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Another Perspective

The Sound of No Conservatives Clapping

By on 1.24.12 @ 6:09AM

Mitt Romney swings and misses at applause-less debate.

NBC moderator Brian Williams announced before Monday’s Republican presidential candidates debate in Tampa, Florida that the audience had been told to refrain from clapping. This lame rule resulted in a more boring and ponderous debate than usual. Leave it to a major network to deliver a deader debate than those on basic cable.

As expected, Mitt Romney came out swinging, but he landed few, if any, blows against Newt Gingrich. The attacks were too canned, desperate, and shorthandish to be effective. Romney appears to assume that primary voters are keenly aware of the details of the scandals to which he glancingly referred. They aren’t, and might not care about them even if they did.  

Newt, adopting an above-the-fray stance, calmly stepped back from the swings, dismissing Romney’s comments as ”trivial politics” and declaring that an evening of “chasing” Romney’s ”misinformation” didn’t interest him. Gingrich was “presidential,” purred NBC veteran Andrea Mitchell after the debate.

Once again, Romney came across as a bit of a bore and smarmy apple polisher, scolding Newt for this or that debatable transgression. Newt struck a larger pose, biting into the substance of conservative policy with much more relish than Romney. Does Romney even care about the issues that animate conservatives? It is still not clear. An aura of aimless ambition continues to swirl around him.

For all of his imperfections, Newt can speak the language of conservatism and the culture war convincingly. Romney simply can’t. Asked to enumerate his contributions to the conservative movement, Romney came up with nothing, falling back on trite patter about his upstanding personal résumé. Newt’s answer to the same question was detailed and credible, citing work all the way back to the Goldwater campaign.

Romney too often sounds like he is reading from stale press releases. It is painful to hear him repeat witticisms and lines that didn’t sound very crisp, funny, or perceptive the first time he uttered them. In Monday’s debate, he recycled his weak complaint about Obama playing too much golf at a time of recession — “90 rounds,” he snorted, as if Obama’s inactivity rather than his leftist activism is somehow the source of America’s problems — and boasted again of his immature pride in having made Ted Kennedy take out a “mortgage” on his house during their Senate contest. Are conservatives supposed to pat Romney on the back for this? 

Newt, at the very least, is not a lightweight in that mode. His anti-Obama, anti-left gibes have some sophistication and bite to them. Where Newt is spontaneous and curious, Romney looks wooden and narrow — the businessman too focused on the bottom line to grapple with ideas or enjoy intellectual sparring.

This rigidity in Romney leaves voters cold, while the combative intellectual and defiant wit in Newt engages and excites audiences. Obviously Gingrich can be annoying too, but when he taps into his inner reactionary he is fun to watch. What will he say next? is not a question anyone ever asks about Mitt Romney.

Lacking Newt’s fluidity, Romney sometimes struggles with his practiced lines and then resorts to odd ones when deprived of his teleprompter. He devised a few novel formulations at Monday’s debate. He supports, for example, “self-deportations” and envisions Fidel Castro “returning to his maker” before setting off for another “land.” The canny debater in Newt saw a chance to pounce on that latter line, correcting Romney that Castro isn’t likely to experience any reunion with his maker before heading to hell.

Romney’s wobbly attempt to wow Cuban Americans in Florida was, however, rewarded with some scattered applause, one of the few times during the evening the no-applause rule was breached. Had the rule been lifted for the whole debate, the applause for Romney’s answers probably wouldn’t have been any louder. Newt has called Romney a “good salesman with a weak product.” That’s overly generous. Romney has many commendable qualities but political salesmanship is not one of them. In this race, he resembles a weak salesman with a weak product, whose potential customers increasingly smell the desperation on him.

About the Author

George Neumayr, a contributing editor to The American Spectator, is co-author, with Phyllis Schlafly, of the new book, No Higher Power: Obama’s War on Religious Freedom.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (278) |

Fred Farkel| 1.24.12 @ 6:23AM

Mitt is more and more demonstrating the same charisma that John McCain rode to defeat. Platitudes aren't part of it.

Kenny| 1.24.12 @ 7:04AM

And Bob Dole, too, who reminded me of a dead man walking.

Peter McGrath| 1.24.12 @ 11:36AM

The analogy to Dole is pretty spot-0n. Dole, though, did have a reputation as a pit-bull in going after the Left (anyone remember how he shredded Hillary's obscene proposed healthcare overhaul back in early '94?)

Romney has no such reputation.

He is looking increasingly hapless, floundering around, trying to look earnest, but unsure where his convictions lie.

Brian| 1.24.12 @ 10:48PM

Dole endorsed Hillary for Senate.

Evangelical| 2.1.12 @ 5:19PM

Servants of Christ, lovers of God, abandon the wickedness of the RINO party! Scourge and purge the GOP of self-serving worldly Satan worshipping Moderate RINOs. Nothing in the Republican Party is beyond God, we shall vote for the Kingdom of God! Elect only fellow servants of Christ, goodly Evangelicals who love to PREACH THE WORD!

Mr ED| 1.24.12 @ 7:22AM

Boy howdy. Romney hurling accusations at Gingrich made him sound both angry and desperate. More to the point, it made Romney sound much less presidential, much less "electable", and didn't give me one reason whatsoever to vote for Romney.

Fred C. Dobbs| 1.24.12 @ 9:36AM

Here're 2 reasond:
1. He aint Øbammø
B. He aint nootie

Evangelical| 2.1.12 @ 5:22PM

Servants of Christ, lovers of God, abandon the wickedness of the RINO party! Scourge and purge the GOP of self-serving worldly Satan worshipping Moderate RINOs. Nothing in the Republican Party is beyond God, we shall vote for the Kingdom of God! Elect only fellow servants of Christ, goodly Evangelicals who love to PREACH THE WORD!

Vern Crisler| 1.24.12 @ 9:55AM

And it also showed that Newt can take the punches without getting angry, or becoming tongue-tied. This was good practise for Newt.

loulou| 1.24.12 @ 11:30AM

"smarmy apple polisher"--the perfect description of Mitt.

Jack in Wi.| 1.24.12 @ 7:24AM

The Party of War and welfare for the rich is a dead man walking. Ron Paul ruled the debate and his people will either take over the party or replace it. The only new people who have come into the party in the last 10 years are Paul's young supporters. The sooner Newt and Mitt destroy each other the better it is for all of us. Neither will ever be elected President. Newt is absolutly unelectetable and unacceptable

Jeremiah Smirking| 1.24.12 @ 7:33AM

Jack is such a predictable bore. RonPaulRonPaulRonPaulzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Neville Chamberlain Paul will NEVER be elected either to be the nominee for President or President. And I will bet $1 on that.

Dick Nome| 1.24.12 @ 8:35AM

Ron who??

SUBVET| 1.24.12 @ 10:18AM

You know...Mr. single diget.

cvrgrl| 1.24.12 @ 12:11PM

jack, ass, its the party of lincoln, self preservation and defense, and the party of welfare reform

you are a font of misinformation

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 11:19PM

By the way, the gay bathhouse story:

http://www.opinion-maker.org/2.....ackmails/#

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 11:34PM

My point in mentioning this is that there is a lot mysterious about Obama's past. This article names the bathhouse. It is called Man's Country. Here is the link to the bathhouse's site:

http://manscountrychicago.com/about/about.html

Now, my point of this is that Newt's campaign might start asking questions about this. Mitt would be too prissy to. I don't know about the truth of these reports, and, frankly, I don't care. But the bathhouse does exist, and it is frequented by those in the gay scene.

Now, Obama's goons do plenty of low down stuff, from intimidating voters with goons in Philly, to "suddenly" having their opponents' divorce records sealed files become public knowledge.

Now, here are things we know about Obama, no question or doubt, completely verified: 1) he started his career with a political meeting in the home of a woman whose husband stated that she was a copkiller, and wished they could have killed and damaged more. 2) His pastor of two decades is a despicable antisemite who hated America.3) He attended a Palestinian advocacy dinner with a known supporter of terrorism, who was a friend of his, Rashid Khalidi. 4) We haven't a damn idea who he associated with in college other than that they were political radicals and marxists, or how well he did on his grades in classes. 5) We know that he was a regular drug user in his teenage years, including possession of cocaine, which is a felony.

Sorry, RCV, your guy is a horrid skank. Can I believe that he had regular homosexual trysts in which he allowed older men to fellate him? Well, what in his dismal record belies this? And, quite frankly, there is a hell of a lot more proof in this article than there is against Herman Cain.

Occam's Tool| 1.25.12 @ 12:22AM

By the way, an oldie but a goodie from me:

Occam's Tool| 11.30.10 @ 10:23PM

"No, it won't be a repeat of 2008, but Ron "terrorist poster boy" Paul is going nowhere in the Republican Party. Some of us aren't traitors."

Damn, I'm good. Before his approval of Bradley Manning. I mean, it's like I'm a psychiatrist or something.

RustyG| 1.24.12 @ 8:01AM

"Neither will ever be elected President. Newt is absolutly unelectetable and unacceptable" ....... says the man who cheers for the last place candidate. I admire you're passion, but your lack of perspective and grasp of reality is beginning to irritate the crap out of me.

carnot| 1.24.12 @ 9:11AM

there is a certain reluctance to accept reality on its own terms on the part of Jack and Clint!

Fred C. Dobbs| 1.24.12 @ 9:37AM

Yeah, a red from the People's Repub of Wisconsin knows. NOT!

Crassus| 1.24.12 @ 10:16AM

Now hold on a minute before we go much further. Give Jack a dime so he can call his mother.

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 3:11PM

Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack...your conversation grows tiresome. Newt! Now is the time on Shprockets when we dance!

Brubaker| 1.24.12 @ 3:35PM

Ron Paul has yet to finish better than third place. With each passing day, he gets less and less comment in the press. With the exception of his sycophants, people discussing the primaries rarely even mention Paul.

Ron Paul remains a nutty old man who will pass into oblivion long before November.

tsd| 1.24.12 @ 5:08PM

Jack take Wi out of your tag... the people in Wi do not deserve to be associated with your slant/rant.

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 9:15PM

Oliver Stone---Ron Paul supporter against Obama!

somnolence| 1.24.12 @ 7:04AM

Sorry, I'm not buying any of this nonsense. I would expect this heading from a Gen Xer, not a seasoned adult. First of all, no applause should be allowed at any of these "spectacles", because that is the more apt description; they are most certainly NOT debates in the proper use of the term. The Kennedy-Nixon debates had no applause allowed, and in fact most of the audience was made up of family members or close associates only. These events, like the NFL, NBA, and MLB, are arranged too closely for modern day television ratings and sponsors. That is more fodder for the theatre of the absurd. If you want REAL debates then by all means go back to the ORIGINAL structure of Lincoln-Douglas debates, with time structured for one hour each for a candidate and rebuttals. But no, all the current crap is structured for the boob tube and its adherents of AADD. Give me a break with your silly observation. BTW Romney clearly hit it out of the park against Gingrich overall last night. Any other observation is scurrilous.

