Posted on 01/30/2012 5:42:45 PM PST by Behind Liberal Lines
Newt Gingrich has effectively called on Rick Santorum to drop out of the presidential race, yet the former Pennsylvania senator continues to poll in the double digits and shows no sign of quitting. Why are so many conservatives dissatisfied with a choice between Gingrich and Mitt Romney? Michelle Malkin's Santorum endorsement is a good primer....
[Santorum] didn't cave when Chicken Littles in Washington invoked a manufactured crisis in 2008. He didn't follow the pro-bailout GOP crowd - including Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich - and he didn't have to obfuscate or rationalize his position then or now...
Santorum opposed individual health care mandates - clearly and forcefully - as far back as his 1994 U.S. Senate run. He has launched the most cogent, forceful fusillade against both Romney and Gingrich for their muddied, pro-individual health care mandate waters.
He voted against cap and trade in 2003, voted yes to drilling in ANWR, and unlike Romney and Gingrich, Santorum has never dabbled with eco-radicals...
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
Come on Michelle! Santorum is just about done for. It’s a battle between Newt and Willard. Are you the right (Newt) or the left (Willard).
another reason to back Santorium. Some say he isn’t ready for prime time, well gee if both the left media, and right (fox) media keep the focus on Mitt for Brains, and Newt while saying Santorium has no chance when they mention him every other day, I wonder why he gains no traction. Santorium owned the debate the other night.
But when I come to Free Republic a Conservative site and see some caught up in the Newtmania running wild, because he attacked the media...wow! Heck we all hate the media, however Newt might win the nomination, mitt might, neither are Conservative. Stop wondering why Santorium isn’t gaining traction, its simple. Newt is a ticking time bomb with a record 4 good years in the house, before it collapsed, with him resigning his job. Let me close with this, if its Obama vs a shoe I vote for shoe everytime. However I really have a tough time voting for someone who criticizes Mitt for owning Fanny and Freddy stock (not against the law) and hiding the fact that he owns the same stock. I really find it troubling that Freddy hired Newt to be a historian, rather than a lobbyist (not against the law). Think Newt came in and read war and peace too them? Somewhere someone in the Obama campaign they are laughing their butts off over Newt because he comes complete with ammo. Thanks for your comments.
You sound like a great woman...the men(and boys) in your life are lucky to have you
I salute you!
Angus does too!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shcI6vE-PlE&feature=related
I officially endorse Ronald Reagan. If we’re just trying to be fashionable and coy, rather than actually accomplish something, I can play that game. Heck, I think I’d even give Reagan odds over Rick.
Santorum is a spoiler for Romney.
Santorum is not in Florida because Romney doesn't need him anymore and Rick is poised for a #2 slot on a Romney ticket.
The sweater-vest choir boy did his work well in both Iowa and Florida giving the GOP base a solid symbol of acceptability against Gingrich.
With his work done, he can leave Florida and Romney can say he beat Gingrich without Santorum even being there.
I think Romney is going to enjoy the groundwork Obama has laid for him -- should Romney get elected. And that makes Mitt Romney one diabolical son-of-a-b*tch.
And Santorum is a crushing bore with no ideas — when he’s not being surly.
“Rick is a nice guy”
True, but Rick has a reputation of being scrappy, when he has to be!
“Santorum isn’t Newt’s problem”
This is true. According to a poll that took Rick out of the equation, Mitt still wins. The majority of Florida voters are liberal.
“I feel a bit alienated by both Santorum and Romney”
Why Santorum? He doesn’t ever delve into someone’s personal life. In fact, Laura Ingraham said he was the only one NOT to pile on Newt when the other candidates did, in a previous debate.
So let’s look at Rick while he was a senator:
“He voted against cap and trade in 2003, voted yes to drilling in ANWR, and unlike Romney and Gingrich, Santorum has never dabbled with eco-radicals...”
That is an important point.
To win this November, we have to energize our base voters, deal with the reality that President Barack Obama’s race brings in a significant number of voters who don't typically vote, and bring a number of swing states into the Republican column that often vote Democrat.
Newt Gingrich energizes some of our base but seriously antagonizes other parts. He himself admits he has baggage.
The old “Reagan Democrats” — ethnic blue-collar whites, often Roman Catholic, who are willing to vote Republican based on social issues — are key to winning many of those swing states. That's a constituency that's virtually tailor-made for Rick Santorum to pick up.
I'm not saying Gingrich can't do it, but I am saying Santorum has a history of doing so for nearly all of his political career winning races in predominantly Democratic constituencies until his last election, in which he was defeated by a pro-life Democratic son of a pro-life Democratic governor who took the same model of Mitt Romney, i.e., act like the opposite party to get elected.
Given the wild swings that have happened so far in this election cycle, I don't want to assume, with only three states having yet voted, that Santorum can't win the nomination. I readily grant that right now it looks like Gingrich is our best chance of defeating Romney, but who would have said that a few months ago?
Time will tell.
Polls this far out are MEANINGLESS! Bring in some tarot cards and that might be more valid as a prediction. Didn’t you notice how far the polls have swung in each primary state so far? Kerry was ahead of Bush for months and by 7 points 4 months before the election. How’d that work out for him? When the attention is on the candidates, Newt outperforms Santorum. That is the best evidence we have so far of which one will do better against Obama.
I've always liked Buchanan on a personal level.
Never voted for him, though, and I agree that a reasonable person might justly call him an anti-Semite.
his supporters do. constantly.
Thats fine-at least you are engaged and God bless you for that. It wasn’t really advice, just an observation. I pointed it out so at least I couldn’t be accused of being a Catholic basher, since I believe the two most viable candidates for conservatives are Catholic... you do know that Rick Santorum is a Catholic, right?
From the tone of your post regarding my reverting to the Catholic faith, it wasn’t clear whether you disapproved of my journey back to the Church of my birth-and your candidate, or if you just don’t care for the opinions of Catholics in general-except Santorums.
I am surprised that Ms. Malkin was able to overlook Mr. Santorum’s support for SOPA.
Rick Santorum is the best, most conservative guy in the race. If all Freepers would support this blessed strong guy we could cream Romney and body slam the little O boy. Newt had his chance. Santorum’s time has come. He’s proven he can fight Obama in the debates. He is not an amoral selfish cad. I’m surprised more FReepers don’t see that he is a perfect FR candidate. Trustworthy, good, conservative, sees the dangers of amnesty and Arabs. He’s our ideal candidate. Dear Gd, may he do well today. We’re gonna need him.
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