Video: Michael Moore: "I Think People Should Start To Practice The Word's President Romney"
Related:
Mitt Romney Gets Personal in Fiery and Poignant Speech – Gave America a True Choice
Showing posts with label 2012 Presidential election is the GOP's to lose. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2012 Presidential election is the GOP's to lose. Show all posts
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
RNC Announces Modified Three-Day Convention Schedule – Updated Here
The Original Posted Republican National Convention Speaker Lineup
On Sunday Mitt Romney's campaign laid out an updated three-day Republican National Convention schedule that incorporated a number of speakers, including former Democrat-turned Republican Rep. Artur Davis (Ala.) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), whose Monday sessions had been cancelled due to Tropical Storm Isaac as a safety precaution. GOP officials confirmed that the 2012 Republican National Convention will primarily take place Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week, due to weather complications.
Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and his wife Ann leave Brewster Academy after finishing convention preparations for the day on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012 in Wolfeboro, N.H. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Monday's schedule has been reduced to a five-minute pro forma session, comprised of party chairman Reince Priebus gaveling in the convention. This act will also trigger a running public debt clock, which will track the amount of national debt accrued by the US government over the four-day stretch.
The "official business" of nominating Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan will take place Tuesday afternoon. Convention organizers said they were able to incorporate all of Monday's "headliner" speakers into the truncated program by eliminating some program elements deemed to be "non essential," and by tailoring a few speeches to be slightly shorter. Party officials said Monday's theme -- "we can do better" -- will be woven into the final three nights.
As for reports and rumors about a potential Friday session, officials said they have no plans for that, and declined to discuss the "hypothetical" scenario any further. The new convention schedule is below. The limited 10-11pm ET hours, which the broadcast networks will carry live (shame on them because these are national conventions that all Americans should watch and especially if they plan to vote! ), have not been altered. Bolded speeches indicate "prime-primetime" addresses. All times are approximate:
Monday, August 27, 2012
2:00 p.m. Chairman of the RNC Reince Priebus
Call to Order/Start Debt Clocks
2:10 p.m. Announcement of Recess
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
2:00 p.m. Chairman of the RNC Reince Priebus
Color Guard Knights of Columbus
Pledge of Allegiance by Former Governor Tim Babcock (MT)/ Tom Hogan (FL)
National Anthem sung by Philip Alongi
Invocation by Rabbi Meir Soloveichik
Opening procedural steps, appointment of convention committees
Welcoming remarks, and House and Senate candidates and RNC auxiliaries
RNC Chairman Priebus
RNC Co-Chairman Sharon Day
Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn
Convention Chief Executive Officer William Harris
Chairman of Tampa Bay Host Committee Al Austin
Republican Congressional Candidates
State Delegate Barbara Comstock (VA)
Representative Tim Griffin (AR)
Republican Senate Candidates
Republican National Committee auxiliaries
Consideration of convention committee reports
RNC Chairman Reince Priebus
Committee on Credentials Chairman Mike Duncan
Committee on Permanent Organization Chairwoman Zoraida Fonalledas
Convention Permanent Chairman Speaker John Boehner, Presiding
Official Convention Photograph
Committee on Rules Chairman John Sununu
Committee on Resolutions Chairman Governor Bob McDonnell
Committee on Resolutions Co-Chairman U.S. Senator John Hoeven
Committee on Resolutions Co-Chairman U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn
Roll Call for Nomination of President of the United States
Roll Call for Nomination of Vice President of the United States
6:40 p.m. Recess
7:00 p.m. Reconvene
Remarks by Speaker John Boehner
Remarks by RNC Chairman Reince Priebus
Video and remarks by Mayor Mia Love (Saratoga Springs, UT), U.S. congressional candidate
Remarks by Janine Turner
Remarks by former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum
Remarks by Host, U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers
8:00 p.m. Remarks by U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (NH), accompanied by Jack Gilchrist
Remarks by Governor John Kasich (OH)
Remarks by Governor Mary Fallin (OK)
Remarks by Governor Bob McDonnell (VA), accompanied by Bev Gray
Remarks by Governor Scott Walker (WI)
9:00 p.m. Remarks by Governor Brian Sandoval (NV)
Remarks by Sher Valenzuela (small business owner, candidate for DE Lt. Governor)
Remarks by Senate Republican Candidate Ted Cruz (TX)
Remarks by Artur Davis
Remarks by Governor Nikki Haley (SC)
10:00 p.m. Remarks by Mrs. Luce' Vela Fortuño
Remarks by Mrs. Ann Romney
Remarks by Governor Chris Christie (NJ)
Benediction by Sammy Rodriguez
Adjournment
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
7:00 p.m. Convention convenes
Call to order
Introduction of Colors by Amputee Veterans of America Support Team (AVAST)
Pledge of Allegiance by Brigadier General Patrick E. Rea, US Army (Ret.)
National Anthem sung by Ayla Brown
Invocation by Ishwar Singh
Ron Paul Video
Remarks by Senate Republican Leader and Convention Temporary Chairman Mitch McConnell (KY)
Remarks by Senator Rand Paul (KY)
Remarks by Christopher Devlin-Young and Jeanine McDonnell
8:00 p.m. Remarks by Senator John McCain (AZ)
Remarks by Attorney General Pam Bondi (FL) and Attorney General Sam Olens (GA)
Remarks by Governor Bobby Jindal (LA) – Bobby Jindal cancelled early Monday morning because of Hurricane Isaac
Remarks by Senator John Thune (SD)
Remarks by Senator Rob Portman (OH)
9:00 p.m. Remarks by Governor Luis Fortuño (PR)
Remarks by Governor Tim Pawlenty (MN)
Bush 41, 43 Film
Remarks by Mike Huckabee
10:00 p.m. Remarks by Condoleezza Rice
Remarks by Governor Susana Martinez (NM)
Remarks by vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan
Benediction by Archbishop Demetrios
Adjournment
Thursday, August 30, 2012
7:00 p.m. Convention convenes
Call to order
Introduction of Colors US Central Command Joint Forces Color Guard Team
Pledge of Allegiance by Dylan Nonaka
National Anthem sung by SEVEN
Invocation by Ken and Priscilla Hutchins
Remarks by U.S. Rep. Connie Mack (FL)
Reagan Legacy Video
*Remarks by Newt and Callista Gingrich – notable additions from the original released schedule
Remarks by Craig Romney
8:00 p.m. Remarks by Governor former Jeb Bush (FL)
Remarks by Bob White, chairman of Romney for President campaign
Remarks by Grant Bennett
Remarks by Tom Stemberg
9:00 p.m. Remarks by former Massachusetts Lt. Governor Kerry Healey
Remarks by Jane Edmonds, former Massachusetts Secretary of Workforce
Remarks by Olympians Michael Eruzione, Derek Parra and Kim Rhode
10:00 p.m. Remarks by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (FL)
Remarks by presidential nominee Mitt Romney
Benediction by Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan - Cardinal Dolan to offer closing prayer at Republican Convention
Speaker Boehner declares convention adjourned
For more information on the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, check out RNC 2012 page for all the information you need regarding the convention.
FOX News announces GOP convention coverage schedule
FOX Business Network Presents Live Coverage of The Republican National Convention
Official website of the 2012 Republican National Convention
One GOP Convention Session to be Themed “We Built That”
And if anyone questions the bias of the media their coverage of the GOP Convention should settle it. RNC chairman chides TV networks over convention programming:
ABC and CBS will each air one hour of prime time convention programming on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights of both the Republican and Democratic conventions. NBC will mirror the other networks in coverage of the RNC, but at the DNC, will air one hour of primetime programming on Tuesday and two hours on Thursday.
