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Florida Fireworks Finale

By on 1.27.12 @ 6:10AM

Romney, Santorum shine in Sunshine State debate.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Newt Gingrich tried to defend his claim that Mitt Romney is “the most anti-immigrant candidate” in last night’s Republican presidential debate here, an accusation that Romney called “inexcusable” and “repulsive.”

Gingrich did not seem to understand that this accusation, made in a Spanish-language radio ad aimed at South Florida’s large Latino population, may actually end up helping Romney win next week’s primary. The controversy stirred by the ad, which Gingrich ordered his campaign to pull off the air, highlights differences of policy — and puts Gingrich clearly to Romney’s left, which isn’t a good place to be in a Republican primary.

After a long discussion of the issue, CNN moderator Wolf Blitzer asked Gingrich, “I just want to make sure I understand. Is [Romney] still the most anti-immigrant candidate?” The former House Speaker answered: “I think, of the four of us, yes.” This provoked a long response from Romney, who said he favors “enforcing the U.S. law to protect our borders,” a position that is not “anti-immigrant.” Romney accused Gingrich of “the kind of over-the-top rhetoric that has characterized American politics too long,” and then invoked the most popular Republican in Florida: “I’m glad that Marco Rubio called you out on it. I’m glad you withdrew it. I think you should apologize for it, and I think you should recognize that having differences of opinions on issues does not justify labeling people with highly charged epithets.”

Thursday’s debate, the 19th televised debate among Republican presidential candidates this year, certainly did not lack fireworks. And while many political junkies have become weary of watching these affairs, the event here on the campus of the University of North Florida may be as decisive as the South Carolina debates that were credited with helping Gingrich score a crucial win there Saturday. Polls this week in Florida show Romney pulling away, and the former Massachusetts governor had one of his best-ever debate performances Thursday, while Gingrich had one of his worst yet.

While arguments between the two Florida frontrunners got the biggest play, however, Thursday was also an impressive performance for former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. Polls show Santorum running a distant third in the Sunshine State, but he slammed both Gingrich and Romney for their previous stances on health care. “This is the top-down model that both of these gentlemen say they’re now against, but they’ve been for, and it does not provide the contrast we need with Barack Obama if we’re going to take on that most important issue,” Santorum said. “We cannot give the issue of health care away in this election. It is too foundational for us to win this election.”

This provoked an extended argument between Santorum and Romney over the so-called “individual mandate” in the health legislation Romney supported in Massachusetts. When Santorum’s criticism of the Massachusetts plan grew heated, Romney replied by saying “it’s not worth getting angry about.” Asked after the debate about that flare-up, Santorum described himself as “passionate,” and his passionate performance won praise from many conservatives, including Guy Benson of Townhall.com: “What a night for the former Pennsylvania Senator … he definitely made a very serious case that he might be the best Not Romney in the race.” Santorum seems unlikely to score the kind of miraculous last-minute surge in the Sunshine State that carried him to victory in the Iowa caucuses three weeks ago, but Thursday’s debate could help him gain support as he seeks to rekindle his campaign’s sense of momentum.

At this point, no candidate in the race has been able to win two consecutive contests. After Santorum edged Romney in Iowa, Romney came back to win convincingly in New Hampshire. But Gingrich won solidly in South Carolina, halting Romney’s momentum. If current Florida polls are accurate and Romney wins here Tuesday, the biggest challenge for Romney’s opponents will be to raise enough money to continue the fight through a long campaign.

About the Author

Robert Stacy McCain is co-author (with Lynn Vincent) of Donkey Cons: Sex, Crime, and Corruption in the Democratic Party (Nelson Current). He blogs at The Other McCain.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (175) |

Timothy L. Pennell| 1.27.12 @ 6:26AM

I'm not worried about it. Unless someone on the stage calls Hussein a N*gg*r, there's no way he's gonna win.

2011 was the WORST Year for Home Sales, since they started keeping track. So, now he's the No Homes Sold President, to go along with his other titles of: Food Stamp President. The Gun Running President. The Unemployment Check President. The Trillion $ Deficit Every Year President. The $6 Trillion Added To Our Debt President. The Homeless President. (And the Press will NEVER talk about that one.) The Bankruptcy President. The Highest Black Unemployment Rate in 28Years President. The Misery Index President. The Most Americans living in Poverty President. The Canadian Oil to China President. And, the Downgrade of our Credit Rating President.

Like I said: I wouldn't worry about it.

Jack in Wi.| 1.27.12 @ 6:48AM

No pro war Republican will win. Oblabla is going to run as the the guy who got Bin Laden, ended the Iraq war, and is bringing the troops home from Afganistan. As for the economy, he will blame it all on the Republicans and the rich. It worked for FDR and Truman 4 times. Bernanke will print money like never before. The economy will look it's recovering but it will really be it's final gasp.

The column is laughable. The most memorable lines of the debate were all the times the other guys said." I agree with Ron Paul. " Florida is just one of 50 states in this long line of primaries and caucus'. When the Florida primary is over 95% of the delegates will still have to be picked.

I think if Gingrich loses Florida he is done. That leaves it down to the ony 2 guys who could ever beat Obama, Romney, and Ron Paul. Romney represents the old guard who has led the countrty over the cliff repeatedly in the last 24 years. I honestly don't think that the country wants what he is selling. Ron Paul and his insurgents reprsents all the real conservatives and libertarians in the Party.He is the only one bringing new people into the party. I also think he is the only guy who could carry Wi. No pro war, pro bankster Republican has a chance in this state. One thing I will say is that this debate was more civil. If the party is going to be united to beat Obama, it must have thoughtful and civil debate to see if the waring factions can reach an accomidation. Right now I don't think the Party can be re-united.

Timothy L. Pennell| 1.27.12 @ 7:26AM

Will you PLEASE get some new material.

"No Pro War Republican will win." I'm sure that you're well aware of the Definition of INSANE. Right? It's: "Doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result, and writing the Comments that Clint writes."

Pay attention. LISTEN. I'm trying to help you.

Unless all of the other Candidates DROP DEAD, the Great Doctor Demento will not win. If he couldn't win in Florida, where half of the people are as Old and Confused as he is, then he ain't winning ANYWHERE.

No Santa Clause. No Easter Bunny. No Leprechauns. And, no President Popeye.

GOT IT?!

Cynicon Implant| 1.27.12 @ 9:36AM

Funny stuff TLP! Keep it up!

Margie| 1.27.12 @ 3:01PM

Seconded. Capiche?

Margie| 1.27.12 @ 3:26PM

That "capiche" was to TP.. it's an inside kind of thing. :^).

Timothy L. Pennell| 1.27.12 @ 4:45PM

Thank You, Margie.

Cosmo| 1.28.12 @ 9:11PM

Romney's response to Santorum's attacks on RomneyCare should have been: "It was your support of Arlen Spector over Pat Toomey that led to the passage of ObamaCare. Spector became the 60th vote to pass this atrocity."

Jack in Wi.| 1.27.12 @ 9:58AM

No warmonger, chicken hawk, Republican can be elected in this country. The people are sick to death of guys who want us involved in endless wars. Obama won as the peace candidate against a warmonger, that least wasn't a chicken hawk McCain. Sarah Palin also helped him get out the vote. This time the Republicans propose another Neocon, advocating more wars and more bankruptcy. Obama will again win as the peace candidate. We all know he is almost as big a filthy warmonger as the Neocons, but he can claim to have ended the Iraq war and to be bringing the troops home form Afganistan. If McCain had won we would have attacked Iran and Pakistan full force and been in WW3. Now some of the Republicans want to put up a lunatic like Gingrich or a Romney who is led along by the nose by his filthy Neocon advisors. It will lead to nothing but disaster.

Hobbes| 1.27.12 @ 10:44AM

“The people have had all the war, all the taxation, and all the military service they want.” Calvin Coolidge

Clint| 1.27.12 @ 2:20PM

George Will, "Today, we have a very different kind of foreign policy. It’s called Wilsonian. And the premise of the Bush Doctrine is that America must spread democracy, because our national security depends upon it. And America can spread democracy. It knows how. It can engage in national building. This is conservative or not?"

William F. Buckley, " It’s not at all conservative. It’s anything but conservative. It’s not conservative at all, inasmuch as conservatism doesn’t invite unnecessary challenges. It insists on coming to terms with the world as it is …”

Skywalker L. | 1.27.12 @ 10:21AM

Ron Paul will save us! Ron Paul will save us!

R2D2

weaverofdreams_2000| 1.27.12 @ 10:41AM

Who had the absolutely stupidest line of the night?

Anyone catch this?: "We are in a government created recession caused entirely by the business cycle."

Can someone please parse that and explain its logic?

Hint: Maybe Jackoff or Clint could help.

