or Romney are being honest. Ron Paul is honest, Rick Santorum is being honest about what he believes because he's always believed it. What does Romney believe today that he believed even a year ago? Gingrich will sell his soul to the highest bidder to lobby for things he now claims he is against--his past "historian" paycheck proves it.
Jody, I remember Obama saying he would not extend the Bush tax cuts, he would repeal the Patriot Act and close gitmo. He instead extended both the Patriot Act and the Bush tax cuts and gitmo is still up and running. Did he at least try? That can be debated but my opinion is no, not really. There are probably others but those are the three that I personally wanted to see fulfilled.
What I think realist is trying to say is that all politicians say what the crowd wants to hear, ie: you won't see any politician go to a womans right group and advocate stiking down roe vs wade as that would not go over well at all. Ron Paul will try to skip over certain things in his speaches depending on the crowd, but will speak his mind if a question is asked about the ommited policies. I have no knowledge of Santorum since googling his name is not advised.... Rommey and Newt, everyone should know that these two are unaware of the idea of honesty.
President Obama extended the unfunded bush tax cuts in order to get the Repubs to extend unemployment benefits to those who lost their jobs due to wall street greed. He tried to close Gitmo but was hit with opposition that made it impossible. Remember when he tried to bring individuals to trial and to jail them in federal prisons who are already holding the most dangerous individuals in the world without any excapes. The "patriot" act is another story. My understanding was there were pieces removed or changed but I'm with you - I don't like the fact that it's still in existance.
But, my vote is still with President Obama. He is more trustworthy and compassionate than all of them put together. And, I also know that it is virtually impossible to keep every promise made due to the fact the president needs approval from a lot of elected officials whose sole purpose is to make him fail at the expense of our country.
Thank you midleman, that's exactly the point. I probably should have said listen to any "successful politician" instead of any politician. Americans don't appreciate truthful politicians, they only appreciate those that promise the unattainable. Obama promised change and I got the same old thing! At some point the problems become yours not the previous Administration.
midleman - Obama not only requested the patriot act, but asked for and got more snooping powers than the Bush administration even dared ask for.
Well realist, Do what you always do and you'll get what you always got!
middleman,
congratulations your flock of pigeons (realist, DB and the others) have arrived.
There were comments last night, perhaps on Lawrence O'Donnell's show, speculation (perhaps not, but I know I heard it on one of the shows last night - getting old!) that Romney was paying off the remainder of Christine's campaign debts, the same as he did with Pawlenty. It seems reasonable to me that might be true. I don't know if it's fact or not, but why else would she of T-Per fame endorse Romney?
But that being said, with friends like her, who needs enemies? The moderates will back away from her, and perhaps him, if he is far-reaching into the likes of the T-Pers.
No! Say it ain't so! Christine O'Donnell is for sale?
Yup, her and Romney. See the infomercial (post 2.2). You get her for free with the 19.95 purchase of Mittens (plus extra shipping and handling)
Cathy, I saw that on Lawrence O and posted a similar comment further up the thread. It wouldn't surprise me because Romney is desperate for some TP support.
And for a short time only, they'll double the offer and add Sharron Angle.
The Tea Party has been getting the brush off from romney for over 2 years. I don't think they will come to him in droves right now.
Just seeing who all is owned by the RNC and who isn't, I'm guessing. I realize it's a surprise to think of Christine O'Donnell as owned by the RNC, but let's face it, she's hardly the sharpest tool and if the "establishment" made her some sort of vague promise about her future prospects...
Some of the tea partiers believed what they were saying, and some were just saying what they were saying because they thought that was the best way to use the current political environment.
Savage is a bit of a surprise, but I can imagine someone throwing out a stick/carrot about whether he wants access to A list conservative guests. Coulter is just an animal, so nothing she does surprises me. And Beck - he's a convert to mormonism. Of course he's going to do what he can to support Mitt.
