Posted on 01/31/2012 5:59:50 PM PST by tcg
...While Mitt Romney "carpet-bombed" Newt Gingrich with merciless attacks; while Newt Gingrich succumbed to the temptation to respond with similar efforts, one candidate demonstrated the singularly most important trait we need in a President, character. His name is Rick Santorum, Bella's Dad.
There was a book of essays on Presidential leadership written in 1996 entitled "Character Above All" The book contained an excellent essay by Peggy Noonan on Ronald Reagan...
"In a president, character is everything..."
People like me, "former" Democrats, were inspired by the courage, character and manner of Ronald Reagan. His was the kind of "conservatism" which made sense to people like us - who never thought we were "conservatives". ...
We were not then - and are not now - comfortable with the "Nelson Rockefeller" blue blood image of the old Republican Party. Sadly, the image seems to be at work again in the coronation effort of the Republican establishment in Florida. ...
Sadly, this Republican primary has degenerated into a brawl. It just seems to get worse - at least between Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney. Many people like me who are following this campaign are eager to replace the current occupant of the Whitehouse for many vital reasons. However, we do not want the "establishment" candidate for many reasons...
While "Mitt" and "Newt" were wresting in the mud (and I favored Newt in that match) Presidential candidate Rick Santorum stayed out of the fray. In fact, he went home to care for his beautiful daughter Bella. She had been hospitalized and was in a critical condition.
The very act of his leaving the campaign - while the pundit class was interpreting his exit as a sign of his demise - reveals the character of this good man...
(Excerpt) Read more at catholic.org ...
By the way, had Santorum left the race, Newt STILL would have lost by 2 points so I don’t know what the big deal is. Not one state has Santorum taken a vote from Newt.
I agree, he has my vote since I have no other horse in this race. The numbers are not good....
Character is what you have when no one is looking.
Santorum should have stayed home with Bella and the rest of his family.
Why would he put politics over his daughter’s/family’s needs? I sure wouldn’t.
Maybe Santorum leaving the race would have left enough support for Newt to have a stronger showing that some supporters of Mitt would have gone for Newt. Newt would have taken Iowa, if Santorum hadn’t been there.
Not complaining about Santorum, per se, but merely explaining the political consequences.
Make no mistake, the longer the Santorum stays in the race, the harder it is for Newt to win.
Santorum should also realize, that if he does screw over Newt, there will be a lot of Conservatives who will not vote for him because of it, no matter where he runs.
For those interested.
Maybe Santorum leaving the race would have left enough support for Newt to have a stronger showing that some supporters of Mitt would have gone for Newt. Newt would have taken Iowa, if Santorum hadn’t been there.
Not complaining about Santorum, per se, but merely explaining the political consequences.
Make no mistake, the longer the Santorum stays in the race, the harder it is for Newt to win.
Santorum should also realize, that if he does screw over Newt, there will be a lot of Conservatives who will not vote for him because of it, no matter where he runs for Senate.
So this is what it has come to? Newt loses one primary and we are supposed to throw him under the bus in favor of the guy Newt outpolled by 20%.
Get real!
And don’t forget Santorum backer Arlen Spector over Pat Toomey. Rick liked all the big government programs and pending of the Bush era. Rick was part of the country club establishment. That’s why he was slaughtered in 2006.
Newt fought the establishment when he was in congress and balanced the budget.
I’ll stick with Newt.
His numbers are getting better and he may be last man standing if Newt & Mitt continue to destroy each other.
IF Willard gets the nomination, he’ll go to Rick for VP in a feeble attempt to woo the conservative base...
It ain’t gonna play with me.
No Mitt, sherlock. No Mitt. Not now. Not ever.
If Rick Santorum poses a threat he will also be “carpet bombed” Newt is going to be the only one who can stop Romney.
How many Santorum voters would have stayed home if it was only Newt and Myth?
You gotta tell me how to change fonts, colours, and sizes. I don’t have a clue.
Absolutely. If Mitt has promised him something and thinks Mitt is going to deliver it, Santorum is a fool. Mitt will not disobey the GOP taskmasters in their pickings for cabinet slots.
The best Santorum will get is a favoured chance at another slot in congress.
Why is it so hard to ask someone who is a conservative be the nominee? Santorum isn’t perfect, but at least he’s a conservative.
How would Santorum “screw over Newt”?
We have 50 states and they all need to have a choice in the primary.
Nope, no little Ricky for me. My first presidential election I settled for Nixon in 68, then again in 72. Wore a gasmask for the Watergate mess and settled for Ford in 76 then relished my choice in RR for 80 and 84. Then had to go back to the dregs with Bush in 88 and of course we know what happened in 92. And 96........gawd how stupid is the GOP?
Then along came the great pretender from Texas in 00 and 04, promising to be a compasionate conservative. Well we now know how that turned out and then the GOP tried to cram McStupid down our throats in 08. I don’t know which was worse, Dole or McInsane.
So no, I will not go along to get along with what the GOP says is best for me and my country. Don’t know whom I shall vote for but it will not be Obammy nor Mitty.
Arlen was bad.... so was Dede Scozzafava
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