But unlike the Democrats, who have no events on the Monday before their three-day convention, Republicans have four days of podium action and a full slate of speakers for Monday night. The networks are not taking any of that nights programming live in primetime. CNN Promises ‘Unbiased’ Convention Coverage
RNC: Ann Romney to address convention Tuesday Republican National Convention officials say Mitt Romney’s wife, Ann, will speaking during prime-time television coverage of the event. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a rising national figure in the party Gives Prime Time Speaking Slot to Ann Romney. Mitt Romney was disappointed in networks! Now with Hurricane Isaac Monday night ended up being cancelled and the gulf governors have had to cancel and stay in their states.
Related:
Republican National Convention 2012: Romney Accuses Obama Of Engaging In 'Low' Politics
Electoral College Prediction Model Points To A Mitt Romney Win In 2012
Gallup: 60 Percent of Americans Believe Media Are Biased … – The rest aren’t paying attention or drank the Kool Aid!
Romney in Crisis: Two Dark Spots in Fortunate Life
Romney Tells Israel: “You Built That!”
Romney-Ryan: America’s New Dream Team and a Clear Choice
Romney-Ryan are just the guys to turn things around; the right team for the times!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Romney Wins Texas and Clinches GOP Nomination
Mitt Romney clinched the Republican presidential nomination last night (Tuesday) with a win in the Texas primary, officially garnering the 1,144 delegates needed to claim the Republican presidential nomination. It was a triumph of endurance for the candidate who came up short four years ago and had to fight hard this year as voters flirted with a carousel of GOP rivals, all slugging it out and scratching to reach the prize.
According to The Associated Press count, Romney surpassed the 1,144 delegates needed to win the nomination by winning at least 97 delegates in the Texas primary.
The former Massachusetts governor has reached the nomination milestone with a steady message of concern about the U.S. economy, a campaign organization that dwarfed those of his GOP foes and a fundraising operation second only to that of his Democratic opponent in the general election, President Barack Obama.
Romney is the first Mormon nominated by a major party. His religion has been somewhat less of an issue than it was during his failed bid four years ago; perhaps because the economy is on the forefront of everyone’s mind. Plus many question President Obama’s honesty about his religion, so believe a Mormon is a definite improvement over a Reverend Wright style Christian or perhaps a closet Muslim.
"We did it!" Romney proclaimed in a message to supporters, noting that "it's only the beginning."
Romney was not in Texas, however, but in Las Vegas at a major fundraiser hosted by supporter Donald Trump.
"An honor and a privilege and a great responsibility," Romney told supporters at a fundraiser in Las Vegas. "And I know the road to 1,144 was long and hard, but I also know that the road to 11-06… Nov. 6th… is also going to be long and it's going to be hard and it's going to be worth it because we're going to take back the White House and get America right again."
Romney thanks troops in new campaign video
Romney must now fire up those conservatives who still doubt him while persuading swing voters that he can do a better job fixing the nation's struggling economy than Obama. In Obama, he faces a well-funded candidate with a proven campaign team, but in his favor, in an election year that will be heavily influenced by the negative economy… Obama’s economy.
Romney's campaign went on the attack Tuesday, releasing a Web video citing the Obama administration's loan-guarantee investments in four renewable-energy firms that lost money and laid off workers.
The message, "President Obama is fundamentally hostile to job creators", has been a theme of the Romney campaign since he launched his presidential bid. But sensing this as an opportunity to reach a new audience, the campaign planned to highlight Obama's support for the failed renewable energy company Solyndra, among other private ventures the Obama administration helped support.
"We need to have presidents who understand how this economy works," Romney told reporters Tuesday. "Sometimes I just don't think he understands what it takes to help people. I know he wants to help, but he doesn't know what he's got to do."
Romney's message and his big day, however, were somewhat overshadowed by real estate mogul Donald Trump and his discredited suggestions that Obama wasn't born in the United States. Course others were cheering that Trump had the guts to say it.
Romney spent Tuesday evening at a Las Vegas fundraiser with Trump, who had toyed with the idea of running for president earlier in the election season. Romney says he believes Obama was born in America but has yet to condemn Trump's repeated insinuations to the contrary.
Both Trump and Romney steered clear of the issue at Tuesday's, said to have been successful, fundraiser. (Coincidentally, Romney officially released his birth certificate yesterday.)
When asked Monday about Trump's contentions, Romney said, "I don't agree with all the people who support me. And my guess is they don't all agree with everything I believe in." He added, "But I need to get 50.1 percent or more. And I'm appreciative to have the help of a lot of good people."
"He's going to turn this country around. He's going to create jobs like you haven't seen for many, many years," Trump declared. "We were a great country. Soon we won't be a great country at all... Mitt Romney will make us a great country again." Later in the evening Trump told Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren, “Romney understands what needs to be done with China!”
Republicans won't officially nominate Romney until late August at the GOP national convention in Tampa, Florida. At latest count, Romney now has 1,183 convention delegates.
He won at least 97 delegates in Texas with 33 left to be decided. The 152 delegates in Texas are awarded in proportion to the statewide vote. The other delegates were sprinkled among several candidates.
Texas Republicans also voted in a Senate primary to choose a candidate to run for the seat being vacated by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and state Solicitor General Ted Cruz were headed to a runoff in July.
With about three-fourths of precincts reporting, Dewhurst led with 45 percent of the vote compared to 33 percent for Cruz. Dewhurst, however, fell short of the majority he needed to avoid a runoff. The nominee will be strongly favored to win in November in heavily Republican Texas.
Romney, 65, is clinching the presidential nomination later in the calendar than any recent Republican candidate, but not quite as late as Obama in 2008. Obama clinched the Democratic nomination on June 3, 2008, at the end of an epic primary battle with now Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Four years ago, John McCain reached the delegate threshold on March 4, after Romney dropped out of the race about a month earlier.
This year's primary fight was extended by a back-loaded primary calendar because of new GOP rules that generally awarded fewer delegates for winning a state, changes they seemed to regret as the campaign bogged down. Plus the Republican electorate seemed to enjoy extending the battle before settling on Romney.
Michelle Bachmann, Rick Perry, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and yes… Donald Trump all sat at the top the Republican field at some point. Minnesota Rep. And at one point early on, Ron Paul also appeared to have the ability to secure the top spot for a short time. But Romney outlasted them all, even as some GOP voters and tea party backers questioned his conservative credentials.
The primary race started in January with Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator, narrowly edging Romney in the Iowa caucuses. Romney rebounded with a big win in New Hampshire before Gingrich, the former House speaker, won South Carolina.
Romney responded with a barrage of negative ads against Gingrich in Florida and got a much-needed 14-point win. Romney's opponents fought back: Gingrich called him a liar, and Santorum said Romney was "the worst Republican in the country" to run against Obama.
Gingrich and Santorum assailed Romney's work at Bain Capital, the private equity firm he co-founded, saying the firm sometimes made millions at the expense of workers and jobs. It is a line of attack that Obama has promised to carry all the way to November.
On Feb. 7 Santorum swept all three contests in Missouri, Colorado and Minnesota, raising questions about Romney's status as the front-runner. After a 17-day break in the voting, Romney responded with wins in Arizona, Michigan and Washington state before essentially locking up the nomination on March 6, this year's version of Super Tuesday.
Romney has already been in general-election mode for weeks, raising money and focusing on Obama, largely ignoring the primaries since his competitors dropped out or stopped campaigning. Santorum suspended his campaign April 10, and Gingrich left the race a few weeks later. Texas Rep. Ron Paul said on May 14 he would no longer compete in primaries, though his supporters are still working to gain national delegates at state conventions.