Jabber3| 1.24.12 @ 8:50AM

After the debate Newt remains who he always was; unelectable, an ethics violator of House rules, a paid influence peddler (unregistered lobbyist), lacking in moral values, no real executive experience to be a leader of this great country and a destroyer of the Republican brand. George still doesn't get it.

Fred C. Dobbs| 1.24.12 @ 9:39AM

Jabber NAILS IT!

loulou| 1.24.12 @ 11:31AM

Jabber nails nothing. He still doesn't get it.

Peter McGrath| 1.24.12 @ 11:59AM

Folks here simply don't remember, or want to forget, how Newt delivered a roundhouse blow to the Left back in '94. His Contract with America resulted in Republicans claiming a majority in the House for the first time (then) in over 40 years.

The Left utterly loathed him, and embarked on a smear compaign on a scale not before ever imagined.

He was NOT found guilty of ethics violations. Every single - of the dozens of counts - within the ethics indictment (except one relating to a letter on his attorney's letterhead) were thrown out.

The Left and Pelosi, who led the charge against Newt, were sliming Newt, and not seriously trying to actually find him guilty of anything. Newt was not fined. Rather, he agreed to pay the costs of the investigation.

Folks - here - have forgotten what it's like to take on the entrenched Left. It is a vicious battle to take on government unions and the entitlement culture. They are the worst expression of our nation's culture and frequently, and blithely, act out with lies, distortion, smears, and even violence, in their totally amoral "ends justify the means" mentality, trying to preserve their death-grip on the taxpayer's purse.

WE NEED A WARRIOR to take on these thugs. Newt is just such a warrior. He may turn out to be the perfect foil against Obama in the general election, and might just bring us back from the brink once in the White House.

Purp| 1.24.12 @ 6:31PM

Yeah, and they broke the Contract. Couldn't even do the 10 things they promised. As opposed to President Obama who has delivered on over 250 of his promises out of approx. 500.

Do you know what the 10 items on the Contract with America was?

Perception is reality and America's perception of Newt is a immoral slime ball, a radical revolutionist who'll say anything to get his way. Unfortunately, he still has an audience that loves his kind of bomb throwing, like this is a d* game or a war. It isn't, and with 100% name recognition for a guy with 56% disapproval rating, he isn't going anywhere. He's the ahole that started the hyper-partisanship in this country and has ruined our country for it.

chuck| 1.24.12 @ 7:33PM

Actually, the House voted on all 10 items, as promised. There was only 1 that did not pass the House.

And you're a dick, purp.

BackToBasics| 1.24.12 @ 8:43PM

from your post - "...how Newt delivered a roundhouse blow to the Left back in '94..."

True, he did. It seemed to me that the Republicans winning the House in Nov. '94 was a larger short-term tsunami against the left than 2010 even though the Republicans gained fewer seats in '94. In '94, it was the first time they had a majority in the House in over 50 years.

He helped much but I called it a short-term tsunami because just a few months later, in the Spring of '95, during the Fed budget shutdown, Clinton, with great help form the media, got the better of Gingrich. This took out some of the momentum that had come form the Nov, '94 election results.

One pundit said that Gingrich called the American public's bluff regarding truly cutting back the size of government spending. I'd say the pundit was right about that. In my opinion, Gingrich never fully recovered after this even while he was speaker though he went on to do many good things.

SUBVET| 1.24.12 @ 10:23AM

Jabber3 just what is the Republican brand ? The current R..brand got us in trouble and look who we got.........tell em TLP.

Timothy L. Pennell| 1.24.12 @ 10:31AM

This is not an Eagle Scout Test. This is a Contest to determine who the Leader of the Free World (as it is) will be. If this is all you've got, in the way of 'Disqualifiers', than I suggest you think again.

He's an Ethics Violator? Did he break the law? Let he, who is in Political Life, and without an "Ethical Violation" cast the 1st Stone.

King David was an Ethical Gang Bang. He was TERRIBLE. But he led. His Son - Solomon - was TERRIBLE, when it came to Ethics. (Queen of Sheba) Yet, he is the Greatest King of them all.

Everybody's flawed. We're BORN in to Sin. We SIN all the time. We don't even know we're doing it.

JFK was a Dirtbag. MLK had Ethical Problems. FDR had a Mistress. Even CHRIST had his doubts, as he hung from the CROSS.

Gingrich gave us the HOUSE, for the 1st time in 40 Years. For 40 Tears, the Republicans wandered through the Wilderness, until Newt Gingrich showed up. He pushed Clinton in to Welfare Reform. He got BALANCED BUGETS passed. What have ANY of the others done, besides a Single payer Government Health Care Plan, and Nominating Liberal Judges to the bench?

The Republican Brand,as you put it, is SH*T. It's TIMID and it's without a Spine.

We need BOLD COLOURS, not Soft Pastels. The time of go along to get along is OVER.

It's time to FIGHT, to the last man. While there's still something left, to fight for.

Ethics Violations?

Give us a break.

Timothy L. Pennell| 1.24.12 @ 10:34AM

I can't believe that you (SUBVET) wrote what you wrote AS I was writing what I was writing.

I guess Great Landscapers think alike.

Uncanny.

SUBVET| 1.24.12 @ 10:51AM

I would share my ammo with you anytime.

loulou| 1.24.12 @ 11:32AM

Thank you, TLP.

irish19| 1.24.12 @ 12:59PM

Well said! This will be a war. I fear what summer will bring.

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 3:16PM

Tim, precisely!

Look at the unreliability of Churchill! When our huge challenge (getting hold of entitlements to control the poorest economy since Jimmy Carter's while simultaneously destroying the greatest threat to Freedom in 2 decades in Islamism) is over,then a bland, milquetoast nobody will be fine, perhaps. But for now, we need an aggressive warrior to make the Left flinch.

You know, McCain was supposed to be easier for moderates to support. But I don't get my game plans from my opponents, with respect to RCV. I think Americans like the hard stuff on Conservatives.

Trish| 1.24.12 @ 4:51PM

Occam, brava! There are so many parallels between Sir Winston and Gingrich. They both are/was impulsive, genius, aggressive with the enemy, non-pc, military historians, briliant orators, greatly flawed, multiple failure, and called for such a time as this. My heart was with Bachmann, but with the final 4, I want a warrior with balls. War has been declared on this nation whether the Mayfair class wants to recognize it. Give me a flawed warrior any day over Nevillism.

Grzmlyk| 1.24.12 @ 1:49PM

I'm no fan of Newt, but if you think Mitt's the answer, then you're asking the wrong question.

And Ron Paul, were he to defy the astronomical odds and get elected, would go from being Jack and Clint's stud to feckless, irrelevant gelding within five minutes of taking the oath of office.

Bottom line: We are screwed.

Dmac| 1.24.12 @ 5:20PM

We are and have been getting screwed. With Romney nothing will change, he does not answer to the working class. He answers only to his rich friends and wants to get along with those he assosicates with.
Newt though, he wants to be a hero and he doesn't care about making friends or pleasing the elite. He is more likely to read a letter from Joe Blow and take it heart and do something to help. Romney won't read it if he doesn't know who the writer is.

Edward Cropper | 1.24.12 @ 9:00AM

Rational assessment, void of the obvious bias displayed by the column writer

Stuart Koehl| 1.24.12 @ 9:35AM

People did cheer, boo and clap at the Lincoln-Douglas debates. The medium was a form of popular entertainment, back then, and people went not only to hear the issues debated, but to enjoy themselves as well.

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 3:18PM

Yes, Stuart. There was a time when Americans READ the Federalist papers, too, and when oratory was a respected art form. I would love that type of debate with TOTUS versus Newt.

irish19| 1.25.12 @ 12:55AM

What fun that would be to watch.

Vern Crisler| 1.24.12 @ 9:59AM

I don't think Romney scored any hits at all against Newt. Newt stood up well under the barrage of accusations; probably the first time he's ever been challenged to that degree. Remember, he can give back as good as he gets, and I suspect that's what will happen at the next debate.

I suspect you don't even know what the real issue was at the Lincoln-Douglas debates.

George S| 1.24.12 @ 10:11AM

If you define 'debate' as a joint press conference, then you are right -- these are certainly not debates. Who was the last Republican debater to sound like Gingrich? Why is Gingrich now a favorite? Exactly.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.24.12 @ 7:07AM

Mitt Romney has the right formula and it may seem stale but it's a good one. It's Newt's character and that's a product no one would buy.

Romney's main problem is that he never took acting lessons. What he needs now is a good debate coach to punch him into shape.

Romney threw a good one on Newt with Fannie/Freddie. Newt won't explain his relationship any further and as time goes by Romney's case will get ever stronger.

RustyG| 1.24.12 @ 8:06AM

"Romney threw a good one on Newt with Fannie/Freddie. Newt won't explain his relationship any further and as time goes by Romney's case will get ever stronger." Newt should have erased the hard drives on all his computers so no one could investigate..... it's been done before you know.

Dmac| 1.24.12 @ 8:58AM

Bill, I don't understand what you mean by "Mitt Romney has the right formula". What formula are you talking about? The same formula that corporate America has been using for the last 30 years of buying politicians so they keep their mouths shut as jobs are sent to China and other low wage countries? Is that the formula you're talking about? Or is the formula of buying a company, laying off workers and dumong more work on the few employees left until you finish gutting the company until nothing is left? Romney is just that, a modern day coprorate villain. He has said absolutely nothing about how he is going to create jobs, nothing. He's just more hot air until he actually says how it is that he intends to create jobs in this country.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.24.12 @ 9:09AM

Which park are you in?

loulou| 1.24.12 @ 11:34AM

What formula ARE you referring to?
Mealymouth pantywaist who emulates John McCain?

Dmac| 1.24.12 @ 11:35AM

I'm in the park that has an entrance fee a middle class American can afford. I can't afford Romney Field because it doesn't have any seats, only corporate boxes.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.24.12 @ 11:42AM

Occupy Wall Street sentiments are not a solution.

Willis| 1.24.12 @ 1:57PM

I would appear Dmac missed the subtlety of your question.

Willis| 1.24.12 @ 1:57PM

Sorry, It would appear...

Kade| 1.24.12 @ 11:36AM

Excellent points Dmac.

Newt has to come out with a strong pro-active plan (tariffs maybe) to end the exporting of our vital manufacturing base and jobs to foreign powers via NAFTA and its sons. Reducing corporate taxes and onerous regulations will not be enough to offset slave labor wages. There was a reason why Trump soared in the polls -- he was unabashedly pro-American.

Of course, if Newt comes out strongly against China the libertarian talk radio pundits will squeal that opposing these suicidal trade policies is liberal; whereas it is actually protecting America’s sovereignty and independence which is the hallmark of conservatism.

A vigorous pro-American campaign by Newt will give him a landslide against Obama, and a GOP Senate and House too.

