Just say no to a Massachusetts Moderate
Posted on 02/01/2012 6:47:09 AM PST by montag813
I just heard Newt’s speech after Florida and I have come to realize that Newt is going to win the GOP nomination and be the next president.
I understand that most people think that Romney is most likely, but I do not agree. First, Romney has never shown the ability to get the majority of the votes in any primary. Second, Romney’s win in Florida took place with no actual consideration of Romney’s record or ideas — Romney’s entire campaign was based on the idea that Romney is the only person who can beat Obama. His whole campaign in FL was on attacking Newt. Third, the voting numbers showed Gingrich did very well in the Fl. panhandle, which votes like southern states. This suggests that Gingrich will likely sweep the South.
Gingrich’s problems in FL were easy to fix. Gingrich got off message. Gingrich froze in the face of shock and awe from Romney’s attacks. Finally, Gingrich faced the one state that only Romney had a strong campaign organization in. The fact of the matter is that Romney had to compete in Iowa with almost everyone and lost. Romney had to compete in NH with Huntsman and won. Romney had to compete in SC with Santorum, Perry, and Gingrich and lost. FL was always too big for anyone but Romney to have a strong organization and ad campaign in. Gingrich had the momentum, but Romney had a uniquely large organization advantage for FL.
In future states Romney will continue to have an organization advantage, especially through Super Tuesday, but as the primary goes on, Romney’s advantage will drop as (1) later states even out since Romney is running a campaign like Clinton did in 2008 and his organization is strongest early, (2) as the race goes on voters will develop more solid opinions and organization will mater less, and (3) Gingrich will emerge as the alternative to Romney and will be better organized as people realize he is the only hope for conservatives in this race.
In terms of campaign focus, Gingrich is now developing a new contract with America and I expect he will use that to stay on message and contrast himself with Romney. Gingrich held a vote on all items he promised to and did what he could to pass them for the original contract. That was a promise kept for him. He will have credibility for his new contract and this will contrast him with Romney who cannot be trusted and is not conservative.
In terms of Romney’s shock and awe attacks, it is hard to see Romney get much worse. Romney’s negatives have already shot up, and it is almost impossible to think of what worse things Romney can attack Gingrich for. Romney already used several lines of attack have had blow back, and if he picked those as ‘go,’ it is hard to think he has anything left to fire with. The Romney smear campaign will need to let-up at some time or Romney will completely implode. How long can a campaign be 99.9% negative?
What it comes down to is that Gingrich is a real candidate, and Romney is a pretender. Gingrich has real conservative ideas to fix the problems we are in. Romney has talking points.
I just heard Newt’s speech after Florida and I have come to realize that Newt is going to win the GOP nomination and be the next president.
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That was a Reagan at the 1976 convention speech...
when the GOP realized they had just nominated the wrong man...
But the modern GOP werent listening last night
They’ll listen by Super Tuesday...
Santorum needs to drop out and endorse Newt.
Newt needs to be able to get women voters.
And, Newt needs to get some cash...fast.
Newt is done. He is showing himself to be a major drama queen.
Hope this is true.
You know the Obama campaign is rubbing their hands together to start these ads.
Did Mittens call and give Newt a courtesy call when he won SC ?
I dont remember seeing it posted anywhere or hearing about it.
Just say no to a Massachusetts Moderate
I appreciate that you support Obama completely destroying NASA and any hope of future space missions, but at least Newt makes proposals. Romney hasn't put forth an idea in the 5 years he has been running.
I'm sick of all of them. Don't we have at least one competent Republican in this country that can run a campaign on actual issues? This is a major disappointment.
The more America sees of Newton Leroy Gingrich the fewer votes he will receive. By November he would be lucky to get 35% of the votes in the General Election.
Any more of this whiny bullcrap like the “kosher meals” call and he’ll be lucky to get 15% of the vote from here out. And I’ve been a Newt supporter here since last summer.
Bold prediction - a lot has to go right for it to come true. A bit like saying the Carolina Panthers are going to win the 2013 Super Bowl. It could happen, Cam Newton has a lot of potential, but I wouldn’t bet the farm on it.