Both Santorum and Gingrich initially offered tepid endorsements of Romney as the left the race but Gingrich is now actively promoting Romney's campaign.
Among those in the crowd in Vegas last night: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who joined his former rival on the trail for the first time since dropping his own bid for the Republican nomination last month.
While Gingrich didn't speak at the fundraiser, he talked to reporters ahead of the event, defending Romney's muted reaction to Trump's birther conspiracies.
"Gov. Romney is not distracted, the Republican Party is not distracted. We believe this is an American-born, job-killing president," Gingrich told reporters, per the Los Angeles Times. "Other people may believe that he was born somewhere else and still kills jobs, but that's an argument over background. The key fact is for any American worried about the economy, Obama is a job-killing president."
Rich Galen, a Republican strategist who has been unaligned in the 2012 race thus far, said the long, sometimes nasty primary fight should have helped Romney fine-tune his campaign organization so it can operate effectively in the general election. Galen doesn't, however, think it was relevant in toughening up Romney for the battle against Obama. Not quite sure how that follows, but we shall see!
"Romney's been running for president for six years. He is as good a candidate as he's ever going to be," Galen said. "Whatever you say about him, he was better than everybody else in the race."
So the general now officially begins! Game on….
Romney’s official announcement sent out to his online supporters:
Friend,
Tonight, we surpassed 1,144 delegates and secured the nomination. I am grateful and humbled by your support through this process. We did it!
This has been an extraordinary journey. And yet it's only the beginning.
Now all Republicans can move forward toward our convention in Tampa. There, we will stand united as a party with a winning ticket for America. Ours will be a campaign to unite every American who knows in his or her heart that we can do better.
There's much to be done by November 6th - but with your help, we will get it done!
Thank you for standing with me.
Mitt Romney
___
h/t to AP writer Steve Peoples contribution to this report, reporting from Las Vegas. Photo credits to: the Arizona Daily Star
Related:
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Obamaville… Santorum’s New Ad
What will life in America be like in two years if Barack Obama is re-elected?
It is a scary thought. Here’s hoping this Santorum ad series will be the closest we come to finding out.
Video: Obamaville
It is time… Time for all the GOP candidates to start focusing on Obama and beating Obama and stop destroying each other!!
These are the kinds of ads and discussions that Santorum, Romney, Gingrich and Paul need to be running and having.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
A Tale of Two Republican Parties
There are two Republican parties. One is fairly liberal, it is hostile to the left but it also believes in stealing their thunder by adopting moderate versions of their policies.
This Republican Party is strongly pro-business, but it believes that to succeed in a global economy the government must provide subsidies to businesses and individuals. It believes that immigration reform is needed, though its chosen candidates know to avoid using the word amnesty. It believes that national health care is inevitable and that the only way to avoid a government solution is through the individual mandate.
It is loosely conservative, but disinterested in social issues. It thinks that the left has gone too far in upending traditional values, but has no interested in combating it and finds those who do embarrassing . It adapts to changing mores with an uneasy smile and tries to pretend that it was with it all along. It has no strong religious feelings and it believes that all religions, including Islam, are basically the same.
It is strong on national defense spending, but mainly to maintain stability and national influence, not because it believes that we face any real threats. It believes that America has a responsibility to the rest of the world and that we are obligated to give back through the United Nations and other international organizations allowing us to spread our values of free enterprise and democracy to everyone.
It is a big believer in the American Dream of economic opportunity, but is unable to think of any other national virtues beyond that. It maintains a strongly Federalist legacy and while it agrees that the Federal government has overreached itself in interfering with the business of states, it has no real interest in rolling back its powers, only in making certain that they are used “wisely”.
The only area where it actively rolls back the left’s program is its deregulation of businesses, but even this is limited to spheres that are objectionable to specific industries which lobby for deregulation. Small businesses can expect much less help, unless they band together and forcefully make something into an issue.
It has no passion for anything beyond deregulating a few specific industries. It supports the right to bear arms, not because it passionately believes in it, but because the political costs of not doing so are too high. It opposes abortion for the same reason, though its opposition is mainly a formality. It believes that gay marriage is inevitable, but isn’t willing to pick a fight with its base over it.
Its leaders and members consider themselves rationalists and believe in Global Warming because “the science says so.” They sneer at those Republicans who deny what they think is the obvious. While they are skeptical of government solutions to Global Warming, they are prepared to accept an approach that does not cause too much harm to business and is routed through private companies.
It views what the Republican Party has become as an embarrassment and while it doles out red meat to the base when it has to, it despises them and constantly dreams of ways of getting rid of them. In its fondest daydreams, a graduated amnesty program for Mexican immigrants by a Republican president turns them all into legal citizens and Republican voters, allowing them to tell their guns n bibles base to kiss off.
It does not believe that Obama is bad, only inexperienced and misguided, but basically well-meaning and its lack of support for him is not due to a firm belief that his agenda is destructive, but to political calculations and the need to appease their base.
This Party is not particularly worried about the future of the United States except as a place to do business. And even then it will easily move operations offshore to Dubai or Singapore. Overall it is optimistic that things will go on as they have, with a gradual process of reform advanced by the left and moderated by the right in the political process resulting in a workable center.
Then there’s the other Republican Party. This party is deeply worried about the future of the country, and not just as a place to do business. It is socially conservative, strong on national defense because it believes that we do face real threats and enemies, it is opposed to amnesty and very skeptical of Federal power.
This party is more new than it is old, it’s a party that evolved in response to the transformation of the Democratic Party at the hands of the left. It is the base from which the Republican Party draws much of its support, particularly away from the Northeast, and it is struggling to force the party to match its deeds to its words.
It does not believe that most of the national debates are a tempest in a teacup that can be settled amicably behind closed doors. It is uninterested in bipartisan great compromisers, it seeks fighters who will stand up for its agenda. It is not interested in the progressive voyage to the national future that has been taken up by both parties, what it would like is independence from their reign of policy terror. It would like to roll back the progressive policymaking of both parties.
It is concerned for its ability to earn a living, for the values of its children and the basic freedoms that it can see being lost every day. It remembers a time when people had more freedom and less rules hanging over their heads. The tide of paperwork, the omnipresent regulatory state infuriate it and lead it to vote for people who claim to want Washington off their backs. But next year there are even more regulations and paperwork to deal with.
It is deeply worried about the Bill of Rights, its right to bear arms, its right to speak freely and to practice its beliefs without interference from the government. It is worried about them because it has already witnessed the dramatic erosion of its freedoms and it expects the process to continue.
It is unenthusiastic about deploying troops to maintain global hegemony or aid other nations, it is however vigorous about defending the country from enemy attack. Its members often have a tradition of military service and a skeptical view of how the politicians have used and abused the military for their own purposes.
Its skepticism of authority transcends government and extends to elites in science, academia and the entertainment industry. It recognizes the major gap between its values and theirs, and accordingly distrusts them. It is much less subject to being cowed by absolute truths presented by the elites and often seeks out alternative opinions.
What it wants most is independence from outside regulations that impinge on its way of life. It has little interest in positive rights and a defense of its rights by the government, what it would like is the ability to defend its own rights, to maintain a separation from the elites and its own property and family.
These two Republican parties have been on a collision course for some time now. The collision repeats itself in every election as it has throughout the 20th century. The Republican establishment has never really come to terms with its new core constituencies, the people resistant to the New Deal who were then joined by the people resistant to every other liberal big government innovation that came down the pike.