Cheers!

Shamus| 1.27.12 @ 10:53AM

It's easy enough to understand the meaning here, even though it's inaptly expressed.

They think government actions turned an ordinary business cycle into a deep economic downturn.

There's a great deal of debate about this point, with some blaming private sector greed while others blame Fannie/Freddie and the CRA.

One commentator thinks that crony capitalism is at fault, and deftly conflates it as crapitalism.

KennesawJack| 1.27.12 @ 1:03PM

I'm still trying to figure that one out.

richard mcenroe | 1.27.12 @ 11:01AM

Ron Paul doesn't have to worry about funding as long as his supporters are getting their relief checks.

Clint| 1.28.12 @ 11:17AM

Say That To Faces Of The Military, Who Donate To Dr.Ron Paul's Campaign.

DevilDog| 1.27.12 @ 11:17AM

ron paul=REMF
gutless, cowardly, yellow bellied, sniveling. just like all his worshippers.

as useful as a tick on a hindteat on a boar

Clint| 1.28.12 @ 11:20AM

Punk Ass Israel Firster Smear Bund Girls, Like Devil's Butt Crack Here, Got A Bad Habit Of Badmouthing Veteran Military Officers.

JmsA| 1.27.12 @ 3:34PM

Hey Jack, just in case your boy, Paul, still harbors any thoughts about talking with the Cuban tyrant, here's what he said on 01/27/2012:

"The selection of a Republican candidate for the presidency of this globalized and expansive empire is -- and I mean this seriously -- the greatest competition of idiocy and ignorance that has ever been...” And no, he did not endorse your boy. I don't think he's in a talking mood, do you?

How anyone can believe someone only polling in the teens in his supposed own party can actually win a general election is simply beyond the reach of reason.

spike59| 1.30.12 @ 6:20AM

Spare me the fiction about 'DrRonPaul' bringing new people into the party-puh-leeze! the crazy old coot hasn't managed to bring more than 3 whole delegates to his column...

obadiah| 1.27.12 @ 6:52AM

I could use the same technique to smear Lincoln. Using the kind of rhetoric Republicans use against Obama, Lincoln was a narcissist who forced the nation into a Civil War.

Alan Brooks| 1.27.12 @ 8:10AM

"Lincoln was a narcissist who forced the nation into a Civil War."

Slavery was legal in the South, but the South adding slave states as satellites was not-- Lincoln was a narcissist, yes, but the South made fatal errors.

They were SORE LOSERMEN.

Vern Crisler | 1.27.12 @ 8:16AM

I wish both of you would get lost.

Vern Crisler | 1.27.12 @ 9:16AM

Sorry obadiah, I see you are not actually insulting Lincoln.

Alan Brooks| 1.27.12 @ 10:03AM

Right, Obadiah was a bit convoluted, however Lincoln WAS a narcissist, politicians are actors, they are by definition narcissists. Prime evidence: Newton Gingrich PhD.

Vern Crisler | 1.27.12 @ 11:49AM

Lincoln was concerned about defending the political philosophy of freedom of the founding fathers. He was not doing this for himself.

Alan Brooks| 1.27.12 @ 11:55AM

"Lincoln was concerned about defending the political philosophy of freedom of the founding fathers. He was not doing this for himself."

Abe had an eye cocked on his photos in the history books, you can be sure of that. Amazing how such hardnosed guys like you can be so unaware of such.

KennesawJack| 1.27.12 @ 1:10PM

Let's interupt this little exercise in revisionism with the following:
1. Lincoln is elected.
2. South Carolina secedes.
3. South Carolina troops, under the command of one Pierre Gustav Toutaint Beauregard, (love the name) fire on Union Fort Sumter.
4. War begins.
What the hell was Lincoln supposed to do, you idiots? Roll over and let the Union dissolve.

Vern Crisler | 1.27.12 @ 1:16PM

Dittos KennesawJack....

TrueBlue | 1.27.12 @ 2:39PM

Exactly, the fault for the Civil War falls entirely on South Carolina's troops attacking Fort Sumter. If they had not done that the Union would have had no legal standing on fighting the war. THEN you could start arguing about the legality of the entire thing, however because Union troops were attacked Lincoln was correct in responding to it as an act of war.

The other southern states could have distanced themselves from South Carolina if they had wanted to, but they didn't (whether foolishness or a show of solidarity you can decide).

Margie| 1.27.12 @ 3:03PM

"Abe had an eye cocked on his photos in the history books.."

Baloney.

You must be talking about Bill Clinton/Jimmy Carter!!

Quartermaster| 1.28.12 @ 7:51PM

LOL! Lincoln was the tool of the Northeastern moneymen who could not tolerate the idea of a free trading Confederacy sharing a border with them. It was all about money and Lincoln was glad to oblige the wall streeters of his day.

RCV| 1.28.12 @ 10:23PM

Only a Southern apologist for the brutal system of chattel slavery could post such utter nonsense.

Shamus| 1.27.12 @ 11:01AM

Lincoln was more of a depressive personality than a narcissist. His election may have precipitated the ultimate conflict, but it's doubtful that the nation could have avoided it under any circumstances.

Alan Brooks| 1.27.12 @ 11:56AM

"but it's doubtful that the nation could have avoided it under any circumstances."

Agreed, the status Western territories were at stake.

Alan Brooks| 1.27.12 @ 11:58AM

.. the status of the territories as slave v. nonslave was issue #1.

Quartermaster| 1.28.12 @ 7:54PM

The western territories would not have supported chattel slavery. It had problems in eastern Texas, Oklahoma and never made it permanently into northern Missouri. The type of farming required to support it simply did not exist in the territories.

RCV| 1.28.12 @ 10:24PM

Then why was the South so insistent about its spread?

Alan Brooks| 1.27.12 @ 8:04AM

Difference between Newt and Paul is, Paul is honest; Newt will say anything to become POTUS, he is the most brilliant POTUS wannabe in 80 years, since Huey Long.
Unfortunately for Paul. Jack, although he is otherwise qualified, he has three disadvantages:
he is too honest.
he looks old and wizened.
he is a bit paranoid: the UN is toothless, it can't unite any nations. The UN is good at deciding which restaurants in NYC to charge expense accounts at, not a taking your guns and precious metals away from their hiding places.

Mr ED| 1.27.12 @ 10:00AM

"Newt will say anything to become POTUS, he is the most brilliant POTUS wannabe in 80 years"

I don't know if thats true, but Newt has certainly waded deep into Lib territory from time to time. Newt is very articulate, has an air of confidence and a relaxed presence on stage most of the time. I would love for him to be exactly what he seems to be, but I do have a lot of doubts.

Romney seems to be getting debate-coached and his new, more aggressive style just does not work for him. I also consider him to be a true RINO in every sense of the word, but I don't really know that for a fact. Like most people, you never really know what kind of a person they really are until they get to wield power.

Alan Brooks| 1.27.12 @ 10:08AM

"Newt is very articulate, has an air of confidence"

Because as Long and Geo. Wallace, he is a genius at manipulating audiences. Charismatic, too.
I dont want Gingrich assassinated, but if his death is necessary to remove his demagogy from America, then let him die in an accident: better Newt's death than our misfortune at having him.
Forgive Thine Enemy-- after they are dead!

Redstateboy| 1.27.12 @ 11:36AM

Hey BananaBrooks.. this election is only about one thing and 1 thing only.. the current POS POTUS pursuing the destruction of the United States of America.

Alan Brooks| 1.27.12 @ 12:02PM

you mean WHITE America? when your handle is Redstateboy, you can expect a question such as that whether or not it is warranted. Because just as you mistrust me, I mistrust you.

Alan Brooks| 1.27.12 @ 12:07PM

...BTW,
since Lincoln is discussed above, I don't say I like Lincoln, I say I like how he derailed the Confederacy- which was an abortion no matter how you look at it.

Dave Williams| 1.27.12 @ 12:50PM

Oh, Brooksie-boy, you have just revealed the Marinas-trench depth of your ignorance. You don't think Oblahblah has destroyed BLACK America????

KennesawJack| 1.27.12 @ 1:14PM

True, that. Without the continued enslavement of blacks by the Democrats, they cannot retain power. The last thing the Left wants is a self-reliant, educated, ambitious, and integrated black population and they will do everything they can to make damn sure they never get that way.

Quartermaster| 1.28.12 @ 7:58PM

There is a book about Lincoln's regime entitled "Freeing Slaves, Enslaving Free Men," that gets down to brass tacks on the issue. Without Lincoln there is no Wilson, FDR, Truman, LBJ, Carter, Clinton, or Obama. Lincoln refounded the country, destroying the Republic. In the process, teh descendants of the slaves have themselves been enslaved and have lived on the Dimocrat plantation, where Brooksie likes them, racist that he is.

