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Subscribe to RSSThe Romney campaign is in all-out attack mode on Monday, pulling no punches against Newt Gingrich since the former House speaker won last Saturday's South Carolina primary.
The Romney campaign will launch a major wave of television advertisements against Gingrich in Florida, engaging in the kind of negative "contrast" ads that had previously been left to a super PAC spending on the former Massachusetts governor's behalf.
Romney himself has dropped any pretense of niceness against Gingrich, too. Romney and his surrogates are going aggressively after the ethics charge that plagued Gingrich in office, and are demanding he release records of his work for troubled mortgage lender Freddie Mac since leaving office.
"I think as you look at the speaker’s record over time, it’s been highly erratic," Romney said of Gingrich after an event in Tampa this morning. "He’s gone from pillar to post almost like a pinball machine, from item to item in a way which is highly erratic. It does not suggest a stable, thoughtful course which is normally associated with leadership."
A senior campaign adviser suggested that the attacks won't be limited to the campaign trail and airwaves; Romney will make the criticism in person at tonight's NBC News-National Journal debate, and likely at a subsequent debate this week on Thursday night.
The attacks are illustrative of the way Gingrich has enjoyed a revival -- again -- over the past week of the campaign, culminating in his Palmetto State victory. The Romney campaign, which had run a frontrunner-like campaign that stuck mostly to attacks on President Obama, not Republican rivals, has pivoted quickly to stanch Gingrich's momentum.
Having already spent millions in the state, the Romney campaign placed a major, $2.3 million broadcast buy across the state of Florida from Jan. 25-31. The buy will help air the campaign's new ad, "Florida Families," which highlights Gingrich's paid work for Freddie Mac during the lead up to the collapse of the housing market, a crash that's particularly affected Florida.
The ad accompanies demands by Romney that Gingrich release records associated with that contract with Freddie Mac, which the former speaker has repeatedly denied involved any lobbying work.
(Gingrich, on "Good Morning America" earlier Monday, said he's "Very comfortable" with releasing those records, but said his staff is working through a series of confidentiality agreements in order to make their release possible.)
Perhaps the harshest attacks, though, came from an erstwhile presidential candidate, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
Pawlenty, a Romney surrogate, suggested that nominating Gingrich would essentially mean a second term for President Obama. It's a direct strike at the electability argument Gingrich has begun to craft for himself -- an issue on which Romney typically excels, but on which Gingrich beat him in South Carolina, according to exit poll data.
"The possibility of Newt Gingrich being our nominee is essentially just handing the election over to Barack Obama, if it gets to that," he said on a conference call.
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Poor Mitt - he is all bark and NO bite!
*snausage Willard*?
You've heard of the old movie - "Three Faces of Eve" - well, Willard has at least a dozen!
Question is, which one will make an appearance tonight...?
I think he may be bitch slapped by Newt if he tries anything funny ! Mitt doesn't have the stones to fight back .
I also think its funny they keep floating Jeb Bush's name, but no one is biting .
"I think as you look at the speaker’s record over time, it’s been highly erratic," Romney said of Gingrich after an event in Tampa this morning. "He’s gone from pillar to post almost like a pinball machine, from item to item in a way which is highly erratic. It does not suggest a stable, thoughtful course which is normally associated with leadership."
To which Gingrich replied.....
"I think as you look at the governor’s record over time, it’s been highly erratic," Gingrich said of Romney after an event in Tampa this morning. "He’s gone from pillar to post almost like a pinball machine, from item to item in a way which is highly erratic. It does not suggest a stable, thoughtful course which is normally associated with leadership."
Okay, now that I've got "Pinball Wizard" stuck in my head for the rest of the day.....
I liked what Stephen Colbert said about Governor Romney:
“The only difference between Mitt Romney and a statue of Mitt Romney is that the statue never changes its position.”
