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ORMOND BEACH, Fla. -- In his first campaign appearance in this pivotal primary state since his drubbing at the hands of Newt Gingrich in South Carolina, Mitt Romney unveiled a new strategy Sunday night to stop the former speaker's momentum: Hit Gingrich. Hard.
Speaking before a crowd of more than 700 supporters at a rally here, Romney deviated from his standard remarks early, looking to define the candidate who mauled him in South Carolina in a different light by bringing up the tumultuous end of Gingrich's tenure as speaker of the House of Representatives.
"So I've had the experience of leadership. Now Speaker Gingrich has also been a leader. He was a leader for four years as speaker of the House," Romney said, as boos rang out at the mention of Gingrich's name. "And at the end of four years it was proven he was a failed leader. And he had to resign in disgrace. I don't know if you knew that. He actually resigned after four years in disgrace. He was investigated under an ethics panel and had to make a payment associated with that and then his fellow Republicans, 88 percent of Republicans, voted to reprimand Speaker Gingrich. He has not had a record of successful leadership."
Direct assaults like this from Romney on the stump are rare enough to be startling to those who hear him speak daily, but Romney didn't stop there, also tying Gingrich to the housing crisis in a state where the collapse in home values has been acutely felt.
"Over the last, what 15 years, since he left the House ... he talks about great bold movements and ideas, well, what’s he been doing for 15 years? He has been working as a lobbyist, he was working as a lobbyist and selling influence around Washington," Romney said. "He was working for Freddie Mac, heard of those guys? He says that he’s just been a historian, I would like him to release his records; what was his work product? What was he doing at Freddie Mac? Because Freddie Mac figures prominently into the fact that people in Florida have seen home values go down; it’s time to turn that around."
In the hours since Romney's double-digit loss in South Carolina, senior advisers to the campaign have said that the effort to contrast Gingrich and Romney more pointedly will continue in earnest all across Florida in the coming days, including on the debate stage Monday night.
On Monday, Romney surrogates Tim Pawlenty and the Speaker Designate of the Florida House, Will Weatherford, will hold a conference call with reporters cheekily titled "Definitely Not a Lobbyist," in which they will discuss Gingrich's work for Fannie and Freddie. Also Monday morning, Romney will hold just one public campaign appearance, a roundtable to discuss housing issues. It's a safe bet that Fannie and Freddie and Gingrich's work there will come up.
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The Republicans can all point to each others past dirty laundry and then attempt to brag about their own previous accomplishments. The only one currently in office is Dr. Ron Paul and his record is ongoing and can easily be examined by his constituents and by the nation he seeks to serve as our Chief Executive.
As stated above about Dr. Paul, our incumbent President, Barack Obama, also can be placed under a microscope for his tenure in office, both past and present. In that light he does not fare well. His costly national health initiative (aka "Obamacare"), his 700+ billion dollar failed attempt to stimulate the economy, his adding 4 trillion dollars to our already bloated national debt and his most recent boondoggle when he refused to let the pipeline go forward are clear indications that he has forfeited his right to a second term and needs to be turned out of office. Mr. Obama rode into town with high ideals and promising hope and change after the abject failure of his predecessor, George Bush, and promptly made things worse, much worse. He must go!
I'm an independent voter that realizes this nation can only be revived with a good, and hopefully very good, president. To that end, I believe that if you confine yourself to the current crop of hopefuls from both major parties, our nation's best interest would served with the election of Dr. Ron Paul. To be sure, he is not perfect, but I believe that he represents our best chance at turning around our economy, living within our Constitutional bounds and restoring public faith in our Federal Government.
Thank you to all of you here for your own comments, and any that you may offer in rebuttal to my submission. It is only through the honest exchange of ideas that we grow and learn.
Put your foil helmet back on, get your guns and go back to hiding in your mother's dark basement untill it is safe to come out again. Did you take your medication today?
"The only one currently in office is Dr. Ron Paul and his record is ongoing and can easily be examined"
I suggest you look at his record, Pretty pathetic from any angle
Ron Paul is even more dangerous to this Nations future than even Obama himself!
Yeah, asking a white man to release his tax returns is blasphemy, but demenading to see a black man's birth certificate is A-OKAY!
Spoken like a true racist!
Of course, we all know white men are superior:):):):) I want to see Mitt's birth certificate, you know he is an anchor baby..............so funny.