Dmac| 1.24.12 @ 2:48PM

Thanks Kade,
Finally someone understands that I am not ani- business. I'm pro-business and a conservative, but my love for the Uiited States and my neighbors comes ahead of my desire to be rich.
We as Americans have let our capitalism along with the greed and corruption of our government to get out of control. If we don't do something to keep a solid middle class then we become Europe or even worse, Asia. I understand corporations are there to make money for the stockholder. But if the onely way you can make money for the stockholder is to lay off all of your American workers, then what the hell and why the hell should I give a rats ass if you are successful or not. I could care less if you are an American Corporation by name only that employes only white collar workers but no blue collar workers. If your only way of being successful is to lay off all your Americans and hire foreign nationals then you really aren't an American company are you??????

TrueBlue | 1.24.12 @ 6:43PM

To be fair a good number of those companies were going under when they were bought out. Not all of them, but most of them. That's why Bain has around an 80% success rate.

I have no issues with people making money, but I still want to know why all of those failures had nearly the same rate of increased profitability over several years before tanking, massive layoffs, and liquidation of assets (those customer databases are worth a fortune even after a company goes under by the way).

Vern Crisler| 1.24.12 @ 10:01AM

Newt was running a consulting business. He was engaging in capitalism. Why is Romney's vulture capitalism okay but Newt's consulting capitalism bad?

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.24.12 @ 10:51AM

What Newt did was not venture capitalism because he had no money at risk. The taxpayers had all the risk.

If what Newt did was so out in the open, then why won't he release his entire Fannie/Freddie history?

He claims he's a history expert but when it comes to his history he's not very forthcoming.

Pete| 1.24.12 @ 12:48PM

Time is money. This demonstrates your total lack of understanding of just what capitalism is.

What Romney has failed to do is explain why firing people is a good and necessary thing. Unless he makes this case he is ducking the very issue Obama's minions will use against him.

Willis| 1.24.12 @ 2:19PM

I suspect BHO understands capitalism better than most.

Capitalism's search for the best people for any given position necessarily results in turnover. There are highly successful, well known companies who, as a matter of policy, replace the poorest performing five percent of their employees every year. The practice creates strength in the companies and excellence in their workforces.

Compare that with government entities saddled with unfireable union employees. Please do not lecture us on the fundamentals of capitalism.

Vern Crisler| 1.24.12 @ 5:16PM

Romney may understand how to USE capital, but he doesn't have a very deep understanding capitalISM. Same with Warren Buffet and a whole host of other successful businessmen, who regularly support Democrats and Obama.

Haddit| 1.24.12 @ 12:50PM

Your boy Romney dealt with Fannie and Freddie as well. Did ya know it? Oh yeah, he invested and made millions and only paid a little tax on it. Shame he's so stupid that he didn't think Newt would eat his lunch on that deal. We don't need a cat in the sand box man. Newt put his stuff out there and Romney tried to dodge it. I think I'll stick with Newt.

Kade| 1.24.12 @ 10:57AM

Good question Vern. Didn’t Rush make it politically incorrect to criticize any Republican capitalist?

Vern Crisler| 1.24.12 @ 11:29AM

Yes, I'm puzzled by all this selective anti-capitalism. Romney thinks there's something evil about being a lobbyist, though last I checked it was a legitimate occupation, and absolutely necessary in today's world -- just ask Microsoft or Amazon.com. So even if Newt were a lobbyist, which he wasn't, what is wrong with that? It's just as much capitalism as anything Romney ever did.

Companies need to protect themselves from government in today's politicized environment. so, yes, even if a few try to get as many subsidies as they can, others are just trying to protect their interests from infantile, semi-socialist, political leaders.

loulou| 1.24.12 @ 11:35AM

Mitt would NEVER be a lobbyist but he will hire a few.

Kade| 1.24.12 @ 12:11PM

Are Carl Rove, Ann Coulter and the Fox panel going to shout non-stop from the rooftops that Mitt is now an anti-capitalist and against free enterprise?

Pete| 1.24.12 @ 12:50PM

Ann Coulter argued that Mitt was so electable. But we are seeing that he is not so electable after all. She needs to take a second look and quit trying to run interference for Mitt.

Grzmlyk| 1.24.12 @ 2:51PM

I think Ann Coulterhas to lay off the hydrogen peroxide.

I used to agree with her 90% of the time. Now I think she's become a closet liberal - her infatuation with RINO Chris Christie and now her crush on Mitt cannot be explained any other way.

I'm guessing she's taken down the picture of Ronald Reagan she used to have on her bedroom wall and replaced it with a portrait of Nelson Rockefeller.

Al Adab| 1.24.12 @ 3:49PM

Presidential Press Secretary Ann Coulter

Cabinet member Niki Haley

What other purchases did Mitt commit?

Grzmlyk| 1.24.12 @ 4:16PM

I've taken Ann off my list of women to consider stalking, and I have ceased emailing marriage proposals to her.

Seriously, though, what's happened to her since her last book came out? Something . . .

Al Adab| 1.24.12 @ 4:40PM

GRZ:
What happens is that the pundits and analyists like Ann spend much of their time talking with one another and become ever more myopic as time goes on. As a result we get the "only Mitt is electable" thinking. What they do not see is that the majority of voters want candidates who inspire, who demonstrate through their words and actions that the elections matter and that in fact the future of our nation and its liberties is at stake. Too often the "players" see it only as a game for personal or partisan position.

George S| 1.24.12 @ 10:22AM

Romney is having a hard sell; when he cannot (or will not) tie himself to the conservative philosophy then the only thing a debate coach could do is help Romney fake it.

I think Romney's problem is mostly due to John Boehnor. The Tea party gave Boehnor and the Republicans the House and they turned around and pretended to be fiscally conservative (100 billion in cuts in FY 2011 to 33 billion over, what, 4 years?).

Fool us once...

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.24.12 @ 10:53AM

Why would Romney need to be a conservative?

The Republicans are not conservative overall.

Is he somehow supposed to be the lone conservative on the trial?

Al Adab| 1.24.12 @ 11:28AM

Bret Stephens in todays WSJ puts it best. For Romney, "convictions are a veneer.... and voters usually prefer the man who stands for something." It is time these poseurs drop their egos and put the very survival of this nation ahead of themselves.

Grzmlyk| 1.24.12 @ 4:52PM

I honestly don't think Romney realizes the dire straits we're in. I think he's living in his own world of personal ambition and self-aggrandizement. I think he is utterly detached from reality.

I think he's convinced he can kick the can down the road and play middle-of-the-road compromiser for four years, and parlay the universal love he thinks he'll garner among precious independents into a second term.

He doesn't seem to have a clue that our fiscal situation is a ticking time bomb that cannot be defused, and there's just about no road left down which the proverbial can can be kicked.

TrueBlue | 1.24.12 @ 6:56PM

Most of the people on the upper income scale don't get what it's like to be middle class anymore, assuming they were ever middle class to begin with. This constant pandering to corporations annoys the heck out of me, our politicians SHOULD be pandering to the small businesses. Mitt represents Corporate America, and while the large corporations have their place, it is the small businesses that employ the majority of people in this country.

Compare the recently released tax information for Newt and Mitt. $3.8 mil vs $20.2. Who is closer to middle America? Newt has his flaws, and he isn't my preferred candidate, but he has a RECORD of success in government. He is lightyears better than Mitt.

loulou| 1.24.12 @ 11:36AM

You don't seem to understand that nobody likes Romney. He is unlikeable in addition to being a preprogrammed robot. We don't need a candidate who needs a teleprompter, do we?

Haddit| 1.24.12 @ 12:53PM

Romney would be afool to push Newt too hard on the Freddie and Fannie deal. He too invested in them and politicians are exempt from inside trading laws. Go figure.......

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 3:28PM

How about: "I was a private citizen at the time and my wife likes expensive jewelry."

I really don't care what he did on this. I care about his ability and willingness to do what I want when elected and to put a whipping on the Obama Campaign this fall.

Who is more likely to play dirty, filthy pool with the Obama campaign this fall, and who is more likely to be McCain redoux?

Apparently, Obama has a membership in a gay bathhouse in Chicago, where he had trysts while married to Michelle. And then, of course, there's the Rashid Khalidi/Obama tapes buried in the LA Times' vaults. Who's more likely to get the membership list of the bathhouse and "accidentally" get a copy of the tape? Who's more likely to focus on Bernadine Dohrn murdering a cop with a nail bomb and then showing Obama having coffee in her home?

In short, which one, Romney or Newt, will be willing to go into the deep mud and fight as a sewer rat in this election. Mitt, the Eagle Scout, or Newt, the Magnificent Bastard?

Al Adab| 1.24.12 @ 3:47PM

O/T:
As Lincoln said about Grant, "I can't spare this man, he fights." The GOP desperately needs a fighter. We all too often conduct these civilized, well mannered campaigns while the opposition does not. It makes us appear weak and indecisive.

calvin | 1.24.12 @ 4:19PM

Dr. Razor;
Breathtaking thought. I had wondered about this after watching BHO toss a baseball. Still it gives me the creeps to think it may be true. I guess in your field you have to be ready to see the hidden ugly side of people; and are seldom surprised. For the first time I almost feel sorry for the guy.....
Nah.

Willis| 1.24.12 @ 5:49PM

"...or Newt, the Magnificent Bastard?"

You're half right.

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 9:18PM

Hey, I just want to win. For all the kudos people have flowered me on this string, many, many thanks. Especially Trish. But it's Bravo, sweet madam.

tsd| 1.24.12 @ 5:19PM

Romney is Obama lite, he is just a pretty boy, career politician with no substance and no principles, who wants to play president. He will take us down the same dead end road....just a bit slower than the current guy!!

Michael Tomlinson| 1.24.12 @ 7:17AM

This is what comes of weakening the Party a group of has-beens (Gingrich, Romney, Santorum and loony RION leftist Paul) to supposedly represent us in November. Give me a brokered convention and a Perry, Pence, Jindal, Walker, Johnson, Barbour or some other successful Republican Governor and I'll show you real change.

vb| 1.24.12 @ 7:37AM

It is one thing to want new faces, but it is wrong to assume that they would not be damaged by the same circular firing squad that today's candidates face. There is no perfect candidate who will save the world. The people you prefer are doing a good job in showing that conservative ideas work at the state level, which is where many issues should be handled. I hope that before they move into the first tier on the national level, they will have done their homework on national issues like foreign affairs. We need more than just a win this year. We need a big team with a strong bench to prevent relapses into big government thinking.

Clint| 1.24.12 @ 7:40AM

A Brokered Convention Could Be Interesting.

The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To Tampa.

Stuart Koehl| 1.24.12 @ 9:40AM

You do know it was the Tea Party that put Newt over the top in South Carolina, and is responsible for his new lead in Florida, whereas Ron Paul's Tea Party support appears to be nil.

irish19| 1.24.12 @ 1:14PM

He's right, though. A brokered convention would be very interesting indeed. And fun to watch. The amount of free publicity generated for (hopefully) conservative candidates and ideas by the TV coverage alone would make it worth it.