RCV| 1.28.12 @ 10:26PM

Says the man who defends the despicable abomination that was the South.

RCV| 1.28.12 @ 10:25PM

No

Alan Brooks| 1.29.12 @ 10:00PM

"Says the man who defends the despicable abomination that was the South."

And the Confederacy was undeniably an abortion, it existed from late 1860 to Spring 1865.
That's it.

Alan Brooks| 1.29.12 @ 10:02PM

... even the Third Reich managed to last 12 years.

spike59| 1.30.12 @ 6:24AM

"HONEST?????" Mr 'Fiscal Conservative', who's attached hundreds of millions in legislative earmarks? "HONEST?" Mr 'Constitutional Defender' who promises that, as President, he'll undertake actions that are not allowed the Chief Executive under the Constitution? "HONEST?" the same guy who can't give a straightforward explanation for his own racist, antisemitic, homophobic, and conspiracy theory-saturated newsletters that netted him MILLIONS? give me a break.

rhortus| 1.29.12 @ 5:24PM

And "they" say Obama is g0ing to get re-elected. I think anyone including a convicted felon will beat Obama.

RCV| 1.29.12 @ 10:38PM

But not an unconvicted one like Gingrich.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.27.12 @ 6:39AM

I wonder if the Romney campaign, as well as the others read at AMSPEC.

After the last debate there was a suggestion in the comments section that Romney hire a debate coach and he did. He is Professor O'Donnell from Liberty University. I think he also coached McCain and Bachmann for what that's worth. Somehow he got through to Romney and this has started to turn Romney into a politician.

All the candidates missed a prime opportunity to help the woman in the audience. They should have offered to pay for her to have her resume professionally done and to attend a class on how to interview. In fact, it would have been brilliant for one of them to offer her an interview with their campaign.

Santorum will soon look like a fool with all his top down government talk. He's one of the biggest pork barrel government specialists who ever walked the halls of Congress.

In the meantime Romney was totally on top of his game and his universe and I hope he stays there.

The Republicans don'ts need a conservative now. They need a takeover specialist who can come in and reorganize the organization.

They are lucky to have Romney but they are too stupid to realize it.

Newt Gingrich looked like a fool last night which is pretty much what he excels at without trying too hard.

Ron Paul? Okay, he's got some good points. He should quit now but I suspect his ego won't let him.

Timothy L. Pennell| 1.27.12 @ 7:58AM

"They're 'LUCKY' to have Romney? They don't need a Conservative, now? They need a takeover specialist who can come in and reorganize the organization"?

Really?

Cause last I looked, I saw Mitt Romney joining forces with CHARLIE CRIST, down in Florida.

You remember Charlie Crist, right?

Have you heard Romney's WORDS, from his Campaigns in Massachusetts? "I'm not a Reagan Man". "I'm a Moderate." "I'm a PROGRESSIVE".

He has a Single Payer GOVERNMENT Health Care System, in Massachusetts, that is KILLING the State. His people GLADLY went to the White House, to HELP Obama's people craft the OBAMACARE Socialized Medicine Plan.

He preferred to nominate Liberal/Progressive Judges, to the Bench, when he was Governor of Mass. (It was easier, that way.)

And, when he's confronted with a LYING Ad, that his Super Pac put out, and that ends with Mitt Romney saying: "I'm Mitt Romney, and I approved this Ad", and he says: "That's not my Ad", I guess he's just not very HONEST, is he?

Newt Gingrich, for all of his blemishes, Resurrected the Republican Party from oblivion. 40 Years in the Wilderness. 40 Years of the Democrats controlling the Purse Strings. He cleaned out the CROOKS, on the Democrat side. Jim Wright, and the Check Kiter from Illinois. (The Pollack) He got the House Bank SHUT DOWN, and forced Congress to Obey the Laws that they write for the Rest of us. He got Welfare Reform, and he got us a BALANCED BUDGET.

That's what I call: A TAKEOVER SPECIALIST. He's a guy who came in and Reorganized the Organization.

WTF did Mitt Romney EVER do?

And, don't trot out the Olympics.
That would be Pathetic, at best.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.27.12 @ 8:35AM

Name me one conservative President since JFK.

Nixon started the EPA. Look at it now. It's destroyed more jobs on purpose than the economy has done through normal forces.
Reagan's the reason we have an illegal immigration problem now. Also, he was not the big tax cutter you hear about.

H.W. Bush raised taxes and also did an S&L bail out eerily similar to TARP.

W. Bush was an amnesty promoter just like Gingrich. The only thing Bush appeared conservative on was defense but I don't see where he really had a choice.

So where is the Republican conservative platform?

There never has been anything other than talk and fantasy.

Some of the biggest earmarkers in Congress right now are Republicans.

You really need to come out of your fantasy that there's ever been a need for conservatism in the Republican Party.

Prove me wrong. You can't.

Timothy L. Pennell| 1.27.12 @ 9:07AM

I never sais you were wrong.

You're just STUPID.

Nobody said Nixon was a conservative. Nobody said Bush was. Reagan raised some taxes. Is he not a Conservative?

Romney is a joke. He's far more PROGRESSIVE than any of the others. Gingrich and Santorum never SAID thay they were a PROGESSIVE. Only your Boy, did.

None of the other Candidates were working with CHARLIE (If I'm not the Nominee, I'm going 3rd Party, and if that doesn't work, I'm joining the Democrats) CRIST. Only your Boy. Nobody else HELPED OBAMA draft his Soviet Health Care Plan. Only your guy, DUMB*SS.

How about cutting the Bullsh*t, and come clean.

Mitt Romney is a CHAMELEON, who will Say, Do, and Promise, whatever it takes, to get himself some Power.

He's a Rich Boy, with too much time on his hands. A combination that always works out bad.

You see what he did in Massachusetts. You've heard, from the Horse's Mouth, what he is.

And you think that we should feel LUCKY to be breathing the same air, as him? That we're too DUMB to realize it?

I apologize. I called you stupid. I was mistaken. You are not Stupid.

You're a FOOL.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.27.12 @ 9:12AM

Your ad hominem attack shows just how weak you are in defending your beliefs. Apparently you don't have any facts so you rely on anger and nonsense. The liberal is strong within you.

Timothy L. Pennell| 1.27.12 @ 9:34AM

I just defended them, IDIOT.

As far as the ad hominems?

You've earned them.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.27.12 @ 12:58PM

Translation: I'm too dumb to come with facts so my anger will cover that up. Sounds like a plan. A plan of the stupid.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.27.12 @ 1:02PM

Here's that conservative Santorum, endorsing and supporting the individual mandate he's so against. Let's see him defend it at the next debate:

"Santorum and [his opponent] would require individuals to buy health insurance rather than forcing employers to pay for employee benefits," The Morning Call (Pa.) reported in 1994. The Morning Call noted that Santorum had also called for a MediSave account and had opposed so-called "sin" taxes.
If true, the distinction between requiring people to buy health insurance and an individual mandate might be lost on the voters who have heard Santorum excoriate Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich for their support of the individual mandate -- which, in Gingrich's case, dates back to the early 90s.
The Morning Call does not quote Santorum making comments supportive of an individual mandate, or quote any other candidates in the piece, which attempts to summarize several candidates' positions on health care.

Read more: http://newsok.com/1994-report-.....z1kgOWByjy

VonMisesJr| 1.27.12 @ 9:44AM

Bill, Reagan cut taxes and raised the receipts of the Treasury from $500M to $1 trillion in eight years. He brought unemployment/inflation number under Carter of 21% back to half in five years. He created 21M new jobs.
Perhaps you are too young to remember, but I was in the gas lines in the late 70's in a severe recession, and more than doubled my income by the time Reagan left office. If that is not a conservative "Supply-Side" success, I am a kumquat.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.27.12 @ 11:52AM

I am surprised at the stupidity and outright lies combined with outright ignorance perpetuated here at AMSPEC about Reagan. Here's the truth and right from your namesake:

In 198http://mises.org/freemarket_detail.aspx?control=4880, Jimmy Caner's last year as president, the federal government spent a whopping 27.9% of "national income" (an obnoxious term for the private wealth produced by the American people). Reagan assaulted the free-spending Carter administration throughout his campaign in 1980. So how did the Reagan administration do? At the end of the first quarter of 1988, federal spending accounted for 28.7% of "national income."

Even Ford and Carter did a better job at cutting government. Their combined presidential terms account for an increase of 1.4%—compared with Reagan's 3%—in the government's take of "national income." And in nominal terms, there has been a 60% increase in government spending, thanks mainly to Reagan's requested budgets, which were only marginally smaller than the spending Congress voted.