One correction, Paul. Ann is an insect that needs squashed. That woman stirs up more hate than anyone on the right!
Ann is an insect that needs squashed.
------------------------------------------------------------
When does that be nice thing start?
@dangerfield
When it comes to Ann Coulter.......................NEVER!!
I'd rather pet a crocodile than touch her scaly skin!
Must see TV...Tonight,
.................Speaker Nancy Pelosi will be on with Ed Schultz.
@dangerfield
Next Wednesday, although I was nice all morning. But, puhleeze, Ann Coulter? She would make a saint swear a blue streak - then hit her with their halo!
We're only going to be nice to others who post here, right?
I just can't picture myself saying anything nice about the Newt.
can you imagine ME sayin "well, he is very smart and I'm sure he wants what's best for our country"
Ain't gonna happen. nope no way
@fuzzy
Well, instead of saying "Newt is a Kook", one could put it, the former speaker is not quite sane. (See, sounds nicer!) LOL
So being nice is conditional?
Will it be "Be nice to (almost) everyone?
Jesus said;
"Love your neighbor and hate your enemy, don't the Pagans do as much?"
'tis the season to be nice to the nastiest GRINCHES around or the idea is just "humbug"...:)
(So all you conservatives remember to catch minority leader Pelosi on the ED show tonight, y'hear!)
Ann Coulter represents the very worse kind of people; publically she is a mean, vicious, obnoxious, nasty excuse for human kind. I'd say that if she was a democrat but thank goodness she belongs to the GOP.
Why, dangerfield, you little rabble rouser you!!! And yes, you are right, gotta try to be nice, but the idea, was to be nice to each other (no libtards or RWNJ's). Actually converse like adults and find out if besides politics, we have something in common to build towards a better country.
(Good grief, I didn't mean to start sounding like Mother Theresa today)
@Jody
Can we get a loud "AMEN" on that comment?!!!!!!
(And being nice or not, if she were a bug I'd squish her)
the idea, was to be nice to each other (no libtards or RWNJ's).
____________________________________________________________________________
Can we make odds on who will be first to disregard this marvelous idea?
I have a couple of "favorites: on both "Teams" who couldn't construct a simple sentence without insult or snark...
(not if you were a Jain, Phine...)
Phinephancy: ........Ann stirs up more hate than anybody.............
You've got to be kidding. I have read every post on this page and the liberal hatred spewing out of your (brain?) and that of your friends compares to nothing. It is top notch. BTW stop trying to be smug with your responses like Feisty, you don't measure up. She owns smug.
I have nothing to say - trying to be NICE!!
Obama/Biden 2012
While everyone is in the holiday spirit, let's enjoy a few quotes by the GOP's Favorite skank:
"[Canadians] better hope the United States does not roll over one night and crush them. They are lucky we allow them to exist on the same continent." Ann Coulter on Fox News 30/11/04
"I think [women] should be armed but should not vote...women have no capacity to understand how money is earned. They have a lot of ideas on how to spend it...it´s always more money on education, more money on child care, more money on day care." Ann Coulter talking on the show Politically Incorrect 26/02/01
"The ethic of conservation is the explicit abnegation of man´s dominion over the Earth. The lower species are here for our use. God said so: Go forth, be fruitful, multiply, and rape the planet - it´s yours. That´s our job: drilling, mining and stripping. Sweaters are the anti-Biblical view. Big gas-guzzling cars with phones and CD players and wet bars - that´s the Biblical view." Ann Coulter 12/10/00
"Even Islamic terrorists don't hate America like liberals do. They don't have the energy. If they had that much energy, they'd have indoor plumbing by now." -- Ann Coulter, P. 6 of her book, Slander
lmao!!! I'm no saint thats for sure but when I saw where she said
I swore a blue streak and thought to myself Is this b*tch on crack?!?! Ron Paul the least conservative on the stage? WTF?? *shakes head*
If only Ann Coulter could learn to open her mouth at the right time and to keep it shut the rest of the time; if only.