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 3:31PM

Stuart: one should only insult Clint; arguing with him is like talking to Bill Murray's character in the cheesebugah sketch on SNL. He is intent on his beloved.

Clint| 1.24.12 @ 9:30PM

Israel Firster Smear Bund Ass Clown, Tool Job Eats Bibi's Bone.

The Tea Party Heads For A Brokered Convention.

Clint| 1.24.12 @ 9:31PM

Yeah, The Pillsbury DoughBoy Serves As Our Useful RINO-CINO Dupe To Extend The Campaign, Deny The Ruling Elites' RINO-CINO Frontman, Mittens Romney Enough Delegates And Head To A Brokered Convention.

The Tea Party Rebellion Is In Florida.

Vern Crisler| 1.24.12 @ 10:03AM

As with Perry, these other Republicans would have to stand up to withering fire from other candidates, including the liberal media, plus "establishment" Republicans. Could they do as well as Newt? I doubt it.

loulou| 1.24.12 @ 11:38AM

FYI, as attractive as Jindal is, he is not a "natural born citizen" because while he was born in the US his parents were not US citizens at the time of his birth.

Barbour just pardoned a boatload of felons. Why should he be our nominee? If he wanted to be president he should have declared his candidacy.

Vern Crisler| 1.24.12 @ 2:18PM

If Jindal's parents were here legally, then they (and he) were under the jurisdiction of the United States (as per the 14th Amendment). Thus, no Constitutional problem.

Were they illegals?

VBMax| 1.24.12 @ 3:57PM

Vern,
loulou spelled it out correctly. Jindal's parents were here legally but were not citizens at the time of his birth.

Vern Crisler| 1.24.12 @ 5:19PM

So, you didn't answer the question. Were they here legally? If so, it doesn't matter if they were citizens. They were still "subject to the jurisdiction" of the US under the 14th Amendment. That makes all the difference.

rightasrain| 1.24.12 @ 7:20AM

I thought everyone was on his game last night and that Romney did particularly well.

c.j. acworth| 1.24.12 @ 7:21AM

Frankly, I think Brian Williams institued the no-appause rule to protect himself. He saw that Newt's biggest cheers in SC were at the expense of the MSM, and they don't like to be reminded of just how unpopular they are.

canuckistani| 1.24.12 @ 9:35AM

Unpopular with whom?

Faux News is #1 in every primetime slot. They are the MSM. Get over it.
Brian Williams is a news reader, not a commentator, neither is John King. The fact that Newtie has a dismal record matching rhetoric to action in his personal and public lives is fair game when selecting the POTUS.

Faux has been slamming Newtie for months now, and the not-so-whisper campaign about his philandering has come as much from the right as the left.
I would expect it more from the right, as they claim some sort of providential franchise on "family values" and be DEMANDING a candidate with a strong moral spine. The left looks at it as a trigger for the hypocrisy alarm that Newtie has a propensity to deny in words, but is betrayed by his actions.

The MSM is only derided by repugs when the truth smacks them in the face. Otherwise they are the useful idiots when required.

George S| 1.24.12 @ 10:37AM

People have a hard time hearing the "hypocrisy alarm" when they are unemployed, cannot afford their mortgages or health insurance, are sexually molested by government agents at the airport, watch their tax dollars be stolen by "energy corporation CEO-Obama-Donors", fear the lives of their children who have to pay off Obama's spending, worry if they will be able to get health care when they are older or wonder how they are going to pay their taxes after they retire just so government employees can retire at 55.

Yup, that's our national nightmare... the marriage vows of a former congressman.

canuckistani| 1.24.12 @ 11:27AM

These people, our friends and relatives, know that is was on Junior's watch that the housing bubble burst, the surplus ended and the creation of DHS and wiretapping and airport screening were Junior incarnations.

BHO has introduced NO new money programs during his term. There is no budget, so no additions are possible. There are fewer government employees, there are more illegals being deported and the admin has been rated as the most ethical since Jimmy Carter.

As far as alternative energy, BHO will have to answer for his betting prowess, but the investments are necessary and should not be condemned as an indication of BHO confiscating your child's future. He should be making more investments, not fewer. The bets he made on GM and other heavy industries have paid off in spades and preserved an American business sector. Why don;t you applaud him for that? Newtie and Willard suggested they should have been liquidated.

The marriage vows of a former congressman are relevant - when it imbues his every move and helps explain his spectacular inability to modulate his rhetoric.

Drunken Sailor| 1.24.12 @ 1:49PM

"There is no budget, so no additions are possible. There are fewer government employees, there are more illegals being deported and the admin has been rated as the most ethical since Jimmy Carter."

Wow. Did you type all that with a straight face?

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 3:49PM

"Most ethical?"

Yeah, in the sense of Miller's Crossing's Johnny Caspar:

"It's gettin' so a businessman can't expect no return from a fixed fight. Now, if you can't trust a fix, what can you trust? For a good return, you gotta go bettin' on chance - and then you're back with anarchy, right back in the jungle. "

Yeah, the Obaummer is ethical in that sense.

albert constantine jr| 1.24.12 @ 9:06PM

Great scene in a good movie.

Appleby| 1.24.12 @ 7:23AM

Romney is Mr. Rogers; all he needs is the sweater. Even my 3 year old hated Mr. Rogers for his bland, unexcited and unexciting delivery and the silly things he was so earnest about.

Nobody but geeks can sit and listen to Willard without falling asleep.

Moe Blotz| 1.24.12 @ 9:10AM

Including Ann Coulter?

Vern Crisler| 1.24.12 @ 10:04AM

Yes, Ann has lost her conservative mojo....

loulou| 1.24.12 @ 11:40AM

Ann who?
She is persona non grata and has no value.

Fred C. Dobbs| 1.24.12 @ 9:45AM

I LIKE boring in a president. I like competence, honesty, fidelity AND INTELLIGENCE.
I'm NOT looking for entertainment.
My ONLY real issue with Romney is that no one in his family EVER seems to have been in the military.

albert constantine jr| 1.24.12 @ 9:06PM

That's the first time I've heard that about Romney-very interesting. I don't think it's a Mormon thing; I recall several I served with in the Marine Corps.

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 9:20PM

Gingrich's adoptive father was a lifelong Army officer.

canuckistani| 1.24.12 @ 9:49AM

I thought the GOP claimed that another rhetoric-driven president is not what we need, but a man of action with a real record of executive work?

Newtie's record betrays his rhetoric every time. His sad and warped devotion to the RR religion. His peculiar and mystifying prowess with women. His cynical utilization of all things Nixon.

The last one shows that he understands the irrational anger of the white man and is willing to concoct pretexts to generate unneeded and damaging outcomes for his own benefit.

People here believe we can distil decades-old policy errors down to catchy billboards that the average Umerican will be duped into believing salves their visceral anxieties.

Newtie is a smart man. Every now and then he let's slip correct descriptions of the right's policy follies, only to quickly retreat to the comforts of rhetorical pap. It is this opportunistic intellectual laziness that scares me the most. He can enumerate the plusses and minuses in his head, but the average watcher cannot.

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 11:38PM

I dunno, canuck. You know anybody else in the USA who passed a balanced federal budget while leading the US House of Representatives who is running for president other than Newt? You know anybody who destroyed a National Health Plan with magnificent efficiency other than Newt?

Seems to me his executive skill in running the US House, however obnoxious he could be, was fairly good.

And, more importantly, he's played hardball and won big on the biggest of stages before.

somnolence| 1.24.12 @ 7:27AM

Michael, out of the list you provided, I could only possibly vote for Pence or Perry. The others are non-starters, as are Mitch Daniels or Jeb Bush. That, my friend, would be read as clear desperation, and our defeat in November could rise just above the Goldwater debacle of 1964 in such a case.

canuckistani| 1.24.12 @ 9:57AM

Agreed. Pence has shown tremendous discipline to not run his mouth on subjects he admits little knowledge or a lesser policy interest in. Newtie jumps head first into EVERY subject. Jack of all trades, master of none?

He is the Bill O'Reilly of pop history. The only difference is Billo is not running for president, so a certain heightening of rhetorical discipline is expected from presidential contenders.

Newtie will not only be another Goldwater, but will also be a drag on congressional campaigns. If he does squeak out a win, the landscape will be so littered with political carcasses, the agenda will be DOA on Jan 21st.

loulou| 1.24.12 @ 11:41AM

I agree. Pence or Perry only. Preferably Perry since he has paid his primary dues.

somnolence| 1.24.12 @ 7:28AM

I'm telling you, someone should really sweet talk to Susana Martinez.

KennesawJack| 1.24.12 @ 11:30AM

Think Vice-President.

Michael Tomlinson| 1.24.12 @ 7:28AM

Appleby I think you've overlooked big labor's pick Santorum in his little vests.

What we need is the dignity of Romney, brains of Gingrich, successful leadership of Perry and values of Santorum. I’d suggest Governor Bob McDonnell of Virginia.

Clint| 1.24.12 @ 7:51AM

The Tea Party Has Beefs With Perry On: TARP, Trans Texas Corridor, Toll Roads, HPV Vaccine Mandate, Business Margins Tax.

Dick Nome| 1.24.12 @ 8:33AM

You are not a Tea Party guy, so drop it, you phoney.

Boar Hunter| 1.24.12 @ 11:51AM

You are so wrong Dick Nome! Clint has attended many Tea Party events. It's just that the ones he attended involved little girls, stuffed animals and funny hats (Clint's being made of tin foil of course).

irish19| 1.24.12 @ 1:25PM

Normally, I'd never defend his rantings, but he's been cogent so far today. Credit where it's due, cluebats where necessary.

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 9:23PM

Felt Hats were originally shaped with mercury, thus resulting in an anticholinergic delirium madness among hatters.

Lewis Carroll also fancied little girls. Hmmm....there seems to be an Alice in Wonderland theme developing around Clinty....

irish19| 1.25.12 @ 1:01AM

And that is one of the things that caused beaver hats to fall out of fashion. Hard to get an apprentice once they know their chosen trade will ultimately make them "mad as a hatter."

Boar Hunter| 1.24.12 @ 11:22AM

Ummm, didn't Perry drop out of the race?

loulou| 1.24.12 @ 11:42AM

I thought you had left. Buh-bye.

Haddit| 1.24.12 @ 12:45PM

Have you noticed? Perry isn't running anymore. A little slow today are we?

Cpm| 1.24.12 @ 3:36PM

Clint grabbed the wrong cut and paste from one of his old Paul campaign cheat sheets

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 4:16PM

Americans have problems with Ron Paul on Treason issues.

Clint| 1.24.12 @ 9:34PM

America Has Trouble With Israel Firster Traitor Bastards Like Tool Job Here.