Between an establishment committed to moderate progressivism and a base that is unwilling to accept less freedoms and more regulation for their own good, is a massive divide. It is a cultural, economic, social and regional divide that needs to be talked about.
Too many establishment candidates have cakewalked into office by paying lip service to the concerns of the base without believing a word of it. Each time the process repeats itself, the collision becomes more explosive until something has to give.
Either the Republican establishment needs to step up to the plate and honestly repudiate its base or it needs to step aside and decide which it cares about more, deregulation or its version of the progressive agenda, because it cannot continue as a contradiction in terms without a meltdown. The current ugliness is a manifestation of that yawning gap between the two parties that cannot be bridged without an honest dialogue about the different values of those at the top and those at the bottom.
Related:
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Is It Time for Conservatives, Moderates, Independents and the GOP to Come Together? Especially After Super Tuesday?
Charles Krauthammer says, “The long primary process has ‘Diminished’ the GOP Brand”
In a recent interview:
Megyn Kelly, FOX News: Charles, a lot of Republican voters have been uncomfortable watching this primary contest so far with all the barbs being exchanged between the candidates and in Michigan, as we've seen in some of the earlier states, it got a little ugly in the end. Your take now at this point in the process on whether this extended primary process that was a choice by the GOP is working to the GOP's advantage?
Charles Krauthammer: No. I think it's hurting them terribly. And you're right about the fact that it is a Republican choice. And I think it was a really stupid choice. They decided that in 2008 they had gotten a candidate too early. A weak candidate in McCain and they got slaughtered. So they were going to undo that and have a long, drawn out process. Almost all the contests would be proportional, and let the voters decide over time.
The flaw in the reasoning, and it was pretty obvious, they'd be running against an incumbent president, unlike in 2008. The Democrats would not have any early contests. They wouldn't have any negativity. They wouldn't have all this expenditure in trying to decide who is going to be the nominee.
So they should have had a shorter race, but they designed it for a longer race in a year in which the Democrats have no race at all and therefore have an advantage. Nonetheless, I think the way Obama has performed as president is so disappointing that that will even out, and I think it is now an even contest between Democrats and Republicans as to the general election. But, it shouldn't be. Republicans should be way ahead, given how badly Obama has done and how weak the economy is. But this process has certainly hurt all the Republican candidates, and unfortunately diminished the brand.
The case for Mitt Romney
There are an awful lot of "true conservative" types dumping on Mitt Romney these days... some are saying that he is no better than Obama, and some are even threatening to not vote if Romney is the nominee. I don't get it... I know that Romney isn't perfect, but I don't understand the hatred of him.
Here was Mark Levin in 2008 arguing that Romney was the most conservative choice:
Let’s face it, none of the candidates are perfect. They never are. But McCain is the least perfect of the viable candidates. The only one left standing who can honestly be said to share most of our conservative principles is Mitt Romney. I say this as someone who has not been an active Romney supporter. If conservatives don’t unite behind Romney at this stage, and become vocal in their support for him, then they will get McCain as their Republican nominee and probably a Democrat president. And in either case, we will have a deeply flawed president.
Of course that was before Levin suddenly decided to hate Romney's guts. In 2008 he was calling Romney a conservative... maybe an imperfect conservative, but still a conservative. And now Romney is some sort of ultra-liberal who should be hated like poison?
Well, I don't see any perfect conservatives this time around either. I initially supported Rick Perry, but he just wasn't able to sell himself... so now that Perry is gone, Romney has become my second choice. Who else am I supposed to vote for? Rick Santorum may yet win the nomination, and I will vote for him if he does, but I don't see how he could possibly beat Obama in the general election. (I don't think that Newt Gingrich could beat Obama either, but I don't see him winning the nomination at this point anyway, so the question is probably moot.)
As our nominee, Mitt Romney would keep the focus on Obama's failed policies... Romneycare is a problem for Romney, but not an insurmountable one. I think Romney will do a much better job of exposing Obama as a radical leftist than Santorum ever could, mainly because Santorum is too eager to let himself get lured into lecturing us about things like Satan, sodomy, pornography, contraception, and whether or not Protestants are real Christians.
I've been fairly impressed with Mitt Romney's performance in the debates so far, and I think he would do just fine against Obama... but you don't have to take my word for it, here is Santorum himself endorsing Mitt Romney in 2008:
Posted by Crazy Bald Guy – Cross-Posted to the Watchers Council
Romney is a much more generous, outgoing, personable and relatable in person than he appears in debates or on TV. He also does not toot his own horn as do both Obama and Gingrich… who love to toot theirs. In 
one of the debates Romney said he did not inherit his money, that he is a self-made man and that is true. What he didn’t tell us is that he did inherit money from his parents and gave it all away in their honor. He gave much of it to develop the George Romney Management Institute at BYU and the rest to charity.
Romney also took no salary when he was the Governor of Massachusetts.
And because Romney does not sound his own horn and is steady and calm instead of boastful and grandiose a lot of people like to say that he isn’t tough enough and doesn’t show enough feelings. You really need to read this story to see another side of him.
And in the end, ROMNEY’S EDGE IS ELECTABILITY, which seems to be proving out as Romney is gaining momentum in Ohio. In yet another bizarre twist to this roller coaster 2012 GOP Primary race, Rick Santorum's lead in Ohio has all but evaporated. What once was a double digit lead is now down to 2 points. Mitt Romney is making a late surge for the ever important electoral state of Ohio - but will it be enough to overcome Santorum? Why is Romney surging anyway? Could it be the bizarre interview of Santorum that Glenn played a portion of? See HERE.
When recently asked about a brokered convention Romney said: “That’s just not going to happen!” However, if it does according to a Fox News online poll: Sarah Palin is the overwhelming choice if there is a brokered convention. It would be a Game Change that many of us can believe in!
It is time for us to decide… Go with Romney who moderates and independents like and can vote for… or go for the real conservative who will really brings us hope and change and mesmerizes those who listen. If you have ever heard and seen Sarah Palin speak live, especially to a large crowd, and if you really know what she has done and what she stands for…… not the Sarah Palin that Katie Couric, Tina Fey and the Progressive left have fed us… you know that she could win, if any true conservative can win!
Conservative Super Star Sarah Palin: Brought the Red Meat to CPAC and They Loved It… Loved Her!
Video: Full Speech – Sarah Palin at CPAC 2012
Video: Game Change We Can Believe In
But perhaps in honor of the memory of a man who many called the the spiritual leader of the modern conservative, libertarian movement and ‘the’ conservative warrior by others, Andrew Breitbart, we should consider his words as he warned at CPAC: "Unite or Perish!" Or we draft the gal that will bring us real change and excites the conservative base… especially with his recent wins. Why settle for Sarah light?
Strategist and author Dick Morris said, if there ever was a reason to pull together and vote for Romney, unless you are hoping for a brokered convention, it is the Michigan experience of last weekend. Romney won by a large margin in both Arizona and with a large margin of Republicans and Independents in Michigan. But 100,000 Democrats voted in Michigan against Romney, on cue from a combination of a robot call put out by the Santorum campaign and a movement organized by Team Obama (of unions and operatives).
Morris says if Democrats, Team Obama, start interfering and trying to change the outcome of the GOP primary to their preference, Rick Santorum, at least in this case, it tells us who they fear to run against most, Mitt Romney. And if the GOP lets this go beyond May or June without a clear chosen candidate, and worse yet all the way until September, after the Republican convention, Obama will win a second term. The GOP will not have enough time to mount a campaign against Obama between September 1st and November 6th… and Team Obama knows that!
