Posted on 02/17/2012 8:48:55 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
The central narrative of the Republican nomination contest is easy to summarize: Any candidate who is perceived as the main opponent to Mitt Romney immediately ties or leads Mitt Romney.
Rick Santorum's surge tracks with recent precedent. His support is about the same as Rick Perry's at his peak. A little higher than Herman Cain's crest. A little lower than Newt Gingrich's pinnacle.
But Santorum is not only Romney's latest challenger, he is the most serious. Perry did not possess presidential-level skills. Cain lacked any apparent qualification for high office. Gingrich managed to systematically confirm every doubt about his style and stability.
Santorum, in contrast, has shown the ability to learn. While his initial debate performances were peevish and unappealing, he has grown more confident and likable over time. He has effectively prosecuted Romney's public record while avoiding anger or overreach. (He pointedly refused, for example, to attack Romney's business achievements and personal wealth.)
The former Pennsylvania senator possesses strengths that neatly fit some of Romney's weaknesses. Santorum combines a deeply held social conservatism with an authentic blue-collar appeal. Romney has trouble competing in either category. While Santorum is very conservative, he avoids being a conservative caricature. He was one of the Senate's main advocates of global health programs and a champion of faith-based anti-poverty efforts.
And Santorum has an additional advantage over Gingrich as the anti-Romney. The GOP establishment -- party types and elected Republicans -- viewed the prospect of Gingrich's nomination with undisguised horror. Having worked with him, they did everything they could to defeat him -- a revealing commentary. Santorum is hardly the party favorite, but establishment objections are many degrees less heated.
(Excerpt) Read more at yorkdispatch.com ...
Your impression is pretty accurate, not simply the result of having rose colored glasses on. I think that Mr.Newt has been pretty well measured and in control for the last year and more in his pursuit of the nomination.
Are you thinking Glenn Close?
So true. Any nominee who is innovative and/or aggressive is now “unstable”. Keep going after them, Newt.
You just presented the clearest description yet, of Santorum’s convenient use of conservatism while campaigning, as he stubbornly represents its antithesis once in office. The man has no vision and never recognized we were being swallowed up by spending and that Marxism was thriving in unions. Never.
These also were perfect examples that you explained, of what I like to call Rick’s RINO preservation kit. He is blatantly unremarkable, but for the extent of his obedience to the RINO agenda and his own political preservation.
Same pattern. Same vice.
YOU said it! You have something there! The term should be thrown around out there MUCH more than it has been, by Newt supporters.
“BLOODY THURSDAY” is one of the most informative battle cries to be so succinct. It speaks volumes to the RINO’s, to the media, that we are on to them and in the fewest possible words, as well as what it says to ROmnebus, whose blood runs on nothing if not cold hard cash, and lots of it.
The E such as Rove and others have caused an unintended consequence...or so it would seem.
By shoving the unwanted Romney at us, and by scorch-earthing Newt, they are bring us Santorum.
So how do they feel about a Santorum nomination?
What do you think?
I think they are assuming we won’t get fired up about Rick and as they chip away at him, Mitt will win enough delegates to take the nomination. They could be right.
Yes, he is, but he us far from dead in the water,money can make even the tide rise, and don't forget a lot of our current congress critters fortunes depend on Romney being the one. Or maybe they just genuinely patriotic in there support of Mitt, and money or power don't enter into their decision at all. Naahh not likely.
Could be, but I am going to go out on a limb here and predict that neither of them will be elected President this year.
Actually when this whole gaggle of candidates were firmed up, I predicted that none of the current Republican candidates would be elected President. I suspect that is still a good bet.
That is by no means my desire, just my observation.
CW has nailed it. Again.
The greatest unknown is how much Rove and the establishment even want the presidency before 2016, for which they are saving their big gun candidates, thus, they stuck us with the low tier for ‘12;the Romnobus.
I see it is only negative if we do this to Newt, the man who is currently running 4th in a four man race.
Maybe you could send this over to Mitt, he has the money to make it go viral.
Or you could just give up on the vitriolic attacks and see what shakes out over the next few weeks. Advice that I am pretty sure Sarah Palin offered.
“You just presented the clearest description yet, of Santorum’s convenient use of conservatism while campaigning, as he stubbornly represents its antithesis once in office. The man has no vision and never recognized we were being swallowed up by spending and that Marxism was thriving in unions.”
And this is the sheer, unadultered truth.
Mitt knows who Rick is and recognizes him as a flip-flopper twin. Both are scum IMO.
You and Maggs tag teaming now, cute.
Have you noticed that ever candidate you supported has flamed out? Just suggesting that maybe you should reevaluate your methodology.
Since Palin is safely ensconced high in the trees overlooking the battle field, while collecting gazillions for her quite ordinary, non-news breaking utterances, like “what shakes out over the next few weeks.”
Your write-in Palin ballot would pretty much disqualify your opinion as being a material example of helpful insight for real players in the race, like....um,....actual candidates.
“You and Maggs tag teaming now, cute. “
This IS the primaries, baby, and I tag team, on any day, with the “Mags” out there who can read a record like a laser, value “doers” over the yakkers, and know a phoney when they see one.
You are a quiz, all puffed up and what do you offer, but a write-in vote for a non-candidate.
Now that is “cute”, in spades.
I have believed and stated, all evidence points to their wanting Jeb Bush, above all.
Santorum is skyrocketing in GOP polls at the moment, and it is inexplicable to me.
I get Romney’s extreme weakness.
I get that.
I get how they scorched earth Newt to bring us the unwanted Romney.
But Santorum has roared from almost nowhere to overwhelming numbers.
Will they AGAIN go to the mat for Romney, or have they ruined that scorched earth on Newt approach, because everyone is on to them now, and it sickens the voters.
I’m just wondering if they feel Santorum could actually happen, despite their plans and schemes.
And how that strikes them.
The two of you seem to think that they don’t believe Santorum will happen, or if he did happen, they’re ok with Obama winning again and looking to 2016 for their true “pet”.
What I have trouble grasping is how Newt Gingrich is nothing more than an asterisk or an afterthought, at this time.
That astonishes me.
More than anyone else currently running, he fits the nation’s crying need for leadership out of the abyss we are in, politically and economically.
Talk about people blowing with the wind...
That aside why do you care so much that Palin is making a little money, did she take it from you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu50Hb61jVQ
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