How could Gingrich be surprised by the Romney attacks when they had already worked in Iowa?
Gingrich got off message.
I sat there in utter disbelief as Santorum dismantled Romney on Romneycare as Gingrich stood there like a potted planted. Gingrich should have been carrying out that attack. Terrible lack of preparation for a debate with a plastic man who speaks in platitudes.
I would rather lose with Gingrich than “win” with Romney.
I agree.
Exactly. I posted a vanity the next day, stating how Romney could have been destroyed for good if Newt had joined in a tag team attack. He sat silent. Was he afraid Mittens would hit him back on his former support for a mandate? Whatever the reason, it shows that Gingrich is continually unprepared and undisciplined. That had better change, or he will be lucky to place 2nd in Nevada and Michigan.
On another note, I tuned in to Laura Ingraham this morning only to hear the latest shill for Romney. She was telling Tea Party people to “suck it up” and get behind Romney.
Another phoney Beltway insider who wants to continue to be invited to the “right” cocktail parties.
Disgusting!
Everyone smashing Newt on this thread, I ask question: is your guy Mittens? Santo is done so who do you have?
Washington didn’t need your type during the revolution.
are you saying that Laura is now a shill for Romney? because LAST WEEK she was ALL ABOUT NEWT.
The answer is no and. . no one called Santorum to apologize for the screw-up in the count in Iowa. In fact, people are getting the primary process confused with the general election process. It’s in the general election that a defeated candidate makes the congratulatory call and then fades into the night. . .because. .it’s over. In a primary, however . .no candidate would make such a call because the race is not over. . .it would be like Grant surrendering to Lee after First Manassas.
She was inviting all her listeners to go to her website and read a blog that she had just written about "sucking it up" and getting behind Romney.
Go to her website and check it out for yourself (top right hand corner).
Not one of Romney´s immediate and extended family and ancestors has ever served in the military across their entire history.
Who in America doesn´t have at least some connection with the military?
I mean, really!
When Newt went negative on romney it was as if he had stopped talking to the american people. He was talking only to romney and we were on the outside listening to two people scream at one another in some private argument.
Like being around a divorcing couple who can only think of savaging each other while the roof falls in.
So there was this sense of being ignored and left out by a screaming shrieking couple who could only think of the other one.
Big mistake, Newt. Remember us. Romney has only one vote, wew have millions.
No ROMNEY is NOT my guy.
Do you see how this forum has gone twisted and full of hate? I have seen vile hateful posts of Santorum bashed severely because he did not drop out and go to his baby.
I witnessed Bachmann and Perry get bashed like liberals all because of jealousy because it was supposedly Palin’s turn.
Now... there is a sick paranoia of blame fox news and Rush because Newt did not win.I see the bottom of the barrel all around in vile hate. If Newt drops (fizzles) out like they all eventually did- will Santorum be backed?
Yes, that was a low water mark for the Newt campaign, and once again using the language of the left - continuing funding at the same level as last year is a cut that simply FORCES people to dramatic extremes!
Like most low tides - it stank!
The tea party hits a wall
Posted by Laura (Ingraham)
In 2010 the tea party showed impressive strength with its anti-establishment, anti-big spending message. Senators and congressmen who pledged allegiance to those aims rode into power and for at a least a millisecond, the GOP establishment was worried. But Mitt Romney’s $15 million masterful takedown of Newt Gingrich, shows that tea party cred can only get you so far. Gingrich rode to victory in South Carolina with solid tea party support but even tea partiers with reservations about Romney abandoned him in Florida. One major lesson of this campaign stands out— without organization, money, and a sophisticated media strategy, the tea party will enjoy only sporadic political success. They may be able to win a House seat in North Carolina but winning a presidential primary requires a breadth of support and financing that tea party groups have thus far been unable to muster.