The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To A Brokered Convention.

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 11:40PM

Hmm...so what is it you like about Bradley Manning specifically, Clint? Besides the obvious fact....

POST American| 1.24.12 @ 7:32AM

It's now ON RECORD, 74% of ALLLL
donations form the serving American military
are going to RON PAUL.

"While Romney isn't EVIL like Gingrich,
he is a totally 'on board' Globalist and
ardent supporter of the capstone EUGENICS
agenda."

Perhaps Ron Paul, such as he is, aged,
spindly and GENUINE, is precisely the
figure we need as we face down our own
bloody complicity in cultural degradation,
TREASON and soul destroying EUGENICS.

Meanwhile, DO clean out your churches
----or leave them and start your own.

-------------HUAC/ Nuremberg is coming.

carnot| 1.24.12 @ 7:42AM

Ron Paul: alas...I knew him well.

Clint| 1.24.12 @ 7:55AM

You Know Bibi's Bone Better, Israel Firster Smear Bundist.

Augusta| 1.24.12 @ 8:14AM

Bibi's bone is bigger than Ron Paul's entire body and soul. It eats you up inside, doesn't it.

Little weak confederate muppet...or courageous Israeli war hero. I'll take the war hero.

Clint| 1.24.12 @ 9:42PM

Obviously, You've Eaten Bibi Bone .
You Eat Bibi's Bone Up, Don't You Israel Firster Smear Bund Bibi Ass Clown.

That's The Problem Israel Firster Traitor Bastard Punk Ass.

The Tea Party Heads To A Brokered Convention.

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 11:42PM

What is it you don't like about Bibi, Clint? Is it that he's more pro-America than Paul? Is it the fact that he has an actual war record as an elite combat soldier as opposed to Paul's flight surgeon in non dangerous places record?

Or is it that only a brokered convention can save your punk ass candidate now, terrorist catamite?

loulou| 1.24.12 @ 11:44AM

let 'er rip, loser.
What about your logo--"tea party is alive and well in Florida" or whatever gibberish you used to write.

Nemo| 1.24.12 @ 7:57AM

The fact you support Ron
Paul confirms my judgement.

Clint| 1.24.12 @ 8:09AM

The Fact That You're A RINO-CINO Bootlicker Confirms You're A Flunkie Stooge.

The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To A Brokered Convention.

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 9:24PM

Or not. Glad to see you finally admit Paul can't win straight on, Clinty poo. I screwed up on Pawlenty, true, but you almost never get things right....shall we discuss Egypt and Paul's electoral prowess some more, Jackass?

Clint| 1.24.12 @ 9:38PM

Shall We Discusss Your Fellow Israel Firster Traitor Bastard Ben ami Kadish, Israel Firster Traitor Bastard Neo-Chickenhawk Coward, Tool Job.

The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To A Brokered Convention.

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 11:43PM

Umm...Ben ami Kadish is no cousin of mine. I don't support his actions...but you support Bradley Manning's don't you? Or, do you disagree with Ron Paul on something? Are you capable of independent thought?

somnolence| 1.24.12 @ 7:33AM

I was just thinking: Whereas there is no possible way I will ever vote for Gingrich I would vote for Mark Sanford. Now, how is that for a putdown of Mr. Newt? It was meant to be.

canuckistani| 1.24.12 @ 10:35AM

It's a putdown of you. Think about it.

The GOP runs SC, yet it is a federal taker and a entrenched high unemployment backwater as the rest of the country recovers.

Sanford? Grow up, you've been duped again.

South Carolina, the conservative miracle state:
Crime rate: 55% higher than nat'l avg
Life span: shorter on all measures
Uninsured adults and children: 20 and 13%
Unemployment: 18% higher
Education: lower attainment on each level

Remember, Sanford appointed Bethea to the port panel. How'd that go for ya?

Mimi| 1.24.12 @ 7:41AM

This debate took the prize for being the most boring....went to bed early ! It was a Ho Hum!
I hope on Thursday there will be something to talk about
I hate to see anybody have to MORTGAGE their home...that remark about Kennedy came off as pompass and smirky....

Vern Crisler| 1.24.12 @ 10:06AM

Yep it was pretty boring, except when Newt talked about the space program.

somnolence| 1.24.12 @ 7:46AM

I agree with the adage that "we need more than just a win this year". If the victory is razor-thin without a filibuster proof Senate, the situation won't be much better(other than Barry gone) than it currently is, and the sense of not achieving a K.O. just a sigh of relief , will always be present. That wouldn't be the best of times although I'm sure many would try to put a good face on it. Yes, a win is a win, is a win, etc. But the margin of victory is vital this time, and it won't be on the scale of Reagan-Carter 1980 by any means. I don't see any of them capturing New York, New Jersey, or California, as Reagan did.

loulou| 1.24.12 @ 11:46AM

Hello. Demographics have changed since 1980. A Republican will never win NY, CA or NJ and should not waste resources there.

Michael Tomlinson| 1.24.12 @ 7:53AM

vb Barbour is free and Bob McDonnell will be soon. Either would make a strong leader if we had a brokered convention.

I have nothing against a bloody primary season. That's how used to be and the candidates were often better for it.

irish19| 1.24.12 @ 1:30PM

"I have nothing against a bloody primary season. That's how used to be and the candidates were often better for it."
I absolutely agree. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Robert Bové| 1.24.12 @ 7:56AM

It's too bad nobody applauded after nanny Brian Williams after he told the audience to refrain from clapping.

somnolence| 1.24.12 @ 8:04AM

Maybe we truly are seeing the cream of the crop up there. And judging from the last several days, at least response-wise, Gingrich is the new Matt Dillon, the invincible one. As I have literally sworn a blood oath not to vote for him, you who think that is awful won't really need my vote. If Newt does indeed win the presidency I will give him a chance and a look at what he achieves in the White House and we'll see about 2016. I doubt if that satisfies his frenzied flock. At any rate, I save popcorn for the Super Bowl, not live political rhetoric by the candidates.

George S| 1.24.12 @ 10:48AM

If you are not going to vote for Gingrich if he's the nominee, then don't bitch. You are now the one responsible for the "razor thin" non-filibuster proof victories. Or worse, the reelection of Obama. This is not about you and your feelings -- it is about the future our kids live through. Free men or subjects.

irish19| 1.24.12 @ 1:33PM

You might want to put some of that popcorn aside along with its attendant barley soda should there be a brokered convention. Also cheese, lots of cheese. And biscuits.

martin j smith| 1.24.12 @ 8:05AM

Is the question will the Establishment republicans never get it ? or is it--That they really want to give the Presidency to Obama. Its one of those two.

Dmac| 1.24.12 @ 9:07AM

Maybe the question should be, does the establishment republican even care who's in the white house. Seems to me both parties are getting exactly what they want right now. Both parties have been and still are guilty of fleecing the treasury, giving money to their "friends" so they can get their little kick backs and get rich. Neither party has done anything to help the middle class in over 30 years, but both parties have done everything they can to enrich themselves off of the middle class.
I think we, the electorate are the ones who don't get it. We don't have a choice between republicans and democrats, we are given one choice as both parties seem to have only ONE goal, to enrich themselves from the hard work of the middle class.

loulou| 1.24.12 @ 11:49AM

Actually, there is a school of thought that the GOP elites feel that winning the Senate and holding the House is more important than winning the Presidency. It's all about POWER for the beltway elites.

This is why the GOP must be purged of the RINO types.

coal carrier| 1.24.12 @ 8:06AM

Why would we ever want to nominate the guy who lost to the guy who lost to Obama? What has he done in the last 4 years that would make him a better candidate in 2012?

Boar Hunter| 1.24.12 @ 11:44AM

EXACTLY!

POST American| 1.24.12 @ 8:07AM

---About 3 of the above posters appear to be
FAKE OP computer generated sock puppets.

Sad if true.

Sadder and more disturbing if NOT.

----------------HUAC/ Nuremberg 2012---------------

Old Soldier| 1.24.12 @ 8:30AM

"Newt can speak the language of conservatism and the culture war convincingly..."

Yep - he's fooled us a few times.

Willis| 1.24.12 @ 9:10AM

Exactly, he's got the talking part down, the walking...not.

Vern Crisler| 1.24.12 @ 10:07AM

You're confusing him with Mitt Romney.

Old Soldier| 1.24.12 @ 1:07PM

There's a difference?

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 4:21PM

OS:

Newt, for all of his faults---1) kept taxes low, 2) reformed Welfare and 3) balanced the budget. He also 4) was instrumental in getting a Republican majority in Congress that voted down 5) Obama Care's precursor, HillaryCare.

You see anything in Mitt's record that compares? Now, mind you, I'd vote for Mitt if he was the nominee without hard feelings---I despise Paul but the other three are Presidential material, but Newt can inspire, man.

Haddit| 1.24.12 @ 12:42PM

What you talkin bout Willis?..........Newts created more jobs than that imbesile Obama. Do ya want to work or are you one of Obama's welfare stooges?

Old Soldier| 1.24.12 @ 1:09PM

The only jobs Newt has created is "ex-wife".

Nobody in government created real jobs.

Willis| 1.24.12 @ 2:04PM

Thank you for saving me the tedium of dealing with that silly question.

Dmac| 1.24.12 @ 5:26PM

Correct, but Romney has no problem watching more jobs go to China, hell he'll even be happy to lay your employees off for you.
Newt on the other hand might just do something to bring about fair trade and put an end to all this free trade crap.

Colin | 1.24.12 @ 8:45AM

Lessons from the Sensi:

Remember, grasshoppers, the path to fulfillment can be arduous, and occasionally littered with distractions disguised as ... "the greater truth." And yet what clues may unviel that "the greater truth" may not be all that it portends?

Usually the red nose, seltzer bottle, and a Ron Paul for President tee-shirt.

Be aware, grasshoppers. Be aware!

Anthony| 1.24.12 @ 9:02AM

The debates now are just entertainment for the media to make hay over. I didn't care to watch this one, because there really isn't much any of the candidates can say that we don't know, and frankly I'm tired of them attempting to make hay over each others foibles.
If Gingrich is serious about seizing the moment and is truly ready to lead a conservative revolution, then I'm with him.
The goal is to remove the greatest threat to America currently residing in the White House with the most conservative candidate we have. End of Story.

Jabber3| 1.24.12 @ 9:07AM

After the debate Newt remains who he always was; unelectable, an ethics violator of House rules, a paid influence peddler (unregistered lobbyist), lacking in moral values, no real executive experience to be a leader of this great country and a destroyer of the Republican brand. George still doesn't get it.

Dmac| 1.24.12 @ 9:12AM

So just say you're going to vote for Romney, but let me ask you this, Whats more dis-honest, to be an un-registered lobbyist, or to be a corpoarate raider who rapes a company of its assets and sends middle class jobs overseas?
Obama will mop the floor with Romney sir. Newt will mop the floor with Obama. Pressure can be put on Newt to stay the conservative course. Romney would be just like Bush, both Bushes, he'd only do whats best for his already filthy rich friends.