Romney's probably already promised O'Donnell the cabinet position for the department of education if she plays ball. ;-)
Dan (er, excuse me)..... Ann Coulter supporting Mitt? Never saw that comin'.
If memory serves me, Ann Coulter declared earlier this year that if Chris Christie didn't run, Romney would be their nominee and they'd lose.
Hell is freezing over...
Well, Ann "The Republican Skank" Coulter is capable of saying damned near anything that pops into that empty blonde head. For example, she once said...
"My libertarian friends are probably getting a little upset now but I think that's because they never appreciate the benefits of local fascism." -- MSNBC 2/8/97
If I were a candidate and discovered Coulter was endorsing my candidacy, I would change my name and move to a different state.
Coulter is the "original black hole".
The only candidate who has not yet been the flavor of the month is Paul (and Santorum and Hutsman but they don't count).
When Gingrich stalls, then falls, the Iowans will turn to Paul.
Paul is going to win Iowa. But a win for Paul is the same as a win for Romney. It takes the steam out of the old Newster.
I still say I'll believe it when I see it. I know what people - including the governor - have said about Paul's Iowa organization. But I just have a hard time seeing the Republicans in any state going even via plurality to a libertarian. And not just someone who is a little libertarian leaning - a hard libertarian and former LP nominee for president.
I do agree if it happens in Iowa, it doesn't mean anything anywhere else and in effect is a win for Romney. But all that said, I'll still need to see it to believe - even in Iowa.
You have been saying that despite all the evidence to the contrary. Do you remember who won Iowa in 2008?
----------------------------------------------------------------
Of the past five contests without an incumbent Republican president, the Iowa winner has gone on to receive the nomination only twice—in 1996 (Dole) and 2000 (George W. Bush).
http://www.tnr.com/article/the-vital-center/98573/iowa-gop-electability-gingrich-romney
Iowa is NOT an indicator of who will be the nominee, nor is the caucus process analogous to a primary popular vote, despite the artificial and overblown importance of the first of the presidential primary contests.
---------------------------------------------------------------
As the January caucuses near, Paul has been drawing big crowds, far larger than those of his opponents, often on college campuses where his backers are drawn by his quirky and caustic assaults on the Federal Reserve and American intervention abroad.
The unparalleled intensity of his followers — and a smarter, better-funded and more sophisticated strategy than the one seen in his last bid four years ago — means Paul is likely to finish among the top three in the Iowa caucuses.
"Ron Paul is very real here. He's probably the most aggressive traditional campaign to date; we've seen multiple mailers, multiple television ads and multiple visits. He's really stepped up his effort and I think it's paying off," said Tim Albrecht, a spokesman for Gov. Terry Branstad. (Both men are neutral in the race.)
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-ron-paul-iowa-20111215,0,6553691.story
He's gonna win, the only question is how the media spins the story. If it's "Big loss for Newt" the narrative will be about the FALL of Newt and will be reinforced by a Romney win in NH. especially if Newton fails to place 2nd. NH will make Mitt "The Comeback Kid" (someone always is) and help his numbers in SC and Florida.
Rep. Paul is NOT a CONSERVATIVE but he is a player in the Republican's;
"Snatching Defeat From the Jaws of Victory" tour 2012" (Coming to a city near you soon!)
Sounds like the Jaguars (who play Atlanta tonight).
Remember you heard it first from me before the media was talking about it. One of my "fun" predictions on Ron IN's 2012 prediction post a couple weeks ago, I said Romney can't win Iowa, Gingrich would implode and Ron Paul would win. If I'm right, I get a gold star for being one step ahead of the media and if I'm wrong, I get the jump the shark award.
Dangerfield, yep, it was Huckabee. Pat Buchanan, Pat Robertson and a whole slew of others won the Iowa GOP Caucus but never the nomination--it's the nature of the Iowa GOP. No one claims that Ron Paul will win the nomination.