Could be interesting. Newt used gambling superpak money to create a hoax film on Bain. newt
could have a problem when his true record is revealed. Expect Newt to sink in polls and then
claim to be Victim again.
Mitt has a temper and when he is angry he says stupid things. Newt keeps his cool and insists on saying dumb things anyway.
And British Members of Parliament call for closure of Romney's Cayman Islands Tax Haven.
What has happened to this country? Self-interests has taken on a whole new level in this country and it's ugly.
What is wrong with having money overseas if he is still paying taxes on the Money here in the US. I have $200 overseas. I don't see that a a problem or issue. Nothing worth mentioning.
Malibu Mitt has been Forced to change the narrative of his entire Campaign to date & this is the forgotten message from Saturdays Thumpin. Starting Sunday, Malibu Mitt had to go on the Offensive against the Newt Insurgency instead of the GamePlan of going against President Obama.
Tomorrow, Malibu Mitt will be hopeing that America's Carnival Barkers(formerly known as the MSM) won't pay much attention to his 2010 Tax return release, because of President Obama's State of the Union address, but he'll be mistaken. Sure there will be the usual 24-48 hour tearing apart of what the President has to say, but that will only give 24-48 hours to pour over Mitts 2010 returns . His team will think they escaped unharmed in the above timeframe, only to be caught off guard(again). You'd think that after running for President for 5 years Now, Malibu Mitts team would've had an answer to these tax questions that have arisen so far. This is only an insight into what kinda Administration America could expect if he somehow was elected President.
The Sax 5th Avenue street that Malibu Mitt has lived on is much different than the JunkYard Dog streets of Newt Ginrich. I believe we are witnessing the End for Malibu Mitt(I could be wrong), because he & his Team are Unprepared for this back Alley fight. It's just Not Thier Style!
Pat, who really cares what the Brits think concerning America's Electoral process, "Let Them Eat Cake" attitude!
Occupy SoggyBottom!
Also for those who may not have heard yet, President Obama has called The Ayatollahs Bluff & sent the USS Abe Lincoln into the Straits of Hormuz(With British & French escort's).
The only thing that i'm confused about this is, why did'nt he send the USS Ronnie Raygun, since E1 knows the USS Ronnie Raygun would've scared the Crap out of'em.
ROFLMAO@
Occupy SoggyBottom!
If the argument in favor of low taxes on the rich is that they use the money they make to create jobs, tell me how many jobs money invested in the Cayman Islands creates?
Mitt is getting off track while Gingrich is playing him for everything it's worth. Mitt started the defacto war between him and Gingrich. Newt followed suit by coming back strong and hard... a tactic I don't believe Mitt was prepared for. Now Romney is firing back salvo's of his own but Newt is a strategist. Romney won't effect Newt's efforts in the least. I am absolutely certain Newt hasn't revealed his cards yet and is holding back what he really has on Mitt. The Bain incident was only a precursor to what Newt has hidden in his back pocket.
Politics at it's finest.
I can't wait for Pelosi to reveal any information she has on Newt's ethics charges. If she releases anything, a bomb will be dropped over her head by Newt's legal team. I'll bet they have the paperwork all drawn up already.
Why on earth would Pelosi do anything to harm Newt? She's praying he's the candidate!
Romney just doesn't play the tough guy well. It completely is beyond the outlines of his plastic mold.
One thing that does scare about Gringrich is the Christian fundamentalist vote. They love to take a guy who has sinned ( the more times and the more sordid the story the better) but publicly admits it and says he has asked for forgiveness and put them ona pedestal as if they are some kind of role model for the born again crowd.
The scary part is how many people call themselves "born again" and identify with this guy.
Family Values = Getting your daughters from your first wife to tell everyone that you second wife is lying about your third wife!
The people of the USA are not really interested in a first mistress. He was kicked out of the speaker ship because he was a bum .He is also a lobbyist but denies that . And no one is buying his historian BS .
On the contrary, I believe that Newt Gingrich is an exception historian. He's done a hell of a job attempting to rewrite his own!