Wake-up, America… eyes on the price, which is defeating Obama. After Super Tuesday, if not before, unless there is a miracle and someone breaks out, if Santorum and Gingrich split the south and Romney takes the rest or most, it is time to pull together or we will end up out foxing ourselves into losing our country because we played the wrong game for too long.
*Since this was originally written Mitt Romney won in Washington state (today) on Saturday, with Ron Paul coming in at second. (It was considered Paul’s best shot at a first place win.) In the post election analysis, Charles Krauthammer said if Santorum and Gingrich have a weak showing on Super Tuesday, the Republican Establishment will start putting pressure on them to step aside, at least one of them, because they are damaging the GOP brand and are harming the outcome of the bigger goal… beating President Obama in the Fall. Mitt Romney also appears to have had his best debate/forum performance ever on Saturday night from Wilmington, Ohio sponsored by and featured on Huckabee.
Mitt had a very personal and relatable moment with small business owner David McArthur from St. Louis, when he talked about his son. Romney was outwardly emotional during his response to a question from McArthur who is the father of a soldier experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and a traumatic brain injury after being wounded in Afghanistan. Governor Romney was obviously very moved by David’s story and clearly grateful for the sacrifice; Romney’s voice broke, crackling for a moment, as he responded. It was a great chance for people to see Romney’s humanity at a time when many voters say they have been unable to connect with him. Mitt also did a great job of more clearly explaining his detailed economic plan and was even funny during the forum… when he forgot to leave the stage for the next candidate, Santorum, to come on and give his final comments. Romney laughed, lightly grabbing Santorum at the shoulders saying, “I’m not leaving!”. (All three candidates did well at the Huckabee Forum, focusing on jobs… Ron Paul opted not to continue campaigning in Washington State and not to participate in the forum, but Romney definitely came out on top!)
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Final GOP Debate Before Super Tuesday and 3 Other Primaries - Updated
The CNN Arizona Debate is over and so are the GOP debates until after Super Tuesday, after about 14-additional primaries are over.
As with all of the debates, there were winners and losers. Who won, who lost and what’s next?
Debate Video: Republican Presidential Debate (CNN/Arizona Republican Party) - February 22 2012
Video: Highlights From CNN GOP Debate in Arizona
First the winners.
Whether Mitt or Newt won depends on who you listen to.
Gingrich was in top form tonight and was able to hold the position he loves to operate from. He was able to swoop in on certain questions and do really well, answering in a sly superior fashion. If Newt had nights like this in every debate, he would be much closer to being the nominee. Newt probably built up his vote share last night with his quips and insight, but every vote he gets back comes from Santorum not from Romney.
Mitt Romney also fell into the winner circle. Romney is not as good a debater as Newt but was prepared. Preparation can overcome a multitude of sins and what ever else you want to say about Romney, he does prepare well for debates, plus he is getting better at it. One of Romney’s advantages is that he comes across as presidential.
Former Clinton political advisor (now a Republican) and author Dick Morris wrote:
In last night's debate, Romney showed how he has grown through this contest and has developed into a presidential figure. By contrast, Santorum's performance was distinctly congressional. I found myself agreeing with Santorum on much of what he said, but willing to follow Romney. In sync with Rick, but trusting
Mitt.Santorum's replies were pedantic, tactical, and detailed. No inspiration there. He was like a lawyer advocating his case or a congressman battling for a bill. But Romney came across as a real leader - charismatic, bold, strong, and, ultimately, inspiring. See his full post HERE.
Ron Paul could have been a winner if he could have stayed away from foreign policy issues. Foreign policy, specifically Iran, is his Achilles heel. Iran is a threat to America. Radical Islam is a threat to America. We are not threatening Iran. Iran is threatening America and Israel; the big and little Satans as they call us. Ron did have some humorous moments last night. And what I do agree with Ron Paul on is that we need to formally declare wars before entering into them!
CNN is a winner too. CNN did not hit any of the Republicans with any really bad gotcha questions and the really stupid questions, like describe yourself with one word, were kept to a minimum.
The Republican Party, with twenty some debates has also scored big with the Debates. They have been a big draw for the networks that have carried them so have been a good showcase for all of the Republican candidates. A year ago, who would have believed we would have had this many debates?
The losers:
Rick Santorum. Santorum needed a knock out punch today to beat Romney. He did not get it. He stumbled. Not only did he not get his knock out punch, he was back on his heels most of the debate. He stumbled and fumbled in dealing with all of the candidates. Santorum did not have the worst debate performance ever. He did not forget which departments he would abolish. But his performance was not one of his best nights.
If Santorum had delivered with some of the strong points he had in previous debates he might have continued doing better going into Michigan and Arizona. This debate could have the same consequences as did the bad debates for Gingrich in Florida.
The Republican Establishment is also a loser of sorts. For years they have allowed the liberal media to call the shots on their debates. The Republican mainstream voters are tired of it. Blogs ranging from the Tea Party Nation to Red State and on have called the GOP establishment on this; even the National Review addressed this today.
Santorum started with momentum tonight, but he needed to have a debate strategy. Romney had his debate strategy down. He was going to get in someone’s face and push them back on their heels. Gingrich was in his preferred position and he had the strategy of being the Republican wise man, which he pulled off well and relished in. And Ron Paul was his independent self and really went after Santorum.
Santorum seemed to have no strategy other than to just showing up, and neither he nor Newt came across as presidential
We will know in the next few days how badly this debate hurt Santorum, since the voters have been so fickle this primary season. One thing is certain. Romney can probably breathe a little easier tonight and the polls in Michigan should keep tightening. Donald Trump appeared with Greta on the Record after the debate and Trump said he just saw that Romney have pulled into the lead in Michigan where Santorum had been leading. If Romney wins Michigan and Arizona he has a decided advantage on Super Tuesday.
The outcome of the upcoming primaries may shift the entire ebb and flow of the GOP race again and could end the talk of a brokered convention, one of the ongoing side stories in this roller coaster of a race. Some feel it could be the best thing that ever happened to the GOP, but most feel it would be a nightmare. And some still think there could be surprises ahead on both sides.
But if the American people don’t wake up as to the importance of this election… America and everyone in it is the loser. Only 4.5 million people watched last night’s debate, in probably the most important election of all our life times. That is a travesty! And truly if you are not paying attention you are not equipped to vote!
Another side story is the question of whether Ron Paul has been keeping his Mitts off Mitt in order to get his son, Rand, on the ticket? Ron or Rand Paul will at least get a speaking position and input at the convention if Ron keeps picking up delegates.
Like Father Like Son? Maybe but smoother around the edges?
Many feel it’s all coming down to this: Ron Paul is staying in this race, no matter what, in order to assist Romney, because he wants his son to be on the Presidential ticket with Mitt Romney.
As he travels around stumping on the basis of his limited government position, he is also fishing to get his son on the ticket with another candidate in this race. In tonight’s debate on CNN, the elder Paul had every chance to criticize Romney, but he didn’t, and instead spent his time hammering Santorum. Coincidence???
I like many of the things Ron Paul stands for in the domestic arena, but can the younger Paul effect policy changes as part of the Romney team, or will virtually none of Ron Paul’s positions be adopted in the end? It could be interesting if they can pull it off! As they say, politics make strange bedfellows and Romney’s presidency would be the antithesis of much of what Ron Paul has advocated.
At the conclusion of the debate on CNN, Anderson Cooper came on as the stage emptied of the candidates, and I watched with interest as Mitt Romney got up and directly went to shake Ron Paul’s hand and exchange a few words with him.
This is definitely season full of surprises!
Related:
BREAKING: Did Sarah Palin Just Announce She Would Accept The GOP Nomination if Drafted?