Here's my Prediction in 2012 ! Obama by a Landside!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All this ballyho about what the President didn't do or he ruined the economy is "None Sense!!
This President saved this nation from going into a"Total Financial Collapse." All of this financial mess was the due to Bush & Cheney!!! They started a war on "False Pretences, Iraq had "Nothing to do Sept. 11th!! Not One Iraqi citizen or terriost wore on those two aircraft that flew into the Trade Center!!
All wore Saudia Arabnians or at least "Not One Iraqui"!!!!!!!!!!! Yet 4000 of our Priceless young men and women died for WHAT?????????????????????? Think about that when you are in the Polling Booth!!
I just got off the phone with a dear friend of mine who is a very, very conservative Republican. Since I love him dearly, I avoid political rants, but he actually said,"There's just no one in the GOP to vote for. I didn't say a word, but I could have because he's so right.
If Mitt is the nominee, he has shown in two debates, as well as in his Bret Baier interview, that he is very, very thin-skinned. He is a classic "control-freak" who gets easily rattled if things do not go his way.
In the October CNN debate, Mitt lost his cool in his sparring with Perry over the lawn care issue. Mitt uttered the most revealing quotation of the campaign as to how shallow he really is when he said - "I'm running for office, for Pete's sake! I can't have any illegals!"
In the Bret Baier interview a few weeks ago, Mitt became overtly agitated when Bret pressed him on the mandate issue. That led to Mitt's very telling body language move of quickly crossing his legs and petulantly rebuking Bret.
And in last Saturday's debate Mitt again became unglued over the mandate question, offering his "zany" $10,000 bet.
So if Mitt and his legion of Newt attackers prevail and he becomes the GOP nominee, I would bet $5 we will see some entertaining "Mitt Moments" in next fall's debates - especially if the words "lawn care" or "mandate" are mentioned.
Monet, what a zany idea that is!
Monetfan,
Why not go for $10,000? It's a sure bet!
Monetfan, spot on post. Mitt also got rattled by an audience question at the Iowa State Fair Des Moines Register Soap Box and said "corporations are people, my friend." It still haunts him.
Paul in an Iowa "Shocker"...
Mitt by a bit in NH...
Newton in SC...
Kinda like the last couple days of last year's baseball season, it's anybody's ballgame, for a while.
Despite the hand-wringing and "think" pieces by the high priests and priestesses of punditry, when the smoke clears, we see a man with not a hair out of place emerge victorious...but it will be a fun ride for a while...
I know you're probably right, dangerfield, but I'm sure not going down without a fight. Anyone but Willard, lol.
Paul,
See above...I don;t really have a dog in this fight, but it is so fun to handicap...
@dangerfield
Must admit I love it when the pundits get it wrong and then watch them trying to figure it out.
Dangerfield, if Paul wins, who's going to put out the fires, arrest the criminals, keep them incarcerated in their private homes or build our highways? n Paul is a cute little man and he's right about many things, but he's just "way out there".
Saw Ann on FOX one morning,when she realized Mitt would probally win the nom., the look on her face was priceless. She said.OMG we gonna lose. J-MAL
In my book, There is no electable TEA-GOP-Republican because they are confrontational and espouse bigoted views towards the president. These confrontational collusionist have corrupted the legislative process in DC, and it's going to take a concerted effort to fix this problem! Romney or Gingrich, actually neither in my book! The TEA-GOP-Republican elitist may want to extend the tax on the average American worker while saving the top 1%-ers millions in taxes. But, the last I heard was the president threatening to veto any legislation detrimental to the general public. The so called super-committee was destined to fail as the TEA-GOP-Republican members had already sold their souls, vote and allegiance to people like Grover Norquist and other puppeteers.