Yeah, well, I'm not sure about that generalization, and suspect it isn't fair to guess at the motivation of large blocs of voters. For some of them, it could be as you say, kingofmyhill. I'd guess there were as many specific reasons for voting for Gingrich in South Carolina as the number of votes he got there.
But lumping together a few likely generalizations: Romney is only conservative this year out of convenience and Gingrich is the predominant non-Romney right now, Gingrich does debate better, Gingrich is interesting to listen to regardless of whether you agree with what he's saying or not, Gingrich may be Catholic (bad enough from some Southern Protestants' perspectives) but that's better than one of them danged Mormons.
I also think there has to be a bit of looking at both and picking the one that seems better in a scrap.
Romney will attack when he has to, and he looks like a rich guy who doesn't want to fight and doesn't know how to fight, but realizes he's gotten himself into a position where he has to. Gingrich looks like a guy who can stick the knife in the ribs with a smile on his face.
Seriously - think about it. If the Republicans are as loaded for bear as everyone assumes, why in the world would they want to send Romney out on the hunt?
Christian fundamentalists need to get out their bibles and re-read the Book of Matthew.
Newt has demonstrated his lack of character often and brazenly.
Forgiveness is all very well and good, but it is simply foolish to put a fox into a hen house and expect him to behave like one of the chickens.
kaybeetoys - I'm very impressed! You found the exact verses I've been looking for:
Book of Matthew.
These describe Obama to a TEE!!
Well I'm not very impressed with you, Brianb.
I didn't have to look for them. I know them by heart, chapter and verse.
it's great that mitt and newt are spending the election season differentiating themselves from president obama. obama not spending his time hawking books ala newt on the trail....or having been kicked out of the third most powerful seat in the world by his own party....and having to pay 300,000 to get out of jail free biggest fine ever for a member of congress....and being hated by nearly every member of his own party ....and as scarsbough says he's not a nice man....plain and simple......the three wives okay but the adultery the lying the open marriage and the timing wife in the hospital....not to mention the fact that they were your aides....newt just a dog....defend that.....values voter you vote for this smuck you accept the man and what he does....and are responsible for what this insider greed womanizer, christian in name only , conservative if that what it take to get me elect pose,,,newt is about newt he could never represent anyone but himself....he has no character he is a character.........and mitt 1% in his flannel shirts right mitt just one of us...i can't even say more ....but this season has showed me not one reason to vote for either but a million to vote for obama.....with the tide turning on the economy and the realization that obama and the dems how to do it along without the help of the gop that claims to be american first but is truely party first and only boo hiss....you got what you deserve with this group of canidates.
meanwhile...back in the White House, President Obama helps his two daughters with their homework, (instead of asking them to help explain his marital behavior), kisses his one and only wife, signs his tax return, which is promptly released to the public, and gets down to work creating jobs, getting sick people healthcare, and moving us off our dependence on oil. No drama Obama. That's the one for me.
I'm with you, Amy B.! And marc huff, your comment was very impressive!
OBAMA/ BIDEN 2012 BRAINS AND BALLOTS
....newt just a dog
Yeah on top of Mitt's car.
Isn't it about time to ask for their birth certificates? All of the smoke and mirrors may be hiding the fact that this a war among aliens.
Romney was pretty effective blasting Gingrich in Iowa, and if he doesn't hit him hard in Florida, it's going to be all over but the crying. Should make for a "colorful" debate this evening...
SS Romney...
"Flailing, Flailing,
over the bounding main!"
We are witnessing one of the great Political collapses in history. The one thing Team Romney and the candidate himself were not prepared for was to be in a dogfight in FLORIDA. All of the money, superpacs and endorsements in the world can't help him now, it's up to the candidate to go "toe-to-toe" with Newton, on Newton's turf...
. Mitt will be alone and naked on the stage tonight. Can he battle back, or has the die been cast and his fate sealed?