The budget for the Department of Education, which candidate Reagan promised to abolish along with the Department of Energy, has more than doubled to $22.7 billion, Social Security spending has risen from $179 billion in 1981 to $269 billion in 1986. The price of farm programs went from $21.4 billion in 1981 to $51.4 billion in 1987, a 140% increase. And this doesn't count the recently signed $4 billion "drought-relief" measure. Medicare spending in 1981 was $43.5 billion; in 1987 it hit $80 billion. Federal entitlements cost $197.1 billion in 1981—and $477 billion in 1987.

Foreign aid has also risen, from $10 billion to $22 billion. Every year, Reagan asked for more foreign-aid money than the Congress was willing to spend. He also pushed through Congress an $8.4 billion increase in the U.S. "contribution" to the International Monetary Fund.

His budget cuts were actually cuts in projected spending, not absolute cuts in current spending levels. As Reagan put it, "We're not attempting to cut either spending or taxing levels below that which we presently have."

The result has been unprecedented government debt. Reagan has tripled the Gross Federal Debt, from $900 billion to $2.7 trillion. Ford and Carter in their combined terms could only double it. It took 31 years to accomplish the first postwar debt tripling, yet Reagan did it in eight.

Dai Alanye | 1.27.12 @ 1:11PM

O'Stalin seems to overlook the little matter of overthrowing the Soviet Union. Such achievements don't come cheap.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.27.12 @ 1:18PM

If you read the entire article it accounts for that.

VonMisesJr| 1.27.12 @ 3:17PM

O'Stalin forgets that the then Democrat Congress spent the money? I said Reagan cut taxes and got fabulous results. If the Democrat congress did not reduce spending by more than the $500M, then debt "necessarily skyrockets."

This is the problem with memorization or shoddy research. One must examine the premise of each assertion so as to not make non sequitur logical mistakes.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.27.12 @ 3:40PM

Your statement doesn't make any sense. What was in the article that wasn't true? If you recollect you are the one who made a statement that doesn't stand up to the facts.

That's the result of shoddy thinking because it's obvious you couldn't have done any research.

VonMisesJr| 1.27.12 @ 9:33PM

Shoddy thinking. I cite tax cuts and you cite spending increases. What does cutting taxes creating $500M additional revenue to the Treasury, increased growth and jobs have to do with increased spending?
You consider spending $3K more a year on your credit card when only getting a $500 raise as your bosses fault? You are down $2,500 instead of $3K and that is bad?

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.28.12 @ 4:55AM

Your statement is total baloney.

VonMisesJr| 1.28.12 @ 9:20AM

Timothy Pennell is correct. You have made up your mind, and you refuse to be swayed by the facts. I heard a quote the other day that you should not argue with those who are ideologs, simply defeat them.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.29.12 @ 7:24AM

The facts are in Mises article. Dispute them. So far you and Pennell engage in personal attacks. Where are your facts.

In fact, you've made up your mind to avoid the facts. That's what liberals do.

VonMisesJr| 1.29.12 @ 8:15AM

Are you on drugs? Anybody who has read anything I have ever said would use current day "liberal" as the last word to describe my statements.

In Von Mises and Hayek's day, "liberalism" meant the exact opposite. So Hayek wrote "Why I am not a Conservative" in "Constitution of Liberty" claiming himself an "old whig." But I am sure that is not what you mean. If you cannot use logic and categorize apples from oranges, I am sure you do not understand Hayek.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.29.12 @ 9:56AM

You're talking in circles. What does any of that have to do with the Mises account. Like most liberals you want you own facts as opposed to the real facts. If you're not a liberal let's see a response to the Mises article. Those are facts. By the way, it's a myth to imply that revenues increased under Reagan due to tax cuts because according to the Bureau of Public Debt, the increases in revenue came after the TAX increases. Here it is:
http://mydd.com/users/bonddad/.....y-debunked

For each year between 1985 and 1988, tax revenue increased from 334.5 billion to 401.2 billion - an increase of 20%. But for each of those years when tax revenue increased, there was also a legislative tax increase of one kind or another.

The total overall increase in tax revenue under Regan was 40.70%. Compare Reagan's increase to the Clinton administration's increase of 97% (from 509.7 billion in 1993 to 1.004 trillion in 2000) which raised taxes on upper-income taxpayers. Again, this bolsters the argument US tax rates are to the left of the laffer curve apex because a tax increase increased tax revenue.

Compounding Reagan's fiscal problems were his massive increases in discretionary spending. Discretionary spending was 307.9 billion in 1981 and 488.8 billion in 1989 - a 58% increase. So, while government revenue increased 40% during Reagan's presidency, discretionary government spending increased 68%. Reagan never balanced a budget. To pay for the difference, Reagan increased total US debt from 1.028 trillion in 1981 to 2.8 trillion in 1989. The debt/GDP ratio of debt under Reagan increased in every year of his presidency from 32.8% in 1981 to 51% in 1989.

rhortus| 1.29.12 @ 3:30PM

Exactly! Mr. O'Stalin manipulates the rhetoric for argument's sake- he's wrong, illogical and is using half-truths.

Bob Grant| 1.27.12 @ 8:51AM

Mitt Romney was one of the first to endorse an unknown Marco Rubio.

TommyFrisco| 1.27.12 @ 10:17AM

Bob,
Remember that Romney has been campaigning for POTUS since 2007. He has used his money to get Tea Party support for 2012 by contributing to TP candidates like Rubio and Nikki Haley in 2010. Just as Santorum endorsed Specter in 2004 for Specter supporting Santorum's 2002 campaign, Haley and Rubio must now support Romney. That's also why Palin endorsed McCain in 2010. Yet, they all complain about corruption and cronyism in politics.

Dai Alanye | 1.27.12 @ 1:13PM

Thank goodness, a realist finally comments.
Yes, politicians as well as the rest of us must occasionally return favors and keep commitments.

TommyFrisco| 1.27.12 @ 1:33PM

Yes, the "rest of us" return favors and keep our committments, but MOST OF US do not throw the future of our country under the bus just to enhance our careers. And, MOST OF US take responsibility for our own decisions. Rubio is too cowardly to officially endorse Romney although he is clearly supporting him and attacking his opponent. That's one of the main problems in DC. No one is willing to accept responsibility. The buck doesn't stop anywhere.

Margie| 1.27.12 @ 3:10PM

'WTF did Mitt Romney EVER do?"

Did you take a listen to the chat between him and Santorum last night concerning Obama/Romney care??

I'm beginning to truly turn against Romney.. I really didn't know much about him before this, just knew I didn't trust him.

But Santorum zinged him good. Romney IS for MANDATED Health Ins.
And his trying to make it SOUND like he isn't reminded me of the slickness of slick Willy of old. Or the present day Marxist-in-chief trying to make it sound like it's a GOOD THING.

At this point, I'm hoping Santorum really pulls ahead. I am digging on his CONFIDENCE and strong stance.

RCV| 1.27.12 @ 8:22PM

Santorum undoubtedly had the strongest performance at the debate. He contrasted himself on health care starkly with both Romney and Gingrich, both of whom have been strong supporters of individual mandates. It will be interesting to see if he can translate it into votes on Tuesday.

Margie| 1.29.12 @ 4:59PM

You sound like you like hi, RCV. Reconsidering your vote by any chance~ to Republican if he becomes the nominee?

Have you tired of the Marxist philosophy and come round to sanity, perhaps?? :^).

RCV| 1.29.12 @ 10:41PM

I do like him, Margie, but not his politics! I also feel for the pain he's suffering as a Dad with his little girl's illness.

Adjoran| 1.28.12 @ 4:00AM

Utterly false. Romney campaigned for Rubio and raised and contributed money to him.

Clint| 1.27.12 @ 6:57AM

Apparently, Santorum Doesn't Wanna Talk Aboiut His Involvement In The " K-Street Project".
Also,
" Santorum collected fat board payments fom Universal, the King of Prussia mental-health and community hospital chain which makes most of its money from taxpayers via Medicare and Medicaid, even as he claims to oppose more taxpayer subsidies for healthcare."

" Hospitals, Coal Made Santorum A Millionaire

Director fees from Universal Health, lobbying fees from coal operator Consol Energy and law pay from Eckerd Seamans helped ex-Sen. Rick Santorum turn his Washington connections into millions in personal income."

The Tea Party Rebellion Is In Florida.

Timothy L. Pennell| 1.27.12 @ 8:14AM

Do you see what I see?

DevilDog| 1.27.12 @ 11:21AM

apparently all pocketlint can do is reference some strangers bio to try and claim his dad was a war hero.

but, but, but pocketlint is against all wars.

must be because pocketlint never knew his daddy. after all, his mommy only saw him thru a drug hazed sexual intercoiurse at woodstock.