Rudy G, good points. The GOPTP's whining about bringing all our troops home from Iraq is another example of a purely, anti-Obama position. I do think the American people, minus the hard-core repubs, see the GOP for what it is these days; the polls certainly reflect that.
Monetfan,
Why not go for $10,000? It's a sure bet!
At this point, Howdy Doody can beat O'bummer. Liberals have lost their minds and it shows when you read their posts. We don't need Socialism, we need true Capitalism to bring this country back from the brink. Obama promised "change you can believe in" and about a hundred other slogans but in the end it was all hot air.
@lukewarm IQ
If you would like some more "Trickle Down", Go sit under a urinal at you favorite bar
@fuzzy
Ewww Funny, I like it but Ewwww
Good old lefties, no jobs, no work ethic, just sit around and post all day. Their favorite color should be yellow for Pi*ss and Moan. - Retired right winger, I made my money exploiting the masses. Crawl back under your blue tarps.
I made my money exploiting the masses
Translation, I'm on SS and Medicare, the food stamps are in process!
Translation: I got mine, f the rest of you!!
Maybe what's wrong the the Republican Party is that there are to many so called "establishment republicans", it was and has been the so called "establishment republicans" that have caused many problems for their party. I for one would like to kick all the establishment members of my party in the a$$. Both political parties depend to much on their establishment members. Both parties need new blood, new ideas, and new direction, people who will tackle the tax codes, federal spending and start listening to the people. Lately I have been thinking if the so called "establishment minded republicans" are for something maybe it is best to vote against their advice, since it appears they are only trying to protect their turf and money.
I can't think of any reason republicans would not support Newt for president. He is just like most of them I have met. Democrats are no better but do not have the same access to steal that republicans do.
They won't support him because he's not electable. Without being too mean he's a funny looking little chubby man who says off the wall things and owns up to offensive behavior.
He cannot get elected no matter how much the Tea party people like him and the establishment republicans, because this isn't their first rodeo, know it.
their only real chance is Mitt--such as he is. He's the only one they've got that might get the middle to vote for him.
Kerry is labled an unprincpled flip flopper for changing his position on the Iraq war after learning he and all of us were duped into supporting it, but Romney, who had flipped flopped on so many core principles of conservatism, is getting the support from the same con-jobs who blasted Kerry who stayed true to the core principles of his own party. Whatever.
It would be fun to see Newt debate Obama. They are both such intellectual snobs, but I am sure they would lose their cool arguing with each other. It would make for great TV.
I'll bet Newt loses his cool well before Obama...in fact Obama will out debate any member of this facists Gestapo party or more well known as GOP.
GOP is DOA
Newt is an intellectual snob? Are you sure you don't mean he's an intellectual knob?
this is kind of like watching Jello trying to turn to Jello on a Texas sidewalk in the middle of July... The desperate scramble for anything or anyone to be the GOP candidate and yet none of them are electable and none have proved they have any plan except to say Get Obama. Ron Paul is the only one that tries but he has no chance either...
I wonder how many times tonight in the Debate that is said, "Make Obama a One Term President" and "Abolish Obamacare"... That is all they have to offer so far..
You forgot "repeal the Dodd/Frank bill" so we can let Wall Street destroy the economy again!
Jody,,,, That is exactly what would happen if Dodd/Frank was repealed. Thank you for reminding people of that
I'll be up front...I'm a lib, so there is not a chance I would vote for either Romney or Gingrich. However, if Obama was to lose, I would MUCH rather have a President Gingrich than a President Romney.
At least Gingrich is interesting. Say what you want about him, but he is a big thinker. He thinks big and I really think he would be much better at reaching those "reagan democrats" than Romney would.
Romney just comes across as so freaking weak to me. A rich elitist. mealy mouthed, wants to be president so bad, and willing to say whatever he has to and take whatever position he has to.
I think Obama will have a field day with Romney.