A Path to a Brokered GOP Convention Emerges…. Bush verses Palin?
Expect Costly Lawsuits With Voter Photo ID Says ACLU of MN
Breitbart to Conservatives: "Unite or Perish!"
Conservative Super Star Sarah Palin: Brought the Red Meat to CPAC and They Loved It… Loved Her!
Audio: Santorum’s Right on Religion - Religious Liberty… ObamaCare’s First Casualty
Rubio’s Mormon Past Revealed - There is a definite question as to Rubio’s eligibility to be president/VP but on this issue… Obama’s father and step-father were Muslims and his mother and grandparents were progressive atheists… Obama himself, questionable and we are worried about Mormons? Really??
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Breaking: Did Sarah Palin Just Announce She Would Accept the GOP Nomination if Drafted?
BREAKING: Did Sarah Palin Just Announce She Would Accept The GOP Nomination if Drafted?
Oh man, what a day this has turned out to be. Sarah Palin has been all over Fox News today, including making a surprise appearance on The Five, setting between Bob Beckel and Eric Bolling, who has been teasing her appearance on his Fox Business News show Follow the Money, which brings us to what currently has everyone buzzing.
This is a supposed transcript from the interview she did with Eric, from Time Magazine:
BOLLING: Governor, a lot of people are saying it can’t happen. I don’t necessarily agree with them. If one of the nominees, one of the GOPers, doesn’t get enough delegates, it could go the a brokered convention.
If it does get to that and someone said, Governor, would you be interested, would you be interested?
PALIN: Well, for one, I think that it could get to that. And I — you know, if it had to — if it had to be kind of closed up today, the whole nominating process, then we would be looking at a brokered convention.
I mean nobody is quite there yet. So I think that months from now, if that’s the case, then, you know, all bets are off as to who it will be willing to offer themselves up in the name of service to their country. I would — I would do whatever I could to help.
BOLLING: That’s — that’s fantastic.
Putting this in the context of Sarah’s Fox interviews with Greta, the gang on Fox and Friends, and Martha MacCallum, where she is clearly displeased with how the current candidates are handling themselves, as well as going after President Obama full speed, it seems she has decided she may have to take matters into her own hand!
Of course, this could be nothing more than a huge shot across the bow of all of the campaigns, and the GOP, warning them to get their act together. Or it could be she’s been listening to all of us who wanted her to run from day one.
Of course, I’m quite biased, as I have thought she would make a great president since 2007!
It also seems Sarah may be appearing on Red Eye [with Jedediah Bila] in the wee hours of the morning! [they actually tape the show earlier] Stay up late or set your DVRs! Red Eye airs 3 AM eastern.
All I know is the next few days are going to be a bit crazy!
By Gary P Jackson
Related:
Breitbart to Conservatives Unite or Parish ht
A Path to a Brokered GOP Convention Emerges…. Bush verses Palin?
Conservative Super Star Sarah Palin: Brought the Red Meat to CPAC and They Loved It… Loved Her!
Breitbart to Conservatives: "Unite or Perish!"
Video: Breitbart to Conservatives: "Unite or Perish!"
Andrew Breitbart on The Victory Sessions with host Stephen K. Bannon on KABC - http://www.kabc.com/showdj.asp?DJID=59651
"Conservatives must Unite or Perish". "The Occupy Movement was created to get Obama elected.
Video: Andrew’s Unity Speech at CPAC
Earlier to day… There was tweet from Fox News’ Eric Bolling saying:
ALERT! Palin breaking big news... the 15 minutes with Gov Sarah that may change everything.. stay tuned 10p FBN
There are many people out there praying that she will still jump in!!
But whoever the GOP nominee ends up being, we better unite, sooner vs. later, or the America we knew and loved is done!
** I just read an exclusive alert from Reuters –Exclusive: Clinton in talks about possible move to World Bank. This is frightening because it is a possible sign that the global elite are much closer to their New Economic World Order than we wanted to believe. There will not be a second chance to save freedom, America or turn back the clock (and definitely not in our lifetimes). If we do not unite and put our individual preferences aside to fight like Hell to save the Country our Founders gave us between now and Election Day 2012 (if we have that long), we are done! Please wake-up America… It is almost too late! Third parties, not voting and endless in-fighting are just not acceptable this time around… because if we take that path, there won’t be a next time around! **
Related:
A Path to a Brokered GOP Convention Emerges…. Bush verses Palin?
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Tic… Tic… GOP Toc… or Rather Talk
Does anyone else just want to scream: STOP!!!
What the GOP candidates should be focusing on is righting the economy; creating an environment to enable the creation of jobs; promoting freedom here and abroad without continuing to be the baby-sitter of the world; defeating the growing threat posed by Iran and other evil regimes and making Barack Hussein Obama a one-term president based on his abysmal record, anti-American and anti-free-market philosophies, lack of vetting in the 2007-2008 campaign, and his questionable decisions on policies, associations and connections.
Instead, what we have let happen is let the media and Team Obama manipulate us, the voters as well as the GOP candidates themselves into creating a soap opera of issues which has moved the discussion and the candidates themselves into a ‘mudfest’ slinging it in all directions instead of taking the high road by focusing on the real issues.
On the list(s) of most beloved American Presidents, ranging from one of the poorest to the richest, are: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson, Woodrow Wilson, FDR, Harry Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, JFK, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton in varying order and depending who you are polling. (Although, President Obama in a recent speech has said he is the 4th greatest president of all time… no modesty issues there!) Another interesting observation is that Teddy Roosevelt whose head is one of the four at Mt. Rushmore, thanks to his cousin FDR, is never on the most beloved or most influential U.S. Presidents lists. On the Five last week, both the libs and conservatives on the panel agreed that if Newt and Obama end up being our 2012 Election candidates, by the time the election is over they will have parleyed themselves up on the same level as God?!?)
An interesting side note: in today’s money… George Washington was the richest American President we have ever had and Mitt Romney, although very wealthy, would not be the richest. Thomas Jefferson, FDR and JFK were also extremely wealthy; JFK lived off his trust fund almost exclusively. And John Kerry, had he have been elected would have been one of the richest. The Bushes are no pikers either! Even our “redistribute the wealth President, Obama, is a multi-millionaire”. So why so much focus on Mitt Romney’s wealth and taxes?
Before the South Carolina primary nationwide 63% of people polled (across the board) believe that Mitt Romney is the most electable in comparison to only 9% for Newt Gingrich… but the ads and a couple of good days of debates managed to convince Carolinians that Newt was the most electable… to the tune of 68% according to the exit polls. This could end up being the election cycle that breaks South Carolina’s record of picking the GOP nominee that has held since Reagan. Of course in every other election that candidate also either won Iowa or New Hampshire… where Newt came in 4th and 5th and with Santorum winning Iowa (in a virtual tie with Romney) and Ron Paul coming in 3rd and then Romney winning in New Hampshire decisively where Ron Paul came in second. This seems to be the year that nothing will follow previous norms.
John Fund of the American Spectator appeared on Fox the day after the South Carolina primary saying part of what catapulted Gingrich into his strong win in SC is the fact that the only entity that Americans hate more right now than Congress, President Obama or politicians in general is the mainstream media (MSM) and Newt, being handed two opportunities during the week before the SC Primary to lash out against the media, gave the voters an opportunity to vote against the MSM by voting for him. (Santorum commented jokingly on an interview on Sunday following the SC primary, “Whatever Newt paid those reporters to throw him those questions at the debates last week wasn’t enough!” and Karl Rove kiddingly suggested to Chris Wallace that perhaps Mitt needs to twist a few reporters’ arms to do the same, earlier that morning.