I just don't think that Romney does the "mad candidate" as well as Newt.
Romney/Gingrich 2012 - "Definitely not on each other's Christmas Card list!"
U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk underwent surgery today at Northwestern Memorial Hospital after suffering a stroke, his office said.
"On Saturday, Senator Kirk checked himself into Lake Forest Hospital, where doctors discovered a carotid artery dissection in the right side of his neck," his office said in a statement.
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Good luck for a swift and complete recovery...
Agreed, hope he is ok. I'm sure all of his constituents will agree and hope for a speedy recovery.
I just heard the news about Senator Kirk!
Wishing him a full & fast recovery.
PS: He is at one of the best hospitals in the nation when it comes to dealing with stroke victims.
Isn't he kind of young for a stroke? Prayers to the Senator and his medical team.
Tonight will be a great night for comedy. I will start with two and a half men and then switch to the Republican debate.
I will "predict";
Santorum will drop out...and endorse Mitt, but his supporters will ignore him and flock to Newton.
The Florida polls will show a ten point swing tomorrow, towards Newton and away from Mitt.
Romney will set a record for money spent in Florida, by the end of the week, and his SP will spend over 4 MILLION dollars...
#7.15 - Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:00 PM EST
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Those numbers may wind up being low...
Where are all the passengers on the SS Romney? Lifeboats in the water already?
no, we are waiting for Hillary to get into the race.
If only she would...Both Parties would vote for her now...;-)
dangerfield,
I noticed at Romney's rally last night in Ormond Beach, his supporter and endorser, Rep. John Mica was no where to be seen. Wonder if he has hit a lifeboat?
I really don't think any of today's GOP candidates would want to debate Mrs. Clinton. :)
They need "Berta" to be the moderator !
She wouldn't take any insults from Newt, that's for sure. She'd slap right back at him.
Berta 2012.. ;-)
Finally Someone is talking about newt's record. His own party kicked him out as speaker of the house. Is that leadership? Fined $300,000 for ethics violations. Leadership that we want?
I wouldn't vote for The Newt if he was running for dogcatcher.
Don't worry too much about Newt. The Puppet Masters despise him. And it's Romney's turn.
...and this is why I wish the Newtster all the best and full speed ahead for his campaign.
By the time Gingrich and Romney are done tearing each other apart, President Obama will be able to deliver his knockout punch to the last one standing with only a feather.
:)
If the Republicans are so stupid as to give the nomination to Mr Ginrich, if Gov Romney is not strong enough to fight to win it, then they(the Republicans) deserve the loss they will almost certainly suffer to Pres Obama in November. Will be a case of the utra-right wing winning the battle but losing the war.
My husband is a life long Republican but has said he will never vote for Mr Ginrich. If there are other voters out there like him, then the Republicans are toast if they nominate Ginrich.
For the life of me, I don't understand why they don't see that!
Dangerfield,
This is off topic, but I want to say congratulations to you and your New York Giants over my beloved 49ers. The football gods were looking out for them. It was truly a great game, in fact one of the best I have seen considering the weather at Candlestick Park.
I still can not understand why the 49ers didn't have Williams call for a fair catch on that last NY punt? Hope the Giants win the Superbowl.
sfcret,
I think that that game will be considered one of the all time great playoff games of all time. I am sure it was better than the superbowl will be!
And, you have a great young coach. Not to worry, you will be "Superbowl Bound" in the near future!
signed,
A sad Jaguar Fan
sfcret-
Thanks! It really was one of those games where it was a shame that one team had too lose, and it came down to the final play in OT! There really wasn't much more you could ask for as a fan, right? Thanks for the classy congratulations! I agree with Phine, that with the new spirit, coach and an emerging "elite" QB in Alex Smith, that the Niners will be in the hunt for the championship next year and for the foreseeable future...
I was thinking last night that I'd rather see SF play NY in a dome stadium with no weather issues than either NE or Baltimore. I think it would be a better game.