More like a "Big Stinker" than "big thinker",,, Conservatives tossed him out of Congress in total disgrace with a $300,000 fine
How did his "Contract On America" work out? ---- It never happened
Barack Obama is still the only Ronald Reagan in the race
Rob... The Newt is big alright. As was mentioned in earlier posts, he was compared to a beached white whale. I think he is better described as the Michelin Man or the Pillsbury Doughboy.
From what I have seen in history about Reagan, he hasn't got anything to crow about and neither do we with 18 budget increases in 8 years.
lol....i think you guys kinda missed my point. I'm not defending Gingrich. I have almost nothing in common with him. But, I have at least always found him interesting, while Romney, to me, is like a big pile of mush.
yes, if Obama were to not get re-elected how interesting it would be to watch Newt spend us into oblivion putting big mirrors in outer space to light the freeways at night! LMAO or maybe he would create many many jobs building colonies on the moon!
Any candidate endorsed by the Tea Party in a presidential race is a loser. It will split the Republican party and ease Obama's re-election. Of course, if Ralph Nader comes out of his hole as he seems to do every 4 years, all bets are off.
Some of these guys must have finally gotten brain transplants - Great !
RAS,,,, The Affordable Health Care Act is working,,,, but I don't think it covers brain transplants for conservatives, just their children
"lined up for Mitt or at least against Newt"
The later i'm sure.
Contest is between crazed Tea Party which is demanding a nutty candidate. (nutty professor Gingrich)
And cynical GOP disparate to stop President Obama. (fake the 'gasm and pretend you luv Mitt)
Hey GOP, you know why Romney hates Obama care?
Because Obama won the election instead of Mitt, and beat Mitt to it.
The affordable health care act is something Mitt wanted to do, but how can he run for President on a platform Obama has already implemented?
He can't. So now he's opposed to his own proposals because that's his only hope of getting elected.
What a phony. Same goes for anyone who'd vote for him.
Therefore....
Some bumper stickers for you...
Vote Mitt, the health care hypocrite.
A mandate to vote for Mitt.
I'm for Mitt, and against him too!
Vote Mitt - and take it from all sides.
This is a laughable article meant to sway the distracted or ignorant into somehow thinking Romney is anyone other than the Republican Establishment insider. To suggest he has real conservative support is just a knee-slapper! Any of these candidates are 30,000 times better than the current resident in the White House.
Paul is the only real candidate...The other members of the GOP are marionettes, follow their money strings and you will find out they are being pulled by Grover Norquist and the Koch Brothers.
I am watching the Republican crowd closely. Now that Herman Cain has bowed out, Newt has enjoyed some popularity. Mitt claims he is more conservative than Newt. Personally, I would rather vote for Ron Paul. If he goes third party that will really screw up the election.
The same way that Nader's 3rd party gave Florida to the Shrub.
No, I can't vote for any of the GOP candidates. They're strictly for the rich, and wouldn't vote for a candidate that is a pupit for the Tea Baggers...Need someone with some balls.
Terry;
The rich PAY YOUR TAXES!! I make just under 50k a year, and get more back as a tax return then I pay in. If just a little bit of research is done you will find that the rich cover us. Sure, some of the big companies have loop holes. However, talk to an average business owner who has a revenue over 1 million and see what percentage they pay in taxes.... and how often!!
TO: Ruger40 who wrote:
Ha! That's crazy! The rich are not paying ANY taxes AND they're getting refund checks.
You must not be reading the news. The article on the mega-rich NOT paying any taxes was just published here on MSNBC just a week or so ago AND they're receiving multi-million dollar REFUND checks on top of NOT paying any taxes.
The only way you can be making $50K a year and getting a refund is if you have children you can deduct, or maybe a business owner claiming losses every year.
Nobody needs to tell me who's paying MY taxes because I have my own tax receipts to remind me, and I can absolutely guaranty you that nobody is paying my taxes for me, BUT ME!
You Go American Girl... You told Him.
Brava