Stuart Koehl| 1.24.12 @ 9:45AM

A consultant is not a lobbyist. An equity broker is not a corporate raider. Outsourcing is good for us--it lets us focus on what we do better than others. The Middle Class is supposed to be insecure--that's the definition of Middle Class. The days when a high school grad could get a $40/hr assembly line job for life followed by a defined benefit retirement are gone. They were made possible only by the situation at the end of World War II, when the U.S. was Last Man Standing. Now we have to compete again. So get over yourself and grow up. Envy isn't pretty.

Dmac| 1.24.12 @ 10:20AM

You're an idiot Stuart. You think you understand how our economy works but you don't. You must think the Chinese actually educawted themselves and learned how to manufacture the goods that were previously manufactured in the U.S. They didn't and they still don't (of course now they just steal the technology). American corporations looking for higher profit margins went to China (note they went to China, it wasn't the Chinese coming here asking for work). It had little to do with competition and everything to do with profit margins.
If you're so smart about economics, then you can explain why corporations are raking it in, but our economy at home is slow. Maybe its got something to do with our domestic taxes that have to go towars supporting an ever growing number of Americans the earn less ans less while corporations earn higher andhigher profit margins. Is there some point Stuart that you beleive American Corporations should show some nationalistic pride and do what is rioght for the country, or are you one of those profits at all costs kind of folks who don't understand that overseas profits for cheap goods come at a very expensive cost to this country. I guess thats my point Stuart, I beleive their should be countries, not borderless corporations running everything.

loulou| 1.24.12 @ 11:53AM

You're an idiot DMAC. The Chicoms steal technology from us and what they didn't steal was given to them by Clinton. And is being given to them by Obama as we speak.
Your greedy unions chased their own jobs away. Talk about idiots.

Kade| 1.24.12 @ 1:55PM

Liberals Clinton, Bush and now Obama are transferring our industry and wealth to communist China and other foreign powers -- economic globalism or International socialism, take your pick.

Reagan loved middle-class America and small business, and was wary of big business. Newt needs to steer the globalist GOP away from being anti-American worker and towards America-first conservative polices; if he does this he outflanks Obama and wins big.

Dmac| 1.24.12 @ 3:03PM

No, I'm not an idiot. I see your point about unions, but being that I'm from a right to work state and have seen firsthand how American Coprorations walked their technology freely to China so they could make a higher profit margin. No one forced GE to what they are doing, and to do so they had to share their technology with the Chinese. I know how comapanies get set up in China ahd what they have to agree to. I've seen it first hand.
We were all tricked by Bush I. Nixon's goal was to have the Chinese open up so they would by American goods. But Nixon's ambassador to China, BushI, had other ideas. He was over there working on ways American coprporations could make their goods cheaply. Sure it was a good deal to a point, but when you look now and have 47% of Americans on some kind of government program those cheap goods come at a high price. Not to the rich, not to corporations, but to the middle class. Romneys own tax returns of a little under 15% show us EXACTLY whats been going on. I'm middle class and work my ass off for what I get paid. I pay more than 15%. I'm for a strong middle class, even if that means busting a few unions. But I'm not for those who have no loyalty to the United States and beleive in profits at all cost.
If only 20% of our kids are college material, what do the other 80% do to make a decent living? We need decent paying skilled labor jobs in this country. We also need fair trade, not this so called free trade that is anything but free. Its expensive, food stamps, healthcare, un-employment checks, it goes on and on the things that have to be paid for by taxpayers when Americans lose their jobs to cheap foreign labor. Its time successful Americans woke up from the greed dream and started being good Americans. Started caring about their fellow Americans, their neighbor, and the future of the next generation. Or should we just say to hell with everyone I'm gonna get mine and get the Orwell playbook out?
Your right Kade, Reagan saw this coming and he despised it.
I guess too many folks can't tell the difference between a republican and a conservative.
A republican by todays standards could care less about anyone but himself, whereas a conservative still believes in this dream called America and her people.

BackToBasics| 1.24.12 @ 10:05PM

From your post, Dmac - "If only 20% of our kids are college material, what do the other 80% do...."

Good question. A lot of them are learning how to live in gangs, take illegal drugs, how to shoot and rob and kill. Yet, the elites of both parties still want to keep the young unemployed while at the same time, encourage more millions to cross our borders illegally even though jobs are scarce.

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 4:24PM

American Corporations will do what is right for the country when the country does what is right for them by lowering the crippling corporate tax.

Dmac, for guys like you it's always about someone else taking the pain. What I do NOT want are governments running businesses instead of businesses running themselves. Jesus.

Kade| 1.24.12 @ 5:15PM

The corporate income tax should be lowered but that won’t stop (the mostly liberal) corporate America from outsourcing our vital industry, technology, and engineering.

Now if Americans worked for a dollar an hour with no lunch breaks and 80 hr. weeks than maybe these elites would manufacture here. Economic globalism is a suicidal race to the bottom and is libertarian not conservatism.

Dmac| 1.24.12 @ 5:39PM

A good corporation does not pay taxes. It adds that to the cost of its products and the consumer pays it when he/she buys the product. Even so, go ahead and drop corporate taxes to 0%. But only if the corporation keeps a very large percentage of its work force in America.
What would you do Occam, how would you make sure Americans have decent paying jobs? We can't all be the CEO and Wal-Mart just doesn't offer a wage that will pay the rent, for food, health insurance, auto insurance, etc., etc.,.. Give us you plan Occam.
If your trade policy hurts your citizens then its a bad trade policy. America's economy has been nothing more than a tiger chasing its tale for thirty years, and the tiger finally caught his tail and has eaten himself up to his ass. Thats what all this internationalism has done, allowed the corporations to make huge profits that only benefit the upper echelon of American society while the working class gets screwed.
Occum, if American Corporations and the government don't change their tune and react to the populous then the populous will have no choice but to revolt. I know poeple like you don't think that can happen, but its one hell of a lot closer than you think. King Goerge one thought like you do now, that as long as a profit is made it must be okay. He screwed around and lost ALL of his profit because he got too damn greedy.
Americans have never been serfs, do you really believe after 240 years of being able to work hard Americans will gleefully give up their right to the pursuit of happiness so that one or two percent of the country can stack greed on top of greed. Those of us in the middle class that work hard for what we earn and have no desire to be millionaires, but just make enough to feel comfortable have a question for the upper two percent of the population, just how many millions does it take you to be happy?

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 9:27PM

You work your way upward, like I did---started working as a movie usher and became an MD...

You don't know your history too well, or how the WWII generation did things, either. By the way, I'm in the upper two percent in earnings, and I'm no millionaire, yet.

Occam's Tool| 1.25.12 @ 12:28AM

Yes, so the corporate taxes pound on the little guy...how is that an incentive to produce here?

Dmac| 1.24.12 @ 6:07PM

I've taken some pain my friend. Been laid off three times in 25 years. Watched friends lose their jobs because it went overseas. Seen my fellow Americans lose their homes while the wealthiest bought more homes.
Have watched as my 401K was robbed repeatedly by the wall street gang while the government said you have to fill out this form before you can remove money from your 401K, even though it was mine to begin with. I've been through some pain and so have most Americans over the last 30 years or so. We've watched as the rich in this country have tried to shove their beleif that ther is no such thing as pride in your country or nationalis as the only thing that matters is their profit margin.
Sorry Occam, but your a heartless son of a bitch if you think its all about the corporations and nothing or nobdy else matters. I was always taught to believe it goes in this order, God, Country, Family, self. I guess you were taught 40pcs of silver, 40pcs of silver and 40pcs of silver and to hell with anybody else.
Occum, there's enough money to go around, the problem is thats only true when you take out the selfish and greedy. Have you learned how to fly through the eye of a needle yet Occam?

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 9:29PM

Asshole, I've taken an enormous financial hit in the past to help the indigineous people's health in NZ. When you've done that, talk. That's why I'm NOT a millionaire now.

And I don't work for a corporation. I work helping the indigenous tribes here in the North. I note a lot of Liberal talkers don't actually do shit to help their fellows.

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 9:31PM

Sorry, misspelled "indegenous." Not sorry for other comments, Dcam. You are an ignorant asshole.

Occam's Tool| 1.25.12 @ 12:25AM

Stuart Koehl has written excellent texts on economic analysis of war, well worth looking up.

I'm a well paid psychopharmacologist with a dirty mouth and a vicious mind and the attack instincts of a wolverine---but Stuart is an educated gentleman. Respect should be shown.

Garfield| 2.2.12 @ 5:49PM

Are you saying that Gingrich has the grounds to sue Freddie Mac?

Forcing someone into a breach of contract is something a person can sue over.

SUBVET| 1.24.12 @ 10:41AM

Jabber3........you keep talking about the "Republican Brand" (second time) I ask you just what is the Republican Brand ? Come on you can tell the folks.

If you are talking about conservatism that ship sailed long ago.

Derek Leaberry| 1.24.12 @ 9:10AM

Contrary to Mr. Neumayr's analysis, Larry Kudlow just announced on Washington's WMAL that Romney "wiped the floor with Gingrich" in the first half-hour. However, Kudlow is firmly in Romney's camp due to Romney's work at Bain Capital. Despite Kudlow's somewhat famous conversion to Catholicism under the direction of the Opus Dei priest Father McCloskey of Washington's Catholic Information Center two decades ago, Kudlow remains a man who places free markets before God. His criticism of Newt Gingrich must be considered contorted by his lack of understanding of the Catholic faith.

loulou| 1.24.12 @ 11:56AM

Of course Kudlow would declare Romney the winner. Why did Kudlow convert to Catholicism? He used to be a cocaine addict. I don't hold that against him and I'm glad he's "clean" with the help of Catholicism but let's have full disclosure.

W| 1.24.12 @ 6:18PM

Why do you care why Kudlow converted to Catholicism and why is that important for full disclosure?

RCV| 1.24.12 @ 6:44PM

Because the anti-Catholic strain amongst the Bible-belt Christians runs strong and deep, W, as I'm sure you noticed on this blogsite.

Kade| 1.24.12 @ 2:38PM

Newt correctly is endorsing some of Ron Paul’s good conservative ideas, especially reigning in the socialist Fed. Newt should do the same with Trump’s street-savvy, pro-American views.

Then Newt can run as a pro-American conservative for We The People and against the corporate/Washington/media elites -- Kudlow included. If Newt does this he wins big.

Kade| 1.24.12 @ 3:23PM

If I remember correctly Kudlow was for TARP and other bailouts, including monopoly money from Helicopter Ben. Kudlow is an open-border, pro-China globalist posing as a conservative -- part of the cheap-labor wing of the GOP, which distorts true conservatism.

Kudlow and the CNBC moneymen love free markets when the stock market is rising but want We The People to rescue them when the market collapses. They are corporate (stealth) socialists for the wealthy.