Clint| 1.27.12 @ 1:39PM

You're A Liar.

Our American Warriors Are Not To Be Used As Cannon Fodder & Our Treasure Pissed Away Policing The Middle East For The Israel Firster Agenda.

Say Hi, To Dr.Reich Phoney Mouth, Devil's Doo Doo.

DevilDog| 1.27.12 @ 4:17PM

H&S CO, Comm PLT, 2ND AAV BN, 2ND MAR DIV
H&S Co, Comm PLT, 8Th Marines, 2ND MAR DIV
Bravo Co, 1st Plt, 4th A.N.G.L.I.C.O.
H&S Co, Comm PLT, 4th AAV Bn, 4th MAR DIV
H&S Co, Comm PLT, GESU, 2nd AAV Bn, IIMEF
BERUIT
KUWAIT
IRAQ
1981-1987 Honorable Discharge
1990-1991 Honorable (medical) Discharge( TBI recieved from landmine in COMBAT!

piss off pocketlint the yellow bellied dog that can only TRY and live off his dad's coattails.

born loser. lifelong loser and will die a loser. what a resume pocketlint will leave. or should that be his epitath

Clint| 1.27.12 @ 7:11PM

You Seem Very Upset & PMS'y Devil's Ass Crack.

Make Me, Sugar Pockets.

Dai Alanye | 1.27.12 @ 1:16PM

Did Clint forget "chickenhawk" again? What's wrong with his memory these days?

Clint| 1.27.12 @ 1:45PM

" The New Hampshire Gazette

The Chickenhawk Hall Of Shame

name:
Willard Mitt Romney
rank:
Chickenhawk First Class with Distinguished Fleeing Cross
date-of-birth:
March 12, 1947
home state:
Michigan
missed opportunity:
Vietnam War
excuse:
None to speak of
preferred activity:
Trying to talk people into becoming Mormons
occupation:
Climbing ambition's greased pole

When your daddy's a Governor and a Cabinet Secretary, it's amazing how your odds of being drafted diminish."

The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To A Brokered Convention.

DevilDog| 1.27.12 @ 4:21PM

french military history,

pocketlint, awarded the first and only, " supreme medal for cowardice"

also awarded the french, " extraordinairy surrender medal"

three awards for, "frances distinguished white flag waving"

is in the hall of shame in france as its ambassador to surrneder monkeys the world over

DevilDog| 1.27.12 @ 4:21PM

french military history,

pocketlint, awarded the first and only, " supreme medal for cowardice"

also awarded the french, " extraordinairy surrender medal"

three awards for, "frances distinguished white flag waving"

is in the hall of shame in france as its ambassador to surrneder monkeys the world over

DevilDog| 1.27.12 @ 4:21PM

french military history,

pocketlint, awarded the first and only, " supreme medal for cowardice"

also awarded the french, " extraordinairy surrender medal"

three awards for, "frances distinguished white flag waving"

is in the hall of shame in france as its ambassador to surrneder monkeys the world over

Clint| 1.27.12 @ 7:14PM

Apparently, Sugar Pockets, The Devil's Ass Crack Is A Frog.

Tu Es Completement Débile.

spike59| 1.30.12 @ 6:26AM

The Tea Party Rebellion Is In Florida...and is utterly embarrassed by the pathetic showing of "3 Delegate Nutjob' Paul

Red Bubba| 1.27.12 @ 7:11AM

BHO, I don't know if it was the debate coach, or the pressure of a close race, but to me Romney came accross less over-cautious and more genuine.
There were several missed opportunities to educate. If that woman shows up at job interviews dressed in a labrador-skin rug like she was wearing last night, she's not going to get hired. To the woman from Pueurrrrto Rrrrico, from Newt's body language, I thought he was going to ask her if she was positive she is bilingual, or at least to consider an accent reduction class. The bilingual advocates seem to assume that Spanish is the only other language. If we really want to be bilingual, there are folks in the bay area or Dearborn who might think Mandarin or Arabic would be preferable.

POST American| 1.27.12 @ 7:39AM

Yet more vapid capstone cardboard
and used tupperware.

MEANWHILE, our broad daylight,
4 decades on, deliberate, systematic,
US taxpayer underwritten surrender
of the US economy to the Globalist
front RED Chinese ---doesn't even
appear on the radar.

SO marvel and coo over that used tuperware
----------that Very USED tupperware.

Timothy L. Pennell| 1.27.12 @ 8:15AM

Do you see what I see, again?

Mike Rogers | 1.27.12 @ 7:47AM

Santorum did sound like the grownup last night. Newt seems to have a problem with distinguishing between attacks from the left and from the right - it's hard to attack Romney from the left, but Newt and his PAC do it way too often.
Why, for example, attack Romney because his blind trust made money from Fan/Fred, when Susan Molinari and Vin Weber, who are on Romney's staff, took big lobbying bucks to keep congress away from the mortgage giants?

martin j smith| 1.27.12 @ 7:54AM

These are fake fireworks as you call them McCain. We are not getting the real fireworks. Let me offer an example. In the WSJ op ed this guy Stossel write a a column basically saying that if Romney ran against Obama the way he is going he he would lose.
Why because he has zero inspiration. Its as if the only thing he cares about is being the Republican nominee. If there were fireworks then Romney would not be allowed to get away with his mediocre performance. I am tired of those who claim Romney is the most electable. In fact I think he is the least electable. However to be fair I would say that Newt needs to sharpen his attacks more on Obama and less on Romney. And he has as they say to be on his "A" game on all occasions. We are being short changed very badly by poorly led Republican Party. We can do better.

patroness| 1.27.12 @ 8:23AM

YES WE CAN~SANTORUM:)

PattyMor| 1.27.12 @ 8:27AM

Romney is a big government technocrat. He is not a reformer, he's a manager. And he will be the very best manager of the welfare state. His advisors already said they will not fully repeal Obamacare. And his adivsors dreamed up the new and improved housing bailout program. Then there is own labeling himself as a progressive. He has zero, zip, nada history of advancing any conservative principle. My thoughts on why the "establishment" likes him? He's safe and thoroughly bland; like John McLame.

darcy| 1.27.12 @ 4:09PM

The establishment can depend on Romney not to rock the boat; they feel comforted imagining him as POTUS. That's the major reason he should be defeated in his bid for the nomination. A Romney presidency would merely be an exercise in rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic -- with all the favored, RNC-connected, cronies taking home the goodies from Big-government largesse rather than the ones currently on the gravy train, the DNC-connected sponges.

TommyFrisco| 1.27.12 @ 7:02PM

Darcy,
And you don't consider Santorum as being a card carrying member of the GOP club? I find it ironic that so many considered Gov. Perry as being a GWB clone, while at the same time, not noticing that Santorum followed all of the GOP's marching orders while he was in Congress.

Gingrich should wear the GOP establishment attacks as a badge of honor. How many attacks has Santorum received from Republicans in DC fighting for the status quo?

Vern Crisler | 1.27.12 @ 8:30AM

Yes, Santorum showed the most passion last night, but that's because he's got nothing to lose. Newt must have listened to his advisers that he had to appear more presidential going into Florida, and so he doesn't appear to be responding with passion in the way he did in South Carolina. Still, Newt's positive views of the space program and on other issues were inspiring compared to his naysaying opponents -- all of them doing an imitation of accountants.

Romney did not have a good debate performance last night. He was boring as usual. Even when he attacks Newt he was boring. I think it's because instead of defending conservatism or capitalism, he defends himself. The "I'm proud of my record" argument is grating on the ears.

Ron Paul's blame America first foreign policy views are wearing thin at this point. His continual refrain of less government, while true in itself, is a lot like Herman Cain's reiteration of 999; it's covering up a lack of knowledge of specifics.

All in all, while Santorum may have "won" the debate, I think Newt came across as the most presidential. His distinction between older illegal immigrants and newer illegals shows that he has a nuanced, more presidential way of presenting ideas. Those conservatives who say "throw all of them out" may be right technically and legally, but they end up sounding like cold, uncaring robots. Newt is showing a more tempered way of speaking, though his "anti-immigrant" charge was over-the-top (which he recognized and pulled the ad).

But remember, it was Romney and Ron Paul who started all this negativity during Iowa while Newt tried to stay above it. Look what it got him. So those conservatives who are dumping on Newt for negative campaigning should look at what they've been doing, especially yesterday's coordinated dump on Newt campaign. Those who live in glass houses....

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.27.12 @ 9:26AM

Santorum's passion was self serving, especially in reference to his remarks about it was OK for Newt to take his skills learned in Congress and capitalize on them. Santorum did the same thing.

A majority of Americans are tired of the influence peddling and Santorum has seen his best day.