Good, great post. But you picked the wrong place to post it. I can't belive i was the first to reply before you got bombed with "That crazy old loon" "Totally unelectable" etc etc etc. Ron Paul is the ONLY candidate with any plan to balance the federal budget in his first term. That is un-argueable. Everyone else is status quo. This should be first and foremost, as we are all on the hook for a 16+Trillion$ National debt. (No i did not vote for Bush Jr. So save your return post) Ron Paul is the only one who opposed TARP (Bank bailout/giveaways) Ron Paul is supported by the Active Armed Forces of this nation more than all of the other candidates + BO Combined! Maybe they are sick of dying so the Military Industrial Complex gets a fat check. BO + MR--Top Campaign Contributors Goldman Sachs. Ron Paul---1st.--U.S. Air Force. 2nd. U.S. Army. 3rd. U.S. Navy. There have been 3 states and 3 winners. This year is different than most. It's not over. Ron Paul 2012 to break the status quo in half!
If the truth starts coming out about Ron Paul Democrats will be laughing their butts off
His district of Texas is on the verge of total collapse, Operating on Federal Aid and fighting to fend off bankruptcy
First off, I don't dislike Ron Paul. I agree with some of his domestic views. I can't come anywhere close to agreeing with his foreign policy ideas. Ron Paul thinks we should pack up, come home and lock the door behind us. We did that once. And then 6 million Jews were murdered, Europe was reduced to a parking lot and Japan got nuked. Ron Paul thinks that if Iran wants nukes Iran should have nukes. As much as I respect Dr. Paul for sticking to his guns on this one it is still a monumentally stupid idea. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's favorite past time is pissing off Israel, and at least once a month we're pulling Israel back from the ledge. The Israeli's as we all know are a little jumpy and are all about the pre-emptive strike. So yeah, lets come on home, let Iran develop their nuke in peace. How long then will it be before Iran threatens to nuke Israel, Israel gets jumpy and fires one off, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and possibly Egypt and Iraq move on Israel. Israel nukes everybody.
I absolutely respect the fact that no matter where he is, or who he's talking to that his positions NEVER change. President? Thats not going to happen. Every day we read about how Ron Paul is being ignored, Ron Paul is getting shut out, they are afraid of Ron Paul. Look, Ron Paul is attempting to become the Republican Partys nominee for President of The United States. Yet Ron Paul spends just as much time pissing on the establishment Republicans as he does pissing on the establishment Democrats. Does he not realize that the majority of voters in the Republican primaries are actual REPUBLICANS? Ron Paul will never get the Republican nomination because Ron Paul is not a Republican. Dr. Paul is running for the nomination of a party that he doesn't even identify with.
Also, to quote a wise man or two, "Ron Pauls mouth is writing checks that his ass can't cover." He's all about coming in and cleaning house and that all sounds great. But unless Ron Paul is going to use that military support to stage a coup all those things he wants done are a pipe dream. Its no secret, Ron Paul has pissed a lot of people from both parties off. Our government is for the most part gridlocked because half of Congress opposes the President. Half! I honestly would like to know from Dr. Paul or one of his supporters how he plans to get all of his plans in motion when there are 434 members of Congress who aren't inclined to give him the time of day? President Ron Paul wouldn't be able to get Congress to approve his lunch order. The RNC is petrified of the possibility of Ron Paul picking up enough support that they have to give him a mic and 20 minutes during primetime at the convention. The picture of 20,000 "establishment" Republicans booing Ron Paul at the Republican National Convention is EXACTLY the example of Republican unity the RNC wants to project on CNN. And God forbid he picks up enough delegates to trigger a brokered convention. If there is even a slight possibility of that happening the RNC may as well tie a gigantic blue bow around the White House and a card that says "You're welcome, see you in 2016."
So to the Paul supporters. Stop blaming the media for Ron Pauls lack of airtime. Stop claiming the Liberals and the Liberal media are afraid of Ron Paul so they black him out. Take your anger to the Republican National Commitee. Or better yet, take your anger to Ron Paul himself, because I'm not so sure that the Republicans actually wanting a Republican as their Presidential nominee is such an unreasonable thing.
The only thing romney is swinging is a little vienna sausage between his legs and I do mean little.
This is not a forum for personal experiences , eh, Mark ? LOL ;o)
Only three people could know that, himself, his wife, and the guy in the closet.
Willard starts out with a lie, right out of the gate..
Love to see teapublicans get desperate.