W| 1.24.12 @ 6:19PM

How is belief in free markets incompatible with the Catholic faith?

martin j smith| 1.24.12 @ 9:12AM

I can detect either Romneybots,Paulbots, or Obamabots in some posts. I ignore you. For those of us who really want to get rid of Obama in this election coming up only-vote the R line but not the party itself. The R line is no to Socialism and Obama in particular. Let the voters decide the nominee not the pundits whoever they are and not the MSM After 2012 we can have a debate about staying with the Republican Line or a Third Party. Lets do 2012 first he ?

loulou| 1.24.12 @ 11:57AM

No. RINOs must leave our party. They can form a third party or they can join the Democrat Party.

steve| 1.24.12 @ 8:30PM

loulou, you are an idiot. You should leave the Republican party.

martin j smith| 1.24.12 @ 9:14AM

The idea that a MSM yahoo can call the shots at "our debates" is ludicrous-and shames those in the Republican Party who set this up. You are shameful cowards and need replacement.

canuckistani| 1.24.12 @ 11:36AM

Why do the candidates, especially Newtie, show up to ALL of the MSM debates?

If they get bad questions, respond in kind as Newtie has done. The POTUS will be expected to deal with friends and enemies alike. Seeing them in action dealing with adversity is a positive development for voters. If a candidate cannot defend himself from ad hominum or ludicrous attacks, then he has no business running. This is the big leagues where allies and enemies change seats rapidly.

We frankly - fundamentally - basically - should be having the debates moderated by Moveon.org and the ACLU. Let them throw grenades at them now rather than during the general. A strong debater like Newtie would relish the chance to counterstrike them on national TV.

If the GOP is so confident in their positions, then why complain? Fight it with vigor.

Frank Drackman | 1.24.12 @ 9:27AM

As the graduate of an Intergrated Pubic Highschool, you know, 98% minority, the only way your gonna beat an N-word is to fight dirty...
Like the Israeli's at Entebbe, they didn't give the terrorists a chance to put their hands up, and even though just the idea of the Ugandan Air Force is enough for a good Sit-Com, they blew up the Mig-21s...
And I don't care what his Resume says, aint no way Mit Romney's been in a Street Fight.
Newt, OTOH, TOOK HIS DYING WIFE DIVORCE PAPERS IN THE HOSPITAL!!!!!!!!!
OK, she wasn't really dying, still, who would you rather go into a Southwest Atlanta Crackhouse with?
nuff' said

Frank

loulou| 1.24.12 @ 12:00PM

The divorce papers in a hospital thing is a myth anyhow. But you're right--we have had it with pantywaists. I don't want a "respectful" fight against Obama like the doddering old idiot McCain thought he'd get brownie points for.

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 4:30PM

Dracula:

Totally agree. As I said before, I want a guy willing to push Obama's head into the sewer, and play very very dirty, because Obama has NEVER been in that type of fight before. Let's talk about cocaine and patronizing gay Chicago bathhouses while married to the Wookie...let's talk about being friends with brutal sick twisted copkillers like Dohrn...let's go into the sewer and destroy our enemy so that he can retire in disgrace. McCain was a pantywaisted twerp.

RCV| 1.24.12 @ 6:47PM

Occam, if you're really starting to believe this gay bathhouse crap you've spouting, I've completely lost my respect for your intellectual capacity.

SUBVET| 1.24.12 @ 7:03PM

RCV..........whats the matter truth hurt all they were trying to do is get clean.

THEY define the rules of engagment, so when we play by their rules it's being RACIEST or not fair.

Patton's words.........make the other dumb SOB die for his country.

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 9:35PM

My point is...this was used to run Cain out of the race. Hurts when it's used on you...

By the way, there is some interesting stuff on the blogosphere about this type of thing...

My point is that Obama needs to be VERY careful where he goes with Gingrich on this, because there are people in Chi who dislike him intensely, and, while McCain might be above a smear, I don't think Newt is.

On the other hand, though, I would have shown a cop being blown up and Obama having a social function in the copkiller's house NIGHTLY. It's true, it's verified, it's filthy. Dohrn killed that cop with a bomb. Obama started his career in her house. I'd mention it every goshdarned day, for three meals a day showing a cop being ripped to pieces with nails.

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 9:38PM

RCV:

the accusation is out there, and not from me...it's as solid as the "open marriage" quote, and more solid than the Cain slanderers.

I'm willing to put a dirty sanchez on Obama to win.

RCV| 1.24.12 @ 11:13PM

If there is one guy people will never stomach, it's Gingrich. Watching Mitch Daniels tonight reminded me how competitive the GOP could be this election year if they nominated an articulate honorable defender of free market conservatism. Instead, they're now rallying around a corrupt, unethical, morally debased and personally repulsive guy who was tossed out as Speaker by his own party. I genuinely relish the prospect of crushing him, and taking down a lot of Republicans with him.

RCV| 1.24.12 @ 11:17PM

...and the bathhouse was in Kenya, Occam. You guys will run with anything and don't realize how foolish it makes your side look to most folks. At least Daniels was smart enough to commend Obama on strengthening good stable families by example - a sort of backhand slap at Newt "Fannie Mae's Official Historian" Gingrich.

Occam's Tool| 1.25.12 @ 12:01AM

Man's Country...Chicago, RCV.

By the way, it exists.

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 11:56PM

See my story above...I don't know if I do believe, RCV, and quite frankly, I don't care much...but it's a great story and I hope it gets legs. I want him to waste time telling Americans that he did not have anonymous homosexual fellatio in a bathhouse while married to Michelle. This crap was pulled on Herman Cain, and that was what destroyed him, not his intellectual laziness (Obama is far more lazy than Herman). I have no problem with the politics of destruction, and why should the Dhimmicrats have all the fun? can you imagine his pained little prissy expression having to pull a Bill Clinton saying I did not have sex with, and having the Republican media discussing the risks of blackmail on this, etc. A laugh riot a minute.

The point is, RCV, Obama's a horrible scumbag, and I want to destroy his campaign by any legal means necessary. I also think that the Republican campaign should have what is in the LA Times' vaults, on Obama attending a party with terrorists (Khalidi) and Obama's educational transcripts in College and Law School. Since Obama seems to have the "luck of the Irish" in getting damaging data out on his opponents, turnabout is fair play. And I think Newt would relish this type of hardball, and Romney wouldn't. It doesn't matter to you, RCV, you will vote for Obama anyway. So your "advice" is kind of suspect given this. But you're still fun.

McCain didn't want to go filthy on Obama. I do, and I want a bare knuckles Republican candidate who will lie and cheat and do anything in the Bill Clinton playbook to win. I want to drag Obama through the sewers and destroy his reputation before we beat him.

This, my boy, is politics CHICAGO STYLE! I grew up on it.

SUBVET| 1.24.12 @ 6:52PM

TOOL............Chicago bathhouse...oh ya wasen't RE his partner. That's right most muslems violate little boys......since both are.......makes sence.

Hope TLP doesn't read this...we will get the real back story.

martin j smith| 1.24.12 @ 9:48AM

Frank what is your point ?

Frank Drackman | 1.24.12 @ 10:27AM

that your a dumbass..
and secondly,
Mitt Romney's a Pussy-Couldnt even beat McCains old wrinkly ass-and-oughta-be-proud-of-his-inherited-wealth..

frank

Con Chef (NB) | 1.24.12 @ 12:27PM

Those who're about to call others a "dumbass" would be well served to know the difference between "your" & "you're."

Just for future reference.

Garymac| 1.24.12 @ 10:03AM

Have we become so inert as an audience that we need a soundtrack to know how to react? Audience participation has been banned from presidential debates since Ford debated Carter in 1976. There will be no audience reaction allowed when the GOP candidate faces off against Obama, if the same rules apply.

P.Smith| 1.24.12 @ 10:09AM

“…and envisions Fidel Castro "returning to his maker" before setting off for another "land."…”

This actually has something to with mormonism, if I remember correctly mormons reject the concept of hell except for those mormons that reject the faith. Nonbelievers get a second chance to get things right in some sort of purgatory, sort of like Hindus.

canuckistani| 1.24.12 @ 11:39AM

white horse rides in as the the country hangs by a thread?

Frank Drackman | 1.24.12 @ 10:30AM

Mitt should simply explain that to someone with a Net Worth of $250,000,000, making $375,000
is like someone who has a net work of $25,000 making an extra $37.50.
It's simple fractions/ratios/proportions
and betting Rick Perry $10,000 is like the average Schmo 6-Pack puring a $1 lottery ticket...

Frank

loulou| 1.24.12 @ 12:01PM

I don't care if Mitt has a net worth of $500,000,000. I just don't want him as my nominee.

W| 1.24.12 @ 10:34AM

Mitt, Newt, and Rick agree on just about every issue: abortion, immigration, cutting taxes, cutting spending, and drilling for oil. They attack each other's records and statements to show who is the "real conservative" who will stick to the conservative ideas. As a result the debates and campaigns have turned to personal attacks. Is Newt a lobbyist, and why did he leave the speakership in 1998? Is Romney too rich and made too much money and was he mean for closing unprofitable companies?

While their past records may indicate how they will act as president, we should focus on what they are saying now. If you look at the record of Reagan as governor, he signed an abortion bill and tax increases. This would disqualify him in today's climate of purity for conservatives.

These personal attacks are further caused by these weekly debates where the moderators ask the candidates to comment (attack) on the others' statements and records. The candidates should stop taking the bait, and stick to the issues and attack Obama.

Garfield| 2.2.12 @ 5:50PM

What will Mitt's postitions be next week though?

Mike| 1.24.12 @ 10:36AM

Face it. Romney simply does not have the skills necessary to woo the troglodytes in the GOP. Having never associated with them, he doesn't understand them. I suspect he finds incomprehensible the woman attending a Santorum rally who insisted that the President is a devout Muslim who has no right to be president. Santorum, unlike McCain four years ago, chose not to correct the record, thereby bearing false witness. So much for being a good Christian.

To date, I have dismissed the idea of a brokered convention. Now, I'm not so sure. The party grandees may have to engineer one to insure that the angry, ill-informed Tea Party base doesn't deliver a sure fire loser as its nominee.

loulou| 1.24.12 @ 12:02PM

What are you babbling about?
That Obama is not "devout?"

Mike| 1.24.12 @ 6:35PM

Well, loulou, if Callista is the standard, the president is not devout.

David| 1.24.12 @ 10:37AM

Santorum is the only one who can distinguish himself from Obama on some very important issues. He detailed 3 big issues in last night's debate on which Gingrich and Romney agreed with Obama, and then pointed out that those were 3 big reasons the tea party movement was started.

Santorum IS THE CLEAR CONTRAST WITH BAM BAM.

David| 1.24.12 @ 10:46AM

Santorum is clearly the pro free enterprise candidate. As he said, he was against the Wall Street bailout while Gingrich, Romney, and even Perry supported it.