Gingrich was the big hero this past week because he took on the MSM after questions that look more like gifts... and right now the media polls lower than anyone in Washington... Congress, Obama or any of the GOP candidates, so many undecideds voted against the media instead of for Gingrich. Also many people mistook Palin's comment about voting for Gingrich to keep the contest going as an endorsement. (Palin also encourage Santorum to stay in the race.)
Greg Gutfeld, co-host of The Five and host of Redeye made one of the most interesting observations of Romney’s debate performance last week that I have heard:
Mitt Romney is an alpha-male in a religion that prizes humility… Newt is an alpha male that prizes the sound of his own voice… which often gets him in trouble.
Although Romney seems to be coming out swinging now:
A newly aggressive Mitt Romney charged in the campaign debate Monday night that Newt Gingrich "resigned in disgrace" from Congress after four years as speaker and then spent the next 15 years "working as an influence peddler" in Washington.
Gingrich shot back that Romney's attacks were riddled with falsehoods, and he referred to statements by two men who ran against Romney in 2008 in contending the former Massachusetts governor "can't tell the truth."
The clash occurred in the opening moments of the first of this week's two debates before the Jan. 31 Florida primary.
I believe it was Eric Bowling of The Five who said that Newt Gingrich has never had an un-uttered thought and Rick Santorum intimated the same. That is not necessarily a good trait for a president.
Team Obama and their Progressive army, which includes the mainstream media (MSM) plan on Stealing Election 2012 by whatever means necessary including voter fraud, keeping the GOP fighting amongst themselves and trying to create a 3rd party candidate run to divide the anti-Obama electorate. They know Obama cannot win on his record!
Other than the Progressive far left, more and more Americans are realizing that the hope and change they voted for was an illusion created by Obama and the elites, including puppet master George Soros, that were behind his election. Those that really listened to what he was saying or not saying and did their homework in 2007 and 2008 already knew it was a lie. Now it is Team Obama’s job to re-build that false hope and demonize the GOP field. If you haven’t read The Obama Nation, you should!
Obama has been in full campaign mode since summer 2011, rather than governing, and his Team has been in full attack mode behind the scenes, going after each GOP candidate as they rose to the top of the field. Unfortunately from my vantage point the American people have allowed them to get away with that starting waaay back with Sarah Palin, in the last election. And like with Sarah, the tea party and other conservatives did not vehemently back the candidates, Michele Bachmann and Herman Cain, who most reflected their views with the steadfast and financial support they needed… so that ship has sailed.
Conservatives talk a lot about their values, but often don’t support the candidates with those values with financial contributions. And when you look at the fact that married women in a socially conservative state like South Carolina voted in droves for philanderer Newt Gingrich right after his wife released in an interview that he had asked her for an open marriage… you have to wonder how strong their convictions are…
“What we would have considered taboo and a fatal nominee flaw a few years ago, is suddenly okay evidently. Sex in the White House? Not a problem… Cheated on your wife and divorced? Not a problem… Buddy around with known radicals and Marxists? Definitely not a problem… And the Overton Window slides inexorably to the left. What has happened to us? We were once the greatest nation on the planet. We had a robust economy, a strong military, a Christian ethic, strong morals, a rich history and leaders of whom we were proud. Now? Well, we have an economy that is close to a Weimar moment. Our leaders have gutted our military. Christianity is being systematically destroyed and vilified. Morals seemed to have been replaced by an entitlement mentality. Our history is being rewritten and erased. Our leaders are corrupt, gutless, spineless, knee scrapers, who only care about themselves and their personal pocketbooks.” …TMH of the NoisyRoom from her recent piece Revolution Moves into the Overton Window
We are now left with a field of 4 (alphabetically): Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum who stand between us and the United ‘Socialist’ States of America… so perhaps it is time to start focusing on the issues, the candidates’ plans and attacking Obama’s record instead of excoriating each other. It is time that we, as voters, do our own homework as to the real facts and on stage and in public have the candidates focus on the big issues that will matter in the general election.
Newt Gingrich - A Nation Like No Other
Gingrich is not the great conservative savior... He is as much of a flip flopper as he likes to accuse Mitt Romney of and has personally been anything but a social conservative. (Newt has a long history of philandering and although he seems to have had a recent religious conversion and has now embraced Catholicism, Santorum, Romney and Paul have all been married to the same women for their entire adult lives, were great and present fathers and I don't know about Ron Paul, but Santorum and Romney are and always have been very involved in their faith.) Newt has been involved in lobbyist type of activities and is definitely a Washington Insider that was almost removed as Speaker by his own party after being brought up on ethics charges. He is really more of a Rockefeller type Republican than the Reagan-style Republican he likes to make himself out to be. After all, Reagan’s 11th commandment was thou shalt never speak badly of a fellow Republican, yet if you honestly look back over the past two months, Newt has been the biggest mud-slinger of all.
Also check out: Unbelievable?! Newt Love FDR, Models Himself After Woodrow Wilson and Admires SEIU’s Andy Stern…
There is no question that Newt is the best debater and is brilliant, but many who have worked with him, including fellow GOP candidate and former Senator from Pennsylvania, Rick Santorum, have claimed that Newt’s ideas are non-ending and grandiose, but never get completed. He would be great in the debates against Obama, but debating and leading a country are two different skills! Plus, let us all remember that no matter what Gingrich would like, there will only be two to three 1 to 2-hour debates between the GOP nominee and Obama in the general election, not seven or eight - 3-hour Lincoln-Douglas style debates, where Newt’s debating skill would be at a premium. And if Monday’s NBC debate is a warning, the audience for those debates will no-doubt be kept from applauding, let alone giving a standing ovation.
Overnight we are hearing that Gingrich is the the electable candidate but Ann Coulter, Dana Parino, Glenn Beck, Pat O’Brien, Greg Gutfeld, Bob Beckel and a long varied list of others from both parties have in the past 24-hours said that choosing Gingrich as the GOP nominee will not only guarantee that Obama is re-elected but that the GOP loses the Congress. Chris Christy, a Romney supporter, says Gingrich has often embarrassed the Republican party. And Jack Abramoff says Don’t Drink the Newt Kool-Aid! While Pam Geller says Gingrich might just be the SOB we need.
His character flaws—his impulsiveness, his grandiosity, his weakness for half-baked (and not especially conservative) ideas—made him a poor Speaker of the House. Again and again he combined incendiary rhetoric with irresolute action, bringing Republicans all the political costs of a hardline position without actually taking one. Again and again he put his own interests above those of the causes he championed in public. …National Review
Gingrich has also just released his company’s 2006 consulting contract for services to Fannie and Freddie and has already raised new questions. It appears that his function in that matter might not technically qualify as lobbying, but that it definitely qualifies as influence peddling… not work as a historian, which is how Gingrich explained his services.
Ron Paul - The Revolution
Ron Paul would love to be president but when you really listen to what he says in his speeches, in my opinion he is appears more focused on getting out his message and collecting delegates to affect the outcome of this election and have influence over the next administration than really believing he can win. Many believe that getting a position for himself, like overseeing the Federal Reserve or getting his son Rand a V.P. slot and/or then continuing his organization for a future Rand Paul (who was today detained by the TSA) for President may be his goal.
Ron Paul is a Libertarian and an expert on the Constitution and his economic policy and fight against the Fed is right on, believe most people. Some of this other ideas scare some people. But his followers are loyal to a fault and he has not only the largest following of all the candidates of young people but also the strongest military following, which is interesting because his ideas on foreign policy is what scares a lot of people off.