Of course if Mitt Romney is the nominee yet fails to beat Barack Obama in November, conservatives will undoubtedly say—”see, I told you we needed a real conservative!” But such solace will be fleeting when traditional conservatives find themselves back in the same position when the establishment rises up for another Bush White House run. Almost one-in-four GOP primary voters wished another candidate was running this time, but so what? Come August Mitt Romney will likely be back in Tampa to rally GOP supporters and skeptics. Even after all this acrimony, by then they will be united in a singular goal: defeating President Obama. And that’s what the tea party wants, right?
If I were Newt, I wouldn't have called that flip flopping liar either.
“He didn’t even go out with a curtesy call to Romney. No class”
Ed Rollins was on Fox a little while ago and this was brought up (Mitt was on earlier and mentioned that he, Paul & Ricky had a call - he said they call each other after every campaign and congratulate each other on the campaigns the other had run but that he hadn’t spoken w Newt. Rollins said that Mitt did not call Hucklebee after he won Iowa (I think that was the state he mentioned).
The author is delusional. Newt never had a chance.
Hey, Laura Ingraham calls Romney's victory a "$15 million masterful takedown of Newt Gingrich".
Says a lot for her core principles, doesn't it?
hardly sounds like shilling to me. sounds like she’s just stating what she perceives to be the pragmatic truth of the situation. sounds like she’s speaking through some spit-up in her mouth actually, like this prospect gags her, but she sees it as reality.
He didn’t even go out with a curtesy call to Romney
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Maybe Newt doesnt speak reformed egyptian...
I’m sick of all of them. Don’t we have at least one competent Republican in this country that can run a campaign on actual issues? This is a major disappointment.
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You sir, should get the brass ring. This is truly where we are.
There was a time in our country when I thought Newt Gingrich was the greatest name around. He has not matured well. He has turned petty, vicious and lecherous in his old age. He still has a lot of good ideas. Hitler had some good ideas too, like the VW, but I still don’t want him as President. Newt is the first politician on the right who can handle the press. There is a lot still to like about Gingrich but alass there is so much to dislike that any opponent will be able to attack him easily. Romney has shown us that if he has done nothing else good. If we think Romney was hard on Newt just wait until the MSM and Obama get hold of him.
I do not believe that Newt will ever be able to win a national campaign.
Is there an alternative? That is the question. The only person left that doesn’t smell bad is Rick Santorum and he has a bit of trouble handling his emotions in public. Rick Santorum is the closest thing we have to a real conservative. Newt is not a true conservative. True that Newt is way right of Obama and most Democrats but he is not TEA party conservative. Romney is right of, let me see, humm, just give me a little time and I will think of somebody but I can’t put my finger on it right now, well anyway he comes off as a pleasant chap anyway.
Newt will always have the “give them Hell” vote but that is not the majority of the country. There are more registered Democrats than registered Republicans but there are more conservatives than either one. Whomever our candidate is they will have to appeal to many people some of them Democrats. Newt will never get the vote of one Democrat. Newt will never get a vote from even one Democrat leaning Independent. Michelle Bachmann could have gotten votes from all of them.
I don’t mean to be leaving Ron Paul out of this conversation, there is a lot to like about him, so much of what he says makes sense. We are so used to being the worlds policeman that I fear most of us don’t care for his foreign policies. His son is one of my senators, we like him a lot, actually more than his dad.
Anyway, back to my rant. Newt could run third party and make sure that Romney doesn’t take the presidency if Romney wins the nomination, or Newt could get out now and throw all his support behind the one candidate that has been able to hurt Romney, Rick Santorum. Rick is able to tell it like it is. With no alternatives, conservatives will vote for Santorum, especially if he were to make a deal with Paul to make him Fed Chair. Think about it. All the votes that Romney didn’t get going to one person, Santorum could win nationally easily.
I know many of you love Newt, there was a time I did too but now reality has made me realize that he can never be president. The press will make sure of that. After what Newt has done to them they will not just get even, they will get ahead.
Go Rick!