It was great to see him shove Romneys words down his throat: "there is some destruction that goes on in capitalism". I loved when he asked both Romney and Gingrich why those entities who couldn't survive on their own weren't allowed to fail?

Santorum represents the greatest contrast with Bam Bam.

canuckistani| 1.24.12 @ 11:41AM

Santorum was against the wall street bailout because he had no stake in it.

The bailout was the right thing to do, period.

Santorum has no business being in the final rounds.

loulou| 1.24.12 @ 12:04PM

Good God. You're not on the dole, are you? Read some economics and educate yourself.

Gary| 1.24.12 @ 10:56AM

Who appointed Williams teacher in chief?

martin j smith| 1.24.12 @ 11:09AM

I will bet that no one can show me in this cycle that Romney has not made one effort to woo real Conservatives not his phoney baloney BS. Like those who would vote for Santorum or Herman Cain for that matter. Explain why Romney prefers to attack in Republican opponents and not focus on Obama especially with SOTUS coming up? This the right time. I have no confidence in Romney or the RNC and their supporters AT ALL. NONE--in terms of actually wanting to stop Obama. Is Rush Limbaugh correct that like John McCain Romney is the Republican throw away candidate ?

somnolence| 1.24.12 @ 11:12AM

Canuckistani, I believe you missed the point I was making about Sanford over Newt. Really think about why I brought Sanford up in the first place in comparison to Newt.

somnolence| 1.24.12 @ 11:17AM

I'm actually glad that a MSM "yahoo" had the cajones to put an audience in their place in order to avoid the aping of the OWS, or turning into "yahoos" themselves. Decorum, please. We're not tolerating a mob in a brothel.

somnolence| 1.24.12 @ 11:19AM

BTW this election WON'T be close with Gingrich as the LOSING nominee. Romney will make it close, but will lose by a razor-thin margin. I have to be truthful, that is the way I see it. I'm prepared to vote for Gary Johnson if Newt, Mitch Daniels, Haley Barbour, or Jeb Bush is the nominee.

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 4:43PM

I think Gingrich will beat Obama because he will be willing to go nuclear. (The gay bathhouse data, Reggie Love, etc.) Nuclear is what we need.

somnolence| 1.24.12 @ 11:20AM

I would suggest that we concentrate strongly in reaching a CONSERVATIVE, filibuster proof U.S. Senate.

Haddit| 1.24.12 @ 1:05PM

I agree

Haddit| 1.24.12 @ 1:08PM

Scratch that "I agree" . I just read some of your other stuff somnolence.

martin j smith| 1.24.12 @ 11:38AM

We do have a bunch of jerks who post for example Frank Drackman who could be an Obamabot,Romneybot or a bot bot. His type of response demonstrates why we are in trouble.

loulou| 1.24.12 @ 12:07PM

Drackman is not a jerk (not that he needs me to defend him)--you just didn't "get" his post today.

J.C. Sampsell| 1.24.12 @ 11:59AM

How did Santorum and Paul do? Oh, that's right...the first four states get to determine who the nominee should be. So you just go ahead and slant things that way. All of us in the 46 will just believe what you think. We'll get the long-time Washington politician, Newt (see: McCain) or the left-leaning moderate, Mitt (see: McCain) to face Obama again. Great strategy!

Clint| 1.24.12 @ 12:19PM

Rush Limbaugh,
"Don't they want to win at the end of the day?" I think that you've hit the nail on the head with the question.
What they want is somebody they think will not lose the House and might help 'em win the Senate. November 10th, I told you this, and I have been saying it every day since."

Haddit| 1.24.12 @ 12:39PM

I haven't heard ya say anything really but promote Ron Paul, Clint..........

Cpm| 1.24.12 @ 3:55PM

And don't forget Rand Paul, who inherets the Presidency when the old man croaks.

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 4:45PM

Haddit: He doesn't do anything but promote Ron Paul, Haddit, because THAT'S WHAT HE DOES! (Say that like the hero says it in the original Terminator movie)

He's a flatulent, antisemitic, pro-Iranian scumbag. That's Ron Paul or Clint, take your pick.

albert constantine jr| 1.24.12 @ 9:18PM

(Say that like the hero says it in the original Terminator movie)

Michael Biehn as Kyle Reese

Occam's Tool| 1.25.12 @ 12:27AM

Yeah, he was awesome in it. Should have won Best Actor...

Clint | 1.24.12 @ 9:52PM

You're A Slandering Israel Firster Traitor Bastard Coward Liar, Tool Job.

You're The RINO-CINO Israel Firster,Who Said He'll Vote For The RINO-CINO Frontman, Mittens Romney.

The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To A Brokered Convention.

Occam's Tool| 1.24.12 @ 11:58PM

Say something Philosemitic ,Clint, so I can believe you like Jews. How about a discussion of Jewish Nobel Prize Winners. there have only been about 160 or so of them. Should keep you busy a while.

Occam's Tool| 1.25.12 @ 12:00AM

I know my mommy and daddy, Clint. They were married August 26, 1961, and I was born August 3, 1962. I'm no bastard. You, on the other hand, were the offspring of a Black Car Chasing Lab and your daddy who fell in luuuv...

Haddit| 1.24.12 @ 12:37PM

Did anyone really think NBC was going to have any Conservatives in the audiance? I don't recall seeing any black folk in that bunch either. Seems a bit strange to me. Obviously there was no applause to amount to anything but there were no blacks either, so were there any real conservatives? I sincerely doubt it..........

Haddit| 1.24.12 @ 1:04PM

Obama will make out like he's created thousands of jobs tonight. What he wont say is where he created them. I can't say "jobs" in Chinese and I doubt he can either but..................Obama has a real problem in saying the whole story. Don't be fooled people. He has no desire to be sane either it appears. No pipe line but willing to go to war with Iran over oil. The man's a nut case, period. Notice? He wont take any questions from Fox. Wonder why that is. Probably because he can't control the questions..............

Anthony| 1.24.12 @ 1:42PM

BRAIN TEASE OF THE DAY
1,000 days represents which of the following:
A. The number of days Obozo will play golf in his second term.
B. The number of days it will take Joe Biteme to figure out the San. Fran. Giants didn't win the NFC Championship game.
C. The number of days Harry Reid and the D senate have not passed a budget.
D. The number of days Brain Williams and NBC News have failed to do a comprehensive story on "Fast & Furious".
E. All of the above.

somnolence| 1.24.12 @ 1:56PM

I'm not fooled by the Muslim impostor either. But somehow against this current crop he is going to scamper through. Hope for a filibuster proof Senate and that SCOTUS hands down a judgement of UNCONSTITUTIONAL against Obamacare in June. Because if the GOP candidate loses bigtime it can have coattails.

Mrs. Vito| 1.24.12 @ 2:25PM

And Romney is the guy that Ann Coulter almost soiled herself on O'Reilly last night over?? Real conservatives aren't fooled! Get a vibrator, Ann!!

J.C. Sampsell| 1.24.12 @ 6:41PM

Amen, Mrs. V. How sickening was that!!?

Uncle Samuel| 1.24.12 @ 3:43PM

Newt won the debate hands down, despite Romney’s attacks.

Newt’s answers were thoughtful and revealed a huge grasp, understanding, research, experience, etc. of every issue discussed.

After the debate, Andrea Mitchell and the other commentator used the word, Presidential.

Rightly so.

David| 1.24.12 @ 4:21PM

Forget about Newt asking his wife for an open marriage and the 3 wives stuff. I like what the 2nd wife reported he said when she admonished him about things he does.

Newt said: "People don't care about what I do. They only care about what I say. And I can say things better than anyone else can say them".

Whoa. THAT SOUNDS EERILY LIKE OUR CURRENT PLANET HEALER AND RECEDER OF OCEANS.

And because I absolutely believe his wife on that, I think Newt is an arrogant opportunist with an ego at least as big as Bam Bam's.

We better get behind Santorum while we still have the chance.

kevin | 1.24.12 @ 6:06PM

What have ANY of the others done, besides a Single payer Government Health Care Plan, and Nominating Liberal Judges to the bench?

PCP Smoker| 1.24.12 @ 8:30PM

Absolutely right, and one of the few columns that gets to the heart of the issue. The fact is that for all of Romney's attractive qualities (family, presence, wife, business acumen), the man does not know conservatism. This is a more successful variation of what John McLame was selling in 08. Time for Newt to "Jerold Loughner" Mittens Romney.

POST American| 1.24.12 @ 10:27PM

---------------------FINAL WORD----------------------

DO a little inventory sometime of the
number of people, neighbors, friends,
relatives, who've died, or been afflicted
by EUGENICS planted cancer viruses
in the vaccines ---the GMO foods ---the
bisphenol A saturation of everything etc..

Then take a good long look at that 1995
photo of Gingrich giving his 'feel good'
EUGENICS lectures on the lakeside of

----------------BOHEMIAN GROVE--------------.

We think, even through the haze of
Rockefeller meds and Tavistock controlled
media ------you'll KNOW what to do.

rhcrest| 1.25.12 @ 6:46PM

No clapping rule? Obviously this was done so that the audience at home won't see how much the conservatives in the audience get excited when they are telling the truth. The audience should have clapped anyway

Luke S. | 1.26.12 @ 5:05PM

By George, he's nailed in on the head.

I saw Newt speak for the first time at the Heritage Foundation, back in 1988, before he was well known outside Washington. I was impressed by his rapid recall of numerous facts and how he applied them to the questions put to him.

Romney, on the other hand, seems to be simply the latest in a long line of Republicans in Name Only, presented to us by the GOP Establishment for us to shut up and vote for. They say he is Conservative, while a quick look at his past reveals he is nothing of the sort. For instance, the good folks at http://massresistance.org/romney/ have given the subject a detailed examination.

Romney is a RINO, and I will not vote for him. My preference is for Santorum, but of the surviving candidates, my second choice will be Newt.

POST American| 1.26.12 @ 10:36PM

-----------------BOTTOMLESS LINE-------------------

AND REMEMBER FOLKS:

"Survey all the future studies of the
major think tanks in the US and Europe.

ALLL of them speak of MASSIVE violent
demonstrations across the west that
are expected to last 30 years. ---30 years!

All this expected to kick-off in 2013 or so.
Now, what on earth could have people
THAT angry --THAT long?"

Well, how about, as power is rolled back and
even shut down, and as you discover your
money is worthless and your pensions
aren't there ----AND both you and your offspring
have been covertly sterilized-----and
finally realize they're due to come down
with gut rotting GMO cancers---

--------------------THAT'S WHAT----------------------

SO, SAVE THIS POST

------------YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT-------------

electric vehicle | 1.28.12 @ 10:16PM

electric vehicle

Russell| 1.30.12 @ 1:26AM

Were Neumayr to trade his humble superstition for zen , there would be more joy in heaven that tears on earth .

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