Posted on 10/20/2011 11:40:57 AM PDT by broken_arrow1
The GOP could face a revolt from within its tea party grassroots base if it nominates an establishment candidate without true conservative, anti-big government values, one of America’s leading conservative pundits tells Newsmax.TV in an exclusive interview.
Specifically, columnist and former Republican presidential candidate Pat Buchanan told Newsmax that the nomination of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the architect of a state insurance plan that many say inspired Obamacare, could prompt the tea party movement to form a third party.
“It’s a real possibility because the tea party folks and the Republican conservatives and social conservatives and others are very apprehensive of Mitt Romney and they don’t feel he is really one of us,” Buchanan told Newsmax.
“They’ve got reason for that feeling and that sentiment but if they do that, if, for example … they persuaded Ron Paul to run on a third party ticket, Barack Obama would be easily re-elected,” he added.
Buchanan would certainly know. A former aide to President Ronald Reagan, he was one of the first conservative commentators to hold a prominent job as a TV commentator and syndicated columnist in the mainstream media.
From 1966 through 1974, Buchanan was an assistant to Richard Nixon, and from 1985 to 1987, White House Director of Communications for Reagan.
Buchanan ran twice for the Republican nomination for president and then in 2000 ran for the White House on the Reform Party ticket. He said he can see a third party candidate emerging in 2012 if Mitt Romney gets the GOP nod.
Of the current Republican candidates he said, “Certainly Michele Bachmann is one of us. I think Rick Perry is. I think Herman Cain is. If you are talking about a more traditional conservative certainly I would put Santorum in there.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
I don't batter mine; I use honey and chocolate!
I guess I’m not as scornful as others as to what you have posted and see it as an exercise in pragmatism. There are times however, when pragmatism must be abandoned for principle, and there is no better time than now.
The Tea Party gave the Republicans the House, and they promptly squandered what they had. We are dealing from strength and the crumbs are no longer acceptable.
The Tea Party is gaining strength and this is the time to use it. We don’t need two left wing big government parties any longer. The Republicans are getting an ultimatum and if they ignore it, they will become the third party and their efforts to minimize conservative candidates will not be forgotten.
Apt comparison. Guess you and Lincoln never heard of civil war.
The way that Lincoln’s followers finished out the civil war (Abraham himself being unavailable due to his assassination) seemed to illustrate that spirit. General Lee was forgiven.
Well stated!
There’s a curious back story to this. Many Mormons believe (IIRC it’s from a Joseph Smith alleged revelation) that a Mormon is destined to become the president of the USA. So when Mitt Romney becomes a contender, these Mormons are tempted to say hey, this is the guy. Whereas, if he keeps true to his earlier liberal dogmas, he would be more like their anti-Christ.
Well, your leftist hero Mitt Romney is no Honest Abe. He’ll make no friends among conservatives. He’s a lying SOS! And you can tell him that for me next time you kiss his ass.
Kennedy? Byron White was more conservative than most of Eisenhower's, Nixon's, or Ford's appointees. Or is that going too far back?
Frankly sir, you mischaracterize by saying I kiss Mitt’s ass. I’ve never met him personally.
Because it’s your blog/forum, I tread lightly and respectfully. But saying that a Mitt presidency might not be all minuses for America, or might be less minuses for America than Obama would be, does not logically equate to ass kissing. Especially when I make it clear that both Cain and (with reservations) Perry are far better. I thought it was conservatives who were known more for logic, and liberals more for feeling. But if we put an inordinate amount of passion into our antipathy, we risk becoming like what we hate.
“Spineless, ass kissing RINOS can take their Romney and go to hell. “
Not this one. No Romney, No way, at no time! Put me down for third party if he gets the Rep nod.
That's fair enough. It makes the point that we almost have to go into antiquity, when it was our grandfathers' Democrats we were talking about, to find such a situation.
I don't see it. Northeasterners wanted somebody from their part of the country in the race.
I guess it's easier to typecast or stereotype people from the New York area as moneyed Wall Streeters, but Christie isn't really that kind of person, and I doubt plutocrats were any more in his corner than in any other candidates.
P.S. Good post, notary.
well, bye.
NO MITT ROMNEY!! GET IT THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULL!!
You’re one RomneyBot post short of a zot. C’mon. Make my day!!
Donald Trump, Pat Buchanan, et al: We need a Conservative News Network. Please help get one started. We would support it wholeheartedly. It is sorely needed to reach the eyes and ears of the average voter, especially before November 6, 2012.
Interesting. I never heard that before. I agree with you that no leftist is anything but evil, whether they've been duped or they are purposeful.
From what I can make out Christie was invited to speak at a gathering of "media moguls" and he impressed them. Some of them may have wanted him to run. A lot of them were probably Democrats and wouldn't support him anyway.
But I do notice that many ordinary people on the East Coast also kind of wished Christie would run (and I notice that for some people Texas millionaires are just plain folks and New York bus drivers are already part of the arrogant elite).
"Manipulate" may be too strong a word. Regular people or elites, a lot of people are dissatisfied with the available choices. Getting Christie in the race would certainly have hurt Romney, but it's not like any of the other candidates would have had a lock on the race if nominated.
Christie may have been a stronger candidate than the others. If he was, it would have been foolish not to consider him, if his views were acceptable.
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