In the next debate he will look stupid trying to explain why if he doesn't like top down government why he engineered so many government pork barrel projects.

darcy| 1.27.12 @ 4:15PM

Let's see. "[S]o many government pork barrel projects." Go ahead and cite them then. And now stack up against them all the demerits, from a conservative's perspective, of which Romney and Gingrich are guilty.

Go ahead. I want to see the tally.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.29.12 @ 7:34AM

The liberal is strong within you since you want someone to do your heavy lifting for you. Here's a list of Santorums pork barrel. On another note Santorum strongly endorsed and worked for Medicare Part D. Santorum also voted for expanding health care entitlements by the federal government while in Congress. If that isn't top down government management of health care, then what is top down? Here is some of his pork barrel. Read the article. Educate yourself:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01.....ss&emc=rss
But an examination of Mr. Santorum’s earmark record sheds light on another aspect of his political personality, one that is at odds with the reformer image he has tried to convey on the trail: his prowess as a Washington insider.

A review of some of his earmarks, viewed alongside his political donations, suggests that the river of federal money Mr. Santorum helped direct to Pennsylvania paid off handsomely in the form of campaign cash.

Earmarks, long a hallmark of a pay-to-play culture in Washington, have become largely taboo among lawmakers of both parties. But that element of Mr. Santorum’s record has mostly gone unexplored, in part because transparency rules governing earmarks did not go into effect until after he left office.

In just one piece of legislation, the defense appropriations bill for the 2006 fiscal year, Mr. Santorum helped secure $124 million in federal financing for 54 earmarks, according to a tally by Taxpayers for Common Sense, a budget watchdog group. In that year’s election cycle, Mr. Santorum’s Senate campaign committee and his “leadership PAC” took in more than $200,000 in contributions from people associated with the companies that benefited or their lobbyists, an analysis of campaign finance records by The New York Times shows.

On health care top down management:
From Forbes:
In Congress, Santorum voted to expand health-care entitlements

I’ve strongly criticized Newt Gingrich for his role in dramatically expanding the role of Medicaid for children through the S-CHIP program, and also for botching the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate, which has created a huge fiscal headache for the Medicare program. Rick Santorum was there for all of those votes, and bears comparable responsibility for the growth of health-care entitlements in the 1990s.

Mike W| 1.27.12 @ 11:38AM

Newt is repulsive with straw man argument of the old illegal alien that we just can't support. First of all, I don't even buy that argument. They can be deported like everyone else. But the real problem is that the majority are working age people who are popping out future democrats then as fast as they can breed.

Newt wants more of this and some fake conservatives support him. Unbelievable.

Vern Crisler | 1.27.12 @ 11:50AM

And you think you would win an election with language like that?

Drunken Sailor| 1.27.12 @ 12:11PM

In a state with a large hispanic population?

Cynicon Implant| 1.27.12 @ 9:49AM

Well it looks like the land of the early bird special might just be deciding who we get. Should be interesting to see who gets the nod from those who can find their way out of the back yard.

I'm guessing Romney ("he's such a nice boy! and that hair!"), which kind of pisses me off because I'm from MA and I know what he is -- and he is not somebody who is passionate about bringing us back to something even close to what the Constitution proscribes. Screw all the social/religious stuff. If we don't shrink government, all the faith in the world isn't going to help.

David T| 1.27.12 @ 10:06AM

The upshot of this bloody, internecine battle for the GOP nomination will be a bloody general election battle with Mitt Romney and America the biggest losers.

Vlady| 1.27.12 @ 10:13AM

So on the one hand we have Romney, who is simply not a conservative. On the other hand we have Newton, who may or may not be conservative depending on what time of day it is and who we have to worry about what will come out of his mouth next. Then on the other hand, we have Dr. Paul who has sound economic ideas but insane foreign policy ideas. Then on the other other hand, we have Santorum who is definately a conservative compared to Romney; who doesn't spout off like Newton with worrisome torrents of unthought through oratory; whose foreign policy ideas are more sound than the good Dr.

In the Presidential election I would like to vote for Santorum; I could possibly vote for Newton; I won't vote for Mitt because he's really no better than the current occupant of the WH. I could have voted for the good Dr. if his foreign policy weren't so far to the left of Obama.

loulou| 1.27.12 @ 10:52AM

I agree--couldn't have said it better myself.

Vern Crisler | 1.27.12 @ 11:52AM

And yet the elephant in the room is that Santorum has zero (0) leadership experience. Would you hire a doctor who only read books but never interned? Look where that's gotten us so far.

Dai Alanye | 1.27.12 @ 1:25PM

This is a superficial criticism. Santorum showed plenty of leadership in Congress, and was recognised as one by his peers.

KennesawJack| 1.27.12 @ 1:19PM

Vlady, you need to reconsider your position. Are you saying you would rather see Obamarx back for four more years than vote for Romney? Newt is my first choice but I'll damn sure vote for whomever we nominate. You cannot be seriously considering sitting this one out.

TommyFrisco| 1.27.12 @ 4:12PM

Good comments, Vlady.
There are two comments I would like to make about yours though:
1. Michael Reagan endorses Newt because he feels that Newt is more able and willing to carry on his father's legacy. Fred Thompson and Thomas Sowell have also endorsed Newt because they consider him to be the most conservative in the race.
2. Many who watched last night's debate were impressed with Santorum's knowledge of Puerto Rico. You should check into why. I think you'll find that Universal Health Services, crony capitalism, lobbying fees, medicare spending and medicare fraud may come up in your research.

Santorum hasn't been vetted properly because he hasn't challenged Romney's nomination since his surprise win in Iowa.

darcy| 1.27.12 @ 4:27PM

So, it's OK for Newt to make hundreds of thousands of dollars lobbying Congress on behalf of Freddie and Fannie (during the time, I might add, when F&F were in full-blown disinformation mode), but if Santorum earns money as a corporate director and from stock options with UHS -- then Santorum must be denounced?

Please. You don't like Santorum and it's for different reasons than you cite. Spill the beans, TF.

TommyFrisco| 1.27.12 @ 5:44PM

Darcy,
Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac were not as much of the problem as our leaders in DC, Barney Frank and Frank Dodd in particular. Newt did consulting work for Freddy Mac. He did not lobby Congress for them. If elected to POTUS, Newt says he would try to have both organizations broken up into smaller pieces.

On December 30, I saw a post by Erick Erickson where he wrote about Santorum not being vetted and Universal Health Services as being something that could seriously damage his candidacy. From my research, I read that Santorum sponsored several medicare spending bills that specifically helped UHS. After being voted out of office, Santorum received $395k in lobbying fees from UHS and then was invited to be on their Board of Directors. While on their board, UHS was charged with medicare fraud.

I don't know for sure how much of the above is true. Today is the first time I have mentioned it in any of my comments. I just know it would be a shame for Newt to get knocked out of the race by Santorum still being in only to have Romney then start attacking Santorum over the UHS issue. That pretty much sums up what's been happening in this primary all along...and the Establishment has been complicit in destroying our candidates one by one.

Quartermaster| 1.28.12 @ 8:07PM

Sowell's endorsement was reluctant. You should look and see why.

POST American| 1.27.12 @ 10:17AM

---MEANWHILE

as NDAA 1021, and its authorization of
secret arrests, exile, torture and execution
of American citizens ---anywhere---
overturns the Republic and Constituion---

74% of ALLLLLLL donations from the
military are going to ---RON PAUL

---AND, in Dec. alone. over 3.5 MILLION
firearms were sold nationwide.

Aside from the Globalist RED China handover
and TREASON OP -----just a few of the
other trifling side issues NOT being talked
about in Tavistock AS.

NOW --back to the 'serious' coverage.

Oh, and don't forget ---USURY --is EUGENICS.

REALLY

---Ciao!

DevilDog| 1.27.12 @ 11:25AM

always the "claim" of those military donations and never the "proof".

you learned the lesson well, "tell a lie enough times and it becomes the truth"

i am retired military. i go to the VA, VFW, Am Leg, DAV and military bases ALL THE TIME.

not one single paul supporter ever. evryone, and i mean EVERYONE of these current and former military do NOT donate to paul.

anonymous internet donations are just that. ANONYMOUS

so its easy for the pauliacs to LIE. just like their GOD paul when talking about his "military" experience.

all he did was hand out a few pills and give males physicals.

he was too gutless to treat combat wounded troops and SAVE AMERICAN LIVES

Drunken Sailor| 1.27.12 @ 12:14PM

I hear ya DevelDog. I brought this up once before but no one wanted to listen. The polls they refer to show ALL Dod employee's. That includes the civilians that work for the DOD in any aspect. My hunch is that is were a large chunk of this comes from, not the active duty or retiree's.

Semper Fi.

