I terminated my reading right there.
--H.L. Mencken, The Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26, 1920
Posted on 03/03/2012 9:25:42 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
ANN ARBOR, Michigan — As he watched last week's Republican debate from his apartment in University of Michigan's married student housing, Derek Osborne could hardly contain his disgust every time Rick Santorum came on TV.
"He represents a part of the Republican party that drives me absolutely crazy," he seethed.
Osborne, a Ph.D candidate, is a Mitt Romney supporter. He's also a moderate Republican who is alarmed at what he sees as the anti-intellectual fervor—and undeniable political power—of the Tea Party movement. As the latest candidate to emerge as the main populist rival to Romney, Santorum has become the primary political enemy of Osborne and millions of voters like him.
Indeed, more than anywhere else in this political moment, Romney's campaign stops have served as the stage for a rising counter-revolution against the Tea Party—with moderate Republicans uniting behind the candidate whose nomination, they hope, will damp down the fires that have raged on the right since 2009. It's the latest turn in an intramural war that has been waged since Barry Goldwater beat a handful of Establishment Republicans — including Michigan Governor George Romney — in the 1964 Republican primary.
"I will not vote for him if he's the nominee," Osborne pledged, as Santorum's face filled the television set in his living room. "For him there's one right answer that is given by God that you have to obey. You're not allowed to talk about negotiating or compromising. It's insane."
It's a sentiment that was echoed repeatedly by the crowds of supporters at Romney's recent campaign swing through Michigan.
Mark Mailloux, a Romney rally-goer from Fenton, MI who works in the health care field, called Santorum the latest star in a rotating cast of "conservative nutjobs... First it was Bachmann, then whats-his-face from Texas, and right on down the road."
His wife Joan agreed: "I don't want a nominee clear over by the Tea Party. I want a moderate, responsible Republican. Santorum tells us on television that he's got these big economic plans and then he doesn't tell us a darn thing about them," she said, complaining that he spends too much time attacking his opponents and sermonizing on social issues.
In Kalamazoo, MI, student Gus Thatcher voiced exasperation at conservatives' stubborn insistence on mobilizing behind a new standard-bearer every time Romney has defeated one of their candidates. He was particularly irked by Santorum's sudden re-emergence.
"It just sort of happened out of nowhere, and they can't even explain why they like him [more than Gingrich]," he said, adding that Santorum is "too extreme to beat Obama."
Though he has made occasional half-hearted appeals to the Tea Party, Romney himself has appeared to embrace his role as the party's moderate answer to right-wing populism. During a visit to Michigan's campaign headquarters on Tuesday, he let loose on his more conservative opponents.
“It’s very easy to excite the base with incendiary comments,” he told reporters. “We’ve seen throughout the campaign that if you’re willing to say really outrageous things that are accusatory and attacking President Obama that you’re going to jump up in the polls. You know, I’m not willing to light my hair on fire to try and get support. I am who I am.”
This type of rhetoric is exactly what has earned him so many supporters in the GOP's waning moderate wing. But as the race has worn on, many of those same voters have grown restless with Romney's inability to seal the deal—and some wish he'd set his hair on fire to defeat Santorum.
"Why hasn't Mitt taken him out yet?" asked a frustrated Eric Zeugschmidt, a communications executive from Provo, Utah.
His advice to Romney?
"Take the kid gloves off and start knocking some heads... This Mr. Nice Guy who is taking the higher road is not working."
I terminated my reading right there.
--H.L. Mencken, The Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26, 1920
Sir hate to tell you this but YOU are a democrat.
"Yes, it's nice you're working on that Ph'D and your opinions are fascinating, ummm, not so much milk in my latte next time."
“Moderates”:
I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would that you were cold or hot.
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Some famous Dude said that, once.
Mittens surrounds himself with nasty people - hence you didn't learn anything about how he sabotaged Sarah Palin and then entire McCain campaign last gorounnd? Well - school learned folks - read up on what happened there. Those of us who work hard, pay taxes for a living don't want Mitten's Romney/Obamacare. You can slice him and dice him - he's the same as ozippy! Is that what you really want? Do you own any piece of clothing displaying a peace symbol from the 60's? haa. just checking.
Moderate these days means liberal
Heck these days, moderate means socialist
These “supporters” of Romney sound like Obama supporters. Close your eyes and have someone read to you what these people have said and you’d swear your on the daily kos web site, scary isn’t it..that we have these “people” in our party
I’m so glad that the GOP-e in the guise of Derek feeeeeel that they have this all locked up with mittens. I’m sure that they won’t miss lil ol me a bit.
Now that’s funny ;-)
Funny how everyone that the mainstream media tags “moderate” is really quite far on the left side . . .
On the other hand, sympathizers of the Crown fit the 2012 category of "moderates".
Mittens himself has sais that he wants to moderate the party, he doesn’t want people like us in the GOP. If he became the nominee/President he will be the titular head of that party. He will destroy it from within, I will never cast a vote for the guy.
Wrong Coppins, Osborne and those of their ilk.
The Tea Party is so 1773.
Yea well I know that I can be a hot-head and a hard-ass, and maybe mittens and me wouldn’t make the best of tablemates. But if he thinks he’s gonna get the job done by running off the right-wing he’s seriously deluded.
Win the battle and lose the war - great strategy mitt.
He is trying to sound conservative, but he doesn’t act very well. He’ll stop acting conservative if he wins or loses.
He won’t beat Obama I think, too many will simply stay home.
Sir, I hate to say this but you will be responsible for a Viking suicide.
A democrat—the worst insult evah! The humanity!
“Mr. Nice Guy taking the high road”
Really, dude, really???
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