""Because Freddie Mac figures prominently into the fact that people in Florida have seen home values go down; it’s time to turn that around." ""
Hahahahaha,,,,,,,,Let the destruction of the Republican party begin, Romney is simply telling the truth about some of Gingrich's past, Now Gingrich can do the same to Romney, Then they can both jump on Santorum when his numbers go up, Maybe when it is all said and done Ron Paul will even make it into the media when it comes out that his district of Texas is on the verge of collapse, bankrupt, and operating on Federal Aid.
Not one of these clowns is qualified to be President, Morally, Economically, or Mentally
We have had 24 months of Obama's policies (His first year was under Bush's policies and budget)
Of those 24 months we have had 22 months of steady economic growth and 15 months of job growth
Wake up Republicans and do what is best for YOURSELF, Not the Repugnant party, Vote for OBAMA!!!!
Were supposed to believe all that because you said it, right?
Now that is funny!
Santorum won Iowa, Romney won his homestate of NH, Gingrich won over these sensationalists in SC with his debate performances. There is no front runner. But Ron Paul is definitely the best choice.
Romney is the same as Gingrich is the same as Obama. They are all flip-flopping idiots who will say anything for a vote and do anything but what they say for a corporate buck. They have all shown us they can't be reliable. Romney parks his money offshore and changes his stance on issues to gain votes. Gingrich will make the woman who played mistress in his marriage to a dying wife (another mistress of another wife) First Lady while he says he values the sanctity of marriage to get your votes. Obama promised hope and change, but nothing has changed. EVERYTHING has gotten worse.
Ron Paul has been saying the same things for over 30 years. He has predicted our national security issues and our financial collapse. His plans to end the income tax, federal reserve, costly foreign wars and foreign aid are the KEY to helping our country recover from this depression.
He is the ONLY man to vote for who will ACTUALLY do what is best for us!
Ron Paul is for freedon alright, as long as you are white and male......all others need not apply.
Ron Paul is too old. Plus, he would give his nutjob son Rand a spot in his cabinet. No thank you.
Newt was asking for it.
Man i cant believe we are going to have put up with over 10 more months of this crap...by they time we choose a republican candidate, everyone is going to be so tired of hearing about him...
Come on Whale. This is entertainment. And it's free.
Having mitt and newt fighting is saving millions for the Democrats.
The President's constant campaigning on the taxpayers' dime, since he took office, is also saving them millions. He should be held accountable for this. Why does he need to raise " a billion dollar war chest" since he has the incumbent's bully pulpit, free media praise, a "brilliant" record, loyal union supporters, etc ? I do agree, however, that these two nutcases are wasting their money.
Every sitting politician campaigings are done on the taxpayers dime!
Stick this in your Funk & Wagnals ~ Ricky Perry (Republican) is alleged to be governor of Texas. It is a full time job for which he is handsomely compensated. Yet Perry hasn't worked a day on the job since April of last year ~ he's been out of state and on the campaign trial. But Ricky continues to receive his paycheck ~ and he continues to cash them without apology, all the while boasting of his ethical and religious purity. Now that this loser has folded his campaign, he will be on another trail selling Gingrich instead of actually earning his paycheck or justifying his $10,000 a month rent house (plus utilities, maintenance, etc). Ron Paul (Republican) is an elected congressman from Texas and he has been on the campaign trail even longer than Perry while the needs of his congressional district languish for attention, yet Paul ~ like Perry ~ has no problem receiving a non-earned paycheck and banking all of it. The hypocrisy of your argument in light of these well known facts leaves you with very little credibility, Parabellum. Of course that is not uncommon for Obama-phobes.
Jim, touchy much ? Is it hypocritical to point out the truth and ask a question ? Perry and Paul are not the subject. Why does the President need so much money to be re-elected if he is worth a hoot ? Deflecting to "others do it too" is childish, Jim.
Neither candidate is electable. Newt has way too many skeletons, and Nit- well he is Mormon and people will have a tough time relating to him. Obama hasn'y even started yet. He's got to be elated at his chances.
This is just great..by time election day comes around Ging-rich and Mitt the flip flop romney will have approval ratings at 20 percent...continue to help Obama I don't mind...I do have to say though the clown show just isn't as funny without Mr.999 and Dr.oops...
I will never for get uzbekibekistanstan lmao!!
OBAMA 2012..because seriously, who else is there??