DevilDog| 1.27.12 @ 4:24PM

amen drunken squid!

civilian contractors are now military personell. next they will be claiming that donations rom hezzbollah are from WARRIORS!

Clint| 1.27.12 @ 2:35PM

Where Did Teufelhunden Go ?

These Israel Firster Smear Bund Traitor Bastards Have A Bad Habit Of Bad Mouthing Veteran American Officers.

The Tea Party Heads To A Brokered Convention.

spike59| 1.30.12 @ 6:29AM

if the convention IS brokered, 'The 3 delegate Tinfoil Hat Messiah" WON'T be a factor....give it up, Mommy's Basement Nazi...it's OVER!

Sweaty Federalist | 1.27.12 @ 10:25AM

That George Soros doesn't see a spit's difference between Romney and Obama should make every constitutional conservative in this country call their nans in Florida begging them & their shuffleboard mates to vote for Newt Gingrich.

spike59| 1.30.12 @ 6:31AM

sure, because we ALL take our marching orders from megalomaniacal Socialists, just like the Hufftards...now, what do i hit to turn off the sarcasm font?

sorry, chump...you're being played by Soros

TommyFrisco| 1.27.12 @ 11:35AM

Can someone please explain to me how Ronald Reagan won the GOP primary in 1980? Why was he able to accomplish what Goldwater was unable to accomplish in 1964 and what Gingrich will probably be unable to accomplish in 2012?

How can any conservative Republican get elected when the MSM, the GOP establishment, Fox News, and most so-called conservative pundits are all in the tank to ensure that a moderate RINO wins the GOP nomination?

Obama cannot win re-election running on his record so his campaign will focus on attacking his opponent. Obama does not take responsibility for anything. Everything is someone else's fault. Romney has been using the same tactics because he does not have a conservative record to run on. He ran to the left of Ted Kennedy in 1994 even though Reagan wond that state in 1980 and 1984. Romney didn't campaign as a conservative Republican for Gov. in 2002. He blames a Democrat controlled state legislature for his liberal record as Governor. He didn't seek re-election in 2006 because he knew he would be unable to win a second term. In a GOP primary debate in 2008, he explained that is not "fair" that a healthy 25 year old should not be contributing into the state's health care system. Yet, because he now claims to be a conservative, we're all supposed to believe he is the most conservative candidate in the GOP primary.

Rush has said numerous times that the GOP is not a conservative party. After the concerted attacks I saw yesterday against a true Reagan conservative, Newt Gingrich, I finally conclude that Rush is exactly right, as usual. The GOP establishment does not want change, they do want to maintain the status quo, they will continue to attack true conservatives, and they will continue to shove moderate RINOs down our throats.

To all conservatives in Florida, please do not let them take this election away from us. We are truly at a crossroads. We desperately need to send someone to Washington who will actually attempt to get us back on the right track. Gingrich is the only candidate that has shown the ability and willingness to do that.

JmsA| 1.27.12 @ 3:54PM

TM, Reagan won because he put America first.

RCV| 1.27.12 @ 11:38AM

Its clear from all the latest polls in Florida that the Gingrich balloon is deflating as quickly as it inflated.

TommyFrisco| 1.27.12 @ 11:52AM

RCV, I pray that the polls are wrong and that the folks in Florida will send the same message to the GOP establishment that our brothers and sisters in South Carolina sent last Saturday. Romney is no more conservative than Charlie Crist, regardless of what Marco Rubio says.

darcy| 1.27.12 @ 4:29PM

About this we agree. Rubio is a politician, not a statesman.

RCV| 1.27.12 @ 8:28PM

Tommy - it's highly unlikely the polls will prove wrong. Romney in fact is likely to do even better than he's now polling. A large percentage of GOP ballots in Florida were cast even before the SC primary when Romney's numbers were even higher than now. With the trend again favoring him, I wouldn't be surprised to see Romneys margin of victory in the double digits.

Bulbul| 1.27.12 @ 1:03PM

Gingrich lost his oratorical skills, is declining, and his campaign in FL is falling apart. His attack on Romney over immigration backfired. Gingrich is in the "engendered species" list.
Romney sounded scripted but it worked. He dismantled Gingrich, but was rattled by Santorum over RomneyCare.
Santorum had a great night. He is coming back, showing "fabulous" debate performance last night.
Ron Paul is fading away.

Dai Alanye | 1.27.12 @ 1:27PM

I like your 'tude, dude

Margie| 1.27.12 @ 3:17PM

Rick Santorum is showing the fire in his belly. I am praying for a sort of miracle to happen.. that he pulls ahead by far and SOON.

I don't trust Newt or Romney, though I would vote for either if they became the nominee.. but as to TRUST??
Santorum is growing on me by leaps and bounds.'
Keep it going, Rick!!

Bulbul| 1.27.12 @ 3:48PM

Santorum won IA, by 34 votes, votes of 8 perceinets were not counted. He cannot win in FL, according to the latest polls, how he is gonna get the GOP nod, anyway.

Bulbul| 1.27.12 @ 2:06PM

Putting aside the feud between Gingrich and Romney, as a devoted Christian and constitutionalists, I miss Gov. Rick Perry.

martin j smith| 1.27.12 @ 2:20PM

Since I have heard we have an election so far in Nov 2012 some one will have to nominated Presidential candidate run against--and here is the crucial factor now --pay careful attention-Barack Hussein Obama.
Now the question is which candidate can offer the best alternative and run the best campaign and in fact --which candidate actually wants to be the President and thus--now pay careful attention--that means they must defeat Obama. It is my view so far the following: Paul is OUT. His foreign policies and national security policies
are exactly Obama's and his moronic base is exactly the same as the OWS street. Believe me I have no love for WS at all.
Then there is Romney who supports his Mass. Romney Care--a major problem. And it is worth getting angry about BTW/ Newt and Santorum Need to realize that what they should do is not get sucked into Romney or the MSM but run against Obama now. . That is where I am at right now. Oh yes, Romney should thank George Soros for a great endorsement.

Margie| 1.27.12 @ 3:19PM

Martin,

To my mind, Romney is OUT.

spike59| 1.30.12 @ 6:34AM

also, in your 'mind', unicorn farms abound!!!!!

sorry, but for good or bad, reality says that the nomination is Mitt's to lose...Gingrich is likely to collapse under the weight of his own hubris, explosive temper, and bloviation, and there is no one out there with sufficient support to challenge Mitt. if he wins FL, it's a done deal

Clint| 1.27.12 @ 2:27PM

Veteran Dr. Ron Paul Versus The Three Israel Firster Puppet Chickenhawks.

This Is McCain Redux.

Mike Hawk| 1.27.12 @ 3:50PM

Hey Paulbot boy, who is your choice for PA Senate?? Ron Paul isn't running or is that beyond your interest. Did you know there was a Senate race this year??

JmsA| 1.27.12 @ 3:52PM

I've supported the Tea Party/ Governor Walker's campaign against his recall. I'll support Santorum, Gingrich, and even Romney defeat Obama. I will not support Paul; he doesn't stand a chance to win.

David| 1.27.12 @ 3:53PM

Get behind Santorum now. Send him five bucks please - more if you can afford it. He has been the adult throughout this entire contest. They all have records - examine them or f_cking don't support anyone. Anyone still looking at Gingrich and Romney after all of their deceptive attacks on each other are idiots.

shoebox57| 1.27.12 @ 4:19PM

Please Mitt, drop out for the good of the Country!

Gerard| 1.27.12 @ 6:39PM

The debates have been as much fun as a South Park episode. Newt, Santorum and Romney competing as to who would be most likely to just kill them, or starve them, Cubans or Iranians, with sanctions. Evangelicals booing at the Golden Rule. Very funny if it wasn't so scary.

Clint| 1.27.12 @ 7:03PM

We Are Being Set Up By The RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges For The Ruling Elites' Frontman Mittens Romney.

These Are The RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges Who Gave Us The Serial Traitor To Conservatism, John McCain Of McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy,McCain-Lieberman,Gang Of 14, Opposing Bush Tax Cuts Of 2001 & 2003,TARP.

Now They Are Trying To Give Us RomneyCare,TARP, Cynical Flip-Flops On Abortion, Gays, Refuses to Sign Pro-Life Pledge, Illegal Immigrants, "Little Chain Saw Al" At Bain, Crony Capitalism Campaign Money Trail.....

POST American| 1.27.12 @ 10:07PM

------'74% of ALLLLLL military donations
going to RON PAUL' ---can be FACT CHECKED
at INFOWARS. They have the info and can
back it up. That's WHY they are now the
second largest news source in the world
----as the New York Times and all the other
capstone waxworks ---have lost all credibility.

INFOWARS will also hand you the story on
that Dec sale of 3.5 MILLION firearms across
the US. That's one month alone!