I feel so bad for Williams---not the best day to have a bad game.
Smells like desperation...perhaps Mitt can use "Free Falling" as his campaign song?
So as to be fair and not always talk about the GOP, I hope Obama picks up on a theme from another Tom Petty song.
I'll stand my ground and I won't back down. Repeat
Gingrich is just a scum bag and Romney is a money bag with Santorum a loony bag and Paul another loony bag the GOP/TP offers nothing worth voting for. Extremism has no place in America so Paul and Santorum are out. Hypocrisy has no place in America which leaves Gingrich out and indicision has no place in American leadership and that leaves Romney out.
What if you threw a primary and no one came?
baldeagle11
That pretty much says it all. So, what does that leave us?
Easy... Vote for Obama! :)
Very well said baldeagle 11!! Tonight over the poltical skies of Florida the "Cosmic Clowns" will be continuing their "Lost In Space" battle. The "Romulian's" Bird Of Prey is bought and paid for by Bain Capital. The "Nutty Newt" Death Star is bought and paid for by Freddie Mac, and Fannie Mae. This is not a real poltical debate America! It is a GOP Clown Show of no new economic ideas, no fair tax policy, a very hawkish Foreign Policy, no jobs policy, no intellectual ability, and no ethical behaviors. The Tea Beggers say the President wants to destroy America. Why would an American President do this?? Very simple answer here America. No American President would ever do this! That is fact!
Anyone watching the returns in Florida?? Gingrich sewing up another spectacular win,
Newt Gingrich....Your President for the next EIGHT YEARS. Dontcha just love it?? You betcha.
Even if that were the case, theres something called the "general election", maybe you've heard of it?
Obama has faced the greatest challenges as president since the end of WWII, and has worked tirelessly and effectively to address all of them. He draws on the finest minds in the United states and, on international affairs, around the globe, yet he is decisive and confident. The media have been preoccupied with their own interests and Republicans have been firing non-stop misinformation, distortion, lies, smear, lame taunts, and dogmatic ideology at him for five years. But, it is still possible to pick through the mess and determine the facts.
The presidency will always be occupied by men, not Gods. The office has limited powers and a system of checks and balances. Add to that the least respected and most unproductive Congress in modern history and don't expect miracles. Expect unusual commitment and accomplishment, in spite of overwhelming odds.
That is an excellent point, Affinity1 and a reality check for voters.
Mr. Obama has said all along that, by himself, he cannot turn this country around. We need to help him by supporting his initiatives and supporting our elected representatives who are willing to make the hard choices to move this country forward.
The divisiveness that conservatives are promoting has only hurt them, along with all the rest of us.
Nomination for sale and Republican tactics at work. The new reality show is America Has Smear, not talent.
If Willard Romney did NOT give his church 10% of his GROSS INCOME EACH year, he cheated his church…. and Gordon B. Hinckley WILL KNOW for sure !! OMG !
To be of good standing, all Mormons MUST tithe, or give 10 percent of their GROSS INCOME to the church.
Have you wonder WHY HE STUMBLES AND REFUSES TO SHOW THE LAST FEW YEARS OF HIS INCOME TAX RETURN?? 10% of any figure is EASY TO CALCULATE- WILLARD MAY BE DISGRACED !!
WE THE PEOPLE, ARE MORE POWERFUL THAN ROMNEY's MILLIONS !
If Willard Romney did NOT give his church 10% of his GROSS INCOME EACH year, he cheated his church….
"To be of good standing, all Mormons must tithe, or give 10 percent of their GROSS income to the church"
Have you wonder WHY HE STUMBLES AND REFUSES TO SHOW THE LAST FEW YEARS OF HIS INCOME TAX RETURN??
PEACE TO THE WORLD !
Enter in new page, omit XX
http:X//www.Xgodtube.Xcom/watch/?v=FE2JMCNU
Areal gift to eyes and ears.