Paul has pledged to cut 1 Trillion dollars in the first year if he is elected, while the other 3 candidates plan to make cuts but in a much more timid fashion, at least from what we have heard so far. We should note that Ron Paul is one of the founders of the tea party, yet he does not necessarily get the tea party vote because of some of his foreign policy opinions and his stand on legalizing things like drugs and prostitution.
However some suggest that if Ron Paul’s Libertarian handlers and his more radical supporters could soften their ideology a bit he might even have a chance to win the nomination.
Mitt Romney - The Real Romney
Romney, now that Cain is out of the race is ‘the’ only businessman, saved and led the Olympics and has been a Republican Governor in a Democratic state where he had to compromise to get things done. At a time where we need jobs, need to open new trade markets and must rebuild our economy, that is experience we need in a president.
The attack on Romney’s wealth… which he did not inherit but made on his own; the type of business he was in which is totally legal and taught as part of MBA programs throughout the U.S.; the percentage and amount of taxes he pays (which is higher than what 97% of Americans pay plus his additional tithe of 10% back to his church) and his account in the Cayman Islands which is totally legal, and the on-going attacks on his faith and even his eligibility… are an afront to free-market economics, freedom of religion and the American Dream. The fact that there is even a question about eligibility or the religion of any of these candidates while Obama is still not being vetted is amazing! Although at least at this moment, Obama is to Appear at an eligibility Hearing: Attorney Taitz Says It Will Be ‘100 Times Bigger than Watergate’. If he really does, things might just start getting interesting.
I really think Mitt is getting an unfair wrap from a so-called free-market Capitalistic country and society. Everything he appears to have done is within the law, it makes him a good capitalist, not a crook, and the loopholes are the government’s fault. Maybe America will be richer again if he is in-charge and he manages our money like he has managed his own. So far Newt hasn’t even proven he can even manage his own campaign. He allowed his advisors to steal all his funds at the beginning of this campaign?!?
Mitt has donated millions to the Mormon Church (his 10% based on his religion)… as we all should be doing to our respective churches if we are Christians based on our income, and whether he is a Mormon, a Catholic or a Protestant he should be praised not punished for his tithing. And he did release his taxes earlier than anyone other than Gingrich’s 1 return, but many including Lou Dobbs and Mike Huckabee suggested he should have told everyone to stick it or that he will release them when he is ready. See Hedgecock’s: Obama is a Culture Socialist
And as far as Mitt’s flip flops… he has answered everyone of these questions, including in his book No Apology He, like Newt, at one time favored global warming legislation, but after learning more about it, has changed his mind. He has always been personally pro life, but thought he could follow the pro choice mandates of Massachusetts, where he was governor, (just like Santorum explains he is a pro work candidate, but voted to follow is state’s union leanings while in the Senate as their representative), but then Romney could not sign a bill that came before him on stem cells that were to be created and then destroyed, so then governed as a pro life governor. He has also explained in some detail about his reasoning behind RomneyCare and that it is a state issue, about the differences between RomneyCare and ObamaCare and the changes that have been made since he left office. And he has vowed to do what it takes to get rid of ObamaCare as soon as he gets into office as President, like all four candidates have. And if you do your homework, you will see that it is Newt Gingrich who has supported an individual mandate up until just one year ago… and it was Gingrich who helped blow out Paul Ryan’s popular economic plan and appeared in an ad with Nancy Pelosi to promote global warming legislation.
Rick Santorum - Rick Santorum
Rick Santorum is the last true social conservative in the field and if that is your priority then he is your candidate. He also has experience in the U.S. Senate in a blue collar Democrat state where he had to compromise, but he is not a pure conservative in other areas based on his Senatorial voting record.
Rick Santorum is brash and blunt, and proudly so. But it's a trait that will make it easy for Democrats to use his own words against him if he were to become the Republican presidential nominee. He wrote a book: It Takes a Family in response to Hillary Clinton’s book: It Takes a Village. The Democrats went after Santorum during his 2006 re-election bid for statements in his book claiming he was insensitive to the struggles of two-income families.
He is a great family man and true to his faith and God. And he is the son of an immigrant so brings with him that special love of America that comes from growing up in a family of legal immigrants from that era. Santorum is a specialist on Iran and speaks of it with passion.
He also showed us amazing tenacity as he campaigned in every county in Iowa with little money or support and eventually went on to win that Caucus.
Santorum may still surprise and turn out to be the conservative alternative choice to Romney over Newt. Santorum is relatively baggage free and Newt is baggage laden, which is why the Dems are salivating at the thought of his nomination.
“I look at the current crop of conservative candidates from which we have to choose and I can’t help but think, is this the best we can do? Really?? The most conservative of the lot that also believes in our military and protecting the US is Rick Santorum. He’s still my candidate and I pray fervently that he will prevail and win the nomination. But the odds are against him.” TMH of the NoisyRoom from her recent piece Revolution Moves into the Overton Window
Many have described the Republican race – in a year when President Obama is totally beatable with the question: Has it come to this: Newt Gingrich, serial philanderer, liar, hypocrite, secret Rockefeller Republican, back-stabber and megalomaniac versus Mitt Romney, the Supreme Panderer, the man-with-no-principles, an utter phony who will say anything and flip-flop at any time – and someone who was not a Reaganite until he ran for president in 2007 sandwiched between Rick Santorum an extreme social conservative in some people’s eyes, but not a true conservative by his Senatorial voting record and Ron Paul everyone’s crazy constitution reciting uncle, who has been talking about his Libertarian ideals for years but no one ever thought would make it this far… and now the country has changed and are coming around to his thinking. In reality, none of these 4 fall into the true conservative ‘right-wing’ confines of the GOP as measured by social, fiscal and ideological standards and both Mitt and Newt are considered RINO’s by the right wing of the party.
But I have chosen to take a more positive outlook. I say, “Is Progressive free-market-hating and America-hating Barack Obama the best the Democrats can do for a candidate? While the GOP actually has a clear choice of four uniquely individual candidates, all of which are better than Obama. And any one of them might not be ‘exactly’ what any of us want, but all of them will be better than what we now have and will put us back on the road in the right direction to continue the fight toward re-establishing the nation and Constitution that the Founding Fathers gave us. One of the best things all Americans can do is to work as hard as you can and vote for your choice of these 4-men in the primaries and then come together and vote for the GOP nominee to defeat Obama while making sure you elect a solid Republican House and Senate.
I really think that some of what we are hearing about all the candidates is just propaganda… from both sides, and much is exaggerated, skewed or unimportant. But the more I read about both Mitt and Newt, if I have to choose between them, at least at this point, I would vote for Mitt. Neither were my first choice. Sarah was my first choice, and then Cain and Bachmann, and I’m still routing for Santorum but the main goal is making Obama a one-term President. So I will vote for the GOP nominee; any of the 4 remaining candidates would be better for America than Obama. But from what I’m hearing through some inside connections… the WH is cheering over Newt’s present lead and SC win. And that SC win makes Florida’s winner-take-all primary more critical than ever, where Ron Paul is only participating in a limited way! Although he and all the candidates will participate in both Florida debates.
Tic Toc, Tic Toc, Tic Talk… Time to focus and talk about the big issues!
The Final Four
By Ask Marion
Related:
Romney’s Rebuttal to Obama’s State of the Union
Romney Releases His Tax Returns
Beck Reacts to Gingrich Calling His Criticism ‘Bologna’: ‘The Audio Speaks for Itself’
PEJ’s Election Report – Campaign 2012 in Media – Romney Has Received the Most Negative Coverage
Colbert Super PAC Goes Negative on Romney in First South Carolina Ad - Why do ideological idiots like Stephen Colbert have Super PACs?
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