---------AGAIN, it's the Globalist RED China--------
-------------SELLOUT and TREASON OP-------------

---------------------------------------YOU ARE THERE

Anders13| 1.27.12 @ 10:14PM

I just heard Rich Lowry, of NRO , on The McLaughlin Group say that the audience in last night's debate was pro Romney!
Did CNN and the DC RomneyBots stack the audience? It sure sounded like it. If so, then that is probably the reason Newt's debate was cooled down. Now that is scandal worth investigating..

POST American| 1.27.12 @ 10:36PM

"Washington and Adams got wise
to the ILLUMINATI and they
were kicked out in 1800 ----ONLY
to creep back in through the China
opium families in the Yale secret
societies in 1830."

And NOW ---74% of our military
donations are going to -----RON PAUL.

-----------AND, in the face of NDAA 1021
3.5 MILLION firearms were sold
in the month of December alone

Better get with the DEEEEE-program kiddies.

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

------------------------------Better hurry

------------------------------------REALLY

martin j smith| 1.28.12 @ 7:50AM

You know Stacy McCain I really do not understand the exact reasons why the Washington Establishment hat the voters. Can you explain that. In 2010 the people spoke and won the House for the Rep0ublican Party and what do the Republican establishment do ? That say basically that is fine but we know best so get lost. Now Mr Stacy McCain--this is specifically for you: Does the Republican Establishment want to really win this election election-?-I ask this
because I have serious doubts about their motives. They cast aspersions at the Tea Party. They castigate conservatives and then they put up a candidate who is very weak and has no solid support nationally speaking. Let me put it this way: Suppose 5-10% of voters were so ticked off at Romney that they stayed home ? Or even 3-5%? Can the Republican Party afford that or--do they not care ? The behavior of Romney in the so called debates--managed by our political enemies,, the arrogant attitude shown by Establishment backing columnists and pundits in the media do not overwhelm me. They severely underwhelm me. mr Stacy McCain I do wonder about the Republican Party and its Leadershit and I hear there are many others out there who9 feel the same way. So perhaps you might want to mull this over.

POST American| 1.28.12 @ 8:56AM

------------------------JUST IN!--------------------------

"They've taken 100 years to make you
completely dependent ---ON THEM
(ie USURY/EUGENICS establishment).
They've destroyed the family --the religions
---the culture ---and they've introduced the
welfare state. Understand, it's all been staged,
very carefully, very incrementally ----LONG
term. Understand, these deviants NEVER
deviate from 'the agenda' ----which betrays
the reality that they themsselves are MOST
surely part of a very deep, very ancient
religion ---NOT of the Torah ---NOT of
Christ. An inner religion which NEVER
has, never will deviate from its
agenda ---NEVER veers from its
Brahminic Social Darwinist doctrines
---even as they've corrupted everyone
else's."
-Informed OBSERVER

But we take heart as we learn-----

Boston Bruins STAR Tim Thomas REJECTS
the invitation from the White House
because he believes 'the government is
out of control threatening the rights, liberties
& property rights in direct opposition to the
Constitution". He went on to say its NOT
partisan, BOTH parties are working jointly,
as well as all three infiltrated, bought off,
'on board' branches.

----------Tim Thomas ----MAY be our man!---------

REJECT BOTH BAR-Rockefeller OBAMA
---and the CFR-Globalist USURY cabal
front ops of the Republicans.

--------WE ARE DEALING WITH TREASON-------
----------------AGAINST the REPUBLIC--------------

----------------------------A WAR------------------------
------------------AGAINST the HUMAN---------------

----------------------------A WAR-------------------------
----------------AGAINST the very WORLD-----------

electric moped Suppliers | 1.28.12 @ 9:58PM

electric moped Suppliers in china

chinese electric moped | 1.28.12 @ 10:05PM

chinese electric moped

Nick099| 1.29.12 @ 9:41AM

Romney lied....and lied boldly several times during the debate. But I do not see a headline examining those lies. Instead he had a great night. Sure it is easy to have a ¨strong performance¨ when the substance of what you said was mostly false.

Example: Romney claimed he never owned a company that had anything to do with Medicare.
But he did own Damon Corp in the 90´s. While he owned it this company was involved in Medicare billing fraud. He corrected the issue but never told the Feds, who were investigating for suspected irregularities what he found.....till it was sold to Corning. Romney made $450k personally. Bain made $12 million and the new owner, Corning reported the violations. It was the largest Medicae raud case in Massachusetts history....now how would you forget that????? But apparently you did and so did you so-called news outlet.

Romney has changed his position on illegal Immigration as well. He went from chastising Gingrich a few debates ago as being pro-amnesty as Mitt wished to deport everyone....in hhis usual vague....I am gauging my audience way...to now supporting idiotic ¨self-deportation.¨ Yet no word from the Media, who bias and fawning over Mittzy is so bad you have degenerated into what could only be called ¨Papparazzi.¨ After-all. Not one of you intelligentsia managed to work up the nerve to actually ask the question...which is the elephant in the room....how do you plan to deport 12 million illegals????? What mechanism do you have envisioned???? How much money????? What tactics????? ¨Self-deportation¨"has never worked, what are you going to do if it does not???? Those details determine who is a serious candidate, and who is just playing to the mob.

Santorum was strong. As near as I am aware....did not lie. But Romney is another story. You are giving him front-runner status by failing to point out those lies to the sheeple...those that depend on you so-called Conservatives to point out the truth.
Do you think hiding these failings from the sheeple in the Primary will some how be ignored in the General by Obama???? Probably not. Thanks for helping Obozo in 2012. Imbecile.

spike59| 1.30.12 @ 6:41AM

you might want to quit running Organized Labor's anti-Mitt stories for them...fact is, neither Bain, nor Mitt, were ever implicated in the "Damon Corp. Affair"...investigators looked at it nine ways to Sunday, and found nothing on Bain NOR Mitt...

http://factcheck.org/2012/01/l.....n-florida/

SUSEYQUE| 1.29.12 @ 10:15AM

How sad that Sarah Palin is using such malicious words like cannibals, stalin-esque against her fellow republicans who choose not to have Newt G. as their presidential nominee. I would think she would vote for Santorum over Newt if Romney is not her choice. Sarah go away!

Margie| 1.29.12 @ 5:06PM

Sarah's referring to the Repub. establishments, which are just as much against Newt as you seem to be.

spike59| 1.30.12 @ 5:00PM

Newt...the "anti Repub establishment?" hahahahaha.....

martin j smith| 1.29.12 @ 10:44AM

And I say You Go Palin. Keep sending them zingers
and irritate the heck out of the Establishment Republicans. BTW: Rudy G, and Cain have endorsed Newt. I have a funny feeling that IF Santorum drops out--I said IF--then I think he will endorse Gingrich as the lesser evil at least. And I think Bachman will endorse Newt too. This will be I hope a race between a Socialist Light and a Conservative medium rare--and I would rather that then Socialist Light thank you very much.

RCV| 1.29.12 @ 1:32PM

If, as appears likely, Newt loses decisively in Florida, he's finished. He's not even on the ballot in the other big Southern primary, Virginia, and his prospects in the other major states are slim to none.santorum is too ambitious to cast his lot with a likely losing candidate.

spike59| 1.30.12 @ 6:36AM

Palin's good for the odd zinger or two...but her relevance diminishes daily

rhortus| 1.29.12 @ 3:23PM

Choosing between Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich is like the choice between Arthur Goldberg and Nelson Rockefeller. This is not a good choice as it wouldn’t likely result in a smaller less intrusive Federal Government.

POST American| 1.29.12 @ 11:44PM

-------------------CHECK IT OUT!----------------------

WANT a little 'taste' of the cyber EUGENICS
'you--topia' that's in the works? ---tax free
---even underwritten ---by you the taxpayer?

CHECK OUT

ALEX JONES'S full Sunday program
(January 29th 2012 Youtube).
---Esp. around 1:15 when they play
that current school video from Britain
--a template for us all.

We bet even CON-firmed porch'MAY-SINs'
will be fleeing their 'Lodge--ICK' and
downloading that Calvin! --King James Version!
---Geneva Bible!

----Everything OLD --is 'NEW-remburg' AGAIN!

----------------------------WOE!!!!!!!

spike59| 1.30.12 @ 4:58PM

ALEX JONES???????? hahahahahahahaha....

somnolence| 1.30.12 @ 6:49AM

I won't. The day the Final Reckoning comes I'm going to stand directly in the blast, hopefully with other fervent believers not following the panicked multitudes jamming the bridges trying to flee, etc. I avoid even the name "Alex Jones" as much as possible, and certainly won't consider him an authority on the Calvin or King James version of the Bible, lol.

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