Sorry to disagree. I heard her this morning when she invited people who felt depressed because of Romney's victory to read her blog. She actually used the words, "suck it up" and get behind Romney. You could actually get to hear her opening if you go to online streaming radio for her show and listen to a station that starts her show later in the day. I only listened for the first few minutes because I was so disgusted with what she was saying.
Actually, I am not surprised by her "inside the Beltway" mentality. This past summer she was ridiculing the new Tea Party members of Congress for their opposition to Boehner "it's the best deal I could get" style of negotiation. You can see where that led.
She is a phony!
If I were Newt, I wouldn't have called that flip flopping liar either.
If, rightly or wrongly, that is what the electorate is focused on, then that was an indisputably brilliant way to run one's campaign, eh?
If we want Mr. Gingrich to be President, the first thing that has to happen is to understand THE ABOVE.
Stating and restating and restating and restating how GREAT Gingrich is and how HORRIBLE Romney is is NOT going to budge voters.
No matter how great Gingrich is, he has a pattern of political behavior that has caused deep skepticism about his electability. Fact.
For example, when people saw that he lost the female vote by 22 points in Florida, that tends to reinforce the worry that Gingrich is not going to be able to win over women in the general. And what can he do to change that that he hasn't already tried? There are plenty of women who will never take back a "bad boyfriend," no matter how he tries to convince them. Fact.
For example, the recent spate of former Reagan officials speaking against Gingrich. The potential damage there is not that they were correct or accurate, but that the mere fact that they spoke out demonstrates that Gingrich is hated by a lot of people. Sure, one can argue that's a "good" thing, but most voters don't think so: they think, so how the hell would we get this man elected when he's completely unlikeable?
If there were not concerns about Gingrich's electability (again, whether one agrees with them or not), I believe he would have already been declared the nominee in a run-away early primary stretch.
And just saying "I don't give a damn and either should you" about (fill in the blank) weird political crap Gingrich has done isn't going to address the electability concern.
Voters could not give a hoot about anything Gingrich has done wrong (politically or personally) and they still wouldn't vote for him if they thought those things presented too much of an obstacle or risk to him defeating Obama.
That’s right, the American people don’t like Newt, and most conservatives don’t trust him either. Obama may be stronger than we thought four months ago. People do like their incumbents, for it validates their lack of knowledge.
” Don’t we have at least one competent Republican in this country that can run a campaign on actual issues?”
Santorum is running on issues. I fail to understand why he is not doing better. He is the most ‘in line’ with the national mood that swept conservatives to victory in 2010. I don’t think those who voted straight R ticket in 2010 have suddenly become moderate.
“the voting numbers showed Gingrich did very well in the Fl. panhandle, which votes like southern states. This suggests that Gingrich will likely sweep the South.”
This is the key. North Florida is really just South
GA. I am originally from Jax. Its conservative and a good indication of how Newt will do in the deep South. He will probably sweep. Willard is going to bomb.
you are EXACTLY right, JAG. all anyone i know is concerned about is BEATING OBAMA. all anyone is doing is sucking it up and voting for whomever they believe best able to do that. maligning/ridiculing voters for choices other than the ones that you would make is counterproductive. this BS about you are a phony, not a true conservative yada yada if you vote for Mitt may make you feel all superior but it accomplishes NOTHING. those voting for Mitt aren’t members of any elite, they just figure in their own personal calculus, that he’s got the best chance. same with those voting for Newt. your advice is sound, JAG.
Of those we have left, I’d go Santorum, even though I do not consider him to be a true conservative. At least he has some dignity. Newt and Romney are not deserving of respect. One is no better than the other. We are in deep doo doo.
“I would rather lose with Gingrich than “win” with Romney.”
You’re not alone on FR with that opinion. With all due respect, its an idiotic statement. If Obama wins, the country goes down in flames. We need to win 2012. With Romney, or Gingrich, or Donald Duck, but we must win. We need to rally behind whoever wins the nomination and clean the muslim marxist out of the White House. Anyone would be an improvement.
He does. Romney's a liberal. And Santorum should be with his sick daughter instead of campaigning. He just publicly told everyone what's more important to him. Santorum isn't a winner.
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