All I can say is Stop the Bullsh1t , whether you pay for healthcare or not someone else will be taxed to pay for you. But if you pay something and part of it is subsidiced maybe there is some effort on your part. All those ER visits that I've seen without medical insurance are many, and who pays for it? Or these people against healthcare want hospitals to be like the 3rd world where you die at on the street corner because you have no coverage? USA you're are so DONE! A few wealthy aristicrats and a whole bunch of poor, reminds me the days in your history with the Brits, eh! No Unions to fight for the blue-collar worker because Americans have been told the Unions took your jobs to China and you believe the crap, damn-damn-damn! They want to bring the jobs back the Romies and Chamber of Commerce and Enslave Americans like they do it in China and Vietnam,..etc... Wake UP USA!
Newt carried the women in South Carolina......? Huh?
That only happened after he also promised them an open relationship.....
Have you taken a good look at the men in South Carolina, Don? Anyone ~ even Newt ~ would be a step up in social value. You can't accuse the ladies for wanting to improve their lot, plus all of them have a significantly high possibility of scoring with Newt as evidenced by the appearances of the other women he has chosen.
It alsays cracks me up to read the leftist comments. 1. Speaking of money, why did Obama's wife receive a massive raise when he became a senator. 2. How did he swing the million dollar home in Chicago for pennies, again, after he became Senator. 3. The richest politicians ever, have been Democrats. 4. Gas was 1.79 a gallon when he entered office. Now? Well I just payed 3.10.... Food had gone up. unemployment UP. Food Stamp recipients UP. On and ON and ON.... Please, people, take time to read, study, learn.... Im not rich, in fact Im actually poor. But, I pride myself on staying informed and not voting based on You Tube videos. Facts are facts. No socialist government has ever worked. The United States, based on FREE ENTERPRIZE is the envy of the world (until the last three years.... because we are becoming socialist, and that of course, doesnt work) Rich people hire people. Rich people pay the majority of taxes, FACT. Most people pay NO taxes FACT. Obama's mother was an admitted communist, his father who abandoned him an American hating radical Muslim. FACT.
Deal with it.
With your level of ignorance one would not doubt that you are poor. America has been socialist to some extent since the depression. Life is much better for poor people as a result.
Takenaka, you don't have to be mean to George. He has questions many Americans have about how the "Champions of the Poor" also happen to be wealthy, through often less than transparent means. They are not suffering from job loss and inflation, they are prospering. If they lose their jobs, they are still wealthy. If things keep on this same track, there will be fewer rich people to foot the bill.
It is a shame that the money wasted on political "campaigning" can't be spent to help the less fortunate. Public funding should be the only acceptable source of funds. Results, not money , should "win". Cheers.
George, you stated most people pay no taxes. FACT? Did you forget that there is a federal gasoline tax? Most states even have a sales tax on things purchased. That is a REAL FACT.
Most of your so called FACTS you probably got from listening to gay Limpdick, Faux Noise, and the comic books you read.
George, your facts are mostly wrong and you parrot rightwing talking points perfectly...Socialist? Then there's Mitt Romney's talking point...envy of the world?
You clearly don't think for yourself.
Gas prices were well over $4/gallon in 2008 just before Obama took office.
For the rest of your falsehoods, actually do some research. Stop relying on rightwing media to tell you what you want to hear and follow your own advice.
After living through these last 4 years and losing most of my retirement savings I am flirting with communism too.
Well George, That was in Chicago, (wink, wink) So it's OK.
"What happens in Chicago, stays in Chicago".
Talk about having a shattered party, this is what you also get by having 8 years of bad Bush jr ideas and actions plus no republican will even mention his name because it is a political death sentence. Gingrich is a male whore who has really been married 4 time's and his wife is a home wrecker. Romney believe's in more than one god and can't keep his own foot out of his mouth to save his life. Santorum says he is pro life but then goes and marry someone who lived with an abortion doctor for 6 years and he was 40 years older than she was, santorum also said that god does not want a woman as president. And these are the people the tea party and the gop wants in the white house? If these people are role model's they can keep their role's, their ideas and any thing else they come up with.
The trouble with Romney is,"There is no there there." or as T. Bankhead once said of another, "There is less to him than meets the eye." He is the "Stepford Candidate".
Newt is a newt.
Bush and Cheney were not dumb and dumber - they knew how to sucker punch a country, its armed forces, its Congressional leaders into accepting the BIG LIE. Hitlerian actually, for they wanted a piece of Iraq. 4000 are dead, while another 20,000 came back physically changed and altered. Romney should show up for the fist fight, ready to throw knockout blows at his fat boy opponent who works well when the game is fixed.Catcher's Mitt needs to act like a catcher in the Major Leagues and block the runner from crossing the plate, no matter what the cost. Pound his fat ass Mitt cause he is just what you say he is - a lobbyist, sells his books while campaigning, and somehow looks in the mirror and sees himself over and over and over again - narcissistic in nature, ego-maniacal while at breakfast, a most dangerous man.
This is going to be the ugliest campaign ever, worse than Bush/McCain in '00.
I agree. However, in getting all bent out of shape on remarks by their opponent my guess is that one of them will make a big blunder that will be fed by the media and end their run.
But at days end, every conservative will rally around the Republican nominee regardless of who it may be. All of the warts and blemishes on their candidates will magically disappear with the acceptance speech and the nominee will transfigured into the world's last great hope. Don't kid yourself ~ no Republican nor right-leaning Independent will vote for Obama (which is their right). Even if the GOP nominated Charles Manson as its standard bearer, the loyal faithful would support and vote for him if it held the slightest possibility of leading to a defeat of Obama.
Restore Our Future (Romney's SuperPAC) will do the dirty work (i.e. go after Gingrich on his marriage woes).
How will Winning Our Future (Gingrich's SuperPAC) respond ? Will they bring up questions about Romney's role (he was driving) in the fatal auto accident in France. Will they focus on Romney's religion?
Romney is the only GOPeaParty candidate that has (even) a chance to defeat Obama. Ironically, the grass-roots GOPeaParty does not like him.
Are we headed to a brokered convention? Will there be a third party candidate? How will the GOPeaParty (continue to) sabotage our economic recovery?
Highly probable. The anti-Romney forces will not diminish and neither will the anti-Gingrich forces. The Party in general is not satisfied with anyone running and I don't see that being resolved in a "unifying" nomination vote. I'm waiting for a book to start on the odds of Jeb Bush and Chris Christie evolving from a brokered convention as the delegates will be forced to draft a nominee seeing that there is no way to coalesce behind either Romney or Gingrich. That won't change the tilt in favor of an Obama re-election.
Jim in Texas.......
Jeb Bush would be a formidable candidate except for his last name. That (name) is an albatross that is not fully rotted from around his neck.
Chris Christie may have received medical advice not to run. He is a "Type A" personality. That, together with his morbid obesity, is a ticket to the front of the ER line.
Paul Ryan and/or Eric Cantor might be better choices. But, they are relatively young and don't want a loss to Obama on their CV.
But, you may be right (re Christie/Bush). The GOPeaParty future is (thankfully) very foggy. Who knows what cliff they will fall off?
"Romulian Romney" has so many issues with NO new ideas at all. The "Romulian is a big time political and economic "flip-flopper." He is a well trained "Bain Trained" Capitalist, who has a very different idea of what Capitalism is. The "Romulian" has NO clue of what it means to be getting a pink slip, and he is still collecting a nice paycheck from Bain Capital. The "Romulian" is going to treat Government, like he treated Corporations. He is going to go in and take apart the US Government to the highest bidder. Then the "Romulian" will sell off all it's assets to the Private Sector. Social Security will be put on the Stock Market, and it will be controlled by Wall Street Investors. He will select his "Bain Trained" CEO friends in vital Cabinet Positions. The Department Of The Treasury will be one that will be "Bain Controlled." The Department Of Commerce will be the Second Department that will be dismantled, and quickly outsourced. That is fact!
oh boy, Romney is gonna go on the attack....can't wait to see how "natural" that looks. cringe-worthy tv coming up.
If Romney thinks he's going to take on Newt in that game, then Newt is going to win walking away. This is what Newt does. He is a master at it. He knows how to do it and look 100% authentic doing it. Romney can barely state his name and look authentic.
The long knives are out--may the blood-letting continue.
Primary Scorecard:
Gingrich = 1 for 3, Romney = 1 for 3, Santorum = 1 for 3, Paul = 0 for 3.
Still plenty of states and delegates up for grabs. The question for some of them is, how long will the $ hold out?
I'M so tired of hearing what evangelicals thought about this or that.Truth of the matter is if Jesus returned tomorrow and said he was a democrat every Baptist in the south would be a Buddhist the next day
That made me chuckle.....